On the Numerical Determination of Relaxation and Retardation Spectra for Linearly Viscoelastic Materials

Knowledge of the relaxation spectrum is important because (1) it provides an intrinsic characterization of the mechanical properties for linearly viscoelastic materials and (2) it offers a rational way to derive the coefficients for a Prony or Dirichlet series representation of the relaxation modulus of importance to some engineering analyses. A numerical solution based on Simpson quadrature leads to an unstable solution in the sense that a decrease in integration intervals produces a progressively worse solution which oscillates between positive and negative values. This difficulty may be overcome by requiring that the curvature of the relaxation spectrum with respect to the relaxation times be minimized. The method is tested on the modified power law and good agreement with the exact and numerically determined relaxation spectrum is obtained. However, when the same method is used to determine the retardation spectrum, only the unstable solution is obtained, although the form of the integral equation is the same. This different behavior is attributed to the difference in the characteristics of the relaxation and retardation spectral functions

Optimization of Bell's Inequality Violation For Continuous Variable Systems

Two mode squeezed vacuum states allow Bell's inequality violation (BIQV) for all non-vanishing squeezing parameter $(\zeta)$. Maximal violation occurs at $\zeta \to \infty$ when the parity of either component averages to zero. For a given entangled {\it two spin} system BIQV is optimized via orientations of the operators entering the Bell operator (cf. S. L. Braunstein, A. Mann and M. Revzen: Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf68}, 3259 (1992)). We show that for finite $\zeta$ in continuous variable systems (and in general whenever the dimensionality of the subsystems is greater than 2) additional parameters are present for optimizing BIQV. Thus the expectation value of the Bell operator depends, in addition to the orientation parameters, on configuration parameters. Optimization of these configurational parameters leads to a unique maximal BIQV that depends only on $\zeta.$ The configurational parameter variation is used to show that BIQV relation to entanglement is, even for pure state, not monotonic.Comment: An example added; shows that the amount of Bell's inequality violation as a measure of entanglement is doubtfu

Why the Tsirelson bound?

Wheeler's question 'why the quantum' has two aspects: why is the world quantum and not classical, and why is it quantum rather than superquantum, i.e., why the Tsirelson bound for quantum correlations? I discuss a remarkable answer to this question proposed by Pawlowski et al (2009), who provide an information-theoretic derivation of the Tsirelson bound from a principle they call 'information causality.'Comment: 17 page

Atomic vapor-based high efficiency optical detectors with photon number resolution

We propose a novel approach to the important fundamental problem of detecting weak optical fields at the few photon level. The ability to detect with high efficiency (>99%), and to distinguish the number of photons in a given time interval is a very challenging technical problem with enormous potential pay-offs in quantum communications and information processing. Our proposal diverges from standard solid-state photo-detector technology by employing an atomic vapor as the active medium, prepared in a specific quantum state using laser radiation. The absorption of a photon will be aided by a dressing laser, and the presence or absence of an excited atom will be detected using the ``cycling transition'' approach perfected for ion traps. By first incorporating an appropriate upconversion scheme, our method can be applied to a wide variety of optical wavelengths.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Quantum correlations of twophoton polarization states in the parametric down-conversion process

We consider correlation properties of twophoton polarization states in the parametric down-conversion process. In our description of polarization states we take into account the simultaneous presence of colored and white noise in the density matrix. Within the considered model we study the dependence of the von Neumann entropy on the noise amount in the system and derive the separability condition for the density matrix of twophoton polarization state, using Perec-Horodecki criterion and majorization criterion. Then the dependence of the Bell operator (in CHSH form) on noise is studied. As a result, we give a condition for determining the presence of quantum correlation states in experimental measurements of the Bell operator. Finally, we compare our calculations with experimental data [doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.73.062110] and give a noise amount estimation in the photon polarization state considered there.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures; corrected typo

Local Realistic Theories and Quantum Mechanics for the two-neutral-kaon system

The predictions of local realistic theories for the observables concerning the evolution of a $K^0\bar{K}^0$ quantum entangled pair (created in the decay of the $\phi$-meson) are discussed. It is shown, in agreement with Bell's theorem, that the most general local hidden-variable model fails in reproducing the whole set of quantum-mechanical joint probabilities. We achieve these conclusion by employing two different approaches. In a first one the local realistic observables are deduced from the most general premises concerning locality and realism, and Bell-like inequalities are not employed. The other approach makes use of Bell's inequalities. Within the former scheme, under particular conditions for the detection times, the discrepancy between quantum mechanics and local realism for the time-dependent asymmetry turns out to be not less than 20%. The same incompatibility can be made evident by means of a Bell-type test by employing both Wigner's and (once properly normalized probabilities are used) Clauser-Holt-Shimony-Holt's inequalities. Because of the relatively low experimental accuracy, the data obtained by the CPLEAR collaboration for the asymmetry parameter do not allow for a decisive test of local realism. Such a test, both with and without the use of Bell's inequalities, should be feasible in the future at the Frascati $\Phi$-factory.Comment: 36 pages, 4 figure

expansion of maxillary arches with crossbite a systematic review of rcts in the last 12 years

The aim of this study was to review recent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) dealing with the effectiveness of various modalities of orthopaedic/orthodontic expansion of maxillary arches with crossbite and the associated 6 month post retention stability. The study selection criteria included RCTs involving subjects with maxillary deficiency with crossbite, with no limits of age. The authors searched the following electronic databases from 1999 to January 2011: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, LILACS, and WEB of SCIENCE. The search strategy resulted in 12 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies did not meet major methodological requirements; some studies were not relevant because of small sample size, possible bias and unaccounted for confounding variables, lack of blinding in measurements, and deficient statistical methods. Treatment outcomes were different depending on the appliance used, tooth tissue-borne/tooth-borne expanders, bonded semi-rapid maxillary expansion (SRME), or rapid maxillary expansion (RME); in any case, methodological flaws prevent any sound conclusion. Stable results have been measured at the 6 month follow-up after removal of the retention plate in the treated groups in the maxillary intermolar and intercanine distances. Long-term stability results should be assessed. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Statement could be helpful in improving the reporting of RCTs

Two qubits of a W state violate Bell's inequality beyond Cirel'son's bound

It is shown that the correlations between two qubits selected from a trio prepared in a W state violate the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality more than the correlations between two qubits in any quantum state. Such a violation beyond Cirel'son's bound is smaller than the one achieved by two qubits selected from a trio in a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state [A. Cabello, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 060403 (2002)]. However, it has the advantage that all local observers can know from their own measurements whether their qubits belongs or not to the selected pair.Comment: REVTeX4, 5 page

Distillability and positivity of partial transposes in general quantum field systems

Criteria for distillability, and the property of having a positive partial transpose, are introduced for states of general bipartite quantum systems. The framework is sufficiently general to include systems with an infinite number of degrees of freedom, including quantum fields. We show that a large number of states in relativistic quantum field theory, including the vacuum state and thermal equilibrium states, are distillable over subsystems separated by arbitrary spacelike distances. These results apply to any quantum field model. It will also be shown that these results can be generalized to quantum fields in curved spacetime, leading to the conclusion that there is a large number of quantum field states which are distillable over subsystems separated by an event horizon.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figures. v2: Typos removed, references and comments added. v3: Expanded introduction and reference list. To appear in Rev. Math. Phy