Diagnostics of macroscopic quantum states of Bose-Einstein condensate in double-well potential by nonstationary Josephson effect

We propose a method of diagnostic of a degenerate ground state of Bose condensate in a double well potential. The method is based on the study of the one-particle coherent tunneling under switching the time-dependent weak Josephson coupling between the wells. We obtain a simple expression that allows to determine the phase of the condensate and the total number of the particles in the condensate from the relative number of the particles in two wells $\Delta n =n_1-n_2$ measured before the Josephson coupling is switched on and after it is switched off. The specifics of the application of the method in the cases of the external and the internal Josephson effect are discussed.Comment: 3 page

Quantum versus Semiclassical Description of Selftrapping: Anharmonic Effects

Selftrapping has been traditionally studied on the assumption that quasiparticles interact with harmonic phonons and that this interaction is linear in the displacement of the phonon. To complement recent semiclassical studies of anharmonicity and nonlinearity in this context, we present below a fully quantum mechanical analysis of a two-site system, where the oscillator is described by a tunably anharmonic potential, with a square well with infinite walls and the harmonic potential as its extreme limits, and wherein the interaction is nonlinear in the oscillator displacement. We find that even highly anharmonic polarons behave similar to their harmonic counterparts in that selftrapping is preserved for long times in the limit of strong coupling, and that the polaronic tunneling time scale depends exponentially on the polaron binding energy. Further, in agreement, with earlier results related to harmonic polarons, the semiclassical approximation agrees with the full quantum result in the massive oscillator limit of small oscillator frequency and strong quasiparticle-oscillator coupling.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Comparison of 3D confocal Raman and high energy X-ray diffraction for the measurement of molten sand infiltration in turbine blade coatings

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are used to protect metallic blades subjected to the extreme temperatures found within the turbine sections following the combustion chamber of jet engines. Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is the standard high temperature ceramic material used for TBCs. One of the primary deposition methods of these TBCs on the metallic blades is electron-beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD), which gives YSZ a characteristic columnar, porous structure. This allows for a higher strain tolerance than that of other deposition methods; however, it also increases the susceptibility of the coating to molten sand and volcanic ash infiltration, referred to as calcium-magnesium-alumino-silicates (CMAS), which greatly reduces the lifetime of TBCs. A variety of techniques are used to analyze and quantify the damage to the coating; two of which will be discussed and compared in this paper. 3D confocal Raman spectroscopy and high-energy x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were acquired non-destructively from CMAS-infiltrated samples. The results were compared to show how the similarities and differences in the data collected can reveal a complete picture of the chemical degradation within the TBC due to CMAS. This includes the comparison of phase volume fractions found by each method. Both methods showed that higher temperatures and longer annealing times lead to a greater volume of the monoclinic phase, which is linked to the eventual failure of the coating. 3D confocal Raman provides local phase volume fractions, spatially resolved for the assessing the effects of infiltration on single columns. Meanwhile, XRD provides a more global quantification of phase volume fractions throughout the probed volume. This work highlights the complimentary nature of 3D confocal Raman and XRD for high accuracy determination of degradation mechanisms for improved lifetime predictions of TBCs

Two Suns in The Sky: Stellar Multiplicity in Exoplanet Systems

We present results of a reconnaissance for stellar companions to all 131 radial-velocity-detected candidate extrasolar planetary systems known as of July 1, 2005. CPM companions were investigated using the multi-epoch DSS images, and confirmed by matching the trigonometric parallax distances of the primaries to companion distances estimated photometrically. We also attempt to confirm or refute companions listed in the Washington Double Star Catalog, the Catalogs of Nearby Stars, in Hipparcos results, and in Duquennoy & Mayor (1991). Our findings indicate that a lower limit of 30 (23%) of the 131 exoplanet systems have stellar companions. We report new stellar companions to HD 38529 and HD 188015, and a new candidate companion to HD 169830. We confirm many previously reported stellar companions, including six stars in five systems that are recognized for the first time as companions to exoplanet hosts. We have found evidence that 20 entries in the Washington Double Star Catalog are not gravitationally bound companions. At least three, and possibly five, of the exoplanet systems reside in triple star systems. Three exoplanet systems have potentially close-in stellar companions ~ 20 AU away from the primary. Finally, two of the exoplanet systems contain white dwarf companions. This comprehensive assessment of exoplanet systems indicates that solar systems are found in a variety of stellar multiplicity environments - singles, binaries, and triples; and that planets survive the post-main-sequence evolution of companion stars.Comment: 52 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap

Desugaring JML Method Specifications

JML, which stands for ``Java Modeling Language,\u27\u27 is a behavioral interface specification language (BISL) designed to specify Java modules. JML features a great deal of syntactic sugar that is designed to make method specifications more expressive. This paper presents a desugaring process that boils down all of the syntactic sugars in JML method specifications into a much simpler form. This desugaring will help one understand the meaning of these sugars, for example for use in program verification. It may also help manipulation of JML method specifications by tools

Optical properties of bialkali photocathodes

The optical properties of the `bialkali' KCsSb and RbCsSb photomultiplier cathodes have been experimentally investigated in the visible range. The measurements carried out include the absolute reflectance at near-normal incidence, the polarization-dependent relative reflectance at various angles and the change in polarization upon reflection from the photocathode. These experimental inputs have been combined with a theoretical model to determine the complex refractive index of the photocathodes in the wavelength range 380 to 680 nm and their thickness. As a result of this work, we derive a model which predicts the fraction of light impinging on a photomultiplier tube that is reflected, absorbed or transmitted, as a function of wavelength and angle, and dependent on the medium to which the photomultiplier is coupled.Comment: 51 pages (double spacing), 16 figures, submitted for publication in NIM

A Selective Force Favoring Increased G+C Content in Bacterial Genes

Bacteria display considerable variation in their overall base compositions, which range from 13% to over 75% G+C. This variation in genomic base compositions has long been considered to be a strictly neutral character, due solely to differences in the mutational process; however, recent sequence comparisons indicate that mutational input alone cannot produce the observed base compositions, implying a role for natural selection. Because bacterial genomes have high gene content, forces that operate on the base composition of individual genes could help shape the overall genomic base composition. To explore this possibility, we tested whether genes that encode the same protein but vary only in their base compositions at synonymous sites have effects on bacterial fitness. Escherichia coli strains harboring G+C-rich versions of genes display higher growth rates, indicating that despite a pervasive mutational bias toward A+T, a selective force, independent of adaptive codon use, is driving genes toward higher G+C contents