Efficient block segmentation algorithm for true motion estimation

A block-based motion estimation technique is proposed which permits a less general segmentation performed using an efficient deterministic algorithm. Applied to image pairs from the Flower Garden and Table Tennis sequences, the algorithm successfully localizes motion discontinuities and detects uncovered regions. The algorithm is implemented in C on a Sun Sparcstation 20. The gradient-based motion estimation required 28.8 s CPU time, and 500 iterations of the segmentation algorithm required 32.6 s.

Novel designs for Penning ion traps

A number of alternative designs are presented for Penning ion traps suitable for quantum information processing (QIP) applications with atomic ions. The first trap design is a simple array of long straight wires, which allows easy optical access. A prototype of this trap has been built to trap Ca+ and a simple electronic detection scheme has been employed to demonstrate the operation of the trap. Another trap design consists of a conducting plate with a hole in it situated above a continuous conducting plane. The final trap design is based on an array of pad electrodes. Although this trap design lacks the open geometry of the other traps described above, the pad design may prove useful in a hybrid scheme in which information processing and qubit storage take place in different types of trap. The behaviour of the pad traps is simulated numerically and techniques for moving ions rapidly between traps are discussed. Future experiments with these various designs are discussed. All of the designs lend themselves to the construction of multiple trap arrays, as required for scalable ion trap QIP.