Path integral quantization of electrodynamics in dielectric media

In the present paper we study the Faddeev-Popov path integral quantization of electrodynamics in an inhomogenious dielectric medium. We quantize all polarizations of the photons and introduce the corresponding ghost fields. Using the heat kernel technique, we express the heat kernel coefficients in terms of the dielectricity $\epsilon (x)$ and calculate the ultra violet divergent terms in the effective action. No cancellation between ghosts and "non-physical" degrees of freedom of the photon is observed.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, submitted to J.Phys.A, revised (a misprint in the bibliography

Strong damping of phononic heat current by magnetic excitations in SrCu_2(BO_3)_2

Measurements of the thermal conductivity as a function of temperature and magnetic field in the 2D dimer spin system SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$ are presented. In zero magnetic field the thermal conductivity along and perpendicular to the magnetic planes shows a pronounced double-peak structure as a function of temperature. The low-temperature maximum is drastically suppressed with increasing magnetic field. Our quantitative analysis reveals that the heat current is due to phonons and that the double-peak structure arises from pronounced resonant scattering of phonons by magnetic excitations.Comment: a bit more than 4 pages, 2 figures included; minor changes to improve the clarity of the presentatio

Intrinsic decoherence and classical-quantum correspondence in two coupled delta-kicked rotors

We show that classical-quantum correspondence of center of mass motion in two coupled delta-kicked rotors can be obtained from intrinsic decoherence of the system itself which occurs due to the entanglement of the center of mass motion to the internal degree of freedom without coupling to external environment

Scheme for generating entangled states of two field modes in a cavity

This paper considers a two-level atom interacting with two cavity modes with equal frequencies. Applying a unitary transformation, the system reduces to the analytically solvable Jaynes-Cummings model. For some particular field states, coherent and squeezed states, the transformation between the two bare basis's, related by the unitary transformation, becomes particularly simple. It is shown how to generate, the highly non-classical, entangled coherent states of the two modes, both in the zero and large detuning cases. An advantage with the zero detuning case is that the preparation is deterministic and no atomic measurement is needed. For the large detuning situation a measurement is required, leaving the field in either of two orthogonal entangled coherent states.Comment: Accepted in J. Mod. Opt.; 12 pages; Replaced with revised version. Extended discussion of experimental realizations, earlier studies in the field and on the frequency dependence in the adiabatic eliminatio

Proton dripline studies at ISOLDE: 31^{31}Ar and 9^{9}C

In this contribution examples of the application of new technologies to disentangle the mechanism of $\beta$-delayed multiparticle emission are given. In particular the mechanism of $\beta$2p-emission from $^{31}$Ar has been resolved and proved to be sequential, a preview of $^{9}$C-decay data is discussed

Confounding conventional wisdom: political not principled differences in the transatlantic regulatory relationship

The transatlantic complaints over hormone-treated beef and genetically modified organisms before the World Trade Organisation (WTO) seem to confirm two separate but related conventional wisdoms about the transatlantic economic relationship: that it is highly conflictual and that many of the conflicts are rooted in profoundly different approaches to regulation. This article argues that neither of the two conventional wisdoms is accurate. Rather, it contends that they are products of two, compounding analytical shortcomings: one methodological, one empirical. The methodological shortcoming takes the form of an implicit selection bias. While WTO complaints are high profile they are rare and extreme examples; it is, therefore, unsound to generalise from them to the regulatory relationship as a whole. The empirical shortcoming has to do with neither the beef hormones nor the GMO dispute demonstrating what it is purported to. The article thus serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of relying on obvious cases and the need to question whether evidence really does support a prevailing popular narrative

Dwelling, house and home: towards a home-led perspective on dementia care

“Home” is well known from everyday experience, plays a crucial role in all kinds of narratives about human life, but is hardly ever systematically dealt with in the philosophy of medicine and health care. The notion of home is ambiguous, is often used in a metaphorical way, and is closely related to concepts such as house and dwelling. In this paper the phenomenon of home is explored by means of some phenomenological writings of Heidegger, Bollnow, Bachelard and Levinas. Common in their views is that being at home and dwelling mean something more fundamental than an activity we do along with other activities, such as working and travelling. Dwelling, building a house and being at home are fundamental aspects of human existence. Being human is dwelling. While exploring the relevance of this phenomenological perspective for medical theory and practice, the focus is on the care of people suffering from dementia

Developing assessments for child exposure to intimate partner violence in Switzerland – A study of medico-legal reports in clinical settings

Purpose: Evidence to inform assessment of needs of children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) in health settings is limited. A Swiss hospital-based medico-legal consultation for adult victims of violence also detects children’s exposure to IPV and refers cases to the Pediatrics Child Abuse and Neglect Team. Based on a conceptual ecological framework, this study examined the nature and circumstances of children’s exposure to IPV described in accounts collected by nurses in consultations with adult IPV victims. Methods: From 2011-2014, 438 parents (88% female) of 668 children aged 0 to 18 sought medico-legal care from the Violence Medical Unit in Lausanne Switzerland, following assaults by intimate partners (85% male). As part of the consultation, nurses completed a semi-structured questionnaire with victimized parents, recording their answers in the patient file. Victims’ statements about the abuse, their personal, family and social contexts, and their children’s exposure to IPV were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic content analyses were conducted to identify, from the victimized parents’ accounts, elements useful to understand the nature and circumstances of children’s exposure and involvement during violent events. Results: Parent statements on specific violent events described children being present in 75% of the cases. Children were said to be exposed to, and responded to, severe physical violence, serious threats and insults, in the context of repeated assaults and coercive control. Families, especially mothers, were often coping with additional socio-economic vulnerabilities. Conclusions: Implications for further developing assessments of children living with IPV, especially in health settings were identified