Harvesting dissipated energy with a mesoscopic ratchet.

The search for new efficient thermoelectric devices converting waste heat into electrical energy is of major importance. The physics of mesoscopic electronic transport offers the possibility to develop a new generation of nanoengines with high efficiency. Here we describe an all-electrical heat engine harvesting and converting dissipated power into an electrical current. Two capacitively coupled mesoscopic conductors realized in a two-dimensional conductor form the hot source and the cold converter of our device. In the former, controlled Joule heating generated by a voltage-biased quantum point contact results in thermal voltage fluctuations. By capacitive coupling the latter creates electric potential fluctuations in a cold chaotic cavity connected to external leads by two quantum point contacts. For unequal quantum point contact transmissions, a net electrical current is observed proportional to the heat produced.

Detecting noise with shot noise using on-chip photon detector.

The high-frequency radiation emitted by a quantum conductor presents a rising interest in quantum physics and condensed matter. However, its detection with microwave circuits is challenging. Here, we propose to use the photon-assisted shot noise for on-chip radiation detection. It is based on the low-frequency current noise generated by the partitioning of photon-excited electrons and holes, which are scattered inside the conductor. For a given electromagnetic coupling to the radiation, the photon-assisted shot noise response is shown to be independent on the nature and geometry of the quantum conductor used for the detection, up to a Fano factor, characterizing the type of scattering mechanism. Ordered in temperature or frequency range, from few tens of mK or GHz to several hundred of K or THz respectively, a wide variety of conductors can be used like Quantum Point Contacts (this work), diffusive metallic or semi-conducting films, graphene, carbon nanotubes and even molecule, opening new experimental opportunities in quantum physics.

Quantum tomography of an electron.

The complete knowledge of a quantum state allows the prediction of the probability of all possible measurement outcomes, a crucial step in quantum mechanics. It can be provided by tomographic methods which have been applied to atomic, molecular, spin and photonic states. For optical or microwave photons, standard tomography is obtained by mixing the unknown state with a large-amplitude coherent photon field. However, for fermions such as electrons in condensed matter, this approach is not applicable because fermionic fields are limited to small amplitudes (at most one particle per state), and so far no determination of an electron wavefunction has been made. Recent proposals involving quantum conductors suggest that the wavefunction can be obtained by measuring the time-dependent current of electronic wave interferometers or the current noise of electronic Hanbury-Brown/Twiss interferometers. Here we show that such measurements are possible despite the extreme noise sensitivity required, and present the reconstructed wavefunction quasi-probability, or Wigner distribution function, of single electrons injected into a ballistic conductor. Many identical electrons are prepared in well-controlled quantum states called levitons by repeatedly applying Lorentzian voltage pulses to a contact on the conductor. After passing through an electron beam splitter, the levitons are mixed with a weak-amplitude fermionic field formed by a coherent superposition of electron-hole pairs generated by a small alternating current with a frequency that is a multiple of the voltage pulse frequency. Antibunching of the electrons and holes with the levitons at the beam splitter changes the leviton partition statistics, and the noise variations provide the energy density matrix elements of the levitons. This demonstration of quantum tomography makes the developing field of electron quantum optics with ballistic conductors a new test-bed for quantum information with fermions. These results may find direct application in probing the entanglement of electron flying quantum bits, electron decoherence and electron interactions. They could also be applied to cold fermionic (or spin-1/2) atoms.

Minimal-excitation states for electron quantum optics using levitons.

The on-demand generation of pure quantum excitations is important for the operation of quantum systems, but it is particularly difficult for a system of fermions. This is because any perturbation affects all states below the Fermi energy, resulting in a complex superposition of particle and hole excitations. However, it was predicted nearly 20 years ago that a Lorentzian time-dependent potential with quantized flux generates a minimal excitation with only one particle and no hole. Here we report that such quasiparticles (hereafter termed levitons) can be generated on demand in a conductor by applying voltage pulses to a contact. Partitioning the excitations with an electronic beam splitter generates a current noise that we use to measure their number. Minimal-excitation states are observed for Lorentzian pulses, whereas for other pulse shapes there are significant contributions from holes. Further identification of levitons is provided in the energy domain with shot-noise spectroscopy, and in the time domain with electronic Hong-Ou-Mandel noise correlations. The latter, obtained by colliding synchronized levitons on a beam splitter, exemplifies the potential use of levitons for quantum information: using linear electron quantum optics in ballistic conductors, it is possible to imagine flying-qubit operation in which the Fermi statistics are exploited to entangle synchronized electrons emitted by distinct sources. Compared with electron sources based on quantum dots, the generation of levitons does not require delicate nanolithography, considerably simplifying the circuitry for scalability. Levitons are not limited to carrying a single charge, and so in a broader context n-particle levitons could find application in the study of full electron counting statistics. But they can also carry a fraction of charge if they are implemented in Luttinger liquids or in fractional quantum Hall edge channels; this allows the study of Abelian and non-Abelian quasiparticles in the time domain. Finally, the generation technique could be applied to cold atomic gases, leading to the possibility of atomic levitons.

The FARMING approach: main results and perspectives of the French FARMING groups.

The Chernobyl accident led to a long-term crisis that affected agriculture, food and living conditions in complex ways, and that modified the usual economical, political and social relations between public and private stakeholders at local, national and international level. The EC FARMING project aims to create a European stakeholder network to consider possible rehabilitation strategies for rural areas contaminated after a nuclear accident. The Institute of Patrimonial Strategies of the National Institute on Agronomy had responsibility for setting up the French stakeholder group. The objective was to develop favourable conditions and ways whereby stakeholders could deal with such a complex situation as a nuclear emergency and develop rehabilitation strategies. The results from the 3-year work programme on both strategic and technical aspects, showed an increasing commitment from the stakeholders that led to the building up of a common understanding of what a nuclear accident could be and how it could be dealt with.

Variation in stakeholder opinion on countermeasures across Europe.

A compendium of agricultural countermeasures and rural waste disposal options has been compiled as part of the EC STRATEGY (Sustainable Restoration and Long-Term Management of Contaminated Rural, Urban and Industrial Ecosystems) project. The compendium was discussed by the FARMING (Food and Agriculture Restoration Management Involving Networked Groups) network of stakeholders during meetings of national panels in the UK, Finland, Belgium, Greece and France in 2002. Their preliminary feedback has been summarised in terms of whether an option is generally acceptable, unacceptable or only acceptable under specific circumstances. A considerable divergence of opinion between national panels was apparent for many of the options considered. This could be attributed to differences in geomorphology, climate, land management, infrastructure, consumer confidence, sociopolitical context and culture. Where consensus was reached between stakeholders it was generally for those countermeasures that provide public reassurance, sustain farming practices and minimise environmental impact. Furthermore, whilst there was general agreement that contaminated food should not enter the food chain, many of the options proposed for its subsequent management were not generally acceptable to stakeholders.

Achievements, difficulties and future challenges for the FARMING network.

The EC FARMING network (Food and Agriculture Restoration Management Involving Networked Groups) was set up to bring together the many and diverse stakeholders who would be involved in intervention following wide scale radioactive contamination of the food chain, so that acceptable strategies can be developed for maintaining agricultural production and safe food supply. The network comprises stakeholder panels in the UK, Finland, Belgium, France and Greece that have met regularly since 2001 to debate, discuss and exchange opinion on the acceptability, constraints and impact of various countermeasure options and strategies. The objectives of this paper are to consolidate the main achievements of the FARMING project over the period 2000-2004, to highlight the various difficulties that were encountered and to discuss the challenges for engaging stakeholders in off-site emergency management and long-term rehabilitation in the future.

[Pre-hospitalization treatment with Abciximab in the preparation of patients for primary angioplasty in the acute phase of myocardial infarct. Immediate and long-term (one month) results]. / Traitement préhospitalier par abciximab des patients candidats à une angioplastie primaire en phase aiguë d'infarctus du myocarde. Résultats immédiats et à l mois.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is an alternative to fibrinolysis in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, after balloon PTCA, the rate of early re-occlusion, of re-infarctus and of restenosis remains high. Stent implantation with antiplatelet drug regimen (aspirin, ticlid) limits these risks. Abciximab (new GPIIb/IIIa receptors inhibitor) reduces PTCA complications rate in the acute coronary syndromes. Intravenous administration of abciximab can restore a normal flow in the infarcted related coronary artery (IRA) after few minutes. A monocentric, non randomized, prospective pilot study was iniated to assess the feasibility of pre-hospital treatment with abciximab in preparation to primary PTCA stenting in AMI (primary endpoint) and to appreciate potential benefits in initial IRA patency as well as prevention of PTCA thrombotic complications (secondary endpoint). Between April 1997 and January 1998, 38 AMI were treated with abciximab in pre-hospital phase (group A). Mobil Intensive Care Unit (MICU) team implemented the treatment and guaranteed immediate transport to the cathlab (abciximab bolus-coronary angiography time = 37 +/- 17 min). Immediate results were compared to those of 198 paired patients who were treated for AMI during the same period (Group T). Initial IRA flow TIMI grade 3 was significantly higher in group A, 24%, than in group T, 9% (p < 0.017). The rates of per-procedural complications (no flow, distal embolism), of local complications, of transfusions were not significantly different. During 1 month follow-up, there was no significant difference between group A and group T concerning death, re-MI, stent thrombosis and new revascularization. To conclude, the pre-hospital treatment with abciximab in AMI is feasible by MICU medical team without any delay of the cathlab admission. It is associated with no increased hemorrhagic complications rate. The abciximab pre-hospital treatment improves the initial IRA patency. These encouraging preliminary results expect to be confirmed by larger, multicentric, randomized and prospective studies.

Incidence of tricuspid regurgitation and vena caval backward flow in mechanically ventilated patients. A color Doppler and contrast echocardiographic study.

In 40 patients requiring mechanical ventilation for an episode of respiratory failure of various causes, prevalence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) or other cause of vena caval backward flow (VCBF) was systematically investigated using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. Quantification of TR was obtained from planimetry of the regurgitant jet during color Doppler examination. The influence of cyclic mechanical lung inflation was examined by contrast echography of the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins. All the 40 patients studied had TR, which was mild in 21, moderate in 9 and severe in 10. Using a planimetric scale, TR was more marked during mechanical ventilation, when compared with a brief period of spontaneous breathing. Moreover, contrast echocardiography demonstrated that systolic TR reached inferior vena cava and hepatic veins in 16 cases, and also evidenced direct mechanical action of lung inflation producing a pancardiac VCBF in 15 cases. This high incidence of TR and VCBF partially may explain the relatively poor reliability of the thermodilution method for measurement of cardiac output when used in ventilated patients.

Age-dependent differences in energetic status, electrical and mechanical performance of rat myocardium.

Transmembrane action potential (AP), isotonic contraction and biochemical measurements were performed in 12-day, 1-, 3-, 14- and 24-month-old rat hearts. The major findings of this study are: (1) the AP and contraction duration decrease between 12 days and 1 month of age (growth period) and increase between 1 month and 24 months of age; (2) as compared with 1 month and 14 months, respectively, isotonic contraction peak shortening is lower at 12 days and 24 months of age; (3) the phosphorylation potential is higher during the postnatal period and decreases in an age-correlated manner; (4) the inorganic phosphate and glycogen contents are higher in the senescent heart. We conclude that, during the postnatal period the particular AP and the lower mechanical performances could be the result of immature sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum properties rather than modifications in the oxidative phosphorylation mechanism and by contrast, in senescent heart, that AP and contraction modifications could result from metabolic modifications.

Tyrosine protein kinase activity of the EGF receptor is required to induce activation of receptor-operated calcium channels.

We have investigated the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on calcium ion channels in A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells. We have found that: -1- EGF stimulates Ca2+ channels. -2- EGF stimulated Ca2+ channels are voltage independent, exhibit a low conductance (8 pS) and a bursting multichannels activity (BMC). -3- Activation of the tyrosine-kinase function of the EGF receptor is required to generate Ca2+ current. -4- Inositol (1,4,5) triphosphate (Ins (1,4,5) P3) and EGF have similar effect on the channel activation. These results suggest that: stimulation of tyrosine-kinase activity of the EGF receptor, production of Ins (1,4,5)P3 and calcium entry via voltage independent channels are important connected steps in mediating the mitogenic effect of this growth factor.

Comparative electrophysiological response of young and old rat myocardium to pharmacological agents.

1. Age-related changes in electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of rat ventricular cells have been investigated. 2. As compared to adults, transmembrane action potential (TAP) of aged rat myocardium exhibits a prolonged phase of repolarization. 3. For both young and aged groups tetrodotoxin reduces TAP duration. 4. Nifedipine and isoproterenol induce more pronounced modifications of the TAP in aged subjects. 5. Amiloride and tetraethylammonium ions prolong, for both groups, phase 2 of repolarization. This effect is more marked in the aged group. 6. Our results suggest that the prolonged TAP in aged myocardium could result from an age-related increase in calcium current.