Time-Dependent Variational Principle for ϕ4\phi^4 Field Theory: RPA Approximation and Renormalization (II)

The Gaussian-time-dependent variational equations are used to explored the physics of $(\phi^4)_{3+1}$ field theory. We have investigated the static solutions and discussed the conditions of renormalization. Using these results and stability analysis we show that there are two viable non-trivial versions of $(\phi^4)_{3+1}$. In the continuum limit the bare coupling constant can assume $b\to 0^{+}$ and $b\to 0^{-}$, which yield well defined asymmetric and symmetric solutions respectively. We have also considered small oscillations in the broken phase and shown that they give one and two meson modes of the theory. The resulting equation has a closed solution leading to a ``zero mode'' and vanished scattering amplitude in the limit of infinite cutoff.Comment: 29 pages, LaTex file, to appear in Annals of Physic

Gaussian Time-Dependent Variational Principle for Bosons I - Uniform Case

We investigate the Dirac time-dependent variational method for a system of non-ideal Bosons interacting through an arbitrary two body potential. The method produces a set of non-linear time dependent equations for the variational parameters. In particular we have considered small oscillations about equilibrium. We obtain generalized RPA equations that can be understood as interacting quasi-bosons, usually mentioned in the literature as having a gap. The result of this interaction provides us with scattering properties of these quasi-bosons including possible bound-states, which can include zero modes. In fact the zero mode bound state can be interpreted as a new quasi-boson with a gapless dispersion relation. Utilizing these results we discuss a straightforward scheme for introducing temperature.Comment: 28 pages, 1 figure to appear in Annals of Physic

Statistical features of the thermal neutron capture cross sections

We discuss the existence of huge thermal neutron capture cross sections in several nuclei. The values of the cross sections are several orders of magnitude bigger than expected at these very low energies. We lend support to the idea that this phenomenon is random in nature and is similar to what we have learned from the study of parity violation in the actinide region. The idea of statistical doorways is advanced as a unified concept in the delineation of large numbers in the nuclear world. The average number of maxima per unit mass, $$ in the capture cross section is calculated and related to the underlying cross section correlation function and found to be $= 3/(\pi \sqrt{2}\gamma_{A})$, where $\gamma_{A}$ is a characteristic mass correlation width which designates the degree of remnant coherence in the system. We trace this coherence to nucleosynthesis which produced the nuclei whose neutron capture cross sections are considered here.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures. To appear in Acta Physica Polonica B as a Contribution to the proceedings of:Jagiellonian Symposium of Fundamental and Applied Subatomic Physics, June 7- 12, 2015 Krakow, Polan

Electrothermal feedback in superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

We investigate the role of electrothermal feedback in the operation of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). It is found that the desired mode of operation for SNSPDs is only achieved if this feedback is unstable, which happens naturally through the slow electrical response associated with their relatively large kinetic inductance. If this response is sped up in an effort to increase the device count rate, the electrothermal feedback becomes stable and results in an effect known as latching, where the device is locked in a resistive state and can no longer detect photons. We present a set of experiments which elucidate this effect, and a simple model which quantitatively explains the results

An equations-of-motion approach to quantum mechanics: application to a model phase transition

We present a generalized equations-of-motion method that efficiently calculates energy spectra and matrix elements for algebraic models. The method is applied to a 5-dimensional quartic oscillator that exhibits a quantum phase transition between vibrational and rotational phases. For certain parameters, 10 by 10 matrices give better results than obtained by diagonalising 1000 by 1000 matrices.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur