15,136 research outputs found
Quantum Nonlocality in Two-Photon Experiments at Berkeley
We review some of our experiments performed over the past few years on
two-photon interference. These include a test of Bell's inequalities, a study
of the complementarity principle, an application of EPR correlations for
dispersion-free time-measurements, and an experiment to demonstrate the
superluminal nature of the tunneling process. The nonlocal character of the
quantum world is brought out clearly by these experiments. As we explain,
however, quantum nonlocality is not inconsistent with Einstein causality.Comment: 16 pages including 24 figure
Flow induced ultrasound scattering: experimental studies
Sound scattering by a finite width beam on a single rigid body rotation
vortex flow is detected by a linear array of transducers (both smaller than a
flow cell), and analyzed using a revised scattering theory. Both the phase and
amplitude of the scattered signal are obtained on 64 elements of the detector
array and used for the analysis of velocity and vorticity fields. Due to
averaging on many pulses the signal-to-noise ratio of the phases difference in
the scattered sound signal can be amplified drastically, and the resolution of
the method in the detection of circulation, vortex radius, vorticity, and
vortex location becomes comparable with that obtained earlier by time-reversal
mirror (TRM) method (P. Roux, J. de Rosny, M. Tanter, and M. Fink, {\sl Phys.
Rev. Lett.} {\bf 79}, 3170 (1997)). The revised scattering theory includes two
crucial steps, which allow overcoming limitations of the existing theories.
First, the Huygens construction of a far field scattering signal is carried out
from a signal obtained at any intermediate plane. Second, a beam function that
describes a finite width beam is introduced, which allows using a theory
developed for an infinite width beam for the relation between a scattering
amplitude and the vorticity structure function. Structure functions of the
velocity and vorticity fields deduced from the sound scattering signal are
compared with those obtained from simultaneous particle image velocimetry (PIV)
measurements. Good quantitative agreement is found.Comment: 14 pages, 23 figures. accepted for publication in Phys. Fluids(June
issue
A low-mass faraday cup experiment for the solar wind
Faraday cups have proven to be very reliable and accurate instruments capable of making 3-D velocity distribution measurements on spinning or 3-axis stabilized spacecraft. Faraday cup instrumentation continues to be appropriate for heliospheric missions. As an example, the reductions in mass possible relative to the solar wind detection system about to be flown on the WIND spacecraft were estimated. Through the use of technology developed or used at the MIT Center for Space Research but were not able to utilize for WIND: surface-mount packaging, field-programmable gate arrays, an optically-switched high voltage supply, and an integrated-circuit power converter, it was estimated that the mass of the Faraday Cup system could be reduced from 5 kg to 1.8 kg. Further redesign of the electronics incorporating hybrid integrated circuits as well as a decrease in the sensor size, with a corresponding increase in measurement cycle time, could lead to a significantly lower mass for other mission applications. Reduction in mass of the entire spacecraft-experiment system is critically dependent on early and continual collaborative efforts between the spacecraft engineers and the experimenters. Those efforts concern a range of issues from spacecraft structure to data systems to the spacecraft power voltage levels. Requirements for flight qualification affect use of newer, lighter electronics packaging and its implementation; the issue of quality assurance needs to be specifically addressed. Lower cost and reduced mass can best be achieved through the efforts of a relatively small group dedicated to the success of the mission. Such a group needs a fixed budget and greater control over quality assurance requirements, together with a reasonable oversight mechanism
Experimental Investigation at M-20 of the Longitudinal Aerodynamic Characteristics, Pressure and Heat Transfer Distribution on a 50° Semivertex Angle Sphere-Cone
As part of continuing generalized overall space exploration studies, the Martin Company Space Exploration Group has been engaged in detailed study of the conceptual design of systems and configurations which ultimately would lead to development of a configuration suitable both for Mars atmosphere entry and landing an instrumented payload on the planet\u27s surface. A significant aspect of these Voyager Program Studies encompassed an experimental program devoted to obtaining detailed data concerning the aerodynamic characteristics, heat transfer, and pressure distributions on high-drag configurations at Mach numbers typical of atmospheric entry. One of our most comprehensive experimental efforts associated with the aerodynamics of atmospheric entry included investigations on a 50° semivertex angle sphere-cone equipped with varied afterbody shapes (Fig. 1 ). This configuration is the subject of this paper. It was specifically selected because it is representative of an applicable Voyager configuration and is a simple enough shape to permit comparison of the experimental results with those obtained by theoretical study.
The facility utilized for these investigations was the Martin Company\u27s 25-in. Arc Heated Wind Tunnel 1 located at Middle River, Maryland. All the tests were conducted at a nominal Mach number of 20 in dry nitrogen, and data were obtained at environmental condi - tions which closely simulated portions of a typical deorbit trajectory of the Voyager Lander configuration as exemplified in Fig. 2. The trajectories superimposed on these plots are de-orbit mode trajectories into the Martian atmospheres commonly known as VM-7 and VM-8, which are based upon the Mariner N occultation experiment
Conditional probabilities in quantum theory, and the tunneling time controversy
It is argued that there is a sensible way to define conditional probabilities
in quantum mechanics, assuming only Bayes's theorem and standard quantum
theory. These probabilities are equivalent to the ``weak measurement''
predictions due to Aharonov {\it et al.}, and hence describe the outcomes of
real measurements made on subensembles. In particular, this approach is used to
address the question of the history of a particle which has tunnelled across a
barrier. A {\it gedankenexperiment} is presented to demonstrate the physically
testable implications of the results of these calculations, along with graphs
of the time-evolution of the conditional probability distribution for a
tunneling particle and for one undergoing allowed transmission. Numerical
results are also presented for the effects of loss in a bandgap medium on
transmission and on reflection, as a function of the position of the lossy
region; such loss should provide a feasible, though indirect, test of the
present conclusions. It is argued that the effects of loss on the pulse {\it
delay time} are related to the imaginary value of the momentum of a tunneling
particle, and it is suggested that this might help explain a small discrepancy
in an earlier experiment.Comment: 11 pages, latex, 4 postscript figures separate (one w/ 3 parts
Sub-femtosecond determination of transmission delay times for a dielectric mirror (photonic bandgap) as a function of angle of incidence
Using a two-photon interference technique, we measure the delay for
single-photon wavepackets to be transmitted through a multilayer dielectric
mirror, which functions as a ``photonic bandgap'' medium. By varying the angle
of incidence, we are able to confirm the behavior predicted by the group delay
(stationary phase approximation), including a variation of the delay time from
superluminal to subluminal as the band edge is tuned towards to the wavelength
of our photons. The agreement with theory is better than 0.5 femtoseconds (less
than one quarter of an optical period) except at large angles of incidence. The
source of the remaining discrepancy is not yet fully understood.Comment: 5 pages and 5 figure
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