Compact NbN resonators with high kinetic inductance

We design and fabricateλ/2 coplanar waveguide NbN resonators,the thickness and length of which are only several nanometers and hundred microns,respectively.The quality factor of such compact resonators can reach up to 7.5×10~4 at single photon power level at 30 m K with the resonance frequency around 6.835 GHz.In order to tune the resonant frequency,the resonator is terminated to the ground with a dc-SQUID.By tuning the magnetic flux in the dc-SQUID,the effective inductance of the dc-SQUID is varied,which leads to the change in the resonant frequency of the resonator.The tunability range is more than 30 MHz and the quality factor is about 3×10~3.These compact and tunable NbN resonators have potential applications in the quantum information processing,such as in the precision measurement,coupling and/or reading out the quantum states of qubits.

Terahertz superconducting kinetic inductance detectors demonstrating photon-noise-limited performance and intrinsic generation-recombination noise

The development of large-format detector arrays with background-limited performance is of particular interest at the terahertz(THz) band, which is a unique band in search of our cosmic origins. With high sensitivity and being more promising in the pixel number and multiplexing technology, superconducting kinetic inductance detectors(KID) are emerging as a major choice of detectors of this type. Here we fabricate three-THz-band(0.35/0.85/1.4 THz) KIDs on a single chip from a 120-nm-thick aluminum(Al) superconducting film and measure photon-noise-limited performance and intrinsic generation-recombination noise at high(>1 p W) and low(<1 f W) optical radiation power, respectively. Their responses to blackbody(optical) radiation are proven to be purely from photons compared with the responses of two dark KIDs intentionally arranged on the same detector chip. The lowest optical noise equivalent power(NEP) reaches 6×10^(-18)W/Hz^(0.5)and the optical coupling efficiency is in the range of 49%-56% for the three KIDs, which are in good agreement with the simulation results.

Tunable superconducting resonators via on-chip control of local magnetic field

Superconducting microwave resonators play a pivotal role in superconducting quantum circuits.The ability to finetune their resonant frequencies provides enhanced control and flexibility.Here,we introduce a frequency-tunable superconducting coplanar waveguide resonator.By applying electrical currents through specifically designed ground wires,we achieve the generation and control of a localized magnetic field on the central line of the resonator,enabling continuous tuning of its resonant frequency.We demonstrate a frequency tuning range of 54.85 MHz in a 6.21-GHz resonator.This integrated and tunable resonator holds great potential as a dynamically tunable filter and as a key component of communication buses and memory elements in superconducting quantum computing.

Photosynthetic Characteristics of Two Superhigh-yield Hybrid Rice

The photosynthetic functions and the sensitivity to photoinhibition were compared between two superhigh_yield hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) Liangyoupeijiu and X07S/Zihui 100, the newly developed from two parental lines and traditional hybrid rice Shanyou 63 developed from three parental lines. The results showed that, as compared to Shanyou 63, the net photosynthetic rate of Liangyoupeijiu and X07S/Zihui 100 was 9.1% and 11.9% higher, the transpiration rate was 37.4% and 31.4% lower, and their water use efficiency was 74.2% and 63.5% higher respectively. After strong light (2 000 μmol photons·m -2 ·s -1 ) treatment for 2 h, the photochemical quantum yield and the photochemical quenching increased by 37.0% and 18.0% respectively in Liangyoupeijiu, 28.3% and 46.2% in X07S/Zihui 100, but decreased a little in Shanyou 63. The non_photochemical quenching decreased in Liangyoupeijiu and X07S/Zihui 100 (about 50%) but increased greatly in Shanyou 63 (about 50%). Better photosynthetic functions, higher water use efficiency and stronger resistance to photoinhibition, may be the physiological basis for the super high_yield of the two hybrid rice under study.

Statistical analysis of the temporal single-photon response of superconducting nanowire single photon detection

A new method to study the transient detection efficiency （DE） and pulse amplitude of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors （SNSPD） during the current recovery process is proposed -- statistically analyzing the single photon response under photon illumination with a high repetition rate. The transient DE results match well with the DEs deduced from the static current dependence of DE combined with the waveform of a single-photon detection event. This proves that static measurement results can be used to analyze the transient current recovery process after a detection event. The results are relevant for understanding the current recovery process of SNSPDs after a detection event and for determining the counting rate of SNSPDs.

W55a Encodes a Novel Protein Kinase That Is Involved in Multiple Stress Responses

Protein kinases play crucial roles in response to external environment stress signals. A putative protein kinase, W55a, belonging to SNFl-related protein kinase 2 （SnRK2） subfamily, was isolated from a cDNA library of drought-treated wheat seedlings. The entire length of W55a was obtained using rapid amplification of 5＇ cDNA ends （5＇-RACE） and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR）. It contains a 1 029-bp open reading frame （ORF） encoding 342 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of W55a had eleven conserved catalytic subdomains and one Ser/Thr protein kinase active-site that characterize Ser/Thr protein kinases. Phylogenetic analysis showed that W55a was 90.38% homologous with rice SAPK1, a member of the SnRK2 family. Using nullisomic-tetrasomic and ditelocentric lines of Chinese Spring, W55a was located on chromosome 2BS. Expression pattern analysis revealed that W55a was upregulated by drought and salt, exogenous abscisic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene and methyl jasmonate, but was not responsive to cold stress. In addition, W55a transcripts were abundant in leaves, but not in roots or stems, under environmental stresses. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing W55a exhibited higher tolerance to drought. Based on these findings, W55a encodes a novel dehydration-responsive protein kinase that is involved in multiple stress signal transductions.