Mixed Qubit Cannot Be Universally Broadcast

We show that there does not exist any universal quantum cloning machine that can broadcast an arbitrary mixed qubit with a constant fidelity. Based on this result, we investigate the dependent quantum cloner in the sense that some parameter of the input qubit $\rho_s(\theta,\omega,\lambda)$ is regarded as constant in the fidelity. For the case of constant $\omega$, we establish the $1\to2$ optimal symmetric dependent cloner with a fidelity 1/2. It is also shown that the $1\to M$ optimal quantum cloning machine for pure qubits is also optimal for mixed qubits, when $\lambda$ is the unique parameter in the fidelity. For general $N\to M$ broadcasting of mixed qubits, the situation is very different.Comment: 5 pages, Revte

Galaxy formation with cold gas accretion and evolving stellar initial mass function

The evolution of the galaxy stellar mass function is especially useful to test the current model of galaxy formation. Observational data have revealed a few inconsistencies with predictions from the $\Lambda {\rm CDM}$ model. For example, most massive galaxies have already been observed at very high redshifts, and they have experienced only mild evolution since then. In conflict with this, semi-analytical models of galaxy formation predict an insufficient number of massive galaxies at high redshift and a rapid evolution between redshift 1 and 0 . In addition, there is a strong correlation between star formation rate and stellar mass for star-forming galaxies, which can be roughly reproduced with the model, but with a normalization that is too low at high redshift. Furthermore, the stellar mass density obtained from the integral of the cosmic star formation history is higher than the measured one by a factor of 2. In this paper, we study these issues using a semi-analytical model that includes: 1) cold gas accretion in massive halos at high redshift; 2) tidal stripping of stellar mass from satellite galaxies; and 3) an evolving stellar initial mass function (bottom-light) with a higher gas recycle fraction. Our results show that the combined effects from 1) and 2) can predict sufficiently massive galaxies at high redshifts and reproduce their mild evolution at low redshift, While the combined effects of 1) and 3) can reproduce the correlation between star formation rate and stellar mass for star-forming galaxies across wide range of redshifts. A bottom-light/top-heavy stellar IMF could partly resolve the conflict between the stellar mass density and cosmic star formation history.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Photoacoustic Imaging for Noninvasive Periodontal Probing Depth Measurements.

The periodontal probe is the gold standard tool for periodontal examinations, including probing depth measurements, but is limited by systematic and random errors. Here, we used photoacoustic ultrasound for high-spatial resolution imaging of probing depths. Specific contrast from dental pockets was achieved with food-grade cuttlefish ink as a contrast medium. Here, 39 porcine teeth (12 teeth with artificially deeper pockets) were treated with the contrast agent, and the probing depths were measured with novel photoacoustic imaging and a Williams periodontal probe. There were statistically significant differences between the 2 measurement approaches for distal, lingual, and buccal sites but not mesial. Bland-Altman analysis revealed that all bias values were < ±0.25 mm, and the coefficients of variation for 5 replicates were <11%. The photoacoustic imaging approach also offered 0.01-mm precision and could cover the entire pocket, as opposed to the probe-based approach, which is limited to only a few sites. This report is the first to use photoacoustic imaging for probing depth measurements with potential implications to the dental field, including tools for automated dental examinations or noninvasive examinations

The I^G J^{PC}=1^- 1^{-+} Tetraquark States

We study the tetraquark states with I^G J^{PC}=1^- 1^{-+} in the QCD sum rule. After exhausting all possible flavor structures, we analyses both the SVZ and finite energy sum rules. Both approaches lead to a mass around 1.6 GeV for the state with the quark contents q q q_bar q_bar, and around 2.0 GeV for the state with the quark contents q s q_bar s_bar. The flavor structure 3_bar * 6_bar + 6 * 3 is preferred. Our analysis strongly indicates that both pi1(1600) and pi1(2015) are also compatible with the exotic tetraquark interpretation, which are sometimes labeled as candidates of the 1^{-+} hybrid mesons. Moreover one of their dominant decay modes is a pair of axial-vector and pseudoscalar mesons such as b1(1235) pi, which is sometimes considered as the characteristic decay mode of the hybrid mesons.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, revised version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Geometric interpretation for A-fidelity and its relation with Bures fidelity

A geometric interpretation for the A-fidelity between two states of a qubit system is presented, which leads to an upper bound of the Bures fidelity. The metrics defined based on the A-fidelity are studied by numerical method. An alternative generalization of the A-fidelity, which has the same geometric picture, to a $N$-state quantum system is also discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. Phys. Rev.

Mechanics of Tunable Helices and Geometric Frustration in Biomimetic Seashells

Helical structures are ubiquitous in nature and engineering, ranging from DNA molecules to plant tendrils, from sea snail shells to nanoribbons. While the helical shapes in natural and engineered systems often exhibit nearly uniform radius and pitch, helical shell structures with changing radius and pitch, such as seashells and some plant tendrils, adds to the variety of this family of aesthetic beauty. Here we develop a comprehensive theoretical framework for tunable helical morphologies, and report the first biomimetic seashell-like structure resulting from mechanics of geometric frustration. In previous studies, the total potential energy is everywhere minimized when the system achieves equilibrium. In this work, however, the local energy minimization cannot be realized because of the geometric incompatibility, and hence the whole system deforms into a shape with a global energy minimum whereby the energy in each segment may not necessarily be locally optimized. This novel approach can be applied to develop materials and devices of tunable geometries with a range of applications in nano/biotechnology

Casimir effect of an ideal Bose gas trapped in a generic power-law potential

The Casimir effect of an ideal Bose gas trapped in a generic power-law potential and confined between two slabs with Dirichlet, Neumann, and periodic boundary conditions is investigated systematically, based on the grand potential of the ideal Bose gas, the Casimir potential and force are calculated. The scaling function is obtained and discussed. The special cases of free and harmonic potentials are also discussed. It is found that when T<Tc (where Tc is the critical temperature of Bose-Einstein condensation), the Casimir force is a power-law decay function; when T>Tc, the Casimir force is an exponential decay function; and when T>>Tc, the Casimir force vanishes.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Exotic Tetraquark ud bar[s] bar[s] of J^P=0^+ in the QCD Sum Rule

We study a QCD sum rule analysis for an exotic tetraquark ud bar[s] bar[s] of J^P=0^+ and I = 1. We construct q q bar[q] bar[q] currents in a local product form and find that there are five independent currents for this channel. Due to high dimensional nature of the current, it is not easy to form a good sum rule when using a single current. This means that we do not find any sum rule window to extract reliable results, due to the insufficient convergence of the OPE and to the exceptional important role of QCD continuum. Then we examine sum rules by using currents of linear combinations of two currents among the independent ones. We find two reasonable cases that predict a mass of the tetraquark around 1.5 GeV.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, revised versio

Light Scalar Tetraquark Mesons in the QCD Sum Rule

We study the lowest-lying scalar mesons in the QCD sum rule by considering them as tetraquark states. We find that there are five independent currents for each state with a certain flavor structure. By forming linear combinations, we find that some mixed currents give reliable QCD sum rules. Among various tetraquark currents, we consider those which are constructed by the diquarks having anti-symmetric and symmetric flavor structures. That the results of the QCD sum rule derived from the two types of currents are similar suggests that the tetraquark states can have a large mixing between different flavor structures.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures; reference added, minor corrections; version to appear in Phys.Rev.