Two-dimensional imaging of gauge fields in optical lattices

We propose a scheme to generate an arbitrary Abelian vector potential for atoms trapped in a two-dimensional optical lattice. By making the optical lattice potential dependent on the atomic state, we transform the problem into that of a two-dimensional imaging. It is shown that an arbitrarily fine pattern of the gauge field in the lattice can be realized without need of diffraction-limited imaging.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Classical Strongly Coupled QGP: VII. Energy Loss

We use linear response analysis and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem to derive the energy loss of a heavy quark in the SU(2) classical Coulomb plasma in terms of the $l=1$ monopole and non-static structure factor. The result is valid for all Coulomb couplings $\Gamma=V/K$, the ratio of the mean potential to kinetic energy. We use the Liouville equation in the collisionless limit to assess the SU(2) non-static structure factor. We find the energy loss to be strongly dependent on $\Gamma$. In the liquid phase with $\Gamma\approx 4$, the energy loss is mostly metallic and soundless with neither a Cerenkov nor a Mach cone. Our analytical results compare favorably with the SU(2) molecular dynamics simulations at large momentum and for heavy quark masses.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures. v2: added references, changed title, replaced figures for Fig. 7, corrected typo

Spin diffusion of correlated two-spin states in a dielectric crystal

Reciprocal space measurements of spin diffusion in a single crystal of calcium fluoride (CaF$_2$) have been extended to dipolar ordered states. The experimental results for the component of the spin diffusion parallel with the external field are $D_{D}^{||}=29 \pm 3 \times 10^{-12}$ cm$^{2}$/s for the [001] direction and $D_{D}^{||}=33 \pm 4 \times 10^{-12}$ cm$^{2}$/s for the [111] direction. The diffusion rates for dipolar order are significantly faster than those for Zeeman order and are considerably faster than predicted by simple theoretical models. It is suggested that constructive interference in the transport of the two spin state is responsible for this enhancement. As expected the anisotropy in the diffusion rates is observed to be significantly less for dipolar order compared to the Zeeman case.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Resubmitted to PRL - new figure added / discussion expande

Reproducing spin lattice models in strongly coupled atom-cavity systems

In an array of coupled cavities where the cavities are doped with an atomic V-system, and the two excited levels couple to cavity photons of different polarizations, we show how to construct various spin models employed in characterizing phenomena in condensed matter physics, such as the spin-1/2 Ising, XX, Heisenberg, and XXZ models. The ability to construct networks of arbitrary geometry also allows for the simulation of topological effects. By tuning the number of excitations present, the dimension of the spin to be simulated can be controlled, and mixtures of different spin types produced. The facility of single-site addressing, the use of only the natural hopping photon dynamics without external fields, and the recent experimental advances towards strong coupling, makes the prospect of using these arrays as efficient quantum simulators promising.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. v3: References adde

Genuine Non-Self-Averaging and Ultra-Slow Convergence in Gelation

In irreversible aggregation processes droplets or polymers of microscopic size successively coalesce until a large cluster of macroscopic scale forms. This gelation transition is widely believed to be self-averaging, meaning that the order parameter (the relative size of the largest connected cluster) attains well-defined values upon ensemble averaging with no sample-to-sample fluctuations in the thermodynamic limit. Here, we report on anomalous gelation transition types. Depending on the growth rate of the largest clusters, the gelation transition can show very diverse patterns as a function of the control parameter, which includes multiple stochastic discontinuous transitions, genuine non-self-averaging and ultra-slow convergence of the transition point. Our framework may be helpful in understanding and controlling gelation.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure

Charged particle display

An optical shutter based on charged particles is presented. The output light intensity of the proposed device has an intrinsic dependence on the interparticle spacing between charged particles, which can be controlled by varying voltages applied to the control electrodes. The interparticle spacing between charged particles can be varied continuously and this opens up the possibility of particle based displays with continuous grayscale.Comment: typographic errors corrected in Eqs (37) and (39); published in Journal of Applied Physics; doi:10.1063/1.317648

Color Reflection Invariance and Monopole Condensation in QCD

We review the quantum instability of the Savvidy-Nielsen-Olesen (SNO) vacuum of the one-loop effective action of SU(2) QCD, and point out a critical defect in the calculation of the functional determinant of the gluon loop in the SNO effective action. We prove that the gauge invariance, in particular the color reflection invariance, exclude the unstable tachyonic modes from the gluon loop integral. This guarantees the stability of the magnetic condensation in QCD.Comment: 28 pages, 3 figures, JHEP styl

Gauge Independent Trace Anomaly for Gravitons

We show that the trace anomaly for gravitons calculated using the usual effective action formalism depends on the choice of gauge when the background spacetime is not a solution of the classical equation of motion, that is, when off-shell. We then use the gauge independent Vilkovisky-DeWitt effective action to restore gauge independence to the off-shell case. Additionally we explicitly evaluate trace anomalies for some N-sphere background spacetimes.Comment: 19 pages, additional references and title chang