7,529 research outputs found
The Unruh Quantum Otto Engine
We introduce a quantum heat engine performing an Otto cycle by using the
thermal properties of the quantum vacuum. Since Hawking and Unruh, it has been
established that the vacuum space, either near a black hole or for an
accelerated observer, behaves as a bath of thermal radiation. In this work, we
present a fully quantum Otto cycle, which relies on the Unruh effect for a
single quantum bit (qubit) in contact with quantum vacuum fluctuations. By
using the notions of quantum thermodynamics and perturbation theory we obtain
that the quantum vacuum can exchange heat and produce work on the qubit.
Moreover, we obtain the efficiency and derive the conditions to have both a
thermodynamic and a kinematic cycle in terms of the initial populations of the
excited state, which define a range of allowed accelerations for the Unruh
engine.Comment: 31 pages, 11 figure
Examining alternatives to wavelet de-noising for astronomical source finding
The Square Kilometre Array and its pathfinders ASKAP and MeerKAT will produce
prodigious amounts of data that necessitate automated source finding. The
performance of automated source finders can be improved by pre-processing a
dataset. In preparation for the WALLABY and DINGO surveys, we have used a test
HI datacube constructed from actual Westerbork Telescope noise and WHISP HI
galaxies to test the real world improvement of linear smoothing, the {\sc
Duchamp} source finder's wavelet de-noising, iterative median smoothing and
mathematical morphology subtraction, on intensity threshold source finding of
spectral line datasets. To compare these pre-processing methods we have
generated completeness-reliability performance curves for each method and a
range of input parameters. We find that iterative median smoothing produces the
best source finding results for ASKAP HI spectral line observations, but
wavelet de-noising is a safer pre-processing technique.
In this paper we also present our implementations of iterative median
smoothing and mathematical morphology subtraction.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 3 colour figures. Accepted as part of the
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia's special issue on
source finding and visualisatio
Interacting Particles and Strings in Path and Surface Representations
Non-relativistic charged particles and strings coupled with abelian gauge
fields are quantized in a geometric representation that generalizes the Loop
Representation. We consider three models: the string in self-interaction
through a Kalb-Ramond field in four dimensions, the topological interaction of
two particles due to a BF term in 2+1 dimensions, and the string-particle
interaction mediated by a BF term in 3+1 dimensions. In the first case one
finds that a consistent "surface-representation" can be built provided that the
coupling constant is quantized. The geometrical setting that arises corresponds
to a generalized version of the Faraday's lines picture: quantum states are
labeled by the shape of the string, from which emanate "Faraday`s surfaces". In
the other models, the topological interaction can also be described by
geometrical means. It is shown that the open-path (or open-surface) dependence
carried by the wave functional in these models can be eliminated through an
unitary transformation, except by a remaining dependence on the boundary of the
path (or surface). These feature is closely related to the presence of
anomalous statistics in the 2+1 model, and to a generalized "anyonic behavior"
of the string in the other case.Comment: RevTeX 4, 28 page
Comparison of whole-genome amplifications for microsatellite genotyping of \u3ci\u3eRotylenchulus reniformis\u3c/i\u3e
Currently, a large number of microsatellites are available for Rotylenchulus reniformis (reniform nematode); however, two barriers exist for genotyping samples from different geographical areas. The limited amount of nucleic acids obtained from single nematodes which would require their multiplication to obtain enough DNA for testing; and the strictly regulated transport of live samples and multiplication in greenhouse for being a plant pathogen. Whole-genome amplification (WGA) of samples consisting of one and five dead gravid females with their associated egg masses was successfully performed on disrupted tissue using three commercial kits. DNA yield after WGA ranged from 0.5 to 8 ÎĽg and was used to test 96 microsatellite markers we previously developed for the reniform nematode. The results were compared to those of fingerprinting the original population (MSRR03). Out of 96 markers tested, 71 had amplicons in MSRR03. Using WGA of single gravid females with their associated egg masses, 86-93% of the alleles found on MSRR03 were detected, and 87-88% of the alleles found on MSRR03 when using WGA of samples composed of five gravid females with their associated egg masses as template. Our results indicate that reniform nematode samples as small as a single gravid female with her associated egg mass can be used in WGA and direct testing with microsatellites, giving consistent results when compared to the original population
Comparison of whole-genome amplifications for microsatellite genotyping of \u3ci\u3eRotylenchulus reniformis\u3c/i\u3e
Currently, a large number of microsatellites are available for Rotylenchulus reniformis (reniform nematode); however, two barriers exist for genotyping samples from different geographical areas. The limited amount of nucleic acids obtained from single nematodes which would require their multiplication to obtain enough DNA for testing; and the strictly regulated transport of live samples and multiplication in greenhouse for being a plant pathogen. Whole-genome amplification (WGA) of samples consisting of one and five dead gravid females with their associated egg masses was successfully performed on disrupted tissue using three commercial kits. DNA yield after WGA ranged from 0.5 to 8 ÎĽg and was used to test 96 microsatellite markers we previously developed for the reniform nematode. The results were compared to those of fingerprinting the original population (MSRR03). Out of 96 markers tested, 71 had amplicons in MSRR03. Using WGA of single gravid females with their associated egg masses, 86-93% of the alleles found on MSRR03 were detected, and 87-88% of the alleles found on MSRR03 when using WGA of samples composed of five gravid females with their associated egg masses as template. Our results indicate that reniform nematode samples as small as a single gravid female with her associated egg mass can be used in WGA and direct testing with microsatellites, giving consistent results when compared to the original population
Ground state of N=Z doubly closed shell nuclei in CBF theory
The ground state properties of N=Z doubly closed shell nuclei are studied
within correlated basis function theory. A truncated version of the Urbana v14
realistic potential, with spin, isospin and tensor components, is adopted,
together with state dependent correlations. Fermi hypernetted chain integral
equation and single operator chain approximation are used to evaluate density,
distribution function and ground state energy of 16O and 40Ca. The results
favourably compare with the available, variational MonteCarlo estimates and
provide a first substantial check of the accuracy of the cluster summation
method for state dependent correlations. We achieve in finite nuclei at least
the same level of accuracy in the treatment of non central interactions and
correlations as in nuclear matter. This opens the way for a microscopic study
of medium heavy nuclei ground state using present days realistic hamiltonians.Comment: 35 pages (LateX) + 3 figures. Phys.Rev.C, in pres
Momentum distributions and spectroscopic factors of doubly-closed shell nuclei in correlated basis function theory
The momentum distributions, natural orbits, spectroscopic factors and
quasi-hole
wave functions of the C12, O16, Ca40, Ca48, and Pb208 doubly closed shell
nuclei, have been calculated in the framework of the Correlated Basis Function
theory, by using the Fermi hypernetted chain resummation techniques. The
calculations have been done by using the realistic Argonne v8' nucleon-nucleon
potential, together with the Urbana IX three-body interaction. Operator
dependent correlations, which consider channels up to the tensor ones, have
been
used. We found noticeable effects produced by the correlations. For high
momentum values, the momentum distributions show large enhancements with
respect to the independent particle model results. Natural orbits occupation
numbers are depleted by about the 10\% with respect to the independent particle
model values. The effects of the correlations on the spectroscopic factors are
larger on the more deeply bound states.Comment: Modified version of the previous paper (there are new figures). The
paper has been accepted for publication in Physical Review
Elastic effects of vacancies in strontium titanate: Short- and long-range strain fields, elastic dipole tensors, and chemical strain
We present a study of the local strain effects associated with vacancy
defects in strontium titanate and report the first calculations of elastic
dipole tensors and chemical strains for point defects in perovskites. The
combination of local and long-range results will enable determination of x-ray
scattering signatures that can be compared with experiments. We find that the
oxygen vacancy possesses a special property -- a highly anisotropic elastic
dipole tensor which almost vanishes upon averaging over all possible defect
orientations. Moreover, through direct comparison with experimental
measurements of chemical strain, we place constraints on the possible defects
present in oxygen-poor strontium titanate and introduce a conjecture regarding
the nature of the predominant defect in strontium-poor stoichiometries in
samples grown via pulsed laser deposition. Finally, during the review process,
we learned of recent experimental data, from strontium titanate films deposited
via molecular-beam epitaxy, that show good agreement with our calculated value
of the chemical strain associated with strontium vacancies.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, 4 table
A Geometric Approach to Massive p-form Duality
Massive theories of abelian p-forms are quantized in a generalized
path-representation that leads to a description of the phase space in terms of
a pair of dual non-local operators analogous to the Wilson Loop and the 't
Hooft disorder operators. Special atention is devoted to the study of the
duality between the Topologically Massive and the Self-Dual models in 2+1
dimensions. It is shown that these models share a geometric representation in
which just one non local operator suffices to describe the observables.Comment: 26 pages, LaTeX. The discussion about the equivalence between the
Proca model and two seldual models, with opposite spins, was eliminated.
Typos correcte
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