Engineering a Conformant Probabilistic Planner

We present a partial-order, conformant, probabilistic planner, Probapop which competed in the blind track of the Probabilistic Planning Competition in IPC-4. We explain how we adapt distance based heuristics for use with probabilistic domains. Probapop also incorporates heuristics based on probability of success. We explain the successes and difficulties encountered during the design and implementation of Probapop

Ratcheting Heat Flux against a Thermal Bias

Merely rocking the temperature in one heat bath can direct a steady heat flux from cold to hot against a non-zero thermal bias in stylized nonlinear lattice junctions that are sandwiched between two heat baths. Likewise, for an average zero-temperature difference between the two contacts a net, ratchet-like heat flux emerges. Computer simulations show that this very heat flux can be controlled and reversed by suitably tailoring the frequency ($\lesssim$ 100 MHz) of the alternating temperature field.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Probabilistic teleportation and entanglement matching

Teleportation may be taken as sending and extracting quantum information through quantum channels. In this report, it is shown that to get the maximal probability of exact teleportation through partially entangled quantum channels, the sender (Alice) need only to operate a measurement which satisfy an ``entanglement matching'' to this channel. An optimal strategy is also provided for the receiver (Bob) to extract the quantum information by adopting general evolutions.Comment: 3.5 pages, No figure

Tuning magnetic anisotropy of epitaxial Ag/Fe/Fe0.5Co0.5/MgO(001) films

Single crystalline Ag/Fe/Fe0.5Co0.5/MgO(001) films were grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy and investigated by Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (MOKE). We find that even though the 4-fold magnetic anisotropies of Ag/Fe/MgO(001) and Ag/Fe0.5Co0.5/MgO(001) films are different from the corresponding bulk values, their opposite signs allow a fine tuning of the 4-fold magnetic anisotropy in Ag/Fe/Fe0.5Co0.5/MgO(001) films by varying the Fe and Fe0.5Co0.5 film thicknesses. In particular, the critical point of zero anisotropy can be achieved in a wide range of film thicknesses. Using Rotational MOKE, we determined and constructed the anisotropy phase diagram in the Fe and Fe0.5Co0.5 thickness plane from which the zero anisotropy exhibits a linear relation between the Fe and Fe0.5Co0.5 thickness

Annihilation Type Radiative Decays of BB Meson in Perturbative QCD Approach

With the perturbative QCD approach based on $k_T$ factorization, we study the pure annihilation type radiative decays $B^0 \to \phi\gamma$ and $B^0\to J/\psi \gamma$. We find that the branching ratio of $B^0 \to \phi\gamma$ is $(2.7^{+0.3+1.2}_{-0.6-0.6})\times10^{-11}$, which is too small to be measured in the current $B$ factories of BaBar and Belle. The branching ratio of $B^0\to J/\psi \gamma$ is $({4.5^{+0.6+0.7}_{-0.5-0.6}})\times10^{-7}$, which is just at the corner of being observable in the $B$ factories. A larger branching ratio $BR(B_s^0 \to J/\psi \gamma) \simeq 5 \times 10^{-6}$ is also predicted. These decay modes will help us testing the standard model and searching for new physics signals.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, with 1 eps figur

Factorization theorems, effective field theory, and nonleptonic heavy meson decays

The nonleptonic heavy meson decays $B\to D^{(*)}\pi(\rho), J/\psi K^{(*)}$ and $D\to K^{(*)}\pi$ are studied based on the three-scale perturbative QCD factorization theorem developed recently. In this formalism the Bauer-Stech-Wirbel parameters a_1 and a_2 are treated as the Wilson coefficients, whose evolution from the W boson mass down to the characteristic scale of the decay processes is determined by effective field theory. The evolution from the characteristic scale to a lower hadronic scale is formulated by the Sudakov resummation. The scale-setting ambiguity, which exists in the conventional approach to nonleptonic heavy meson decays, is moderated. Nonfactorizable and nonspectator contributions are taken into account as part of the hard decay subamplitudes. Our formalism is applicable to both bottom and charm decays, and predictions, including those for the ratios R and R_L associated with the $B\to J/\psi K^{(*)}$ decays, are consistent with experimental data.Comment: 39 pages, latex, 5 figures, revised version with some correction

Anomalous thermopower and Nernst effect in CeCoIn5\rm CeCoIn_5: entropy-current loss in precursor state

The heavy-electron superconductor CeCoIn$_5$ exhibits a puzzling precursor state above its superconducting critical temperature at $T_c$ = 2.3 K. The thermopower and Nernst signal are anomalous. Below 15 K, the entropy current of the electrons undergoes a steep decrease reaching $\sim$0 at $T_c$. Concurrently, the off-diagonal thermoelectric current $\alpha_{xy}$ is enhanced. The delicate sensitivity of the zero-entropy state to field implies phase coherence over large distances. The prominent anomalies in the thermoelectric current contrast with the relatively weak effects in the resistivity and magnetization.Comment: 5 figures, 4 page