Semiclassical Analysis of the Supershell Effect in Reflection-Asymmetric Superdeformed Oscillator

An oscillatory pattern in the smoothed quantum spectrum, which is unique for single-particle motions in a reflection-asymmetric superdeformed oscillator potential, is investigated by means of the semiclassical theory of shell structure. Clear correspondence between the oscillating components of the smoothed level density and the classical periodic orbits is found. It is shown that an interference effect between two families of the short periodic orbits, called supershell effect, develops with increasing reflection-asymmetric deformations. Possible origins of this enhancement phenomena as well as quantum signatures of period-multipling bifurcations are discussed in connection with stabilities of the classical periodic orbits.Comment: 27 pages, REVTeX, 12 postscript figures are available from the author upon reques

Periodic-Orbit Bifurcation and Shell Structure in Reflection-Asymmetric Deformed Cavity

Shell structure of the single-particle spectrum for reflection-asymmetric deformed cavity is investigated. Remarkable shell structure emerges for certain combinations of quadrupole and octupole deformations. Semiclassical periodic-orbit analysis indicates that bifurcation of equatorial orbits plays an important role in the formation of this new shell structure.Comment: 5 pages, latex including 5 postscript figures, submitted to Physics Letters

Time-Reversal Symmetry in Non-Hermitian Systems

For ordinary hermitian Hamiltonians, the states show the Kramers degeneracy when the system has a half-odd-integer spin and the time reversal operator obeys \Theta^2=-1, but no such a degeneracy exists when \Theta^2=+1. Here we point out that for non-hermitian systems, there exists a degeneracy similar to Kramers even when \Theta^2=+1. It is found that the new degeneracy follows from the mathematical structure of split-quaternion, instead of quaternion from which the Kramers degeneracy follows in the usual hermitian cases. Furthermore, we also show that particle/hole symmetry gives rise to a pair of states with opposite energies on the basis of the split quaternion in a class of non-hermitian Hamiltonians. As concrete examples, we examine in detail NxN Hamiltonians with N=2 and 4 which are non-hermitian generalizations of spin 1/2 Hamiltonian and quadrupole Hamiltonian of spin 3/2, respectively.Comment: 40 pages, 2 figures; typos fixed, references adde

Signature extension for spectral variation in soils, volume 4

The reduced 1975-1976 field data at Garden City, Kansas are presented. These data are being used to evaluate the SRVC model predictions, to compare the ERIM-SUITS model with both the SRVC results and field data, and finally, to provide a data base for reviewing multitemporal trajectories. In particular, the applicability of the tasselled cap transformation is reviewed. The first detailed verification of this approach utilizing actual field measured data from the LACIE field measurement program, rather than LANDSAT data, is given

Subwavelength fractional Talbot effect in layered heterostructures of composite metamaterials

We demonstrate that under certain conditions, fractional Talbot revivals can occur in heterostructures of composite metamaterials, such as multilayer positive and negative index media, metallodielectric stacks, and one-dimensional dielectric photonic crystals. Most importantly, without using the paraxial approximation we obtain Talbot images for the feature sizes of transverse patterns smaller than the illumination wavelength. A general expression for the Talbot distance in such structures is derived, and the conditions favorable for observing Talbot effects in layered heterostructures is discussed.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev.

Spatially Characterizing Effective Timber Supply

The structure of a computer-oriented cartographic model for assessing roundwood supply for generation of base load electricity is discussed. The model provides an analytical procedure for coupling spatial information of harvesting economics and owner willingness to sell stumpages. Supply is characterized in terms of standing timber; of accessibility considering various harvesting and hauling factors; and of availability as affected by ownership and residential patterns. Factors governing accessibility to timber include effective harvesting distance to haulic roads as modified by barriers and slopes. Haul distance is expressed in units that take into account the relative ease of travel along various road types to a central processing facility. Areas of accessible timber are grouped into spatial units, termed 'timbersheds', of common access to particular haul road segments that belong to unique 'transport zones'. Timber availability considerations include size of ownership parcels, housing density and excluded areas. The analysis techniques are demonstrated for a cartographic data base in western Massachusetts

Quantum hamiltonians and prime numbers

A short review of Schroedinger hamiltonians for which the spectral problem has been related in the literature to the distribution of the prime numbers is presented here. We notice a possible connection between prime numbers and centrifugal inversions in black holes and suggest that this remarkable link could be directly studied within trapped Bose-Einstein condensates. In addition, when referring to the factorizing operators of Pitkanen and Castro and collaborators, we perform a mathematical extension allowing a more standard supersymmetric approachComment: 10 pages, 2 figures, accepted as a Brief Review at MPL

An examination of the effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunct to an alcohol and other drugs AOD treatment program : a pilot study

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Science.Background to the study: Alcohol and other drugs are one of the leading causes of preventable deaths and hospital admissions in Australia. Treatment services are expected to meet the growing needs of the community in the delivery of appropriate and timely interventions for patients and their families. Despite this, these services are inadequately funded and have significant staff shortages. There is an urgent need to explore adjunct treatments to complement public health care services. Research emerging from the United States and United Kingdom suggests acupuncture is effective in treating alcohol and other drug dependencies. In 2004, the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) conducted Australia’s first hospital based study examining the effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunct to an alcohol and other drugs treatment program. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the feasibility of acupuncture as an adjunct treatment in an existing AOD program. Study Design: The study was an uncontrolled, open label pilot study. Subjects: Forty seven subjects (29 male and 18 female) volunteered to receive acupuncture treatments during their admission to Palm Court Residential Rehabilitation Unit, Rozelle Hospital. Method and interventions: Acupuncture treatments were delivered weekly between May 21 and October 8 2004. Subjects received up to four, one hour acupuncture sessions, during their four week admission. Pre and post treatment anxiety scores were measured for each session, to determine immediate changes in anxiety. Variables for analysis included gender ratio, drug of choice, mean age, acupuncture points selected, initial treatment date, principal student practitioner and total number of treatments received. Subjects’ perceptions of the effectiveness of acupuncture were recorded in a client satisfaction questionnaire. The average length of stay (number of days in treatment) for the trial subjects was retrospectively compared to the average length of stay for the same period, in the previous two years. Results: The subjects fell into four categories determined by whether they: could not complete the program (because of time constraints); dropped out of Palm Court; elected to drop out of the acupuncture program; or completed both programs. Thirteen of the 47 subjects (5 male, 8 female) completed the trial, receiving four treatments in total. With all four groups, there were statistically significant decreases in mean anxiety scores for the initial treatment (p < 0.05). This was the only treatment for which between group comparisons could be made because of subject drop out. Alcohol, accounting for 60% of the sample group, was the only drug with adequate representation to consider for analysis. No obvious patterns were found to suggest alcohol was a predicting factor for program completion. Analysis was conducted to determine if age or gender were predicting factors for program completion. The mean age was similar for all four groups, therefore age was not a predicting factor for program completion. However, it was found that while men comprised the majority of subjects, women were statistically significantly more likely to complete it (p = 0.03). The average length of stay (number of days) in Palm Court was higher for the trial period than for the same time in previous years. However data were limited and it is difficult to draw conclusions from such a small sample size and short trial duration (21 weeks). Limitations of the study included a high drop out rate; small sample sizes; difficulties distinguishing between acupuncture and health improvements over time; difficulties disentangling the effects of acupuncture from non treatment specific health outcomes (placebo); sample and practitioner bias; no treatment prescription leading to a wide range of points selected and no post treatment follow up. Discussion: Uncontrolled clinical trials are essential in new frontiers of research to determine whether the clinical effects are worth investigating. Decreases in mean anxiety scores for all the groups, increase in program retention rates and positive feedback from client satisfaction surveys suggest that further research is warranted. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of this uncontrolled open label pilot study, it has been a necessary first step. The study An Examination of the Effectiveness of Acupuncture as an Adjunct to an Alcohol and Other Drugs Treatment Program has provided a foundation on which to build an evidence base in the future

Extracting scene feature vectors through modeling, volume 3

The remote estimation of the leaf area index of winter wheat at Finney County, Kansas was studied. The procedure developed consists of three activities: (1) field measurements; (2) model simulations; and (3) response classifications. The first activity is designed to identify model input parameters and develop a model evaluation data set. A stochastic plant canopy reflectance model is employed to simulate reflectance in the LANDSAT bands as a function of leaf area index for two phenological stages. An atmospheric model is used to translate these surface reflectances into simulated satellite radiance. A divergence classifier determines the relative similarity between model derived spectral responses and those of areas with unknown leaf area index. The unknown areas are assigned the index associated with the closest model response. This research demonstrated that the SRVC canopy reflectance model is appropriate for wheat scenes and that broad categories of leaf area index can be inferred from the procedure developed