Assessing the quality of parameter estimates for models describing the motion of single molecules in cellular environments is an important problem in fluorescence microscopy. We consider the fundamental data model, where molecules emit photons at ran
dom times and the photons arrive at random locations on the detector according to complex point spread functions (PSFs). The random, non-Gaussian PSF of the detection process and random trajectory of the molecule make inference challenging. Moreover, the presence of other nearby molecules causes further uncertainty in the origin of the measurements, which impacts the statistical precision of estimates. We quantify the limits of accuracy of model parameter estimates and separation distance between closely spaced molecules (known as the resolution problem) by computing the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB), or equivalently the inverse of the Fisher information matrix (FIM), for the variance of estimates. This fundamental CRLB is crucial, as it provides a lower bound for more practical scenarios. While analytic expressions for the FIM can be derived for static molecules, the analytical tools to evaluate it for molecules whose trajectories follow SDEs are still mostly missing. We address this by presenting a general SMC based methodology for both parameter inference and computing the desired accuracy limits for non-static molecules and a non-Gaussian fundamental detection model. For the first time, we are able to estimate the FIM for stochastically moving molecules observed through the Airy and Born & Wolf PSF. This is achieved by estimating the score and observed information matrix via SMC. We sum up the outcome of our numerical work by summarising the qualitative behaviours for the accuracy limits as functions of e.g. collected photon count, molecule diffusion, etc. We also verify that we can recover known results from the static molecule case.
Superconducting circuit testing and materials loss characterization requires robust and reliable methods for the extraction of internal and coupling quality factors of microwave resonators. A common method, imposed by limitations on the device design
or experimental configuration, is the single-port reflection geometry, i.e. reflection-mode. However, impedance mismatches in cryogenic systems must be accounted for through calibration of the measurement chain while it is at low temperatures. In this paper, we demonstrate a data-based, single-port calibration using commercial microwave standards and a vector network analyzer (VNA) with samples at millikelvin temperature in a dilution refrigerator, making this method useful for measurements of quantum phenomena. Finally, we cross reference our data-based, single-port calibration and reflection measurement with over-coupled 2D- and 3D-resonators against well established two-port techniques corroborating the validity of our method.
We provide a preliminary comparison of the dispersion properties, specifically the time-amplification factor, the scaled group velocity and the error in the phase speed of four spatiotemporal discretization schemes utilized for solving the one-dimens
ional (1D) linear advection diffusion reaction (ADR) equation: (a) An explicit (RK2) temporal integration combined with the Optimal Upwind Compact Scheme (or OUCS3) and the central difference scheme (CD2) for second order spatial discretization, (b) a fully implicit mid-point rule for time integration coupled with the OUCS3 and the Leles compact scheme for first and second order spatial discretization, respectively, (c) An implicit (mid-point rule)-explicit (RK2) or IMEX time integration blended with OUCS3 and Leles compact scheme (where the IMEX time integration follows the same ideology as introduced by Ascher et al.), and (d) the IMEX (mid-point/RK2) time integration melded with the New Combined Compact Difference scheme (or NCCD scheme). Analysis reveal the superior resolution features of the IMEX-NCCD scheme including an enhanced region of neutral stability (a region where the amplification factor is close to one), a diminished region of spurious propagation characteristics (or a region of negative group velocity) and a smaller region of nonzero phase speed error. The dispersion error of these numerical schemes through the role of q-waves is further investigated using the novel error propagation equation for the 1D linear ADR equation. Again, the in silico experiments divulge excellent Dispersion Relation Preservation (DRP) properties of the IMEX-NCCD scheme including minimal dissipation via implicit filtering and negligible unphysical oscillations (or Gibbs phenomena) on coarser grids.
The free energy landscape responsible for crystallization can be complex even for relatively simple systems like hard sphere and charged stabilized colloids. In this work, using hard-core repulsive Yukawa model, which is known to show complex phase b
ehavior consisting of fluid, FCC and BCC phases, we studied the interplay between the free energy landscape and polymorph selection during crystallization. When the stability of the BCC phase with respect to the fluid phase is gradually increased by changing the temperature and pressure at a fixed fluid-FCC stability, the final phase formed by crystallization is found to undergo a switch from the FCC to the BCC phase, even though FCC remains thermodynamically the most stable phase. We further show that the nature of local bond-orientational order parameter fluctuations in the metastable fluid phase as well as the composition of the critical cluster depend delicately on the free energy landscape, and play a decisive role in the polymorph selection during crystallization.
Universe history in $R^2$-gravity is studied from beginning up to the present epoch. It is assumed that initially the curvature scalar $R$ was sufficiently large to induce the proper duration of inflation. Gravitational particle production by the osc
illating $R(t)$ led to a graceful exit from inflation, but the cosmological evolution in the early universe was drastically different from the standard one till the universe age reached the value of the order of the inverse decay rate of the oscillating curvature $R(t)$. This deviation from the standard cosmology might have a noticeable impact on the formation of primordial black holes and baryogenesis. At later time, after exponential decay of the curvature oscillations, cosmology may return to normality.
We discuss the detailed balance condition for hybrid Monte Carlo method
We present the design and performance of a cryogenic scanning tunneling microscope (STM) which operates inside a water-cooled Bitter magnet, which can attain a magnetic field of up to 38 T. Due to the high vibration environment generated by the magne
t cooling water, a uniquely designed STM and vibration damping system are required. The STM scan head is designed to be as compact and rigid as possible, to minimize the effect of vibrational noise as well as fit the size constraints of the Bitter magnet. The STM uses a differential screw mechanism for coarse tip - sample approach, and operates in helium exchange gas at cryogenic temperatures. The reliability and performance of the STM are demonstrated through topographic imaging and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) at T = 4.2 K and in magnetic fields up to 34 T.
We measure the full distribution of current fluctuations in a single-electron transistor with a controllable bistability. The conductance switches randomly between two levels due to the tunneling of single electrons in a separate single-electron box.
The electrical fluctuations are detected over a wide range of time scales and excellent agreement with theoretical predictions is found. For long integration times, the distribution of the time-averaged current obeys the large-deviation principle. We formulate and verify a fluctuation relation for the bistable region of the current distribution.
Direct detection of gravitational waves is opening a new window onto our universe. Here, we study the sensitivity to continuous-wave strain fields of a kg-scale optomechanical system formed by the acoustic motion of superfluid helium-4 parametrically
coupled to a superconducting microwave cavity. This narrowband detection scheme can operate at very high $Q$-factors, while the resonant frequency is tunable through pressurization of the helium in the 0.1-1.5 kHz range. The detector can therefore be tuned to a variety of astrophysical sources and can remain sensitive to a particular source over a long period of time. For reasonable experimental parameters, we find that strain fields on the order of $hsim 10^{-23} /sqrt{rm Hz}$ are detectable. We show that the proposed system can significantly improve the limits on gravitational wave strain from nearby pulsars within a few months of integration time.
One of the most promising frameworks for understanding the anomalies of cold and especially supercooled water is that of two-structure thermodynamics, in which water is viewed as a non-ideal mixture of two interconvertible local structures. The non-i
deality of this mixture may give rise, at very low temperatures, to a liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT) and a liquid-liquid critical point (LLCP), at which thermodynamic response functions diverge. Vario
