[en] Li-X zeolite (Si/Al= 1.0) is currently the best sorbent for use in the separation of air by adsorption processes. In particular, pressure swing adsorption (PSA) using zeolite sorbents is being increasingly used for air separation. Silver is also known to strongly affect the adsorptive properties of zeolites; and it is known that thermal vacuum dehydration of silver zeolites leads to the formation of silver clusters within the zeolite. In this work we have synthesized type X zeolites containing Ag and also varying mixtures of Li and Ag. In this project, we developed the Ag-containing zeolite as the best sorbent for air separation. We have also studied Co-ligand compounds as oxygen-selective sorbents. Syntheses, structural characterization and adsorption properties have been performed on all sorbents. The results are described in detail in 5 chapters

[en] Recently there has been a renewed focus on food irradiation in the United States (US) for the disinfestation of fresh fruits and vegetables to eliminate pests from imported agricultural commodities that could threaten the economic viability of American agriculture and for the control of bacterium E. coli 0157:H7 in beef, a pathogen that threatens the safety of the US domestic food supply. In January 1999 USDA/APHIS published in the Federal Register a rule which authorized irradiation as a guarantee treatment for papayas for movement from Hawaii to the US mainland. This treatment was never used for a number of reasons. However, in December, 1993, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its final rule to terminate production and consumption of methyl bromide, the only remaining broad spectrum fumigant for disinfesting agricultural commodities for pests of quarantine significance on imported and exported commodities. With increased global trade pressures and the possible loss of methyl bromide as a fumigant for regulatory pests treatment made it imperative that practical treatment options be explored including irradiation. In May 1996, USDA/APHIS published a Notice of Policy which sets forth a policy statement that share positions and policies of USDA concerning the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment. Subsequently in July, 1997, USDA/APHIS amended its Hawaiian regulation by increasing the dose required for papayas intended for interstate movement and by allowing carambolas and litchis also to move interstate as well. Fruits from Hawaii to the US mainland are currently being irradiated and distributed in commerce throughout the US Irradiation treatments now afford movement of many exotic fruits to the US mainland that could not be done earlier due to the lack of available treatment methods. To help combat this potential public health problem, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treating red meat products. This process has been favorably received by the US food industries and health organizations because it can control E. coli 0157:H7 and several other disease-causing microorganisms. However, irradiation will not be authorized until the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the US federal agency that regulates meat and poultry products, finalizes it regulations. (author)

[en] We consider a toy model of the interaction of a qubit with an exotic space-time containing a timelike curve. Consistency seems to require that the global evolution of the qubit be nonunitary. Given that quantum mechanics is globally unitary, this then is an example of a quantum gravity information paradox. However, we show that a careful analysis of the problem in the Heisenberg picture reveals an underlying unitarity, thus resolving the paradox

No abstract available

[en] Quantum Key Distribution is a quantum communication technique in which random numbers are encoded on quantum systems, usually photons, and sent from one party, Alice, to another, Bob. Using the data sent via the quantum signals, supplemented by classical communication, it is possible for Alice and Bob to share an unconditionally secure secret key. This is not possible if only classical signals are sent. While this last statement is a long standing result from quantum information theory it turns out only to be true in a non-relativistic setting. If relativistic quantum field theory is considered we show it is possible to distribute an unconditionally secure secret key without sending a quantum signal, instead harnessing the intrinsic entanglement between different regions of space–time. The protocol is practical in free space given horizon technology and might be testable in principle in the near term using microwave technology. (paper)

[en] Full text: One basic prerequisite for quantum information processing is that of entanglement between degrees of freedom carried by two spatially separate modes. In the continuous variable regime, a standard way to producing Gaussian entanglement is to use a type II optical parametric oscillator or to interfere two squeezed beams on a 50/50 beam splitter. In both cases, the entangled degrees of freedom are carried by two distinct spatial modes as required in many quantum information protocols, examples being teleportation and dense coding. However, what is normally overlooked is the fact that a single squeezed Gaussian beam also carries entanglement. Conjugate quadratures of the spectral modes symmetrically located around the optical carrier mode are both quantum correlated with a degree equal to the degree of squeezing. The drawback, however, is that the entangled degrees of freedom are carried by a single spatial mode and are therefore not useful for some quantum information protocols. Here we present a method by which the correlated sidebands can be separated into two spatially distinct modes. The trick is to use a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with strongly unbalanced arm lengths. Due to different time delays in the interferometer arms the two sidebands interfere differently (constructively and destructively) such that each of the two output modes carries one of the entangled sidebands. After this separation, the correlations were measured to be of quantum mechanical nature. By these measurements we have experimentally proved that the squeezing normally observed in the laboratory is due to strong correlations of conjugate quadratures of sideband pairs. (author)

[en] We review the field of quantum optical information from elementary considerations to quantum computation schemes. We illustrate our discussion with descriptions of experimental demonstrations of key communication and processing tasks from the last decade and also look forward to the key results likely in the next decade. We examine both discrete (single photon) type processing as well as those which employ continuous variable manipulations. The mathematical formalism is kept to the minimum needed to understand the key theoretical and experimental results

[en] A series of catalysts of manganese oxide supported on TiO₂ and iron-manganese oxide supported on TiO₂ with different amounts of manganese and iron were studied for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with ammonia in the presence of excess oxygen. It was found that the addition of iron oxide not only increased the NO conversion and N₂ selectivity but also increased the resistance to H₂O and SO₂. The Fe-Mn/TiO₂ catalysts yield high activities and high N₂ product selectivity. The N₂O product selectivity increased with the amount of MnO_x as well as temperature. Crystalline phase of MnO_x was present at ≥15% Mn on TiO₂, and the amount increased with Mn content. In addition, SO₂ and H₂O decreased the activities only slightly, while such effect was reversible. The Fe-Mn/TiO₂ with Mn/Fe=1 showed the highest activity. The results showed that this catalyst yielded nearly 100% NO conversion at 120C at a space velocity of 15,000h^-1. The effect of oxygen was also studied. Reversible transient behaviors similar to that on other oxide catalysts, including vanadia and chromia, were observed for the Fe-Mn/TiO₂ catalyst

[en] We respond to the comment by Klobus et al.[Phys. Rev. A 84, 056301 (2011)] by emphasizing that the equivalent circuit, once constructed, obeys the standard rules of quantum mechanics--hence there is no ambiguity in how to choose initial states in our model. We discuss the distinction between correlated ensembles produced nonlocally via measurements on entangled states and those produced via local preparation.

[en] Recently, the quantum information processing power of closed timelike curves has been discussed. Because the most widely accepted model for quantum closed timelike curve interactions contains ambiguities, different authors have been able to reach radically different conclusions as to the power of such interactions. By tracing the information flow through such systems we are able to derive equivalent circuits with unique solutions, thus allowing an objective decision between the alternatives to be made. We conclude that closed timelike curves, if they exist and are well described by these simple models, would be a powerful resource for quantum information processing.