Upper Bounds for the Critical Car Densities in Traffic Flow Problems

In most models of traffic flow, the car density $p$ is the only free parameter in determining the average car velocity $\langle v \rangle$. The critical car density $p_c$, which is defined to be the car density separating the jamming phase (with $\langle v \rangle = 0$) and the moving phase (with $\langle v \rangle > 0$), is an important physical quantity to investigate. By means of simple statistical argument, we show that $p_c < 1$ for the Biham-Middleton-Levine model of traffic flow in two or higher spatial dimensions. In particular, we show that $p_{c} \leq 11/12$ in 2 dimension and $p_{c} \leq 1 - \left( \frac{D-1}{2D} \right)^D$ in $D$ ($D > 2$) dimensions.Comment: REVTEX 3.0, 5 pages with 1 figure appended at the back, Minor revision, to be published in the Sept issue of J.Phys.Soc.Japa

Predictable arguments of knowledge

We initiate a formal investigation on the power of predictability for argument of knowledge systems for NP. Specifically, we consider private-coin argument systems where the answer of the prover can be predicted, given the private randomness of the verifier; we call such protocols Predictable Arguments of Knowledge (PAoK). Our study encompasses a full characterization of PAoK, showing that such arguments can be made extremely laconic, with the prover sending a single bit, and assumed to have only one round (i.e., two messages) of communication without loss of generality. We additionally explore PAoK satisfying additional properties (including zero-knowledge and the possibility of re-using the same challenge across multiple executions with the prover), present several constructions of PAoK relying on different cryptographic tools, and discuss applications to cryptography

Tapping Into Your Inner Superhero: Positive Interventions for At-Risk Youth Organizations

Childhood poverty has been linked with gaps in physical, emotional, and cognitive outcomes. Previous research sheds light on potential interventions for helping at-risk youth. We combine these findings with proven positive psychology interventions to create a curriculum for an organization serving at-risk youth in Trenton, New Jersey. The workshops are geared towards teaching components that enable lasting well-being using existing positive psychology frameworks, such as Martin Seligman’s PERMA. We also adapt lessons using VIA Character Strengths and resiliency factors for an adolescent population, and leverage behavioral modeling, self-agency, and environmental mastery to create sustainable programming. If successful, these interventions may teach us how positive psychology can enable flourishing in at-risk youth populations

Non-Markovian finite-temperature two-time correlation functions of system operators of a pure-dephasing model

We evaluate the non-Markovian finite-temperature two-time correlation functions (CF's) of system operators of a pure-dephasing spin-boson model in two different ways, one by the direct exact operator technique and the other by the recently derived evolution equations, valid to second order in the system-environment interaction Hamiltonian. This pure-dephasing spin-boson model that is exactly solvable has been extensively studied as a simple decoherence model. However, its exact non-Markovian finite-temperature two-time system operator CF's, to our knowledge, have not been presented in the literature. This may be mainly due to the fact, illustrated in this article, that in contrast to the Markovian case, the time evolution of the reduced density matrix of the system (or the reduced quantum master equation) alone is not sufficient to calculate the two-time system operator CF's of non-Markovian open systems. The two-time CF's obtained using the recently derived evolution equations in the weak system-environment coupling case for this non-Markovian pure-dephasing model happen to be the same as those obtained from the exact evaluation. However, these results significantly differ from the non-Markovian two-time CF's obtained by wrongly directly applying the quantum regression theorem (QRT), a useful procedure to calculate the two-time CF's for weak-coupling Markovian open systems. This demonstrates clearly that the recently derived evolution equations generalize correctly the QRT to non-Markovian finite-temperature cases. It is believed that these evolution equations will have applications in many different branches of physics.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev.

Rotational covariance and light-front current matrix elements

Light-front current matrix elements for elastic scattering from hadrons with spin~1 or greater must satisfy a nontrivial constraint associated with the requirement of rotational covariance for the current operator. Using a model $\rho$ meson as a prototype for hadronic quark models, this constraint and its implications are studied at both low and high momentum transfers. In the kinematic region appropriate for asymptotic QCD, helicity rules, together with the rotational covariance condition, yield an additional relation between the light-front current matrix elements.Comment: 16 pages, [no number

Parallel updating cellular automaton models of driven diffusive Frenkel-Kontorova-type systems

Three cellular automaton (CA) models of increasing complexity are introduced to model driven diffusive systems related to the generalized Frenkel-Kontorova (FK) models recently proposed by Braun [Phys.Rev.E58, 1311 (1998)]. The models are defined in terms of parallel updating rules. Simulation results are presented for these models. The features are qualitatively similar to those models defined previously in terms of sequentially updating rules. Essential features of the FK model such as phase transitions, jamming due to atoms in the immobile state, and hysteresis in the relationship between the fraction of atoms in the running state and the bias field are captured. Formulating in terms of parallel updating rules has the advantage that the models can be treated analytically by following the time evolution of the occupation on every site of the lattice. Results of this analytical approach are given for the two simpler models. The steady state properties are found by studying the stable fixed points of a closed set of dynamical equations obtained within the approximation of retaining spatial correlations only upto two nearest neighboring sites. Results are found to be in good agreement with numerical data.Comment: 26 pages, 4 eps figure