3,977 research outputs found
Decoherence in Phase Space
Much of the discussion of decoherence has been in terms of a particle moving
in one dimension that is placed in an initial superposition state (a
Schr\"{o}dinger "cat" state) corresponding to two widely separated wave
packets. Decoherence refers to the destruction of the interference term in the
quantum probability function. Here, we stress that a quantitative measure of
decoherence depends not only on the specific system being studied but also on
whether one is considering coordinate, momentum or phase space. We show that
this is best illustrated by considering Wigner phase space where the measure is
again different. Analytic results for the time development of the Wigner
distribution function for a two-Gaussian Schrodinger "cat" state have been
obtained in the high-temperature limit (where decoherence can occur even for
negligible dissipation) which facilitates a simple demonstration of our
remarks.Comment: in press in Laser Phys.13(2003
Note on the derivative of the hyperbolic cotangent
In a letter to Nature (Ford G W and O'Connell R F 1996 Nature 380 113) we
presented a formula for the derivative of the hyperbolic cotangent that differs
from the standard one in the literature by an additional term proportional to
the Dirac delta function. Since our letter was necessarily brief, shortly after
its appearance we prepared a more extensive unpublished note giving a detailed
explanation of our argument. Since this note has been referenced in a recent
article (Estrada R and Fulling S A 2002 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 35 3079) we
think it appropriate that it now appear in print. We have made no alteration to
the original note
Vector Meson Mixing and Charge Symmetry Violation
We discuss the consistency of the traditional vector meson dominance (VMD)
model for photons coupling to matter, with the vanishing of vector meson-meson
and meson-photon mixing self-energies at q^2=0. This vanishing of vector mixing
has been demonstrated in the context of rho-omega mixing for a large class of
effective theories. As a further constraint on such models, we here apply them
to a study of photon-meson mixing and VMD. As an example we compare the
predicted momentum dependence of one such model with a momentum-dependent
version of VMD discussed by Sakurai in the 1960's. We find that it produces a
result which is consistent with the traditional VMD phenomenology. We conclude
that comparison with VMD phenomenology can provide a useful constraint on such
models.Comment: 7 pages, uses epsfig.sty. Publication details added to title pag
New results in rho^0 meson physics
We compare the predictions of a range of existing models based on the Vector
Meson Dominance hypothesis with data on e^+ e^- -> pi^+ pi^$ and e^+ e^- ->
mu^+ mu^- cross-sections and the phase and near-threshold behavior of the
timelike pion form factor, with the aim of determining which (if any) of these
models is capable of providing an accurate representation of the full range of
experimental data. We find that, of the models considered, only that proposed
by Bando et al. is able to consistently account for all information, provided
one allows its parameter "a" to vary from the usual value of 2 to 2.4. Our fit
with this model gives a point-like coupling (gamma pi^+ \pi^-) of magnitude ~
-e/6, while the common formulation of VMD excludes such a term. The resulting
values for the rho mass and pi^+ pi^- and e^+e^- partial widths as well as the
branching ratio for the decay omega -> pi^+ pi^- obtained within the context of
this model are consistent with previous results.Comment: 34 pages with 7 figures. Published version also available at
http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/10052/tocs/t8002002.ht
Laplace transform of spherical Bessel functions
We provide a simple analytic formula in terms of elementary functions for the
Laplace transform j_{l}(p) of the spherical Bessel function than that appearing
in the literature, and we show that any such integral transform is a polynomial
of order l in the variable p with constant coefficients for the first l-1
powers, and with an inverse tangent function of argument 1/p as the coefficient
of the power l. We apply this formula for the Laplace transform of the memory
function related to the Langevin equation in a one-dimensional Debye model.Comment: 5 pages LATEX, no figures. Accepted 2002, Physica Script
A Note on Frame Dragging
The measurement of spin effects in general relativity has recently taken
centre stage with the successfully launched Gravity Probe B experiment coming
toward an end, coupled with recently reported measurements using laser ranging.
Many accounts of these experiments have been in terms of frame-dragging. We
point out that this terminology has given rise to much confusion and that a
better description is in terms of spin-orbit and spin-spin effects. In
particular, we point out that the de Sitter precession (which has been mesured
to a high accuracy) is also a frame-dragging effect and provides an accurate
benchmark measurement of spin-orbit effects which GPB needs to emulate
Possible male infanticide in wild orangutans and a re-evaluation of infanticide risk
Infanticide as a male reproductive tactic is widespread across mammals, and is particularly prevalent in catarrhine primates. While it has never been observed in wild orangutans, infanticide by non-sire males has been predicted to occur due to their extremely long inter-birth intervals, semi-solitary social structure, and the presence of female counter-tactics to infanticide. Here, we report on the disappearance of a healthy four-month-old infant, along with a serious foot injury suffered by the primiparous mother. No other cases of infant mortality have been observed at this site in 30 years of study. Using photographic measurements of the injury, and information on the behavior and bite size of potential predators, we evaluate the possible causes of this injury. The context, including the behavior of the female and the presence of a new male at the time of the injury, lead us to conclude that the most likely cause of the infant loss and maternal injury was male infanticide. We suggest that in orangutans, and other species where nulliparous females are not preferred mates, these females may be less successful at using paternity confusion as an infanticide avoidance tactic, thus increasing the likelihood of infanticide of their first-born infants.Published versio
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