No abstract

We introduce a quantum version of the Game of Life and we use it to study the emergence of complexity in a quantum world. We show that the quantum evolution displays signatures of complex behaviour similar to the classical one, however a regime exists, where the quantum Game of Life creates more complexity, in terms of diversity, with respect to the corresponding classical reversible one.

In situ process information in the chemical, pharmaceutical or food industry as well as emission monitoring, sensitive trace detection and biological sensing applications would increasingly rely on MIR-spectroscopic analysis in the 3 µm − 12 µm wavelength range. However, cost effective, portable, low power consuming and fast spectrometers with a wide tuning range are not available so far. To provide these MIR-spectrometer properties, the combination of quantum cascade lasers with a MOEMS scanning grating as wavelength selective element in the external cavity is addressed to provide a very compact and fast tunable laser source for spectroscopic analysis.

Experimental results of a large scanning grating with a diameter of 5mm and 1 kHz scan frequency are discussed. An optical diffraction grating is fabricated on a mirror single crystal silicon plate to scan the first diffraction order in the MIR-wavelength range over a quantum cascade laser facet. Special emphasis is on the development of the grating technology module to integrate it with high accuracy and reproducibility into the IPMS AME75 process flow. The principle EC-QCL setup with the scanning grating is described and first measurement results concerning laser output power and tuning range are presented

In order to realize a spectrally broad band and rapid tunable spectrometer in the MIR (3-12 m wavelength range), we aim for the combination of a quantum cascade laser with a micro-opto-electro-mechanical scanning grating. The scanning grating consists of a very small diffraction grating oscillating at its resonance frequency. It serves as wavelength selective feedback to rapidly tune the quantum cascade laser. Composed together, both parts build an external cavity laser in Littrow-configuration. Thanks to the compactness of the micro-opto-electro-mechanical system, portable and cost effective spectrometers can be realized