Nonclassical properties of coherent states

It is demonstrated that a weak measurement of the squared quadrature observable may yield negative values for coherent states. This result cannot be reproduced by a classical theory where quadratures are stochastic c-numbers. The nonclassicality of coherent states can be associated with negative values of the Terletsky–Margenau–Hill distribution.     

Nonclassicality of a single quantum excitation of a thermal field in thermal environments

The nonclassicality of single photon-added thermal states in the thermal channel is investigated by exploring the volume of the negative part of the Wigner function. The Wigner functions become positive when the decay time exceeds a threshold value γtc, which only depends on the effective temperature of the thermal channel. Furthermore, we firstly demonstrate γtc is the same for arbitrary pure or mixed nonclassical optical fields with zero population in vacuum state.     

Strain-induced changes in electronic structures and work function for (0 0 1), (1 1 0) and (1 1 1) of AlCu3

Studies of strain-induced changes in surface properties of metal/alloy surface have long been concerned by lot of scientists. However, the strain effects on the work function (WF), and in particular, its physical mechanism have not been well understood. In this paper, we employed a first-principles method to study the effects of biaxial strain in WF on the (0 0 1), (1 1 0) and (1 1 1) surfaces of AlCu₃. The relationship among the WF change, atomic relaxation and charge transfer induced by strain was discussed. The calculated results showed that tensile strain decreased the WF, while the compressive strain increased the WF; a larger atomic relaxation often followed with a larger WF change. The sensitivity of the WF with respect to the strain was strongly dependent on the direction of the surface or the density of atom packed plane of the surface.     

Reduction of quantum phase fluctuations in intermediate states

Recently we have shown that the reduction of the Carruthers-Nieto symmetric quantum phase fluctuation parameter (U) with respect to its coherent state value corresponds to an antibunched state, but the converse is not true. Consequently reduction of U is a stronger criterion of nonclassicality than the lowest order antibunching. Here we have studied the possibilities of reduction of U in intermediate states by using the Barnett-Pegg formalism. We have shown that the reduction of phase fluctuation parameter U can be seen in different intermediate states, such as binomial state, generalized binomial state, hypergeometric state, negative binomial state, and photon added coherent state. It is also shown that the depth of nonclassicality can be controlled by various parameters related to intermediate states. Further, we have provided specific examples of antibunched states, for which U is greater than its Poissonian state value.     

光子增减叠加相干态在热环境中的退相干

研究了由光子增减叠加操作作用于相干态而得量子态的非经典性及其在热环境中的退相干问题.通过解析导出了Mandel's Q参数、光子数分布、Wigner函数等,讨论其非经典性.研究表明一阶光子增减相干叠加相干态在相空间总是取负值,只要满足条件∣2z* +α-α*∣2＜1.基于Wigner函数的演化积分公式,解析地推导出了在热环境中Wigner函数的简洁表达式.研究首次表明:如果κt＜1/2ln[(2(η)+2)/(2(η)+1)]得以满足,一阶光子增减相干叠加相干态在相空间最小值点处Wigner函数分布总存在负部.此外,根据Wigner函数负部体积讨论了其非经典特性.     

The effect of atomic spontaneous decay on the dynamics of the negativity of the Wigner function of radiation

The exact solution of the master equation for the case of a high-Q cavity with atomic decay is found. We use the negativity of the Wigner function (WF) as an indicator of nonclassicality. It is found that the negative values of the field WF are very sensitive to any change in the damping parameter. The atomic spontaneous decay leads to the simultaneous disappearance of both entanglement and nonclassicality of quantum states. Moreover, the purity of the field states is completely lost.     

Direct sampling of negative quasiprobabilities of a squeezed state

Although squeezed states are nonclassical states, so far, their nonclassicality could not be demonstrated by negative quasiprobabilities. In this work we derive pattern functions for the direct experimental determination of so-called nonclassicality quasiprobabilities. The negativities of these quantities turn out to be necessary and sufficient for the nonclassicality of an arbitrary quantum state and are therefore suitable for a direct and general test of nonclassicality. We apply the method to a squeezed vacuum state of light that was generated by parametric down-conversion in a second-order nonlinear crystal.     

Nonclassicality generated by propagation of atoms through a cavity field

We successively pass two V-type three-level atoms through a single-mode cavity field. Considering the field to be initially in a classical state, we evaluate various statistical properties such as the quasiprobability Q function, Wigner distribution, Mandel?s Q parameter and normal squeezing of the resulted field. We notice that the sequential crossing of atoms induces nonclassicality into the character of a pure classical state (coherent field). The initial thermal field shows sub-Poissonian as well as squeezing property after interacting with the V atoms.     

Relaxation of a 2D MHD flow across a magnetic field (2D hydrodynamic flow) in a bounded region

The problem on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a solitary vortex across a magnetic field in a volume confined by rigid walls is solved numerically for large Reynolds numbers (including magnetic Reynolds numbers) and small Alfven-Mach numbers M _A . In this case, the MHD problem is reduced to that of two-dimensional hydrodynamic turbulence. It is shown that sound is not generated by a turbulent medium for small values of M _A ; consequently, this kinetic energy dissipation channel is closed in this case. Calculations show that, in contrast to 3D turbulence, kinetic energy dissipation for 2D turbulence occurs, as expected, over time periods on the order of L²/v(L is the characteristic size of the system and v is the kinematic viscosity). In our calculations with numerical viscosity v～vΔx (Δx is the unit cell size), this corresponds to time values on the order of ～(L/Δx)(L/v). In the kinetic energy spectra for a turbulent flow in a bounded region in the inertial interval (lying between the energy-carrying and viscosity regions), the values of E(k) decrease with increasing wave numbers k at a higher rate than in proportion to k^?3. The volume distribution of vorticity becomes narrower with time (the characteristic values of curlv decrease) and is blurred; for large time periods, the distribution approximately retains its shape as well as asymmetry with respect to positive and negative values, which is associated with the asymmetry of the initial conditions.     

Nonclassical and non-Gaussian properties of states generated by the superposed photon added-and-subtracted operation on squeezed vacuum

A new kind of non-Gaussian quantum state is constructed by operating the superposed operator (SO) (cos θaa^† + sin θa^†a) on a squeezed vacuum state (SVS) S(r)|0〉. It is found that the SOSVS is just a superposition state between S(r)|0〉 and S(r)|2〉 with only even numbers of photons. The nonclassicality is investigated by exploring the negativity of Wigner function (WF) and the sub-Poissonian distribution of Mandel's Q-parameter. The non-Guassianity is exhibited via the fidelity between the SOSVS and the SVS and the marginal distribution of its Wigner function. It is found that such SO on the SVS can enhance the nonclassicality and change the non-Gaussianity of the SOSVS. This provides the possibility of generating quantum states with specific nonclassical and non-Gaussian properties.     

Nonclassicality and Decoherence of Photon-Subtraction Squeezing-Enhanced Thermal State

We introduce a kind of non-Gaussian state—photon-subtracted squeezing-enhanced thermal state (PSSETS) characteristics by two-squeezing parameters (λ,r). Its normalization factor is a Legendre polynomial of two-squeezing parameters and average photon number of the thermal state. The nonclassicality is investigated by using the negativity of Wigner function (WF). It is shown that the single PSSETS always has negative values when . The decoherence effect on PSSETS is then included by analytically deriving the time evolution of WF. For the single PSSETS, the characteristic time is longer than that of photon-subtracted squeezing thermal state.     

Minimum total noise is a measure of higher order squeezing

The possibility of observing higher order squeezing in different optical processes, such as six-wave mixing and four-wave mixing, has been studied and it is shown that amplitude squared squeezing appears in all these cases. It is also shown that the minimum total noise (T_min) of a higher order squeezed state, which is a measure of the total fluctuations in the field amplitude, always increases with the increase in depth of nonclassicality associated with higher order squeezing. Thus we can use T_min as an indirect measure of higher order squeezing.     

Wigner distribution,nonclassicality and decoherence of generalized and reciprocal binomial states

There are quantum states of light that can be expressed as finite superpositions of Fock states (FSFS). We demonstrate the nonclassicality of an arbitrary FSFS by means of its phase space distributions such as the Wigner function and the Q-function. The decoherence of the FSFS is studied by considering the time evolution of its Wigner function in amplitude decay and phase damping channels. As examples, we determine the nonclassicality and decoherence of generalized and reciprocal binomial states.     

Characterizing nonclassicality and entanglement

In Quantum Optics, the widely accepted definition of nonclassicality is based on the P function of Glauber and Sudarshan. When it fails to be interpreted as a classical probability density, the corresponding quantum state is said to be a nonclassical one. Here we present the first reconstruction of a nonclassical P function of a single-photon added thermal state. We also consider the nonclassical properties of general spacegtime dependent correlation functions of radiation fields. For the detection of these correlation functions, a balanced homodyne correlation technique was proposed. It is shown that the measurable correlation functions also allow one to completely characterize bipartite entangled quantum states with a negative partial transposition. Finally, we present a method for identifying general bipartite entanglement for continuous variables.     

Effect on the reduction of the barrier height in rear-emitter silicon heterojunction solar cells using Ar plasma-treated ITO film

In this study, we investigated the effect of plasma treatment on an indium tin oxide (ITO) film under an ambient Ar atmosphere. The sheet resistance of the plasma-treated ITO film at 250 W (37.6 Ω/sq) was higher than that of the as-deposited ITO film (34 Ω/sq). Plasma treatment was found to decrease the ITO grain size to 21.81 nm, in comparison with the as-deposited ITO (25.49 nm), which resulted in a decrease in the Hall mobility. The work function of the Ar-plasma-treated ITO (WF_ITO=4.17 eV) was lower than that of the as-deposited ITO film (WF_ITO = 5.13 eV). This lower work function was attributed to vacancies that formed in the indium and oxygen vacancies in the bonding structure. Rear-emitter silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells fabricated using the plasma-treated ITO film exhibited an open circuit voltage (V_OC) of 734 mV, compared to SHJ cells fabricated using the as-deposited ITO film, which showed a V_OC of 704 mV. The increase in V_OC could be explained by the decrease in the work function, which is related to the reduction in the barrier height between the ITO and a-Si:H (n) of the rear-emitter SHJ solar cells. Furthermore, the performance of the plasma-treated ITO film was verified, with the front surface field layers, using an AFORS-HET simulation. The current density (J_SC) and V_OC increased to 39.44 mA/cm² and 736.8 mV, respectively, while maintaining a WF_ITO of 3.8 eV. Meanwhile, the efficiency was 22.9% at V_OC = 721.5 mV and J_SC = 38.55 mA/cm² for WF_ITO = 4.4 eV. However, an overall enhancement of 23.75% in the cell efficiency was achieved owing to the low work function value of the ITO film. Ar plasma treatment can be used in transparent conducting oxide applications to improve cell efficiency by controlling the barrier height.     

Casimir energy dissipation in media at rest

From classical electrodynamics the energy dissipation per unit volume in a dispersive nonmagnetic medium is known to be equal to ωϵ″(ω) 〈E²〉, where ϵ″ denotes the imaginary part of the permittivity. The present work calculates the energy dissipation per unit surface area when two semi-infinite homogenous slabs are separated by a gap a. Only the gap-induced part of the dissipation is taken into account, so that the effect may be called a Casimir dissipative effect. Subtracting off the formal T = 0 expression the net dissipation is found to be negative. This reflects the fact that the dissipation in the presence of a gap is less than it would be in the case of a single homogeneous medium (i.e., a = ∞).     

Coriolis constants of spherical-top molecules from low-temperature infrared studies of vapor band contours: Application to the force field of tungsten hexafluoride

The infrared-active stretching fundamental ν₃ of WF₆ vapor has been studied over the temperature range T = 190–310 K. At lower temperatures the hot-band structure is sufficiently suppressed to allow accurate measurements of the P-R branch spacing, which is a linear function of $\text{T}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$. From the slope of a least-squares line fitting 36 measured spacings, the Coriolis constant is found to be ζ₃ = 0.123. Enough overtone and combination bands have been observed in the infrared and laser Raman spectra of WF₆ for harmonic fundamental frequencies to be estimated. Harmonic force constants are calculated, using ζ₃ as the necessary additional constraint in the F_1u symmetry block. Possible sources of error are discussed and error limits are estimated for all reported frequencies and force constants. The valence stretching force constant is ${}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{= 5.50 ± 0.07}\text{mdyn/}\text{A}\text{?}$.     

Wigner Functions for Two-Variable Hermite Polynomial States and Their Time-Evolutions Under Thermal Environment

We analytically study the Wigner function (WF) for the two-variable Hermite polynomial state (TVHPS) and the effect of decoherence on the TVHPS in thermal environment. The nonclassicality of the TVHPS is investigated in terms of the partial negativity of the WF which depends on the polynomial orders m,n and the squeezing parameter r. We also investigate how the WF for the TVHPS evolves in the thermal environment. At long times, the TVHPS decays to thermal, a mixed Gaussian state, within the thermal environment.     

Universality in the transition to chaos of dissipative systems

The period-doubling bifurcation process for two-dimensional transforms exhibits a new class of universality when a small dissipation is taken into account. The effective Jacobian is then defined as a function of both the dissipation and the rank n of the cascade (cycle 2ⁿ). Numerical simulations of a simple mechanical system and numerical calculations on the Hénon mapping show that the decrement lies on a continuous curve as function of the effective Jacobian. A method using this result to understand experimental data is explained and a first order approximation of the renormalization process yields an analytic expression of the curve.Among the different transitions to chaos, the period-doubling bifurcation cascade [1, 2] has been extensively studied. This transition is characterized by an experimental convergence rate of the bifurcation threshold sequence to the accumulation point: the threshold of chaos. It is well known that the decrement of this bifurcation cascade can take different values. Each value corresponds to a specific class of systems which can be characterized by some general features of the system undergoing the transition [3, 4, 5]. We are concerned here with the two values; δ(I) = 4.699… the decrement of the well-known one-dimensional transform with a quadratic maximum [2] and δ(II) = 8.721 the decrement of a two-dimensional non-dissipative transforms [3]. These two classes of systems are generic in physics and the two values δ(I) and δ(II) are therefore relevant values of the decrement. However, these two exponents stand for the infinite dissipation case and the conservative one thus leaving out the general physical situation of a finite dissipation. Only hints of the effect of a small dissipation in a two-dimensional mapping have been given [6] before the work of Zisook [7].A thorough study of the effect of dissipation is set forth here. The first two sections deal with the physical model used to perform the numerical investigation and the “experimental” data thus obtained. A study of the renormalization process enables to generalise the relation δ_n(J)=δ_n−(J²), first given by Zisook in [7], to all transforms where the Jacobian does not depend on the linearization point in the phase space. Furthermore a first order approximation gives an excellent analytic expression of the universal function displaying the crossover of the decrement between δ(II) and δ(I).