4,305 research outputs found
Mass as a Relativistic Quantum Observable
A field state containing photons propagating in different directions has a
non vanishing mass which is a quantum observable. We interpret the shift of
this mass under transformations to accelerated frames as defining space-time
observables canonically conjugated to energy-momentum observables. Shifts of
quantum observables differ from the predictions of classical relativity theory
in the presence of a non vanishing spin. In particular, quantum redshift of
energy-momentum is affected by spin. Shifts of position and energy-momentum
observables however obey simple universal rules derived from invariance of
canonical commutators.Comment: 5 pages, revised versio
On the unitarity of higher-dervative and nonlocal theories
We consider two simple models of higher-derivative and nonlocal quantu
systems.It is shown that, contrary to some claims found in literature, they can
be made unitary.Comment: 8 pages, no figure
On the squeezed states for n observables
Three basic properties (eigenstate, orbit and intelligence) of the canonical
squeezed states (SS) are extended to the case of arbitrary n observables. The
SS for n observables X_i can be constructed as eigenstates of their linear
complex combinations or as states which minimize the Robertson uncertainty
relation. When X_i close a Lie algebra L the generalized SS could also be
introduced as orbit of Aut(L^C). It is shown that for the nilpotent algebra h_N
the three generalizations are equivalent. For the simple su(1,1) the family of
eigenstates of uK_- + vK_+ (K_\pm being lowering and raising operators) is a
family of ideal K_1-K_2 SS, but it cannot be represented as an Aut(su^C(1,1))
orbit although the SU(1,1) group related coherent states (CS) with symmetry are
contained in it.
Eigenstates |z,u,v,w;k> of general combination uK_- + vK_+ + wK_3 of the
three generators K_j of SU(1,1) in the representations with Bargman index k =
1/2,1, ..., and k = 1/4,3/4 are constructed and discussed in greater detail.
These are ideal SS for K_{1,2,3}. In the case of the one mode realization of
su(1,1) the nonclassical properties (sub-Poissonian statistics, quadrature
squeezing) of the generalized even CS |z,u,v;+> are demonstrated. The states
|z,u,v,w;k=1/4,3/4> can exhibit strong both linear and quadratic squeezing.Comment: 25 pages, LaTex, 4 .pic and .ps figures. Improvements in text,
discussion on generation scheme added. To appear in Phys. Script
Finite Euler Hierarchies And Integrable Universal Equations
Recent work on Euler hierarchies of field theory Lagrangians iteratively
constructed {}from their successive equations of motion is briefly reviewed. On
the one hand, a certain triality structure is described, relating arbitrary
field theories, {\it classical\ts} topological field theories -- whose
classical solutions span topological classes of manifolds -- and
reparametrisation invariant theories -- generalising ordinary string and
membrane theories. On the other hand, {\it finite} Euler hierarchies are
constructed for all three classes of theories. These hierarchies terminate with
{\it universal\ts} equations of motion, probably defining new integrable
systems as they admit an infinity of Lagrangians. Speculations as to the
possible relevance of these theories to quantum gravity are also suggested.Comment: (replaces previous unprintable version corrupted mailer) 13 p.,
(Plain TeX), DTP-92/3
Random trees between two walls: Exact partition function
We derive the exact partition function for a discrete model of random trees
embedded in a one-dimensional space. These trees have vertices labeled by
integers representing their position in the target space, with the SOS
constraint that adjacent vertices have labels differing by +1 or -1. A
non-trivial partition function is obtained whenever the target space is bounded
by walls. We concentrate on the two cases where the target space is (i) the
half-line bounded by a wall at the origin or (ii) a segment bounded by two
walls at a finite distance. The general solution has a soliton-like structure
involving elliptic functions. We derive the corresponding continuum scaling
limit which takes the remarkable form of the Weierstrass p-function with
constrained periods. These results are used to analyze the probability for an
evolving population spreading in one dimension to attain the boundary of a
given domain with the geometry of the target (i) or (ii). They also translate,
via suitable bijections, into generating functions for bounded planar graphs.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures, tex, harvmac, epsf; accepted version; main
modifications in Sect. 5-6 and conclusio
Dissipation evidence for the quantum damped harmonic oscillator via pseudo-bosons
It is known that a self-adjoint, time-independent hamiltonian can be defined
for the quantum damped harmonic oscillator. We show here that the two vacua
naturally associated to this operator, when expressed in terms of
pseudo-bosonic lowering and raising operators, appear to be non
square-integrable. This fact is interpreted as the evidence of the dissipation
effect of the classical oscillator at a purely quantum level.Comment: In press in "Theoretical and Mathematical Physics
Hot Electron Capture Dissociation Distinguishes Leucine from Isoleucine in a Novel Hemoglobin Variant, Hb Askew, β54(D5)Val→Ile
Population migration has led to the global dispersion of human hemoglobinopathies and has precipitated a need for their identification. An effective mass spectrometry-based procedure involves analysis of the intact α- and β-globin chains to determine their mass, followed by location of the variant amino acid residue by direct analysis of the enzymatically digested chains and low-energy collision induced dissociation of the variant peptide. Using this procedure, a variant was identified as either β54Val→Leu or β54Val→Ile, since the amino acids leucine and isoleucine cannot be distinguished using low-energy collisions. Here, we describe how hot electron capture dissociation on a Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer was used to distinguish isoleucine from leucine and identify the mutation as β54(D5)Val→Ile. This is a novel variant, and we have named it Hb Askew
The UTMOST: A hybrid digital signal processor transforms the MOST
The Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST) is an 18,000 square meter
radio telescope situated some 40 km from the city of Canberra, Australia. Its
operating band (820-850 MHz) is now partly allocated to mobile phone
communications, making radio astronomy challenging. We describe how the
deployment of new digital receivers (RX boxes), Field Programmable Gate Array
(FPGA) based filterbanks and server-class computers equipped with 43 GPUs
(Graphics Processing Units) has transformed MOST into a versatile new
instrument (the UTMOST) for studying the dynamic radio sky on millisecond
timescales, ideal for work on pulsars and Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). The
filterbanks, servers and their high-speed, low-latency network form part of a
hybrid solution to the observatory's signal processing requirements. The
emphasis on software and commodity off-the-shelf hardware has enabled rapid
deployment through the re-use of proven 'software backends' for its signal
processing. The new receivers have ten times the bandwidth of the original MOST
and double the sampling of the line feed, which doubles the field of view. The
UTMOST can simultaneously excise interference, make maps, coherently dedisperse
pulsars, and perform real-time searches of coherent fan beams for dispersed
single pulses. Although system performance is still sub-optimal, a pulsar
timing and FRB search programme has commenced and the first UTMOST maps have
been made. The telescope operates as a robotic facility, deciding how to
efficiently target pulsars and how long to stay on source, via feedback from
real-time pulsar folding. The regular timing of over 300 pulsars has resulted
in the discovery of 7 pulsar glitches and 3 FRBs. The UTMOST demonstrates that
if sufficient signal processing can be applied to the voltage streams it is
possible to perform innovative radio science in hostile radio frequency
environments.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure
The UTMOST pulsar timing programme I: overview and first results
We present an overview and the first results from a large-scale pulsar timing
programme that is part of the UTMOST project at the refurbished Molonglo
Observatory Synthesis Radio Telescope (MOST) near Canberra, Australia. We
currently observe more than 400 mainly bright southern radio pulsars with up to
daily cadences. For 205 (8 in binaries, 4 millisecond pulsars) we publish
updated timing models, together with their flux densities, flux density
variability, and pulse widths at 843 MHz, derived from observations spanning
between 1.4 and 3 yr. In comparison with the ATNF pulsar catalogue, we improve
the precision of the rotational and astrometric parameters for 123 pulsars, for
47 by at least an order of magnitude. The time spans between our measurements
and those in the literature are up to 48 yr, which allows us to investigate
their long-term spin-down history and to estimate proper motions for 60
pulsars, of which 24 are newly determined and most are major improvements. The
results are consistent with interferometric measurements from the literature. A
model with two Gaussian components centred at 139 and fits the transverse velocity distribution best. The pulse duty
cycle distributions at 50 and 10 per cent maximum are best described by
log-normal distributions with medians of 2.3 and 4.4 per cent, respectively. We
discuss two pulsars that exhibit spin-down rate changes and drifting subpulses.
Finally, we describe the autonomous observing system and the dynamic scheduler
that has increased the observing efficiency by a factor of 2-3 in comparison
with static scheduling.Comment: 31 pages, 14 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA
The first interferometric detections of Fast Radio Bursts
We present the first interferometric detections of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs),
an enigmatic new class of astrophysical transient. In a 180-day survey of the
Southern sky we discovered 3 FRBs at 843 MHz with the UTMOST array, as part of
commissioning science during a major ongoing upgrade. The wide field of view of
UTMOST ( deg) is well suited to FRB searches. The primary beam
is covered by 352 partially overlapping fan-beams, each of which is searched
for FRBs in real time with pulse widths in the range 0.655 to 42 ms, and
dispersion measures 2000 pc cm. Detections of FRBs with the UTMOST
array places a lower limit on their distances of km (limit of
the telescope near-field) supporting the case for an astronomical origin.
Repeating FRBs at UTMOST or an FRB detected simultaneously with the Parkes
radio telescope and UTMOST, would allow a few arcsec localisation, thereby
providing an excellent means of identifying FRB host galaxies, if present. Up
to 100 hours of follow-up for each FRB has been carried out with the UTMOST,
with no repeating bursts seen. From the detected position, we present 3
error ellipses of 15 arcsec x 8.4 deg on the sky for the point of origin for
the FRBs. We estimate an all-sky FRB rate at 843 MHz above a fluence of 11 Jy ms of events sky d at the 95
percent confidence level. The measured rate of FRBs at 843 MHz is of order two
times higher than we had expected, scaling from the FRB rate at the Parkes
radio telescope, assuming that FRBs have a flat spectral index and a uniform
distribution in Euclidean space. We examine how this can be explained by FRBs
having a steeper spectral index and/or a flatter log-log
distribution than expected for a Euclidean Universe.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 2 table
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