On the connection between Complementarity and Uncertainty Principles in the Mach-Zehnder interferometric setting

We revisit, in the framework of Mach-Zehnder interferometry, the connection between the complementarity and uncertainty principles of quantum mechanics. Specifically, we show that, for a pair of suitably chosen observables, the trade-off relation between the complementary path information and fringe visibility is equivalent to the uncertainty relation given by Schr\"odinger and Robertson, and to the one provided by Landau and Pollak as well. We also employ entropic uncertainty relations (based on R\'enyi entropic measures) and study their meaning for different values of the entropic parameter. We show that these different values define regimes which yield qualitatively different information concerning the system, in agreement with findings of [A. Luis, Phys. Rev. A 84, 034101 (2011)]. We find that there exists a regime for which the entropic uncertinty relations can be used as criteria to pinpoint non trivial states of minimum uncertainty.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

On the lattice structure of probability spaces in quantum mechanics

Let C be the set of all possible quantum states. We study the convex subsets of C with attention focused on the lattice theoretical structure of these convex subsets and, as a result, find a framework capable of unifying several aspects of quantum mechanics, including entanglement and Jaynes' Max-Ent principle. We also encounter links with entanglement witnesses, which leads to a new separability criteria expressed in lattice language. We also provide an extension of a separability criteria based on convex polytopes to the infinite dimensional case and show that it reveals interesting facets concerning the geometrical structure of the convex subsets. It is seen that the above mentioned framework is also capable of generalization to any statistical theory via the so-called convex operational models' approach. In particular, we show how to extend the geometrical structure underlying entanglement to any statistical model, an extension which may be useful for studying correlations in different generalizations of quantum mechanics.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1008.416

20 T dipoles and Bi-2212: the path to LHC energy upgrade

Increasing the energy of the LHC would require a ring of \sim20 T magnets using the superconductors Nb3Sn and Bi-2212/Ag. The technology for Bi-2212/Ag wire, cable, and coil has advanced significantly but is still far short of the performance needed for such magnets. New technol-ogy for both wire and cable is under development, which if successful would yield the needed performance.Comment: 5 pages, contribution to the EuCARD-AccNet-EuroLumi Workshop: The High-Energy Large Hadron Collider, Malta, 14 -- 16 Oct 2010; CERN Yellow Report CERN-2011-003, pp. 70-7

A quantum logical and geometrical approach to the study of improper mixtures

We study improper mixtures from a quantum logical and geometrical point of view. Taking into account the fact that improper mixtures do not admit an ignorance interpretation and must be considered as states in their own right, we do not follow the standard approach which considers improper mixtures as measures over the algebra of projections. Instead of it, we use the convex set of states in order to construct a new lattice whose atoms are all physical states: pure states and improper mixtures. This is done in order to overcome one of the problems which appear in the standard quantum logical formalism, namely, that for a subsystem of a larger system in an entangled state, the conjunction of all actual properties of the subsystem does not yield its actual state. In fact, its state is an improper mixture and cannot be represented in the von Neumann lattice as a minimal property which determines all other properties as is the case for pure states or classical systems. The new lattice also contains all propositions of the von Neumann lattice. We argue that this extension expresses in an algebraic form the fact that -alike the classical case- quantum interactions produce non trivial correlations between the systems. Finally, we study the maps which can be defined between the extended lattice of a compound system and the lattices of its subsystems.Comment: submitted to the Journal of Mathematical Physic

Second-Generation Coil Design of the Nb3Sn low-β Quadrupole for the High Luminosity LHC

As part of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Luminosity upgrade program, the U.S.-LHC Accelerator Research Program collaboration and CERN are working together to design and build a 150-mm aperture Nb3Sn quadrupole for the LHC interaction regions. A first series of 1.5-m-long coils was fabricated and assembled in a first short model. A detailed visual inspection of the coils was carried out to investigate cable dimensional changes during heat treatment and the position of the windings in the coil straight section and in the end region. The analyses allow identifying a set of design changes which, combined with a fine tune of the cable geometry and a field quality optimization, were implemented in a new second-generation coil design. In this paper, we review the main characteristics of the first generation coils, describe the modification in coil layout and discuss their impact on parts design and magnet analysis

Performance of a plastic scintillator developed using styrene monomer polymerization

This paper presents a newly developed plastic scintillator produced in collaboration with Turkiye Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK). The scintillator is manufactured using thermal polymerization of commercially available styrene monomer. The absorption spectrum of the scintillator exhibited two absorption bands at 225 nm and 340 nm, with an absorption edge observed at 410 nm. The wavelength of the emitted light was measured in the range of 400-800 nm, with a maximum intensity at 427 nm. Monoenergetic electrons from the 137Cs source were used to evaluate the characteristics of the new scintillator, particularly its light yield. As the light readout the MAPD-3NM type silicon photomultiplier array (4 x 4) with an active area of 15 x 15 mm2, assembled using single MAPDs with an active area of 3.7 x 3.7 mm2, was used. The light yield of the scintillator was determined to be 6134 photons/MeV. In addition, the efficiency of the scintillator for gamma rays with an energy of 662 keV was found to be approximately 1.8 %. A CmBe neutron source was employed to evaluate its fast neutron detection performance. However, neutron/gamma discrimination using pulse shape discrimination (charge integration) method was not observed. The results demonstrate the potential of a newly produced plastic scintillator for various applications, particularly in radiation monitoring and detection systems.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Material Cycles and Chemicals: Dynamic Material Flow Analysis of Contaminants in Paper Recycling

This study provides a systematic approach for assessment of contaminants in materials for recycling. Paper recycling is used as an illustrative example. Three selected chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOHs), are evaluated within the paper cycle. The approach combines static material flow analysis (MFA) with dynamic material and substance flow modeling. The results indicate that phasing out of chemicals is the most effective measure for reducing chemical contamination. However, this scenario was also associated with a considerable lag phase (between approximately one and three decades) before the presence of chemicals in paper products could be considered insignificant. While improved decontamination may appear to be an effective way of minimizing chemicals in products, this may also result in lower production yields. Optimized waste material source-segregation and collection was the least effective strategy for reducing chemical contamination, if the overall recycling rates should be maintained at the current level (approximately 70% for Europe). The study provides a consistent approach for evaluating contaminant levels in material cycles. The results clearly indicate that mass-based recycling targets are not sufficient to ensure high quality material recycling

The Alkamide trans-Pellitorine Targets PPARγ via TRPV1 and TRPA1 to Reduce Lipid Accumulation in Developing 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ in the human body. However, pathological overgrowth is associated with chronic illness. Regulation of adipogenesis and maturation of adipocytes via bioactive compounds in our daily diet has been in focus of research in the past years and showed promising results for agonists of the ion channels transient receptor potential channel (TRP) V1 and A1. Here, we investigated the anti-adipogenic potential and underlying mechanisms of the alkamide trans-pellitorine present in Piper nigrum via TRPV1 and TRPA1 in 3T3-L1 cells. trans-pellitorine was found to suppress mean lipid accumulation, when applied during differentiation and maturation, but also during maturation phase solely of 3T3-L1 cells in a concentration range between 1 nM and 1 μM by up to 8.84 ± 4.97 or 7.49 ± 5.08%, respectively. Blockage of TRPV1 using the specific inhibitor trans-tert-butyl-cyclohexanol demonstrated that the anti-adipogenic activity of trans-pellitorine depends on TRPV1. In addition, blockage of the TRPA1 channel using the antagonist AP-18 showed a TRPA1-dependent signaling in the early to intermediate stages of adipogenesis. On a mechanistic level, treatment with trans-pellitorine during adipogenesis led to reduced PPARγ expression on gene and protein level via activation of TRPV1 and TRPA1, and increased expression of the microRNA mmu-let-7b, which has been associated with reduced PPARγ levels. In addition, cells treated with trans-pellitorine showed decreased expression of the gene encoding for fatty acid synthase, increased expression of microRNA-103 and a decreased short-term fatty acid uptake on the functional level. In summary, these data point to an involvement of the TRPV1 and TRPA1 cation channels in the anti-adipogenic activity of trans-pellitorine via microRNA-let7b and PPARγ. Since trans-pellitorine does not directly activate TRPV1 or TRPA1, an indirect modulation of the channel activity is assumed and warrants further investigation

Performance of the First Short Model 150-mm-Aperture Nb3Sn Quadrupole MQXFS for the High-Luminosity LHC Upgrade

The U.S. LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP) and CERN combined their efforts in developing Nb Sn magnets for the high-luminosity LHC upgrade. The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to fabricate large aperture Nb Sn quadrupoles for the LHC interaction regions. These magnets will replace the present 70-mm-Aperture NbTi quadrupole triplets for expected increase of the LHC peak luminosity up to 5 × 10 cm s or more. Over the past decade, LARP successfully fabricated and tested short and long models of 90 and 120-mm-Aperture Nb Sn quadrupoles. Recently, the first short model of 150-mm-diameter quadrupole MQXFS was built with coils fabricated both by LARP and CERN. The magnet performance was tested at Fermilab's vertical magnet test facility. This paper reports the test results, including the quench training at 1.9 K, ramp rate and temperature dependence, as well as protection heater studies. 3 3 3 34 -2 -