11,129 research outputs found
Localization and its consequences for quantum walk algorithms and quantum communication
The exponential speed-up of quantum walks on certain graphs, relative to
classical particles diffusing on the same graph, is a striking observation. It
has suggested the possibility of new fast quantum algorithms. We point out here
that quantum mechanics can also lead, through the phenomenon of localization,
to exponential suppression of motion on these graphs (even in the absence of
decoherence). In fact, for physical embodiments of graphs, this will be the
generic behaviour. It also has implications for proposals for using spin
networks, including spin chains, as quantum communication channels.Comment: 4 pages, 1 eps figure. Updated references and cosmetic changes for v
Continuous Time and Consistent Histories
We discuss the use of histories labelled by a continuous time in the approach
to consistent-histories quantum theory in which propositions about the history
of the system are represented by projection operators on a Hilbert space. This
extends earlier work by two of us \cite{IL95} where we showed how a continuous
time parameter leads to a history algebra that is isomorphic to the canonical
algebra of a quantum field theory. We describe how the appropriate
representation of the history algebra may be chosen by requiring the existence
of projection operators that represent propositions about time average of the
energy. We also show that the history description of quantum mechanics contains
an operator corresponding to velocity that is quite distinct from the momentum
operator. Finally, the discussion is extended to give a preliminary account of
quantum field theory in this approach to the consistent histories formalism.Comment: Typeset in RevTe
Continuous Histories and the History Group in Generalised Quantum Theory
We treat continuous histories within the histories approach to generalised
quantum mechanics. The essential tool is the `history group': the analogue,
within the generalised history scheme, of the canonical group of single-time
quantum mechanics.Comment: 25 page
Angry expressions strengthen the encoding and maintenance of face identity representations in visual working memory
This work was funded by a BBSRC grant (BB/G021538/2) to all authors.Peer reviewedPreprin
Adenosine A2A receptors intrinsically regulate CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment
Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) blockade enhances innate and adaptive immune responses. However, mouse genetic studies have shown that A2AR deletion does not inhibit the growth of all tumor types. In the current study, we showed that growth rates for ectopic melanoma and bladder tumors are increased in Adora2a-/- mice within 2 weeks of tumor inoculation. A2AR deletion in the host reduced numbers of CD8+ T cells and effector-memory differentiation of all T cells. To examine intrinsic functions in T cells, we generated mice harboring a T-cell-specific deletion of A2AR. In this host strain, tumor-bearing mice displayed increased growth of ectopic melanomas, decreased numbers of tumor-associated T cells, reduced effector-memory differentiation, and reduced antiapoptotic IL7Rα (CD127) expression on antigen-experienced cells. Intratumoral pharmacologic blockade similarly reduced CD8+ T-cell density within tumors in wild-type hosts. We found that A2AR-proficient CD8+ T cells specific for melanoma cells displayed a relative survival advantage in tumors. Thus, abrogating A2AR signaling appeared to reduce IL7R expression, survival, and differentiation of T cells in the tumor microenvironment. One implication of these results is that the antitumor effects of A2AR blockade that can be mediated by activation of cytotoxic T cells may be overcome in some tumor microenvironments as a result of impaired T-cell maintenance and effector-memory differentiation. Thus, our findings imply that the efficacious application of A2AR inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy may require careful dose optimization to prevent activation-induced T-cell death in tumors. ©2014 AACR
Equilibration of quantum systems and subsystems
We unify two recent results concerning equilibration in quantum theory. We
first generalise a proof of Reimann [PRL 101,190403 (2008)], that the
expectation value of 'realistic' quantum observables will equilibrate under
very general conditions, and discuss its implications for the equilibration of
quantum systems. We then use this to re-derive an independent result of Linden
et. al. [PRE 79, 061103 (2009)], showing that small subsystems generically
evolve to an approximately static equilibrium state. Finally, we consider
subspaces in which all initial states effectively equilibrate to the same
state.Comment: 5 page
Information-entropy and the space of decoherence functions in generalised quantum theory
In standard quantum theory, the ideas of information-entropy and of pure states are closely linked. States are represented by density matrices on a Hilbert space and the information-entropy is minimised on pure states (pure states are the vertices of the boundary of the convex set of states). The space of decoherence functions in the consistent histories approach to generalised quantum theory is also a convex set. However, by showing that every decoherence function can be written as a convex combination of two other decoherence functions we demonstrate that there are no `pure' decoherence functions. The main content of the paper is a new notion of information-entropy in generalised quantum mechanics which is applicable in contexts in which there is no a priori notion of time. Information-entropy is defined first on consistent sets and then we show that it decreases upon refinement of the consistent set. This information-entropy suggests an intrinsic way of giving a consistent set selection criterion
Reconstruction of the phase of matter-wave fields using a momentum resolved cross-correlation technique
We investigate the potential of the so-called XFROG cross-correlation
technique originally developed for ultrashort laser pulses for the recovery of
the amplitude and phase of the condensate wave function of a Bose-Einstein
condensate. Key features of the XFROG method are its high resolution,
versatility and stability against noise and some sources of systematic errors.
After showing how an analogue of XFROG can be realized for Bose-Einstein
condensates, we illustrate its effectiveness in determining the amplitude and
phase of the wave function of a vortex state. The impact of a reduction of the
number of measurements and of typical sources of noise on the field
reconstruction are also analyzed.Comment: 7 pages; 9 figures; article with higher resolution figures available
from author
Quasi-Particle Degrees of Freedom versus the Perfect Fluid as Descriptors of the Quark-Gluon Plasma
The hot nuclear matter created at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC)
has been characterized by near-perfect fluid behavior. We demonstrate that this
stands in contradiction to the identification of QCD quasi-particles with the
thermodynamic degrees of freedom in the early (fluid) stage of heavy ion
collisions. The empirical observation of constituent quark ``'' scaling of
elliptic flow is juxtaposed with the lack of such scaling behavior in
hydrodynamic fluid calculations followed by Cooper-Frye freeze-out to hadrons.
A ``quasi-particle transport'' time stage after viscous effects break down the
hydrodynamic fluid stage, but prior to hadronization, is proposed to reconcile
these apparent contradictions. However, without a detailed understanding of the
transitions between these stages, the ``'' scaling is not a necessary
consequence of this prescription. Also, if the duration of this stage is too
short, it may not support well defined quasi-particles. By comparing and
contrasting the coalescence of quarks into hadrons with the similar process of
producing light nuclei from nucleons, it is shown that the observation of
``'' scaling in the final state does not necessarily imply that the
constituent degrees of freedom were the relevant ones in the initial state.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, Updated text and figure
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