1,651 research outputs found
Classical evolution of fractal measures generated by a scalar field on the lattice
We investigate the classical evolution of a scalar field theory,
using in the initial state random field configurations possessing a fractal
measure expressed by a non-integer mass dimension. These configurations
resemble the equilibrium state of a critical scalar condensate. The measures of
the initial fractal behavior vary in time following the mean field motion. We
show that the remnants of the original fractal geometry survive and leave an
imprint in the system time averaged observables, even for large times compared
to the approximate oscillation period of the mean field, determined by the
model parameters. This behavior becomes more transparent in the evolution of a
deterministic Cantor-like scalar field configuration. We extend our study to
the case of two interacting scalar fields, and we find qualitatively similar
results. Therefore, our analysis indicates that the geometrical properties of a
critical system initially at equilibrium could sustain for several periods of
the field oscillations in the phase of non-equilibrium evolution.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, version published at Int. J. Mod. Phys.
Exact Flow Equations and the U(1)-Problem
The effective action of a SU(N)-gauge theory coupled to fermions is evaluated
at a large infrared cut-off scale k within the path integral approach. The
gauge field measure includes topologically non-trivial configurations
(instantons). Due to the explicit infrared regularisation there are no gauge
field zero modes. The Dirac operator of instanton configurations shows a zero
mode even after the infrared regularisation, which leads to U_A(1)-violating
terms in the effective action. These terms are calculated in the limit of large
scales k.Comment: 22 pages, latex, no figures, with stylistic changes and some
arguments streamlined, typos corrected, References added, to appear in Phys.
Rev.
Chronic neural probe for simultaneous recording of single-unit, multi-unit, and local field potential activity from multiple brain sites
Drug resistant focal epilepsy can be treated by resecting the epileptic focus
requiring a precise focus localization using stereoelectroencephalography
(SEEG) probes. As commercial SEEG probes offer only a limited spatial
resolution, probes of higher channel count and design freedom enabling the
incorporation of macro and microelectrodes would help increasing spatial
resolution and thus open new perspectives for investigating mechanisms
underlying focal epilepsy and its treatment. This work describes a new
fabrication process for SEEG probes with materials and dimensions similar to
clinical probes enabling recording single neuron activity at high spatial
resolution. Polyimide is used as a biocompatible flexible substrate into which
platinum electrodes and leads are...
The resulting probe features match those of clinically approved devices.
Tests in saline solution confirmed the probe stability and functionality.
Probes were implanted into the brain of one monkey (Macaca mulatta), trained to
perform different motor tasks. Suitable configurations including up to 128
electrode sites allow the recording of task-related neuronal signals. Probes
with 32 and 64 electrode sites were implanted in the posterior parietal cortex.
Local field potentials and multi-unit activity were recorded as early as one
hour after implantation. Stable single-unit activity was achieved for up to 26
days after implantation of a 64-channel probe. All recorded signals showed
modulation during task execution. With the novel probes it is possible to
record stable biologically relevant data over a time span exceeding the usual
time needed for epileptic focus localization in human patients. This is the
first time that single units are recorded along cylindrical polyimide probes
chronically implanted 22 mm deep into the brain of a monkey, which suggests the
potential usefulness of this probe for human applications
The beta functions of a scalar theory coupled to gravity
We study a scalar field theory coupled to gravity on a flat background, below
Planck's energy. Einstein's theory is treated as an effective field theory.
Within the context of Wilson's renormalization group, we compute gravitational
corrections to the beta functions and the anomalous dimension of the scalar
field, taking into account threshold effects.Comment: 13 pages, plainTe
Multivalued Fields on the Complex Plane and Conformal Field Theories
In this paper a class of conformal field theories with nonabelian and
discrete group of symmetry is investigated. These theories are realized in
terms of free scalar fields starting from the simple systems and scalar
fields on algebraic curves. The Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equations for the
conformal blocks can be explicitly solved. Besides of the fact that one obtains
in this way an entire class of theories in which the operators obey a
nonstandard statistics, these systems are interesting in exploring the
connection between statistics and curved space-times, at least in the two
dimensional case.Comment: (revised version), 30 pages + one figure (not included), (requires
harvmac.tex), LMU-TPW 92-1
Exact and Truncated Dynamics in Nonequilibrium Field Theory
Nonperturbative dynamics of quantum fields out of equilibrium is often
described by the time evolution of a hierarchy of correlation functions, using
approximation methods such as Hartree, large N, and nPI-effective action
techniques. These truncation schemes can be implemented equally well in a
classical statistical system, where results can be tested by comparison with
the complete nonlinear evolution obtained by numerical methods. For a 1+1
dimensional scalar field we find that the early-time behaviour is reproduced
qualitatively by the Hartree dynamics. The inclusion of direct scattering
improves this to the quantitative level. We show that the emergence of
nonthermal temperature profiles at intermediate times can be understood in
terms of the fixed points of the evolution equations in the Hartree
approximation. The form of the profile depends explicitly on the initial
ensemble. While the truncated evolution equations do not seem to be able to get
away from the fixed point, the full nonlinear evolution shows thermalization
with a (surprisingly) slow relaxation.Comment: 30 pages with 12 eps figures, minor changes; to appear in Phys.Rev.
Caldera collapse and tectonics along the Main Ethiopian Rift: Reviewing possible relationships
The Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) represents an area where volcanism and tectonics interact to create closely linked volcano-tectonic features. This linkage is paramount in the axial portion of the rift, where magmatic segments localize several large peralkaline eruptive centres. Many of them evolved into caldera collapse (the best preserved of which are younger than ) generating large ignimbrites and registering the interaction between magmatism and tectonics along the MER. In this work we review the structure of the main collapsed calderas along the axial portion of the MER, to summarize the relationships between volcanism and tectonics proposed in the literature explaining their structural evolution. By doing this, we infer that tectonics had a strong influence in controlling the elongation of the majority of examined calderas. This control was induced by reactivation of inherited crustal fabrics or by stretching of the magma reservoirs under the MER regional stress field
Large N Quantum Time Evolution Beyond Leading Order
For quantum theories with a classical limit (which includes the large N
limits of typical field theories), we derive a hierarchy of evolution equations
for equal time correlators which systematically incorporate corrections to the
limiting classical evolution. Explicit expressions are given for
next-to-leading order, and next-to-next-to-leading order time evolution. The
large N limit of N-component vector models, and the usual semiclassical limit
of point particle quantum mechanics are used as concrete examples. Our
formulation directly exploits the appropriate group structure which underlies
the construction of suitable coherent states and generates the classical phase
space. We discuss the growth of truncation error with time, and argue that
truncations of the large-N evolution equations are generically expected to be
useful only for times short compared to a ``decoherence'' time which scales
like N^{1/2}.Comment: 36 pages, 2 eps figures, latex, uses revtex, epsfig, float
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