LM11942
Quantum Hindsight
Researchers have shown that by changing the way they process data, quantum-limited measurement devices can be twice as sensitive as they were previously thought to be. This means that scientists will be able to produce more precise measurements of the tiny objects that make up the quantum world.
Until recently, it was thought that the best strategy was to use a data processing technique known as quantum filtering which is based only on past observations. This paper presents the findings of recent experiments that demonstrate an idea introduced by M. Tsang only 6 months ago called quantum smoothing, which uses past and future observations.
Remarkably, the new technique can produce more precise results than filtering, without requiring any changes to the actual measurement device. Such a result is very significant for quantum sensing applications like gravitational wave detectors where it is more important to have precise rather than real-time measurement.
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BK11152
HOW CARBON NANOTUBES CAN HELP IMPROVE MATERIALS?
Aircraft fatigue is a term generally used for failure of aircraft components under stress. Researchers now have found a possible solution for aircraft fatigue by designing improved materials. They used large scale computer simulations to fabricate composite materials by embedding carbon nanotubes (CNTs), one of the strongest materials known, into the nickel matrix, primary ingredients for air-craft engine. This work will be helpful for experimentalists to fabricate materials with stronger properties, which may eventually be applied to commercial airlines. The results predict that single-walled nanotubes do not help to improve the mechanical properties that determine strength of the materials. However, multi-walled carbon nanotubes with higher concentration are the material of choice for fabrication of composite materials and this improves materials properties. The research also predicts that there is strong interaction between nickel-matrix and carbon nanotubes.
