10,209 research outputs found
Chiral symmetry breaking in a uniform external magnetic field II. Symmetry restoration at high temperatures and chemical potentials
Chiral symmetry is dynamically broken in quenched, ladder QED at weak gauge
couplings when an external magnetic field is present. In this paper, we show
that chiral symmetry is restored above a critical chemical potential and the
corresponding phase transition is of first order. In contrast, the chiral
symmetry restoration at high temperatures (and at zero chemical potential) is a
second order phase transition.Comment: Latex; 12 pages; 8 postscript figures include
Ordering dynamics of the driven lattice gas model
The evolution of a two-dimensional driven lattice-gas model is studied on an
L_x X L_y lattice. Scaling arguments and extensive numerical simulations are
used to show that starting from random initial configuration the model evolves
via two stages: (a) an early stage in which alternating stripes of particles
and vacancies are formed along the direction y of the driving field, and (b) a
stripe coarsening stage, in which the number of stripes is reduced and their
average width increases. The number of stripes formed at the end of the first
stage is shown to be a function of L_x/L_y^\phi, with \phi ~ 0.2. Thus,
depending on this parameter, the resulting state could be either single or
multi striped. In the second, stripe coarsening stage, the coarsening time is
found to be proportional to L_y, becoming infinitely long in the thermodynamic
limit. This implies that the multi striped state is thermodynamically stable.
The results put previous studies of the model in a more general framework
Random access quantum information processors
Qubit connectivity is an important property of a quantum processor, with an
ideal processor having random access -- the ability of arbitrary qubit pairs to
interact directly. Here, we implement a random access superconducting quantum
information processor, demonstrating universal operations on a nine-bit quantum
memory, with a single transmon serving as the central processor. The quantum
memory uses the eigenmodes of a linear array of coupled superconducting
resonators. The memory bits are superpositions of vacuum and single-photon
states, controlled by a single superconducting transmon coupled to the edge of
the array. We selectively stimulate single-photon vacuum Rabi oscillations
between the transmon and individual eigenmodes through parametric flux
modulation of the transmon frequency, producing sidebands resonant with the
modes. Utilizing these oscillations for state transfer, we perform a universal
set of single- and two-qubit gates between arbitrary pairs of modes, using only
the charge and flux bias of the transmon. Further, we prepare multimode
entangled Bell and GHZ states of arbitrary modes. The fast and flexible
control, achieved with efficient use of cryogenic resources and control
electronics, in a scalable architecture compatible with state-of-the-art
quantum memories is promising for quantum computation and simulation.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, supplementary information ancillary file, 21
page
The Bipolar II depression questionnaire: A self-report tool for detecting Bipolar II depression
Bipolar II (BP-II) depression is often misdiagnosed as unipolar (UP) depression, resulting in suboptimal treatment. Tools for differentiating between these two types of depression are lacking. This study aimed to develop a simple, self-report screening instrument to help distinguish BP-II depression from UP depressive disorder. A prototype BP-II depression questionnaire (BPIIDQ-P) was constructed following a literature review, panel discussions and a field trial. Consecutively assessed patients with a diagnosis of depressive disorder or BP with depressive episodes completed the BPIIDQ-P at a psychiatric outpatient clinic in Hong Kong between October and December 2013. Data were analyzed using discriminant analysis and logistic regression. Of the 298 subjects recruited, 65 (21.8%) were males and 233 (78.2%) females. There were 112 (37.6%) subjects with BP depression [BP-I = 42 (14.1%), BP-II = 70 (23.5%)] and 182 (62.4%) with UP depression. Based on family history, age at onset, postpartum depression, episodic course, attacks of anxiety, hypersomnia, social phobia and agoraphobia, the 8-item BPIIDQ-8 was constructed. The BPIIDQ-8 differentiated subjects with BP-II from those with UP depression with a sensitivity/specificity of 0.75/0.63 for the whole sample and 0.77/0.72 for a female subgroup with a history of childbirth. The BPIIDQ-8 can differentiate BP-II from UP depression at the secondary care level with satisfactory to good reliability and validity. It has good potential as a screening tool for BP-II depression in primary care settings. Recall bias, the relatively small sample size, and the high proportion of females in the BP-II sample limit the generalization of the results
Renormalization Flow of Bound States
A renormalization group flow equation with a scale-dependent transformation
of field variables gives a unified description of fundamental and composite
degrees of freedom. In the context of the effective average action, we study
the renormalization flow of scalar bound states which are formed out of
fundamental fermions. We use the gauged Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model at weak gauge
coupling as an example. Thereby, the notions of bound state or fundamental
particle become scale dependent, being classified by the fixed-point structure
of the flow of effective couplings.Comment: 25 pages, 3 figures, v2: minor corrections, version to appear in PR
Controlling for transactions bias in regional house price indices
Transactions bias arises when properties that trade are not a random sample of the total housing stock. Price indices are susceptible because they are typically based on transactions data. Existing approaches to this problem rely on Heckman-type correction methods, where a probit regression is used to capture the differences between properties that sell and those that do not sell in a given period. However, this approach can only be applied where there is reliable data on the whole housing stock. In many countries—the UK included—no such data exist and there is little prospect of correcting for transactions bias in any of the regularly updated mainstream house price indices. Thispaper suggests a possible alternative approach, using information at postcode sector level and Fractional Probit Regression to correct for transactions bias in hedonic price indices based on one and a half million house sales from 1996 to 2004, distributed across 1200 postcode sectors in the South East of England
- …