The quantum brachistochrone problem for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians

Recently Bender, Brody, Jones and Meister found that in the quantum brachistochrone problem the passage time needed for the evolution of certain initial states into specified final states can be made arbitrarily small, when the time-evolution operator is taken to be non-Hermitian but PT-symmetric. Here we demonstrate that such phenomena can also be obtained for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians for which PT-symmetry is completely broken, i.e. dissipative systems. We observe that the effect of a tunable passage time can be achieved by projecting between orthogonal eigenstates by means of a time-evolution operator associated with a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. It is not essential that this Hamiltonian is PT-symmetric

Características físicas e físico-químicas de passiflora alata com desenvolvimento e maturação na época seca.

O mercado para alimentos saudáveis, mais nutritivos e com propriedades funcionais vem crescendo ano a ano. O gênero Passiflora conta com cerca de 150 a 200 espécies brasileiras, das quais 70 produzem frutos que podem ser aproveitados direta ou indiretamente como alimento (FALEIRO et. al. 2008). Além do grande número de espécies dentro do gênero, existe grande variabilidade intra-específica. Esta variabilidade é importante para os programas de melhoramento genético (FALEIRO et. al. 2008; COSTA, 2008). As polpas das espécies silvestres e variedades comerciais apresentam substâncias importantes na prevenção de doenças como flavanóides, minerais, carotenóides e vitamina C (COSTA; TUPINAMBÁ, 2005, COSTA, 2008; WONDRACEK, 2009). Dentre elas se destaca os maracujás doce Passiflora alata muito apreciada no consumo “in natura”. Esta espécie apresenta antioxidantes importantes para a saúde e também pode ser fonte de minerais (COSTA, 2008, COSTA; TUPINAMBÁ, 2005). Vários fatores podem interferir na qualidade da polpa, como por exemplo, a variedade local de plantio, época de produção dos frutos, maturação dos frutos, e armazenamento (COSTA, 2008, COHEN et al, 2008). O trabalho teve por finalidade avaliar as características físicas e físico-químicas das variedades P. alata N2, D e J da Embrapa Cerrados que tiveram desenvolvimento no período seco, com foco no melhoramento genético para características de interesse funcional

Experimental polarization encoded quantum key distribution over optical fibres with real-time continuous birefringence compensation

In this paper we demonstrate an active polarization drift compensation scheme for optical fibres employed in a quantum key distribution experiment with polarization encoded qubits. The quantum signals are wavelength multiplexed in one fibre along with two classical optical side channels that provide the control information for the polarization compensation scheme. This set-up allows us to continuously track any polarization change without the need to interrupt the key exchange. The results obtained show that fast polarization rotations of the order of 40*pi rad/s are effectively compensated for. We demonstrate that our set-up allows continuous quantum key distribution even in a fibre stressed by random polarization fluctuations. Our results pave the way for Bell-state measurements using only linear optics with parties separated by long-distance optical fibres

Formação de base de dados para identificação do potencial de fixação biológica de nitrogênio em leguminosas nativas da Mata atlântica no Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

Publicado também no VII Congresso brasileiro de Sistemas Agroflorestais, 201

Ventilação não invasiva com pressão positiva intermitente - experiência de 7 anos

Introduction: Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is a non invasive ventilation method that combines the benefits of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and the cycles of positive pressure. Objectives: Description of the NIPPV experience in a neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: A descriptive study of newborns ventilated with NIPPV, from January 2002 to December 2008. Were considered two groups: the first group had mechanical ventilation before NIPPV, and in the second group the initial method was non-invasive ventilation. These 2 groups were subdivided: Group 1: sub-group A, NIPPV immediately after weaning and sub- group B, NIPPV after mechanical ventilation followed by NCPAP. The group 2 was sub-divided in sub-group C, NIPPV after NCPAP, and sub-group D, NIPPV as the initial mode of ventilation. Results: In group 1 we analysed 79 cycles of ventilation with 89% of success and in group 2 55 cycles, with 69% of success. Newborns in group 1 had a median weight of 925g and gestational age of 27 weeks and the group 2 had 1350g and 30 weeks, respectively. Conclusions: NIPPV was used mainly after conventional ventilation in lighter and immature babies, without relevant complications

Resonant enhancements of high-order harmonic generation

Solving the one-dimensional time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation for simple model potentials, we investigate resonance-enhanced high-order harmonic generation, with emphasis on the physical mechanism of the enhancement. By truncating a long-range potential, we investigate the significance of the long-range tail, the Rydberg series, and the existence of highly excited states for the enhancements in question. We conclude that the channel closings typical of a short-range or zero-range potential are capable of generating essentially the same effects.Comment: 7 pages revtex, 4 figures (ps files