Nonlinear Discrete Systems with Nonanalytic Dispersion Relations

A discrete system of coupled waves (with nonanalytic dispersion relation) is derived in the context of the spectral transform theory for the Ablowitz Ladik spectral problem (discrete version of the Zakharov-Shabat system). This 3-wave evolution problem is a discrete version of the stimulated Raman scattering equations, and it is shown to be solvable for arbitrary boundary value of the two radiation fields and initial value of the medium state. The spectral transform is constructed on the basis of the D-bar approach.Comment: RevTex file, to appear in Journ. Math. Phy

Inverse problem and Darboux transformations for two-dimensional finite-difference Schredinger equation

A discrete version of the two-dimensional inverse scattering problem is considered. On this basis, algebraic transformations for the two-dimensional finite-difference Schredinger equation are elaborated.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure (s_fig.eps), Late

The basis problem in many-worlds theories

It is emphasized that a many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory exists only to the extent that the associated basis problem is solved. The core basis problem is that the robust enduring states specified by environmental decoherence effects are essentially Gaussian wave packets that form continua of non-orthogonal states. Hence they are not a discrete set of orthogonal basis states to which finite probabilities can be assigned by the usual rules. The natural way to get an orthogonal basis without going outside the Schroedinger dynamics is to use the eigenstates of the reduced density matrix, and this idea is the basis of some recent attempts by many-worlds proponents to solve the basis problem. But these eigenstates do not enjoy the locality and quasi-classicality properties of the states defined by environmental decoherence effects, and hence are not satisfactory preferred basis states. The basis problem needs to be addressed and resolved before a many-worlds-type interpretation can be said to exist.Comment: This extended version is to be published in The Canadian Journal of Physic

Fluctuations in the Site Disordered Traveling Salesman Problem

We extend a previous statistical mechanical treatment of the traveling salesman problem by defining a discrete "site disordered'' problem in which fluctuations about saddle points can be computed. The results clarify the basis of our original treatment, and illuminate but do not resolve the difficulties of taking the zero temperature limit to obtain minimal path lengths.Comment: 17 pages, 3 eps figures, revte