A step towards global key distribution

Large random bit-strings known as 'keys' are used to encode and decode sensitive data, and the secure distribution of these keys is essential to secure communications across the globe. Absolutely secure key exchange between two sites has now been demonstrated over fibre and free-space optical links. Here we describe the secure exchange of keys over a free-space path of 23.4 kilometres between two mountains. This marks a step towards accomplishing key exchange with a near-Earth orbiting satellite and hence a global key-distribution system.     

完善贵州省小煤矿安全监管体制工作的初步设想

结合贵州小煤矿实际对煤矿安全“三项监察”工作进行了认真的分析,提出了如何完善监察执法工作机制,处理好与安全监管部门的工作关系,确保贵州小煤矿安全生产形势的稳定好转。     

Fast heating of ultrahigh-density plasma as a step towards laser fusion ignition

Modern high-power lasers can generate extreme states of matter that are relevant to astrophysics, equation-of-state studies and fusion energy research. Laser-driven implosions of spherical polymer shells have, for example, achieved an increase in density of 1,000 times relative to the solid state. These densities are large enough to enable controlled fusion, but to achieve energy gain a small volume of compressed fuel (known as the 'spark') must be heated to temperatures of about 108 K (corresponding to thermal energies in excess of 10 keV). In the conventional approach to controlled fusion, the spark is both produced and heated by accurately timed shock waves, but this process requires both precise implosion symmetry and a very large drive energy. In principle, these requirements can be significantly relaxed by performing the compression and fast heating separately; however, this 'fast ignitor' approach also suffers drawbacks, such as propagation losses and deflection of the ultra-intense laser pulse by the plasma surrounding the compressed fuel. Here we employ a new compression geometry that eliminates these problems; we combine production of compressed matter in a laser-driven implosion with picosecond-fast heating by a laser pulse timed to coincide with the peak compression. Our approach therefore permits efficient compression and heating to be carried out simultaneously, providing a route to efficient fusion energy production.     

A small but important step to enhance groundwater research in China

Sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Science Bulletin (CSB) is one of the well-known comprehensive academic journals of wide impacts in the field of natural sciences in China. Groundwater research