Dominating finite-range interactions in many-body systems can lead to intriguing self-ordered phases of matter. For quantum magnets, Ising models with power-law interactions are among the most ...elementary systems that support such phases. These models can be implemented by laser coupling ensembles of ultracold atoms to Rydberg states. Here, we report on the experimental preparation of crystalline ground states of such spin systems. We observe a magnetization staircase as a function of the system size and show directly the emergence of crystalline states with vanishing susceptibility. Our results demonstrate the precise control of Rydberg many-body systems and may enable future studies of phase transitions and quantum correlations in interacting quantum magnets.
We report on a novel method for simultaneous biological optimization of treatment plans for hypoxic tumors using multiple ion species. Our previously introduced kill painting approach, where the ...overall cell killing is optimized on biologically heterogeneous targets, was expanded with the capability of handling different ion beams simultaneously. The current version (MIBO) of the research treatment planning system TRiP98 has now been augmented to handle 3D (voxel-by-voxel) target oxygenation data. We present a case of idealized geometries where this method can identify optimal combinations leading to an improved peak-to-entrance effective dose ratio. This is achieved by the redistribution of particle fluences, when the heavier ions are preferentially forwarded to hypoxic target areas, while the lighter ions deliver the remaining dose to its normoxic regions. Finally, we present an in silico skull base chordoma patient case study with a combination of
He and
O beams, demonstrating specific indications for its potential clinical application. In this particular case, the mean dose, received by the brainstem, was reduced by 3%-5% and by 10%-12% as compared to the pure
He and
O plans, respectively. The new method allows a full biological optimization of different ion beams, exploiting the capabilities of actively scanned ion beams of modern particle therapy centers. The possible experimental verification of the present approach at ion beam facilities disposing of fast ion switch is presented and discussed.
Quantum technologies will ultimately require manipulating many-body quantum systems with high precision. Cold atom experiments represent a stepping stone in that direction: a high degree of control ...has been achieved on systems of increasing complexity. However, this control is still sub-optimal. In many scenarios, achieving a fast transformation is crucial to fight against decoherence and imperfection effects. Optimal control theory is believed to be the ideal candidate to bridge the gap between early stage proof-of-principle demonstrations and experimental protocols suitable for practical applications. Indeed, it can engineer protocols at the quantum speed limit - the fastest achievable timescale of the transformation. Here, we demonstrate such potential by computing theoretically and verifying experimentally the optimal transformations in two very different interacting systems: the coherent manipulation of motional states of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate and the crossing of a quantum phase transition in small systems of cold atoms in optical lattices. We also show that such processes are robust with respect to perturbations, including temperature and atom number fluctuations.
By numerical simulation, we compare the performance of four speedmeter interferometer configurations with potential application in future gravitational wave detectors. In the absence of optical loss, ...all four configurations can be adjusted to yield the same sensitivity in a fair comparison. Once we introduce a degree of practicality in the form of lossy optics and mode mismatch, however, the situation changes: the sloshing Sagnac and the speedmeter of Purdue and Chen have almost identical performance showing smaller degradation from the ideal than the speedmeter of Freise and the speedmeter of Miao. In a further step, we show that there is a similar hierarchy in the degree of improvement obtained through the application of 10 dB squeezing to the lossy speedmeters. In this case, the sensitivity of each speedmeter improves, but it is greatest for the sloshing Sagnac and the speedmeter of Purdue and Chen, in particular in the lower part of the target frequency range.
The speed meter concept has been identified as a technique that can potentially provide laser-interferometric measurements at a sensitivity level which surpasses the standard quantum limit (SQL) over ...a broad frequency range. As with other sub-SQL measurement techniques, losses play a central role in speed meter interferometers and they ultimately determine the quantum noise limited sensitivity that can be achieved. So far in the literature, the quantum noise limited sensitivity has only been derived for lossless or lossy cases using certain approximations (for instance that the arm cavity round trip loss is small compared to the arm cavity mirror transmission). In this article we present a generalized, analytical treatment of losses in speed meters that allows accurate calculation of the quantum noise limited sensitivity of Sagnac speed meters with arm cavities. In addition, our analysis allows us to take into account potential imperfections in the interferometer such as an asymmetric beam splitter or differences of the reflectivities of the two arm cavity input mirrors. Finally, we use the examples of the proof-of-concept Sagnac speed meter currently under construction in Glasgow and a potential implementation of a Sagnac speed meter in the Einstein Telescope to illustrate how our findings affect Sagnac speed meters with metre- and kilometre-long baselines.
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•The melamine distribution in polyester/melamine coatings has been studied.•Depth resolved quantification of the melamine crosslinker was achieved.•Free standing films behave ...differently than coatings applied on galvanized steel.•The highest melamine concentration is expected in the surface near region of a coating.•A new qualitative model on the melamine distribution is proposed.
The depth distribution of melamine in polyester-based coatings was investigated by XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) as well as Raman analysis on cryo-ultra-low-angle microtome (cryo-ULAM) prepared coatings on hot dip galvanized (HDG) steel panels. Additionally, free standing films were analyzed on the air/coating and the coating/substrate interfaces: for polyester/melamine ratios ≤20wt.% the melamine concentration was equal on both sides of free films, which is in accordance with literature. This finding could not be confirmed for the coatings applied on HDG steel panels that revealed a higher amount of melamine in the surface-near region. In addition various types of non-linear melamine concentration gradients have been detected over depth by XPS as well as Raman spectroscopy. This behavior was confirmed for all types of coatings irrespective of binder chemistry and curing temperatures in the range of 220–260°C. Whereas previous studies have mainly focused on higher melamine concentration where gradient properties are more pronounced, this work tries to fills the gap towards lower melamine contents, which are of greater relevance for industrial coatings. According to these results, a qualitative model on the melamine distribution has been established, which explains the observed non-linear gradients on the basis of transport phenomena and crosslinking kinetics within the curing process. This model is also in agreement with experimental findings from previous works.
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