194,165 research outputs found
IS THERE A CLASSICAL ANALOG OF A QUANTUM TIME-TRANSLATION MACHINE?
In a recent article [D. Suter, Phys. Rev. {\bf A 51}, 45 (1995)] Suter has
claimed to present an optical implementation of the quantum time-translation
machine which ``shows all the features that the general concept predicts and
also allows, besides the quantum mechanical, a classical description.'' It is
argued that the experiment proposed and performed by Suter does not have the
features of the quantum time-translation machine and that the latter has no
classical analog.Comment: 7 pages, LaTe
Quantum Dynamics in the Thermodynamic Limit
The description of spontaneous symmetry breaking that underlies the
connection between classically ordered objects in the thermodynamic limit and
their individual quantum mechanical building blocks is one of the cornerstones
of modern condensed matter theory and has found applications in many different
areas of physics. The theory of spontaneous symmetry breaking however, is
inherently an equilibrium theory, which does not address the dynamics of
quantum systems in the thermodynamic limit. Here, we will use the example of a
particular antiferromagnetic model system to show that the presence of a
so-called thin spectrum of collective excitations with vanishing energy -one of
the well-known characteristic properties shared by all symmetry-breaking
objects- can allow these objects to also spontaneously break time-translation
symmetry in the thermodynamic limit. As a result, that limit is found to be
able, not only to reduce quantum mechanical equilibrium averages to their
classical counterparts, but also to turn individual-state quantum dynamics into
classical physics. In the process, we find that the dynamical description of
spontaneous symmetry breaking can also be used to shed some light on the
possible origins of Born's rule. We conclude by describing an experiment on a
condensate of exciton polaritons which could potentially be used to
experimentally test the proposed mechanism.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures; typos corrected, references updated, minor
changes in tex
CETA truck and EVA restraint system
The Crew Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) experiment is an extravehicular activity (EVA) Space Transportation System (STS) based flight experiment which will explore various modes of transporting astronauts and light equipment for Space Station Freedom (SSF). The basic elements of CETA are: (1) two 25 foot long sections of monorail, which will be EVA assembled in the STS cargo bay to become a single 50 ft. rail called the track; (2) a wheeled baseplate called the truck which rolls along the track and can accept three cart concepts; and (3) the three carts which are designated manual, electric, and mechanical. The three carts serve as the astronaut restraint and locomotive interfaces with the track. The manual cart is powered by the astronaut grasping the track's handrail and pulling himself along. The electric cart is operated by an astronaut turning a generator which powers the electric motor and drives the cart. The mechanical cart is driven by a Bendix type transmission and is similar in concept to a man-propelled railroad cart. During launch and landing, the truck is attached to the deployable track by means of EVA removable restraint bolts and held in position by a system of retractable shims. These shims are positioned on the exterior of the rail for launch and landing and rotate out of the way for the duration of the experiment. The shims are held in position by strips of Velcro nap, which rub against the sides of the shim and exert a tailored force. The amount of force required to rotate the shims was a major EVA concern, along with operational repeatability and extreme temperature effects. The restraint system was tested in a thermal-vac and vibration environment and was shown to meet all of the initial design requirements. Using design inputs from the astronauts who will perform the EVA, CETA evolved through an iterative design process and represented a cooperative effort
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Treatment of Ligament Constructs with Exercise-conditioned Serum: A Translational Tissue Engineering Model.
In vitro experiments are essential to understand biological mechanisms; however, the gap between monolayer tissue culture and human physiology is large, and translation of findings is often poor. Thus, there is ample opportunity for alternative experimental approaches. Here we present an approach in which human cells are isolated from human anterior cruciate ligament tissue remnants, expanded in culture, and used to form engineered ligaments. Exercise alters the biochemical milieu in the blood such that the function of many tissues, organs and bodily processes are improved. In this experiment, ligament construct culture media was supplemented with experimental human serum that has been 'conditioned' by exercise. Thus the intervention is more biologically relevant since an experimental tissue is exposed to the full endogenous biochemical milieu, including binding proteins and adjunct compounds that may be altered in tandem with the activity of an unknown agent of interest. After treatment, engineered ligaments can be analyzed for mechanical function, collagen content, morphology, and cellular biochemistry. Overall, there are four major advantages versus traditional monolayer culture and animal models, of the physiological model of ligament tissue that is presented here. First, ligament constructs are three-dimensional, allowing for mechanical properties (i.e., function) such as ultimate tensile stress, maximal tensile load, and modulus, to be quantified. Second, the enthesis, the interface between boney and sinew elements, can be examined in detail and within functional context. Third, preparing media with post-exercise serum allows for the effects of the exercise-induced biochemical milieu, which is responsible for the wide range of health benefits of exercise, to be investigated in an unbiased manner. Finally, this experimental model advances scientific research in a humane and ethical manner by replacing the use of animals, a core mandate of the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control, and the Food and Drug Administration
EPR-Bell Nonlocality, Lorentz Invariance, and Bohmian Quantum Theory
We discuss the problem of finding a Lorentz invariant extension of Bohmian
mechanics. Due to the nonlocality of the theory there is (for systems of more
than one particle) no obvious way to achieve such an extension. We present a
model invariant under a certain limit of Lorentz transformations, a limit
retaining the characteristic feature of relativity, the non-existence of
absolute time resp. simultaneity. The analysis of this model exemplifies an
important property of any Bohmian quantum theory: the quantum equilibrium
distribution cannot simultaneously be realized in all
Lorentz frames of reference.Comment: 24 pages, LaTex, 4 figure
Gravitationally Induced Neutrino-Oscillation Phases
In this essay, we introduce a new effect of gravitationally induced quantum
mechanical phases in neutrino oscillations. These phases arise from an hitherto
unexplored interplay of gravitation and the principle of the linear
superposition of quantum mechanics. In the neighborhood of a 1.4 solar-mass
neutron star, gravitationally induced quantum mechanical phases are roughly 20%
of their kinematical counterparts. When this information is coupled with the
mass square differences implied by the existing neutrino-oscillation data we
find that the new effect may have profound consequences for type-II supernova
evolution.Comment: First Prize Gravity Research Foundation Essay (1996). Added two
appendices. Appendix A: Erratum. Appendix B: Neutrino oscillations as a new
energy transport mechanism for supernova explosions (taken from a 1996 JRO
Fellowship proposal
On least-cost path for realistic simulation of human motion
We are interested in "human-like" automatic motion simulation with applications in ergonomics.
The apparent redundancy of the humanoid wrt its explicit tasks leads to the problem of choosing a plausible movement in the framework of redundant kinematics.
Some results have been obtained in the human motion literature for reach motion that involves the position of the hands. We discuss these results and a motion generation scheme associated. When orientation is also explicitly required, very few works are available and even the methods for analysis are not defined.
We discuss the choice for metrics adapted to the orientation, and also the problems encountered in defining a proper metric in both position and orientation. Motion capture and simulations are provided in both cases.
The main goals of this paper are: to provide a survey on human motion features at task level for both position and orientation, to propose a kinematic control scheme based on these features, to define properly the error between motion capture and automatic motion simulation
A biaxial apparatus for the study of heterogeneous and intermittent strains in granular materials
We present an experimental apparatus specifically designed to investigate the
precursors of failure in granular materials. A sample of granular material is
placed between a latex membrane and a glass plate. A confining effective
pressure is applied by applying vacuum to the sample. Displacement-controlled
compression is applied in the vertical direction, while the specimen deforms in
plane strain. A Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy visualization setup gives access to
the measurement of deformations near the glass plate. After describing the
different parts of this experimental setup, we present a demonstration
experiment where extremely small (of order ) heterogeneous strains are
measured during the loading process
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