Elastic response of filamentous networks with compliant crosslinks

Experiments have shown that elasticity of disordered filamentous networks with compliant crosslinks is very different from networks with rigid crosslinks. Here, we model and analyze filamentous networks as a collection of randomly oriented rigid filaments connected to each other by flexible crosslinks that are modeled as worm-like chains. For relatively large extensions we allow for enthalpic stretching of crosslinks' backbones. We show that for sufficiently high crosslink density, the network linear elastic response is affine on the scale of the filaments' length. The nonlinear regime can become highly nonaffine and is characterized by a divergence of the elastic modulus at finite strain. In contrast to the prior predictions, we do not find an asymptotic regime in which the differential elastic modulus scales linearly with the stress, although an approximate linear dependence can be seen in a transition from entropic to enthalpic regimes. We discuss our results in light of the recent experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure

Direct evidence for the magnetic ordering of Nd ions in NdMn2_2Si2_2 and NdMn2_2Ge2_2 by high resolution inelastic neutron scattering

We have investigated the low energy nuclear spin excitations in NdMn$_2$Si$_2$ and NdMn$_2$Ge$_2$ by high resolution inelastic neutron scattering. Previous neutron diffraction investigations gave ambiguous results about Nd magnetic ordering at low temperatures. The present element-specific technique gave direct evidence for the magnetic ordering of Nd ions. We found considerable difference in the process of the Nd magnetic ordering at low temperature in NdMn$_2$Si$_2$ and NdMn$_2$Ge$_2$. Our results are consistent with those of magnetization and recent neutron diffraction measurements

Direct evidence for the magnetic ordering of Nd ions in NdFeAsO by high resolution inelastic neutron scattering

We investigated the low energy excitations in the parent compound NdFeAsO of the Fe-pnictide superconductor in the $\mu$eV range by a back scattering neutron spectrometer. The energy scans on a powder NdFeAsO sample revealed inelastic peaks at E = 1.600 $\pm 0.003 \mu$eV at T = 0.055 K on both energy gain and energy loss sides. The inelastic peaks move gradually towards lower energy with increasing temperature and finally merge with the elastic peak at about 6 K. We interpret the inelastic peaks to be due to the transition between hyperfine-split nuclear level of the $^{143}$Nd and $^{145}$Nd isotopes with spin $I = 7/2$. The hyperfine field is produced by the ordering of the electronic magnetic moment of Nd at low temperature and thus the present investigation gives direct evidence of the ordering of the Nd magnetic sublattice of NdFeAsO at low temperature

Quantum key distribution using non-classical photon number correlations in macroscopic light pulses

We propose a new scheme for quantum key distribution using macroscopic non-classical pulses of light having of the order 10^6 photons per pulse. Sub-shot-noise quantum correlation between the two polarization modes in a pulse gives the necessary sensitivity to eavesdropping that ensures the security of the protocol. We consider pulses of two-mode squeezed light generated by a type-II seeded parametric amplification process. We analyze the security of the system in terms of the effect of an eavesdropper on the bit error rates for the legitimate parties in the key distribution system. We also consider the effects of imperfect detectors and lossy channels on the security of the scheme.Comment: Modifications:added new eavesdropping attack, added more references Submitted to Physical Review A [email protected]

A simple low-SAR technique for chemical-shift selection with high-field spin-echo imaging

We have discovered a simple and highly robust method for removal of chemical shift artifact in spin-echo MR images, which simultaneously decreases the radiofrequency power deposition (specific absorption rate). The method is demonstrated in spin-echo echo-planar imaging brain images acquired at 7 T, with complete suppression of scalp fat signal. When excitation and refocusing pulses are sufficiently different in duration, and thus also different in the amplitude of their slice-select gradients, a spatial mismatch is produced between the fat slices excited and refocused, with no overlap. Because no additional radiofrequency pulse is used to suppress fat, the specific absorption rate is significantly reduced compared with conventional approaches. This enables greater volume coverage per unit time, well suited for functional and diffusion studies using spin-echo echo-planar imaging. Moreover, the method can be generally applied to any sequence involving slice-selective excitation and at least one slice-selective refocusing pulse at high magnetic field strengths. The method is more efficient than gradient reversal methods and more robust against inhomogeneities of the static (polarizing) field (B0)

Electromagnetic induced transparency and slow light in interacting quantum degenerate atomic gases

We systematically develop the full quantum theory for the electromagnetic induced transparency (EIT) and slow light properties in ultracold Bose and Fermi gases. It shows a very different property from the classical theory which assumes frozen atomic motion. For example, the speed of light inside the atomic gases can be changed dramatically near the Bose-Einstein condensation temperature, while the presence of the Fermi sea can destroy the EIT effect even at zero temperature. From experimental point of view, such quantum EIT property is mostly manifested in the counter-propagating excitation schemes in either the low-lying Rydberg transition with a narrow line width or in the D2 transitions with a very weak coupling field. We further investigate the interaction effects on the EIT for a weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate, showing an inhomogeneous broadening of the EIT profile and nontrivial change of the light speed due to the quantum many-body effects beyond mean field energy shifts.Comment: 7 figure

Ion detection in the photoionization of a Rb Bose-Einstein condensate

Two-photon ionization of Rubidium atoms in a magneto-optical trap and a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is experimentally investigated. Using 100 ns laser pulses, we detect single ions photoionized from the condenstate with a 35(10)% efficiency. The measurements are performed using a quartz cell with external electrodes, allowing large optical access for BECs and optical lattices.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure