2-D Compass Codes

The compass model on a square lattice provides a natural template for building subsystem stabilizer codes. The surface code and the Bacon-Shor code represent two extremes of possible codes depending on how many gauge qubits are fixed. We explore threshold behavior in this broad class of local codes by trading locality for asymmetry and gauge degrees of freedom for stabilizer syndrome information. We analyze these codes with asymmetric and spatially inhomogeneous Pauli noise in the code capacity and phenomenological models. In these idealized settings, we observe considerably higher thresholds against asymmetric noise. At the circuit level, these codes inherit the bare-ancilla fault-tolerance of the Bacon-Shor code.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, added discussion on fault-toleranc

Modeling the Ultraviolet Photodegradation of Rigid Polyurethane Foams

Before the Montreal Protocol of 1987 and the subsequent phasing-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in industrial applications, rigid polymer foams were made using these compounds as secondary blowing agents. The CFCs remain trapped in the gaseous part of the cellular foam structure, and once discarded these foams constitute a significant reservoir for the environmental release of ozone-depleting chemicals. Environmental degradation of the foam accelerates this process. Of particular interest in this work is the degradative effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on rigid polyurethane foams. Foams were subjected to accelerated weathering conditions and then viewed with a scanning electron microscope. The thin cell membranes near the foam surface degrade when exposed to UV light, leaving only a network of polymer struts that offers negligible resistance to the escape of CFCs or any other gases contained within. This effect has been reproduced qualitatively through simulated weathering of a computer-generated foam structure. If enough is known about the optical properties and photosensitivity of the polymer foam, this simulation technique can be used to estimate the rate of weathering penetration in any situation where photodegradation is the primary concern

Evidence for a Hard Ionizing Spectrum from a z=6.11 Stellar Population

We present the Magellan/FIRE detection of highly-ionized CIV 1550 and OIII] 1666 in a deep infrared spectrum of the z=6.11 gravitationally lensed low-mass galaxy RXC J2248.7-4431-ID3, which has previously-known Lyman-alpha. No corresponding emission is detected at the expected location of HeII 1640. The upper limit on HeII paired with detection of OIII] and CIV constrains possible ionization scenarios. Production of CIV and OIII] requires ionizing photons of 2.5-3.5 Ryd, but once in that state their multiplet emission is powered by collisional excitation at lower energies (~0.5 Ryd). As a pure recombination line, HeII emission is powered by 4 Ryd ionizing photons. The data therefore require a spectrum with significant power at 3.5 Ryd but a rapid drop toward 4.0 Ryd. This hard spectrum with a steep drop is characteristic of low-metallicity stellar populations, and less consistent with soft AGN excitation, which features more 4 Ryd photons and hence higher HeII flux. The conclusions based on ratios of metal line detections to Helium non-detection are strengthened if the gas metallicity is low. RXJ2248-ID3 adds to the growing handful of reionization-era galaxies with UV emission line ratios distinct from the general z=2-3 population, in a way that suggests hard ionizing spectra that do not necessarily originate in AGN.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication to ApJ

Efficient Immunization Strategies for Computer Networks and Populations

We present an effective immunization strategy for computer networks and populations with broad and, in particular, scale-free degree distributions. The proposed strategy, acquaintance immunization, calls for the immunization of random acquaintances of random nodes (individuals). The strategy requires no knowledge of the node degrees or any other global knowledge, as do targeted immunization strategies. We study analytically the critical threshold for complete immunization. We also study the strategy with respect to the susceptible-infected-removed epidemiological model. We show that the immunization threshold is dramatically reduced with the suggested strategy, for all studied cases.Comment: Revtex, 5 pages, 4 ps fig

Kiloparsec-scale Spatial Offsets in Double-peaked Narrow-line Active Galactic Nuclei. I. Markers for Selection of Compelling Dual Active Galactic Nucleus Candidates

Merger-remnant galaxies with kpc-scale separation dual active galactic nuclei (AGNs) should be widespread as a consequence of galaxy mergers and triggered gas accretion onto supermassive black holes, yet very few dual AGNs have been observed. Galaxies with double-peaked narrow AGN emission lines in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey are plausible dual AGN candidates, but their double-peaked profiles could also be the result of gas kinematics or AGN-driven outflows and jets on small or large scales. To help distinguish between these scenarios, we have obtained spatial profiles of the AGN emission via follow-up long-slit spectroscopy of 81 double-peaked narrow-line AGNs in SDSS at 0.03 < z < 0.36 using Lick, Palomar, and MMT Observatories. We find that all 81 systems exhibit double AGN emission components with ~kpc projected spatial separations on the sky, which suggests that they are produced by kpc-scale dual AGNs or kpc-scale outflows, jets, or rotating gaseous disks. In addition, we find that the subsample (58%) of the objects with spatially compact emission components may be preferentially produced by dual AGNs, while the subsample (42%) with spatially extended emission components may be preferentially produced by AGN outflows. We also find that for 32% of the sample the two AGN emission components are preferentially aligned with the host galaxy major axis, as expected for dual AGNs orbiting in the host galaxy potential. Our results both narrow the list of possible physical mechanisms producing the double AGN components, and suggest several observational criteria for selecting the most promising dual AGN candidates from the full sample of double-peaked narrow-line AGNs. Using these criteria, we determine the 17 most compelling dual AGN candidates in our sample.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, published in ApJ. Modified from original version to reflect referee's comment

Zeeman Relaxation of Cold Atomic Iron and Nickel in Collisions with 3He

We have measured the ratio of the diffusion cross-section to the angular momentum reorientation cross-section in the colliding Fe-3He and Ni-3He systems. Nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe) atoms are introduced via laser ablation into a cryogenically cooled experimental cell containing cold (< 1 K) 3He buffer gas. Elastic collisions rapidly cool the translational temperature of the ablated atoms to the helium temperature. The cross-section ratio is extracted by measuring the decays of the atomic Zeeman sublevels. For our experimental conditions, thermal energy is comparable to the Zeeman splitting. As a result, thermal excitations between Zeeman sublevels significantly impact the observed decay. To determine the cross-section ratio accurately, we introduce a model of Zeeman state dynamics that includes thermal excitations. We find the cross-section ratio for Ni-3He = 5 x 10^3 and Fe-3He <= 3 x 10^3 at 0.75 K in a 0.8 T magnetic field. These measurements are interpreted in the context of submerged shell suppression of spin relaxation as studied previously in transition metals and rare earth atoms.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures; submitted to Phys. Rev.

Percolation Critical Exponents in Scale-Free Networks

We study the behavior of scale-free networks, having connectivity distribution P(k) k^-a, close to the percolation threshold. We show that for networks with 3<a<4, known to undergo a transition at a finite threshold of dilution, the critical exponents are different than the expected mean-field values of regular percolation in infinite dimensions. Networks with 2<a<3 possess only a percolative phase. Nevertheless, we show that in this case percolation critical exponents are well defined, near the limit of extreme dilution (where all sites are removed), and that also then the exponents bear a strong a-dependence. The regular mean-field values are recovered only for a>4.Comment: Latex, 4 page

Identifying communities by influence dynamics in social networks

Communities are not static; they evolve, split and merge, appear and disappear, i.e. they are product of dynamical processes that govern the evolution of the network. A good algorithm for community detection should not only quantify the topology of the network, but incorporate the dynamical processes that take place on the network. We present a novel algorithm for community detection that combines network structure with processes that support creation and/or evolution of communities. The algorithm does not embrace the universal approach but instead tries to focus on social networks and model dynamic social interactions that occur on those networks. It identifies leaders, and communities that form around those leaders. It naturally supports overlapping communities by associating each node with a membership vector that describes node's involvement in each community. This way, in addition to overlapping communities, we can identify nodes that are good followers to their leader, and also nodes with no clear community involvement that serve as a proxy between several communities and are equally as important. We run the algorithm for several real social networks which we believe represent a good fraction of the wide body of social networks and discuss the results including other possible applications.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Direct Kerr-frequency-comb atomic spectroscopy

Microresonator-based soliton frequency combs - microcombs - have recently emerged to offer low-noise, photonic-chip sources for optical measurements. Owing to nonlinear-optical physics, microcombs can be built with various materials and tuned or stabilized with a consistent framework. Some applications require phase stabilization, including optical-frequency synthesis and measurements, optical-frequency division, and optical clocks. Partially stabilized microcombs can also benefit applications, such as oscillators, ranging, dual-comb spectroscopy, wavelength calibration, and optical communications. Broad optical bandwidth, brightness, coherence, and frequency stability have made frequency-comb sources important for studying comb-matter interactions with atoms and molecules. Here, we explore direct microcomb atomic spectroscopy, utilizing a cascaded, two-photon 1529-nm atomic transition of rubidium. Both the microcomb and the atomic vapor are implemented with planar fabrication techniques to support integration. By fine and simultaneous control of the repetition rate and carrier-envelope-offset frequency of the soliton microcomb, we obtain direct sub-Doppler and hyperfine spectroscopy of the $4^2D_{5/2}$ manifold. Moreover, the entire set of microcomb modes are stabilized to this atomic transition, yielding absolute optical-frequency fluctuations of the microcomb at the kilohertz-level over a few seconds and < 1 MHz day-to-day accuracy. Our work demonstrates atomic spectroscopy with microcombs and provides a rubidium-stabilized microcomb laser source, operating across the 1550 nm band for sensing, dimensional metrology, and communication.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure