Electromagnetically induced transparency and quantum enhancement of transmission via dressed bloch photons in an array of three-level Λ-type atoms.

We investigate the interactions between an array of three-level atoms and two photon fields with distinct frequencies employing quantum electrodynamics (QED). The control beam, as expected, has a considerably higher intensity than the probe beam, and the probe photon's eigenstate notably then appears as a distinctive dressed Bloch wave. We calculate the dispersion relation and quantum amplitude of the probe photons for their transmission.

Manipulating quantum interference of dressed photon fields.

Through quantum electrodynamics (QED) we investigate the interactions between a three-level atom and two photon fields under perturbation limit. The dispersion relation and (relative) transmission of the probe photons are obtained by calculating the corresponding Feynman diagrams. The quantum interference in this three-level system such as Fano resonance and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) can be tuned by varying the intensities of the control and probe beams.

Optical quantum frequency filter based on generalized eigenstates.

Bound eigenstates and generalized eigenstates (scattering eigenstates) are two kinds of eigenstates in quantum mechanics. In this work, we first introduce a systematic way to regularize a generalized eigenstates by using the Wick rotation. The states that can be regularized are, in fact, Gamow states since they form poles in the scattering matrix but not localized before the Wick rotation.

Photon-Assisted Perfect Conductivity Between Arrays of Two-Level Atoms.

We investigate interactions between two (parallel) arrays of two-level atoms (2LA) via photons through quantum electrodynamical interaction with one array (the source array) connected to a particle source, and we study the (photo-)resistivity of the other array (the measured array). The wave function of the interacted photon propagating in an array is a Bloch wave with a gap in its eigenvalue (the photonic dispersion). Due to interactions between arrayed 2LA and the dressed photonic field with non-linear dispersion, the conduction behaviors of the measured array can be very diversified according to the input energy of the particle source connected to the source array, and their relative positions.

Transport of Photonic Bloch Wave in Arrayed Two-Level Atoms.

In a quantum system of arrayed two-level atoms interacting with light, the interacted (dressed) photon is propagating in a periodic medium and its eigenstate ought to be of Bloch type with lattice symmetry. As the energy of photon is around the spacing between the two atomic energy levels, the photon will be absorbed and is not in the propagating mode but the attenuated mode. Therefore an energy gap exists in the dispersion relation of the photonic Bloch wave of dressed photon in addition to the nonlinear behaviors due to atom-light interactions.

Spatio-Temporal Steering for Testing Nonclassical Correlations in Quantum Networks.

We introduce the concept of spatio-temporal steering (STS), which reduces, in special cases, to Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering and the recently-introduced temporal steering. We describe two measures of this effect referred to as the STS weight and robustness. We suggest that these STS measures enable a new way to assess nonclassical correlations in an open quantum network, such as quantum transport through nano-structures or excitation transfer in a complex biological system.

Plasmonic bio-sensing for the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex.

We study theoretically the bio-sensing capabilities of metal nanowire surface plasmons. As a specific example, we couple the nanowire to specific sites (bacteriochlorophyll) of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) photosynthetic pigment protein complex. In this hybrid system, we find that when certain sites of the FMO complex are subject to either the suppression of inter-site transitions or are entirely disconnected from the complex, the resulting variations in the excitation transfer rates through the complex can be monitored through the corresponding changes in the scattering spectra of the incident nanowire surface plasmons.

Scattering of nanowire surface plasmons coupled to quantum dots with azimuthal angle difference.

Coherent scatterings of surface plasmons coupled to quantun dots have attracted great attention in plasmonics. Recently, an experiment has shown that the quantum dots located nearby a nanowire can be separated not only in distance, but also an angle ϕ along the cylindrical direction. Here, by using the real-space Hamiltonian and the transfer matrix method, we analytically obtain the transmission/reflection spectra of nanowire surface plasmons coupled to quantum dots with an azimuthal angle difference.

Dressed Photons Induced Resistance Oscillation and Zero Resistance in Arrayed Simple Harmonic Oscillators with No Impurity.

We investigate a system of an array of N simple harmonic oscillators (SHO) interacting with photons through QED interaction. As the energy of photon is around the spacing between SHO energy levels, energy gaps appear in the dispersion relation of the interacted (dressed) photons. This is quite different from the dispersion relation of free photons.

Probing the spectral density of the surface electromagnetic fields through scattering of waveguide photons.

The spectral density of the metal-surface electromagnetic fields will be strongly modified in the presence of a closely-spaced quantum emitter. In this work, we propose a feasible way to probe the changes of the spectral density through the scattering of the waveguide photon incident on the quantum emitter. The variances of the lineshape in the transmission spectra indicate the coherent interaction between the emitter and the pseudomode resulting from all the surface electromagnetic modes.

[Effect of pretreatment on storage and biogas production of baling wheat straw].

Long-term storage of crop straw is very important for biogas plant while pretreatment is always used to improve biogas production of crop straw. Feasibility of integrating the storage with pretreatment of baling wheat straw was studied. Changes of physicochemical properties and the biogas productivity of wheat straw obtained before and after 120 days storage were analyzed.

Rerouting excitation transfers in the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex.

We investigate, using the hierarchy method, the entanglement and the excitation transfer efficiency of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) complex under two different local modifications: the suppression of transitions between particular sites and localized changes to the protein environment. We find that inhibiting the connection between site 5 and site 6, or completely disconnecting site 5 from the complex, leads to a dramatic enhancement of the entanglement between site 6 and site 7. Similarly, the transfer efficiency actually increases if site 5 is entirely disconnected from the complex.

Examining non-locality and quantum coherent dynamics induced by a common reservoir.

If two identical emitters are coupled to a common reservoir, entanglement can be generated during the decay process. When using Bell's inequality to examine the non-locality, however, it is possible that the bound cannot be violated in some cases. Here, we propose to use the steering inequality to examine the non-locality induced by a common reservoir.

[Effect of alkaline post-treatment on physicochemical property of digested Spartina alterniflora].

Alkaline treatment is widely used for improving biogas production for lignocellulosic materials. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of alkaline treatment on physicochemical property of digested Spartina alterniflora (DSA). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction patterns, proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-NMR), solid-state 13C-NMR Spectroscopy and some general indicators were used to analyze changes of the lignocellulosic structure and composition of NaOH-treated digested Spartina alterniflora.

Witnessing Quantum Coherence: from solid-state to biological systems.

Quantum coherence is one of the primary non-classical features of quantum systems. While protocols such as the Leggett-Garg inequality (LGI) and quantum tomography can be used to test for the existence of quantum coherence and dynamics in a given system, unambiguously detecting inherent "quantumness" still faces serious obstacles in terms of experimental feasibility and efficiency, particularly in complex systems. Here we introduce two "quantum witnesses" to efficiently verify quantum coherence and dynamics in the time domain, without the expense and burden of non-invasive measurements or full tomographic processes.

Delocalized single-photon Dicke states and the Leggett-Garg inequality in solid state systems.

We show how to realize a single-photon Dicke state in a large one-dimensional array of two-level systems, and discuss how to test its quantum properties. The realization of single-photon Dicke states relies on the cooperative nature of the interaction between a field reservoir and an array of two-level-emitters. The resulting dynamics of the delocalized state can display Rabi-like oscillations when the number of two-level emitters exceeds several hundred.

Correspondence between entanglement and Fano resonance of surface plasmons.

We investigate the Fano resonance of the scattering spectra in a system consisting of a metal nanowire coupled to two colloidal quantum dots. By varying the coupling strengths and the energy spacings of the quantum dot qubits, we find that both the line shapes and the presence of the Fano resonance can be controlled. Furthermore, the degree of two-qubit entanglement can vary from unity to zero when the Fano resonance occurs.

[Effect of NaOH-treatment on advanced anaerobic biogasification of Spartina alterniflora].

In order to improve the biotransformation rate of Sparnina alterniflora, effect of NaOH-treatment on anaerobic dry-mesophilic digestion of Spartina alterniflora and feasibility of NaOH-treatment as a pretreatment of biogas residues of Spartina alterniflora for advanced anaerobic biogasification were conducted under lab-scale conditions. The results indicated that there was less improvement to biogas yield with NaOH-treatment and the cumulative biogas yield of Spartina alterniflora was 358.94 mL/g TS which was 92.

Generating maximum entanglement under asymmetric couplings to surface plasmons.

Generating entangled states is a vital ingredient for quantum information engineering. Here, we investigate the entanglement generation between two quantum dots coupled to nanoring surface plasmons with asymmetric coupling strength g(1) and g(2). The dynamics of concurrence C is obtained by solving the corresponding master equation.

[Methane production by anaerobic co-digestion of chicken manure and Spartina alterniflora residue after producing methane].

The characteristics of Spartina alterniflora residue after producing methane (SAR) digested alone and co-digestion of various proportions of chicken manure and SAR were investigated by batch model at 35 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C. The initial total solid (TS) loading of all treatments was 8.0%.

[Effect of TS loading rates of biogas residue of Spartina alterniflora for secondary anaerobic digestion].

Biogas residue of Spartina alterniflora treated by NaOH solution for 48h at room temperature was used for secondary anaerobic digestion with TS loading rates were 8%, 10%, 12% at (35 +/- 1) degrees C. The biogas yield, pH, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) were analyzed during the anaerobic digestion. The peak of daily gas production were 10, 14, 13 mL x g(-1) and the rates of cumulate gas production were 217, 227, 228 mL x g(-1) respectively.

Controlling Fano resonance of nanowire surface plasmons.

We theoretically study the effect of the applied magnetic field on the scattering properties of the nanowire surface plasmons coupled to two quantum dots. The dispersion relations of the surface plasmon are found to be upwardly displaced in the presence of an applied magnetic field. The symmetric double peaks in the transmission spectrum resulting from the interference between the localized and delocalized channels of the surface plasmon can combine together and the associated Fano lineshape will be smeared out when increasing the magnitude of the magnetic field.

[Effect of NaOH-treatment on dry-thermophilic anaerobic digestion of Spartina alterniflora].

In order to improve the biotransformation rate of lignocellulosic materials, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was widely used to pretreat lignocellulosic materials. Effect of NaOH-treatment on dry-thermophilic anaerobic digestion of Spartina alternflora was studied by batch model under the temperature of 55 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C, at the initial total solid loading (TSL) of 20%. The results indicated that biogas production was inhibited by NaOH-treatment and improved by NaOH-treatment with water washed.

[Effect of alkaline treatment on anaerobic digestion of rice straw].

The biogas yields of rice straw during anaerobic digestion can be improved by alkaline pretreatment, while it increased the cost because of large amount of alkaline. In order to decrease the amount, 3 sets of experiments were performed using straw with alkaline treatment (pretreatment), digested straw with alkaline treatment (post-treatment) and straw digested directly (control). The results showed that cell wall of straw was destroyed by 5% NaOH treated for 48h, the COD (chemical oxygen demand), total nitrogen, NO(3-) -N and NH(4+) -N were increased from 2 311.

Coherent transport of nanowire surface plasmons coupled to quantum dots.

The coherent transport of surface plasmons with nonlinear dispersion relations on a metal nanowire coupled to two-level emitters is investigated theoretically. Real-space Hamiltonians are used to obtain the transmission and reflection spectra of the surface plasmons. For the single-dot case, we find that the scattering spectra can show completely different features due to the non-linear quadratic dispersion relation.