Electronic spin precession and interferometry from spin-orbital entanglement in a double quantum dot

A double quantum dot inserted in parallel between two metallic leads allows to entangle the electron spin with the orbital (dot index) degree of freedom. An Aharonov-Bohm orbital phase can then be transferred to the spinor wavefunction, providing a geometrical control of the spin precession around a fixed magnetic field. A fully coherent behaviour is obtained in a mixed orbital/spin Kondo regime. Evidence for the spin precession can be obtained, either using spin-polarized metallic leads or by placing the double dot in one branch of a metallic loop.Comment: Final versio

Implementation of an intelligent control system

A laboratory testbed facility which was constructed at NASA LeRC for the development of an Intelligent Control System (ICS) for reusable rocket engines is described. The framework of the ICS consists of a hierarchy of various control and diagnostic functions. The traditional high speed, closed-loop controller resides at the lowest level of the ICS hierarchy. Above this level resides the diagnostic functions which identify engine faults. The ICS top level consists of the coordination function which manages the interaction between an expert system and a traditional control system. The purpose of the testbed is to demonstrate the feasibility of the OCS concept by implementing the ICS as the primary controller in a simulation of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME). The functions of the ICS which are implemented in the testbed are as follows: an SSME dynamic simulation with selected fault mode models, a reconfigurable controller, a neural network for sensor validation, a model-based failure detection algorithm, a rule based failure detection algorithm, a diagnostic expert system, an intelligent coordinator, and a user interface which provides a graphical representation of the event occurring within the testbed. The diverse nature of the ICS has led to the development of a distributed architecture consisting of specialized hardware and software for the implementation of the various functions. This testbed is made up of five different computer systems. These individual computers are discussed along with the schemes used to implement the various ICS components. The communication between computers and the timing and synchronization between components are also addressed

The quantum correlation between the selection of the problem and that of the solution sheds light on the mechanism of the quantum speed up

In classical problem solving, there is of course correlation between the selection of the problem on the part of Bob (the problem setter) and that of the solution on the part of Alice (the problem solver). In quantum problem solving, this correlation becomes quantum. This means that Alice contributes to selecting 50% of the information that specifies the problem. As the solution is a function of the problem, this gives to Alice advanced knowledge of 50% of the information that specifies the solution. Both the quadratic and exponential speed ups are explained by the fact that quantum algorithms start from this advanced knowledge.Comment: Earlier version submitted to QIP 2011. Further clarified section 1, "Outline of the argument", submitted to Phys Rev A, 16 page

Mesoscopic Capacitance Oscillations

We examine oscillations as a function of Fermi energy in the capacitance of a mesoscopic cavity connected via a single quantum channel to a metallic contact and capacitively coupled to a back gate. The oscillations depend on the distribution of single levels in the cavity, the interaction strength and the transmission probability through the quantum channel. We use a Hartree-Fock approach to exclude self-interaction. The sample specific capacitance oscillations are in marked contrast to the charge relaxation resistance, which together with the capacitance defines the RC-time, and which for spin polarized electrons is quantized at half a resistance quantum. Both the capacitance oscillations and the quantized charge relaxation resistance are seen in a strikingly clear manner in a recent experiment.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Quantum Algorithm for the Collision Problem

In this note, we give a quantum algorithm that finds collisions in arbitrary r-to-one functions after only O((N/r)^(1/3)) expected evaluations of the function. Assuming the function is given by a black box, this is more efficient than the best possible classical algorithm, even allowing probabilism. We also give a similar algorithm for finding claws in pairs of functions. Furthermore, we exhibit a space-time tradeoff for our technique. Our approach uses Grover's quantum searching algorithm in a novel way.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX2

Time-Reversal Symmetry and Universal Conductance Fluctuations in a Driven Two-Level System

In the presence of time-reversal symmetry, quantum interference gives strong corrections to the electric conductivity of disordered systems. The self-interference of an electron wavefunction traveling time-reversed paths leads to effects such as weak localization and universal conductance fluctuations. Here, we investigate the effects of broken time-reversal symmetry in a driven artificial two-level system. Using a superconducting flux qubit, we implement scattering events as multiple Landau-Zener transitions by driving the qubit periodically back and forth through an avoided crossing. Interference between different qubit trajectories give rise to a speckle pattern in the qubit transition rate, similar to the interference patterns created when coherent light is scattered off a disordered potential. Since the scattering events are imposed by the driving protocol, we can control the time-reversal symmetry of the system by making the drive waveform symmetric or asymmetric in time. We find that the fluctuations of the transition rate exhibit a sharp peak when the drive is time-symmetric, similar to universal conductance fluctuations in electronic transport through mesoscopic systems

Peres-Horodecki separability criterion for continuous variable systems

The Peres-Horodecki criterion of positivity under partial transpose is studied in the context of separability of bipartite continuous variable states. The partial transpose operation admits, in the continuous case, a geometric interpretation as mirror reflection in phase space. This recognition leads to uncertainty principles, stronger than the traditional ones, to be obeyed by all separable states. For all bipartite Gaussian states, the Peres-Horodecki criterion turns out to be necessary and sufficient condition for separability.Comment: 6 pages, no figure

Integrating Research Data Management into Geographical Information Systems

Ocean modelling requires the production of high-fidelity computational meshes upon which to solve the equations of motion. The production of such meshes by hand is often infeasible, considering the complexity of the bathymetry and coastlines. The use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is therefore a key component to discretising the region of interest and producing a mesh appropriate to resolve the dynamics. However, all data associated with the production of a mesh must be provided in order to contribute to the overall recomputability of the subsequent simulation. This work presents the integration of research data management in QMesh, a tool for generating meshes using GIS. The tool uses the PyRDM library to provide a quick and easy way for scientists to publish meshes, and all data required to regenerate them, to persistent online repositories. These repositories are assigned unique identifiers to enable proper citation of the meshes in journal articles.Comment: Accepted, camera-ready version. To appear in the Proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Semantic Digital Archives (http://sda2015.dke-research.de/), held in Pozna\'n, Poland on 18 September 2015 as part of the 19th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Digital Libraries (http://tpdl2015.info/