Low-Cost Experiments with Everyday Objects for Homework Assignments

We describe four classical undergraduate physics experiments that were done with everyday objects and low-cost sensors: mechanical oscillations, transmittance of light through a slab of matter, beam deformation under load, and thermal relaxation due to heat loss. We used these experiments to train students for experimental homework projects but they could be used and expanded in a variety of contexts: lecture demonstrations, low cost students' labs, science projects, distance learning courses...Comment: details on students where added : a section dedicated to the student difficulties and general feedback on this teaching unit. Minor typos were fixed. Published in Physics Educatio

Detection of Zak phases and topological invariants in a chiral quantum walk of twisted photons

Topological insulators are fascinating states of matter exhibiting protected edge states and robust quantized features in their bulk. Here, we propose and validate experimentally a method to detect topological properties in the bulk of one-dimensional chiral systems. We first introduce the mean chiral displacement, and we show that it rapidly approaches a multiple of the Zak phase in the long time limit. Then we measure the Zak phase in a photonic quantum walk, by direct observation of the mean chiral displacement in its bulk. Next, we measure the Zak phase in an alternative, inequivalent timeframe, and combine the two windings to characterize the full phase diagram of this Floquet system. Finally, we prove the robustness of the measure by introducing dynamical disorder in the system. This detection method is extremely general, as it can be applied to all one-dimensional platforms simulating static or Floquet chiral systems.Comment: 10 pages, 7 color figures (incl. appendices) Close to the published versio

Identification of strong photometric activity in the components of LHS 1070

Activity in low-mass stars is an important ingredient in the evolution of such objects. Fundamental physical properties such as age, rotation, magnetic field are correlated with activity. Aims: We show that two components of the low-mass triple system LHS 1070 exhibit strong flaring activity. We identify the flaring components and obtained an improved astrometric solution for the LHS 1070 A/(B+C) system. Methods: Time-series CCD observations were used to monitor LHS 1070 in the B and I_C bands. H-band data were used to obtain accurate astrometry for the LHS 1070 A/(B+C) system. Results: We have found that two components of the triple system LHS 1070 exhibit photometric activity. We identified that components A and B are the flaring objects. We estimate the total energy, ~2.0 x 10^{33} ergs, and the magnetic field strength, ~5.5 kG, of the flare observed in LHS 1070 B. This event is the largest amplitude, \Delta B > 8.2 mag, ever observed in a flare star.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Use and management of biodiversity by smallholder farmers in semi-arid West Africa

Strategies that strengthen and use biodiversity are crucial for sustained food production and livelihoods in semi-arid West Africa. The objective of this paper was to examine the role of biodiversity in sustaining diverse forms of multifunctional farming practices while at the same time providing ecological services to subsistence-oriented farming families in the region of study through mechanisms as (a) crop species diversification, (b) management of spatial heterogeneity, and (c) diversification of nutrition-sensitive landscapes. Our analysis shows that crop associations between cereals and legumes or between perennials and annuals, have overall positive effects on soil characteristics and often improve crop yields. Soil heterogeneity is produced by woody perennials and termites. Local management provides opportunities to collect a diversity of nutrition-rich species year-round and sustain household nutrition.</p

Quantum simulation of a topological Mott insulator with Rydberg atoms in a Lieb lattice

We propose a realistic scheme to quantum simulate the so-far experimentally unobserved topological Mottinsulator phase—an interaction-driven topological insulator—using cold atoms in an optical Lieb lattice. To thisend, we study a system of spinless fermions in a Lieb lattice, exhibiting repulsive nearest- and next-to-nearestneighborinteractions and derive the associated zero-temperature phase diagram within mean-field approximation.In particular, we analyze how the interactions can dynamically generate a charge density wave ordered, a nematic,and a topologically nontrivial quantum anomalous Hall phase. We characterize the topology of the different phasesby the Chern number and discuss the possibility of phase coexistence. Based on the identified phases, we proposea realistic implementation of this model using cold Rydberg-dressed atoms in an optical lattice. The scheme,which allows one to access, in particular, the topological Mott insulator phase, robustly and independently ofits exact position in parameter space, merely requires global, always-on off-resonant laser coupling to Rydbergstates and is feasible with state-of-the-art experimental techniques that have already been demonstrated in thelaborator

Патопсихологические особенности и закономерности развития органических психических расстройств при болезни Паркинсона

Проанализированы особенности эмоционально−потребностной сферы, выраженность личностных особенностей, типы отношения к болезни у пациентов с болезнью Паркинсона (БП) и психическими расстройствами. Выявлены патопсихологические факторы формирования органического депрессивного расстройства (F06.36), органического тревожного расстройства (F06.4), органического эмоционально−лабильного расстройства (F06.6), описаны механизмы их патогенеза. Относительно деменции (F02.3) у больных БП единого патопсихологического механизма ее формирования не обнаружено, основная роль в ее патогенезе принадлежит органическому поражению головного мозга.Проаналізовано особливості емоційно−потребової сфери, виразність особистісних особливостей, типи ставлення до хвороби у пацієнтів із хворобою Паркінсона (ХП) та психічними розладами. Виявлено патопсихологічні фактори формування органічного депресивного розладу (F06.36), органічного тривожного розладу (F06.4), органічного емоційно−лабільного розладу (F06.6), описано механізми їх патогенезу. Щодо деменції (F02.3) у хворих на ХП єдиного патопсихологічного механізму її формування не виявлено, основна роль в її патогенезі належить органічному ураженню головного мозку.The peculiarities of emotion−need sphere, degree of personality peculiarities, types of attitude to the disease were analyzed in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and mental disorders. Pathopsychological factors of forming organic depressive disorder (F06.36), organic anxiety disorder (F06.4), organic emotional−labile disorder (F06.6) were revealed. The mechanisms of their pathogenesis were described. As for dementia (F02.3), uniform pathopsychological mechanism of its formation was not revealed in patients with PD. Main role in its pathogenesis is played by organic brain lesions

Symphony on strong field approximation

This paper has been prepared by the Symphony collaboration (University of Warsaw, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski, DESY/CNR and ICFO) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the 'simple man's models' which underlie most of the phenomena that occur when intense ultrashort laser pulses interact with matter. The phenomena in question include high-harmonic generation (HHG), above-threshold ionization (ATI), and non-sequential multielectron ionization (NSMI). 'Simple man's models' provide both an intuitive basis for understanding the numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation and the motivation for the powerful analytic approximations generally known as the strong field approximation (SFA). In this paper we first review the SFA in the form developed by us in the last 25 years. In this approach the SFA is a method to solve the TDSE, in which the non-perturbative interactions are described by including continuum-continuum interactions in a systematic perturbation-like theory. In this review we focus on recent applications of the SFA to HHG, ATI and NSMI from multi-electron atoms and from multi-atom molecules. The main novel part of the presented theory concerns generalizations of the SFA to: (i) time-dependent treatment of two-electron atoms, allowing for studies of an interplay between electron impact ionization and resonant excitation with subsequent ionization; (ii) time-dependent treatment in the single active electron approximation of 'large' molecules and targets which are themselves undergoing dynamics during the HHG or ATI processes. In particular, we formulate the general expressions for the case of arbitrary molecules, combining input from quantum chemistry and quantum dynamics. We formulate also theory of time-dependent separable molecular potentials to model analytically the dynamics of realistic electronic wave packets for molecules in strong laser fields. We dedicate this work to the memory of Bertrand Carre, who passed away in March 2018 at the age of 60

Ramial wood amendments (Piliostigma reticulatum) mitigate degradation of tropical soils but do not replenish nutrient exports

Restoring degraded soils to support food production is a major challenge for West African smallholders who have developed local innovations to counter further degradation. The objective of this study was to evaluate a local farmer's technique that uses ramial wood (RW) as soil amendment (Piliostigma reticulatum shrub). Three treatments were applied in an experimental plot in Burkina Faso: control (no amendment), low RW (3 Mg fresh mass·ha−1·yr−1), and high RW (12 Mg fresh mass·ha−1·yr−1). RW was chipped to <5‐cm pieces and either buried or mulched. Topsoil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in control and low‐RW treatments declined after 7 years of continuous sorghum cultivation. Use of high‐RW amendment stabilized soil C content while N and P declined, thus not replenishing nutrient exports. Net contribution to soil C in the layer measuring 0–15 cm was 15% of the applied C in the high‐RW amendments. Although biomass and grain yields were higher in high‐RW treatments, crop productivity declined throughout the experiment for all treatments. Termite casts on RW treatments evidenced the potential role of wood‐foraging termites in diluting the impact of RW on soil fertility build‐up and soil water content. We conclude that mitigating soil degradation under semiarid conditions in Burkina Faso would require large amounts of woody amendments, particularly if the level of termite activity is high. Additional nutrient sources would be needed to compensate for removal in exported products so that biomass and grain production can be stabilized or increased.Estación Experimental Agropecuaria BarilocheFil: Félix, Georges F. Wageningen University. Farming Systems Ecology; HolandaFil: Clermont-Dauphin, Cathy. Montpellier SupAgro- Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique. Eco&Sols; FranciaFil: Hien, Edmond. Laboratoire Mixte International. Intensification Ecologique des Sols Cultivés en Afrique de l'Ouest; Burkina FasoFil: Groot, Jeroen C.J. Wageningen University. Farming Systems Ecology; HolandaFil: Penche, Aurelien. Laboratoire Mixte International. Intensification Ecologique des Sols Cultivés en Afrique de l'Ouest; Burkina FasoFil: Barthès, Bernard G. Universidad Montpellier; FranciaFil: Manlay, Raphaël J. AgroParisTech; FranciaFil: Tittonell, Pablo Adrian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Cournac, Laurent. Montpellier SupAgro- Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique. Eco&Sols; Franci