Nanosatellites for quantum science and technology

Bringing quantum science and technology to the space frontier offers exciting prospects for both fundamental physics and applications such as long-range secure communication and space-borne quantum probes for inertial sensing with enhanced accuracy and sensitivity. But despite important terrestrial pathfinding precursors on common microgravity platforms and promising proposals to exploit the significant advantages of space quantum missions, large-scale quantum test beds in space are yet to be realised due to the high costs and lead times of traditional ‘Big Space’ satellite development. But the ‘small space’ revolution, spearheaded by the rise of nanosatellites such as CubeSats, is an opportunity to greatly accelerate the progress of quantum space missions by providing easy and affordable access to space and encouraging agile development. We review space quantum science and technology, CubeSats and their rapidly developing capabilities and how they can be used to advance quantum satellite systems.     

Is every approximate trajectory of some process near an exact trajectory of a nearby process?

This paper deals with the problem “Can a noisy orbit be tracked by a real orbit?” In particular, we will study the one-parameter family of tent maps and the one-parameter family of quadratic maps. We writeg _μ for eitherf _μ orF _μ withf _μ (x)=μx forx≦1/2 andf _μ (x)=μ(1?x) forx≧1/2, andF _μ (x)=μx(1?x). For a given μ we will say:g _μ permits increased parameter shadowing if for each δ _x >0 there exists someδ _μ >0 and some δ _f >0 such that every δ _f -pseudog _μ -orbit starting in some invariant interval can be δ _x -shadowed by a realg _α -orbit with α=μ+δ _μ . We show thatg _μ typically permits increased parameter shadowing.     

The work function of hydrothermally synthesized UO2 and the implications for semiconductor device fabrication

The photoelectric work function of nearly stoichiometric (111) and (100) hydrothermally grown UO₂ was measured to be 6.28 ± 0.36 eV and 5.80 ± 0.36 eV, respectively. Candidate metals for electrical contacts are identified for both rectifying and non‐rectifying contacts based on work function, lattice compatibility, and electrical conductivity.     

Manganese(III)-Catalysed Oxidation of Sulphides with Sodium Chlorite in an Aprotic Solvent in the Presence of Alumina

A wide variety of sulphides can be readily converted to the corresponding sulphoxides in good to excellent yields by treatment with a combination of sodium chlorite, (salen)manganese(III) complex, and chromatographic alumina in dichloromethane under mild and neutral conditions.     

Intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy of platinum sulfide in the near infrared

A new electronic transition of PtS with a red degraded band head at 12 460 cm⁻¹ was recorded and analyzed. Gas phase PtS was produced in a platinum-lined hollow cathode with a trace of SF₆ gas, and the spectrum was recorded at near Doppler resolution using intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy. Molecular constants for the newly identified excited state are presented.