Electron spin lifetimes in Hg0.78Cd0.22 Te and InSb

We have made direct pump–probe measurements of spin lifetimes in long wavelength narrow-gap semiconductors at wavelengths between 4 and 10 μm and from 4 to 300 K. In particular, we measure remarkably long spin lifetimes, τ_s300 ps, even at 300 K for epilayers of degenerate n-type InSb. In this material the mobility is approximately constant between 77 and 300 K, and we find that τ_s is approximately constant in this temperature range. In order to determine the dominant spin relaxation mechanism we have investigated the temperature dependence of τ_s in non-degenerate lightly n-type Hg_0.78Cd_0.22Te of approximately the same band gap as InSb, and find that τ_s varies from 356 ps at 150 K to 24 ps at 300 K. Our results, both in magnitude and temperature dependence of τ_s, imply that the Elliott–Yafet model dominates in these materials.     

Coherent transport of neutral atoms in spin-dependent optical lattice potentials

We demonstrate the controlled coherent transport and splitting of atomic wave packets in spin-dependent optical lattice potentials. Such experiments open intriguing possibilities for quantum state engineering of many body states. After first preparing localized atomic wave functions in an optical lattice through a Mott insulating phase, we place each atom in a superposition of two internal spin states. Then state selective optical potentials are used to split the wave function of a single atom and transport the corresponding wave packets in two opposite directions. Coherence between the wave packets of an atom delocalized over up to seven lattice sites is demonstrated.     

Volume holographic data storage at an areal density of 250 gigapixels/in.(2)

One thousand volume holographic data pages, each containing 1x10(6)pixels , are stored in a common volume of LiNbO(3) :Fe by use of the 90 degrees geometry. An effective transverse aperture of 1.6 mm x 1.6mm , realized by repetition of this experiment at each of the eight surrounding locations, results in a demonstrated areal density of 394pixels/mum (2) (254 Gpixels/in. (2)) . Short-focal-length Fourier optics provide a tightly confined object beam at the crystal; the reference beam is angle multiplexed. Data pages retrieved with a 1024 x 1024 CCD camera are processed to remap bad spatial light modulator pixels and to compensate for global and local pixel misregistration and are then decoded with a strong 8-bits-from-12-pixels modulation code. The worst-case raw bit-error rate (BER) before error correction was 1.1x10(-3) , sufficient to deliver a user BER of 10(-12) at an overall code rate of 0.61 user bits per detector pixel. This result corresponds to 1.08% of the well-known theoretical volumetric density limit of 1/lambda(3) .     

Advances on tensor network theory: symmetries,fermions, entanglement,and holography

This is a short review on selected theory developments on tensor network (TN) states for strongly correlated systems. Specifically, we briefly review the effect of symmetries in TN states, fermionic TNs, the calculation of entanglement Hamiltonians from projected entangled pair states (PEPS), and the relation between the multi-scale entanglement renormalization ansatz (MERA) and the AdS/CFT or gauge/gravity duality. We stress the role played by entanglement in the emergence of several physical properties and objects through the TN language. Some recent results along these lines are also discussed.     

Effect of Concentration on the Photophysics of Dyes in Light‐Scattering Materials.

Photoactive materials based on dye molecules incorporated into thin films or bulk solids are useful for applications as photosensitization, photocatalysis, solar cell sensitization and fluorescent labeling, among others. In most cases, high concentrations of dyes are desirable to maximize light absorption. Under these circumstances, the proximity of dye molecules leads to the formation of aggregates and statistical traps, which dissipate the excitation energy and lower the population of excited states. The search for enhancement of light collection, avoiding energy wasting requires accounting the photophysical parameters quantitatively, including the determination of quantum yields, complicated by the presence of light scattering when particulate materials are considered. In this work we summarize recent advances on the photophysics of dyes in light‐scattering materials, with particular focus on the effect of dye concentration. We show how experimental reflectance, fluorescence and laser‐induced optoacoustic spectroscopy data can be used together with theoretical models for the quantitative evaluation of inner filter effects, fluorescence and triplet formation quantum yields and energy transfer efficiencies.     

Quadratic geometric programming with application to machining economics

Geometric Programming is extended to include convex quadratic functions. Generalized Geometric Programming is applied to this class of programs to obtain a convex dual program. Machining economics problems fall into this class. Such problems are studied by applying this duality to a nested set of three problems. One problem is zero degree of difficulty and the solution is obtained by solving a simple system of equations. The inclusion of a constraint restricting the force on the tool to be less than or equal to the breaking force provides a more realistic solution. This model is solved as a program with one degree of difficulty. Finally the behavior of the machining cost per part is studied parametrically as a function of axial depth. This research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Grant AFOSR-83-0234     

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective direct Barbas-List aldol reactions promoted by novel benzamidoethyl and benzamidopropyl prolinamides in water

Four novel benzamido-functionalized prolinamides have been prepared and tested as organocatalysts for enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes and cyclic ketones in water. In particular, prolinamide derived from achiral ethylene diamine was the best catalyst leading to anti aldols in excellent diastereomeric (up to 98/2) and enantiomeric (up to 99/1) ratios, thereby showing that lateral amide functionalities might be a key issue for facilitating "in water" chemistry. These catalysts are cheaper and easier to prepare than those previously described.     

Compressive advection and multi‐component methods for interface‐capturing

This paper develops methods for interface‐capturing in multiphase flows. The main novelties of these methods are as follows: (a) multi‐component modelling that embeds interface structures into the continuity equation; (b) a new family of triangle/tetrahedron finite elements, in particular, the P₁DG‐P₂(linear discontinuous between elements velocity and quadratic continuous pressure); (c) an interface‐capturing scheme based on compressive control volume advection methods and high‐order finite element interpolation methods; (d) a time stepping method that allows use of relatively large time step sizes; and (e) application of anisotropic mesh adaptivity to focus the numerical resolution around the interfaces and other areas of important dynamics. This modelling approach is applied to a series of pure advection problems with interfaces as well as to the simulation of the standard computational fluid dynamics benchmark test cases of a collapsing water column under gravitational forces (in two and three dimensions) and sloshing water in a tank. Two more test cases are undertaken in order to demonstrate the many‐material and compressibility modelling capabilities of the approach. Numerical simulations are performed on coarse unstructured meshes to demonstrate the potential of the methods described here to capture complex dynamics in multiphase flows. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.