433 research outputs found
Exact eigenspectrum of the symmetric simple exclusion process on the complete, complete bipartite, and related graphs
We show that the infinitesimal generator of the symmetric simple exclusion
process, recast as a quantum spin-1/2 ferromagnetic Heisenberg model, can be
solved by elementary techniques on the complete, complete bipartite, and
related multipartite graphs. Some of the resulting infinitesimal generators are
formally identical to homogeneous as well as mixed higher spins models. The
degeneracies of the eigenspectra are described in detail, and the
Clebsch-Gordan machinery needed to deal with arbitrary spin-s representations
of the SU(2) is briefly developed. We mention in passing how our results fit
within the related questions of a ferromagnetic ordering of energy levels and a
conjecture according to which the spectral gaps of the random walk and the
interchange process on finite simple graphs must be equal.Comment: Final version as published, 19 pages, 4 figures, 40 references given
in full forma
Photon Pair Generation in Silicon Micro-Ring Resonator with Reverse Bias Enhancement
Photon sources are fundamental components for any quantum photonic
technology. The ability to generate high count-rate and low-noise correlated
photon pairs via spontaneous parametric down-conversion using bulk crystals has
been the cornerstone of modern quantum optics. However, future practical
quantum technologies will require a scalable integration approach, and
waveguide-based photon sources with high-count rate and low-noise
characteristics will be an essential part of chip-based quantum technologies.
Here, we demonstrate photon pair generation through spontaneous four-wave
mixing in a silicon micro-ring resonator, reporting a maximum
coincidence-to-accidental (CAR) ratio of 602 (+-) 37, and a maximum photon pair
generation rate of 123 MHz (+-) 11 KHz. To overcome free-carrier related
performance degradations we have investigated reverse biased p-i-n structures,
demonstrating an improvement in the pair generation rate by a factor of up to
2, with negligible impact on CAR.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
New method to simulate quantum interference using deterministic processes and application to event-based simulation of quantum computation
We demonstrate that networks of locally connected processing units with a
primitive learning capability exhibit behavior that is usually only attributed
to quantum systems. We describe networks that simulate single-photon
beam-splitter and Mach-Zehnder interferometer experiments on a causal,
event-by-event basis and demonstrate that the simulation results are in
excellent agreement with quantum theory. We also show that this approach can be
generalized to simulate universal quantum computers.Comment: J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. (in press) http://www.compphys.net/dl
Excitonic Strings in one dimensional organic compounds
Important questions concern the existence of excitonic strings in organic
compounds and their signatures in the photophysics of these systems. A model in
terms of Hard Core Bosons is proposed to study this problem in one dimension.
Mainly the cases with two and three particles are studied for finite and
infinite lattices, where analytical results are accessible. It is shown that if
bi-excitonic states exist, three-excitonic and even, n-excitonic strings, at
least in a certain range of parameters, will exist. Moreover, the behaviour of
the transitions from one exciton to the biexciton is fully clarified. The
results are in agreement with exact finite cluster diagonalizations of several
model Hamiltonians.Comment: 36 pages, 4 eps figs. to appear in Phys. Rev.
Earliest Triassic microbialites in the South China Block and other areas; controls on their growth and distribution
Earliest Triassic microbialites (ETMs) and inorganic carbonate crystal fans formed after the end-Permian mass extinction (ca. 251.4 Ma) within the basal Triassic Hindeodus parvus conodont zone. ETMs are distinguished from rarer, and more regional, subsequent Triassic microbialites. Large differences in ETMs between northern and southern areas of the South China block suggest geographic provinces, and ETMs are most abundant throughout the equatorial Tethys Ocean with further geographic variation. ETMs occur in shallow-marine shelves in a superanoxic stratified ocean and form the only widespread Phanerozoic microbialites with structures similar to those of the Cambro-Ordovician, and briefly after the latest Ordovician, Late Silurian and Late Devonian extinctions. ETMs disappeared long before the mid-Triassic biotic recovery, but it is not clear why, if they are interpreted as disaster taxa. In general, ETM occurrence suggests that microbially mediated calcification occurred where upwelled carbonate-rich anoxic waters mixed with warm aerated surface waters, forming regional dysoxia, so that extreme carbonate supersaturation and dysoxic conditions were both required for their growth. Long-term oceanic and atmospheric changes may have contributed to a trigger for ETM formation. In equatorial western Pangea, the earliest microbialites are late Early Triassic, but it is possible that ETMs could exist in western Pangea, if well-preserved earliest Triassic facies are discovered in future work
The emergence of altruism as a social norm
Expectations, exerting influence through social norms, are a very strong candidate to explain how complex societies function. In the Dictator game (DG), people expect generous behavior from others even when they cannot enforce any sharing of the pie. Here we assume that people donate following their expectations, and that they update their expectation after playing a DG by reinforcement learning to construct a model that explains the main experimental results in the DG. Full agreement with the experimental results is reached when some degree of mismatch between expectations and donations is added into the model. These results are robust against the presence of envious agents, but affected if we introduce selfish agents that do not update their expectations. Our results point to social norms being on the basis of the generous behavior observed in the DG and also to the wide applicability of reinforcement learning to explain many strategic interactions
On-chip quantum interference between silicon photon-pair sources
Large-scale integrated quantum photonic technologies will require the on-chip
integration of identical photon sources with reconfigurable waveguide circuits.
Relatively complex quantum circuits have already been demonstrated, but few
studies acknowledge the pressing need to integrate photon sources and waveguide
circuits together on-chip. A key step towards such large-scale quantum
technologies is the integration of just two individual photon sources within a
waveguide circuit, and the demonstration of high-visibility quantum
interference between them. Here, we report a silicon-on-insulator device
combining two four-wave mixing sources, in an interferometer with a
reconfigurable phase shifter. We configure the device to create and manipulate
two-colour (non-degenerate) or same-colour (degenerate), path-entangled or
path-unentangled photon pairs. We observe up to 100.0+/-0.4% visibility quantum
interference on-chip, and up to 95+/-4% off-chip. Our device removes the need
for external photon sources, provides a path to increasing the complexity of
quantum photonic circuits, and is a first step towards fully-integrated quantum
technologies
Ectopic Cdx2 Expression in Murine Esophagus Models an Intermediate Stage in the Emergence of Barrett's Esophagus
Barrett's esophagus (BE) is an intestinal metaplasia that occurs in the setting of chronic acid and bile reflux and is associated with a risk for adenocarcinoma. Expression of intestine-specific transcription factors in the esophagus likely contributes to metaplasia development. Our objective was to explore the effects of an intestine-specific transcription factor when expressed in the mouse esophageal epithelium. Transgenic mice were derived in which the transcription factor Cdx2 is expressed in squamous epithelium using the murine Keratin-14 gene promoter. Effects of the transgene upon cell proliferation and differentiation, gene expression, and barrier integrity were explored. K14-Cdx2 mice express the Cdx2 transgene in esophageal squamous tissues. Cdx2 expression was associated with reduced basal epithelial cell proliferation and altered cell morphology. Ultrastructurally two changes were noted. Cdx2 expression was associated with dilated space between the basal cells and diminished cell-cell adhesion caused by reduced Desmocollin-3 mRNA and protein expression. This compromised epithelial barrier function, as the measured trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of the K14-Cdx2 epithelium was significantly reduced compared to controls (1189 Ohm*cm2 ±343.5 to 508 Ohm*cm2±92.48, p = 0.0532). Secondly, basal cells with features of a transitional cell type, intermediate between keratinocytes and columnar Barrett's epithelial cells, were observed. These cells had reduced keratin bundles and increased endoplasmic reticulum levels, suggesting the adoption of secretory-cell features. Moreover, at the ultrastructural level they resembled “Distinctive” cells associated with multilayered epithelium. Treatment of the K14-Cdx2 mice with 5′-Azacytidine elicited expression of BE-associated genes including Cdx1, Krt18, and Slc26a3/Dra, suggesting the phenotype could be advanced under certain conditions. We conclude that ectopic Cdx2 expression in keratinocytes alters cell proliferation, barrier function, and differentiation. These altered cells represent a transitional cell type between normal squamous and columnar BE cells. The K14-Cdx2 mice represent a useful model to study progression from squamous epithelium to BE
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