Direct high-precision measurement of the magnetic moment of the proton

The spin-magnetic moment of the proton $\mu_p$ is a fundamental property of this particle. So far $\mu_p$ has only been measured indirectly, analysing the spectrum of an atomic hydrogen maser in a magnetic field. Here, we report the direct high-precision measurement of the magnetic moment of a single proton using the double Penning-trap technique. We drive proton-spin quantum jumps by a magnetic radio-frequency field in a Penning trap with a homogeneous magnetic field. The induced spin-transitions are detected in a second trap with a strong superimposed magnetic inhomogeneity. This enables the measurement of the spin-flip probability as a function of the drive frequency. In each measurement the proton's cyclotron frequency is used to determine the magnetic field of the trap. From the normalized resonance curve, we extract the particle's magnetic moment in units of the nuclear magneton $\mu_p=2.792847350(9)\mu_N$. This measurement outperforms previous Penning trap measurements in terms of precision by a factor of about 760. It improves the precision of the forty year old indirect measurement, in which significant theoretical bound state corrections were required to obtain $\mu_p$, by a factor of 3. By application of this method to the antiproton magnetic moment $\mu_{\bar{p}}$ the fractional precision of the recently reported value can be improved by a factor of at least 1000. Combined with the present result, this will provide a stringent test of matter/antimatter symmetry with baryons.Comment: published in Natur

High resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of highly-strained quantum dot nanostructures

Much new solid state technology for single-photon sources, detectors, photovoltaics and quantum computation relies on the fabrication of strained semiconductor nanostructures. Successful development of these devices depends strongly on techniques allowing structural analysis on the nanometer scale. However, commonly used microscopy methods are destructive, leading to the loss of the important link between the obtained structural information and the electronic and optical properties of the device. Alternative non-invasive techniques such as optically detected nuclear magnetic resonance (ODNMR) so far proved difficult in semiconductor nano-structures due to significant strain-induced quadrupole broadening of the NMR spectra. Here, we develop new high sensitivity techniques that move ODNMR to a new regime, allowing high resolution spectroscopy of as few as 100000 quadrupole nuclear spins. By applying these techniques to individual strained self-assembled quantum dots, we measure strain distribution and chemical composition in the volume occupied by the confined electron. Furthermore, strain-induced spectral broadening is found to lead to suppression of nuclear spin magnetization fluctuations thus extending spin coherence times. The new ODNMR methods have potential to be applied for non-invasive investigations of a wide range of materials beyond single nano-structures, as well as address the task of understanding and control of nuclear spins on the nanoscale, one of the central problems in quantum information processing

Taking stock of current societal, political and academic stakeholders in the Canadian healthcare knowledge translation agenda

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the past 15 years, knowledge translation in healthcare has emerged as a multifaceted and complex agenda. Theoretical and polemical discussions, the development of a science to study and measure the effects of translating research evidence into healthcare, and the role of key stakeholders including academe, healthcare decision-makers, the public, and government funding bodies have brought scholarly, organizational, social, and political dimensions to the agenda.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>This paper discusses the current knowledge translation agenda in Canadian healthcare and how elements in this agenda shape the discovery and translation of health knowledge.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The current knowledge translation agenda in Canadian healthcare involves the influence of values, priorities, and people; stakes which greatly shape the discovery of research knowledge and how it is or is not instituted in healthcare delivery. As this agenda continues to take shape and direction, ensuring that it is accountable for its influences is essential and should be at the forefront of concern to the Canadian public and healthcare community. This transparency will allow for scrutiny, debate, and improvements in health knowledge discovery and health services delivery.</p

Modern tests of Lorentz invariance

Motivated by ideas about quantum gravity, a tremendous amount of effort over the past decade has gone into testing Lorentz invariance in various regimes. This review summarizes both the theoretical frameworks for tests of Lorentz invariance and experimental advances that have made new high precision tests possible. The current constraints on Lorentz violating effects from both terrestrial experiments and astrophysical observations are presented.Comment: Modified and expanded discussions of various points. Numerous references added. Version matches that accepted by Living Reviews in Relativit

Reversed interfacial fractionation of carbonate and bicarbonate evidenced by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy

The fractionation of ions at liquid interfaces and its effects on the interfacial structure are of vital importance in many scientific fields. Of particular interest is the aqueous carbonate system, which governs both the terrestrial carbon cycle and physiological respiration systems. We have investigated the relative fractionation of carbonate, bicarbonate, and carbonic acid at the liquid/vapor interface finding that both carbonate (CO32-) and carbonic acid (H2CO3) are present in higher concentrations than bicarbonate (HCO3-) in the interfacial region. While the interfacial enhancement of a neutral acid relative to a charged ion is expected, the enhancement of doubly charged, strongly hydrated carbonate anion over the singly charged, less strongly hydrated bicarbonate ion is surprising. As vibrational sum frequency generation experiments have concluded that both carbonate and bicarbonate anions are largely excluded from the air/water interface, the present results suggest that there exists a significant accumulation of carbonate below the depletion region outside of the area probed by sum frequency generation

Reversed interfacial fractionation of carbonate and bicarbonate evidenced by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy

The fractionation of ions at liquid interfaces and its effects on the interfacial structure are of vital importance in many scientific fields. Of particular interest is the aqueous carbonate system, which governs both the terrestrial carbon cycle and physiological respiration systems. We have investigated the relative fractionation of carbonate, bicarbonate, and carbonic acid at the liquid/vapor interface finding that both carbonate (CO32-) and carbonic acid (H2CO3) are present in higher concentrations than bicarbonate (HCO3-) in the interfacial region. While the interfacial enhancement of a neutral acid relative to a charged ion is expected, the enhancement of doubly charged, strongly hydrated carbonate anion over the singly charged, less strongly hydrated bicarbonate ion is surprising. As vibrational sum frequency generation experiments have concluded that both carbonate and bicarbonate anions are largely excluded from the air/water interface, the present results suggest that there exists a significant accumulation of carbonate below the depletion region outside of the area probed by sum frequency generation

The Case of Gender in Moral Neuroeducation

The principal thesis of this chapter is that neuroeducation must engage with a critical concept of gender in order to avoid political decisions being taken that would reinforce the regulation of life according to a simplistic binary view of gender. Thereby, neuroeducation can become an ally in tackling one of the most prominent neuromyths: the idea that there is a clear difference between male and female brains. Over the course of this chapter an analysis is undertaken of concepts of sex and gender in order to critique the prejudices that persist in many neuroscientific studies on sex differences. Attention is then turned to the most prominent neuroscientific theories about sex (and gender) differences and morality, following which a critical framework is discussed for pursuing future research on sex/gender differences within the brain