271 research outputs found
Two-dimensional array of microtraps with atomic shift register on a chip
Arrays of trapped atoms are the ideal starting point for developing registers
comprising large numbers of physical qubits for storing and processing quantum
information. One very promising approach involves neutral atom traps produced
on microfabricated devices known as atom chips, as almost arbitrary trap
configurations can be realised in a robust and compact package. Until now,
however, atom chip experiments have focused on small systems incorporating
single or only a few individual traps. Here we report experiments on a
two-dimensional array of trapped ultracold atom clouds prepared using a simple
magnetic-film atom chip. We are able to load atoms into hundreds of tightly
confining and optically resolved array sites. We then cool the individual atom
clouds in parallel to the critical temperature required for quantum degeneracy.
Atoms are shuttled across the chip surface utilising the atom chip as an atomic
shift register and local manipulation of atoms is implemented using a focused
laser to rapidly empty individual traps.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
The Nylon Scintillator Containment Vessels for the Borexino Solar Neutrino Experiment
Borexino is a solar neutrino experiment designed to observe the 0.86 MeV Be-7
neutrinos emitted in the pp cycle of the sun. Neutrinos will be detected by
their elastic scattering on electrons in 100 tons of liquid scintillator. The
neutrino event rate in the scintillator is expected to be low (~0.35 events per
day per ton), and the signals will be at energies below 1.5 MeV, where
background from natural radioactivity is prominent. Scintillation light
produced by the recoil electrons is observed by an array of 2240
photomultiplier tubes. Because of the intrinsic radioactive contaminants in
these PMTs, the liquid scintillator is shielded from them by a thick barrier of
buffer fluid. A spherical vessel made of thin nylon film contains the
scintillator, separating it from the surrounding buffer. The buffer region
itself is divided into two concentric shells by a second nylon vessel in order
to prevent inward diffusion of radon atoms. The radioactive background
requirements for Borexino are challenging to meet, especially for the
scintillator and these nylon vessels. Besides meeting requirements for low
radioactivity, the nylon vessels must also satisfy requirements for mechanical,
optical, and chemical properties. The present paper describes the research and
development, construction, and installation of the nylon vessels for the
Borexino experiment
Robust Estimators in Generalized Pareto Models
This paper deals with optimally-robust parameter estimation in generalized
Pareto distributions (GPDs). These arise naturally in many situations where one
is interested in the behavior of extreme events as motivated by the
Pickands-Balkema-de Haan extreme value theorem (PBHT). The application we have
in mind is calculation of the regulatory capital required by Basel II for a
bank to cover operational risk. In this context the tail behavior of the
underlying distribution is crucial. This is where extreme value theory enters,
suggesting to estimate these high quantiles parameterically using, e.g. GPDs.
Robust statistics in this context offers procedures bounding the influence of
single observations, so provides reliable inference in the presence of moderate
deviations from the distributional model assumptions, respectively from the
mechanisms underlying the PBHT.Comment: 26pages, 6 figure
Nanofabrication by magnetic focusing of supersonic beams
We present a new method for nanoscale atom lithography. We propose the use of
a supersonic atomic beam, which provides an extremely high-brightness and cold
source of fast atoms. The atoms are to be focused onto a substrate using a thin
magnetic film, into which apertures with widths on the order of 100 nm have
been etched. Focused spot sizes near or below 10 nm, with focal lengths on the
order of 10 microns, are predicted. This scheme is applicable both to precision
patterning of surfaces with metastable atomic beams and to direct deposition of
material.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Quantum memory for entangled two-mode squeezed states
A quantum memory for light is a key element for the realization of future
quantum information networks. Requirements for a good quantum memory are (i)
versatility (allowing a wide range of inputs) and (ii) true quantum coherence
(preserving quantum information). Here we demonstrate such a quantum memory for
states possessing Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) entanglement. These
multi-photon states are two-mode squeezed by 6.0 dB with a variable orientation
of squeezing and displaced by a few vacuum units. This range encompasses
typical input alphabets for a continuous variable quantum information protocol.
The memory consists of two cells, one for each mode, filled with cesium atoms
at room temperature with a memory time of about 1msec. The preservation of
quantum coherence is rigorously proven by showing that the experimental memory
fidelity 0.52(2) significantly exceeds the benchmark of 0.45 for the best
possible classical memory for a range of displacements.Comment: main text 5 pages, supplementary information 3 page
The Borexino detector at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso
Borexino, a large volume detector for low energy neutrino spectroscopy, is
currently running underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso,
Italy. The main goal of the experiment is the real-time measurement of sub MeV
solar neutrinos, and particularly of the mono energetic (862 keV) Be7 electron
capture neutrinos, via neutrino-electron scattering in an ultra-pure liquid
scintillator. This paper is mostly devoted to the description of the detector
structure, the photomultipliers, the electronics, and the trigger and
calibration systems. The real performance of the detector, which always meets,
and sometimes exceeds, design expectations, is also shown. Some important
aspects of the Borexino project, i.e. the fluid handling plants, the
purification techniques and the filling procedures, are not covered in this
paper and are, or will be, published elsewhere (see Introduction and
Bibliography).Comment: 37 pages, 43 figures, to be submitted to NI
Scope for Credit Risk Diversification
This paper considers a simple model of credit risk and derives the limit distribution of losses under different assumptions regarding the structure of systematic risk and the nature of exposure or firm heterogeneity. We derive fat-tailed correlated loss distributions arising from Gaussian risk factors and explore the potential for risk diversification. Where possible the results are generalised to non-Gaussian distributions. The theoretical results indicate that if the firm parameters are heterogeneous but come from a common distribution, for sufficiently large portfolios there is no scope for further risk reduction through active portfolio management. However, if the firm parameters come from different distributions, then further risk reduction is possible by changing the portfolio weights. In either case, neglecting parameter heterogeneity can lead to underestimation of expected losses. But, once expected losses are controlled for, neglecting parameter heterogeneity can lead to overestimation of risk, whether measured by unexpected loss or value-at-risk
New results on solar neutrino fluxes from 192 days of Borexino data
We report the direct measurement of the ^7Be solar neutrino signal rate
performed with the Borexino detector at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran
Sasso. The interaction rate of the 0.862 MeV ^7Be neutrinos is
49+-3(stat)+-4(syst) counts/(day * 100ton). The hypothesis of no oscillation
for ^7Be solar neutrinos is inconsistent with our measurement at the 4sigma
level. Our result is the first direct measurement of the survival probability
for solar nu_e in the transition region between matter-enhanced and
vacuum-driven oscillations. The measurement improves the experimental
determination of the flux of ^7Be, pp, and CNO solar nu_e, and the limit on the
magnetic moment of neutrinos
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