Exactly solvable quantum spin ladders associated with the orthogonal and symplectic Lie algebras

We extend the results of spin ladder models associated with the Lie algebras $su(2^n)$ to the case of the orthogonal and symplectic algebras $o(2^n),\ sp(2^n)$ where n is the number of legs for the system. Two classes of models are found whose symmetry, either orthogonal or symplectic, has an explicit n dependence. Integrability of these models is shown for an arbitrary coupling of XX type rung interactions and applied magnetic field term.Comment: 7 pages, Late

Thermodynamic performance testing of the orbiter flash evaporator system

System level testing of the space shuttle orbiter's development flash evaporator system (FES) was performed in a thermal vacuum chamber capable of simulating ambient ascent, orbital, and entry temperature and pressure profiles. The test article included the evaporator assembly, high load and topping exhaust duct and nozzle assemblies, and feedwater supply assembly. Steady state and transient heat load, water pressure/temperature and ambient pressure/temperature profiles were imposed by especially designed supporting test hardware. Testing in 1978 verified evaporator and duct heater thermal design, determined FES performance boundaries, and assessed topping evaporator plume characteristics. Testing in 1979 combined the FES with the other systems in the orbiter active thermal control subsystem (ATCS). The FES met or exceeded all nominal and contingency performance requirements during operation with the integrated ATCS. During both tests stability problems were encountered during steady state operations which resulted in subsequent design changes to the water spray nozzle and valve plate assemblies

Emergence of Quantum Ergodicity in Rough Billiards

By analytical mapping of the eigenvalue problem in rough billiards on to a band random matrix model a new regime of Wigner ergodicity is found. There the eigenstates are extended over the whole energy surface but have a strongly peaked structure. The results of numerical simulations and implications for level statistics are also discussed.Comment: revtex, 4 pages, 4 figure

Individual fMRI maps of all phalanges and digit bases of all fingers in human primary somatosensory cortex.

This study determined the individual maps of all fingers in Brodmann area 3b of the human primary somatosensory cortex in a single fMRI session by tactile stimulation at 19 sites across all phalanges and digit bases of the 5 right-hand digits. To quantify basic features of the digit maps within and across subjects, we applied standard descriptive measures, but also implemented a novel quantitative analysis. This so-called Direction/Order (DiOr) method tested whether subjects exhibited an ordering of peak fMRI representations along their individual direction of alignment through the set of analyzed phalanges and whether these individual directions were similar across subjects. Across-digit analysis demonstrated that for each set of homologous phalanges, the D5-to-D1 representations were successively represented along a common direction of alignment. Hence, the wellknown mediolateral D5-to-D1 somatotopy was not only confirmed for the distal phalanges (pi), but could also be shown for the medial (p2) and proximal phalanges (p3). In contrast, the peak activation for the digit bases (p4) only partly elicited that digit succession. Complementary, intra-digit analysis revealed a divergent picture of map topography for the different digits. Within D5 (and in a trend: D4), an ordered pl-to-p3 succession was found across subjects, pointing to a consistent intra-digit somatotopy for D5, with p3 generally found medial-posterior to pl. In contrast, for D1, D2, and D3, most subjects did not present with ordered pl-to-p3 maps nor were directions of alignment similarly oriented between subjects. These digits therefore exhibited highly diverse representation patterns across subjects

Cerebral metabolism in man after acute stroke: new observations using localized proton NMR spectroscopy.

Localized proton NMR spectroscopy at 1.5 T using stimulated echoes has been applied to study metabolic alterations in the postischemic phase of patients with acute cerebral infarction. A complete depletion of N-acetyl aspartate in the area of infarction has been observed in a patient studied 4 days after stroke. This finding was paralleled by a dramatic increase in the concentration of lactic acid to about 16 mM within the lesion, indicating continued anaerobic glycolysis. The diluting effect of the edema has been estimated to reduce average metabolite concentrations by about a factor of 3

Localized to extended states transition for two interacting particles in a two-dimensional random potential

We show by a numerical procedure that a short-range interaction $u$ induces extended two-particle states in a two-dimensional random potential. Our procedure treats the interaction as a perturbation and solve Dyson's equation exactly in the subspace of doubly occupied sites. We consider long bars of several widths and extract the macroscopic localization and correlation lengths by an scaling analysis of the renormalized decay length of the bars. For $u=1$, the critical disorder found is $W_{\rm c}=9.3\pm 0.2$, and the critical exponent $\nu=2.4\pm 0.5$. For two non-interacting particles we do not find any transition and the localization length is roughly half the one-particle value, as expected.Comment: 4 two-column pages, 4 eps figures, Revtex, to be published in Europhys. Let

Real-time magnetic resonance imaging: Radial gradient-echo sequences with nonlinear inverse reconstruction.

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate a real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method that not only promises high spatiotemporal resolution but also practical robustness in a wide range of scientific and clinical applications. Materials and Methods The proposed method relies on highly undersampled gradient-echo sequences with radial encoding schemes. The serial image reconstruction process solves the true mathematical task that emerges as a nonlinear inverse problem with the complex image and all coil sensitivity maps as unknowns. Extensions to model-based reconstructions for quantitative parametric mapping further increase the number of unknowns, for example, by adding parameters for phase-contrast flow or T1 relaxation. In all cases, an iterative numerical solution that minimizes a respective cost function is achieved with use of the iteratively regularized Gauss-Newton method. Convergence is supported by regularization, for example, to the preceding frame, whereas temporal fidelity is ensured by downsizing the regularization strength in comparison to the data consistency term in each iterative step. Practical implementations of highly parallelized algorithms are realized on a computer with multiple graphical processing units. It is "invisibly" integrated into a commercial 3-T MRI system to allow for conventional usage and to provide online reconstruction, display, and storage of regular DICOM image series. Results Depending on the application, the proposed method offers serial imaging, that is, the recording of MRI movies, with variable spatial resolution and up to 100 frames per second (fps)-corresponding to 10 milliseconds image acquisition times. For example, movements of the temporomandibular joint during opening and closing of the mouth are visualized with use of simultaneous dual-slice movies of both joints at 2 x 10 fps (50 milliseconds per frame). Cardiac function may be studied at 30 to 50 fps (33.3 to 20 milliseconds), whereas articulation processes typically require 50 fps (20 milliseconds) or orthogonal dual-slice acquisitions at 2 x 25 fps (20 milliseconds). Methodological extensions to model-based reconstructions achieve improved quantitative mapping of flow velocities and T1 relaxation times in a variety of clinical scenarios. Conclusions Real-time gradient-echo MRI with extreme radial undersampling and nonlinear inverse reconstruction allows for direct monitoring of arbitrary physiological processes and body functions. In many cases, pertinent applications offer hitherto impossible clinical studies (eg, of high-resolution swallowing dynamics) or bear the potential to replace existing MRI procedures (eg, electrocardiogram-gated cardiac examinations). As a consequence, many novel opportunities will require a change of paradigm in MRI-based radiology. At this stage, extended clinical trials are needed