299 research outputs found
Dynamics of open quantum systems
The coupling between the states of a system and the continuum into which it
is embedded, induces correlations that are especially large in the short time
scale. These correlations cannot be calculated by using a statistical or
perturbational approach. They are, however, involved in an approach describing
structure and reaction aspects in a unified manner. Such a model is the SMEC
(shell model embedded in the continuum). Some characteristic results obtained
from SMEC as well as some aspects of the correlations induced by the coupling
to the continuum are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure
Dynamics of quantum systems
A relation between the eigenvalues of an effective Hamilton operator and the
poles of the matrix is derived which holds for isolated as well as for
overlapping resonance states. The system may be a many-particle quantum system
with two-body forces between the constituents or it may be a quantum billiard
without any two-body forces. Avoided crossings of discrete states as well as of
resonance states are traced back to the existence of branch points in the
complex plane. Under certain conditions, these branch points appear as double
poles of the matrix. They influence the dynamics of open as well as of
closed quantum systems. The dynamics of the two-level system is studied in
detail analytically as well as numerically.Comment: 21 pages 7 figure
Phase transitions in open quantum systems
We consider the behaviour of open quantum systems in dependence on the
coupling to one decay channel by introducing the coupling parameter
being proportional to the average degree of overlapping. Under critical
conditions, a reorganization of the spectrum takes place which creates a
bifurcation of the time scales with respect to the lifetimes of the resonance
states. We derive analytically the conditions under which the reorganization
process can be understood as a second-order phase transition and illustrate our
results by numerical investigations. The conditions are fulfilled e.g. for a
picket fence with equal coupling of the states to the continuum. Energy
dependencies within the system are included. We consider also the generic case
of an unfolded Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble. In all these cases, the
reorganization of the spectrum occurs at the critical value of
the control parameter globally over the whole energy range of the spectrum. All
states act cooperatively.Comment: 28 pages, 22 Postscript figure
Resonance trapping and saturation of decay widths
Resonance trapping appears in open many-particle quantum systems at high
level density when the coupling to the continuum of decay channels reaches a
critical strength. Here a reorganization of the system takes place and a
separation of different time scales appears. We investigate it under the
influence of additional weakly coupled channels as well as by taking into
account the real part of the coupling term between system and continuum. We
observe a saturation of the mean width of the trapped states. Also the decay
rates saturate as a function of the coupling strength. The mechanism of the
saturation is studied in detail. In any case, the critical region of
reorganization is enlarged. When the transmission coefficients for the
different channels are different, the width distribution is broadened as
compared to a chi_K^2 distribution where K is the number of channels. Resonance
trapping takes place before the broad state overlaps regions beyond the
extension of the spectrum of the closed system.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev.
Seed degeneration of banana planting materials: strategies for improved farmer access to healthy seed
Vegetatively propagated crops suffer from yield loss and reduced stand density and longevity caused by the buildâup of certain pests and pathogens between successive plantings via infected planting material. Here, six seedborne phytosanitary problems of banana are reviewed to evaluate whether a seed degeneration framework is a useful tool to identify approaches to achieve healthier planting materials. Phytoparasitic nematodes and weevils generate gradual declines in yields and in sucker health. Fusarium wilt and banana bunchy top virus cause progressive mat collapse across the field. Symptomless suckers from any mat in infested fields represent a risk of transmitting the disease to a new field. Xanthomonas and ralstonia wilts, due to incomplete systemicity, are intermediate in their threat to yield loss and frequency of transmission in suckers. Losses to banana streak virus are triggered by abiotic stress, although sucker transmission of episomal banana streak virus also contributes. A qualitative equation described here for seed degeneration covers a cycle beginning with the quality and risk factors of the planting material used to plant a new field and ends with the quality and risk factors of the suckers extracted from the field to plant a new field. This review of five planting material multiplication methods commonly used in banana contrasts their differing usefulness to address seed degeneration in the small farm context. It is proposed that initiatives to offset banana seed degeneration should integrate the role of offâfarm actors into decentralized initiatives rather than attempt to duplicate national seed certification frameworks from other true seed or vegetatively propagated crops
Observation of resonance trapping in an open microwave cavity
The coupling of a quantum mechanical system to open decay channels has been
theoretically studied in numerous works, mainly in the context of nuclear
physics but also in atomic, molecular and mesoscopic physics. Theory predicts
that with increasing coupling strength to the channels the resonance widths of
all states should first increase but finally decrease again for most of the
states. In this letter, the first direct experimental verification of this
effect, known as resonance trapping, is presented. In the experiment a
microwave Sinai cavity with an attached waveguide with variable slit width was
used.Comment: to be published in Phys. Rev. Let
Double-Peaked Low-Ionization Emission Lines in Active Galactic Nuclei
We present a new sample of 116 double-peaked Balmer line Active Galactic
Nuclei (AGN) selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Double-peaked emission
lines are believed to originate in the accretion disks of AGN, a few hundred
gravitational radii (Rg) from the supermassive black hole. We investigate the
properties of the candidate disk emitters with respect to the full sample of
AGN over the same redshifts, focusing on optical, radio and X-ray flux, broad
line shapes and narrow line equivalent widths and line flux-ratios. We find
that the disk-emitters have medium luminosities (~10^44erg/s) and FWHM on
average six times broader than the AGN in the parent sample. The double-peaked
AGN are 1.6 times more likely to be radio-sources and are predominantly (76%)
radio quiet, with about 12% of the objects classified as LINERs. Statistical
comparison of the observed double-peaked line profiles with those produced by
axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric accretion disk models allows us to impose
constraints on accretion disk parameters. The observed Halpha line profiles are
consistent with accretion disks with inclinations smaller than 50 deg, surface
emissivity slopes of 1.0-2.5, outer radii larger than ~2000 Rg, inner radii
between 200-800Rg, and local turbulent broadening of 780-1800 km/s. The
comparison suggests that 60% of accretion disks require some form of asymmetry
(e.g., elliptical disks, warps, spiral shocks or hot spots).Comment: 60 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in AJ. For high
quality figures and full tables, please see
http://astro.princeton.edu/~iskra/disks.htm
Interfering resonances in a quantum billiard
We present a method for numerically obtaining the positions, widths and
wavefunctions of resonance states in a two dimensional billiard connected to a
waveguide. For a rectangular billiard, we study the dynamics of three resonance
poles lying separated from the other ones. As a function of increasing coupling
strength between the waveguide and the billiard two of the states become
trapped while the width of the third one continues to increase for all coupling
strengths. This behavior of the resonance poles is reflected in the time delay
function which can be studied experimentally.Comment: 2 pages, 3 figure
Interfering Doorway States and Giant Resonances. I: Resonance Spectrum and Multipole Strengths
A phenomenological schematic model of multipole giant resonances (GR) is
considered which treats the external interaction via common decay channels on
the same footing as the coherent part of the internal residual interaction. The
damping due to the coupling to the sea of complicated states is neglected. As a
result, the formation of GR is governed by the interplay and competition of two
kinds of collectivity, the internal and the external one. The mixing of the
doorway components of a GR due to the external interaction influences
significantly their multipole strengths, widths and positions in energy. In
particular, a narrow resonance state with an appreciable multipole strength is
formed when the doorway components strongly overlap.Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX, 3 ps-figures, to appear in PRC (July 1997
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