89,083 research outputs found
A quantum jump description for the non-Markovian dynamics of the spin-boson model
We derive a time-convolutionless master equation for the spin-boson model in
the weak coupling limit. The temporarily negative decay rates in the master
equation indicate short time memory effects in the dynamics which is explicitly
revealed when the dynamics is studied using the non-Markovian jump description.
The approach gives new insight into the memory effects influencing the spin
dynamics and demonstrates, how for the spin-boson model the the co-operative
action of different channels complicates the detection of memory effects in the
dynamics.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Proceedings of CEWQO200
A Realist Interpretation of the Quantum Measurement Problem
A new, realist interpretation of the quantum measurement processes is given.
In this scenario a quantum measurement is a non-equilibrium phase transition in
a ``resonant cavity'' formed by the entire physical universe including all its
material and energy content. Both the amplitude and the phase of the quantum
mechanical wavefunction acquire substantial meaning in this picture, and the
probabilistic element is removed from the foundations of quantum mechanics, its
apparent presence in the quantum measurement process is viewed as a result of
the sensitive dependence on initial/boundary conditions of the non-equilibrium
phase transitions in a many degree-of-freedom system. The implications of
adopting this realist ontology to the clarification and resolution of lingering
issues in the foundations of quantum mechanics, such as wave-particle duality,
Heisenberg's uncertainty relation, Schrodinger's Cat paradox, first and higher
order coherence of photons and atoms, virtual particles, the existence of
commutation relations and quantized behavior, etc., are also presented.Comment: 8 pages, submiited to the Proceedings of the international conference
"Albert Einstein Century", held July 2005 in Paris, Franc
Fidelity and Purity Decay in Weakly Coupled Composite Systems
We study the stability of unitary quantum dynamics of composite systems (for
example: central system + environment) with respect to weak interaction between
the two parts. Unified theoretical formalism is applied to study different
physical situations: (i) coherence of a forward evolution as measured by purity
of the reduced density matrix, (ii) stability of time evolution with respect to
small coupling between subsystems, and (iii) Loschmidt echo measuring dynamical
irreversibility. Stability has been measured either by fidelity of pure states
of a composite system, or by the so-called reduced fidelity of reduced density
matrices within a subsystem. Rigorous inequality among fidelity,
reduced-fidelity and purity is proved and a linear response theory is developed
expressing these three quantities in terms of time correlation functions of the
generator of interaction. The qualitatively different cases of regular
(integrable) or mixing (chaotic in the classical limit) dynamics in each of the
subsystems are discussed in detail. Theoretical results are demonstrated and
confirmed in a numerical example of two coupled kicked tops.Comment: 21 pages, 12 eps figure
Elastic electron scattering by laser-excited 138Ba( ... 6s6p 1P1) atoms
The results of a joint experimental and theoretical study concerning elastic electron scattering by laser-excited 138Ba( ... 6s6p 1P1) atoms are described. These studies demonstrate several important aspects of elastic electron collisions with coherently excited atoms, and are the first such studies. From the measurements, collision and coherence parameters, as well as cross sections associated with an atomic ensemble prepared with an arbitrary in-plane laser geometry and linear polarization (with respect to the collision frame), or equivalently with any magnetic sublevel superposition, have been obtained at 20 eV impact energy and at 10°, 15° and 20° scattering angles. The convergent close-coupling (CCC) method was used within the non-relativistic LS-coupling framework to calculate the magnetic sublevel scattering amplitudes. From these amplitudes all the parameters and cross sections at 20 eV impact energy were extracted in the full angular range in 1° steps. The experimental and theoretical results were found to be in good agreement, indicating that the CCC method can be reliably applied to elastic scattering by 138Ba( ... 6s6p 1P1) atoms, and possibly to other heavy elements when spin-orbit coupling effects are negligible. Small but significant asymmetry was observed in the cross sections for scattering to the left and to the right. It was also found that elastic electron scattering by the initially isotropic atomic ensemble resulted in the creation of significant alignment. As a byproduct of the present studies, elastic scattering cross sections for metastable 138Ba atoms were also obtained
Quantum Measurements and the kappa--Poincare Group
The possible description of the vacuum of quantum gravity through the so
called kappa--Poincare group is analyzed considering some of the consequences
of this symmetry in the path integral formulation of nonrelativistic quantum
theory. This study is carried out with two cases, firstly, a free particle, and
finally, the situation of a particle immersed in a homogeneous gravitational
field. It will be shown that the kappa--Poincare group implies the loss of some
of the basic properties associated to Feynman's path integral. For instance,
loss of the group characteristic related to the time dependence of the
evolution operator, or the breakdown of the composition law for amplitudes of
events occurring successively in time. Additionally some similarities between
the present idea and the so called restricted path integral formalism will be
underlined. These analogies advocate the claim that if the kappa--Poincare
group contains some of the physical information of the quantum gravity vacuum,
then this vacuum could entail decoherence. This last result will also allow us
to consider the possibility of analyzing the continuous measurement problem of
quantum theory from a group--theoretical point of view, but now taking into
account the kappa--Poincare symmetries.Comment: Accepted in General Relativity and Gravitation. Dedicated to Alberto
Garcia on the occasion of his 60th. birthda
Optimizing the speed of a Josephson junction
We review the application of dynamical mean-field theory to Josephson
junctions and study how to maximize the characteristic voltage IcRn which
determines the width of a rapid single flux quantum pulse, and thereby the
operating speed in digital electronics. We study a wide class of junctions
ranging from SNS, SCmS (where Cm stands for correlated metal), SINIS (where the
insulating layer is formed from a screened dipole layer), and SNSNS structures.
Our review is focused on a survey of the physical results; the formalism has
been developed elsewhere.Comment: (36 pages, 15 figures, to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys. B
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