4,044 research outputs found
Universal Scaling in Non-equilibrium Transport Through a Single-Channel Kondo Dot
Scaling laws and universality play an important role in our understanding of
critical phenomena and the Kondo effect. Here we present measurements of
non-equilibrium transport through a single-channel Kondo quantum dot at low
temperature and bias. We find that the low-energy Kondo conductance is
consistent with universality between temperature and bias and characterized by
a quadratic scaling exponent, as expected for the spin-1/2 Kondo effect. The
non-equilibrium Kondo transport measurements are well-described by a universal
scaling function with two scaling parameters.Comment: v2: improved introduction and theory-experiment comparsio
Recent advances in minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery
Laparoscopy has improved surgical treatment of various diseases due to its limited surgical trauma and has developed as an interesting therapeutic alternative for the resection of colorectal cancer. Despite numerous clinical advantages (faster recovery, less pain, fewer wound and systemic complications, faster return to work) the laparoscopic approach to colorectal cancer therapy has also resulted in unusual complications, i.e. ureteral and bladder injury which are rarely observed with open laparotomy. Moreover, pneumothorax, cardiac arrhythmia, impaired venous return, venous thrombosis as well as peripheral nerve injury have been associated with the increased intraabdominal pressure as well as patient's positioning during surgery. Furthermore, undetected small bowel injury caused by the grasping or cauterizing instruments may occur with laparoscopic surgery. In contrast to procedures performed for nonmalignant conditions, the benefits of laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer must be weighed against the potential for poorer long-term outcomes of cancer patients that still has not been completely ruled out. In laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery, several important cancer control issues still are being evaluated, i.e. the extent of lymph node dissection, tumor implantation at port sites, adequacy of intraperitoneal staging as well as the distance between tumor site and resection margins. For the time being it can be assumed that there is no significant difference in lymph node harvest between laparoscopic and open colorectal cancer surgery if oncological principles of resection are followed. As far as the issue of port site recurrence is concerned, it appears to be less prevalent than first thought (range 0-2.5%), and the incidence apparently corresponds with wound recurrence rates observed after open procedures. Short-term (3-5 years) survival rates have been published by a number of investigators, and survival rates after laparoscopic surgery appears to compare well with data collected after conventional surgery for colorectal cancer. However, long-term results of prospective randomized trials are not available. The data published so far indicate that the oncological results of laparoscopic surgery compare well with the results of the conventional open approach. Nonetheless, the limited information available from prospective studies leads us to propose that minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer surgery should only be performed within prospective trials
N-particle sector of quantum field theory as a quantum open system
We give an exposition of a technique, based on the Zwanzig projection
formalism, to construct the evolution equation for the reduced density matrix
corresponding to the n-particle sector of a field theory. We consider the case
of a scalar field with a interaction as an example and construct the
master equation at the lowest non-zero order in perturbation theory.Comment: 12 pages, Late
Recent discoveries of supersoft X-ray sources in M 31
Classical novae (CNe) have recently been reported to represent the major
class of supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs) in the central area of our neighbouring
galaxy M 31. This paper presents a review of results from recent X-ray
observations of M 31 with XMM-Newton and Chandra. We carried out a dedicated
optical and X-ray monitoring program of CNe and SSSs in the central area of M
31. We discovered the first SSSs in M 31 globular clusters (GCs) and their
connection to the very first discovered CN in a M 31 GC. This result may have
an impact on the CN rate in GCs. Furthermore, in our optical and X-ray
monitoring data we discovered the CN M31N 2007-11a, which shows a very short
SSS phase of 29 - 52 days. Short SSS states (durations < 100 days) of CNe
indicate massive white dwarfs (WDs) that are candidate progenitors of
supernovae type Ia. In the case of M31N 2007-11a, the optical and X-ray light
curves suggest a binary containing a WD with M_WD > 1.0 M_sun. Finally, we
present the discovery of the SSS counterpart of the CN M31N 2006-04a. The X-ray
light curve of M31N 2006-04a shows short-time variability, which might indicate
an orbital period of about 2 hours.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure; Proc. of workshop "Supersoft X-ray Sources - New
Developments", ESAC, May 2009; accepted for publication in Astronomische
Nachrichte
Algebraic characterization of X-states in quantum information
A class of two-qubit states called X-states are increasingly being used to
discuss entanglement and other quantum correlations in the field of quantum
information. Maximally entangled Bell states and "Werner" states are subsets of
them. Apart from being so named because their density matrix looks like the
letter X, there is not as yet any characterization of them. The su(2) X su(2) X
u(1) subalgebra of the full su(4) algebra of two qubits is pointed out as the
underlying invariance of this class of states. X-states are a seven-parameter
family associated with this subalgebra of seven operators. This recognition
provides a route to preparing such states and also a convenient algebraic
procedure for analytically calculating their properties. At the same time, it
points to other groups of seven-parameter states that, while not at first sight
appearing similar, are also invariant under the same subalgebra. And it opens
the way to analyzing invariant states of other subalgebras in bipartite
systems.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
The temperature dependent bandstructure of a ferromagnetic semiconductor film
The electronic quasiparticle spectrum of a ferromagnetic film is investigated
within the framework of the s-f model. Starting from the exact solvable case of
a single electron in an otherwise empty conduction band being exchange coupled
to a ferromagnetically saturated localized spin system we extend the theory to
finite temperatures. Our approach is a moment-conserving decoupling procedure
for suitable defined Green functions. The theory for finite temperatures
evolves continuously from the exact limiting case. The restriction to zero
conduction band occupation may be regarded as a proper model description for
ferromagnetic semiconductors like EuO and EuS. Evaluating the theory for a
simple cubic film cut parallel to the (100) crystal plane, we find some marked
correlation effects which depend on the spin of the test electron, on the
exchange coupling, and on the temperature of the local-moment system.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure
Are N=1 and N=2 supersymmetric quantum mechanics equivalent?
After recalling different formulations of the definition of supersymmetric
quantum mechanics given in the literature, we discuss the relationships between
them in order to provide an answer to the question raised in the title.Comment: 15 page
Making SPIFFI SPIFFIER: Upgrade of the SPIFFI instrument for use in ERIS and performance analysis from re-commissioning
SPIFFI is an AO-fed integral field spectrograph operating as part of SINFONI
on the VLT, which will be upgraded and reused as SPIFFIER in the new VLT
instrument ERIS. In January 2016, we used new technology developments to
perform an early upgrade to optical subsystems in the SPIFFI instrument so
ongoing scientific programs can make use of enhanced performance before ERIS
arrives in 2020. We report on the upgraded components and the performance of
SPIFFI after the upgrade, including gains in throughput and spatial and
spectral resolution. We show results from re-commissioning, highlighting the
potential for scientific programs to use the capabilities of the upgraded
SPIFFI. Finally, we discuss the additional upgrades for SPIFFIER which will be
implemented before it is integrated into ERIS.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures. Proceedings from SPIE Astronomical Telescopes
and Instrumentation 201
Feed-Forward Chains of Recurrent Attractor Neural Networks Near Saturation
We perform a stationary state replica analysis for a layered network of Ising
spin neurons, with recurrent Hebbian interactions within each layer, in
combination with strictly feed-forward Hebbian interactions between successive
layers. This model interpolates between the fully recurrent and symmetric
attractor network studied by Amit el al, and the strictly feed-forward
attractor network studied by Domany et al. Due to the absence of detailed
balance, it is as yet solvable only in the zero temperature limit. The built-in
competition between two qualitatively different modes of operation,
feed-forward (ergodic within layers) versus recurrent (non- ergodic within
layers), is found to induce interesting phase transitions.Comment: 14 pages LaTex with 4 postscript figures submitted to J. Phys.
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