9,128 research outputs found
Duality in Fuzzy Sigma Models
Nonlinear `sigma' models in two dimensions have BPS solitons which are
solutions of self- and anti-self-duality constraints. In this paper, we find
their analogues for fuzzy sigma models on fuzzy spheres which were treated in
detail by us in earlier work. We show that fuzzy BPS solitons are quantized
versions of `Bott projectors', and construct them explicitly. Their
supersymmetric versions follow from the work of S. Kurkcuoglu.Comment: Latex, 9 pages; misprints correcte
Experimental estimation of quantum discord for polarization qubit and the use of fidelity to assess quantum correlations
We address the experimental determination of entropic quantum discord for
systems made of a pair of polarization qubits. We compare results from full and
partial tomography and found that the two determinations are statistically
compatible, with partial tomography leading to a smaller value of discord for
depolarized states. Despite the fact that our states are well described, in
terms of fidelity, by families of depolarized or phase-damped states, their
entropic discord may be largely different from that predicted for these classes
of states, such that no reliable estimation procedure beyond tomography may be
effectively implemented. Our results, together with the lack of an analytic
formula for the entropic discord of a generic two-qubit state, demonstrate that
the estimation of quantum discord is an intrinsically noisy procedure. Besides,
we question the use of fidelity as a figure of merit to assess quantum
correlations
On the high density behavior of Hamming codes with fixed minimum distance
We discuss the high density behavior of a system of hard spheres of diameter
d on the hypercubic lattice of dimension n, in the limit n -> oo, d -> oo,
d/n=delta. The problem is relevant for coding theory. We find a solution to the
equations describing the liquid up to very large values of the density, but we
show that this solution gives a negative entropy for the liquid phase when the
density is large enough. We then conjecture that a phase transition towards a
different phase might take place, and we discuss possible scenarios for this
transition. Finally we discuss the relation between our results and known
rigorous bounds on the maximal density of the system.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure
Full genome sequence-based comparative study of wild-type and vaccine strains of infectious laryngotracheitis virus from Italy
Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an acute and highly contagious respiratory disease of chickens caused by an alphaherpesvirus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV). Recently, full genome sequences of wild-type and vaccine strains have been determined worldwide, but none was from Europe. The aim of this study was to determine and analyse the complete genome sequences of five ILTV strains. Sequences were also compared to reveal the similarity of strains across time and to discriminate between wild-type and vaccine strains. Genomes of three ILTV field isolates from outbreaks occurred in Italy in 1980,2007 and 2011, and two commercial chicken embryo origin (CEO) vaccines were sequenced using the 454 Life Sciences technology. The comparison with the Serva genome showed that 35 open reading frames (ORFs) differed across the five genomes. Overall, 54 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 27 amino acid differences in 19 ORFs and two insertions in the UL52 and ORFC genes were identified. Similarity among the field strains and between the field and the vaccine strains ranged from 99.96% to 99.99%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship among them, as well. This study generated data on genomic variation among Italian ILTV strains revealing that, even though the genetic variability of the genome is well conserved across time and between wild-type and vaccine strains, some mutations may help in differentiating among them and maybe involved in ILTV virulence/attenuation. The results of this study can contribute to the understanding of the molecular bases of ILTV pathogenicity and provide genetic markers to differentiate between wild-type and vaccine strains
On -Core Percolation in Four Dimensions
The -core percolation on the Bethe lattice has been proposed as a simple
model of the jamming transition because of its hybrid first-order/second-order
nature. We investigate numerically -core percolation on the four-dimensional
regular lattice. For the presence of a discontinuous transition is
clearly established but its nature is strictly first order. In particular, the
-core density displays no singular behavior before the jump and its
correlation length remains finite. For the transition is continuous
Real and complex connections for canonical gravity
Both real and complex connections have been used for canonical gravity: the
complex connection has SL(2,C) as gauge group, while the real connection has
SU(2) as gauge group. We show that there is an arbitrary parameter
which enters in the definition of the real connection, in the Poisson brackets,
and therefore in the scale of the discrete spectra one finds for areas and
volumes in the corresponding quantum theory. A value for could be could
be singled out in the quantum theory by the Hamiltonian constraint, or by the
rotation to the complex Ashtekar connection.Comment: 8 pages, RevTeX, no figure
From rods to helices: evidence of a screw-like nematic phase
Evidence of a special chiral nematic phase is provided using numerical
simulation and Onsager theory for systems of hard helical particles. This phase
appears at the high density end of the nematic phase, when helices are well
aligned, and is characterized by the C symmetry axes of the helices
spiraling around the nematic director with periodicity equal to the particle
pitch. This coupling between translational and rotational degrees of freedom
allows a more efficient packing and hence an increase of translational entropy.
Suitable order parameters and correlation functions are introduced to identify
this screw-like phase, whose main features are then studied as a function of
radius and pitch of the helical particles. Our study highlights the physical
mechanism underlying a similar ordering observed in colloidal helical flagella
[E. Barry et al. \textit{Phys. Rev. Lett.} \textbf{96}, 018305 (2006)] and
raises the question of whether it could be observed in other helical particle
systems, such as DNA, at sufficiently high densities.Comment: List of authors correcte
Bulk Viscosity driven clusterization of quark-gluon plasma and early freeze-out in relativistic heavy-ion collisions
We introduce a new scenario for heavy ion collisions that could solve the
lingering problems associated with the so-called HBT puzzle. We postulate that
the system starts expansion as the perfect quark-gluon fluid but close to
freeze-out it splits into clusters, due to a sharp rise of bulk viscosity in
the vicinity of the hadronization transition. We then argue that the
characteristic cluster size is determined by the viscosity coefficient and the
expansion rate. Typically it is much smaller and independent of the total
system volume. These clusters maintain the pre-existing outward-going flow, as
a spray of droplets, but develop no flow of their own, and hadronize by
evaporation. We provide an ansatz for converting the hydrodynamic output into
clusters.Comment: Accepted for publication, Phys. Rev. C. Arguments considerably
expanded, refined and reworde
A phase-separation perspective on dynamic heterogeneities in glass-forming liquids
We study dynamic heterogeneities in a model glass-former whose overlap with a
reference configuration is constrained to a fixed value. The system
phase-separates into regions of small and large overlap, so that dynamical
correlations remain strong even for asymptotic times. We calculate an
appropriate thermodynamic potential and find evidence of a Maxwell's
construction consistent with a spinodal decomposition of two phases. Our
results suggest that dynamic heterogeneities are the expression of an ephemeral
phase-separating regime ruled by a finite surface tension
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