Coherent Control of a Few-Channel Hole Type Gatemon Qubit.

Gatemon qubits are the electrically tunable cousins of superconducting transmon qubits. In this work, we demonstrate the full coherent control of a gatemon qubit based on hole carriers in a Ge/Si core/shell nanowire, with the longest coherence times in group IV material gatemons to date. The key to these results is a high-quality Josephson junction obtained using a straightforward and reproducible annealing technique.

Spectroradiometer Calibration for Radiance Transfer Measurements.

Optical remote sensing and Earth observation instruments rely on precise radiometric calibrations which are generally provided by the broadband emission from large-aperture integrating spheres. The link between the integrating sphere radiance and an SI-traceable radiance standard is made by spectroradiometer measurements. In this work, the calibration efforts of a Spectra Vista Corporation (SVC) HR-1024i spectroradiometer are presented to study how these enable radiance transfer measurements at the Calibration Home Base (CHB) for imaging spectrometers at the Remote Sensing Technology Institute (IMF) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Spin cross-correlation experiments in an electron entangler.

Correlations are fundamental in describing many-body systems. However, in experiments, correlations are notoriously difficult to assess on a microscopic scale, especially for electron spins. Even though it is firmly established theoretically that the electrons in a Cooper pair of a superconductor form maximally spin-entangled singlet states with opposite spin projections, no spin correlation experiments have been demonstrated so far.

Impact of the gate geometry on adiabatic charge pumping in InAs double quantum dots.

We compare the adiabatic quantized charge pumping performed in two types of InAs nanowire double quantum dots (DQDs), either with tunnel barriers defined by closely spaced narrow bottom gates, or by well-separated side gates. In the device with an array of bottom gates of 100 nm pitch and 10 μm lengths, the pump current is quantized only up to frequencies of a few MHz due to the strong capacitive coupling between the bottom gates. In contrast, in devices with well-separated side gates with reduced mutual gate capacitances, we find well-defined pump currents up to 30 MHz.

Assessment of Physiological Rat Kidney Ageing-Implications for the Evaluation of Allograft Quality Prior to Renal Transplantation.

Due to organ shortage and rising life expectancy the age of organ donors and recipients is increasing. Reliable biomarkers of organ quality that predict successful long-term transplantation outcomes are poorly defined. The aim of this study was the identification of age-related markers of kidney function that might accurately reflect donor organ quality.

Superconducting Contacts to a Monolayer Semiconductor.

We demonstrate superconducting vertical interconnect access (VIA) contacts to a monolayer of molybdenum disulfide (MoS), a layered semiconductor with highly relevant electronic and optical properties. As a contact material we use MoRe, a superconductor with a high critical magnetic field and high critical temperature. The electron transport is mostly dominated by a single superconductor/normal conductor junction with a clear superconductor gap.

Transformation of point spread functions on an individual pixel scale.

In some types of imaging systems, such as imaging spectrometers, the spectral and geometric pixel properties like center wavelength, center angle, response shape and resolution change rapidly between adjacent pixels. Image transformation techniques are required to either correct these effects or to compare images acquired by different systems. In this paper we present a novel image transformation method that allows to manipulate geometric and spectral properties of each pixel individually.

Magnetic-Field-Independent Subgap States in Hybrid Rashba Nanowires.

Subgap states in semiconducting-superconducting nanowire hybrid devices are controversially discussed as potential topologically nontrivial quantum states. One source of ambiguity is the lack of an energetically and spatially well defined tunnel spectrometer. Here, we use quantum dots directly integrated into the nanowire during the growth process to perform tunnel spectroscopy of discrete subgap states in a long nanowire segment.

Mobility Enhancement in Graphene by in situ Reduction of Random Strain Fluctuations.

Microscopic corrugations are ubiquitous in graphene even when placed on atomically flat substrates. These result in random local strain fluctuations limiting the carrier mobility of high quality hBN-supported graphene devices. We present transport measurements in hBN-encapsulated devices where such strain fluctuations can be in situ reduced by increasing the average uniaxial strain.

Large spatial extension of the zero-energy Yu-Shiba-Rusinov state in a magnetic field.

Various promising qubit concepts have been put forward recently based on engineered superconductor subgap states like Andreev bound states, Majorana zero modes or the Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (Shiba) states. The coupling of these subgap states via a superconductor strongly depends on their spatial extension and is an essential next step for future quantum technologies. Here we investigate the spatial extension of a Shiba state in a semiconductor quantum dot coupled to a superconductor.

Highly symmetric and tunable tunnel couplings in InAs/InP nanowire heterostructure quantum dots.

We present a comprehensive electrical characterization of an InAs/InP nanowire (NW) heterostructure, comprising of two InP barriers forming a quantum dot (QD), two adjacent lead segments and two metallic contacts. We demonstrate how to extract valuable quantitative information of the QD. The QD shows very regular Coulomb blockade resonances over a large gate voltage range.

Grating monochromator wavelength calibration using an echelle grating wavelength meter.

Monochromators are a common utility for the spectral calibration of spectrometers. To guarantee traceability of characterization measurements to SI-standards, monochromators used as secondary standards must be properly calibrated. Common calibration procedures are based on the measurement of spectral lines emitted by gas-discharge lamps or lasers.

In Situ Strain Tuning in hBN-Encapsulated Graphene Electronic Devices.

Using a simple setup to bend a flexible substrate, we demonstrate deterministic and reproducible in situ strain tuning of graphene electronic devices. Central to this method is the full hBN encapsulation of graphene, which preserves the exceptional quality of pristine graphene for transport experiments. In addition, the on-substrate approach allows one to exploit strain effects in the full range of possible sample geometries and at the same time guarantees that changes in the gate capacitance remain negligible during the deformation process.

New Generation of Moiré Superlattices in Doubly Aligned hBN/Graphene/hBN Heterostructures.

The specific rotational alignment of two-dimensional lattices results in a moiré superlattice with a larger period than the original lattices and allows one to engineer the electronic band structure of such materials. So far, transport signatures of such superlattices have been reported for graphene/hBN and graphene/graphene systems. Here we report moiré superlattices in fully hBN encapsulated graphene with both the top and the bottom hBN aligned to the graphene.

Screening of Ready-to-Eat Meat Products for Hepatitis E Virus in Switzerland.

Seroprevalence data for pig herds suggested that there must be a relevant reservoir for hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Switzerland. To know more about the viral presence in ready-to-eat meat products, we screened pork liver sausages and raw meat sausages from the Swiss retail market for the presence of HEV. Testing was performed with a detection method where the virus extraction step was optimized.

Environmental radioactivity study of Austrian and Bavarian forest ecosystems: Long-term behaviour of contamination of soil, vegetation and wild boar and its radioecological coherences.

Cs and K in soil, vegetation and flesh of wild boar samples from Austrian and Bavarian regions were investigated by gamma-ray spectrometry and Sr in bones of wild boar with Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) after radiochemical separation. The soil core profiles revealed that 70-97% of the soil caesium content is still accumulated in the 0-10cm soil depth. From all vegetation samples the mushrooms, particularly the bay boletus showed the highest Cs contamination.

Advancements in NORM metrology - Results and impact of the European joint research project MetroNORM.

The results of the three years European Metrology Research Programme's (EMRP) joint research project 'Metrology for processing materials with high natural radioactivity' (MetroNORM) are presented. In this project, metrologically sound novel instruments and procedures for laboratory and in-situ NORM activity measurements have been developed. Additionally, standard reference materials and sources for traceable calibration and improved decay data of natural radionuclides have been established.

Long-term environmental radioactive contamination of Europe due to the Chernobyl accident - Results of the Joint Danube Survey 2013.

In the course of the Joint Danube Survey 3 (JDS3), coordinated by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), laboratory ships travelled 2375km down the Danube River engaging in sampling, processing and on-board analyses during the summer of 2013. The results of the radiometric analysis of Sr, Cs and natural radionuclides in recent riverbed sediment are presented. The activity concentrations of Sr and Cs in Danube sediments have been found below 100Bq/kg.

Study of particular problems appearing in NORM samples and recommendations for best practice gamma-ray spectrometry.

In this paper spectral interference effects for selected gamma-emitting radionuclides of the natural decay series and K in selected NORM samples are studied. Recommendations for the choice of γ-lines and the consideration of possible spectral interferences are provided. Special attention is given to the radon tightness of the sample containers.

Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli, Enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus from Raw Fish and Seafood Imported into Switzerland.

A total of 44 samples of salmon, pangasius (shark catfish), shrimps, and oysters were tested for the presence of Escherichia coli, enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, which are indicator organisms commonly used in programs to monitor antibiotic resistance. The isolated bacterial strains, confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, were tested against a panel of 29 antimicrobial agents to obtain MICs. Across the four sample types, Enterococcus faecalis (59%) was most common, followed by E.

Inverse trends of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Swiss surveillance data, 1988-2013.

Clinical isolates of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. are notifiable in Switzerland.

Study of parameters relevant for a better prediction of the radon potential.

In 2012 and 2013 measurements of parameters relevant for a better prediction of the radon potential were carried out in Austria at 100 sites. The parameters were the (222)Rn activity concentration in soil gas, the soil's permeability, the ambient equivalent dose rate above the ground and the soil's massic activity by gamma spectrometry. The uncertainties of sampling and measurements are discussed as well as the correlations between these parameters.

Cross-border outbreak of Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Bovismorbificans: multiple approaches for an outbreak investigation in Germany and Switzerland.

Question Under Study: In July 2014, an outbreak of Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Bovismorbificans was detected in Switzerland. The goal of the outbreak investigation was to rapidly identify and eliminate the contamination source in order to prevent new cases.

Whole-Genome Sequences of 15 Strains of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus Isolated from Foodstuff and Human Clinical Samples.

The whole-genome sequences of 15 strains of Staphylococcus aureus (10 strains isolated from foodstuff samples in Switzerland and five from human clinical samples) were obtained by Illumina sequencing. Most strains fit within the known diversity for the species, but one (SA-120) possessed a higher G+C content and a higher number of genes than usual.

Assessment of source tracking methods for application in spring water.

For discriminating between human and animal faecal contamination in water, microbial source tracking (MST) approaches using different indicators have been employed. In the current study, a range of 10 such MST indicators described in the scientific literature were comparatively assessed. Bacteriophages infecting host strains of Bacteroides (GA-17, GB-124 and ARABA 84) as well as sorbitol-fermenting bifidobacteria proved useful for indicating human faecal contamination while Rhodococcus coprophilus was associated with animal-derived faecal contamination.