Random quantum channels I: graphical calculus and the Bell state phenomenon

This paper is the first of a series where we study quantum channels from the random matrix point of view. We develop a graphical tool that allows us to compute the expected moments of the output of a random quantum channel. As an application, we study variations of random matrix models introduced by Hayden \cite{hayden}, and show that their eigenvalues converge almost surely. In particular we obtain for some models sharp improvements on the value of the largest eigenvalue, and this is shown in a further work to have new applications to minimal output entropy inequalities.Comment: Several typos were correcte

The enhancement of the decay Upsilon(1D) -> eta Upsilon(1S) by the axial anomaly in QCD

It is shown that the rates of the decays Upsilon(1^3D_1) -> eta Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(1^3D_2) -> eta Upsilon(1S) should be comparable to and likely exceed that of the recently discussed in the literature two-pion transition Upsilon(1D) -> pi pi Upsilon(1S). The reason for this behavior is that the discussed eta transitions are enhanced by the contribution of the anomaly in the flavor singlet axial current in QCD.Comment: 11 page

Weak multiplicativity for random quantum channels

It is known that random quantum channels exhibit significant violations of multiplicativity of maximum output p-norms for any p>1. In this work, we show that a weaker variant of multiplicativity nevertheless holds for these channels. For any constant p>1, given a random quantum channel N (i.e. a channel whose Stinespring representation corresponds to a random subspace S), we show that with high probability the maximum output p-norm of n copies of N decays exponentially with n. The proof is based on relaxing the maximum output infinity-norm of N to the operator norm of the partial transpose of the projector onto S, then calculating upper bounds on this quantity using ideas from random matrix theory.Comment: 21 pages; v2: corrections and additional remark

Non-perturbative gluons in diffractive photo-production of J/Psi

The modifications induced in the calculation of the cross section of the diffractive process gamma gamma -> J/Psi J/Psi when the gluon propagator is changed are analyzed. Instead of the usual perturbative gluon propagator, alternative forms obtained using non-perturbative methods like Dyson-Schwinger equations are used to consider in a more consistent way the contributions of the infrared region. The result shows a reduction in the differential cross-section for low momentum transfer once compared with the perturbative result, to be confirmed with future experimental results from TESLA.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, RevTex, Accepted for publication in Phys. Lett.

Decoupling in an expanding universe: boundary RG-flow affects initial conditions for inflation

We study decoupling in FRW spacetimes, emphasizing a Lagrangian description throughout. To account for the vacuum choice ambiguity in cosmological settings, we introduce an arbitrary boundary action representing the initial conditions. RG flow in these spacetimes naturally affects the boundary interactions. As a consequence the boundary conditions are sensitive to high-energy physics through irrelevant terms in the boundary action. Using scalar field theory as an example, we derive the leading dimension four irrelevant boundary operators. We discuss how the known vacuum choices, e.g. the Bunch-Davies vacuum, appear in the Lagrangian description and square with decoupling. For all choices of boundary conditions encoded by relevant boundary operators, of which the known ones are a subset, backreaction is under control. All, moreover, will generically feel the influence of high-energy physics through irrelevant (dimension four) boundary corrections. Having established a coherent effective field theory framework including the vacuum choice ambiguity, we derive an explicit expression for the power spectrum of inflationary density perturbations including the leading high energy corrections. In accordance with the dimensionality of the leading irrelevant operators, the effect of high energy physics is linearly proportional to the Hubble radius H and the scale of new physics L= 1/M.Comment: LaTeX plus axodraw figures. v2: minor corrections; refs added. JHEP style: 34 pages + 18 pages appendi

Forty years of paleoecology in the Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands provided one of the first lowland paleoecological records from the Neotropics. Since the first cores were raised from the islands in 1966, there has been a substantial increase in knowledge of past systems, and development of the science of paleoclimatology. The study of fossil pollen, diatoms, corals and compound-specific isotopes on the Galapagos has contributed to the maturation of this discipline. As research has moved from questions about ice-age conditions and mean states of the Holocene to past frequency of El Niño Southern Oscillation, the resolution of fossil records has shifted from millennial to sub-decadal. Understanding the vulnerability of the Galapagos to climate change will be enhanced by knowledge of past climate change and responses in the islands

On Thermalization in de Sitter Space

We discuss thermalization in de Sitter space and argue, from two different points of view, that the typical time needed for thermalization is of order $R^{3}/l_{pl}^{2}$, where $R$ is the radius of the de Sitter space in question. This time scale gives plenty of room for non-thermal deviations to survive during long periods of inflation. We also speculate in more general terms on the meaning of the time scale for finite quantum systems inside isolated boxes, and comment on the relation to the Poincar\'{e} recurrence time.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, latex, references added. Improved discussion in section 3 adde

Parton model versus color dipole formulation of the Drell-Yan process

In the kinematical region where the center of mass energy is much larger than all other scales, the Drell-Yan process can be formulated in the target rest frame in terms of the same color dipole cross section as low Bjorken-x deep inelastic scattering. Since the mechanisms for heavy dilepton production appear very different in the dipole approach and in the conventional parton model, one may wonder whether these two formulations really represent the same physics. We perform a comparison of numerical calculations in the color dipole approach with calculations in the next-to-leading order parton model. For proton-proton scattering, the results are very similar at low x_2 from fixed target to RHIC energies, confirming the close connection between these two very different approaches. We also compare the transverse momentum distributions of Drell-Yan dileptons predicted in both formulations. The range of applicability of the dipole formulation and the impact of future Drell-Yan data from RHIC for determining the color dipole cross section are discussed. A detailed derivation of the dipole formulation of the Drell-Yan process is also included.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure