1,734 research outputs found
Recurrence and higher ergodic properties for quenched random Lorentz tubes in dimension bigger than two
We consider the billiard dynamics in a non-compact set of R^d that is
constructed as a bi-infinite chain of translated copies of the same
d-dimensional polytope. A random configuration of semi-dispersing scatterers is
placed in each copy. The ensemble of dynamical systems thus defined, one for
each global realization of the scatterers, is called `quenched random Lorentz
tube'. Under some fairly general conditions, we prove that every system in the
ensemble is hyperbolic and almost every system is recurrent, ergodic, and
enjoys some higher chaotic properties.Comment: Final version for J. Stat. Phys., 18 pages, 4 figure
Mode structure and photon number correlations in squeezed quantum pulses
The question of efficient multimode description of optical pulses is studied.
We show that a relatively very small number of nonmonochromatic modes can be
sufficient for a complete quantum description of pulses with Gaussian
quadrature statistics. For example, a three-mode description was enough to
reproduce the experimental data of photon number correlations in optical
solitons [S. Spalter et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 786 (1998)]. This approach is
very useful for a detailed understanding of squeezing properties of soliton
pulses with the main potential for quantum communication with continuous
variables. We show how homodyne detection and/or measurements of photon number
correlations can be used to determine the quantum state of the multi-mode
field. We also discuss a possible way of physical separation of the
nonmonochromatic modes.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures; minor revisions of the text, new references; to
appear in the Phys. Rev.
Geodesic deviation in pp-wave spacetimes of quadratic curvature gravity
We write the equation of geodesic deviations in the spacetime of -waves
in terms of the Newman-Penrose scalars and apply it to study gravitational
waves in quadratic curvature gravity. We show that quadratic curvature gravity
-waves can have a transverse helicity-0 polarization mode and two
transverse helicity-2 general relativity-like wave polarizations. A concrete
example is given in which we analyze the wave polarizations of an exact
impulsive gravitational wave solution to quadratic curvature gravity.Comment: 16 pages, no figures, accepted in Physical Review
The transcription factor NFATc2 controls IL-6-dependent T cell activation in experimental colitis.
The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family of transcription factors controls calcium signaling in T lymphocytes. In this study, we have identified a crucial regulatory role of the transcription factor NFATc2 in T cell-dependent experimental colitis. Similar to ulcerative colitis in humans, the expression of NFATc2 was up-regulated in oxazolone-induced chronic intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, NFATc2 deficiency suppressed colitis induced by oxazolone administration. This finding was associated with enhanced T cell apoptosis in the lamina propria and strikingly reduced production of IL-6, -13, and -17 by mucosal T lymphocytes. Further studies using knockout mice showed that IL-6, rather than IL-23 and -17, are essential for oxazolone colitis induction. Administration of hyper-IL-6 blocked the protective effects of NFATc2 deficiency in experimental colitis, suggesting that IL-6 signal transduction plays a major pathogenic role in vivo. Finally, adoptive transfer of IL-6 and wild-type T cells demonstrated that oxazolone colitis is critically dependent on IL-6 production by T cells. Collectively, these results define a unique regulatory role for NFATc2 in colitis by controlling mucosal T cell activation in an IL-6-dependent manner. NFATc2 in T cells thus emerges as a potentially new therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel diseases
Frequency-dependent magnetotransport and particle dynamics in magnetic modulation systems
We analyze the dynamics of a charged particle moving in the presence of
spatially-modulated magnetic fields. From Poincare surfaces of section and
Liapunov exponents for characteristic trajectories we find that the fraction of
pinned and runaway quasiperiodic orbits {\em vs}. chaotic orbits depends
strongly on the ratio of cyclotron radius to the structure parameters, as well
as on the amplitude of the modulated field. We present a complete
characterization of the dynamical behavior of such structures, and investigate
the contribution to the magnetoconductivity from all different orbits using a
classical Kubo formula. Although the DC conductivity of the system depends
strongly on the pinned and runaway trajectories, the frequency response
reflects the topology of all different orbits, and even their unusual temporal
behavior.Comment: Submitted to PRB - 14 figure files - REVTEX tex
First and second order clustering transitions for a system with infinite-range attractive interaction
We consider a Hamiltonian system made of classical particles moving in
two dimensions, coupled via an {\it infinite-range interaction} gauged by a
parameter . This system shows a low energy phase with most of the particles
trapped in a unique cluster. At higher energy it exhibits a transition towards
a homogenous phase. For sufficiently strong coupling an intermediate phase
characterized by two clusters appears. Depending on the value of the
observed transitions can be either second or first order in the canonical
ensemble. In the latter case microcanonical results differ dramatically from
canonical ones. However, a canonical analysis, extended to metastable and
unstable states, is able to describe the microcanonical equilibrium phase. In
particular, a microcanonical negative specific heat regime is observed in the
proximity of the transition whenever it is canonically discontinuous. In this
regime, {\it microcanonically stable} states are shown to correspond to {\it
saddles} of the Helmholtz free energy, located inside the spinodal region.Comment: 4 pages, Latex - 3 EPS Figs - Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Dynamics of viscoelastic membranes
We determine both the in-plane and out-of-plane dynamics of viscoelastic
membranes separating two viscous fluids in order to understand microrheological
studies of such membranes. We demonstrate the general viscoelastic signatures
in the dynamics of shear, bending, and compression modes. We also find a
screening of the otherwise two-dimensional character of the response to point
forces due to the presence of solvent. Finally, we show that there is a linear,
hydrodynamic coupling between the in-plane compression modes of the membrane
and the out-of-plane bending modes in the case where the membrane separates two
different fluids or environments
Boundary Term in Metric f(R) Gravity: Field Equations in the Metric Formalism
The main goal of this paper is to get in a straightforward form the field
equations in metric f(R) gravity, using elementary variational principles and
adding a boundary term in the action, instead of the usual treatment in an
equivalent scalar-tensor approach. We start with a brief review of the
Einstein-Hilbert action, together with the Gibbons-York-Hawking boundary term,
which is mentioned in some literature, but is generally missing. Next we
present in detail the field equations in metric f(R) gravity, including the
discussion about boundaries, and we compare with the Gibbons-York-Hawking term
in General Relativity. We notice that this boundary term is necessary in order
to have a well defined extremal action principle under metric variation.Comment: 12 pages, title changes by referee recommendation. Accepted for
publication in General Relativity and Gravitation. Matches with the accepted
versio
Time-Independent Gravitational Fields
This article reviews, from a global point of view, rigorous results on time
independent spacetimes. Throughout attention is confined to isolated bodies at
rest or in uniform rotation in an otherwise empty universe. The discussion
starts from first principles and is, as much as possible, self-contained.Comment: 47 pages, LaTeX, uses Springer cl2emult styl
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