The inclusion process: duality and correlation inequalities

We prove a comparison inequality between a system of independent random walkers and a system of random walkers which either interact by attracting each other -- a process which we call here the symmetric inclusion process (SIP) -- or repel each other -- a generalized version of the well-known symmetric exclusion process. As an application, new correlation inequalities are obtained for the SIP, as well as for some interacting diffusions which are used as models of heat conduction, -- the so-called Brownian momentum process, and the Brownian energy process. These inequalities are counterparts of the inequalities (in the opposite direction) for the symmetric exclusion process, showing that the SIP is a natural bosonic analogue of the symmetric exclusion process, which is fermionic. Finally, we consider a boundary driven version of the SIP for which we prove duality and then obtain correlation inequalities.Comment: This is a new version: correlation inequalities for the Brownian energy process are added, and the part of the asymmetric inclusion process is removed

Saddles on the potential energy landscape of a Lennard-Jones liquid

By means of molecular dynamics simulations, we study the stationary points of the potential energy in a Lennard-Jones liquid, giving a purely geometric characterization of the energy landscape of the system. We find a linear relation between the degree of instability of the stationary points and their potential energy, and we locate the energy where the instability vanishes. This threshold energy marks the border between saddle-dominated and minima-dominated regions of the energy landscape. The temperature where the potential energy of the Stillinger-Weber minima becomes equal to the threshold energy turns out to be very close to the mode-coupling transition temperature.Comment: Invited talk presented by A.C. at the Conference: Disordered and Complex Systems, King's College London, July 200

Mechanisms producing fissionlike binary fragments in heavy collisions

The mixing of the quasifission component to the fissionlike cross section causes ambiguity in the quantitative estimation of the complete fusion cross section from the observed angular and mass distributions of the binary products. We show that the partial cross section of quasifission component of binary fragments covers the whole range of the angular momentum values leading to capture. The calculated angular momentum distributions for the compound nucleus and dinuclear system going to quasifission may overlap: competition between complete fusion and quasifission takes place at all values of initial orbital angular momentum. Quasifission components formed at large angular momentum of the dinuclear system can show isotropic angular distribution and their mass distribution can be in mass symmetric region similar to the characteristics of fusion-fission components. As result the unintentional inclusion of the quasifission contribution into the fusion-fission fragment yields can lead to overestimation of the probability of the compound nucleus formation.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, International Conference on Nuclear Reactions on Nucleons and Nuclei, Messina, Italy, October 5-9, 200

Photopolarimeter based on planar grating diffraction

A division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter (DOAP) is described that employs a diffraction grating in the conventional spectrometer orientation with the grating grooves normal to the plane of incidence. Four coplanar diffracted orders are used for polarimetric analysis to determine all four Stokes parameters of incident light simultaneously and virtually instantaneously (with the speed being determined solely by the photodetectors and their associated electronics); a fifth order is used for alignment by autocollimation or by use of a position-sensing quadrant detector. To sensitize the instrument for the +45° and -45° azimuths of incident linearly polarized light and for the handedness of incident circular polarization (i.e., for the third and fourth Stokes parameters), we insert two linear polarizers in two diffracted orders with their transmission axes inclined at appropriate angles with respect to the plane of incidence. The calibration and testing of an instrument of this type that uses an Al-coated 600-groove/mm holographic grating at 632.8-nm wavelength are reported as an example

Off-equilibrium confined dynamics in a glassy system with level-crossing states

We study analytically the dynamics of a generalized p-spin model, starting with a thermalized initial condition. The model presents birth and death of states, hence the dynamics (even starting at equilibrium) may go out of equilibrium when the temperature is varied. We give a full description of this constrained out of equilibrium behavior and we clarify the connection to the thermodynamics by computing (sub-dominant) TAP states, constrained to the starting equilibrium configuration.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures; longer version with appendi