439 research outputs found
A generalization of the Heine--Stieltjes theorem
We extend the Heine-Stieltjes Theorem to concern all (non-degenerate)
differential operators preserving the property of having only real zeros. This
solves a conjecture of B. Shapiro. The new methods developed are used to
describe intricate interlacing relations between the zeros of different pairs
of solutions. This extends recent results of Bourget, McMillen and Vargas for
the Heun equation and answers their question on how to generalize their results
to higher degrees. Many of the results are new even for the classical case.Comment: 12 pages, typos corrected and refined the interlacing theorem
Localization Properties of the Chalker-Coddington Model
The Chalker Coddington quantum network percolation model is numerically
pertinent to the understanding of the delocalization transition of the quantum
Hall effect. We study the model restricted to a cylinder of perimeter 2M. We
prove firstly that the Lyapunov exponents are simple and in particular that the
localization length is finite; secondly that this implies spectral
localization. Thirdly we prove a Thouless formula and compute the mean Lyapunov
exponent which is independent of M.Comment: 29 pages, 1 figure. New section added in which simplicity of the
Lyapunov spectrum and finiteness of the localization length are proven. To
appear in Annales Henri Poincar
Localization for Random Unitary Operators
We consider unitary analogs of dimensional Anderson models on
defined by the product where is a deterministic
unitary and is a diagonal matrix of i.i.d. random phases. The
operator is an absolutely continuous band matrix which depends on a
parameter controlling the size of its off-diagonal elements. We prove that the
spectrum of is pure point almost surely for all values of the
parameter of . We provide similar results for unitary operators defined on
together with an application to orthogonal polynomials on the unit
circle. We get almost sure localization for polynomials characterized by
Verblunski coefficients of constant modulus and correlated random phases
Towards Deconstruction of the Type D (2,0) Theory
We propose a four-dimensional supersymmetric theory that deconstructs, in a
particular limit, the six-dimensional theory of type . This 4d
theory is defined by a necklace quiver with alternating gauge nodes
and . We test this proposal by comparing the
6d half-BPS index to the Higgs branch Hilbert series of the 4d theory. In the
process, we overcome several technical difficulties, such as Hilbert series
calculations for non-complete intersections, and the choice of
versus gauge groups. Consistently, the result matches the Coulomb
branch formula for the mirror theory upon reduction to 3d
Fractional Moment Estimates for Random Unitary Operators
We consider unitary analogs of dimensional Anderson models on
defined by the product where is a deterministic
unitary and is a diagonal matrix of i.i.d. random phases. The
operator is an absolutely continuous band matrix which depends on
parameters controlling the size of its off-diagonal elements. We adapt the
method of Aizenman-Molchanov to get exponential estimates on fractional moments
of the matrix elements of , provided the
distribution of phases is absolutely continuous and the parameters correspond
to small off-diagonal elements of . Such estimates imply almost sure
localization for
Can biological quantum networks solve NP-hard problems?
There is a widespread view that the human brain is so complex that it cannot
be efficiently simulated by universal Turing machines. During the last decades
the question has therefore been raised whether we need to consider quantum
effects to explain the imagined cognitive power of a conscious mind.
This paper presents a personal view of several fields of philosophy and
computational neurobiology in an attempt to suggest a realistic picture of how
the brain might work as a basis for perception, consciousness and cognition.
The purpose is to be able to identify and evaluate instances where quantum
effects might play a significant role in cognitive processes.
Not surprisingly, the conclusion is that quantum-enhanced cognition and
intelligence are very unlikely to be found in biological brains. Quantum
effects may certainly influence the functionality of various components and
signalling pathways at the molecular level in the brain network, like ion
ports, synapses, sensors, and enzymes. This might evidently influence the
functionality of some nodes and perhaps even the overall intelligence of the
brain network, but hardly give it any dramatically enhanced functionality. So,
the conclusion is that biological quantum networks can only approximately solve
small instances of NP-hard problems.
On the other hand, artificial intelligence and machine learning implemented
in complex dynamical systems based on genuine quantum networks can certainly be
expected to show enhanced performance and quantum advantage compared with
classical networks. Nevertheless, even quantum networks can only be expected to
efficiently solve NP-hard problems approximately. In the end it is a question
of precision - Nature is approximate.Comment: 38 page
Filicide in Austria and Finland - A register-based study on all filicide cases in Austria and Finland 1995-2005
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Filicide is the tragic crime of murdering one's own child. Previous research has found that the offending parents are commonly depressed and that suicide is often associated as an actual act or an intention. Yet, filicide is an underreported crime and previous studies have been strained with methodological problems. No comprehensive international studies on filicide have been presented in the literature until now.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a descriptive, comprehensive, register-based study of all filicides in Austria and Finland during 1995-2005. Filicide-suicide cases were also included.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Most of the perpetrators were the biological mothers; in Austria 72%, in Finland 52%. Suicide followed filicide either as an attempt or a fulfilled act in 32% and 54% of the cases in Austria and Finland, respectively. Psychotic mood disorders were diagnosed for 10% of the living perpetrators in Austria, and 12% in Finland. Non-psychotic depression was diagnosed in 9% of surviving perpetrators in Austria, 35% in Finland.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data from the two countries demonstrated that filicide is such a multifaceted and rare phenomenon that national data from individual countries seldom offer sufficient scope for its thorough study. Further analyses are needed to produce a complete picture of filicide.</p
Quiver gauge theories: beyond reflexivity
Reflexive polygons have been extensively studied in a variety of contexts in mathematics and physics. We generalize this programme by looking at the 45 different lattice polygons with two interior points up to SL(2,ℤ) equivalence. Each corresponds to some affine toric 3-fold as a cone over a Sasaki-Einstein 5-fold. We study the quiver gauge theories of D3-branes probing these cones, which coincide with the mesonic moduli space. The minimum of the volume function of the Sasaki-Einstein base manifold plays an important role in computing the R-charges. We analyze these minimized volumes with respect to the topological quantities of the compact surfaces constructed from the polygons. Unlike reflexive polytopes, one can have two fans from the two interior points, and hence give rise to two smooth varieties after complete resolutions, leading to an interesting pair of closely related geometries and gauge theories
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