Nonlocal appearance of a macroscopic angular momentum

We discuss a type of measurement in which a macroscopically large angular momentum (spin) is "created" nonlocally by the measurement of just a few atoms from a double Fock state. This procedure apparently leads to a blatant nonconservation of a macroscopic variable - the local angular momentum. We argue that while this gedankenexperiment provides a striking illustration of several counter-intuitive features of quantum mechanics, it does not imply a non-local violation of the conservation of angular momentum.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

Considerations on measures of precision and connectedness in mixed linear models of genetic evaluation

Three criteria for the quality of a genetic evaluation are compared: the prediction error variance (PEV); the loss of precision due to the estimation of the fixed effects (degree of connectedness) (IC); and a criterion related to the information brought by the evaluation in terms of generalized coefficient and determination (CD) (precision). These criteria are introduced through simple examples based on an animal model. The main differences between them are the choice of the matrix studied (CD vs PEV, IC), the method used to account for the relationships (CD vs PEV), the use of a reference matrix or model (PEV vs CD, IC), and the data design (IC vs PEV, CD). IC is shown to favor designs with limited information provided by the data and another index is suggested, which minimizes this drawback. The behavior of IC and CD is studied in a hypothetical ’herd + sire’ model. The precision criteria set a balance between connectedness level and information provided by the data, whereas the connectedness criteria favor the model with minimum information and maximum connectedness level. Genetic relationships between animals decrease both PEV and genetic variability. PEV considers only the favorable effects on PEV; CD accounts for both effects. CD sets a balance between the design and the information brought by the data, the PEV and the genetic variability and is thus a method of choice for studying the quality of a genetic evaluation.Trois critères d’appréciation de la connexion et de la précision des évaluations génétiques sont étudiés et comparés. Le premier critère est la variance d’erreur de prédiction (PEV), le second mesure la diminution de la PEV quand les effets fixés sont connus (indice de connexion ou IC), et le troisième est un critère de précision de l’évaluation, exprimé par le coefficient de détermination généralisé (CD). Ces critères sont présentés à l’aide d’exemples simples basés sur un modèle animal. Ils se distinguent par le choix de la matrice étudiée (CD versus PEV, IC), la prisé en compte de la seule structure des données (IC versus PEV, CD), la présence d’une matrice ou d’un modèle de référence (PEV versus IC, CD), et la manière de prendre en compte les relations de parenté entre animaux (CD versus PEV). On montre comment IC favorise les situations où l’information apportée par les données est faible. Un nouvel indice de connexion, s’attachant également à la seule structure des données, est proposé, palliant cet inconvénient. L’intérêt d’IC et de CD est étudié sur un exemple de modèle « troupeau Père », où les troupeaux sont de taille fixée, les pères servent dans un seul troupeau, à l’exception d’un père de référence assurant les liaisons génétiques entre troupeaux. CD permet d’optimiser le plan d’expérience par un compromis entre connexion et information contenue dans les données, alors que l’utilisation d’IC aboutit au choix d’un plan où les pères utilisés dans un seul troupeau ont un seul veau par troupeau. Si CD et PEV sont équivalents pour des animaux non apparentés, PEV privilégie les forts apparentements, qui diminuent la variance d’erreur de prédiction. Mais les parentés diminuent également la variabilité génétique, ce que prend en compte CD. Ainsi, on montre, sur un modèle animal strictement aléatoire avec même apparentement entre animaux, comment PEV peut conduire au choix d’un plan minimisant le progrès génétique. On retrouve dans ce cas simple la formule classique du progrès génétique, où le CD généralisé joue le même rôle que le CD individuel d’un indice de sélection. CD, compromis entre structure et quantité de données, d’une part, et variance d’erreur de prédiction et variabilité génétique, d’autre part, est une méthode de choix pour l’analyse de la qualité d’une évaluation génétique

Internal state conversion in ultracold gases

We consider an ultracold gas of (non-condensed) bosons or fermions with two internal states, and study the effect of a gradient of the transition frequency between these states. When a $\pi/2$ RF pulse is applied to the sample, exchange effects during collisions transfer the atoms into internal states which depend on the direction of their velocity. This results, after a short time, in a spatial separation between the two states. A kinetic equation is solved analytically and numerically; the results agree well with the recent observations of Lewandowski et al.Comment: Accepted version, to appear in PR

Connectedness among herds of beef cattle bred under natural service

Background: A procedure to measure connectedness among herds was applied to a beef cattle population bred by natural service. It consists of two steps: (a) computing coefficients of determination (CDs) of comparisons among herds; and (b) building sets of connected herds. Methods: The CDs of comparisons among herds were calculated using a sampling-based method that estimates empirical variances of true and predicted breeding values from a simulated n-sample. Once the CD matrix was estimated, a clustering method that can handle a large number of comparisons was applied to build compact clusters of connected herds of the Bruna dels Pirineus beef cattle. Since in this breed, natural service is predominant and there are almost no links with reference sires, to estimate CDs, an animal model was used taking into consideration all pedigree information and, especially, the connections with dams. A sensitivity analysis was performed to contrast single-trait sire and animal model evaluations with different heritabilities, multiple-trait animal model evaluations with different degrees of genetic correlations and models with maternal effects. Results: Using a sire model, the percentage of connected herds was very low even for highly heritable traits whereas with an animal model, most of the herds of the breed were well connected and high CD values were obtained among them, especially for highly heritable traits (the mean of average CD per herd was 0.535 for a simulated heritability of 0.40). For the lowly heritable traits, the average CD increased from 0.310 in the single-trait evaluation to 0.319 and 0.354 in the multi-trait evaluation with moderate and high genetic correlations, respectively. In models with maternal effects, the average CD per herd for the direct effects was similar to that from single-trait evaluations. For the maternal effects, the average CD per herd increased if the maternal effects had a high genetic correlation with the direct effects, but the percentage of connected herds for maternal effects was very low, less than 12%. Conclusions: The degree of connectedness in a bovine population bred by natural service mating, such as Bruna del Pirineus beef cattle, measured as the CD of comparisons among herds, is high. It is possible to define a pool of animals for which estimated breeding values can be compared after an across-herds genetic evaluation, especially for highly heritable traits

Photoassociation of cold atoms with chirped laser pulses: time-dependent calculations and analysis of the adiabatic transfer within a two-state model

This theoretical paper presents numerical calculations for photoassociation of ultracold cesium atoms with a chirped laser pulse and detailed analysis of the results. In contrast with earlier work, the initial state is represented by a stationary continuum wavefunction. In the chosen example, it is shown that an important population transfer is achieved to $\approx 15$ vibrational levels in the vicinity of the v=98 bound level in the external well of the $0_g^-(6s+6p_{3/2})$ potential. Such levels lie in the energy range swept by the instantaneous frequency of the pulse, thus defining a ``photoassociation window''. Levels outside this window may be significantly excited during the pulse, but no population remains there after the pulse. Finally, the population transfer to the last vibrational levels of the ground $a^3\Sigma_u^+$(6s + 6s) is significant, making stable molecules. The results are interpreted in the framework of a two state model as an adiabatic inversion mechanism, efficient only within the photoassociation window. The large value found for the photoassociation rate suggests promising applications. The present chirp has been designed in view of creating a vibrational wavepacket in the excited state which is focussing at the barrier of the double well potential.Comment: 49 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.