14,988 research outputs found
A simple Neurospora recombination system for teaching
A simple recombination system for teachin
Choice of Consistent Family, and Quantum Incompatibility
In consistent history quantum theory, a description of the time development
of a quantum system requires choosing a framework or consistent family, and
then calculating probabilities for the different histories which it contains.
It is argued that the framework is chosen by the physicist constructing a
description of a quantum system on the basis of questions he wishes to address,
in a manner analogous to choosing a coarse graining of the phase space in
classical statistical mechanics. The choice of framework is not determined by
some law of nature, though it is limited by quantum incompatibility, a concept
which is discussed using a two-dimensional Hilbert space (spin half particle).
Thus certain questions of physical interest can only be addressed using
frameworks in which they make (quantum mechanical) sense. The physicist's
choice does not influence reality, nor does the presence of choices render the
theory subjective. On the contrary, predictions of the theory can, in
principle, be verified by experimental measurements. These considerations are
used to address various criticisms and possible misunderstandings of the
consistent history approach, including its predictive power, whether it
requires a new logic, whether it can be interpreted realistically, the nature
of ``quasiclassicality'', and the possibility of ``contrary'' inferences.Comment: Minor revisions to bring into conformity with published version.
Revtex 29 pages including 1 page with figure
Possible natural cytoplasmic variants of N. intermedia.
Possible natural cytoplasmic variants of N. intermedia
Geometry of Universal Magnification Invariants
Recent work in gravitational lensing and catastrophe theory has shown that
the sum of the signed magnifications of images near folds, cusps and also
higher catastrophes is zero. Here, it is discussed how Lefschetz fixed point
theory can be used to interpret this result geometrically. It is shown for the
generic case as well as for elliptic and hyperbolic umbilics in gravitational
lensing.Comment: RevTEX4, 13 pages, submitted to J. Math. Phy
Zero-energy states in graphene quantum dots and rings
We present exact analytical zero-energy solutions for a class of smooth
decaying potentials, showing that the full confinement of charge carriers in
electrostatic potentials in graphene quantum dots and rings is indeed possible
without recourse to magnetic fields. These exact solutions allow us to draw
conclusions on the general requirements for the potential to support fully
confined states, including a critical value of the potential strength and
spatial extent.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, references added, typos corrected, discussion
section expande
A teleparallel model for the neutrino
The main result of the paper is a new representation for the Weyl Lagrangian
(massless Dirac Lagrangian). As the dynamical variable we use the coframe, i.e.
an orthonormal tetrad of covector fields. We write down a simple Lagrangian -
wedge product of axial torsion with a lightlike element of the coframe - and
show that variation of the resulting action with respect to the coframe
produces the Weyl equation. The advantage of our approach is that it does not
require the use of spinors, Pauli matrices or covariant differentiation. The
only geometric concepts we use are those of a metric, differential form, wedge
product and exterior derivative. Our result assigns a variational meaning to
the tetrad representation of the Weyl equation suggested by J.B.Griffiths and
R.A.Newing.Comment: 4 pages, REVTe
P,T-Violating Nuclear Matrix Elements in the One-Meson Exchange Approximation
Expressions for the P,T-violating NN potentials are derived for ,
and exchange. The nuclear matrix elements for and
exchange are shown to be greatly suppressed, so that, under the assumption of
comparable coupling constants, exchange would dominate by two orders of
magnitude. The ratio of P,T-violating to P-violating matrix elements is found
to remain approximately constant across the nuclear mass table, thus
establishing the proportionality between time-reversal-violation and
parity-violation matrix elements. The calculated values of this ratio suggest a
need to obtain an accuracy of order for the ratio of the
PT-violating to P-violating asymmetries in neutron transmission experiments in
order to improve on the present limits on the isovector pion coupling constant.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX, no figure
Two Large HI Shells in the Outer Galaxy near l=279 degrees
As part of a survey of HI 21-cm emission in the Southern Milky Way, we have
detected two large shells in the interstellar neutral hydrogen near l=279 deg.
The center velocities are +36 and +59 km/s, which puts the shells at kinematic
distances of 7 and 10 kpc. The larger shell is about 610 pc in diameter and
very empty, with density contrast of at least 15 between the middle and the
shell walls. It has expansion velocity of about 20 km/s and swept up mass of
several million solar masses. The energy indicated by the expansion may be as
high as 2.4 X 10^53 ergs. We estimate its age to be 15 to 20 million years. The
smaller shell has diameter of about 400 pc, expansion velocity about 10 km/s
and swept up mass of about 10^6 solar masses.
Morphologically both regions appear to be shells, with high density regions
mostly surrounding the voids, although the first appears to have channels of
low density which connect with the halo above and below the HI layer. They lie
on the edge of the Carina arm, which suggests that they may be expanding
horizontally into the interarm region as well as vertically out of the disk. If
this interpretation is correct, this is the first detection of an HI chimney
which has blown out of both sides of the disk.Comment: 21 pages, 14 jpeg figures, accepted for publication in A
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