11,315 research outputs found
Angular spectrum of quantized light beams
We introduce a generalized angular spectrum representation for quantized
light beams. By using our formalism, we are able to derive simple expressions
for the electromagnetic vector potential operator in the case of: {a)}
time-independent paraxial fields, {b)} time-dependent paraxial fields, and {c)}
non-paraxial fields. For the first case, the well known paraxial results are
fully recovered.Comment: 3 pages, no figure
Energy management of three-dimensional minimum-time intercept
A real-time computer algorithm to control and optimize aircraft flight profiles is described and applied to a three-dimensional minimum-time intercept mission
Modelling Planck-scale Lorentz violation via analogue models
Astrophysical tests of Planck-suppressed Lorentz violations had been
extensively studied in recent years and very stringent constraints have been
obtained within the framework of effective field theory. There are however
still some unresolved theoretical issues, in particular regarding the so called
"naturalness problem" - which arises when postulating that Planck-suppressed
Lorentz violations arise only from operators with mass dimension greater than
four in the Lagrangian. In the work presented here we shall try to address this
problem by looking at a condensed-matter analogue of the Lorentz violations
considered in quantum gravity phenomenology. Specifically, we investigate the
class of two-component BECs subject to laser-induced transitions between the
two components, and we show that this model is an example for Lorentz
invariance violation due to ultraviolet physics. We shall show that such a
model can be considered to be an explicit example high-energy Lorentz
violations where the ``naturalness problem'' does not arise.Comment: Talk given at the Fourth Meeting on Constrained Dynamics and Quantum
Gravity (QG05), Cala Gonone (Sardinia, Italy) September 12-16, 200
Warped space-time for phonons moving in a perfect nonrelativistic fluid
We construct a kinematical analogue of superluminal travel in the ``warped''
space-times curved by gravitation, in the form of ``super-phononic'' travel in
the effective space-times of perfect nonrelativistic fluids. These warp-field
space-times are most easily generated by considering a solid object that is
placed as an obstruction in an otherwise uniform flow. No violation of any
condition on the positivity of energy is necessary, because the effective
curved space-times for the phonons are ruled by the Euler and continuity
equations, and not by the Einstein field equations.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure. Version as published; references update
Evolutionary accessibility of mutational pathways
Functional effects of different mutations are known to combine to the total
effect in highly nontrivial ways. For the trait under evolutionary selection
(`fitness'), measured values over all possible combinations of a set of
mutations yield a fitness landscape that determines which mutational states can
be reached from a given initial genotype. Understanding the accessibility
properties of fitness landscapes is conceptually important in answering
questions about the predictability and repeatability of evolutionary
adaptation. Here we theoretically investigate accessibility of the globally
optimal state on a wide variety of model landscapes, including landscapes with
tunable ruggedness as well as neutral `holey' landscapes. We define a
mutational pathway to be accessible if it contains the minimal number of
mutations required to reach the target genotype, and if fitness increases in
each mutational step. Under this definition accessibility is high, in the sense
that at least one accessible pathwayexists with a substantial probability that
approaches unity as the dimensionality of the fitness landscape (set by the
number of mutational loci) becomes large. At the same time the number of
alternative accessible pathways grows without bound. We test the model
predictions against an empirical 8-locus fitness landscape obtained for the
filamentous fungus \textit{Aspergillus niger}. By analyzing subgraphs of the
full landscape containing different subsets of mutations, we are able to probe
the mutational distance scale in the empirical data. The predicted effect of
high accessibility is supported by the empirical data and very robust, which we
argue to reflect the generic topology of sequence spaces.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures; supplementary material available on reques
From wormhole to time machine: Comments on Hawking's Chronology Protection Conjecture
The recent interest in ``time machines'' has been largely fueled by the
apparent ease with which such systems may be formed in general relativity,
given relatively benign initial conditions such as the existence of traversable
wormholes or of infinite cosmic strings. This rather disturbing state of
affairs has led Hawking to formulate his Chronology Protection Conjecture,
whereby the formation of ``time machines'' is forbidden. This paper will use
several simple examples to argue that the universe appears to exhibit a
``defense in depth'' strategy in this regard. For appropriate parameter regimes
Casimir effects, wormhole disruption effects, and gravitational back reaction
effects all contribute to the fight against time travel. Particular attention
is paid to the role of the quantum gravity cutoff. For the class of model
problems considered it is shown that the gravitational back reaction becomes
large before the Planck scale quantum gravity cutoff is reached, thus
supporting Hawking's conjecture.Comment: 43 pages,ReV_TeX,major revision
Riemannian geometry of irrotational vortex acoustics
We consider acoustic propagation in an irrotational vortex, using the
technical machinery of differential geometry to investigate the ``acoustic
geometry'' that is probed by the sound waves. The acoustic space-time curvature
of a constant circulation hydrodynamical vortex leads to deflection of phonons
at appreciable distances from the vortex core. The scattering angle for phonon
rays is shown to be quadratic in the small quantity , where
is the vortex circulation, the speed of sound, and the impact
parameter.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, RevTex4. Discussion of focal length added; to
appear in Physical Review Letter
Theorems on gravitational time delay and related issues
Two theorems related to gravitational time delay are proven. Both theorems
apply to spacetimes satisfying the null energy condition and the null generic
condition. The first theorem states that if the spacetime is null geodesically
complete, then given any compact set , there exists another compact set
such that for any , if there exists a ``fastest null
geodesic'', , between and , then cannot enter . As
an application of this theorem, we show that if, in addition, the spacetime is
globally hyperbolic with a compact Cauchy surface, then any observer at
sufficiently late times cannot have a particle horizon. The second theorem
states that if a timelike conformal boundary can be attached to the spacetime
such that the spacetime with boundary satisfies strong causality as well as a
compactness condition, then any ``fastest null geodesic'' connecting two points
on the boundary must lie entirely within the boundary. It follows from this
theorem that generic perturbations of anti-de Sitter spacetime always produce a
time delay relative to anti-de Sitter spacetime itself.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure. Example of gauge perturbation changed/corrected.
Two footnotes added and one footnote remove
Quantitative analyses of empirical fitness landscapes
The concept of a fitness landscape is a powerful metaphor that offers insight
into various aspects of evolutionary processes and guidance for the study of
evolution. Until recently, empirical evidence on the ruggedness of these
landscapes was lacking, but since it became feasible to construct all possible
genotypes containing combinations of a limited set of mutations, the number of
studies has grown to a point where a classification of landscapes becomes
possible. The aim of this review is to identify measures of epistasis that
allow a meaningful comparison of fitness landscapes and then apply them to the
empirical landscapes to discern factors that affect ruggedness. The various
measures of epistasis that have been proposed in the literature appear to be
equivalent. Our comparison shows that the ruggedness of the empirical landscape
is affected by whether the included mutations are beneficial or deleterious and
by whether intra- or intergenic epistasis is involved. Finally, the empirical
landscapes are compared to landscapes generated with the Rough Mt.\ Fuji model.
Despite the simplicity of this model, it captures the features of the
experimental landscapes remarkably well.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figures; to appear in Journal of Statistical Mechanics:
Theory and Experimen
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