Phase Equilibria and Critical Curves of Binary Ammonia–Hydrocarbon Mixtures

Liquid or dense supercritical ammonia has been suggested as an extraction fluid. It is indeed good solvent for very different classes of compounds, as can be seen from phase diagrams. Such diagrams for binary systems of ammonia and hydrocarbons are presented and discussed on the basis of their critical curves. Apparatus and methods for the measurement of phase equilibria and equation of state data of fluid mixtures at high pressure are described.     

Realization of Hardy's thought experiment with photons

We present an experimental realization of Hardy's thought experiment [Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 2981 (1992)], using photons. The experiment consists of a pair of Mach-Zehnder interferometers that interact through photon bunching at a beam splitter. A striking contradiction is created between the predictions of quantum mechanics and local hidden variables. The contradiction relies on nonmaximally entangled position states of two particles. A Clauser-Horne-type inequality is derived and violated.     

Nonlinear photonic crystals as a source of entangled photons

Nonlinear photonic crystals can be used to provide phase matching for frequency conversion in optically isotropic materials. The phase-matching mechanism proposed here is a combination of form birefringence and phase velocity dispersion in a periodic structure. Since the phase matching relies on the geometry of the photonic crystal, it becomes possible to use highly nonlinear materials. This is illustrated considering a one-dimensional periodic Al0.4Ga0.6As/air structure for the generation of 1.5 microm light. We show that phase-matching conditions used in schemes to create entangled photon pairs can be achieved in photonic crystals.     

Optimal quantum cloning on a beam splitter

We demonstrate how a beam splitter in combination with different light sources can be used as an optimal universal 1-->2 quantum cloner and as an optimal universal quantum NOT machine for the polarization qubit of a single photon. For the cloning a source of single photons with maximally mixed polarization is required and for the NOT operation a source of maximally entangled photon pairs. We demonstrate both operations with near optimal fidelity. Our scheme can be generalized in a natural way to clone and NOT the spin state of electrons.     

Towards quantum superpositions of a mirror

We propose an experiment for creating quantum superposition states involving of the order of 10(14) atoms via the interaction of a single photon with a tiny mirror. This mirror, mounted on a high-quality mechanical oscillator, is part of a high-finesse optical cavity which forms one arm of a Michelson interferometer. By observing the interference of the photon only, one can study the creation and decoherence of superpositions involving the mirror. A detailed analysis of the requirements shows that the experiment is within reach using a combination of state-of-the-art technologies.     

Methane activation on a La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3 perovsksite; catalytic and electrocatalytic results

The catalytic and electrocatalytic behaviour of the La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.8Fe_0.2O₃ (LSCF) perovskite deposited on yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ), was studied during the reaction of methane oxidation. Experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure, and at temperatures between 600 and 900 °C. When, instead of cofeeding with methane in the gas phase, oxygen was electrochemically supplied as O²⁻, considerable changes in the methane conversion and product selectivity were observed. The non-faradaic effects (NEMCA) were also studied and compared to those observed with metal catalysts. Paper presented at the 4th Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Renvyle, Galway, Ireland, Sept. 13–19, 1997     

Pulsed laser deposition of PZT/Pt composite thin films with high dielectric constants

PbZr_0.53Ti_0.47O₃ (PZT) thin films containing nanoparticles of Pt (3–10 nm) were produced using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The Pt content can be tuned by varying the energy density of the laser beam. Phase and microstructure analysis of the thin films was performed using XRD, SEM, TEM and AFM. The electrical properties were investigated by C–V and I–V measurements. The effective dielectric constant of the composite films increased substantially through the Pt dispersion. These films are promising candidates, for instance, for high-density dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices. PACS 77.22.Ch; 77.84.Lf; 81.15.Fg