Three-Nucleon Continuum by means of the Hyperspherical Adiabatic Method

This paper investigates the possible use of the Hyperspherical Adiabatic basis in the description of scattering states of a three-body system. In particular, we analyze a 1+2 collision process below the three-body breakup. The convergence patterns for the observables of interest are analyzed by comparison to a unitary equivalent Hyperspherical Harmonic expansion. Furthermore, we compare and discuss two different possible choices for describing the asymptotic configurations of the system, related to the use of Jacobi or hyperspherical coordinates. In order to illustrate the difficulties and advantages of the approach two simple numerical applications are shown in the case of neutron-deuteron scattering at low energies using s-wave interactions. We found that the optimization driven by the Hyperspherical Adiabatic basis is not as efficient for scattering states as in bound state applications.Comment: 29 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Few-Body Systems (in press

Adsorption du pentachlorophenol sur divers matériaux : Influence de co-adsorbats organiques (Substances humiques et lindane)

Nous avons réalisé, pour de faibles concentrations, l'étude de l'adsoprtion d'un pesticide le pentachlorophénol, sur plusieurs matériaux adsorbants : le charbon actif, la kaolinite et la bentone. Les résultats montrent que l'adsorption du pentachlorophénol sur la kaolinite reste négligeable tandis que la bentone SD-3 (argile traitée) permet d'obtenir des résultats intéressants avec toutefois une capacité maximale d'adsorption 10 à 100 fois plus faible que celle du charbon actif. Le charbon actif reste le meilleur matériau adsorbant pour le pentachlorophénol. La solubilité de ce composé étant très variable en fonction du pH du milieu on constate que l'adsorption du pentachlorophénol-pentachlorophénate (5 mg.l-1) diminue pour des valeurs de pH supérieures au pKa du couple acide-base que nous avons déterminé expérimentalement, égal à 5,9 ± 0,1. L'adsorption du pentachlorophénol n'est pas affectée par la présence d'acides humiques (obtenus à partir de substances commerciales) utilisés comme coadsorbats (10 mg.l-1) alors que les acides fulviques (20 mg.l-1) extraits de sols semblent provoquer une promotion de l'adsorption. On observe d'autre part que le pentachlorophénol n'affecte pas l'adsorption des acides humiques mais augmente légèrement celle des acides fulviques. Ces remarques suggèrent la possible formation d'un complexe acides fulviques-pentachlorophénol. Lorsqu'on utilise le lindane, pesticide hydrophobe comme coadsorbat (165 mg.l-1), on observe encore d'une façon systématique pour tous les nombreux essais une légère promotion de l'adsorption.Adsorption studies for the removal of the pesticide pentachlorophenol found in a number of water supplies (BELAMIE and GIROUD, 1986) were carried out using various materials including kaolinite, bentone SD-3 and powdered activated carbon (WEBER and GOULD, 1966; WEBER and JODELHAH, 1985). It was found that adsorption on kaolinite was negligible, whereas bentone SD-3 presented and adsorption efficiency from 10 to 100-fold less than equivalent quantities of powdered activated carbon (LOTSE et al., 1968; SHAROM et al., 1980). The effect of the pH on the removal of pentachlorophenol by activated carbon was studied. The removal efficiency of pentachlorophenol by activated carbon is better in acidic media. A clear dependence of adsorption on the pH appeared to be the result of a marked variation of the pesticide solubility as a function of the pH (fig. 3). Adsorption of pentachlorophenol/phenate (5mg.l-1) diminishes markedly at pH values above the pKa of this weak acid (that we found equal to 5,9 ± 0,1) when the pentachlorophenol exists almost entirely in ionic form in aqueous solution, and is enhanced at low pH when the percentage of molecular species (whose concentration can be determined from pKa value) becomes significant (WARD and GETZEN, 1970). These remarks and the adsorptive capacities (163 mg.g-1= 0,6 mmol.g-1 at pH = 5,2 and 79 mg.g-1 0,3 mmol.g-1 at pH =12,7), suggest a П-П interaction between pentachlorophenol and activated carbon which seems to be confirmed by the results with bentone SD-3 (tables 1 to 4), and the values of the electrokinetic potential of these materials. This study emphasizes the effect of organic coadsorbates (e.g., dissolved humic substances and the pesticide lindane) on the adsorption capacity of activated carbon for pentachlorophenol. Two different natural organic matters were studied as coadsorbates : purified humic acids from a commercial source (at 10 mg.l-1) and fulvic acids extracted from a top soil horizon (et 20 mg.l-1) (SCHNITZER and SKINNER, 1963; THURMAN and MALCOLM, 1981). Pentachlorophenol adsorption was not affected by humic acids, whereas an increase of adsorption seemed to be observed in the presence of fulvic acids (fig. 6). Pentachlorophenol does not affect the adsorption of humic acids, but improves slightly the removal of fulvic acids. This suggests an association between the two kinds of organic compounds (WERSNAW et al., 1969; KHAN, 1972; OGNER and SCHNITZER, 1970), the resulting « complex », fulvic acids/pentachlorophenol, being more adsorbed than the compounds themselves. The coadsorbate lindane (0,65 mg.l-1) which is easily adsorbed by activated carton (GOMELLA and BELLE, 1975...) seemed also to Improve slightly the removal efficiency of pentachlorophenol by activated carton (fig. 7)

Compact Source of EPR Entanglement and Squeezing at Very Low Noise Frequencies

We report on the experimental demonstration of strong quadrature EPR entanglement and squeezing at very low noise sideband frequencies produced by a single type-II, self-phase-locked, frequency degenerate optical parametric oscillator below threshold. The generated two-mode squeezed vacuum state is preserved for noise frequencies as low as 50 kHz. Designing simple setups able to generate non-classical states of light in the kHz regime is a key challenge for high sensitivity detection of ultra-weak physical effects such as gravitational wave or small beam displacement

Conditional preparation of a quantum state in the continuous variable regime: generation of a sub-Poissonian state from twin beams

We report the first experimental demonstration of conditional preparation of a non classical state of light in the continuous variable regime. Starting from a non degenerate OPO which generates above threshold quantum intensity correlated signal and idler "twin beams", we keep the recorded values of the signal intensity only when the idler falls inside a band of values narrower than its standard deviation. By this very simple technique, we generate a sub-Poissonian state 4.4dB below shot noise from twin beams exhibiting 7.5dB of noise reduction in the intensity difference.Comment: 4 pages, Accepted in Phys. Rev. Let

L'adaptation de l'agriculture à la disponibilité de la ressource en eau : le cas de la Drôme des Collines

Cet article présente la méthode et les résultats d'une étude sur l'adaptation de l'agriculture à la disponibilité de la ressource en eau dans la Drôme des Collines. Cette étude visait à répondre aux questions suivantes : 1) Quel serait l'impact économique d'une réduction du volume prélevable pour l'irrigation agricole sur les exploitations et les filières ? 2) Quelles solutions d'adaptation et mesures d'accompagnement pourraient être mises en place pour atténuer cet impact économique ? Afin de comprendre au mieux les enjeux locaux liés à la réforme des volumes prélevables, une démarche participative a été mise en oeuvre, avec une forte implication de l'équipe prestataire sur le terrain et une mobilisation des acteurs locaux, notamment de la profession agricole. Cette approche a permis d'élaborer un diagnostic partagé de l'agriculture en Drôme des Collines, à l'échelle des exploitations et des filières. L'impact d'une réduction des autorisations de prélèvements en eau (- 40 % ) a été simulé sur les indicateurs-clefs (EBE, production et volume d'eau consommé). Sur proposition des acteurs du territoire, des mesures d'adaptation ont aussi été envisagées et analysées en termes d'impacts. Au-delà du cas de la Drôme des Collines, l'article dégage des éléments de méthode transposables sur d'autres territoires et met en perspective l'approche choisie avec celles de travaux similaires

Nano-displacement measurements using spatially multimode squeezed light

We demonstrate the possibility of surpassing the quantum noise limit for simultaneous multi-axis spatial displacement measurements that have zero mean values. The requisite resources for these measurements are squeezed light beams with exotic transverse mode profiles. We show that, in principle, lossless combination of these modes can be achieved using the non-degenerate Gouy phase shift of optical resonators. When the combined squeezed beams are measured with quadrant detectors, we experimentally demonstrate a simultaneous reduction in the transverse x- and y- displacement fluctuations of 2.2 dB and 3.1 dB below the quantum noise limit.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures, submitted to "Special Issue on Fluctuations & Noise in Photonics & Quantum Optics" of J. Opt.

Continuous-Variable Spatial Entanglement for Bright Optical Beams

A light beam is said to be position squeezed if its position can be determined to an accuracy beyond the standard quantum limit. We identify the position and momentum observables for bright optical beams and show that position and momentum entanglement can be generated by interfering two position, or momentum, squeezed beams on a beam splitter. The position and momentum measurements of these beams can be performed using a homodyne detector with local oscillator of an appropriate transverse beam profile. We compare this form of spatial entanglement with split detection-based spatial entanglement.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted to PR

Residual Symmetries in the Spectrum of Periodically Driven Alkali Rydberg States

We identify a fundamental structure in the spectrum of microwave driven alkali Rydberg states, which highlights the remnants of the Coulomb symmetry in the presence of a non-hydrogenic core. Core-induced corrections with respect to the hydrogen spectrum can be accounted for by a perturbative approach.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, to be published in Europhysics Letter

Un outil de simulation adapté à la gestion des ressources en eau du territoire dans le cadre d’une démarche participative

National audienceThis paper presents a simulation tool adapted to water resources management on a territorial scale, as part of a participatory process. This tool combines the PILOTE-TER crop model and the Olympe technico-economical simulator. PILOTE-TER links the crop model Pilote developed by Irstea with a database managed through a graphical interface. It makes possible to use the Pilote model to evaluate the water demand and the crop yield at the scale of the field, the farm and the territory. The parameters of the model come from the results of experiments performed by Irstea. PILOTE-TER is linked to the technico-economic simulator Olympe (from INRA) to produce economical indicators. These tools are used for a territorial representation of agriculture build with local stakeholders, allowing the comparison of several scenarios (based on economical, policy or climate changes).Cet article présente un outil de simulation adapté à la gestion de ressources en eau à l’échelle d’un territoire dans le cadre de démarches participatives. Cet outil associe un modèle de culture, Pilote Ter, et le simulateur technico-économique Olympe. Pilote Ter intègre le modèle de culture Pilote développé par Irstea et un système de base de données géré à partir d’une interface graphique. Il permet une utilisation territorialisée du modèle de culture Pilote pour évaluer la demande en eau agricole et les rendements des cultures à l’échelle de la parcelle, de l’exploitation agricole et du territoire. Le paramétrage du modèle s’appuie sur les résultats des expérimentations menées par Irstea. Pilote Ter est couplé au simulateur technico-économique Olympe (INRA) pour produire des indicateurs économiques. Ces deux logiciels sont le support d’une représentation de l’agriculture du territoire co-construite avec les acteurs locaux permettant l’étude de scénarios économiques, réglementaires ou climatiques

Quantum interference of ultrastable twin optical beams

We report the first measurement of the quantum phase-difference noise of an ultrastable nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator that emits twin beams classically phase-locked at exact frequency degeneracy. The measurement illustrates the property of a lossless balanced beam-splitter to convert number-difference squeezing into phase-difference squeezing and, thus, provides indirect evidence for Heisenberg-limited interferometry using twin beams. This experiment is a generalization of the Hong-Ou-Mandel interference effect for continuous variables and constitutes a milestone towards continuous-variable entanglement of bright, ultrastable nondegenerate beams.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figs, accepted by Phys. Rev. Let