Measuring Pancharatnam's relative phase for SO(3) evolutions using spin polarimetry

In polarimetry, a superposition of internal quantal states is exposed to a single Hamiltonian and information about the evolution of the quantal states is inferred from projection measurements on the final superposition. In this framework, we here extend the polarimetric test of Pancharatnam's relative phase for spin$-{1/2}$ proposed by Wagh and Rakhecha [Phys. Lett. A {\bf 197}, 112 (1995)] to spin $j\geq 1$ undergoing noncyclic SO(3) evolution. We demonstrate that the output intensity for higher spin values is a polynomial function of the corresponding spin$-{1/2}$ intensity. We further propose a general method to extract the noncyclic SO(3) phase and visibility by rigid translation of two $\pi /2$ spin flippers. Polarimetry on higher spin states may in practice be done with spin polarized atomic beams.Comment: New title, minor corrections, journal reference adde

Exact solutions of n-level systems and gauge theories

We find a relationship between unitary transformations of the dynamics of quantum systems with time-dependent Hamiltonians and gauge theories. In particular, we show that the nonrelativistic dynamics of spin-$\frac12$ particles in a magnetic field $B^i (t)$ can be formulated in a natural way as an SU(2) gauge theory, with the magnetic field $B^i(t)$ playing the role of the gauge potential A^i. The present approach can also be applied to systems of n levels with time-dependent potentials, U(n) being the gauge group. This geometric interpretation provides a powerful method to find exact solutions of the Schr\"odinger equation. The root of the present approach rests in the Hermiticity property of the Hamiltonian operators involved. In addition, the relationship with true gauge symmetries of n-level quantum systems is discussed.Comment: LaTeX file, 5 pages, published versio

Charged particles in a rotating magnetic field

We study the valence electron of an alkaline atom or a general charged particle with arbitrary spin and with magnetic moment moving in a rotating magnetic field. By using a time-dependent unitary transformation, the Schr\"odinger equation with the time-dependent Hamiltonian can be reduced to a Schr\"odinger-like equation with a time-independent effective Hamiltonian. Eigenstates of the effective Hamiltonian correspond to cyclic solutions of the original Schr\"odinger equation. The nonadiabatic geometric phase of a cyclic solution can be expressed in terms of the expectation value of the component of the total angular momentum along the rotating axis, regardless of whether the solution is explicitly available. For the alkaline atomic electron and a strong magnetic field, the eigenvalue problem of the effective Hamiltonian is completely solved, and the geometric phase turns out to be a linear combination of two solid angles. For a weak magnetic field, the same problem is solved partly. For a general charged particle, the problem is solved approximately in a slowly rotating magnetic field, and the geometric phases are also calculated.Comment: REVTeX, 13 pages, no figure. There are two minor errors in the published version due to incorrect editing by the publisher. The "spin-1" in Sec. I and the "spin 1" in Sec. II below Eq. (2c) should both be changed to "spin" or "spin angular momentum". The preferred E-mail for correspondence is [email protected] or [email protected]

DiffServ overlay multicast for videoconferencing

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (January 10 , 2007)Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2005.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Computer science.In this dissertation a framework for implementing videoconference in a DiffServ network (DiffServ Overlay Multicast) is proposed. DiffServ Overlay Multicast uses an overlay multicast algorithm for calculating the multicast tree for distributing the video in a DiffServ network. By moving tree construction, packet replication and network monitoring to the edge routers, a stateless core is maintained. This dissertation also addresses all the issues concerning the integration of DiffServ and IP Multicast. In addition the issue of traffic engineering and load balancing in the network to improve the quality of videoconference is also addressed

Assessment of quality of life measured by rhinoconjuctivits quality of life questionnaire in patients of allergic rhinitis treated with commonly used oral antihistaminics

Background: Nasal and non-nasal symptoms in allergic rhinitis (AR) can be assessed by measuring health related quality of life (HRQOL). Present study was to assess the impact of use of antihistaminic in AR which will affect the work productivity, sleep, frequent visits to health care professional and expenditure on medicines. For this evaluation, Rhinoconjuctivits Quality Of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) has been used.Methods: In this study 52 patients with AR were randomized in an open-label, 4-arm, parallel group, single center study. Questionnaire information was obtained about allergy-related RQLQ. Subjects received either Tablet Cetirizine 5 mg, Levocetirizine 5 mg, Loratidine 5 mg or Fexofenadine 120 mg. Changes from baseline until the end of study visit (1 week following) were evaluated by RQLQ.Results: When compared between treatment groups using one-way ANOVA it was observed that there is no variation in RQLQ overall Score in all the four treatment groups and there is no difference from treatment to treatment. Overall RQLQ score was reduced maximum in Levocetirizine group. Individual symptoms of RQLQ that is sleep score, non-hay fever, practical problem, nasal symptom score, Eye symptom Score, activities Score, and emotion score were also improved in the Levocetirizine group.Conclusions: Patients of all four study groups showed an improved perception of their HRQL according to the RQLQ. Significant improvements are reported in nasal symptoms, daily activities, sleep and psychological impact. Our results provide support for an AR and its impact on quality of life. Our recommendation stipulating that levocetirizine is superior to rest drug group for the treatment of AR with safety and tolerability

Menstrual hygiene practices in young girls of urban India

Background: Menstrual hygiene is an important aspect in the life of young girls.The present study aims at assessing the knowledge regarding menstruation and hygienic practices and perceptions during menstruation.Methods: It was a cross sectional study, conducted among 100 young girls of 20-22 years age to assess the awareness of menstrual hygiene. Data was collected by pre-tested questionnaire. Statistics was calculated in percentages.Results: Out of 100 girls, 71 (71%) knew about menstruation before menarche while 29 (29%) did not have any knowledge. 71 (71%) girls knew the cause of menstruation as physiological, 18 (18%) girls didn’t know the cause, 11 (11%) girls still believe it as curse of God. 68 (68%) girls knew the source of bleeding during menstruation as uterus, 20 (20%) girls thought it as vagina while 12 (12%) thought it as urethra. 64% girls use sanitary pads during menstruation, 19% girls used old cloth while 17% girls used new cloth during menstruation as adsorbent material. 9% girls dispose pads or used cloth in dustbin, 19% girls flush them in toilet while 12% girls throw them roadside. 96% girls avoid going to temple, 68% girls restrict their daily activities, 56% girls avoid going to functions, 50% girls avoid going to kitchen, 50% girls avoid going to kitchen while 45% girls avoid touching things at home.Conclusions: It is very important that young girls should be educated about the importance of maintaining hygiene during menstruation to prevent the risk of reproductive tract infections

Health awareness in female doctors

Background: Managing the hectic schedule, female doctors often neglect their own health. In the present study, we evaluated the awareness, attitude and practices of breast, cervical and ovarian malignancies and also hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease and osteoporosis in female doctors.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 female doctors of M.B.B.S. and higher degrees of various subjects. Selection of female doctors was done randomly.Results: In present study, out of 100 female doctors, 90 (90%) were doing their self breast examination regularly and 31 (31%) had done their mammography. 54 (54%) female doctors had their own pap smear done while 72 (72%) female doctors had their own ultrasound got done. 82 (82%) had their own blood pressure check up, 74 (74%) had their own blood sugar checked, 62 (62%) had got their own lipid profile done while only 44 (44%) female doctors had their ECG done and 48 (48%) had their bone mineral density done. 23 (23%) female doctors were diagnosed as hypertensive, 14 (14%) as diabetes, 4 (4%) as coronary artery disease, 5 (5%) as breast cancer, 2 (2%) as ovarian cancer, 18 (18%) as thyroid disease while 15 (15%) were detected as having osteopenia.Conclusions: In spite of knowing about all diseases, their complications, screening methods and preventive care, practice of applying screening or preventive methods to themselves is not universal in doctors

Observation of off-diagonal geometric phase in polarized neutron interferometer experiments

Off-diagonal geometric phases acquired in the evolution of a spin-1/2 system have been investigated by means of a polarized neutron interferometer. Final counts with and without polarization analysis enable us to observe simultaneously the off-diagonal and diagonal geometric phases in two detectors. We have quantitatively measured the off-diagonal geometric phase for noncyclic evolutions, confirming the theoretical predictions. We discuss the significance of our experiment in terms of geometric phases (both diagonal and off-diagonal) and in terms of the quantum erasing phenomenon.Comment: pdf, 22 pages + 8 figures (included in the pdf). In print on Phys. Rev.

Geometric Phases and Multiple Degeneracies in Harmonic Resonators

In a recent experiment Lauber et al. have deformed cyclically a microwave resonator and have measured the adiabatic normal-mode wavefunctions for each shape along the path of deformation. The nontrivial observed cyclic phases around a 3-fold degeneracy were accounted for by Manolopoulos and Child within an approximate theory. However, open-path geometrical phases disagree with experiment. By solving exactly the problem, we find unsuspected extra degeneracies around the multiple one that account for the measured phase changes throughout the path. It turns out that proliferation of additional degeneracies around a multiple one is a common feature of quantum mechanics.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Accepted in Phys. Rev. Let