The Prominence of Affect in Creativity: Expanding the Conception of Creativity in Mathematical Problem Solving

Constructs such as fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration have been accepted as integral components of creativity. In this chapter, the authors discuss affect (Leder GC, Pehkonen E, Törner G (eds), Beliefs: a hidden variable in mathematics education? Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2002; McLeod DB, J Res Math Educ 25:637–647, 1994; McLeod DB, Adams VM, Affect and mathematical problem solving: a new perspective. Springer, New York, 1989) as it relates to the production of creative outcomes in mathematical problem solving episodes. The saliency of affect in creativity cannot be underestimated, as problem solvers require an appropriate state of mind in order to be maximally productive in creative endeavors. Attention is invested in commonly accepted sub-constructs of affect such as anxiety, aspiration(s), attitude, interest, and locus of control, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and value (Anderson LW, Bourke SF, Assessing affective characteristics in the schools. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, 2000). A new sub-construct of creativity that is germane and instrumental to the production of creative outcomes is called iconoclasm and it is discussed in the context of mathematical problem solving episodes

Mean-field dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a time-dependent triple-well trap: Nonlinear eigenstates, Landau-Zener models and STIRAP

We investigate the dynamics of a Bose--Einstein condensate (BEC) in a triple-well trap in a three-level approximation. The inter-atomic interactions are taken into account in a mean-field approximation (Gross-Pitaevskii equation), leading to a nonlinear three-level model. New eigenstates emerge due to the nonlinearity, depending on the system parameters. Adiabaticity breaks down if such a nonlinear eigenstate disappears when the parameters are varied. The dynamical implications of this loss of adiabaticity are analyzed for two important special cases: A three level Landau-Zener model and the STIRAP scheme. We discuss the emergence of looped levels for an equal-slope Landau-Zener model. The Zener tunneling probability does not tend to zero in the adiabatic limit and shows pronounced oscillations as a function of the velocity of the parameter variation. Furthermore we generalize the STIRAP scheme for adiabatic coherent population transfer between atomic states to the nonlinear case. It is shown that STIRAP breaks down if the nonlinearity exceeds the detuning.Comment: RevTex4, 7 pages, 11 figures, content extended and title/abstract change

Use of Equivalent Hermitian Hamiltonian for PTPT-Symmetric Sinusoidal Optical Lattices

We show how the band structure and beam dynamics of non-Hermitian $PT$-symmetric sinusoidal optical lattices can be approached from the point of view of the equivalent Hermitian problem, obtained by an analytic continuation in the transverse spatial variable $x$. In this latter problem the eigenvalue equation reduces to the Mathieu equation, whose eigenfunctions and properties have been well studied. That being the case, the beam propagation, which parallels the time-development of the wave-function in quantum mechanics, can be calculated using the equivalent of the method of stationary states. We also discuss a model potential that interpolates between a sinusoidal and periodic square well potential, showing that some of the striking properties of the sinusoidal potential, in particular birefringence, become much less prominent as one goes away from the sinusoidal case.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Kicked Bose-Hubbard systems and kicked tops -- destruction and stimulation of tunneling

In a two-mode approximation, Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) in a double-well potential can be described by a many particle Hamiltonian of Bose-Hubbard type. We focus on such a BEC whose interatomic interaction strength is modulated periodically by $\delta$-kicks which represents a realization of a kicked top. In the (classical) mean-field approximation it provides a rich mixed phase space dynamics with regular and chaotic regions. By increasing the kick-strength a bifurcation leads to the appearance of self-trapping states localized on regular islands. This self-trapping is also found for the many particle system, however in general suppressed by coherent many particle tunneling oscillations. The tunneling time can be calculated from the quasi-energy splitting of the corresponding Floquet states. By varying the kick-strength these quasi-energy levels undergo both avoided and even actual crossings. Therefore stimulation or complete destruction of tunneling can be observed for this many particle system

Control of unstable macroscopic oscillations in the dynamics of three coupled Bose condensates

We study the dynamical stability of the macroscopic quantum oscillations characterizing a system of three coupled Bose-Einstein condensates arranged into an open-chain geometry. The boson interaction, the hopping amplitude and the central-well relative depth are regarded as adjustable parameters. After deriving the stability diagrams of the system, we identify three mechanisms to realize the transition from an unstable to stable behavior and analyze specific configurations that, by suitably tuning the model parameters, give rise to macroscopic effects which are expected to be accessible to experimental observation. Also, we pinpoint a system regime that realizes a Josephson-junction-like effect. In this regime the system configuration do not depend on the model interaction parameters, and the population oscillation amplitude is related to the condensate-phase difference. This fact makes possible estimating the latter quantity, since the measure of the oscillating amplitudes is experimentally accessible.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figure

Long-range adiabatic quantum state transfer through a linear array of quantum dots

We introduce an adiabatic long-range quantum communication proposal based on a quantum dot array. By adiabatically varying the external gate voltage applied on the system, the quantum information encoded in the electron can be transported from one end dot to another. We numerically solve the Schr\"odinger equation for a system with a given number of quantum dots. It is shown that this scheme is a simple and efficient protocol to coherently manipulate the population transfer under suitable gate pulses. The dependence of the energy gap and the transfer time on system parameters is analyzed and shown numerically. We also investigate the adiabatic passage in a more realistic system in the presence of inevitable fabrication imperfections. This method provides guidance for future realizations of adiabatic quantum state transfer in experiments.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Biorthogonal quantum mechanics

The Hermiticity condition in quantum mechanics required for the characterization of (a) physical observables and (b) generators of unitary motions can be relaxed into a wider class of operators whose eigenvalues are real and whose eigenstates are complete. In this case, the orthogonality of eigenstates is replaced by the notion of biorthogonality that defines the relation between the Hilbert space of states and its dual space. The resulting quantum theory, which might appropriately be called 'biorthogonal quantum mechanics', is developed here in some detail in the case for which the Hilbert-space dimensionality is finite. Specifically, characterizations of probability assignment rules, observable properties, pure and mixed states, spin particles, measurements, combined systems and entanglements, perturbations, and dynamical aspects of the theory are developed. The paper concludes with a brief discussion on infinite-dimensional systems. © 2014 IOP Publishing Ltd

Conditions for Vanishing Central-well Population in Triple-well Adiabatic Transport

Analytical expressions are derived for coherent tunneling via adiabatic passage (CTAP) in a triple well system with negligible central-well population at all times during the transfer. It is shown that a manipulation of the depths of the extreme-wells, correlated with the time variation of the \emph{non-adjacent} barriers is essential for maintaining vanishing population of the central well. The validity of our conditions are demonstrated with a numerical solution of the time-dependent Schr\"{o}dinger equation. The transfer process is interpreted in terms of a current through the central well.Comment: 7 pages; 3 figure