1,565 research outputs found
Observation of Scalar Aharonov-Bohm Effect with Longitudinally Polarized Neutrons
We have carried out a neutron interferometry experiment using longitudinally polarized neutrons to observe the scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect. The neutrons inside the interferometer are polarized parallel to an applied pulsed magnetic field B(t). The pulsed B field is spatially uniform so it exerts no force on the neutrons. Its direction also precludes the presence of any classical torque to change the neutron polarization
Scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect with longitudinally polarized neutrons
In the scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect, a charged particle (electron) interacts with the scalar electrostatic potential U in the field-free (i.e., force-free) region inside an electrostatic cylinder (Faraday cage). Using a perfect single-crystal neutron interferometer we have performed a “dual” scalar Aharonov-Bohm experiment by subjecting polarized thermal neutrons to a pulsed magnetic field. The pulsed magnetic field was spatially uniform, precluding any force on the neutrons. Aligning the direction of the pulsed magnetic field to the neutron magnetic moment also rules out any classical torque acting to change the neutron polarization. The observed phase shift is purely quantum mechanical in origin. A detailed description of the experiment, performed at the University of Missouri Research Reactor, and its interpretation is given in this paper
Perturbation of matrices and non-negative rank with a view toward statistical models
In this paper we study how perturbing a matrix changes its non-negative rank.
We prove that the non-negative rank is upper-semicontinuos and we describe some
special families of perturbations. We show how our results relate to Statistics
in terms of the study of Maximum Likelihood Estimation for mixture models.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. A theorem has been rewritten, and some
improvements in the presentations have been implemente
Topology, Locality, and Aharonov-Bohm Effect with Neutrons
Recent neutron interferometry experiments have been interpreted as
demonstrating a new topological phenomenon similar in principle to the usual
Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect, but with the neutron's magnetic moment replacing the
electron's charge. We show that the new phenomenon, called Scalar AB (SAB)
effect, follows from an ordinary local interaction, contrary to the usual AB
effect, and we argue that the SAB effect is not a topological effect by any
useful definition. We find that SAB actually measures an apparently novel spin
autocorrelation whose operator equations of motion contain the local torque in
the magnetic field. We note that the same remarks apply to the Aharonov-Casher
effect.Comment: 9 page
Spatial synchronization and extinction of species under external forcing
We study the interplay between synchronization and extinction of a species.
Using a general model we show that under a common external forcing, the species
with a quadratic saturation term in the population dynamics first undergoes
spatial synchronization and then extinction, thereby avoiding the rescue
effect. This is because the saturation term reduces the synchronization time
scale but not the extinction time scale. The effect can be observed even when
the external forcing acts only on some locations provided there is a
synchronizing term in the dynamics. Absence of the quadratic saturation term
can help the species to avoid extinction.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Classical and Quantum Interaction of the Dipole
A unified and fully relativistic treatment of the interaction of the electric
and magnetic dipole moments of a particle with the electromagnetic field is
given. New forces on the particle due to the combined effect of electric and
magnetic dipoles are obtained. Four new experiments are proposed, three of
which would observe topological phase shifts.Comment: 10 pages, Latex/Revtex. Some minor errors have been correcte
A cheap and simple passive sampler using silicone rubber for the analysis of surface water by gas chromatography–time of flight mass spectrometry
Water pollution events may arise rapidly, requiring a methodology that is easy to implement, fast to deploy, and sufficiently sensitive to detect the trace presence of hazardous contaminants. A cheap and easy to use silicone rubber (polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)) miniature passive sampler is described. In order to test the methodology, pollutants were concentrated, in situ, from surface water in and around Pretoria, South Africa. The versatile sampler allowed for conventional and enhanced sensitivity, solvent-free analysis by comprehensive gas chromatography – time of flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS) and high resolution TOFMS (GC-HRT). Contaminants detected in surface water include caffeine, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.Keywords: passive sampler, silicone rubber (PDMS) tubing, GCxGC-TOFMS, GC-HRT, surface water qualit
Correspondences and Quantum Description of Aharonov-Bohm and Aharonov-Casher Effects
We establish systematic consolidation of the Aharonov-Bohm and
Aharonov-Casher effects including their scalar counterparts. Their formal
correspondences in acquiring topological phases are revealed on the basis of
the gauge symmetry in non-simply connected spaces and the adiabatic condition
for the state of magnetic dipoles. In addition, investigation of basic two-body
interactions between an electric charge and a magnetic dipole clarifies their
appropriate relative motions and discloses physical interrelations between the
effects. Based on the two-body interaction, we also construct an exact
microscopic description of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, where all the elements are
treated on equal footing, i.e., magnetic dipoles are described
quantum-mechanically and electromagnetic fields are quantized. This microscopic
analysis not only confirms the conventional (semiclassical) results and the
topological nature but also allows one to explore the fluctuation effects due
to the precession of the magnetic dipoles with the adiabatic condition relaxed
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