Controlled exchange interaction between pairs of neutral atoms in an optical lattice

Ultracold atoms trapped by light offer robust quantum coherence and controllability, providing an attractive system for quantum information processing and for the simulation of complex problems in condensed matter physics. Many quantum information processing schemes require the manipulation and deterministic entanglement of individual qubits; this would typically be accomplished using controlled, state-dependent, coherent interactions among qubits. Recent experiments have made progress towards this goal by demonstrating entanglement among an ensemble of atoms confined in an optical lattice. Until now, however, there has been no demonstration of a key operation: controlled entanglement between atoms in isolated pairs. Here we use an optical lattice of double-well potentials to isolate and manipulate arrays of paired (87)Rb atoms, inducing controlled entangling interactions within each pair. Our experiment realizes proposals to use controlled exchange coupling in a system of neutral atoms. Although 87Rb atoms have nearly state-independent interactions, when we force two atoms into the same physical location, the wavefunction exchange symmetry of these identical bosons leads to state-dependent dynamics. We observe repeated interchange of spin between atoms occupying different vibrational levels, with a coherence time of more than ten milliseconds. This observation demonstrates the essential component of a neutral atom quantum SWAP gate (which interchanges the state of two qubits). Its 'half-implementation', the root SWAP gate, is entangling, and together with single-qubit rotations it forms a set of universal gates for quantum computation.     

Structural and energetic properties of RMX3-NH3 complexes

We have explored the structural and energetic properties of a series of RMX₃-NH₃ (M=Si, Ge; X=F, Cl; R=CH₃, C₆H₅) complexes using density functional theory and low-temperature infrared spectroscopy. In the minimum-energy structures, the NH₃ binds axially to the metal, opposite a halogen, while the organic group resides in an equatorial site. Remarkably, the primary mode of interaction in several of these systems seems to be hydrogen bonding (C-H--N) rather than a tetrel (N→M) interaction. This is particularly clear for the RMCl₃-NH₃ complexes, and analyses of the charge distributions of the acid fragment corroborate this assessment. We also identified a set of metastable geometries in which the ammonia binds opposite the organic substituent in an axial orientation. Acid fragment charge analyses also provide a clear rationale as to why these configurations are less stable than the minimum-energy structures. Matrix-isolation infrared spectra provide clear evidence for the occurrence of the minimum-energy form of CH₃SiCl₃–NH₃, but analogous results for CH₃GeCl₃–NH₃ are less conclusive. Computational scans of the M-N distance potentials for CH₃SiCl₃–NH₃ and CH₃GeCl₃–NH₃, both in the gas phase and bulk dielectric media, reveal a great deal of anharmonicity and a propensity for condensed-phase structural change.     

Tetradentate Gold(III) Complexes as Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) Emitters: Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and High-Performance OLEDs with Long Operational Lifetime

Structurally robust tetradentate gold(III)-emitters have potent material applications but are rare and unprecedented for those displaying thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). Herein, a novel synthetic route leading to the preparation of highly emissive, charge-neutral tetradentate [C^C^N^C] gold(III) complexes with 5-5-6-membered chelate rings has been developed through microwave-assisted C−H bond activation. These complexes show high thermal stability and with emission origin (³IL, ³ILCT, and TADF) tuned by varying the substituents of the C^C^N^C ligand. With phenoxazine/diphenylamine substituent, we prepared the first tetradentate gold(III) complexes that are TADF emitters with emission quantum yields of up to 94 % and emission lifetimes of down to 0.62 μs in deoxygenated toluene. These tetradentate Au^III TADF emitters showed good performance in vacuum-deposited OLEDs with maximum EQEs of up to 25 % and LT₉₅ of up to 5280 h at 100 cd m⁻².     

Glycoconjugated Metallohelices have Improved Nuclear Delivery and Suppress Tumour Growth In Vivo

Monosaccharides are added to the hydrophilic face of a self‐assembled asymmetric Fe^II metallohelix, using CuAAC chemistry. The sixteen resulting architectures are water‐stable and optically pure, and exhibit improved antiproliferative selectivity against colon cancer cells (HCT116 p53^+/+) with respect to the non‐cancerous ARPE‐19 cell line. While the most selective compound is a glucose‐appended enantiomer, its cellular entry is not mainly glucose transporter‐mediated. Glucose conjugation nevertheless increases nuclear delivery ca 2.5‐fold, and a non‐destructive interaction with DNA is indicated. Addition of the glucose units affects the binding orientation of the metallohelix to naked DNA, but does not substantially alter the overall affinity. In a mouse model, the glucose conjugated compound was far better tolerated, and tumour growth delays for the parent compound (2.6 d) were improved to 4.3 d; performance as good as cisplatin but with the advantage of no weight loss in the subjects.     

Morphology development during solid-state annealing of poly(ether-ester) multiblock copolymers

Morphology development during isothermal annealing of poly(ether-ester) multiblock copolymers with hard segments containing poly(tetramethylene isophthalate) is examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). Reorganization in the solid-state occurs by melting and recrystallization. At temperatures close to the melting point, glass transition measurements after quenching from the annealing temperature suggest microphase mixing follows melting. The temperature of maximum recrystallization rate is elevated relative to that of isothermal crystallization. SAXS experiments suggest that a memory of the initial morphology is retained during annealing. Aspects of the DSC scans related to crystallization on cooling and rescanning also suggest that the morphology at the annealing temperature plays a governing role in the determination of the degree of order possible on cooling. The crystalline regions stable at the annealing temperature are envisioned to function in a dual role, acting as nucleation centers for recrystallization and as a form of “constraint” to ordering on cooling. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Health-Promoting Properties of Medicinal Mushrooms and Their Bioactive Compounds for the COVID-19 Era—An Appraisal: Do the Pro-Health Claims Measure Up?

Many mushroom species are consumed as food, while significant numbers are also utilised medicinally. Mushrooms are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. A growing body of in vitro, in vivo, and human research has revealed their therapeutic potentials, which include such properties as anti-pathogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, gut microbiota enhancement, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 specificity. The uses of medicinal mushrooms (MMs) as extracts in nutraceuticals and other functional food and health products are burgeoning. COVID-19 presents an opportunity to consider how, and if, specific MM compounds might be utilised therapeutically to mitigate associated risk factors, reduce disease severity, and support recovery. As vaccines become a mainstay, MMs may have the potential as an adjunct therapy to enhance immunity. In the context of COVID-19, this review explores current research about MMs to identify the key properties claimed to confer health benefits. Considered also are barriers or limitations that may impact general recommendations on MMs as therapy. It is contended that the extraction method used to isolate bioactive compounds must be a primary consideration for efficacious targeting of physiological endpoints. Mushrooms commonly available for culinary use and obtainable as a dietary supplement for medicinal purposes are included in this review. Specific properties related to these mushrooms have been considered due to their potential protective and mediating effects on human exposure to the SARS CoV-2 virus and the ensuing COVID-19 disease processes.     

The influence of viscoelasticity on the collapse of cavitation bubbles near a rigid boundary

An understanding of the phenomena associated with cavitation is important in many areas of science and engineering. This paper is concerned with the influence of viscoelasticity on the dynamics of cavitation bubbles near rigid boundaries. Viscoelastic effects are modelled using a Maxwell constitutive equation, and a generalized Bernoulli equation is derived. The governing equations are solved using the boundary element method in which both the bubble surface and the potential are represented by cubic splines. The numerical scheme is validated through comparisons with results in the literature for the inviscid case. The introduction of viscoelasticity introduces some interesting bubble dynamics including the occurrence of oscillations during collapse. Most importantly, it is shown that viscoelasticity can serve to suppress the formation of a liquid jet. The subsequent reduced pressures compared with the inviscid case suggest that viscoelasticity has a mitigating effect on cavitation damage.