Professor proposes challenge to prove whether people can see entangled images

(PhysOrg.com) -- Geraldo Barbosa, professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Northwestern University has posed an interesting challenge. He wonders if the human eye and brain together are capable of actually seeing entangled images. This is not a philosophical question, as he has phrased the query as part of a practical experiment that someone with the proper lab could actually carry out. To that end, he’s posted a paper on the preprint server arXiv with the hope that a physics team will take up the challenge.
The whole idea is based on entanglement and the means by which researchers make it come about. What they do is shoot a laser at a non-linear crystal causing the photons in the beam to be converted into lower frequency entangled pairs. Those pairs are then directed to sensors which individually are able to measure a fuzzy or blurred “image”. But when both of the entangled photons are taken together as a single measurement, the image sharpens. These images are of course far too small for the human eye to see, plus they don’t last long enough for them to be seen anyway. To address these issues, researchers have taken to firing lasers that are formed into patterns such as a doughnut shape in a continuous sequence. The result is a steady stream of entangled pairs being created in the shape of a doughnut.
Barbosa wants to know what would happen if instead of forming a doughnut shape, the lasers were made to look like a letter in the alphabet, such as the letter A, and then of course if it were made large enough to be seen by the human eye. Two entangled letter As should be created and seeable albeit in a lower frequency. If that happened, would the human eye when paired with the brain’s abilities, be able to merge the two into a sharp readable image, or would we see just the individual blurred images captured by just one sensor?
Barbosa doesn’t know, and neither does anyone else, thus he suggests someone or some group build an experiment to find out.
The ability to see things differently than we are accustomed to seeing isn’t anything new of course. Some animals can see things in the infrared spectrum for example and evidence has been slowly emerging as described here, here and here, suggesting that some migrating birds are able to “see” the Earth’s magnetic field. So maybe it’s possible that we see entangled images every day, and just don’t know it.
Hopefully someone will take Barbosa up on his challenge, and then we’ll all find out if it’s possible or not.
More information: Can humans see beyond intensity images? by Geraldo A. Barbosa, arXiv:1202.5434v1 [q-bio.NC] http://arxiv.org/abs/1202.5434

Abstract
The human's visual system detect intensity images. Quite interesting, detector systems have shown the existence of different kind of images. Among them, images obtained by two detectors (detector array or spatially scanning detector) capturing signals within short window times may reveal a "hidden" image not contained in either isolated detector: Information on this image depend on the two detectors simultaneously. In general, they are called "high-order" images because they may depend on more than two electric fields. Intensity images depend on the square of magnitude of the light's electric field. Can the human visual sensory system perceive high-order images as well? This paper proposes a way to test this idea. A positive answer could give new insights on the "visual-conscience" machinery, opening a new sensory channel for humans. Applications could be devised, e.g., head position sensing, privacy in communications at visual ranges and many others.

via ArXiv blog
© 2011 PhysOrg.com
"Professor proposes challenge to prove whether people can see entangled images." February 29th, 2012. http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-professor-people-entangled-images.html
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Robert Karl Stonjek

Worrying rise in number of medical students in prostitution over last 10 years

One in ten students now claim to know someone who is using prostitution to pay for university fees, a medical student writing for the Student BMJ claims.
Although the numbers are still small, this figure as a percentage, is two and a half times larger than 10 years ago when just 4% of students claimed to know a peer placing themselves in the sex trade. This figure rose to 6% in 2006 and now stands at just under 10%.
The author, a final year medical student at the University of Birmingham, writes about the obvious correlation between rising tuition fees and the prevalence of prostitution among students. She argues that it is due to the rising costs of both tuition and living that students are finding themselves in huge amounts of debt.
The English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) has noticed an increase in the number of calls from students considering sex work. A spokesperson for the ECP says that many medical students think "prostitution is the only means of financial survival. […] Jobs in shops and pubs that students usually take up are increasingly scarce and low paid".
Medical schools do not believe that prostitution among students is widespread. They have no specific rule on this matter but do suggest that medical students act within the General Medical Council's guidance for medical practice, "Duties of a doctor". However, this does not necessarily state that a doctor cannot be a prostitute. Furthermore, no case has been recorded in which a patient's health has suffered because a doctor also worked in this trade.
The author concludes that because there is no official guidance on the issue, there is no clear answer for students. What is worrying, she writes, is when students think "they have no choice but to resort to prostitution" and questions whether the "hike in fees" will lead to an increase in students entering the sex trade.
An accompanying editorial looks at the case of a medical student who faced either prostitution or "dropping out of medical school". The author, who wishes to remain anonymous, argues that "if studies are not grossly affected by how they are funded […] then it doesn't matter how we make a living". His opinions have, however, been met by some criticism from older students who had feelings of "condemnation" and "disgust" towards a medical student using prostitution to pay off his debts.
Provided by British Medical Journal

"Worrying rise in number of medical students in prostitution over last 10 years." February 28th, 2012. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-medical-students-prostitution-years.html
Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek

Eight Cars Which Will Save You Tons

Looking to save some money daily? When you purchase your next car, make it a fuel efficient one! Here are the most fuel efficient ones on the market today!

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8. 2012 Honda Insight

>MPG: 42

>Engine type: hybrid

>Car type: Front wheel drive, compact

>Fuel cost per year: $1,329

>Sticker price/base model: $18,350

Two Honda (NYSE: HMC) Insights made the list of fuel-efficient cars — the base Insight and the AV-S7 model. Unlike some of the other cars that get very high gas mileage, the Insight has full seating capacity for five people, which Honda’s smaller hybrid, the CR-Z, does not. The base price of the Honda Insight is well below that of most of the cars on this list, which probably reflects Honda’s attempt to lure hybrid buyers away from the mass market. Honda has added a number of interactive features meant to “engage” the driver in the fuel-monitoring experience. This includes an “ECON Button” that modifies various vehicle systems to help minimize its overall energy use — and maximize fuel efficiency.

7. 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE

>MPG: 41

>Engine type: hybrid

>Car type: Front wheel drive, mid-sized

>Fuel cost per year: $1,361

>Sticker price/base model: $29,500

The Camry Hybrid is a good example of a car manufacturer adding a hybrid version to a well-known, established brand of gas-driven models. The Camry is Toyota’s base 4-door sedan that sells for $21,955. This base model gets average gas mileage of only 25 MPG in city driving and fuel costs up to $1,993 per year. The hybrid version costs $8,000 more than the base model, so consumers have to trade upfront costs against future savings on fuel costs over time. Toyota (NYSE: TM) has placed the Camry Hybrid just above the Prius in both size and price.

6. 2012 Lexus CT 200h

>MPG: 42

>Engine type: hybrid

>Car type: Front wheel drive, luxury compact

>Fuel cost per year: $1,329

>Sticker price/base model: $29,120

Toyota’s luxury nameplate, Lexus, is one of a growing number of luxury car lines that have begun to offer hybrids. The fuel efficiency trend has progressed enough that even some full-sized SUVs now come with hybrid engines. The full-sized flagship Lexus S comes in a hybrid version, selling for $129,750. The CT, a five door hatchback, is the brand’s entry level vehicle. It comes in a base and an “F” series sport model. The base price for the “F” is $37,995. The car goes from zero to 60 in 9.8 seconds. That qualifies as slow for a sports car, but not one that gets 42 MPG.

5. 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid

>MPG: 44

>Engine type: hybrid

>Car type: Front wheel, four-door sedan

>Fuel cost per year: $1,268

>Sticker price/base model: $24,050

Honda took the highly successful Civic, already known for its fuel efficiency and quality ratings, and added a hybrid engine option to its lineup. The Civic now comes in seven models that range from a $15,805 sedan to the high-end “Si” coupe. Honda will push further into the alternative engine space with a new Civic Natural Gas model. This model has a base price of $26,155. Satellite links and luxury packages can push the price of the Civic Hybrid well over $27,000. Honda has begun to offer attractive financing packages to quicken Civic Hybrid sales. This includes a 0.9% financing option over a period as long as 60 months. This could mean that Honda either cannot sell many of the cars, or that it is willing to invest to take market share from its rivals.

4. 2012 Toyota Prius

>MPG: 50

>Engine type: hybrid

>Car type: Front wheel drive mid-sized

>Fuel cost per year: $1,116

>Sticker price/base model: $23,015

The Toyota Prius has three models among the top 11 most fuel-efficient cars sold in America. The Prius now comes in a base model, a smaller “c” model designed for urban driving, and the Prius V four-door wagon. The Prius is the undisputed king of the alternative energy car market. The car went through three generations of development since it was first sold in Japan in 1997. Toyota also produced an all-electric version last year, when Prius sales passed the three-million mark worldwide. The Prius and the Honda Fit hybrid exchange the spot as the top-selling car per month in Japan. For the entire year 2011, Prius took the top spot with 252,528 units sold.

3. 2012 Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric Van

>MPG-equivalent: 62

>Engine type: Electric

>Car type: Front wheel drive van

>Fuel cost per year: $972

>Sticker price/base model: $22,035

Unlike the other vehicles on this list, the Azure Transit Connect is a commercial truck. It was launched by Ford (NYSE: F) and Canadian car component company Azure in mid-2010. It comes in both a basic and wagon size. The initial sales goal for the light truck were extremely modest. Reuters reports that sales are expected to be less than 2,000 this year. Like most commercial vans, the Transit Connect has a full rear door, two floor-to-ceiling side doors, and a wheel base longer than most passenger cars.

2. 2012 Nissan Leaf

>MPG-equivalent: 99

>Engine type: Electric

>Car type: Front wheel drive, mid-sized

>Fuel cost per year: $612

>Sticker price/base model: $35,200 (editor’s note: does not include tax credit)

The Leaf was a major model launch for Nissan and its partner Renault. Reuters reported at the time the Leaf was first released that “Nissan and Renault are counting on an aggressive push into the nascent electric car market to boost their brand image — much as the Prius hybrid did for Toyota Motor Corp.” The Leaf was originally available in only seven states — Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. By July 2011, as more capacity came online, Nissan marketed the Leaf in a number of states. Unlike Mitsubishi, Nissan already has a large presence in the U.S. The company sold 79,313 cars and light trucks in January, up 10% from the same month in 2011. With a nearly 9% share of the American market, Nissan has the dealer network and marketing tools to push the Leaf as a major alternative engine car.

1. 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV

>MPG-equivalent: 112

>Engine type: Electric

>Car type: Rear wheel drive subcompact

>Fuel cost per year: $540

>Sticker price/base model: $29,125

Mitsubishi is one of the least successful major car companies that offers a fleet of cars and light trucks in the U.S. During the month of January, Mitsubishi sold only 4,711 cars in the North America, down 18% from January of last year. The Japanese company has, however, decided to offer the i-MiEV early this year to compete with more well-known electric cars like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf. The federal government is so anxious to drive the market for fuel-efficient cars that it offers a $7,500 tax credit for people who buy the car. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy recently named it the Greenest Car — the first time an electric vehicle has taken the number one spot.

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