Quantum phase transitions in coupled two-level atoms in a single-mode cavity

The dipole-coupled two-level atoms(qubits) in a single-mode resonant cavity is studied by extended bosonic coherent states. The numerically exact solution is presented. For finite systems, the first-order quantum phase transitions occur at the strong interatomic interaction. Similar to the original Dicke model, this system exhibits a second-order quantum phase transition from the normal to the superradiant phases. Finite-size scaling for several observables, such as the average fidelity susceptibility, the order parameter, and concurrence are performed for different interatomic interactions. The obtained scaling exponents suggest that interatomic interactions do not change the universality class.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure

BLISTER-regulated vegetative growth is dependent on the protein kinase domain of ER stress modulator IRE1A in Arabidopsis thaliana

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is required for protein homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) when plants are challenged by adverse environmental conditions. Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), the bifunctional protein kinase / ribonuclease, is an important UPR regulator in plants mediating cytoplasmic splicing of the mRNA encoding the transcription factor bZIP60. This activates the UPR signaling pathway and regulates canonical UPR genes. However, how the protein activity of IRE1 is controlled during plant growth and development is largely unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that the nuclear and Golgi-localized protein BLISTER (BLI) negatively controls the activity of IRE1A/IRE1B under normal growth condition in Arabidopsis. Loss-of-function mutation of BLI results in chronic up-regulation of a set of both canonical UPR genes and non-canonical UPR downstream genes, leading to cell death and growth retardation. Genetic analysis indicates that BLI-regulated vegetative growth phenotype is dependent on IRE1A/IRE1B but not their canonical splicing target bZIP60. Genetic complementation with mutation analysis suggests that the D570/K572 residues in the ATP-binding pocket and N780 residue in the RNase domain of IRE1A are required for the activation of canonical UPR gene expression, in contrast, the D570/K572 residues and D590 residue in the protein kinase domain of IRE1A are important for the induction of non-canonical UPR downstream genes in the BLI mutant background, which correlates with the shoot growth phenotype. Hence, our results reveal the important role of IRE1A in plant growth and development, and BLI negatively controls IRE1A’s function under normal growth condition in plants

Phase diagram and exotic spin-spin correlations of anisotropic Ising model on the Sierpi\'nski gasket

The anisotropic antiferromagnetic Ising model on the fractal Sierpi\'{n}ski gasket is intensively studied, and a number of exotic properties are disclosed. The ground state phase diagram in the plane of magnetic field-interaction of the system is obtained. The thermodynamic properties of the three plateau phases are probed by exploring the temperature-dependence of magnetization, specific heat, susceptibility and spin-spin correlations. No phase transitions are observed in this model. In the absence of a magnetic field, the unusual temperature dependence of the spin correlation length is obtained with $0 \leq$J$_b/$J$_a<1$, and an interesting crossover behavior between different phases at J$_b/$J$_a=1$ is unveiled, whose dynamics can be described by the J$_b/$J$_a$-dependence of the specific heat, susceptibility and spin correlation functions. The exotic spin-spin correlation patterns that share the same special rotational symmetry as that of the Sierpi\'{n}ski gasket are obtained in both the $1/3$ plateau disordered phase and the $5/9$ plateau partially ordered ferrimagnetic phase. Moreover, a quantum scheme is formulated to study the thermodynamics of the fractal Sierpi\'{n}ski gasket with Heisenberg interactions. We find that the unusual temperature dependence of the correlation length remains intact in a small quantum fluctuation.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figure

A Possibility of Search for New Physics at LHCb

It is interesting to search for new physics beyond the standard model at LHCb. We suggest that weak decays of doubly charmed baryon such as $\Xi_{cc}(3520)^+, \Xi_{cc}^{++}$ to charmless final states would be a possible signal for new physics. In this work, we consider two models, i.e. the unparticle and $Z'$ as examples to study such possibilities. We also discuss the cases for $\Xi^0_{bb}, \Xi_{bb}^-$ which have not been observed yet, but one can expect to find them when LHCb begins running. Our numerical results show that these two models cannot result in sufficiently large decay widths, therefore if such modes are observed at LHCb, there must be a new physics other than the unparticle or $Z'$ models.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. More references and discussion adde

Accurate numerical solution to the finite-size Dicke model

By using extended bosonic coherent states, a new technique to solve the Dicke model exactly is proposed in the numerical sense. The accessible system size is two orders of magnitude higher than that reported in literature. Finite-size scaling for several observables, such as the ground-state energy, Berry phase, and concurrence are analyzed. The existing discrepancy for the scaling exponent of the concurrence is reconciled.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Phys. Rev. A (in press, a Rapid Communication