Sphere packing bounds in the Grassmann and Stiefel manifolds

Applying the Riemann geometric machinery of volume estimates in terms of curvature, bounds for the minimal distance of packings/codes in the Grassmann and Stiefel manifolds will be derived and analyzed. In the context of space-time block codes this leads to a monotonically increasing minimal distance lower bound as a function of the block length. This advocates large block lengths for the code design.Comment: Replaced with final version, 11 page

Space Frequency Codes from Spherical Codes

A new design method for high rate, fully diverse ('spherical') space frequency codes for MIMO-OFDM systems is proposed, which works for arbitrary numbers of antennas and subcarriers. The construction exploits a differential geometric connection between spherical codes and space time codes. The former are well studied e.g. in the context of optimal sequence design in CDMA systems, while the latter serve as basic building blocks for space frequency codes. In addition a decoding algorithm with moderate complexity is presented. This is achieved by a lattice based construction of spherical codes, which permits lattice decoding algorithms and thus offers a substantial reduction of complexity.Comment: 5 pages. Final version for the 2005 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theor

Micromaser line broadening without photon exchange

We perform a calculation of the linewidth of a micromaser, using the master equation and the quantum regression approach. A `dephasing' contribution is identified from pumping processes that conserve the photon number and do not appear in the photon statistics. We work out examples for a single-atom maser with a precisely controlled coupling and for a laser where the interaction time is broadly distributed. In the latter case, we also assess the convergence of a recently developed uniform Lindblad approximation to the master equation; it is relatively slow.Comment: 8 pages, proceedings of Central European Workshop on Quantum Optics (Palermo Jun 07

Non-local meta-conformal invariance, diffusion-limited erosion and the XXZ chain

Diffusion-limited erosion is a distinct universality class of fluctuating interfaces. Although its dynamical exponent $z=1$, none of the known variants of conformal invariance can act as its dynamical symmetry. In $d=1$ spatial dimensions, its infinite-dimensional dynamic symmetry is constructed and shown to be isomorphic to the direct sum of three loop-Virasoro algebras, with the maximal finite-dimensional sub-algebra $\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb{R})\oplus\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb{R})\oplus\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb{R})$. The infinitesimal generators are spatially non-local and use the Riesz-Feller fractional derivative. Co-variant two-time response functions are derived and reproduce the exact solution of diffusion-limited erosion. The relationship with the terrace-step-kind model of vicinal surfaces and the integrable XXZ chain are discussed.Comment: Latex 2e, 28 pp, 4 figures (revised, with 2 new figures

On the Two-Point Correlation Function in Dynamical Scaling and SCHR\"Odinger Invariance

The extension of dynamical scaling to local, space-time dependent rescaling factors is investigated. For a dynamical exponent $z=2$, the corresponding invariance group is the Schr\"odinger group. Schr\"odinger invariance is shown to determine completely the two-point correlation function. The result is checked in two exactly solvable models.Comment: Geneva preprint UGVA/DPT 1992/09-783, plain Tex 6pp (to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys. C

Phase-ordering kinetics: ageing and local scale-invariance

Dynamical scaling in ageing systems, notably in phase-ordering kinetics, is well-established. New evidence in favour of Galilei-invariance in phase-ordering kinetics is reviewed.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure,with AIP macros, based on invited talks given at the 8th Granada Seminar on Computational and Statistical Physics (7-11 February 2005) and at the Symposium `Renormalization and Scaling' at Berlin (5th of March 2005

Dynamical symmetries and causality in non-equilibrium phase transitions

Dynamical symmetries are of considerable importance in elucidating the complex behaviour of strongly interacting systems with many degrees of freedom. Paradigmatic examples are cooperative phenomena as they arise in phase transitions, where conformal invariance has led to enormous progress in equilibrium phase transitions, especially in two dimensions. Non-equilibrium phase transitions can arise in much larger portions of the parameter space than equilibrium phase transitions. The state of the art of recent attempts to generalise conformal invariance to a new generic symmetry, taking into account the different scaling behaviour of space and time, will be reviewed. Particular attention will be given to the causality properties as they follow for co-variant $n$-point functions. These are important for the physical identification of n-point functions as responses or correlators.Comment: Latex2e, 26 pages, 1 figure. Final form, a new example added & typos correcte