Abstract: A method is presented for controlling a spin system in an external magnetic field. The method includes sending a first pulse to a resonator over a first period. The resonator generates a magnetic field in response to receiving the first pulse. Moreover, the resonator applies the magnetic field to the spin system and the first pulse maintains the magnetic field in a transient state during the first period. The method also includes sending a second pulse to the resonator over a second period immediately following the first period. The resonator alters a magnitude of the magnetic field to zero in response to receiving the second pulse. Other methods are presented for controlling a spin system in an external magnetic field, including systems for controlling a spin system in an external field.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a structured optical beam with position-dependent polarizations is prepared for human observation. In some examples, an optics method includes processing an optical beam to produce a structured optical beam for human observation. Processing the optical beam includes receiving the optical beam from a laser source; attenuating the optical beam to an exposure irradiance level that is safe for direct viewing by a human eye; expanding the optical beam to a size configured for a field of view of the human eye; and preparing the optical beam with a position-dependent polarization profile. The structured optical beam, which has the position-dependent polarization profile, is directed towards an observation region for human observation.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a collimator system is described. In some aspects, a neutron beam collimation method includes receiving a neutron beam from a neutron source; polarizing the neutron beam using a polarizer, and obtaining a collimated neutron beam from the polarized neutron beam. The neutron beam generated by the neutron source has a first beam divergence and includes a plurality of neutrons. The collimated neutron beam has a second beam divergence that is less than the first beam divergence. Obtaining the collimated neutron beam includes mapping transverse momentum of each respective neutron, of the plurality of neutrons, onto a polarization degree of freedom of the respective neutron by applying a sequence of phase shift gradients to the polarized neutron beam, and after applying the sequence of phase shift gradients, passing the polarized neutron beam through an analyzer.

Abstract: In some aspects, a resonator device includes a dielectric substrate, a ground plane on a first side of the substrate, and conductors on a second, opposite side of the substrate. The conductors include first and second resonators and two baluns. Each balun includes a feed, a first branch and a second branch. The feed is connected to the first and second branches, and the first and second branches are capacitively coupled to the respective first and second resonators. The first branch includes a delay line configured to produce a phase shift relative to the second branch. The resonator device includes a sample region configured to support a magnetic resonance sample between the first and second resonators.

Abstract: A method is presented for controlling a spin system in an external magnetic field. The method includes sending a first pulse to a resonator over a first period. The resonator generates a magnetic field in response to receiving the first pulse. Moreover, the resonator applies the magnetic field to the spin system and the first pulse maintains the magnetic field in a transient state during the first period. The method also includes sending a second pulse to the resonator over a second period immediately following the first period. The resonator alters a magnitude of the magnetic field to zero in response to receiving the second pulse. Other methods are presented for controlling a spin system in an external magnetic field, including systems for controlling a spin system in an external field.

Abstract: In some aspects, a control system interacts with a quantum system. In some instances, the quantum system includes qubits that respond to a control signal generated by the control system, and the control system is configured to generate the control signal in response to an input signal. A control sequence (which may include, for example, a sequence of values for the input signal) can be generated by a computing system based on a target operation to be applied to the qubits. The control sequence can be generated based on the target operation, a quantum system model, a distortion model and possibly other information. The quantum system model represents the quantum system and includes a control parameter representing the control signal. The distortion model represents a nonlinear relationship between the control signal and the input signal. The control sequence is applied to the quantum system by operation of the control system.

Abstract: In a general aspect, optical beams are manipulated. In some cases, an optical device includes an inlet to receive a first beam, and one or more prism pairs. Each prism pair includes one or more birefringent gradients configured to transform the first beam into a second beam. The second beam is associated with a lattice of cells, where each cell includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is associated with a first orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode and a first polarization, and the second portion is associated with a second OAM mode and a second polarization.

Abstract: In some aspects, a control system interacts with a quantum system. In some instances, the quantum system includes qubits that respond to a control signal generated by the control system, and the control system is configured to generate the control signal in response to an input signal. A control sequence (which may include, for example, a sequence of values for the input signal) can be generated by a computing system based on a target operation to be applied to the qubits. The control sequence can be generated based on the target operation, a quantum system model, a distortion model and possibly other information. The quantum system model represents the quantum system and includes a control parameter representing the control signal. The distortion model represents a nonlinear relationship between the control signal and the input signal. The control sequence is applied to the quantum system by operation of the control system.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a structured optical beam with position-dependent polarizations is prepared for human observation. In some examples, an optics method includes processing an optical beam to produce a structured optical beam for human observation. Processing the optical beam includes receiving the optical beam from a laser source; attenuating the optical beam to an exposure irradiance level that is safe for direct viewing by a human eye; expanding the optical beam to a size configured for a field of view of the human eye; and preparing the optical beam with a position-dependent polarization profile. The structured optical beam, which has the position-dependent polarization profile, is directed towards an observation region for human observation.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a collimator system is described. In some aspects, a neutron beam collimation method includes receiving a neutron beam from a neutron source; polarizing the neutron beam using a polarizer, and obtaining a collimated neutron beam from the polarized neutron beam. The neutron beam generated by the neutron source has a first beam divergence and includes a plurality of neutrons. The collimated neutron beam has a second beam divergence that is less than the first beam divergence. Obtaining the collimated neutron beam includes mapping transverse momentum of each respective neutron, of the plurality of neutrons, onto a polarization degree of freedom of the respective neutron by applying a sequence of phase shift gradients to the polarized neutron beam, and after applying the sequence of phase shift gradients, passing the polarized neutron beam through an analyzer.

Abstract: In some aspects, a control system interacts with a quantum system. In some instances, the quantum system includes qubits that respond to a control signal generated by the control system, and the control system is configured to generate the control signal in response to an input signal. A control sequence (which may include, for example, a sequence of values for the input signal) can be generated by a computing system based on a target operation to be applied to the qubits. The control sequence can be generated based on the target operation, a quantum system model, a distortion model and possibly other information. The quantum system model represents the quantum system and includes a control parameter representing the control signal. The distortion model represents a nonlinear relationship between the control signal and the input signal. The control sequence is applied to the quantum system by operation of the control system.

Abstract: In some aspects, polarization of a spin ensemble can be increased using cavity-based techniques. A cavity is coupled with a spin ensemble, and a drive field generates an interaction between the cavity and the spin ensemble. In some cases, the interaction increases the polarization of the spin ensemble faster than the thermal (T1) relaxation process or any other thermal polarizing process affecting the spin ensemble. In some cases, polarization is increased by iteratively acting on angular momentum subspaces of the spin ensemble, and mixing the angular momentum subspaces, for example, by a dipolar interaction, a transverse (T2) relaxation process, application of a gradient field, or a combination of these and other processes.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tools having non-resonant circuits for analyzing a formation and/or a sample. For example, nuclear magnetic resonance and resistivity tools can make use of a non-resonant excitation coil and/or a detection coil. These coils can achieve desired frequencies by the use of switches, thereby removing the requirement of tuning circuits that are typical in conventional tools.

Abstract: In some aspects, a resonator device for magnetic resonance applications is described. In some examples, the resonator device includes a resonator body that includes a periodic arrangement of cells about a central interior region. Each cell includes a dielectric substrate and a conductor disposed on the dielectric substrate. The periodic arrangement of the cells defines a periodic network of inductive and capacitive elements adapted to produce a magnetic field in the central interior region. The cells can be arranged according to various topologies that form various capacitive and inductive schemes. In some implementations, a dielectric substrate and thin superconductor are used, and the resonator device exhibits a high quality factor (Q) and low losses.

Abstract: In a general aspect, the spin angular momentum of a neutron wave packet is coupled with the orbital angular momentum of the neutron wave packet. In some instances, an initial state of a neutron wave packet is generated. The neutron wave packet in the initial state has a spin angular momentum that is polarized in an axial direction. The neutron wave packet is directed through a quadrupole magnetic field that couples the spin angular momentum of the neutron wave packet with an orbital angular momentum of the neutron wave packet. A spin-orbit state of the neutron wave packet is produced from the quadrupole magnetic field.

Abstract: In some aspects, polarization of a spin ensemble can be increased using cavity-based techniques. A sample contains a first spin ensemble and a second spin ensemble. A drive field couples the first spin ensemble with a cavity, and the coupling increases the polarization of the first spin ensemble. Polarization is transferred from the first spin ensemble to the second spin ensemble. In some examples, the polarization is transferred from a solvent or an abundant species to a solute or a dilute species in the sample.

Abstract: In some aspects, polarization of a spin ensemble can be increased using cavity-based techniques. A resonator applies a drive field to a spin ensemble in a sample in a static magnetic field. The drive field couples the spin ensemble with a cavity, and the coupling increases the polarization of the spin ensemble. In some cases, the sample is thermally insulated from the cavity, for example, to maintain the sample at a higher temperature than the cavity. In some implementations, the spin ensemble achieves a polarization that is higher than its thermal equilibrium polarization.

Abstract: In some aspects, polarization of a spin ensemble can be increased using cavity-based techniques. A resonator applies drive field to a spin ensemble in a static magnetic field. The drive field couples the spin ensemble with a cavity, and the coupling increases the polarization of the spin ensemble. In some cases, the cavity is detuned from the spin- resonance frequency, and the Rabi frequency associated with the drive field can be matched to the cavity detuning.

Abstract: In some aspects, polarization of a spin ensemble can be increased using cavity-based techniques. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a cavity and a resonator. The cavity is adapted to interact with a spin ensemble in an imaging subject in a static magnetic field. The resonator is adapted to generate an interaction between the cavity and the spin ensemble that increases polarization of the spin ensemble. In some implementations, the spin ensemble achieves a polarization that is higher than its thermal equilibrium polarization.

Abstract: In some aspects, a resonator device for spin resonance applications is described. In some examples, the resonator device includes a substrate, terminals, and resonators. The terminals include a first terminal having first terminal segments disposed on a substrate surface, and a second terminal having second terminal segments disposed on the substrate surface opposite the first terminal segments. The resonators include conductors disposed on the substrate surface between the first and second terminals. Each conductor is disposed between one of the first terminal segments and a respective, opposite one of the second terminal segments.