Weak localization effects in granular metals

The weak localization correction to the conductivity of a granular metal is calculated using the diagrammatic technique in the reciprocal grain lattice representation. The properties of this correction are very similar to that one in disordered metal, with the replacement of the electron mean free path $\ell$ by the grain diameter $d$ and the dimensionless conductance $g$ by the tunnelling dimensionless conductance $g_{T}$. In particular, we demonstrate that at zero temperature no conducting phase can exist for dimensions $D\leq 2$. We also analyze the WL correction to magnetoconductivity in the weak field limit.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; minor corrections adde

Adiabatic quantum dynamics of the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model

The adiabatic quantum evolution of the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick (LMG) model across its quantum critical point is studied. The dynamics is realized by linearly switching the transverse field from an initial large value towards zero and considering different transition rates. We concentrate our attention on the residual energy after the quench in order to estimate the level of diabaticity of the evolution. We discuss a Landau-Zener approximation of the finite size LMG model, that is successful in reproducing the behavior of the residual energy as function of the transition rate in the most part of the regimes considered. We also support our description through the analysis of the entanglement entropy of the evolved state. The system proposed is a paradigm of infinite-range interaction or high-dimensional models.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. (v2) minor revisions, published versio

Adiabatic quantum dynamics of a random Ising chain across its quantum critical point

We present here our study of the adiabatic quantum dynamics of a random Ising chain across its quantum critical point. The model investigated is an Ising chain in a transverse field with disorder present both in the exchange coupling and in the transverse field. The transverse field term is proportional to a function $\Gamma(t)$ which, as in the Kibble-Zurek mechanism, is linearly reduced to zero in time with a rate $\tau^{-1}$, $\Gamma(t)=-t/\tau$, starting at $t=-\infty$ from the quantum disordered phase ($\Gamma=\infty$) and ending at $t=0$ in the classical ferromagnetic phase ($\Gamma=0$). We first analyze the distribution of the gaps -- occurring at the critical point $\Gamma_c=1$ -- which are relevant for breaking the adiabaticity of the dynamics. We then present extensive numerical simulations for the residual energy $E_{\rm res}$ and density of defects $\rho_k$ at the end of the annealing, as a function of the annealing inverse rate $\tau$. %for different lenghts of the chain. Both the average $E_{\rm res}(\tau)$ and $\rho_k(\tau)$ are found to behave logarithmically for large $\tau$, but with different exponents, $[E_{\rm res}(\tau)/L]_{\rm av}\sim 1/\ln^{\zeta}(\tau)$ with $\zeta\approx 3.4$, and $[\rho_k(\tau)]_{\rm av}\sim 1/\ln^{2}(\tau)$. We propose a mechanism for $1/\ln^2{\tau}$-behavior of $[\rho_k]_{\rm av}$ based on the Landau-Zener tunneling theory and on a Fisher's type real-space renormalization group analysis of the relevant gaps. The model proposed shows therefore a paradigmatic example of how an adiabatic quantum computation can become very slow when disorder is at play, even in absence of any source of frustration.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures; v2: added references, published versio

Speeding up critical system dynamics through optimized evolution

The number of defects which are generated on crossing a quantum phase transition can be minimized by choosing properly designed time-dependent pulses. In this work we determine what are the ultimate limits of this optimization. We discuss under which conditions the production of defects across the phase transition is vanishing small. Furthermore we show that the minimum time required to enter this regime is $T\sim \pi/\Delta$, where $\Delta$ is the minimum spectral gap, unveiling an intimate connection between an optimized unitary dynamics and the intrinsic measure of the Hilbert space for pure states. Surprisingly, the dynamics is non-adiabatic, this result can be understood by assuming a simple two-level dynamics for the many-body system. Finally we classify the possible dynamical regimes in terms of the action $s=T\Delta$.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

The recent abrupt increase in the precipitation rate, as seen in a ultra-centennial series of precipitation

The authors analyse the ultra-centennial series (1833- 1995) of daily total amounts of precipitation recorded in the Genoa University’s Meteorological Observatory and the precipitation annual rates, investigating any relationship with the recent occurrences of exceptional rainfall. Among the principal results there is a constant decrease in the number of rainy days since the first records and a significative jump of precipitation rate since 1950. The application of the Gumbel method to the Return Time of the Annual Maximum (AM) series, owing to the recent anomalous variations of Annual Maximum daily precipitation (mmO24 h), has revealed an increase of heavy rainfall in the last thirty years. Moreover, the return times of these events are remarkably shortened

Chopped random-basis quantum optimization

In this work we describe in detail the "Chopped RAndom Basis" (CRAB) optimal control technique recently introduced to optimize t-DMRG simulations [arXiv:1003.3750]. Here we study the efficiency of this control technique in optimizing different quantum processes and we show that in the considered cases we obtain results equivalent to those obtained via different optimal control methods while using less resources. We propose the CRAB optimization as a general and versatile optimal control technique.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

Breakdown of the adiabatic limit in low dimensional gapless systems

It is generally believed that a generic system can be reversibly transformed from one state into another by sufficiently slow change of parameters. A standard argument favoring this assertion is based on a possibility to expand the energy or the entropy of the system into the Taylor series in the ramp speed. Here we show that this argumentation is only valid in high enough dimensions and can break down in low-dimensional gapless systems. We identify three generic regimes of a system response to a slow ramp: (A) mean-field, (B) non-analytic, and (C) non-adiabatic. In the last regime the limits of the ramp speed going to zero and the system size going to infinity do not commute and the adiabatic process does not exist in the thermodynamic limit. We support our results by numerical simulations. Our findings can be relevant to condensed-matter, atomic physics, quantum computing, quantum optics, cosmology and others.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Nature Physics (originally submitted version

ESTRUCTURA DE ATENUACIÓN EN EL VOLCÁN GALERAS, COLOMBIA

Spatial variation of coda-Q (Qc) was analyzed in the Galeras volcano, located in the south western Andes of Colombia. The Qc value was calculated using the Single Backscattering model and using seismograms filtered in the band centered on 3.0 Hz. We used the estimated values as the mean attenuation that represents the total effect of the simple scattering process inside an ellipsoidal shell volume. An inversion procedure was implemented to estimate the spatial variation of Qc as function of volume fractions. Synthetic tests in 2D and 3D allow us to extend the procedure with available data from the seismological network located at the Galeras volcano. The inversion of 2855 Qc values in a grid of 8 x 8 x 8nodes associated to 435 earthquakes and 19 stations permitted resolve the presence of two levels of attenuation anomalies which are assumed to be related to bodies of partially melted rocks, the first located around 6.0 km depth and the other one at ˃13.3 km depth from the summit. These bodies could be responsible for the vulcanian-type explosions as a consequence of mixture of shallow magma with depth basic magma. The shallow body seems extend along the summit and may represent the presence of plugs and fluids that are constantly fed from the deeper body and produce the actual hydrothermal activity with eruptive events. From 2002 to nowadays several eruptions has happened, e.g. at November, 2005, the volcano generated evacuation of aprox. 9000 persons from four towns around the Galeras volcano (Mapachico, Genoy, La Florida and Nariño). Along these episodes, including the one on December 6th, 2010, it looks like a large and deep magma volume is involved in this process and that more eruptive events may be expected. Keywords: Coda Q attenuation, 3D tomography Galeras volcano, Eruptive activity.    La variación espacial de coda-Q (Qc) fue analizada en el Volcán Galeras, localizado en el suroccidente de los Andes de Colombia. El valor de Qc fue calculado usando el modelo de retro-dispersión simple y usando sismogramas filtrados en la banda centrada a 3.0 Hz. Posteriormente, fueron usado los valores estimados como la atenuación promedia que representa el efecto total del proceso de dispersión simple dentro de una concha volumétrica elipsoidal. Un procedimiento de inversión fue implementado para estimar la variación espacial de Qc como función de las fracciones de volumen. Evaluaciones sintéticas en 2D y 3D permitieron extender el procedimiento con datos disponibles derivados de la red sismológica del Volcán Galeras. La inversión de 2855 valores de Qc en una grilla de 8 x 8 x 8nodos asociados a 435 eventos y 19 estaciones, permitió detectar la presencia de dos niveles de anomalías de atenuación las cuales podrían estar relacionadas con cuerpos de rocas parcialmente fundidas, la primera localizada alrededor de 6.0 km de profundidad y la segunda a una profundidad >13.3 km desde la cima. Estos cuerpos podrían ser responsables de las explosiones vulcanianas como consecuencia de la mezcla de magmas superficiales con profundos más básicos. El cuerpo superficial parece extenderse en una amplia zona de la cima y puede estar relacionado con la presencia de intrusiones y fluidos que son constantemente alimentados desde el reservorio mas profundo y produce la actual actividad hidrotermal con eventos eruptivos. Desde el 2002 hasta hoy en día, varias erupciones ha ocurrido, ej. en Nov. 2005, el volcán generó la evaluación de aprox. 9000 personas de cuatro poblaciones cercanas al Volcán Galeras (Mapachico, Genoy, La Florida and Nariño). A lo largo de estos episodios, incluyendo el ocurrido el 6 de Diciembre de 2010, parece que un gran volumen de magma esta siendo envuelto en este proceso y que más episodios eruptivos podrían esperarse. Palabras clave: Atenuación de Coda Q, Tomografía en 3D, Volcán Galeras, Actividad eruptiva. &nbsp