9,616 research outputs found
Quantum Metropolis Sampling
The original motivation to build a quantum computer came from Feynman who
envisaged a machine capable of simulating generic quantum mechanical systems, a
task that is believed to be intractable for classical computers. Such a machine
would have a wide range of applications in the simulation of many-body quantum
physics, including condensed matter physics, chemistry, and high energy
physics. Part of Feynman's challenge was met by Lloyd who showed how to
approximately decompose the time-evolution operator of interacting quantum
particles into a short sequence of elementary gates, suitable for operation on
a quantum computer. However, this left open the problem of how to simulate the
equilibrium and static properties of quantum systems. This requires the
preparation of ground and Gibbs states on a quantum computer. For classical
systems, this problem is solved by the ubiquitous Metropolis algorithm, a
method that basically acquired a monopoly for the simulation of interacting
particles. Here, we demonstrate how to implement a quantum version of the
Metropolis algorithm on a quantum computer. This algorithm permits to sample
directly from the eigenstates of the Hamiltonian and thus evades the sign
problem present in classical simulations. A small scale implementation of this
algorithm can already be achieved with today's technologyComment: revised versio
Implementing vertex dynamics models of cell populations in biology within a consistent computational framework
The dynamic behaviour of epithelial cell sheets plays a central role during development, growth, disease and wound healing. These processes occur as a result of cell adhesion, migration, division, differentiation and death, and involve multiple processes acting at the cellular and molecular level. Computational models offer a useful means by which to investigate and test hypotheses about these processes, and have played a key role in the study of cell–cell interactions. However, the necessarily complex nature of such models means that it is difficult to make accurate comparison between different models, since it is often impossible to distinguish between differences in behaviour that are due to the underlying model assumptions, and those due to differences in the in silico implementation of the model. In this work, an approach is described for the implementation of vertex dynamics models, a discrete approach that represents each cell by a polygon (or polyhedron) whose vertices may move in response to forces. The implementation is undertaken in a consistent manner within a single open source computational framework, Chaste, which comprises fully tested, industrial-grade software that has been developed using an agile approach. This framework allows one to easily change assumptions regarding force generation and cell rearrangement processes within these models. The versatility and generality of this framework is illustrated using a number of biological examples. In each case we provide full details of all technical aspects of our model implementations, and in some cases provide extensions to make the models more generally applicable
Colorectal Cancer Through Simulation and Experiment
Colorectal cancer has continued to generate a huge amount of research interest over several decades, forming a canonical example of tumourigenesis since its use in Fearon and Vogelstein’s linear model of genetic mutation. Over time, the field has witnessed a transition from solely experimental work to the inclusion of mathematical biology and computer-based modelling. The fusion of these disciplines has the potential to provide valuable insights into oncologic processes, but also presents the challenge of uniting many diverse perspectives. Furthermore, the cancer cell phenotype defined by the ‘Hallmarks of Cancer’ has been extended in recent times and provides an excellent basis for future research. We present a timely summary of the literature relating to colorectal cancer, addressing the traditional experimental findings, summarising the key mathematical and computational approaches, and emphasising the role of the Hallmarks in current and future developments. We conclude with a discussion of interdisciplinary work, outlining areas of experimental interest which would benefit from the insight that mathematical and computational modelling can provide
Duality Violation and the K --> pi pi Electroweak Penguin Operator Matrix Elements from Hadronic Tau Decays
We discuss a preliminary study of the impact of duality violations on
extractions from tau decay data of the D=6 VEVs which determine chiral limit
Standard Model K-->pi pi matrix elements of the electroweak penguin operators.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, prepared for the Proceedings of the 11th Particle
and Nuclear Intersections Conference (PANIC 2011), Boston, USA, July 24-29,
201
Topology and Phases in Fermionic Systems
There can exist topological obstructions to continuously deforming a gapped
Hamiltonian for free fermions into a trivial form without closing the gap.
These topological obstructions are closely related to obstructions to the
existence of exponentially localized Wannier functions. We show that by taking
two copies of a gapped, free fermionic system with complex conjugate
Hamiltonians, it is always possible to overcome these obstructions. This allows
us to write the ground state in matrix product form using Grassman-valued bond
variables, and show insensitivity of the ground state density matrix to
boundary conditions.Comment: 4 pages, see also arxiv:0710.329
EUVE Observations of the Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable QQ Vulpeculae
We present simultaneous X-ray (lambda_peak ~ 44A) and EUV (lambda_peak = 89A)
light curves for the magnetic cataclysmic variable QQ Vulpeculae, obtained with
the EUVE satellite. We find that the unique shape of the X-ray light curve is
different from previously obtained X-ray light curves of QQ Vul and provides
evidence for two-pole accretion. Detailed examination of the photometric data
indicates that QQ Vul undergoes a stellar eclipse of the X-ray emitting region,
indicative of a high binary inclination. We discuss possible implications for
the nature of this system given the observed shape of its EUV and X-ray light
curves.Comment: 12 pages including 4 figures, accepted to PAS
Localized Entanglement in one-dimensional Anderson model
The entanglement in one-dimensional Anderson model is studied. We show that
the pairwise entanglement measured by the average concurrence has a direct
relation to the localization length. The numerical study indicates that the
disorder significantly reduces the average entanglement, and entanglement
distribution clearly displays the entanglement localization. The maximal
pairwise entanglement exhibits a maximum as the disorder strength
increases,experiencing a transition from increase to decrease. The entanglement
between the center of localization and other site decreases exponentially along
the spatial direction. Finally,we study effects of disorder on dynamical
properties of entanglement.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure
Multi-epoch Doppler tomography and polarimetry of QQ Vul
We present multi-epoch high-resolution spectroscopy and photoelectric polarimetry of the long-period polar (AM Herculis star) QQ Vul. The blue emission lines show several distinct components, the sharpest of which can unequivocally be assigned to the illuminated hemisphere of the secondary star and used to trace its orbital motion. This narrow emission line can be used in combination with Nai-absorption lines from the photosphere of the companion to build a stable long-term ephemeris for the star: inferior conjunction of the companion occurs at HJD = 244 8446.4710(5)+E×0. d 15452011(11). The polarization curves are dissimilar at different epochs, thus supporting the idea of fundamental changes of the accretion geometry, e.g. between one- and two-pole accretion modes. The linear polarization pulses display a random scatter by 0.2 phase units and are not suitable for the determination of the binary period. The polarization data suggest that the magnetic (dipolar) axis has a co-latitude of 23 ◦ , an azimuth of −50 ◦, and an orbital inclination between 50 ◦ and 70 ◦. Doppler images of blue emission and red absorption lines show a clear separatio
The SSS phase of RS Ophiuchi observed with Chandra and XMM-Newton I.: Data and preliminary Modeling
The phase of Super-Soft-Source (SSS) emission of the sixth recorded outburst
of the recurrent nova RS Oph was observed twice with Chandra and once with
XMM-Newton. The observations were taken on days 39.7, 54.0, and 66.9 after
outburst. We confirm a 35-sec period on day 54.0 and found that it originates
from the SSS emission and not from the shock. We discus the bound-free
absorption by neutral elements in the line of sight, resonance absorption lines
plus self-absorbed emission line components, collisionally excited emission
lines from the shock, He-like intersystem lines, and spectral changes during an
episode of high-amplitude variability. We find a decrease of the oxygen K-shell
absorption edge that can be explained by photoionization of oxygen. The
absorption component has average velocities of -1286+-267 km/s on day 39.7 and
of -771+-65 km/s on day 66.9. The wavelengths of the emission line components
are consistent with their rest wavelengths as confirmed by measurements of
non-self absorbed He-like intersystem lines. We have evidence that these lines
originate from the shock rather than the outer layers of the outflow and may be
photoexcited in addition to collisional excitations. We found collisionally
excited emission lines that are fading at wavelengths shorter than 15A that
originate from the radiatively cooling shock. On day 39.5 we find a systematic
blue shift of -526+-114 km/s from these lines. We found anomalous He-like f/i
ratios which indicates either high densities or significant UV radiation near
the plasma where the emission lines are formed. During the phase of strong
variability the spectral hardness light curve overlies the total light curve
when shifted by 1000sec. This can be explained by photoionization of neutral
oxygen in the line of sight if the densities of order 10^{10}-10^{11} cm^{-3}.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables. Accepted by ApJ; v2: Co-author
Woodward adde
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