135 research outputs found
The Casimir Problem of Spherical Dielectrics: Quantum Statistical and Field Theoretical Approaches
The Casimir free energy for a system of two dielectric concentric nonmagnetic
spherical bodies is calculated with use of a quantum statistical mechanical
method, at arbitrary temperature. By means of this rather novel method, which
turns out to be quite powerful (we have shown this to be true in other
situations also), we consider first an explicit evaluation of the free energy
for the static case, corresponding to zero Matsubara frequency ().
Thereafter, the time-dependent case is examined. For comparison we consider the
calculation of the free energy with use of the more commonly known field
theoretical method, assuming for simplicity metallic boundary surfaces.Comment: 31 pages, LaTeX, one new reference; version to appear in Phys. Rev.
Neural control on multiple time scales: Insights from human stick balancing
The time-delayed feedback control mechanisms of the nervous system are continuously subjected to the
effects of uncontrolled random perturbations (herein referred to as noise). In this setting the statistical properties
of the fluctuations in the controlled variable(s) can provide non-invasive insights into the nature of the
underlying control mechanisms. We illustrate this concept through a study of stick balancing at the fingertip
using high speed motion capture techniques. Experimental observations together with numerical studies of a
stochastic delay differential equation demonstrate that on time scales short compared to the neural time delay
(“fast control”), parametric noise provides a non-predictive mechanism that transiently stabilizes the upright
position of the balanced stick. Moreover, numerical simulations of a delayed random walker with a repulsive
origin indicate that even an unstable fixed point can be transiently stabilized by the interplay between noise
and time delay. In contrast, on time scales comparable to the neural time delay (“slow control”), feedback and
feedforward control mechanisms become more important. The relative contribution of the fast and slow control
mechanisms to stick balancing is dynamic and, for example, depends on the context in which stick balancing
is performed and the expertise of the balancer
Dynamics of Simple Balancing Models with State Dependent Switching Control
Time-delayed control in a balancing problem may be a nonsmooth function for a
variety of reasons. In this paper we study a simple model of the control of an
inverted pendulum by either a connected movable cart or an applied torque for
which the control is turned off when the pendulum is located within certain
regions of phase space. Without applying a small angle approximation for
deviations about the vertical position, we see structurally stable periodic
orbits which may be attracting or repelling. Due to the nonsmooth nature of the
control, these periodic orbits are born in various discontinuity-induced
bifurcations. Also we show that a coincidence of switching events can produce
complicated periodic and aperiodic solutions.Comment: 36 pages, 12 figure
Spectral control of high-harmonic generation via drive laser pulse shaping in a wide-diameter capillary
We experimentally investigate spectral control of high-harmonic generation in a wide-diameter (508 μm) capillary that allows using significantly lower gas pressures coupled with elevated drive laser energies to achieve higher harmonic energies. Using phase shaping to change the linear chirp of the drive laser pulses, we observe wavelength tuning of the high-harmonic output to both larger and smaller values. Comparing tuning via the gas pressure with the amount of blue shift in the transmitted drive laser spectrum, we conclude that both adiabatic and non-adiabatic effects cause pulse-shaping induced tuning of high harmonics. We obtain a fractional wavelength tuning, Δλ/λ, in the range from −0.007 to + 0.01, which is comparable to what is achieved with standard capillaries of smaller diameter and higher pressures
Hadronic decay, the renormalization group, analiticity of the polarization operators and QCD parameters
The ALEPH data on hadronic tau-decay is throughly analysed in the framework
of QCD. The perturbative calculations are performed in 1-4-loop approximation.
The analytical properties of the polarization operators are used in the whole
complex q^2 plane. It is shown that the QCD prediction for R_{tau} agrees with
the measured value R_{tau} not only for conventional Lambda^{conv}_3 =
(618+-29) MeV but as well as for Lambda^{new}_3 = (1666+-7) MeV. The
polarization operator calculated using the renormgroup has nonphysical cut
[-Lambda^2_3, 0]. If Lambda_3 = Lambda^{conv}_3, the contribution of only
physical cut is deficient in the explanation of the ALEPH experiment. If
Lambda_3 = Lambda^{new}_3 the contribution of nonphysical cut is very small and
only the physical cut explains the ALEPH experiment. The new sum rules which
follow only from analytical properties of polarization operators are obtained.
Basing on the sum rules obtained, it is shown that there is an essential
disagreement between QCD perturbation theory and the tau-lepton hadronic decay
experiment at conventional value Lambda_3. In the evolution upwards to larger
energies the matching of r(q^2) (Eq.(12)) at the masses J/psi, Upsilon and 2m_t
was performed. The obtained value alpha_s(-m^2_z) = 0.141+-0.004 (at Lambda_3 =
Lambda^{new}_3) differs essentially from conventional value, but the
calculation of the values R(s) = sigma(e+e- -> hadrons)/sigma(e+e- -> mu+mu-),
R_l = Gamma(Z -> hadrons)/Gamma(Z -> leptons), alpha_s(-3 GeV^2), alpha_s(-2.5
GeV^2) does not contradict the experiments.Comment: 20 page
Size and density redistribution by a rod obstacle in a cluster jet for quasi-phase matching of high harmonic generation
We investigate the the possibility to realize a fully coherent XUV light source generating wavelengths down to 4 nm by using high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in an ionized medium. Due to the strong ionization, current p We investigate the possibility to realize a fully coherent XUV light source generating wavelengths down to 4 nm by using high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in an ionized medium. Due to the strong ionization, current phase-matching techniques for HHG are not suitable. Instead, we will investigate quasi-phase matching (QPM) over an extended interaction length to increase the output pulse energy. For this, we will prepare a cluster jet from a 5 mm long supersonic nozzle operated at high backing pressure (up to 75 bar). The modulation for QPM is obtained by placing either an array of wires or slits on top of the exit of the nozzle. Here, we report on the characterization of the modulated argon cluster jet. We apply Rayleigh scattering imaging and interferometry to infer the cluster size and total atomic number density distribution in the jet. Initial experiments concern the modulation of the jet by placing a 2 mm rod above the nozzle. The rst results on the cluster size and density distribution will be compared with the simulation results from our 2D fluid dynamics model
Looking for magnetic monopoles at LHC with diphoton events
Magnetic monopoles have been a subject of interest since Dirac established
the relation between the existence of monopoles and charge quantization. The
intense experimental search carried thus far has not met with success. The
Large Hadron Collider is reaching energies never achieved before allowing the
search for exotic particles in the TeV mass range. In a continuing effort to
discover these rare particles we propose here other ways to detect them. We
study the observability of monopoles and monopolium, a monopole-antimonopole
bound state, at the Large Hadron Collider in the channel for
monopole masses in the range 500-1000 GeV. We conclude that LHC is an ideal
machine to discover monopoles with masses below 1 TeV at present running
energies and with 5 fb of integrated luminosity.Comment: This manuscript contains information appeared in Looking for magnetic
monopoles at LHC, arXiv:1104.0218 [hep-ph] and Monopolium detection at the
LHC.,arXiv:1107.3684 [hep-ph] by the same authors, rewritten for joint
publication in The European Physica Journal Plus. 26 pages, 22 figure
Limits on Production of Magnetic Monopoles Utilizing Samples from the DO and CDF Detectors at the Tevatron
We present 90% confidence level limits on magnetic monopole production at the
Fermilab Tevatron from three sets of samples obtained from the D0 and CDF
detectors each exposed to a proton-antiproton luminosity of
(experiment E-882). Limits are obtained for the production cross-sections and
masses for low-mass accelerator-produced pointlike Dirac monopoles trapped and
bound in material surrounding the D0 and CDF collision regions. In the absence
of a complete quantum field theory of magnetic charge, we estimate these limits
on the basis of a Drell-Yan model. These results (for magnetic charge values of
1, 2, 3, and 6 times the minimum Dirac charge) extend and improve previously
published bounds.Comment: 18 pages, 17 figures, REVTeX
More is the Same; Phase Transitions and Mean Field Theories
This paper looks at the early theory of phase transitions. It considers a
group of related concepts derived from condensed matter and statistical
physics. The key technical ideas here go under the names of "singularity",
"order parameter", "mean field theory", and "variational method".
In a less technical vein, the question here is how can matter, ordinary
matter, support a diversity of forms. We see this diversity each time we
observe ice in contact with liquid water or see water vapor, "steam", come up
from a pot of heated water. Different phases can be qualitatively different in
that walking on ice is well within human capacity, but walking on liquid water
is proverbially forbidden to ordinary humans. These differences have been
apparent to humankind for millennia, but only brought within the domain of
scientific understanding since the 1880s.
A phase transition is a change from one behavior to another. A first order
phase transition involves a discontinuous jump in a some statistical variable
of the system. The discontinuous property is called the order parameter. Each
phase transitions has its own order parameter that range over a tremendous
variety of physical properties. These properties include the density of a
liquid gas transition, the magnetization in a ferromagnet, the size of a
connected cluster in a percolation transition, and a condensate wave function
in a superfluid or superconductor. A continuous transition occurs when that
jump approaches zero. This note is about statistical mechanics and the
development of mean field theory as a basis for a partial understanding of this
phenomenon.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figure
Sensitivity of LHC experiments to exotic highly ionising particles
The experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are able to discover or
set limits on the production of exotic particles with TeV-scale masses
possessing values of electric and/or magnetic charge such that they behave as
highly ionising particles (HIPs). In this paper the sensitivity of the LHC
experiments to HIP production is discussed in detail. It is shown that a number
of different detection methods are required to investigate as fully as possible
the charge-mass range. These include direct detection as the HIPs pass through
either passive or active detectors and, in the case of magnetically charged
objects, the so-called induction method with which magnetic monopoles which
stop in accelerator and detector material could be observed. The benefit of
using complementary approaches to HIP detection is discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 52 figure
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