310 research outputs found
Further Improvements in the Understanding of Isotropic Loop Quantum Cosmology
The flat, homogeneous, and isotropic universe with a massless scalar field is
a paradigmatic model in Loop Quantum Cosmology. In spite of the prominent role
that the model has played in the development of this branch of physics, there
still remain some aspects of its quantization which deserve a more detailed
discussion. These aspects include the kinematical resolution of the
cosmological singularity, the precise relation between the solutions of the
densitized and non-densitized versions of the quantum Hamiltonian constraint,
the possibility of identifying superselection sectors which are as simple as
possible, and a clear comprehension of the Wheeler-DeWitt (WDW) limit
associated with the theory in those sectors. We propose an alternative operator
to represent the Hamiltonian constraint which is specially suitable to deal
with these issues in a satisfactory way. In particular, with our constraint
operator, the singularity decouples in the kinematical Hilbert space and can be
removed already at this level. Thanks to this fact, we can densitize the
quantum Hamiltonian constraint in a rigorous manner. Besides, together with the
physical observables, this constraint superselects simple sectors for the
universe volume, with a support contained in a single semiaxis of the real line
and for which the basic functions that encode the information about the
geometry possess optimal physical properties. Namely, they provide a
no-boundary description around the cosmological singularity and admit a
well-defined WDW limit in terms of standing waves. Both properties explain the
presence of a generic quantum bounce replacing the singularity at a fundamental
level, in contrast with previous studies where the bounce was proved in
concrete regimes and focusing on states with a marked semiclassical behavior.Comment: 13 pages, version accepted for publication in Physical Review
Inhomogeneous Loop Quantum Cosmology: Hybrid Quantization of the Gowdy Model
The Gowdy cosmologies provide a suitable arena to further develop Loop
Quantum Cosmology, allowing the presence of inhomogeneities. For the particular
case of Gowdy spacetimes with the spatial topology of a three-torus and a
content of linearly polarized gravitational waves, we detail a hybrid quantum
theory in which we combine a loop quantization of the degrees of freedom that
parametrize the subfamily of homogeneous solutions, which represent Bianchi I
spacetimes, and a Fock quantization of the inhomogeneities. Two different
theories are constructed and compared, corresponding to two different schemes
for the quantization of the Bianchi I model within the {\sl improved dynamics}
formalism of Loop Quantum Cosmology. One of these schemes has been recently put
forward by Ashtekar and Wilson-Ewing. We address several issues including the
quantum resolution of the cosmological singularity, the structure of the
superselection sectors in the quantum system, or the construction of the
Hilbert space of physical states.Comment: 16 pages, version accepted for publication in Physical Review
Hybrid Quantum Gowdy Cosmology: Combining Loop and Fock Quantizations
We quantize an inhomogeneous cosmological model using techniques that include
polymeric quantization. More explicitly, we construct well defined operators to
represent the constraints and find the physical Hilbert space formed by their
solutions, which reproduces the conventional Fock quantization for the
inhomogeneities. The initial singularity is resolved in this inhomogeneous
model in an extremely simple way and without imposing special boundary
conditions, thus ensuring the robustness and generality of this resolution.
Furthermore this quantization constitutes a well founded step towards the
extraction of physical results and consequences from loop quantum cosmology,
given the central role of the inhomogeneities in modern cosmology.Comment: 5 pages; version accepted for publication in Physical Review
Optimal Control of Underactuated Mechanical Systems: A Geometric Approach
In this paper, we consider a geometric formalism for optimal control of
underactuated mechanical systems. Our techniques are an adaptation of the
classical Skinner and Rusk approach for the case of Lagrangian dynamics with
higher-order constraints. We study a regular case where it is possible to
establish a symplectic framework and, as a consequence, to obtain a unique
vector field determining the dynamics of the optimal control problem. These
developments will allow us to develop a new class of geometric integrators
based on discrete variational calculus.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figure
Holomorphic Simplicity Constraints for 4d Spinfoam Models
Within the framework of spinfoam models, we revisit the simplicity
constraints reducing topological BF theory to 4d Riemannian gravity. We use the
reformulation of SU(2) intertwiners and spin networks in term of spinors, which
has come out from both the recently developed U(N) framework for SU(2)
intertwiners and the twisted geometry approach to spin networks and spinfoam
boundary states. Using these tools, we are able to perform a
holomorphic/anti-holomorphic splitting of the simplicity constraints and define
a new set of holomorphic simplicity constraints, which are equivalent to the
standard ones at the classical level and which can be imposed strongly on
intertwiners at the quantum level. We then show how to solve these new
holomorphic simplicity constraints using coherent intertwiner states. We
further define the corresponding coherent spin network functionals and
introduce a new spinfoam model for 4d Riemannian gravity based on these
holomorphic simplicity constraints and whose amplitudes are defined from the
evaluation of the new coherent spin networks.Comment: 27 page
Fermions in Loop Quantum Cosmology and the Role of Parity
Fermions play a special role in homogeneous models of quantum cosmology
because the exclusion principle prevents them from forming sizable matter
contributions. They can thus describe the matter ingredients only truly
microscopically and it is not possible to avoid strong quantum regimes by
positing a large matter content. Moreover, possible parity violating effects
are important especially in loop quantum cosmology whose basic object is a
difference equation for the wave function of the universe defined on a discrete
space of triads. The two orientations of a triad are interchanged by a parity
transformation, which leaves the difference equation invariant for ordinary
matter. Here, we revisit and extend loop quantum cosmology by introducing
fermions and the gravitational torsion they imply, which renders the parity
issue non-trivial. A treatable locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi model is
introduced which clearly shows the role of parity. General wave functions
cannot be parity-even or odd, and parity violating effects in matter influence
the microscopic big bang transition which replaces the classical singularity in
loop quantum cosmology.Comment: 17 page
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with IGH translocations are characterized by a distinct genetic landscape with prognostic implications
Chromosome 14q32 rearrangements/translocations involving the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) are rarely detected in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The prognostic significance of the IGH translocation is controversial and its mutational profile remains unknown. Here, we present for the first time a comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of 46 CLL patients with IGH rearrangement (IGHR-CLLs) and we demonstrate that IGHR-CLLs have a distinct mutational profile with recurrent mutations in NOTCH1, IGLL5, POT1, BCL2, FBXW7, ZMYM3, MGA, BRAF and HIST1H1E genes. Interestingly, BCL2 and FBXW7 mutations were significantly associated with this subgroup and almost half of BCL2, IGLL5 and HISTH1E mutations reported were previously identified in non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Notably, IGH/BCL2 rearrangements were associated with a lower mutation frequency and carried BCL2 and IGLL5 mutations, while the other IGHR-CLLs had mutations in genes related to poor prognosis (NOTCH1, SF3B1 and TP53) and shorter time to first treatment (TFT). Moreover, IGHR-CLLs patients showed a shorter TFT than CLL patients carrying 13q-, normal fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and +12 CLL, being this prognosis particularly poor when NOTCH1, SF3B1, TP53, BIRC3 and BRAF were also mutated. The presence of these mutations not only was an independent risk factor within IGHR-CLLs, but also refined the prognosis of low-risk cytogenetic patients (13q-/normal FISH). Hence, our study demonstrates that IGHR-CLLs have a distinct mutational profile from the majority of CLLs and highlights the relevance of incorporating NGS and the status of IGH by FISH analysis to refine the risk-stratification CLL model
Effects of thinning intensity on radial growth patterns and temperature sensitivity in Pinus canariensis afforestations on Tenerife Island, Spain
Quantization of Midisuperspace Models
We give a comprehensive review of the quantization of midisuperspace models.
Though the main focus of the paper is on quantum aspects, we also provide an
introduction to several classical points related to the definition of these
models. We cover some important issues, in particular, the use of the principle
of symmetric criticality as a very useful tool to obtain the required
Hamiltonian formulations. Two main types of reductions are discussed: those
involving metrics with two Killing vector fields and spherically symmetric
models. We also review the more general models obtained by coupling matter
fields to these systems. Throughout the paper we give separate discussions for
standard quantizations using geometrodynamical variables and those relying on
loop quantum gravity inspired methods.Comment: To appear in Living Review in Relativit
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