Source Of Pairs Research Articles

Any-to-One Non-Parallel Voice Conversion System Using an Autoregressive Conversion Model and LPCNet Vocoder

We present an any-to-one voice conversion (VC) system, using an autoregressive model and LPCNet vocoder, aimed at enhancing the converted speech in terms of naturalness, intelligibility, and speaker similarity. As the name implies, non-parallel any-to-one voice conversion does not require paired source and target speeches and can be employed for arbitrary speech conversion tasks. Recent advancements in neural-based vocoders, such as WaveNet, have improved the efficiency of speech synthesis. However, in practice, we find that the trajectory of some generated waveforms is not consistently smooth, leading to occasional voice errors. To address this issue, we propose to use an autoregressive (AR) conversion model along with the high-fidelity LPCNet vocoder. This combination not only solves the problems of waveform fluidity but also produces more natural and clear speech, with the added capability of real-time speech generation. To precisely represent the linguistic content of a given utterance, we use speaker-independent PPG features (SI-PPG) computed from an automatic speech recognition (ASR) model trained on a multi-speaker corpus. Next, a conversion model maps the SI-PPG to the acoustic representations used as input features for the LPCNet. The proposed autoregressive structure enables our system to produce the following prediction step outputs from the acoustic features predicted in the previous step. We evaluate the effectiveness of our system by performing any-to-one conversion pairs between native English speakers. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art systems, producing higher speech quality and greater speaker similarity.

Photon Pair Source based on PPLN‐Waveguides for Entangled Two‐Photon Absorption

AbstractFluorescence excitation by absorption of entangled photon pairs offers benefits compared to classical imaging techniques, such as the attainment of higher signal levels at low excitation power while simultaneously mitigating phototoxicity. However, current entangled photon pair sources are unreliable for fluorescence detection. In order to address this limitation, there is a need for ultra‐bright entangled photon pair sources. Among the potential solutions, sources utilizing nonlinear waveguides emerge as promising candidates to facilitate fluorescence excitation through entangled photons. In this paper, a source consisting of a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide is developed and its key characteristics are analyzed. To demonstrate its suitability as key component for imaging experiments, the entangled two‐photon absorption behavior of Cadmium Selenide Zinc Sulfide quantum dot solutions is experimentally investigated.

Bragg grating based entangled biphoton dispersion management

In the realm of quantum information processing and precision measurements, a range of non-classical effects based on entangled photon pairs are employed. Non-local dispersion cancellation is one of these properties, in which the second photon (idler) can be manipulated to cancel the effects of dispersion on the first photon (signal). In the present study, a thorough investigation is conducted into non-local dispersion cancellation by using excitation modes within a Bragg grating slab waveguide. We present a complete theoretical analysis of non-local dispersion cancellation for frequency-limited entangled photon pairs. For the analysis of the effect of dispersion cancellation, we use a spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) photon pair source with frequency correlation and anti-correlation as the entangled source. To evaluate the dispersion cancellation effect for information processing applications, the second correlation function is used and calculated as a practical and tangible metric. Considering different cases for Bragg Grating waveguide the results on both photons are extracted and discussed. Moreover, we will show that the physical parameters of the waveguide that the second photon is propagated inside will be effective in minimizing the width of the temporal correlation function. Hence, this study underscores the feasibility of achieving non-local dispersion cancellation through strategic optimization of optical and geometric parameters in the Bragg Grating waveguide, with potential implications for quantum information processing and high-resolution sensing endeavors.

Quantum-referenced spontaneous emission tomography

We present a method of tomography in which photon pairs from a device-under-test (DUT) are experimentally characterised by quantum interference with a reference photon pair source; we call this quantum-referenced spontaneous emission tomography (Q-SpET). In Q-SpET, the joint spectral phase (JSP) of photon pairs generated by a DUT can be reconstructed by combining four spectrally resolved interferograms. We demonstrate this theoretically and experimentally, characterising the JSP of a microresonator photon pair source. Our method is fully implemented on a chip, demonstrating the compactness, inherent phase stability, low complexity, and resource efficiency of this method.

Flexible reconfigurable entanglement-based quantum key distribution network

AbstractRecently, we implemented a basic star-shaped entanglement-based quantum key distribution network without trusted nodes. It enables simultaneous pairwise exchange of quantum keys between multiple users. In this paper, we demonstrate its flexibility by focusing on several aspects. We show continuous system operation over a partially deployed 100 km fiber link for multiple days as well as dynamic reconfiguration of the communication partners. The photon pair source enables type-II or type-0 photon pair generation by SPDC as well as various demultiplexing strategies and repetition rates.

A bimodal source for the generation of tonalitic to granitic magmas in a non-subduction-related magmatic belt: An example from the Sierra Chica of Córdoba, Argentina

A notable consensus prevails about the hybrid nature of intermediate calc-alkaline magmatism. Accordingly, petrogenetic models envisage the addition of young mantle material and cortical recycling in those geological settings where intermediate magmas are dominant. Most exhaustively studied examples are: 1) magmatic arcs associated with subduction zone settings where oceanic crust and sediments are introduced into the mantle wedge, and 2) deep crustal sections are pervaded by hot, H2O-rich mantle-derived liquids. Nevertheless, back-arc or foreland terranes of several hundred kilometers in width, frequently characterized by high heat flux, crustal melting, recycling and melt fractionation, are crucial areas to evaluate the generation of intermediate magmatism. The Sierra Chica of Córdoba (Argentina) provides an excellent example to study these processes. The high-grade crustal segment shows metamorphosed pelitic and basaltic protoliths that were part of an old sedimentary succession. We evaluate the evolution of this bimodal source during two consecutive early Paleozoic orogenic periods when it was established as the source area of intermediate to silicic magmatism far from the contemporary magmatic arcs. Field relations and new geochemical and geochronological data revealed the occurrence of two magmatic events during Cambrian and early Ordovician periods. Cambrian migmatization and partial melting (∼528 to 505 Ma) is represented by irregular-shaped monzogranites and tonalites, while early Ordovician magmatism (∼480 Ma) is characterized by dyke-shaped pegmatites and tonalite-trondhjemites. The preservation of two contrasting igneous lineages suggests a genetic linkage between metapelitic and amphibolitic migmatites and between granitic and tonalitic-trondhjemitic partial melts. Coeval with this magmatism, Famatinian tonalitic-trondhjemitic to monzogranitic magmas intruded upper crustal levels in Sierra Chica and other parts of Sierras of Córdoba. Geochemical signatures point to a bimodal (mafic/felsic) source for this intermediate to silica-rich magmatism. The evolution of partial melts studied in the Sierra Chica is depicted on the basis of geochemical projections with fractionation and hybridization models, in order to establish the primary liquids of this Famatinian magmatic belt. Trends defined by Famatinian tonalites, trondhjemites and granodiorites suggest that primary Ca-rich melts (tonalites and trondhjemites of this study) evolved through fractionation of plagioclase (30–50 vol%) compatible with the preservation of inferred co-magmatic Pl-cumulates within these plutonic bodies. Peraluminous granites and monzogranites can be explained by a simple restite unmixing process involving alkali-rich liquids generated in the metapelitic part of the source. The addition (hybridization) of up to 30 vol% of granitic melts to the tonalite-trondhjemite end-member may account for the composition of other Famatinian granodioritic to monzogranitic intrusive rocks from the plutonic belt. The crustal segments of the Sierra Chica have undergone metamorphism and partial melting in out-of-arc settings: the Cambrian fore-arc and the early Ordovician back-arc. The voluminous magmatic belt rooted in the paired metapelitic-amphibolic source area is involved in the origin of intermediate to silicic Famatinian magmatism without significant mass transfer from the mantle and crustal growth, instead it is dominated by crustal melting, recycling and fractionation.

A finely tuned deep transfer learning algorithm to compare outsole images

AbstractIn forensic practice, evaluating shoeprint evidence is challenging because the differences between images of two different outsoles can be subtle. In this paper, we propose a deep transfer learning‐based matching algorithm called the Shoe‐MS algorithm that quantifies the similarity between two outsole images. The Shoe‐MS algorithm consists of a Siamese neural network for two input images followed by a transfer learning component to extract features from outsole impression images. The added layers are finely tuned using images of shoe soles. To test the performance of the method we propose, we use a study dataset that is both realistic and challenging. The pairs of images for which we know ground truth include (1) close non‐matches and (2) mock‐crime scene pairs. The Shoe‐MS algorithm performed well in terms of prediction accuracy and was able to determine the source of pairs of outsole images, even when comparisons were challenging. When using a score‐based likelihood ratio, the algorithm made the correct decision with high probability in a test of the hypothesis that images had a common source. An important advantage of the proposed approach is that pairs of images can be compared without alignment. In initial tests, Shoe‐MS exhibited better‐discriminating power than existing methods.

Non-collinear generation of ultra-broadband parametric fluorescence photon pairs using chirped quasi-phase matching slab waveguides.

Many optical quantum applications rely on broadband frequency correlated photon pair sources. We previously reported a scheme for collinear emission of high-efficiency and ultra-broadband photon pairs using chirped quasi-phase matching (QPM) periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPSLT) ridge waveguides. However, collinearly emitted photon pairs cannot be directly adopted for applications that are based on two-photon interference, such as quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT). In this work, we developed a chirped QPM device with a slab waveguide structure. This device was designed to produce spatially separable (photon pair non-collinear emission) parametric fluorescence photon pairs with an ultra-broadband bandwidth in an extremely efficient manner. Using a non-chirped QPM slab waveguide, we observed a photon pair spectrum with a full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) bandwidth of 26 nm. When using a 3% chirped QPM slab waveguide, the FWHM bandwidth of the spectrum increased to 190 nm, and the base-to-base width is 308 nm. We also confirmed a generation efficiency of 2.4×106 pairs/(μW·s) using the non-chirped device, and a efficiency of 8×105 pairs/(μW·s) using the 3% chirped device under non-collinear emission conditions after single-mode fiber coupling. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of frequency correlated photon pairs generation using slab waveguide device as a source. In addition, using slab waveguides as photon pair sources, we performed two-photon interference experiments with the non-chirped device and obtained a Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) dip with a FWHM of 7.7 μm and visibility of 98%. When using the 3% chirped device as photon pair source, the HOM measurement gave a 2 μm FWHM dip and 74% visibility.

Onception: Active Learning with Expert Advice for Real World Machine Translation

Abstract Active learning can play an important role in low-resource settings (i.e., where annotated data is scarce), by selecting which instances may be more worthy to annotate. Most active learning approaches for Machine Translation assume the existence of a pool of sentences in a source language, and rely on human annotators to provide translations or post-edits, which can still be costly. In this article, we apply active learning to a real-world human-in-the-loop scenario in which we assume that: (1) the source sentences may not be readily available, but instead arrive in a stream; (2) the automatic translations receive feedback in the form of a rating, instead of a correct/edited translation, since the human-in-the-loop might be a user looking for a translation, but not be able to provide one. To tackle the challenge of deciding whether each incoming pair source–translations is worthy to query for human feedback, we resort to a number of stream-based active learning query strategies. Moreover, because we do not know in advance which query strategy will be the most adequate for a certain language pair and set of Machine Translation models, we propose to dynamically combine multiple strategies using prediction with expert advice. Our experiments on different language pairs and feedback settings show that using active learning allows us to converge on the best Machine Translation systems with fewer human interactions. Furthermore, combining multiple strategies using prediction with expert advice outperforms several individual active learning strategies with even fewer interactions, particularly in partial feedback settings.

Ultrabright polarization-entangled photon pair source for frequency-multiplexed quantum communication in free-space.

The distribution of entanglement via satellite links will drastically extend the reach of quantum networks. Highly efficient entangled photon sources are an essential requirement towards overcoming high channel loss and achieving practical transmission rates in long-distance satellite downlinks. Here we report on an ultrabright entangled photon source that is optimized for long-distance free-space transmission. It operates in a wavelength range that is efficiently detected with space-ready single photon avalanche diodes (Si-SPADs), and readily provides pair emission rates that exceed the detector bandwidth (i.e., the temporal resolution). To overcome this limitation, we demultiplex the photon flux into wavelength channels that can be handled by current single photon detector technology. This is achieved efficiently by using the spectral correlations due to hyper-entanglement in polarization and frequency as an auxiliary resource. Combined with recent demonstrations of space-proof source prototypes, these results pave the way to a broadband long-distance entanglement distribution network based on satellites.

Ultra-efficient generation of time-energy entangled photon pairs in an InGaP photonic crystal cavity

The typical approaches to generate heralded single photons rely on parametric processes, with the advantage of generating highly entangled states at the price of a random pair emission. To overcome this limit, degenerate spontaneous Four-Wave-Mixing is a reliable technique which combines two pump photons into a pair of signal and idler photons via Kerr nonlinear optical effect. By exploiting the intrinsic small confinement volume and thermally tuning the resonances of a 20 μm-long Photonic Crystal cavity, we efficiently generate time-energy entangled photon pairs and heralded single photons at a large maximum on-chip rate of 22 MHz, using 36 μW of pump power. We measure time-energy entanglement with net visibility up to 96.6 % using 1 second integration time constant. Our measurements demonstrate the viability of Photonic Crystal cavities to act as an alternative and efficient photon pair source for quantum photonics.

Telecom quantum photonic interface for a 40Ca+ single-ion quantum memory

Entanglement-based quantum networks require quantum photonic interfaces between stationary quantum memories and photons, enabling entanglement distribution. Here we present such a photonic interface, designed for connecting a 40Ca+ single-ion quantum memory to the telecom C-band. The interface combines a memory-resonant, cavity-enhanced spontaneous parametric down-conversion photon pair source with bi-directional polarization-conserving quantum frequency conversion. We demonstrate preservation of high-fidelity entanglement during conversion, fiber transmission over up to 40 km and back-conversion to the memory wavelength. Even for the longest distance and bi-directional conversion the entanglement fidelity remains larger than 95% (98%) without (with) background correction.

Efficient biphoton emission in semiconductors by single-photon recycling

An efficient biphoton emission process in semiconductors can enable the realization of highly tunable lasers, squeezed light sources, and entangled photon pair sources on an integrated platform. We propose a general single-photon recycling scheme to improve the overall efficiency of the typically weak biphoton emission process in a broad class of semiconductor materials. Using a rate-equation-based analysis, we first frame the general design principles and subsequently design a one-dimensional photonic crystal cavity to reach the ideal photon recycling limit for the spontaneously emitted single photons. The cavity is designed with realistic constituent materials to achieve high biphoton output efficiency in the absence of nonradiative recombination channels.

Human exposure to short-chain chlorinated paraffins and organophosphate flame retardants in relation to paired multiple sources

In this study, the levels and distributions of short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) were determined in 10–88 aged human serum/hair and their paired multiple exposure sources, including one-day composite food, drinking water, and house dust. The average concentration of SCCPs and OPFRs were respectively 6313 and 176 ng/g lipid weight (lw) in serum, 1008 and 108 ng/g dry weight (dw) in hair, 1131 and 27.2 ng/g dw in food, not detected and 45.1 ng/L in drinking water, and 2405 and 864 ng/g in house dust. The levels of SCCPs in serum of adults were significantly higher than those of juvenile (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05), whereas gender showed no statistically significant difference in SCCPs and OPFRs levels. In addition, there were significant relationships of OPFR concentrations between serum and drinking water as well as hair and food using the multiple linear regression analysis, whereas no correlation was observed for SCCPs. Based on the estimated daily intake, the major exposure pathway for SCCPs was food, while for OPFRs, it was food and drinking water with three order magnitude safety margin.

Self-Supervised Fusion for Multi-Modal Medical Images via Contrastive Auto-Encoding and Convolutional Information Exchange

This paper proposes a self-supervised framework based on a contrastive auto-encoding and convolutional information exchange for multi-modal medical fusion tasks. It is well known that multi-modal medical images have the same and unique features, and information redundancy is easily led when source image features are extracted in pairs. Inspired by contrastive learning, this article constructs positive and negative results pairs and proposes a novel contrastive loss in an auto-encoder. The paired source images are considered as positive and negative results used to reconstruct the source images to avoid the information redundancy problem. This article proposes preserving both the global and local features based on prior knowledge by combining transformer and convolution neural networks in parallel as an auto-encoder. A contribution estimation model is adopted to fuse multi-modal medical images. In the contribution estimation stage, an information exchange block is designed to exchange the feature maps of source images in multi-kernel convolutions, and then the multi-convolutional features are utilized to estimate the best fusion contribution of the paired source images. Experiments demonstrate that our method gives the best results than other state-of-the-art fusion approaches.

Does a halogen bond require positive potential on the acid and negative potential on the base?

It is usually expected that formation of a halogen bond (XB) requires that a region of positive electrostatic potential associated with a σ or π-hole on the Lewis acid will interact with the negative potential of the base, either a lone pair or π-bond region. Quantum calculations of model systems suggest this not to be necessary. The placement of electron-withdrawing substituents on the base can reverse the sign of the potential in its lone pair or π-bond region to positive, and this base can nonetheless engage in a XB with the positive σ-hole of a Lewis acid. The reverse scenario is also possible in certain circumstances, as a negatively charged σ-hole can form a XB with the negative lone pair region of a base. Despite these classical Coulombic repulsions, the overall electrostatic interaction is attractive in these XBs, albeit only weakly so. The strengths of these bonds are surprisingly insensitive to changes in the partner molecule. For example, even a wide range in the depth of the σ-hole of the approaching acid yields only a minimal change in the strength of the XB to a base with a positive potential.

Development of single photon source based on micro-ring resonator for quantum memories

We design a photon pair source with emission at 606 nm and 3.98 MHz linewidth, which matches the spectral properties of praseodymium ions. To reduce the linewidth the use of cavity-enhanced spontaneous four-wave mixing was proposed. The designed integrated source is suitable for praseodymium quantum memories.

Effect of Gaussian and Bessel laser beams on linear and nonlinear optical properties of vertically coupled cylindrical quantum dots

Vertically coupled quantum dots are one of the most interesting and promising structures, which find application in a wide range of fields. Particularly, they are noteworthy candidates as a source of single photon and entangled photon pair sources, as qubits and quantum gates in quantum computation, etc. Various external perturbations can act as an instrument for the manipulation of the properties of these structures and an intense laser field is a great example of this. In this work, vertically coupled cylindrical quantum dots made of InAs in a GaAs matrix with a modified Pöschl–Teller potential have been considered under intense laser fields with two laser beam profiles: Gaussian and Bessel. The energy levels and wave functions have been obtained for this structure. Linear and third-order nonlinear absorption coefficients, refractive index changes and second and third harmonic generation susceptibilities have been investigated at different temperatures and for different values of the laser parameters.

Electromagnetic interaction of low transverse momentum charged leptons with heavy nuclei in ultra-peripheral ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions

The photon–photon interaction in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collision is a source of the charged lepton pairs. The photon-photon fusion leads to the lepton creation in broad configuration space around the “collision” point. Those created close to heavy nuclei may undergo strong electromagnetic interaction with them. The impact parameter space distributions of electrons/positrons and charged muons are calculated within the b-space EPA model of such collisions. The evolution of e^+/e^- and mu ^+/mu ^- distributions due to the electromagnetic interaction of leptons with nuclei is studied, and the distortion of rapidity and transverse momentum distributions are shown. A part of the analysis is independent of the production model. We show the first exploratory results for the reaction Pb + Pb at sqrt{s_{NN}} = 17.3 GeV (SPS) and 200 GeV (RHIC) energies. We provide results for selected creation points and when integrating over their positions as dictated by the b-space EPA model. We observe sizeable effects for e^+ / e^- and much smaller effects for mu ^+ / mu ^-. We predict a possible sizeable accumulation of leptons with rapidities close to the beam rapidity. The EM effects lead to asymmetry in the production of e^+ and e^- or mu ^+ and mu ^-.

Optical fiber polarization-entangled photon pair source using intermodal spontaneous four-wave mixing in the visible spectral band

The theoretical and experimental investigation results of the generation of the polarization-entangled photon pairs operating at visible wavelengths are reported. The generation of polarization-entangled photon pairs was based on intermodal spontaneous four-wave mixing (IM-SFWM) using standard step-index few-mode fiber. It was shown theoretically that several combinations of IM-SFWM processes could occur depending on spatial modes of a pump beam. A polarization-entangled photon pair source based on Sagnac loop incorporating a segment of few-mode fiber were then experimentally created. A two-photon interference fringe visibility of our implemented photon pair source were 91.7% and 88.8% in H/V bases and D/A bases, respectively. A quantum state tomography was also conducted to reconstruct the density matrix of the generated state with a fidelity to a maximum entangled state of 93.1%.