Many worlds and modality in the interpretation of quantum mechanics: an algebraic approach

Many worlds interpretations (MWI) of quantum mechanics avoid the measurement problem by considering every term in the quantum superposition as actual. A seemingly opposed solution is proposed by modal interpretations (MI) which state that quantum mechanics does not provide an account of what `actually is the case', but rather deals with what `might be the case', i.e. with possibilities. In this paper we provide an algebraic framework which allows us to analyze in depth the modal aspects of MWI. Within our general formal scheme we also provide a formal comparison between MWI and MI, in particular, we provide a formal understanding of why --even though both interpretations share the same formal structure-- MI fall pray of Kochen-Specker (KS) type contradictions while MWI escape them.Comment: submitted to the Journal of Mathematical Physic

New Age and Geochemical Data from the Southern Colville and Kermadec Ridges, SW Pacific: Insights into the recent geological history and petrogenesis of the Proto-Kermadec (Vitiaz) Arc

Highlights • Age and petrogenesis of the Miocene-Pleistocene proto Kermadec arc: the Kermadec and Colville Ridge • Complex interplay between element flux from the subducting Pacific Plate and heterogenous mantle wedge • New insights into the recent tectonic history of the Kermadec arc system Abstract The intra-oceanic Kermadec arc system extends ~1300 km between New Zealand and Fiji and comprises at least 30 arc front volcanoes, the Havre Trough back-arc and the remnant Colville and Kermadec Ridges. To date, most research has focussed on the Kermadec arc front volcanoes leaving the Colville and Kermadec Ridges virtually unexplored. Here, we present seven 40Ar/39Ar ages together with a comprehensive major and trace element and Sr-, Nd-, and Pb-isotope dataset from the Colville and Kermadec Ridges to better understand the evolution, petrogenesis and splitting of the former proto-Kermadec (Vitiaz) Arc to form these two remnant arc ridges. Our 40Ar/39Ar ages range from ~7.5–2.6 Ma, which suggests that arc volcanism at the Colville Ridge occurred continuously and longer than previously thought. Recovered Colville and Kermadec Ridge lavas range from mafic picro-basalts (MgO = ~8 wt%) to dacites. The lavas have arc-type normalised incompatible element patterns and Sr and Pb isotopic compositions intermediate between Pacific MORB and subducted lithosphere (including sediments, altered oceanic crust and serpentinised uppermost mantle). Geochemically diverse lavas, including ocean island basalt-like and potassic lavas with high Ce/Yb, Th/Zr, intermediate 206Pb/204Pb and low 143Nd/144Nd ratios were recovered from the Oligocene South Fiji Basin (and Eocene Three Kings Ridge) located west of the Colville Ridge. If largely trench-perpendicular mantle flow was operating during the Miocene, this geochemical heterogeneity was likely preserved in the Colville and Kermadec sub arc mantle. The Colville and Kermadec Ridge data therefore highlight the complex interplay between pre-existing mantle heterogeneities and material fluxes from the subducting Pacific Plate. The new data allow us to present a holistic (yet simplified) picture of the tectonic evolution of the late Vitiaz Arc and northern Zealandia since the Miocene and how this tectonism influences volcanic activity along the Kermadec arc at the present

Measurement of mechanical vibrations excited in aluminium resonators by 0.6 GeV electrons

We present measurements of mechanical vibrations induced by 0.6 GeV electrons impinging on cylindrical and spherical aluminium resonators. To monitor the amplitude of the resonator's vibrational modes we used piezoelectric ceramic sensors, calibrated by standard accelerometers. Calculations using the thermo-acoustic conversion model, agree well with the experimental data, as demonstrated by the specific variation of the excitation strengths with the absorbed energy, and with the traversing particles' track positions. For the first longitudinal mode of the cylindrical resonator we measured a conversion factor of 7.4 +- 1.4 nm/J, confirming the model value of 10 nm/J. Also, for the spherical resonator, we found the model values for the L=2 and L=1 mode amplitudes to be consistent with our measurement. We thus have confirmed the applicability of the model, and we note that calculations based on the model have shown that next generation resonant mass gravitational wave detectors can only be expected to reach their intended ultra high sensitivity if they will be shielded by an appreciable amount of rock, where a veto detector can reduce the background of remaining impinging cosmic rays effectively.Comment: Tex-Article with epsfile, 34 pages including 13 figures and 5 tables. To be published in Rev. Scient. Instr., May 200

Detailed Morphology and Structure of an Active Submarine Arc Caldera: Brothers Volcano, Kermadec Arc

A survey of the Brothers caldera volcano (Kermadec arc) with the autonomous underwater vehicle ABE has revealed new details of the morphology and structure of this submarine frontal arc caldera and the geologic setting of its hydrothermal activity. Brothers volcano has formed between major SW-NE–trending faults within the extensional field of the Havre Trough. Brothers may be unique among known submarine calderas in that it has four active hydrothermal systems, two high-temperature sulfide-depositing sites associated with faulting on the northwestern and western walls (i.e., the NW caldera and W caldera hydrothermal sites, respectively), and gas-rich sites on the summits of the constructional cones that fill most of the southern part of the caldera (i.e., the Upper and Lower cone sites). The 3.0- × 3.4-km caldera is well defined by a topographic rim encompassing ∼320° of its circumference and which lies between the bounds of two outer half-graben–shaped faults in the northwest and southeast sectors. There is not a morphologically well defined continuous ring fault (at the map resolution), although near-vertical scarps are present discontinuously at the base of sections of the wall. The width of the wall varies from <200 m at its southwest portion to ∼750 m on its northern section. The widest part of the wall is its northwest sector, which also has the largest documented area of hydrothermal alteration and where sea-floor magnetization is lowest. In addition to primary northwest-southeast elongation and southwest-northeast structures caused by faulting within the regional back-arc strain field, there are also less well developed west-southwest–north-northeast regional structures intersecting the volcano that is apparent on the ABE bathymetry and at outcrop scale from submersible observations. Asymmetrical trap-door–style caldera collapse is considered a possible mechanism for the formation of the Brothers caldera

The fidelity of dynamic signaling by noisy biomolecular networks

This is the final version of the article. Available from Public Library of Science via the DOI in this record.Cells live in changing, dynamic environments. To understand cellular decision-making, we must therefore understand how fluctuating inputs are processed by noisy biomolecular networks. Here we present a general methodology for analyzing the fidelity with which different statistics of a fluctuating input are represented, or encoded, in the output of a signaling system over time. We identify two orthogonal sources of error that corrupt perfect representation of the signal: dynamical error, which occurs when the network responds on average to other features of the input trajectory as well as to the signal of interest, and mechanistic error, which occurs because biochemical reactions comprising the signaling mechanism are stochastic. Trade-offs between these two errors can determine the system's fidelity. By developing mathematical approaches to derive dynamics conditional on input trajectories we can show, for example, that increased biochemical noise (mechanistic error) can improve fidelity and that both negative and positive feedback degrade fidelity, for standard models of genetic autoregulation. For a group of cells, the fidelity of the collective output exceeds that of an individual cell and negative feedback then typically becomes beneficial. We can also predict the dynamic signal for which a given system has highest fidelity and, conversely, how to modify the network design to maximize fidelity for a given dynamic signal. Our approach is general, has applications to both systems and synthetic biology, and will help underpin studies of cellular behavior in natural, dynamic environments.We acknowledge support from a Medical Research Council and Engineering and Physical Sciences Council funded Fellowship in Biomedical Informatics (CGB) and a Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance chair in Systems Biology (PSS). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

An addressable quantum dot qubit with fault-tolerant control fidelity

Exciting progress towards spin-based quantum computing has recently been made with qubits realized using nitrogen-vacancy (N-V) centers in diamond and phosphorus atoms in silicon, including the demonstration of long coherence times made possible by the presence of spin-free isotopes of carbon and silicon. However, despite promising single-atom nanotechnologies, there remain substantial challenges in coupling such qubits and addressing them individually. Conversely, lithographically defined quantum dots have an exchange coupling that can be precisely engineered, but strong coupling to noise has severely limited their dephasing times and control fidelities. Here we combine the best aspects of both spin qubit schemes and demonstrate a gate-addressable quantum dot qubit in isotopically engineered silicon with a control fidelity of 99.6%, obtained via Clifford based randomized benchmarking and consistent with that required for fault-tolerant quantum computing. This qubit has orders of magnitude improved coherence times compared with other quantum dot qubits, with T_2* = 120 mus and T_2 = 28 ms. By gate-voltage tuning of the electron g*-factor, we can Stark shift the electron spin resonance (ESR) frequency by more than 3000 times the 2.4 kHz ESR linewidth, providing a direct path to large-scale arrays of addressable high-fidelity qubits that are compatible with existing manufacturing technologies

Louisville seamount subduction and its implication on mantle flow beneath the central Tonga–Kermadec arc

Subduction of intraplate seamounts beneath a geochemically depleted mantle wedge provides a seldom opportunity to trace element recycling and mantle flow in subduction zones. Here we present trace element and Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of lavas from the central Tonga–Kermadec arc, west of the contemporary Louisville–Tonga trench intersection, to provide new insights into the effects of Louisville seamount subduction. Elevated 206Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/204Pb, 86Sr/87Sr in lavas from the central Tonga–Kermadec arc front are consistent with localized input of subducted alkaline Louisville material (lavas and volcaniclastics) into sub-arc partial melts. Furthermore, absolute Pacific Plate motion models indicate an anticlockwise rotation in the subducted Louisville seamount chain that, combined with estimates of the timing of fluid release from the subducting slab, suggests primarily trench-normal mantle flow beneath the central Tonga–Kermadec arc system