3,824 research outputs found
Efficient implementation of the adaptive scale pixel decomposition algorithm
Context. Most popular algorithms in use to remove the effects of a
telescope's point spread function (PSF) in radio astronomy are variants of the
CLEAN algorithm. Most of these algorithms model the sky brightness using the
delta-function basis, which results in undesired artefacts when used on image
extended emission. The adaptive scale pixel decomposition (Asp-Clean) algorithm
models the sky brightness on a scale-sensitive basis and thus gives a
significantly better imaging performance when imaging fields that contain both
resolved and unresolved emission.
Aims. However, the runtime cost of Asp-Clean is higher than that of
scale-insensitive algorithms. In this paper, we identify the most expensive
step in the original Asp-Clean algorithm and present an efficient
implementation of it, which significantly reduces the computational cost while
keeping the imaging performance comparable to the original algorithm. The PSF
sidelobe levels of modern wide-band telescopes are significantly reduced,
allowing us to make approximations to reduce the computing cost, which in turn
allows for the deconvolution of larger images on reasonable timescales.
Methods. As in the original algorithm, scales in the image are estimated
through function fitting. Here we introduce an analytical method to model
extended emission, and a modified method for estimating the initial values used
for the fitting procedure, which ultimately leads to a lower computational
cost.
Results.The new implementation was tested with simulated EVLA data and the
imaging performance compared well with the original Asp-Clean algorithm. Tests
show that the current algorithm can recover features at different scales with
lower computational cost.Comment: 6 pages; 4 figure
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
Calculation of quantum discord for qubit-qudit or N qubits
Quantum discord, a kind of quantum correlation, is defined as the difference
between quantum mutual information and classical correlation in a bipartite
system. It has been discussed so far for small systems with only a few
independent parameters. We extend here to a much broader class of states when
the second party is of arbitrary dimension d, so long as the first, measured,
party is a qubit. We present two formulae to calculate quantum discord, the
first relating to the original entropic definition and the second to a recently
proposed geometric distance measure which leads to an analytical formulation.
The tracing over the qubit in the entropic calculation is reduced to a very
simple prescription. And, when the d-dimensional system is a so-called X state,
the density matrix having non-zero elements only along the diagonal and
anti-diagonal so as to appear visually like the letter X, the entropic
calculation can be carried out analytically. Such states of the full bipartite
qubit-qudit system may be named "extended X states", whose density matrix is
built of four block matrices, each visually appearing as an X. The optimization
involved in the entropic calculation is generally over two parameters, reducing
to one for many cases, and avoided altogether for an overwhelmingly large set
of density matrices as our numerical investigations demonstrate. Our results
also apply to states of a N-qubit system, where "extended X states" consist of
(2^(N+2) - 1) states, larger in number than the (2^(N+1) - 1) of X states of N
qubits. While these are still smaller than the total number (2^(2N) - 1) of
states of N qubits, the number of parameters involved is nevertheless large. In
the case of N = 2, they encompass the entire 15-dimensional parameter space,
that is, the extended X states for N = 2 represent the full qubit-qubit system.Comment: 6 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
Interactive decision support in hepatic surgery
BACKGROUND: Hepatic surgery is characterized by complicated operations with a significant peri- and postoperative risk for the patient. We developed a web-based, high-granular research database for comprehensive documentation of all relevant variables to evaluate new surgical techniques. METHODS: To integrate this research system into the clinical setting, we designed an interactive decision support component. The objective is to provide relevant information for the surgeon and the patient to assess preoperatively the risk of a specific surgical procedure. Based on five established predictors of patient outcomes, the risk assessment tool searches for similar cases in the database and aggregates the information to estimate the risk for an individual patient. RESULTS: The physician can verify the analysis and exclude manually non-matching cases according to his expertise. The analysis is visualized by means of a Kaplan-Meier plot. To evaluate the decision support component we analyzed data on 165 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (period 1996–2000). The similarity search provides a two-peak distribution indicating there are groups of similar patients and singular cases which are quite different to the average. The results of the risk estimation are consistent with the observed survival data, but must be interpreted with caution because of the limited number of matching reference cases. CONCLUSION: Critical issues for the decision support system are clinical integration, a transparent and reliable knowledge base and user feedback
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.
High-redshift blazars through nustar eyes
The most powerful sources among the blazar family are MeV blazars. Often
detected at , they usually display high X- and \gm-ray luminosities,
larger-than-average jet powers and black hole masses .
In the present work we perform a multiwavelength study of three high redshift
blazars: 3FGL J0325.5+2223 (), 3FGL J0449.0+1121 (), and 3FGL
J0453.22808 (), analysing quasi simultaneous data from GROND,
\swift-UVOT and XRT, \nustar, and \fermi-LAT. Our main focus is on the hard
X-ray band recently unveiled by \nustar~(379 keV) where these objects show a
hard spectrum which enables us to constrain the inverse Compton peak and the
jet power. We found that all three targets resemble the most powerful blazars,
with the synchrotron peak located in the sub-millimeter range and the inverse
Compton peak in the MeV range, and therefore belong to the MeV blazar class.
Using a simple one zone leptonic emission model to reproduce the spectral
energy distributions, we conclude that a simple combination of synchrotron and
accretion disk emission reproduces the infrared-optical spectra while the X-ray
to \gm-ray part is well reproduced by the inverse Compton scattering of low
energy photons supplied by the broad line region. The black hole masses for
each of the three sources are calculated to be . The three studied sources have jet power at the level of, or
beyond, the accretion luminosity.Comment: 4 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in Ap
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
Two Qubits in the Dirac Representation
A general two qubit system expressed in terms of the complete set of unit and
fifteen traceless, Hermitian Dirac matrices, is shown to exhibit novel features
of this system. The well-known physical interpretations associated with the
relativistic Dirac equation involving the symmetry operations of time-reversal
T, charge conjugation C, parity P, and their products are reinterpreted here by
examining their action on the basic Bell states. The transformation properties
of the Bell basis states under these symmetry operations also reveal that C is
the only operator that does not mix the Bell states whereas all others do. In a
similar fashion, expressing the various logic gates introduced in the subject
of quantum computers in terms of the Dirac matrices shows for example, that the
NOT gate is related to the product of time-reversal and parity operators.Comment: 11 page
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