EP1743344B1 - Remote communication method and device using nuclear isomers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device which are intended for remote control and communication using nuclear isomers. Several samples of nuclides that can have a metastable state are irradiated together and simultaneously with cascade gamma-rays emitted from a radioactive source or a particle accelerator. According to quantum mechanics, the gamma-rays produced are entangled, and said entanglement is transferred to the nuclear isomers. When the samples are separated and one of said samples, namely the master, is stimulated using a standard gamma- or X-ray irradiation method, the other samples, namely the slaves, are also deexcited. There is no known method for interference between the masters and slaves. Only the slave(s) can receive the signal instantly from the master through any medium and over any distance. The method and device are particularly suitable for communication and control applications.

Description

Technical area :

• P, probabilité de désintégration par minutes ;
• LN, logarithme naturel ;
• λ, demi-vie en minutes.

Some nuclides have a metastable state. These states are isomers, ie excited states of the nucleus of the atom. The isomers return to their ground state by isomeric transition by emitting gamma radiation. The isomeric transition, like the internal conversion, does not give rise to an atomic number change. In its normal state, an isomer returns to its ground state with an exponential law like the other radioactive elements. This exponential law is generally characterized by the half-life of the radioactive element. The half-life is related to the probability of de-excitation by the formula: $$\mathrm{P}\mathrm{=}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="LN"\; filenames="imgf0001.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">LN</figure-callout>}\left(\mathrm{2}\right)\mathrm{/}\mathrm{\lambda }$$

• P, probability of disintegration per minute;
• LN, natural logarithm;
• λ, half-life in minutes.

For example, indium half life normal 115 ^m is 268 minutes. The probability of de-excitation of one nucleus per minute is 0.00258 which represents a chance on 387 per minute. By indium 115 ^m normal, the classically excited isomer is designated.

There are indeed several ways to excite a nuclide likely to have a metastable state. It can be excited by neutron irradiation or simply come from the disintegration of a heavier nucleus. The excitation of the isomeric nuclides can also take place by inverse isomeric transition due to irradiation of gamma rays of sufficient energy.

It is known to those skilled in the art that de-excitation of the isomer can be accelerated by X or gamma irradiation. In this invention this property will be used.

The invention, the implementation of which will be detailed below, exploits properties anticipated by Quantum Mechanics according to which two or more entangled particles retain a quantum bond when they are separated by any distance, a quantum bond which is instantaneous in the same repository.

• [1.] Einstein A., Podolski B., Rosen N ., «Can Quantum Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete», Physical Review, 47, (1935),pp. 777-780 .
• [2.] Bell J. S., «Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics», New York, Cambridge University Press, 1993 .
• [3.] Aspect A., « Trois tests expérimentaux des inégalités de Bell par mesure de corrélation de polarisation de photons», Thèse de Doctorat d'Etat, Université de Paris Orsay, 1er Février 1983 .
• [4.] Townsend P. D., Rarity J. G., Tapster P. R., «Single-Photon Interference in 10 km Long Optical-Fiber», lectronics etters, V; 29, p. 634, 1993 .
• [5.] Le Bellac M., « Physique Quantique », EDP/Sciences/CNRS, 2003, voir « Etats Intriqués », p. 165-201 .
• [6.] Aczel A. D., «ENTANGLEMENT: The Greatest Mystery in Physics», John Wiley & Sons, LTD, Chichester, W. Sussex, England, 2003 .
• [7.] Aczel A. D., «ENTANGLEMENT : The Unlikely Story of How Scientists, Mathematicians, and Philosophers Proved Einstein's Spookiest Theory», A Plume Book, Sept. 2003 .
• [8.] Shimony A., «The Reality of the Quantum World", Scientific American, p. 46, Jan 1998 .
• [9.] Greestein G., Zajonc A. G., «The Quantum Challenge: Modern Research on the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics», Jones and Barlett, Sudbury, MA, USA, 1997 .
• [10.] Herbert Nick, "Quantum Reality", Anchor Book, NY, 1985 .
• [11.] Carroll M. J., Bird, D. G., et al., « Photoexcitation of nuclear Isomers by (γ,γ') reactions », Physical Review C, 43, 3, p. 1238-1245 .
• [12.] Magniez F. « Cryptographie Quantique », Mémoire magistère, ENS-Cachan, mai 1993 .
• [13.] Muller, A., Breguet J., Gisin N., "Experimental Demonstration of Quantum Cryptography using Polarized Photons in Optical-Fiber over more than 1 KM", Europhysics Letters,V. 23, p. 383, 1993 .
• [14.] Sudbury Tony, « Instant Teleportation », Nature, V. 362, pp. 586-587, 1993 .
• [15.] Nairz O., Arndt M., Zeilinger A., « Experimental Nonlocality Proof of Quantum Teleportation and Entanglement Swapping », Physical Review Letters, V.88, p; 017903, 2002 .
• [16.] Julsgaard B., Kozhekin A., and Polzik E; S., « Experimental long-lived entanglement of two macroscopic objects », Nature, 413, 400-403" (2001 ).
• [17.] Olariu S. et Olariu A., « Induced emission of γ radiation from isomeric nuclei », Physical Review C, 58, 1, (July 1998 ).
• [18.] (Cité durant l'examen) Duan et al., "Long-distance quantum communication with atomic ensembles and linear optics", Nature, Vol. 414 - 22 Novembre 2001, pages 413-418 .
• [19] Collins et al., «gamma emission from the 31-yz isomer of <178>Hf induced by X-ray irradiation» - Physical Review C, 61, 5 (2000), pages 054305/1-7 .

Many articles and books exist on the subject of entanglement. Below are listed the main ones:

• [1.] Einstein A., Podolski B., Rosen N., "Can Quantum Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete," Physical Review, 47, (1935), pp. 777-780 .
• [2.] Bell JS, "Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics", New York, Cambridge University Press, 1993 .
• [3.] Aspect A., "Three Experimental Tests of Bell Inequalities by Polarization Correlation Correlation of Photons", State Doctorate Thesis, Paris Orsay University, 1 February 1983 .
• [4.] Townsend PD, Rarity JG, Tapster PR, "Single-Photon Interference in 10 km Long Optical-Fiber", Electronics etters, V; 29, p. 634, 1993 .
• [5.] Bellac M., "Quantum Physics", EDP / Sciences / CNRS, 2003, see "Intricate States", p. 165-201 .
• [6.] Aczel AD, "ENTANGLEMENT: The Greatest Mystery in Physics", John Wiley & Sons, LTD., Chichester, W. Sussex, England, 2003 .
• [7.] Aczel AD, "ENTANGLEMENT: The Unlikely Story of How Scientists, Mathematicians, and Philosophers Proved Einstein's Spookiest Theory," A Plume Book, Sept. 2003 .
• [8.] Shimony A., "The Reality of the Quantum World," Scientific American, 46, Jan 1998 .
• [9.] Greestein G., Zajonc AG, "The Quantum Challenge: Modern Research on Quantum Mechanics Foundations", Jones and Barlett, Sudbury, MA, USA, 1997 .
• [10.] Herbert Nick, Quantum Reality, Anchor Book, NY, 1985 .
• [11.] Carroll MJ, Bird, DG, et al., "Photoexcitation of nuclear Isomers by (γ, γ ') reactions," Physical Review C, 43, 3, p. 1238-1245 .
• [12.] Magniez F. "Quantum Cryptography", Magisterial Memory, ENS-Cachan, May 1993 .
• [13.] Muller, A., J. Breguet, N. Gisin, "Experimental Demonstration of Quantum Cryptography Using Polarized Photons in Optical Fiber-over 1 KM", Europhysics Letters, V. 23, p. 383, 1993 .
• [14.] Sudbury Tony, "Instant Teleportation," Nature, V. 362, pp. 586-587, 1993 .
• [15.] Nairz O., Arndt M., Zeilinger A., "Experimental Nonlocality Proof of Quantum Teleportation and Entanglement Swapping", Physical Review Letters, V.88, p; 017903, 2002 .
• [16.] Julsgaard B., Kozhekin A., and Polzik E; S., "Experimental long-lived entanglement of two macroscopic objects", Nature, 413, 400-403 (2001) ).
• [17.] Olariu S. and Olariu A., "Induced emission of γ radiation from isomeric nuclei", Physical Review C, 58, 1, (July 1998 ).
• [18.] (Quoted during the examination) Duan et al., "Long distance quantum communication with atomic sets and linear optics", Nature, Vol. 414 - 22 November 2001, pages 413-418 .
• [19] Collins et al., "Gamma emission from the 31-yz isomer of" 178 Hf induced by X-ray irradiation "- Physical Review C, 61, 5 (2000), pages 054305 / 1-7 .

Prior art:

The technique of photon entanglement is used in cryptography. This allows messages to be transmitted between two parties. The detection of messages by a third person is immediately known to the correspondents, but a conventional link remains necessary to decode the messages.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for remote communication using isomeric nuclides.

The technique of entanglement of nuclides contained in macroscopic objects which is used in this invention for remote communication is not known to those skilled in the art.

The present invention consists in irradiating by the method described below and simultaneously, two or more samples of the same element and likely to have a metastable state. When this irradiation is caused by gamma rays emitted by the same nucleus and in cascade, the half-life varies with time instead of being constant. A similar but even more important phenomenon is obtained with the gamma produced by Bremsstrahlung by particle accelerators. This phenomenon is attributed to the entanglement of irradiated metastable nuclei. Two samples will first be considered: After irradiation; the two samples are then separated in space. One of the samples we will call "master" is excited using X-ray or gamma ray while the other, the "slave", is placed on a gamma-ray detector. Stimulation of the "master" causes de-excitation of the "slave" which is measured by the gamma ray detector. This invention is generalized to a plurality of samples irradiated together, each sample being "master" and / or "slave" in successive implementations of the invention. Stimulation of at least one "master" sample causes de-excitation of one or more "slave" samples that are measured by gamma ray detectors associated with "slave" samples. Given the quantum nature of the transmission, there is no known method of interference between the "master" sample (s) and the "slave" sample (s). The irradiated sample (s) are the only ones that can instantly receive the signal (s) from one or more "master" samples regardless of the distances separating the samples.

Embodiments of the invention have been made with a source of cobalt 60, each core of which has the characteristic of cascading two gamma rays with the energy sufficient to excite indium 115. Other embodiments of The invention was made by exciting indium 115 with gamma rays from a compact linear accelerator. The gamma spectrum extends from 0 to 6 MeV, but is centered on 1.5 MeV, that is to say that, in majority, two, three or four gamma rays are emitted in cascade by the same electron, when the accelerator uses electrons. During cascades some of the gamma, X or optical rays emitted are entangled. The present invention makes use of entangled gamma rays to excite isomeric nuclei. These gamma rays originate, as indicated previously, from nuclear reactions such as the disintegration of cobalt 60 or the Bremsstrahlung phenomenon in particle accelerators.

The gamma activity is measured in particular for the energy of the isomeric transition on the slave sample. A diagram of this implementation is illustrated on the figure 1 . An enclosure (1) of 3 mm of copper, 15 cm of lead and 12 mm of steel contains the gamma counter (10) and the slave sample (8) which emits gamma (9) naturally. At a distance of 12 m (7), the master sample (4) is irradiated by the iron source 55 (2) which emits gamma rays and X-rays (3). The stimulation well known to those skilled in the art occurs and additional gamma rays (5) are emitted by the master sample (4). Simultaneously, the stimulation of the master sample causes an additional emission of the slave sample (8) although it is within its thick shielding and 12 m from the master sample.

The figure 2 is an example of measurements made on indium sheets with 99.999% purity, previously irradiated and simultaneously for 20 minutes with a compact linear accelerator. The X and gamma ray source, iron 55, was placed for 5 minutes on the master sample, marked "YES" and then removed for 5 minutes, marked "NO" and so on. The measures of the figure 2 represent the total count during the 5 minutes of irradiation of the master, the 5 minutes without irradiation and so on. An important signal on the slave is obtained during the irradiation periods of the master, except the last period for which no signal has been obtained. The same experiments made with the source of cobalt 60 give identical results but barely superior to the noise.

Brief description of the drawings and table:

• The figure 1 schematically represents the principle of the method used in the invention to communicate remotely.
• The figure 2 represents an example of an experimental result obtained with two samples of Indium 115 irradiated with the gamma rays of a compact linear accelerator. In this test, the samples are separated by 12 m.
• The figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a radioactive source and a plurality of sample peers.
• The figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a particle accelerator and a plurality of pairs of samples placed on a single disk.
• The figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a particle accelerator and a plurality of pairs of samples placed on two superimposed disks. Table 1 lists a list of major nuclear nuclei with a metastable state with their symbol, abundance, half-life, and gamma-ray emission.

Ways to realize the invention:

Embodiments of the invention are described below. However, it is pointed out that the present invention can be realized in different ways. Thus, the specific details mentioned below should not be understood as limiting the realization, but rather as a descriptive basis for supporting the claims and for teaching the skilled person the use of the present invention, in practically all appropriate systems, structures or detailed ways

The present invention can be implemented with nuclides of different half-lives. Indeed, the half-lives of the metastable nuclides usable for this invention range from 1 microsecond to 50 years. Table 1 gives a list of the main nuclides that have a metastable state. Their symbol, abundance, half-life in ordinary excitation and isomeric transition energy are mentioned. Excited samples can be transported over long distances and wait for long periods of time, if their half-life permits, being always liable to be de-excited.

Embodiments of the invention that are reported relate to a master and a slave, but a master may de-energize a plurality of slaves if a plurality of samples have been excited together. Similarly, a slave can receive a signal from any master. The action occurs regardless of the distance or materials that separate master and slave.

The method according to the invention consists in irradiating with gamma rays two or more samples of an element having a metastable state with a half-life of less than one second to several years. The gamma rays used for the excitation of the samples must come either from a cascade decay in the case of a radioactive isotope, or from a Bremsstrahlung effect in which the same particle emits several gamma.

For example, a cascade emission is provided by cobalt 60. The emitted gamma rays must have sufficient energy to effect an inverse isomeric transition, ie to move the nucleus from its ground state to the metastable state. In the case of indium 115, for example, the necessary energy of the excitation threshold is 1080 keV, a condition which is fulfilled by the two gamma rays of cobalt 60. One of the gamma has an energy of 1173 keV with 99.90% chance to occur, and the other 1332 keV 99.98% chance to occur. We have a cascade because the two gamma are emitted at 0.713 picosecond (10 ^-12 s) interval on average.

In the case of irradiation by the Bremsstrahlung gamma rays of a linear accelerator of particles, for example of electrons, the gamma energy must again be greater than the excitation threshold of the chosen element.

For example, a compact linear accelerator can emit highly focused gamma radiation with a gamma energy spectrum of 0 to 6 MeV. If the energy of all the electrons before meeting the tungsten target is 6 MeV, each electron emits on average four gamma 1.5 MeV (1500 keV) in a very fast succession comparable to a waterfall. The gamma cascade of the accelerator is, as experience shows, more efficient in performing the work described in this invention.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention shown in figure 3 for radioactive source irradiation emitting cascaded gamma, the samples to be irradiated are placed in pairs or more on a plate (11) which presents the groups of samples (12) in succession in front of a piston (16) which introduces them in front of a radioactive source (14) through the orifice (15) with the aid of the piston. The source is placed in a thick shield of lead and steel (17). An axle (18) connects the platform to a stepper motor (19) controlled by a timer (20). The irradiation time is set for each group of samples by means of a timer (21) which actuates a pneumatic valve (22) to obtain the optimum activation response. In the case of indium 115, with a source of 111000 GBq (3000 Ci), several hours of excitation are necessary.

According to another embodiment of the invention, schematized on the figure 4 the groups of samples (23) are placed on a turntable (24). This plate is supported by an axis (25) and connected to a stepping motor (26), itself controlled by a timer (27). The groups of samples are presented one after the other in front of the X-ray beam of a compact linear accelerator (28) for example. A "ghost" (29) filled with water stops unabsorbed gamma rays. In general accelerators can not work continuously. A number of irradiation time units, for example 5 minutes, will be applied to each sample to achieve optimum excitation using a timer (30). In the case of indium 115, an excitation of 20 minutes with a compact linear accelerator is sufficient to have a satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio.

An ordered set of independent pairs of samples can also be irradiated, as shown in FIG. figure 5 . In this figure, the pairs of samples are arranged on two disks, the master disk (31) and the slave disk (32), during irradiations. The other elements of the figure 5 are identical to those of the figure 4 . These disks can then be moved away at any distance and exploited by modulated de-excitation stimulation of each ordered sample of the master disk and the reception of this modulation by the corresponding sample of the slave disk, thus allowing the transmission of a complex message. . If multiple samples, placed in multiple disks, are excited together instead of just a couple of disks, the message can be transmitted simultaneously to several slave disks. Media other than discs may be used. For example platelets presented in translation in front of the gamma generator cascaded. The apparatuses described above are exemplary embodiments. Other means for presenting the samples to irradiation can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

The groups of master-slave samples to be irradiated are sheet or powder solids, liquids or gases (for example Xenon) which contain a proportion of one or more isotopes, for example mentioned in Table 1. The samples may also be alloys, mixtures or chemical compounds incorporating a proportion of one or more isotopes of Table 1. Samples of the same group may be of a different nature, for example one in powder and the other in sheet. One or more of the samples of the same group can also be transformed physically or chemically after irradiation, the slave sample in the form of powder or gas can be incorporated in an injectable carrier molecule for example. The isomer, a salt or a molecule containing the isomer may also be dissolved in the sample. A plurality of isomers can be employed in this solution.

The gamma measurements due to the isomeric transition of the slave during the stimulation of the master can be performed with conventional instruments of the skilled person. A common instrument is the germanium crystal detector operating at low temperature. In order to minimize the effects of cosmic rays, radon and ambient parasites, the slave sample can be placed in a container with copper, lead and steel walls, located at a great distance from the master sample (12 m in implementation reported). A multi-channel analyzer must be able to calibrate on the characteristic radiation of the chosen isomer. For example, in the case of 115 ^m indium gamma in the 336.2 keV line is counted. It is also possible that advances in the technique can measure the radiation of 336.2 keV without having a special container.

Temporal modulation of de-excitation stimulations, as shown by the example of figure 2 , can be used to send a message composed of "yes" and "no", ie 1 and 0 in binary language, on one or a plurality of samples. Embodiments of the invention with more complex modulations such as amplitude or frequency modulation of the stimuli of De-excitation can also be used. According to known isomer stimulation techniques, optimal radiation can be chosen to stimulate a particular isomer. As a result, the master sample containing a mixture of isomers can be selectively excited. Each isomer therefore represents in this case a particular "channel" of transmission. When the isomer emits, naturally or during remote stimulation, gamma of several energy, the measurements made for each energy make it possible to improve the signal-on-noise level.

• Procédé 1 pour communiquer ou commander une désexcitation à distance en utilisant des nucléides isomères, dans lequel:
  • on prépare deux ou plusieurs échantillons contenant au moins un nucléide isomère ayant un état métastable par irradiation au moyen soit d'une source de rayons gamma émis en cascade, soit d'un générateur de rayons gamma provenant du Bremsstrahlung de particules accélérées, avec une énergie suffisante pour exciter ledit nucléide isomère à son état métastable,
  • on provoque la stimulation modulée de la désexcitation par irradiation X ou gamma de l'un ou plusieurs des échantillons précédant, le ou les maîtres,
  caractérisé en ce que l'on obtient une désexcitation modulée supplémentaire des autres échantillons, les esclaves, lors de la stimulation modulée de la désexcitation du ou des échantillons maîtres, indépendamment des distances séparant les échantillons, et des milieux séparant ces échantillons ou dans lesquels ils sont placés.
• Procédé 2 selon le procédé 1 caractérisé en ce que l'on utilise des échantillons contenant au moins un nucléide isomère ayant un état métastable d'une durée de demi-vie de moins d'une seconde à plusieurs années, par exemple: Niobium (93Nb41m), Cadmium (111Cd48m), Cadmium (113Cd48m), Césium (135Ce55m), Indium (115In49m), Etain (117Sn50m), Etain (119Sn50m), Tellure (125Te52m), Xénon (129Xe54m), Xénon (131Xe54m), Hafnium (178Hf72m), Hafnium (179Hf72m), Iridium (193Ir77m), Platine (195Pt78m).
• Procédé 3 selon l'un des procédés 1 ou 2 caractérisé en ce que l'on utilise des échantillons contenant plusieurs nucléides isomères excités dont la réponse gamma de chacun d'eux est mesurée simultanément.
• Procédé 4 selon l'un des procédés 1, 2 ou 3 caractérisé en ce que l'on utilise des échantillons contenant au moins un nucléide isomère excité dont la réponse gamma est composée d'une pluralité de raies mesurées simultanément.
• Procédé 5 selon l'un des procédés 1, 2, 3 ou 4 caractérisé en ce que l'on utilise des échantillons sous différentes formes physiques ou sous différentes formes chimiques. Procédé 6 selon l'un des procédés 1, 2, 3, 4 ou 5 caractérisé en ce que l'on utilise un groupe d'échantillons dont l'un au moins a subi une transformation physique ou chimique après irradiation.
• Procédé 7 selon l'un des procédés 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ou 6 caractérisé en ce que l'on utilise une stimulation modulée en amplitude d'au moins un échantillon maître.
• Procédé 8 selon l'un des procédés 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ou 7 caractérisé en ce que l'on utilise une stimulation modulée dans le temps d'au moins un échantillon maître.

The invention includes the following methods, devices, and uses:

• Method 1 for communicating or controlling remote deexcitation using isomeric nuclides, wherein:
  • two or more samples containing at least one isomeric nuclide having a metastable state are prepared by irradiation using either a cascaded gamma ray source or a gamma ray generator from the accelerated particle Bremsstrahlung with an energy sufficient to excite said isomeric nuclide to its metastable state,
  • the modulated stimulation of the de-excitation by X or gamma irradiation of one or more of the preceding samples, the master or masters, is induced
  characterized in that an additional modulated de-excitation is obtained from the other samples, the slaves, during the modulated stimulation of the de-excitation of the master sample or samples, independently of the distances separating the samples, and the media separating these samples or in which they are placed.
• Process 2 according to Process 1, characterized in that samples containing at least one isomeric nuclide having a metastable state with a half-life of less than one second to several years are used, for example: Niobium (93Nb41m) ), Cadmium (111Cd48m), Cadmium (113Cd48m), Cesium (135Ce55m), Indium (115In49m), Tin (117Sn50m), Tin (119Sn50m), Tellurium (125Te52m), Xenon (129Xe54m), Xenon (131Xe54m), Hafnium (178Hf72m) ), Hafnium (179Hf72m), Iridium (193Ir77m), Platinum (195Pt78m).
• Process 3 according to one of the processes 1 or 2, characterized in that samples containing several excited isomeric nuclides, the gamma response of each of which is measured simultaneously, are used.
• Process 4 according to one of the processes 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that samples containing at least one excited isomer nuclide whose gamma response is composed of a plurality of lines measured simultaneously.
• Process 5 according to one of the processes 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that samples are used in different physical forms or in different chemical forms. Process 6 according to one of the processes 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that a group of samples is used, at least one of which has undergone a physical or chemical transformation after irradiation.
• Method 7 according to one of the processes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that an amplitude-modulated stimulation of at least one master sample is used.
• Method 8 according to one of the processes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that a time-modulated stimulation of at least one master sample is used.

• Un appareillage d'excitation irradiant deux ou plusieurs échantillons contenant au moins un nucléide isomère ayant un état métastable au moyen soit d'une source de rayons gamma émis en cascade, soit d'un générateur de rayons gamma provenant du Bremsstrahlung de particules accélérées, avec une énergie suffisante pour exciter ledit nucléide isomère à son état métastable,
• un ou des appareillages de stimulation modulée désexcitant par irradiation X ou gamma l'un ou plusieurs des échantillons irradiés précédemment, le ou les maîtres,
• un ou des appareillages de détection mesurant les rayons gamma émis par un ou plusieurs des autres échantillons irradiés précédemment, le ou les esclaves.

Device 9 for implementation according to any one of the methods 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises:

• An excitation apparatus irradiating two or more samples containing at least one isomeric nuclide having a metastable state by either a cascaded gamma ray source or a gamma ray generator from accelerated particle Bremsstrahlung with a sufficient energy to excite said isomeric nuclide to its metastable state,
• one or more modulated stimulation apparatus deenergizing by X or gamma irradiation one or more of the previously irradiated samples, the master or masters,
• one or more sensing apparatuses measuring the gamma rays emitted by one or more of the other previously irradiated samples, the slave (s).

Device 10 according to the device 9 characterized in that the samples of each group are arranged on a single support in the excitation apparatus, being subsequently separated and positioned in relation to each other in the modulated stimulation device or devices and in the detection apparatus or devices.

Device 11 according to the device 9 characterized in that the samples of each group are arranged on a plurality of supports in the excitation apparatus, the supports being subsequently separated and positioned in synchronous relation with each other in the apparatus or apparatus modulated stimulation and in the detection apparatus or devices.

Device 12 according to one of the devices 9, 10 or 11 characterized in that the groups of samples are arranged according to a defined scheduling allowing the transmission of complex messages.

Use according to any one of methods 1 to 8 for remotely transmitting information, including backup signals.

Possibilities of industrial applications:

This invention therefore solves a technical problem of information transmission, for the moment very summary, but nevertheless of great novelty.

Various industrial applications are immediately conceivable, backup signals, remote controls, data acquisition, in mines, seabed (robots and submarines), drilling, in the space sector, especially at very great distances, etc.

Medical applications are also possible by remotely stimulating the product according to the invention, a slave sample of which has been disposed near or in the organ to be treated.

Paintings :

TABLE 1 nuclide Symbol Abundance% Half-life Gamma keV Niobium 93Nb41 100 16.3 a 31.8 Cadmium 111Cd48 12.8 48.54 m 396.2 Cadmium 113Cd48 12.2 14.1 a 263.5 cesium 135Ce - 53 m 846/786 Indium 115In49 95.7 4.48 h 336.2 Tin 117Sn50 7.7 13.6 a 314.6 Tin 119Sn50 8.6 293 d 60.5 Tellurium 125Te52 7.1 57.4 j 144.8 Xenon 129Xe54 26.5 8.8 days 238.1 Xenon 131Xe54 21.2 11.8 d 163.9 Hafnium 178Hf72 27.3 31 a 574 93 /..../ Hafnium 179Hf72 13.6 25 days 453 122 /..../ Iridium 193Ir77 62.7 10.5 d 80.2 Platinum 195Pt78 33.8 4 days 259.3 m: minutes, h: hours, j: days, a: years.

Claims (16)

1. System of "entangled" samples comprising at least one kind of isomer nuclides in which at least one of the aforesaid isomer nuclides is excited to at least one metastable state which de-energizes by emitting gamma rays, characterized in that groups of two or several excited nuclei, of one or several of the aforesaid excited isomer nuclides of the aforesaid samples, are entangled between them and are distributed in whole or in part of the aforesaid samples, thereafter called by convention "entangled" samples, said "entangled" samples (4, 8) being able to be separated in space (7) and presenting quantum connections between some of the excited nuclei of the aforesaid excited isomer nuclides contained in these separate samples.
2. System of "entangled" samples according to claim 1 in which the aforementioned "entangled" samples contain the aforementioned excited nuclei of at least one kind of the aforesaid excited isomer nuclides having at least one metastable state with a half-life duration of one microsecond to 50 years, for example Niobium (93Nb41 m), Cadmium (111 Cd48m), Cadmium (113Cd48m), Cesium (135Ce55m), Indium (115In49m), Tin (117Sn50m), Tin (119Sn50m), Tellurium (125Te52m), Xenon (129Xe54m), Xenon (131Xe54m), Hafnium (178Hf72m), Hafnium (179Hf72m), Iridium (193Ir77m), or Platinum (195Pt78m), the aforementioned "entangled" samples being able to be transferred over large distances and to wait long periods of time, if their half-life allows it, while being always likely to be deenergized.
3. System of "entangled" samples according to claim 1 in which the aforementioned "entangled" samples are under any physical or chemical form, for example solids in sheet or powder, liquids or gases (case of Xenon for example) which contain a proportion of at least one of the aforesaid excited isomer nuclides, for example Niobium (93Nb41 m), Cadmium (111Cd48m), Cadmium (113Cd48m), Cesium (135Ce55m), Indium (115In49m), Tin (117Sn50m), Tin (119Sn50m), Tellurium (125Te52m), Xenon (129Xe54m), Xenon (131Xe54m), Hafnium (178Hf72m), Hafnium (179Hf72m), Iridium (193Ir77m), Platinum (195Pt78m), or some alloys, mixtures or chemical compounds incorporating a proportion of one or several of the aforesaid excited isomer nuclides.
4. System of "entangled" samples according to claim 1 in which one at least of the aforesaid "entangled" samples is under a physical form and/or a chemical form, different from the other "entangled" samples, for example one in powders and the other in leafs, or yet, one in the form of solid, powder, or gas, and the other added into injectable carrying molecules for example, or in salts or molecules put in solution.
5. Manufacturing process of a system of "entangled" samples characterized in that one carries out the following stages:

   (a) one prepares a set of samples (23, fig. 3 - 12) containing nuclei of at least one kind of isomer nuclides having at least one metastable state,

   (b) one carries out the irradiation by means of gamma rays at least partly entangled, of a sufficient energy to excite certain of the aforesaid nuclei of the aforesaid isomer nuclides to at least one metastable state, the aforementioned entangled gamma rays forming groups which are generated, for example, either by a source of gamma rays (14) emitted in a cascade, or by a generator of gamma rays (28) coming from Bremsstrahlung of accelerated particles, the aforementioned groups of gamma rays, when they are entangled, exciting the aforementioned corresponding nuclei of said isomer nuclide distributed in the aforementioned irradiated samples produced together, and forming the "entangled" samples (23, fig. 3 - 12) known as the system of "entangled" samples.
6. Process according to claim 5 in which the samples are laid out beforehand on at least two supports, for example some discs (31, 32), in the excitation apparatus carrying out the aforesaid irradiation, on at least two of these supports that are thereafter separated.
7. Process according to claim 5 in which the samples are laid out beforehand on only one support in the equipment of excitation carrying out the irradiation, this support being thereafter separated into two supports.
8. Use of the system of "entangled" samples according to claim 1 characterized in that one carries out the following steps to remotely command a de-energizing by employing the aforementioned "entangled" samples (4, 8):

   (a) one separates in space whole or part of the aforesaid "entangled" samples from the aforesaid system of "entangled" samples,

   (b) one exploits quantum connections between excited nuclei of certain of the aforesaid "entangled" samples, independently of the distances (7), of the mediums separating them, and of the mediums in which the aforementioned "entangled" samples are placed:

   (i) by causing at least one modulated stimulation of de-energizing, by irradiation X or gamma (3), for example obtained by means of a source of iron-55 (2), on at least one of the aforesaid "entangled" samples, named "master" sample (4), the aforementioned modulated stimulation inducing, with the means of the aforesaid quantum connections, a remote de-energizing of one or more of the other "entangled" samples, named "slaves" samples (8), the aforesaid modulated stimulation applied to the "master" sample characterizing at least one information or at least one command to be transmitted,

   (ii) and, or while determining, either at least one detection of information, or at least one detection of remote control, by means of at least one measurement made with a detector of gamma ray (10), of at least one additional modulated de-energizing (9) on at least one line characteristic of at least one aforesaid isomer nuclide contained in at least one aforesaid "slave" sample (8), or by using the gamma ray resulting from the additional modulated de-energizing of at least one aforesaid isomer nuclide contained in at least one aforesaid "slave" sample, as a local command.
9. Use according to claim 8 in which one employs the aforementioned "entangled" samples containing the aforementioned excited nuclei of at least two of the aforesaid isomer nuclides, whose answers gamma are measured simultaneously on at least one "slave" sample.
10. Use according to claim 8 in which one employs the aforementioned "entangled" samples containing the aforementioned excited nuclei of at least one of the aforesaid isomer nuclides, of which the gamma answer is made up of a plurality of lines whose at least two lines are measured simultaneously to improve the signal to noise ratio during measurement on one of the aforementioned or several of the aforementioned "slave" samples.
11. Use according to claim 8 in which the aforesaid modulated stimulation is applied in amplitude modulation to at least one of the aforesaid "master" samples.
12. Use according to claim 8 in which the aforesaid modulated stimulation is applied in time modulation to at least one of the aforesaid "master" samples.
13. Use according to claim 8 in which at least two supports, for example such as discs, include a plurality of systems of "entangled" samples which were laid out in relation to each other on at least two supports, called thereafter by convention "entangled" supports, for example by positioning an "entangled" sample of whole or part of the systems of "entangled" samples on each one of the aforesaid supports according to a defined scheduling, the aforementioned supports being positioned in relation to each other, for example synchronous, in such way that at least one apparatus applies the detection of gamma ray of at least one additional modulated de-energizing to at least one "entangled" sample, the "slave" sample, located on at least one of the aforesaid supports, the "slave" support, when at least one apparatus applies the modulated stimulation of de-energizing to at least one "entangled" sample, the "master" sample, pertaining to the same system of "entangled" samples, located on at least one of the other aforesaid supports, the "master" support.
14. Use according to claim 8 in which a plurality of systems of "entangled" samples are arranged according to a definite scheduling allowing the transmission and the reception of complex messages.
15. Use according to claim 8 to transmit information remotely.
16. Use of the system of "entangled" samples according to claim 1 characterized in that one carries out the following steps to remotely command a de-energizing by employing the aforementioned "entangled" samples (4, 8):

    (a) one separates in space whole or part of the aforesaid "entangled" samples of the aforesaid system of "entangled" samples,

    (b) one exploits some quantum connections between excited nuclei of certain of the aforesaid "entangled" samples, independently of the distances (7), of the mediums separating them, and of the mediums in which the aforementioned "entangled" samples are placed:

    (i) by causing at least one modulated stimulation of de-energizing, by irradiation X or gamma (3), for example obtained by means of a source of iron-55 (2), of at least one of the aforesaid "entangled" samples, named "master" sample (4), the aforementioned modulated stimulation inducing, with the means of the aforesaid quantum connections, a remote de-energizing of one or more of the other "entangled" samples, named "slaves" samples (8),

    (ii) and by using at least one aforesaid "slave" sample, as a product whose irradiation is operated by remote control from the aforementioned "master" sample to irradiate the environment of said "slave" sample, except for the use in human body or in animal body.

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