8,470 research outputs found
Quantifying mixed-state quantum entanglement by optimal entanglement witness
We develop an approach of quantifying entanglement in mixed quantum states by
the optimal entanglement witness operator. We identify the convex set of mixed
states for which a single witness provides the exact value of an entanglement
measure, and show that the convexity, properties, and symmetries of
entanglement or of a target state considerably fix the form of the optimal
witness. This greatly reduces difficulty in computing and experimentally
determining entanglement measures. As an example, we show how to experimentally
quantify bound entanglement in four-qubit noisy Smolin states and three-qubit
Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) entanglement under white noise. For general
measures and states, we provide a numerical method to efficiently optimize
witness.Comment: Supplemental material is include
The Geometry and Ionization Structure of the Wind in the Eclipsing Nova-like Variables RW Tri and UX UMa
The UV spectra of nova-like variables are dominated by emission from the
accretion disk, modified by scattering in a wind emanating from the disk. Here
we model the spectra of RW Tri and UX UMa, the only two eclipsing nova-likes
which have been observed with the Hubble Space Telescope in the
far-ultraviolet, in an attempt to constrain the geometry and the ionization
structure of their winds. Using our Monte Carlo radiative transfer code we
computed spectra for simply-parameterized axisymmetric biconical outflow models
and were able to find plausible models for both systems. These reproduce the
primary UV resonance lines - N V, Si IV, and C IV - in the observed spectra in
and out of eclipse. The distribution of these ions in the wind models is
similar in both cases as is the extent of the primary scattering regions in
which these lines are formed. The inferred mass loss rates are 6% to 8% of the
mass accretion rates for the systems. We discuss the implication of our point
models for our understanding of accretion disk winds in cataclysmic variables.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures and 4 tables. Published in Ap
Phonon emission and arrival times of electrons from a single-electron source
In recent charge-pump experiments, single electrons are injected into quantum Hall edge channels at energies significantly above the Fermi level. We consider here the relaxation of these hot edge-channel electrons through longitudinal-optical-phonon emission. Our results show that the probability for an electron in the outermost edge channel to emit one or more phonons en route to a detector some microns distant along the edge channel suffers a double-exponential suppression with increasing magnetic field. This explains recent experimental observations. We also describe how the shape of the arrival-time distribution of electrons at the detector reflects the velocities of the electronic states post phonon emission. We show how this can give rise to pronounced oscillations in the arrival-time-distribution width as a function of magnetic field or electron energy
Detecting the signatures of helium in type Iax supernovae
Recent studies have argued that the progenitor system of type Iax supernovae
must consist of a carbon-oxygen white dwarf accreting from a helium star
companion. Based on existing explosion models invoking the pure deflagration of
carbon-oxygen white dwarfs, we investigate the likelihood of producing spectral
features due to helium in type Iax supernovae. From this scenario, we select
those explosion models producing ejecta and Ni masses that are broadly
consistent with those estimated for type Iax supernovae (0.014 -
0.478~ and - 0.183~, respectively). To this
end, we present a series of models of varying luminosities (~mag) with helium abundances accounting for up to
36\% of the ejecta mass, and covering a range of epochs beginning a few
days before Bband maximum to approximately two weeks after maximum. We find
that the best opportunity for detecting \ion{He}{i} features is at
near-infrared wavelengths, and in the post-maximum spectra of the fainter
members of this class. We show that the optical spectrum of SN~2007J is
potentially consistent with a large helium content (a few 10),
but argue that current models of accretion and material stripping from a
companion struggle to produce compatible scenarios. We also investigate the
presence of helium in all objects with near-infrared spectra. We show that
SNe~2005hk, 2012Z, and 2015H contain either no helium or their helium
abundances are constrained to much lower values
(10). Our results demonstrate the differences in
helium content among type Iax supernovae, perhaps pointing to different
progenitor channels. Either SN~2007J is an outlier in terms of its progenitor
system, or it is not a true member of the type Iax supernova class.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Astronomy
and Astrophysic
Type Ia Supernovae and Accretion Induced Collapse
Using the population synthesis binary evolution code StarTrack, we present
theoretical rates and delay times of Type Ia supernovae arising from various
formation channels. These channels include binaries in which the exploding
white dwarf reaches the Chandrasekhar mass limit (DDS, SDS, and helium-rich
donor scenario) as well as the sub-Chandrasekhar mass scenario, in which a
white dwarf accretes from a helium-rich companion and explodes as a SN Ia
before reaching the Chandrasekhar mass limit. We find that using a common
envelope parameterization employing energy balance with alpha=1 and lambda=1,
the supernova rates per unit mass (born in stars) of sub-Chandrasekhar mass SNe
Ia exceed those of all other progenitor channels at epochs t=0.7 - 4 Gyr for a
burst of star formation at t=0. Additionally, the delay time distribution of
the sub-Chandrasekhar model can be divided in to two distinct evolutionary
channels: the `prompt' helium-star channel with delay times < 500 Myr, and the
`delayed' double white dwarf channel with delay times > 800 Myr spanning up to
a Hubble time. These findings are in agreement with recent
observationally-derived delay time distributions which predict that a large
number of SNe Ia have delay times < 1 Gyr, with a significant fraction having
delay times < 500 Myr. We find that the DDS channel is also able to account for
the observed rates of SNe Ia. However, detailed simulations of white dwarf
mergers have shown that most of these mergers will not lead to SNe Ia but
rather to the formation of a neutron star via accretion-induced collapse. If
this is true, our standard population synthesis model predicts that the only
progenitor channel which can account for the rates of SNe Ia is the
sub-Chandrasekhar mass scenario, and none of the other progenitors considered
can fully account for the observed rates.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, 1 table, to appear in proceedings for "Binary Star
Evolution: Mass Loss, Accretion and Mergers
Spectral sequences of Type Ia supernovae. I. Connecting normal and sub-luminous SN Ia and the presence of unburned carbon
Type Ia supernovae are generally agreed to arise from thermonuclear
explosions of carbon-oxygen white dwarfs. The actual path to explosion,
however, remains elusive, with numerous plausible parent systems and explosion
mechanisms suggested. Observationally, type Ia supernovae have multiple
subclasses, distinguished by their lightcurves and spectra. This raises the
question whether these reflect that multiple mechanisms occur in nature, or
instead that explosions have a large but continuous range of physical
properties. We revisit the idea that normal and 91bg-like supernovae can be
understood as part of a spectral sequence, in which changes in temperature
dominate. Specifically, we find that a single ejecta structure is sufficient to
provide reasonable fits of both the normal type Ia supernova SN~2011fe and the
91bg-like SN~2005bl, provided that the luminosity and thus temperature of the
ejecta are adjusted appropriately. This suggests that the outer layers of the
ejecta are similar, thus providing some support of a common explosion
mechanism. Our spectral sequence also helps to shed light on the conditions
under which carbon can be detected in pre-maximum SN~Ia spectra -- we find that
emission from iron can "fill in" the carbon trough in cool SN~Ia. This may
indicate that the outer layers of the ejecta of events in which carbon is
detected are relatively metal poor compared to events where carbon is not
detected
Spectral modeling of type II supernovae. I. Dilution factors
We present substantial extensions to the Monte Carlo radiative transfer code
TARDIS to perform spectral synthesis for type II supernovae. By incorporating a
non-LTE ionization and excitation treatment for hydrogen, a full account of
free-free and bound-free processes, a self-consistent determination of the
thermal state and by improving the handling of relativistic effects, the
improved code version includes the necessary physics to perform spectral
synthesis for type II supernovae to high precision as required for the reliable
inference of supernova properties. We demonstrate the capabilities of the
extended version of TARDIS by calculating synthetic spectra for the
prototypical type II supernova SN1999em and by deriving a new and independent
set of dilution factors for the expanding photosphere method. We have
investigated in detail the dependence of the dilution factors on photospheric
properties and, for the first time, on changes in metallicity. We also compare
our results with two previously published sets of dilution factors by Eastman
et al. (1996) and by Dessart & Hillier (2005), and discuss the potential
sources of the discrepancies between studies.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in A&
Postfledging Survival, Movements, and Dispersal of Ring Ouzels (Turdus torquatus)
We thank Invercauld Estate for cooperation with access to Glen Clunie. S. Redpath, J. Wilson, and S. Roos provided valuable comments on the manuscript. This study was funded by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, and the Cairngorms National Park Authority. J.L.L. was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
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