A hybrid asymptotic-modal analysis of the EM scattering by an open-ended S-shaped rectangular waveguide cavity

The electromagnetic fields (EM) backscatter from a 3-dimensional perfectly conducting S-shaped open-ended cavity with a planar interior termination is analyzed when it is illuminated by an external plane wave. The analysis is based on a self-consistent multiple scattering method which accounts for the multiple wave interactions between the open end and the interior termination. The scattering matrices which described the reflection and transmission coefficients of the waveguide modes reflected and transmitted at each junction between the different waveguide sections, as well at the scattering from the edges at the open end are found via asymptotic high frequency methods such as the geometrical and physical theories of diffraction used in conjunction with the equivalent current method. The numerical results for an S-shaped inlet cavity are compared with the backscatter from a straight inlet cavity; the backscattered patterns are different because the curvature of an S-shaped inlet cavity redistributes the energy reflected from the interior termination in a way that is different from a straight inlet cavity

Probing Non-Abelian Statistics in nu=12/5 Quantum Hall State

The tunneling current and shot noise of the current between two Fractional Quantum Hall (FQH) edges in the $\nu=12/5$ FQH state in electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometer are studied. It is shown that the tunneling current and shot noise can be used to probe the existence of $k=3$ parafermion statistics in the $\nu=12/5$ FQH state. More specifically, the dependence of the current on the Aharonov-Bohm flux in the Read-Rezayi state is asymmetric under the change of the sign of the applied voltage. This property is absent in the Abelian Laughlin states. Moreover the Fano factor can exceed 12.7 electron charges in the $\nu=12/5$ FQH state . This number well exceeds the maximum possible Fano factor in all Laughlin states and the $\nu=5/2$ Moore-Read state which was shown previously to be $e$ and $3.2 e$ respectively.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Localized structures in Kagome lattices

We investigate the existence and stability of gap vortices and multi-pole gap solitons in a Kagome lattice with a defocusing nonlinearity both in a discrete case and in a continuum one with periodic external modulation. In particular, predictions are made based on expansion around a simple and analytically tractable anti-continuum (zero coupling) limit. These predictions are then confirmed for a continuum model of an optically-induced Kagome lattice in a photorefractive crystal obtained by a continuous transformation of a honeycomb lattice

Language and social/emotional problems identified at a universal developmental assessment at 30 months

Background: Preschool language and neurodevelopmental problems often persist and impede learning. The aims of the current study are to assess the uptake of a new universal 30 month health visitor contact and to quantify the prevalence of language delay and social/emotional difficulties.<p></p> Methods: All families of 30 month old children in four Glasgow localities were offered a visit from their health visitor. Structured data were collected relating to language, social and emotional development using three instruments; The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the abbreviated Sure Start Language Measure and a two-item language screen.<p></p> Results: From an eligible population of 543 children, there was a 90% return rate of contact forms from the health visitors, and assessments were completed on 78% of eligible children. Visit completion rates did not differ significantly by socio-economic status. 3-8% of children were reported to have language delay depending on the method of assessment. 8.8% of children scored in the “abnormal” range of SDQ total difficulties scores and 31.1% had an abnormality in at least one subscale. There was substantial overlap between language delay and abnormal scores on the SDQ.<p></p> Conclusions: Universal assessment of neurodevelopmental function at 30 months identified a significant proportion of children, including those previously considered at low risk, with both language and social/emotional difficulties. Further work is required to assess the precise nature of these difficulties and to assess the potential impact on services.<p></p&gt

Geometric stabilization of extended S=2 vortices in two-dimensional photonic lattices: theoretical analysis, numerical computation and experimental results

In this work, we focus our studies on the subject of nonlinear discrete self-trapping of S=2 (doubly-charged) vortices in two-dimensional photonic lattices, including theoretical analysis, numerical computation and experimental demonstration. We revisit earlier findings about S=2 vortices with a discrete model, and find that S=2 vortices extended over eight lattice sites can indeed be stable (or only weakly unstable) under certain conditions, not only for the cubic nonlinearity previously used, but also for a saturable nonlinearity more relevant to our experiment with a biased photorefractive nonlinear crystal. We then use the discrete analysis as a guide towards numerically identifying stable (and unstable) vortex solutions in a more realistic continuum model with a periodic potential. Finally, we present our experimental observation of such geometrically extended S=2 vortex solitons in optically induced lattices under both self-focusing and self-defocusing nonlinearities, and show clearly that the S=2 vortex singularities are preserved during nonlinear propagation

Dynamic and Energetic Stabilization of Persistent Currents in Bose-Einstein Condensates

We study conditions under which vortices in a highly oblate harmonically trapped Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) can be stabilized due to pinning by a blue-detuned Gaussian laser beam, with particular emphasis on the potentially destabilizing effects of laser beam positioning within the BEC. Our approach involves theoretical and numerical exploration of dynamically and energetically stable pinning of vortices with winding number up to $S=6$, in correspondence with experimental observations. Stable pinning is quantified theoretically via Bogoliubov-de Gennes excitation spectrum computations and confirmed via direct numerical simulations for a range of conditions similar to those of experimental observations. The theoretical and numerical results indicate that the pinned winding number, or equivalently the winding number of the superfluid current about the laser beam, decays as a laser beam of fixed intensity moves away from the BEC center. Our theoretical analysis helps explain previous experimental observations, and helps define limits of stable vortex pinning for future experiments involving vortex manipulation by laser beams.Comment: 8 pages 5 figure

Climatic versus biotic constraints on carbon and water fluxes in seasonally drought-affected ponderosa pine ecosystems

We investigated the relative importance of climatic versus biotic controls on gross primary production (GPP) and water vapor fluxes in seasonally drought-affected ponderosa pine forests. The study was conducted in young (YS), mature (MS), and old stands (OS) over 4 years at the AmeriFlux Metolius sites. Model simulations showed that interannual variation of GPP did not follow the same trends as precipitation, and effects of climatic variation were smallest at the OS (50%), and intermediate at the YS (<20%). In the young, developing stand, interannual variation in leaf area has larger effects on fluxes than climate, although leaf area is a function of climate in that climate can interact with age-related shifts in carbon allocation and affect whole-tree hydraulic conductance. Older forests, with well-established root systems, appear to be better buffered from effects of seasonal drought and interannual climatic variation. Interannual variation of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) was also lowest at the OS, where NEE is controlled more by interannual variation of ecosystem respiration, 70% of which is from soil, than by the variation of GPP, whereas variation in GPP is the primary reason for interannual changes in NEE at the YS and MS. Across spatially heterogeneous landscapes with high frequency of younger stands resulting from natural and anthropogenic disturbances, interannual climatic variation and change in leaf area are likely to result in large interannual variation in GPP and NEE