Moving Observers in an Isotropic Universe

We show how the anisotropy resulting from the motion of an observer in an isotropic universe may be determined by measurements. This provides a means to identify inertial frames, yielding a simple resolution to the twins paradox of relativity theory. We propose that isotropy is a requirement for a frame to be inertial; this makes it possible to relate motion to the large scale structure of the universe.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, with minor typographical correctio

Statistical Constraints on State Preparation for a Quantum Computer

Quantum computing algorithms require that the quantum register be initially present in a superposition state. To achieve this, we consider the practical problem of creating a coherent superposition state of several qubits. Owing to considerations of quantum statistics, this requires that the entropy of the system go down. This, in turn, has two practical implications: (i) the initial state cannot be controlled; (ii) the temperature of the system must be reduced. These factors, in addition to decoherence and sensitivity to errors, must be considered in the implementation of quantum computers.Comment: 7 pages; the final published versio

A Three-Stage Quantum Cryptography Protocol

We present a three-stage quantum cryptographic protocol guaranteeing security in which each party uses its own secret key. Unlike the BB84 protocol, where the qubits are transmitted in only one direction and classical information exchanged thereafter, the communication in the proposed protocol remains quantum in each stage. A related system of key distribution is also described.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Geometric phase and gauge theory structure in quantum computing

We discuss the presence of a geometrical phase in the evolution of a qubit state and its gauge structure. The time evolution operator is found to be the free energy operator, rather than the Hamiltonian operator.Comment: 5 pages, presented at Fifth International Workshop DICE2010: Space-Time-Matter - current issues in quantum mechanics and beyond, Castiglioncello (Tuscany), September 13-17, 201

Imaging with Diffraction Tomography

The problem of cross sectional (tomographic) imaging bf objects with diffracting sources is addressed. Specifically the area of investigation is the effect of multiple scattering and attenuation phenomena in diffraction imaging. This work reviews the theory and limits of first order diffraction tomography and studies iterative techniques that can be used to improve the quality of tomographic imaging with diffracting sources. Conventional (straight-ray) tomographic algorithms are not valid when used with acoustic or microwave energy. Thus more sophisticated algorithms are needed; First order diffraction tomography uses a linearized version of the wave equation and gives an especially simple reconstruction algorithm. This work reviews first order approximations to the scattered field and studies the quality of the reconstructions when the assumptions behind these approximations are violated. It will be shown that the Born approximation is valid when the phase change across the object is less than it and the Rytov approximation is valid when the refractive index changes by less than two or three percent. Better reconstructions will be based on higher order approximations to the scattered field. This work describes two fixed point algorithms (the Born and the Rytov approximations) and an algebraic approach to more accurately calculate the scattered fields. The limits of each of these approaches is discussed and simulated results are shown. Finally a review of higher order inversion techniques is presented. Each of these techniques is reviewed and some of their limitations are discussed

Rule-Based Approach to Binocular Stereopsis

This research is motivated by a desire to integrate some of the diverse, yet complimentary, developments that have taken place during the past few years in the area of passive stereo vision. On the one hand, we have approaches based on matching zero-crossings along epipolar lines, and, on the other, people have proposed techniques that match directly higher level percepts, such as line elements and other geometrical forms. Our rule-based program is a modest attempt at integrating these different approaches into a single program. Such integration was made necessary by the fact that no single method by itself appears capable of generating usable range maps of a scene

Reflection Mode Diffraction Tomography

In the field of ultrasound diffraction tomography, a cross section of a weakly scattering object is reconstructed from measurements of the sound scattered from the insonified object. This research studies tomographic imaging algorithms that deal only with the sound that is backscattered from the object. The use of the backscattered sound provides higher resolution reconstructions due to the higher spatial frequency information about the object that is obtained from the backscatter. Unfortunately the cost of the high frequency information contained in the backscatter is the loss of low frequency information. Different approaches to compensate for this loss are discussed. An additional benefit of reflection mode tomography is that it has the advantage of requiring only 180° access to the object whereas transmission mode requires 360°. The charter of this research is to explore the effectiveness of current reflection mode diffraction tomography algorithms and to theoretically develop, as well as experimentally verify, new algorithms. Different scanning geometries with different methods of insonification are explored. Many different approaches to the analysis of the problem are taken

Multiple Scattering and Attenuation Phenomena in Diffraction Imaging

The problem of cross sectional (tomographic) imaging bf objects with diffracting sources is addressed. Specifically the area of investigation is the effect of multiple scattering and attenuation phenomena in diffraction imaging. The validity of either the Born or the Rytov approximations is the basic assumption behind all the inverse scattering techniques in diffraction tomography. To test these techniques When these assumptions are not satisfied, we have developed a computational procedure for the calculation of the “ true” scattered fields from a multi-component object. Using this procedure, the performance of two available diffraction reconstruction techniques is examined in the presence of multiple scattering effects. The simulation results show the superiority of the Synthetic Aperture technique. We have also studied the role of attenuation in the reconstruction techniques. To calculate the scattered fields from an object in the presence of attenuation, new computer simulation programs are developed. These codes are used in a simulation study of the effect of the attenuation parameter on the object reconstuctions. [reconstruction

Task Planner for Simultaneous Fulfillment of Operational, Geometric and Uncertainty-Reduction Goals

Our ultimate goal in robot planning is to develop a planner which can create complete assembly plans given as input a high level description of assembly goals, geometric models of the components of the assembly, and a description of the capabilities of the work cell (including the robot and the sensory system). In this paper, we introduce SPAR, a planning system which reasons about high level operational goals, geometric goals and uncertainty-reduction goals in order to create assembly plans which consist of manipulations as well as sensory operations when appropriate. Operational planning is done using a nonlinear, constraint posting planner. Geometric planning is accomplished by constraining the execution of operations in the plan so that geometric goals are satisfied, or, if the geometric configuration of the world prevents this, by introducing new operations into the plan with the appropriate constraints. When the uncertainty in the world description exceeds that specified by the uncertainty-reduction goals, SPAR introduces either sensing operations or manipulations to reduce that uncertainty to acceptable levels. If SPAR cannot find a way to sufficiently reduce uncertainties, it does not abandon the plan. Instead, it augments the plan with sensing operations to be used to verify the execution of the action, and, when possible, posts possible error recovery plans, although at this point, the verification operations and recovery plans are predefined

Quantum Information and Entropy

Thermodynamic entropy is not an entirely satisfactory measure of information of a quantum state. This entropy for an unknown pure state is zero, although repeated measurements on copies of such a pure state do communicate information. In view of this, we propose a new measure for the informational entropy of a quantum state that includes information in the pure states and the thermodynamic entropy. The origin of information is explained in terms of an interplay between unitary and non-unitary evolution. Such complementarity is also at the basis of the so-called interaction-free measurement.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figure