Single qubit decoherence under a separable coupling to a random matrix environment

This paper describes the dynamics of a quantum two-level system (qubit) under the influence of an environment modeled by an ensemble of random matrices. In distinction to earlier work, we consider here separable couplings and focus on a regime where the decoherence time is of the same order of magnitude than the environmental Heisenberg time. We derive an analytical expression in the linear response approximation, and study its accuracy by comparison with numerical simulations. We discuss a series of unusual properties, such as purity oscillations, strong signatures of spectral correlations (in the environment Hamiltonian), memory effects and symmetry breaking equilibrium states.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure

Cosmology in the Solar System: Pioneer effect is not cosmological

Does the Solar System and, more generally, a gravitationally bound system follow the cosmic expansion law ? Is there a cosmological influence on the dynamics or optics in such systems ? The general relativity theory provides an unique and unambiguous answer, as a solution of Einstein equations with a local source in addition to the cosmic fluid, and obeying the correct (cosmological) limiting conditions. This solution has no analytic expression. A Taylor development of its metric allows a complete treatment of dynamics and optics in gravitationally bound systems, up to the size of galaxy clusters, taking into account both local and cosmological effects. In the solar System, this provides an estimation of the (non zero) cosmological influence on the Pioneer probe: it fails to account for the " Pioneer effect " by about 10 orders of magnitude. We criticize contradictory claims on this topic

X-ray sources as tracers of the large-scale structure in the Universe

We review the current status of studies of large-scale structure in the X-ray Universe. After motivating the use X-rays for cosmological purposes, we discuss the various approaches used on different angular scales including X-ray background multipoles, cross-correlations of the X-ray background with galaxy catalogues, clustering of X-ray selected sources and small-scale fluctuations and anisotropies in the X-ray background. We discuss the implications of the above studies for the bias parameter of X-ray sources, which is likely to be moderate for X-ray selected AGN and the X-ray background (~1-2). We finally outline how all-sky X-ray maps at hard X-rays and medium surveys with large sky coverage could provide important tests for the cosmological models.Comment: Invited review presented at the Workshop X-ray Astronomy'99: Stellar endpoints, AGN and the diffuse X-ray background (Astrophys Lett and Comm

Soy protein enzymatic hydrolysis and polysaccharides interactions: differential performance on kinetic adsorption at air-water interface

The objective of the work was to study the impact of soy protein hydrolysis on kinetic adsorption to the air-water interface and the effect of polysaccharides addition. Was used soy protein (SP) and theirs hydrolysates of 2% (H1) and 5.4% (H2) degree of hydrolysis. The polysaccharides (PS) used were a surface active one called E4M and a non-surface active one, lamda carrageenan (C). The dynamic surface pressure of interfacial films was evaluated with a drop tensiometer. In this contribution, we have determined the kinetic parameters of adsorption to the air-water interface which determined the penetration (Kp) and rearrangement (Kr) rates of SP, H1, H2 and PS, as well as their mixed systems. It was observed an increase of Kp and Kr when the protein were hydrolyzed (from SP to H1), however, when degree of hydrolysis progresses to H2 the parameters decreased again. In other hand, considerable differences were not found between these two PS studied concerning the Kp to air-water interface at these conditions. In spite of the different surface active nature of the PS, the proteins seem to control the behavior of the protein-PS interactions. However, when Kr of mixed systems was analyzed, the degree of hydrolysis and PS nature started to have a huge importance. Hence, it could be observed synergic or antagonic effects on Kr of biopolymers at liquid interface depending to the degree of hydrolysis of protein analyzed and the type of PS selected.CYTED through project 105PI0274CYCYT through grant AGL2007-60045Junta de Andalucía through grant PO6-AGR-01535Universidad de Buenos Aires, Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2008-1901) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentin

Analysis of laminated doubly-curved shells by alayerwise theory and radial basis functions collocation, accounting for through-the-thickness deformations

In this paper, the static and free vibration analysis of laminated shells is performed by radial basis functions collocation, according to a sinusoidal shear deformation theory (SSDT). The SSDT theory accounts for through-the-thickness deformation, by considering a sinusoidal evolution of all displacements with the thickness coordinate. The equations of motion and the boundary conditions are obtained by the Carrera's Unified Formulation, and further interpolated by collocation with radial basis functions

Some results on thermal stress of layered plates and shells by using Unified Formulation

This work presents some results on two-dimensional modelling of thermal stress problems in multilayered structures. The governing equations are written by referring to the Unified Formulation (UF) introduced by the first author. These equations are obtained in a compact form, that doesn't depend on the order of expansion of variables in the thickness direction or the variable description (layer-wise models and equivalent single layers models). Classical and refined theories based on the Principle of Virtual Displacements (PVD) and advanced mixed theories based on the Reissner Mixed Variational Theorem (RMVT) are both considered. As a result, a large variety of theories are derived and compared. The temperature profile along the thickness of the plate/shell is calculated by solving the Fourier's heat conduction equation. Alternatively, thermo-mechanical coupling problems can be considered, in which the thermal variation is influenced by mechanical loading. Exact closed-form solutions are provided for plates and shells, but also the applications of the Ritz method and the Finite Element Method (FEM) are presented