Magnetic phase shifter for superconducting qubits

We have designed and investigated a contactless magnetic phase shifter for flux-based superconducting qubits. The phase shifter is realized by placing a perpendicularly magnetized dot at the center of a superconducting loop. The flux generated by this magnetic dot gives rise to an additional shielding current in the loop and induces a phase shift. By modifying the parameters of the dot an arbitrary phase shift can be generated in the loop. This magnetic phase shifter can, therefore, be used as an external current source in superconducting circuits, as well as a suitable tool to study fractional Josephson vortices.     

相移技术中五步等步长Stoilov算法的性能分析

Stoilov算法是近几年提出的一种五步等步长相移算法。有关文献中的误差分析表明 ,该算法的性能优于四步等步长Carr啨算法闹懈隽耍樱簦铮椋欤铮鏊惴ǖ恼繁泶锸?,采用线性误差理论详细分析了算法的性能 ,尤其是算法性能对相移步长的依赖关系。分析表明 ,可以选择一个最佳的相移步长以有效减少位相测量误差 :相移步长为 5 2°时可有效抑制二次相移量误差的影响 ;相移步长为 90°时可极大地减少光强误差的影响。最后给出了Stoilov算法与Carr啨算法和Hariharan算法的比较。     

Quantum state preparation and conditional coherence

It is well known that spontaneous parametric down-conversion can be used to probabilistically prepare single-photon states. We have performed an experiment in which arbitrary superpositions of zero- and one-photon states can be prepared by appropriate postselection. The optical phase, which is meaningful only for superpositions of photon number, is related to the relative phase between the zero- and one-photon states. Whereas the light from spontaneous parametric down-conversion has an undefined phase, we show that this technique collapses one beam to a state of well-defined optical phase when a measurement succeeds on the other beam.     

Three-dimensional analysis of scattering by pressure-release plane surfaces and the validity of the image solution

Because of the complexity of the scattering integrals in three dimensions, numerous approximations are used to obtain closed-form solutions. By considering the scattering by an infinite, pressure-release plane surface, the effects of various phase approximations and source directivity approximations can be examined independently of the surface roughness. Calculations are carried out using the Fraunhofer and Fresnel phase approximations, and two directivity approximations. It has been shown experimentally that the image solution is valid for the reflection of an acoustic beam by an infinite, pressure-release plane surface if the plane is in the farfield of the source. Consequently, the image solution is used to compare analytical solutions obtained using various phase and directivity approximations, and it is found that both the Fresnel phase approximation and a realistic directivity approximation are required to achieve a good fit. The solution produced by the Fraunhofer phase approximation is obtained as an asymptotic limit of the modified Fresnel solution. Criteria for the validity of the Fraunhofer and Fresnel phase approximations are developed. The Fresnel phase approximation is valid under fairly broad conditions, but the Fraunhofer phase approximation is never valid for an infinite plane surface that must be in the farfield of the source.     

Diffraction loss analysis of a plane-parallel optical cavity with a phase step and a slit aperture

A model for calculating the round trip diffraction loss in a plane-mirror cavity with an intracavity phase step and an infinite slit aperture is developed. The round trip remaining intensity fraction for the low order transverse cavity modes can be calculated for any given location of the slit aperture and the phase step along the cavity and for any given phase delay on the phase step. The diffraction loss on the slit aperture is found to be a periodic function of the phase delay on the phase step. Transformation of the lasing spectrum emitted from a broadband pulsed dye laser on moving the phase step along the oscillator cavity is reproduced theoretically. The lasing spectrum affected by the phase step is interpreted as the wavelength dependence of the remaining intensity fraction for the principal transverse mode.     

Quantum geometric phase between orthogonal states

We show that the geometric phase between any two states, including orthogonal states, can be extracted and measured using the notion of projective measurement, and we show that a topological number can be extracted in the geometric phase change in an infinitesimal loop near an orthogonal state. Also, the Pancharatnam phase change during the passage through an orthogonal state is shown to be either pi or zero (mod 2pi). All the off-diagonal geometric phases can be obtained from the projective geometric phase calculated with our generalized connection.     

Some non-abelian phase spaces in low dimensions

A non-abelian phase space, or a phase space of a Lie algebra, is a generalization of the usual (abelian) phase space of a vector space. It corresponds to a para-Kähler structure in geometry. Its structure can be interpreted in terms of left-symmetric algebras. In particular, a solution of an algebraic equation in a left-symmetric algebra which is an analogue of classical Yang–Baxter equation in a Lie algebra can induce a phase space. In this paper, we find that such phase spaces have a symplectically isomorphic property. We also give all such phase spaces in dimension 4 and some examples in dimension 6. These examples can be a guide for a further development.     

Phase shifting algorithms for non-sinusoidal waveforms with phase shift errors

In phase shifting interferometry, phase errors due to harmonic components of a fringe signal can be minimized by applying synchronous phase shifting algorithms with more than four samples. However, when the phase shift calibration is inaccurate, these algorithms cannot eliminate the effects of a non-sinusoidal waveform. It is shown that by taking a number of samples beyond one period of the fringe pattern, phase errors due to the harmonic components of the fringe signal can be eliminated, even when there exists a constant error in the phase shift interval. A general procedure for constructing phase shifting algorithms that eliminate these errors is derived. A seven-sample phase shifting algorithm is derived as an example, in which the effect of the second harmonic component can be eliminated in the presence of a constant error in the phase shift interval.     

Selective depiction of susceptibility transitions using Laplace-filtered phase maps

In this work, we aim to demonstrate the ability of Laplace-filtered three-dimensional (3D) phase maps to selectively depict the susceptibility transitions in an object. To realize this goal, it is first shown that both the Laplace derivative of the z component of the static magnetic field in an object and the Laplacian of the corresponding phase distribution may be expected to be zero in regions of constant or linearly varying susceptibility and to be nonzero when there is an abrupt change in susceptibility, for instance, at a single point, a ridge, an interface, an edge or a boundary. Next, a method is presented by which the Laplace derivative of a 3D phase map can be directly extracted from the complex data, without the need for phase unwrapping or subtraction of a reference image. The validity of this approach and of the theory behind it is subsequently demonstrated by simulations and phantom experiments with exactly known susceptibility distributions. Finally, the potential of the Laplace derivative analysis is illustrated by simulations with a Shepp-Logan digital brain phantom and experiments with a gel phantom containing positive and negative focal susceptibility deviations.     

Geometric phase in Bohmian mechanics

Using the quantum kinematic approach of Mukunda and Simon, we propose a geometric phase in Bohmian mechanics. A reparametrization and gauge invariant geometric phase is derived along an arbitrary path in configuration space. The single valuedness of the wave function implies that the geometric phase along a path must be equal to an integer multiple of 2π. The nonzero geometric phase indicates that we go through the branch cut of the action function from one Riemann sheet to another when we locally travel along the path. For stationary states, quantum vortices exhibiting the quantized circulation integral can be regarded as a manifestation of the geometric phase. The bound-state Aharonov-Bohm effect demonstrates that the geometric phase along a closed path contains not only the circulation integral term but also an additional term associated with the magnetic flux. In addition, it is shown that the geometric phase proposed previously from the ensemble theory is not gauge invariant.     

Non-equilibrium dynamical phases of the two-atom Dicke model

In this paper, we investigate the non-equilibrium dynamical phases of the two-atom Dicke model, which can be realized in a two species Bose–Einstein condensate interacting with a single light mode in an optical cavity. Apart from the usual non-equilibrium normal and inverted phases, a non-equilibrium mixed phase is possible which is a combination of normal and inverted phase. A new kind of dynamical phase transition is predicted from non-superradiant mixed phase to the superradiant phase which can be achieved by tuning the two different atom–photon couplings. We also show that a dynamical phase transition from the non-superradiant mixed phase to the superradiant phase is forbidden for certain values of the two atom–photon coupling strengths.     

Diffuse ferroelectric phase transitions in cubically sabilized perovskites

Typical examples of ferroelectrics with diffuse phase transitions (relaxor ferroelectrics), like Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ are actually non transforming. The paraelectric phase is fully stablized against a ferroelectric phase transition in this case. A phase transition can be induced, however, by an electric field with appropriate orientation below the temperature of the dielectric constant maximum. The analogy with stress-induced martensitic phase transitions in metallic alloys is pointed out. Pecularities of the properties and of the polarization reversal of such systems are demonstrated. Actual diffuse ferroelectric phase transitions in disordered solid solutions and mixed compounds with a partially stabilized parent phase are compared with athermal martensitic transformations. With particular regard to technical ceramics based on PZT, the influence of interfaces between transformed regions and remnants of the parent phase which have to distinguished from domain walls, and of the reduced stability of the ferroelectric phase on the properties of these systems is discussed. Some effects usually explained solely by domain processes may be understood also from this point of view.

Stabilization of a parent phase against an order-disorder-type phase transition is supposed to be caused by glass-like freezing caused by inelastic cooperative interactions between disordered molecular groups.     

Automated phase correction of FT NMR spectra by means of phase measurement based on dispersion versus absorption relation (DISPA)

A plot of dispersion vs absorption (DISPA) for an isolated Lorentzian spectral line is a circle tangent to the origin, with diameter equal to the absorption-mode peak height. A Lorentzian signal misphased by angle φ will give a DISPA plot which is still circular but which is rotated about the origin by the same angle φ. Thus, the phase of an isolated peak can be determined by finding the angle of rotation of an iteratively fitted DISPA circle for that peak. However, since the perpendicular bisectors of any two chords of a circle must intersect at the center of that circle, the phase angle may be determined much more rapidly simply by finding the average intersection point of several DISPA chord bisectors. Moreover, the computation can be performed from the raw spectral data, without actually constructing a DISPA plot. Determination of the phases of two or more peaks in the spectrum then yields a phase spectrum which may be quickly analyzed to yield zero- and first-order phase corrections. This phase correction method is rapid, readily automated, and has been applied to experimental carbon-13 FT NMR spectra of crosslinked dextran polymers, without need for prior calibration from a reference sample. The method can be extended to include symmetrical multiplets.     

Unique phase recovery for nonperiodic objects

It is well known that the loss of phase information at detection means that a diffraction pattern may be consistent with a multitude of physically different structures. This Letter shows that it is possible to perform unique structural determination in the absence of a priori information using x-ray fields with phase curvature. We argue that significant phase curvature is already available using modern x-ray optics and we demonstrate an algorithm that allows the phase to be recovered uniquely and reliably.     

Phase deviation analysis and phase retrieval for partial intensity saturation in phase-shifting projected fringe profilometry

Intensity saturation may take place as a sinusoidal fringe pattern is projected onto an object which has a relative high reflective index on some regions of the surface. If a phase-shifting method is used, the illuming light intensities at the same point of the object may have different values for each projected phase-shifting fringe pattern. Therefore, when the intensity at a point of the object exceeds the saturation level for a certain phase step of projected fringe pattern, other intensities obtained at the same point with different phase steps of projected fringe patterns do not exceed the saturation level. This kind of saturation is defined as partial intensity saturation. In the case of partial intensity saturation, a relative larger phase error is introduced when a conventional phase reconstruction algorithm is used in the phase-shifting projected fringe profilometry (PSPFP). To get rid of such disadvantage, an improved algorithm for phase reconstruction is proposed in this paper. By using the new algorithm, the effect of partial intensity saturation for the phase reconstruction can be decreased greatly and a good quality of reconstructed phase map can be obtained. Phase deviation of the reconstructed phase is also analyzed. Finally, an experimental result with PSPFP is presented to validate the feasibility of the proposed algorithm.     

Physicochemical processes in multiphase systems on metal surfaces containing nano-carbon: Segregation,dissolution, graphene nucleation,and growth

A carbon phase equilibria on the surface of metals during graphene nucleation and initial graphite growth is considered thermodynamically. Three phases are shown to be necessarily taken into account: C atoms dissolved in a metal substrate bulk, C atoms chemisorbed on the surface, and graphene (polycondensed carbon phase). Applicability of the Gibbs phase rule to this particular case is analyzed, with surface tension taken into account as an independent thermodynamic degree of freedom. A specific role of boundary atoms of graphene islands, which can be considered (with some limitations) as an independent quasi-1D phase is revealed.     

Phase signature for particle detection with digital in-line holography

The spatial phase resulting from the digital reconstruction of an in-line hologram of a particle field is shown to yield a unique pattern that can be used for particle detection. This phase signature is present only when viewed along with the reference light. The existence of the phase pattern is verified computationally and confirmed in laboratory experiments with holograms of calibrated glass spheres. The phase signature provides an alternative to the widely used intensity method for particle detection.     

Structural transformation induced by magnetic field and "colossal-like" magnetoresistance response above 313 K in MnAs

MnAs exhibits a first-order phase transition from a ferromagnetic, high-spin metal hexagonal phase to a paramagnetic, lower-spin insulator orthorhombic phase at T(C)=313 K. Here, we report the results of neutron diffraction experiments showing that an external magnetic field, B, stabilizes the hexagonal phase above T(C). The phase transformation is reversible and constitutes the first demonstration of a bond-breaking transition induced by a magnetic field. The field-induced phase transition is accompanied by an enhanced magnetoresistance of about 17% at 310 K. The phenomenon appears to be similar to that of the colossal magnetoresistance response observed in the Mn [corrected] perovskite family.     

A simple method to unwrap the geometrically discontinuous phase map and its application in the measurement of IC package

Research on the techniques to unwrap the geometrically discontinuous phase map is an active area during the past decade, various algorithm are developed. Basically, these algorithms need a prior knowledge about the spatial extension of the discontinuity area in the sample for correct phase unwrapping, manual mask is often involved and negate the sense of automatic processing to fringe patterns. More ever, current phase unwrapping algorithms are either computationally complex or highly time consuming. In this paper, a refined method is proposed to deal with the geometrical discontinuity problem in an improved automation sense: suppression of background noise and recognition of discontinuity area in the phase map can be finished in the same time, and discontinuous phase map can be unwrapped in a simple way to avoid the effect of discontinuity area. An example of electronic package with complex shape and structure is used to verify the efficiency of this method.     

Berry’s phase for an electron in a periodic potential without inversion symmetry

Berry’s phase is calculated for an electron in a simple one-dimensional solid. The model used is a generalized Kronig-Penney potential, parameterized so that it may or may not have inversion symmetry. It is shown that the Berry’s phase as a function of an asymmetry parameter evolves from a linear to a non-linear form as inversion symmetry is broken. The functional form of the Berry’s phase is seen to be band-dependent in a simple way, suggesting that it can be used to identify the band in question.