1,204 research outputs found
The factorization method for systems with a complex action -a test in Random Matrix Theory for finite density QCD-
Monte Carlo simulations of systems with a complex action are known to be
extremely difficult. A new approach to this problem based on a factorization
property of distribution functions of observables has been proposed recently.
The method can be applied to any system with a complex action, and it
eliminates the so-called overlap problem completely. We test the new approach
in a Random Matrix Theory for finite density QCD, where we are able to
reproduce the exact results for the quark number density. The achieved system
size is large enough to extract the thermodynamic limit. Our results provide a
clear understanding of how the expected first order phase transition is induced
by the imaginary part of the action.Comment: 27 pages, 25 figure
Crossing the c=1 barrier in 2d Lorentzian quantum gravity
In an extension of earlier work we investigate the behaviour of
two-dimensional Lorentzian quantum gravity under coupling to a conformal field
theory with c>1. This is done by analyzing numerically a system of eight Ising
models (corresponding to c=4) coupled to dynamically triangulated Lorentzian
geometries. It is known that a single Ising model couples weakly to Lorentzian
quantum gravity, in the sense that the Hausdorff dimension of the ensemble of
two-geometries is two (as in pure Lorentzian quantum gravity) and the matter
behaviour is governed by the Onsager exponents. By increasing the amount of
matter to 8 Ising models, we find that the geometry of the combined system has
undergone a phase transition. The new phase is characterized by an anomalous
scaling of spatial length relative to proper time at large distances, and as a
consequence the Hausdorff dimension is now three. In spite of this qualitative
change in the geometric sector, and a very strong interaction between matter
and geometry, the critical exponents of the Ising model retain their Onsager
values. This provides evidence for the conjecture that the KPZ values of the
critical exponents in 2d Euclidean quantum gravity are entirely due to the
presence of baby universes. Lastly, we summarize the lessons learned so far
from 2d Lorentzian quantum gravity.Comment: 21 pages, 18 figures (postscript), uses JHEP.cls, see
http://www.nbi.dk/~ambjorn/lqg2 for related animated simulation
Development of the Turgo Impulse turbine:past and present
The Turgo Impulse turbine provides a unique and novel solution to increasing the capacity of a hydraulic impulse turbine while maintaining the nozzle and spear injector system (as used in Pelton turbines) for flow regulation. This has produced a turbine which operates in the higher flow ranges usually reserved for Francis machines while maintaining a relatively flat efficiency curve, characteristic of impulse machines. Since its invention nearly 100 years ago, the Turgo turbine has been installed in thousands of locations across the globe. The majority of the development of the Turgo turbine design has been through the use of paper based and experimental studies however recent advances in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools have allowed the simulation of the complex, highly turbulent, multiphase flows associated with impulse turbines and some work has been done in applying this to the Turgo design. This review looks at the development of the of the Turgo turbine since its invention in 1919 and includes the paper-based analyses, experimental studies and the more recent CFD analyses carried out on the design
On the characterisation of a Bragg spectrometer with X-rays from an ECR source
Narrow X-ray lines from helium-like argon emitted from a dedicated ECR source
have been used to determine the response function of a Bragg crystal
spectrometer equipped with large area spherically bent silicon (111) or quartz
(10) crystals. The measured spectra are compared with simulated ones
created by a ray-tracing code based on the expected theoretical crystal's
rocking curve and the geometry of the experimental set-up.Comment: Version acceptee (NIM
Erdheim-Chester disease and knee pain in a dialysis patient
Erdheim–Chester disease is a rare inflammatory condition characterized by a non-Langerhans histiocytic infiltration, involving the skeleton, nervous system, viscera, retroperitoneum and elsewhere. The aetiology is unknown. Positron emission tomography shows areas of involvement. We managed a dialysis patient with knee pain; a bone marrow specimen showed typical CD68 positive, but CD1a negative cells. We initiated interferon-α therapy although other options remain open. In our patient, the simultaneous presence of secondary hyperparathyroidism with tumorous calcifications provided an interesting additional differential diagnostic possibility regarding skeletal pain
A practical solution to the sign problem in a matrix model for dynamical compactification
The matrix model formulation of superstring theory offers the possibility to
understand the appearance of 4d space-time from 10d as a consequence of
spontaneous breaking of the SO(10) symmetry. Monte Carlo studies of this issue
is technically difficult due to the so-called sign problem. We present a
practical solution to this problem generalizing the factorization method
proposed originally by two of the authors (K.N.A. and J.N.). Explicit Monte
Carlo calculations and large-N extrapolations are performed in a simpler matrix
model with similar properties, and reproduce quantitative results obtained
previously by the Gaussian expansion method. Our results also confirm that the
spontaneous symmetry breaking indeed occurs due to the phase of the fermion
determinant, which vanishes for collapsed configurations. We clarify various
generic features of this approach, which would be useful in applying it to
other statistical systems with the sign problem.Comment: 44 pages, 64 figures, v2: some minor typos correcte
A new perspective on matter coupling in 2d quantum gravity
We provide compelling evidence that a previously introduced model of
non-perturbative 2d Lorentzian quantum gravity exhibits (two-dimensional)
flat-space behaviour when coupled to Ising spins. The evidence comes from both
a high-temperature expansion and from Monte Carlo simulations of the combined
gravity-matter system. This weak-coupling behaviour lends further support to
the conclusion that the Lorentzian model is a genuine alternative to Liouville
quantum gravity in two dimensions, with a different, and much `smoother'
critical behaviour.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures (postscript
Safety and Cost Considerations during the Introduction Period of Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy
Objective. To compare the safety, efficacy, and direct cost during the introduction of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy within an enhanced recovery pathway. Methods. A 1 : 1 single centre retrospective case control study of 36 propensity matched pairs of patients receiving open or laparoscopic surgery for early cervical cancer. Results. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of the two cohorts. Open surgery cohort had significantly higher intraoperative blood loss (189 versus 934 mL) and longer postoperative hospital stay (2.3 versus 4.1 days). Although no significant difference in the intraoperative or postoperative complications was found more urinary tract injuries were recorded in the laparoscopic cohort. Laparoscopic surgery had significantly longer duration (206 versus 159 minutes), lower lymph node harvest (12.6 versus 16.9), and slower bladder function recovery. The median direct hospital cost was £4850 for laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and £4400 for open surgery. Conclusions. Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy can be safely introduced in an enhanced recovery environment without significant increase in perioperative morbidity. The 10% higher direct hospital cost is not statistically significant and is expected to even out when indirect costs are included
The QCD sign problem and dynamical simulations of random matrices
At nonzero quark chemical potential dynamical lattice simulations of QCD are
hindered by the sign problem caused by the complex fermion determinant. The
severity of the sign problem can be assessed by the average phase of the
fermion determinant. In an earlier paper we derived a formula for the
microscopic limit of the average phase for general topology using chiral random
matrix theory. In the current paper we present an alternative derivation of the
same quantity, leading to a simpler expression which is also calculable for
finite-sized matrices, away from the microscopic limit. We explicitly prove the
equivalence of the old and new results in the microscopic limit. The results
for finite-sized matrices illustrate the convergence towards the microscopic
limit. We compare the analytical results with dynamical random matrix
simulations, where various reweighting methods are used to circumvent the sign
problem. We discuss the pros and cons of these reweighting methods.Comment: 34 pages, 3 figures, references added, as published in JHE
Systematic study of the SO(10) symmetry breaking vacua in the matrix model for type IIB superstrings
We study the properties of the space-time that emerges dynamically from the
matrix model for type IIB superstrings in ten dimensions. We calculate the free
energy and the extent of space-time using the Gaussian expansion method up to
the third order. Unlike previous works, we study the SO(d) symmetric vacua with
all possible values of d within the range , and observe clear
indication of plateaus in the parameter space of the Gaussian action, which is
crucial for the results to be reliable. The obtained results indeed exhibit
systematic dependence on d, which turns out to be surprisingly similar to what
was observed recently in an analogous work on the six-dimensional version of
the model. In particular, we find the following properties: i) the extent in
the shrunken directions is given by a constant, which does not depend on d; ii)
the ten-dimensional volume of the Euclidean space-time is given by a constant,
which does not depend on d except for d = 2; iii) The free energy takes the
minimum value at d = 3. Intuitive understanding of these results is given by
using the low-energy effective theory and some Monte Carlo results.Comment: 33 pages, 10 figures; minor corrections, reference added. arXiv admin
note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1007.088
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