Revealing Network Connectivity From Dynamics

We present a method to infer network connectivity from collective dynamics in networks of synchronizing phase oscillators. We study the long-term stationary response to temporally constant driving. For a given driving condition, measuring the phase differences and the collective frequency reveals information about how the oscillators are interconnected. Sufficiently many repetitions for different driving conditions yield the entire network connectivity from measuring the dynamics only. For sparsely connected networks we obtain good predictions of the actual connectivity even for formally under-determined problems.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Hacking commercial quantum cryptography systems by tailored bright illumination

The peculiar properties of quantum mechanics allow two remote parties to communicate a private, secret key, which is protected from eavesdropping by the laws of physics. So-called quantum key distribution (QKD) implementations always rely on detectors to measure the relevant quantum property of single photons. Here we demonstrate experimentally that the detectors in two commercially available QKD systems can be fully remote-controlled using specially tailored bright illumination. This makes it possible to tracelessly acquire the full secret key; we propose an eavesdropping apparatus built of off-the-shelf components. The loophole is likely to be present in most QKD systems using avalanche photodiodes to detect single photons. We believe that our findings are crucial for strengthening the security of practical QKD, by identifying and patching technological deficiencies.Comment: Revised version, rewritten for clarity. 5 pages, 5 figures. To download the Supplementary information (which is in open access), go to the journal web site at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2010.21

Venera-11 and Venera 12: Preliminary estimates for the wind speed and turbulence in the atmosphere of Venus

The methods and results of measurements for wind speed and atmospheric turbulence in the clouds of Venus are described, and compared with earlier results. The distribution of wind speed obtained from the data of Venera 12 is in good conformity with the data of the preceding Venera and Pioneer probes, indicating the existence of a constant and powerful zonal movement of the troposphere

Conductance and localization in disordered wires: role of evanescent states

This paper extends an earlier analytical scattering matrix treatment of conductance and localization in coupled two- and three Anderson chain systems for weak disorder when evanescent states are present at the Fermi level. Such states exist typically when the interchain coupling exceeds the width of propagating energy bands associated with the various transverse eigenvalues of the coupled tight-binding systems. We calculate reflection- and transmission coefficients in cases where, besides propagating states, one or two evanescent states are available at the Fermi level for elastic scattering of electrons by the disordered systems. We observe important qualitative changes in these coefficients and in the related localization lengths due to ineffectiveness of the evanescent modes for transmission and reflection in the various scattering channels. In particular, the localization lengths are generally significantly larger than the values obtained when evanescent modes are absent. Effects associated with disorder mediated coupling between propagating and evanescent modes are shown to be suppressed by quantum interference effects, in lowest order for weak disorder

Thermal stability of a laser-clad NiCrBSi coating hardened by frictional finishing

Frictional treatment decreases surface roughness of a NiCrBSi laser coating and increases its microhardness and abrasive wear resistance. Even after softening annealing at 900 °C, the coating subjected to frictional treatment preserves its advantage in hardness and wear resistance over the original clad coating. Annealing at 1000 °C after frictional treatment ensures less effective growth of the hardness and wear resistance of the coating as compared to annealing of the undeformed coating due to the limited precipitation of large Cr23C6 carbides on the deformed surface, which form a wear-resistant framework. © 2017 Author(s).Russian Foundation for Basic Research, RFBR: 16-38-00452-mol-a01201375904108692015Federal Agency for Scientific Organizations: 01201463331Federal Agency for Scientific OrganizationsUral Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, UB RAS: 15-9-12-45The study was financially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), grant No. 16-38-00452-mol-a, by the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE), project UMNIK No. 108692015; the work was done within the Complex Program of UB RAS, project No. 15-9-12-45, within the state order for IES UB RAS, No. 01201375904 and within the state order of The Federal Agency for Scientific Organizations (FASO Russia) on the subject “Structure”, No. 01201463331. The experimental research was done on the equipment installed at the Plastometriya Collective Use Center of IES UB RAS

High--Dimensional Brain in a High-Dimensional World: Blessing of Dimensionality

High-dimensional data and high-dimensional representations of reality are inherent features of modern Artificial Intelligence systems and applications of machine learning. The well-known phenomenon of the "curse of dimensionality" states: many problems become exponentially difficult in high dimensions. Recently, the other side of the coin, the "blessing of dimensionality", has attracted much attention. It turns out that generic high-dimensional datasets exhibit fairly simple geometric properties. Thus, there is a fundamental tradeoff between complexity and simplicity in high dimensional spaces. Here we present a brief explanatory review of recent ideas, results and hypotheses about the blessing of dimensionality and related simplifying effects relevant to machine learning and neuroscience.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure