RPA puzzle in C(12) weak decay processes

We explain the origin of the difficulties that appear in a straightforward application of the QRPA in C(12), and we demonstrate that it is imperative to use the projected QRPA (PQRPA). Satisfactory results, not only for the weak processes among the ground states of the triad B(12),C(12),N(12), but also for the inclusive ones are obtained. We sketch as well a new formalism for the neutrino-nucleus interaction that furnishes very simple final formulae for the muon capture rate and neutrino induced cross sections.Comment: 14 pages in LaTex, changes are included in the text, to appear in PL

Frames of subspaces and operators

We study the relationship between operators, orthonormal basis of subspaces and frames of subspaces (also called fusion frames) for a separable Hilbert space $\mathcal{H}$. We get sufficient conditions on an orthonormal basis of subspaces $\mathcal{E} = \{E_i \}_{i\in I}$ of a Hilbert space $\mathcal{K}$ and a surjective $T\in L(\mathcal{K}, \mathcal{H})$ in order that $\{T(E_i)\}_{i\in I}$ is a frame of subspaces with respect to a computable sequence of weights. We also obtain generalizations of results in [J. A. Antezana, G. Corach, M. Ruiz and D. Stojanoff, Oblique projections and frames. Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 134 (2006), 1031-1037], which related frames of subspaces (including the computation of their weights) and oblique projections. The notion of refinament of a fusion frame is defined and used to obtain results about the excess of such frames. We study the set of admissible weights for a generating sequence of subspaces. Several examples are given.Comment: 21 pages, LaTeX; added references and comments about fusion frame

Mesoscopic interference

We analyze a double-slit experiment when the interfering particle is "mesoscopic" and one endeavors to obtain Welcher Weg information by shining light on it. We derive a compact expression for the visibility of the interference pattern: coherence depends on both the spatial and temporal features of the wave function during its travel to the screen. We set a bound on the temperature of the mesoscopic particle in order that its quantum mechanical coherence be maintained.Comment: 16 pages, 14 figure

Wigner function and coherence properties of cold and thermal neutrons

We analyze the coherence properties of a cold or a thermal neutron by utilizing the Wigner quasidistribution function. We look in particular at a recent experiment performed by Badurek {\em et al.}, in which a polarized neutron crosses a magnetic field that is orthogonal to its spin, producing highly non-classical states. The quantal coherence is extremely sensitive to the field fluctuation at high neutron momenta. A "decoherence parameter" is introduced in order to get quantitative estimates of the losses of coherence.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Contribution to the Sixth Central-European Workshop on Quantum Optics, Chudobin near Olomouc, Czech Republic, April-May 199

Decoherence vs entropy in neutron interferometry

We analyze the coherence properties of polarized neutrons, after they have interacted with a magnetic field or a phase shifter undergoing different kinds of statistical fluctuations. We endeavor to probe the degree of disorder of the distribution of the phase shifts by means of the loss of quantum mechanical coherence of the neutron. We find that the notion of entropy of the shifts and that of decoherence of the neutron do not necessarily agree. In some cases the neutron wave function is more coherent, even though it has interacted with a more disordered medium.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure