120 research outputs found
Coupling molecular spin centers to microwave planar resonators: towards integration of molecular qubits in quantum circuits
We present spectroscopic measurements looking for the coherent coupling between molecular magnetic centers and microwave photons. The aim is to find the optimal conditions and the best molecular features to achieve the quantum strong coupling regime, for which coherent dynamics of hybrid photon-spin states take place. To this end, we used a high critical temperature YBCO superconducting planar resonator working at 7.7 GHz and at low temperatures to investigate three molecular mononuclear coordination compounds, namely (PPh4)2[Cu(mnt)2] (where mnt2- = maleonitriledithiolate), [ErPc2]-TBA+ (where pc2- is the phtalocyaninato and TBA+ is the tetra-n-butylammonium cation) and Dy(trensal) (where H3trensal = 2,2′,2′′-tris(salicylideneimino)triethylamine). Although the strong coupling regime was not achieved in these preliminary experiments, the results provided several hints on how to design molecular magnetic centers to be integrated into hybrid quantum circuits
Two fermion relativistic bound states: hyperfine shifts
We discuss the hyperfine shifts of the Positronium levels in a relativistic
framework, starting from a two fermion wave equation where, in addition to the
Coulomb potential, the magnetic interaction between spins is described by a
Breit term. We write the system of four first order differential equations
describing this model. We discuss its mathematical features, mainly in relation
to possible singularities that may appear at finite values of the radial
coordinate. We solve the boundary value problems both in the singular and non
singular cases and we develop a perturbation scheme, well suited for numerical
computations, that allows to calculate the hyperfine shifts for any level,
according to well established physical arguments that the Breit term must be
treated at the first perturbative order. We discuss our results, comparing them
with the corresponding values obtained from semi-classical expansions.Comment: 16 page
Nonlinear deterministic equations in biological evolution
We review models of biological evolution in which the population frequency
changes deterministically with time. If the population is self-replicating,
although the equations for simple prototypes can be linearised, nonlinear
equations arise in many complex situations. For sexual populations, even in the
simplest setting, the equations are necessarily nonlinear due to the mixing of
the parental genetic material. The solutions of such nonlinear equations
display interesting features such as multiple equilibria and phase transitions.
We mainly discuss those models for which an analytical understanding of such
nonlinear equations is available.Comment: Invited review for J. Nonlin. Math. Phy
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The heterogeneity of wooded-agricultural landscape mosaics influences woodland bird community assemblages
Context
Landscape heterogeneity (the composition and configuration of different landcover types) plays a key role in shaping woodland bird assemblages in wooded-agricultural mosaics. Understanding how species respond to landscape factors could contribute to preventing further decline of woodland bird populations.
Objective
To investigate how woodland birds with different species traits respond to landscape heterogeneity, and to identify whether specific landcover types are important for maintaining diverse populations in wooded-agricultural environments.
Methods
Birds were sampled from woodlands in 58 2 x 2 km tetrads across southern Britain. Landscape heterogeneity was quantified for each tetrad. Bird assemblage response was determined using redundancy analysis combined with variation partitioning and response trait analyses.
Results
For woodland bird assemblages, the independent explanatory importance of landscape composition and landscape configuration variables were closely interrelated. When considered simultaneously during variation partitioning, the community response was better represented by compositional variables. Different species responded to different landscape features and this could be explained by traits relating to woodland association, foraging strata and nest location. Ubiquitous, generalist species, many of which were hole-nesters or ground foragers, correlated positively with urban landcover while specialists of broadleaved woodland avoided landscapes containing urban areas. Species typical of coniferous woodland correlated with large conifer plantations.
Conclusions
At the 2 x 2 km scale, there was evidence that the availability of resources provided by proximate landcover types was highly important for shaping woodland bird assemblages. Further research to disentangle the effects of composition and configuration at different spatial scales is advocated
Comparing the Invasibility of Experimental “Reefs” with Field Observations of Natural Reefs and Artificial Structures
Natural systems are increasingly being modified by the addition of artificial habitats which may facilitate invasion. Where invaders are able to disperse from artificial habitats, their impact may spread to surrounding natural communities and therefore it is important to investigate potential factors that reduce or enhance invasibility. We surveyed the distribution of non-indigenous and native invertebrates and algae between artificial habitats and natural reefs in a marine subtidal system. We also deployed sandstone plates as experimental ‘reefs’ and manipulated the orientation, starting assemblage and degree of shading. Invertebrates (non-indigenous and native) appeared to be responding to similar environmental factors (e.g. orientation) and occupied most space on artificial structures and to a lesser extent reef walls. Non-indigenous invertebrates are less successful than native invertebrates on horizontal reefs despite functional similarities. Manipulative experiments revealed that even when non-indigenous invertebrates invade vertical “reefs”, they are unlikely to gain a foothold and never exceed covers of native invertebrates (regardless of space availability). Community ecology suggests that invertebrates will dominate reef walls and algae horizontal reefs due to functional differences, however our surveys revealed that native algae dominate both vertical and horizontal reefs in shallow estuarine systems. Few non-indigenous algae were sampled in the study, however where invasive algal species are present in a system, they may present a threat to reef communities. Our findings suggest that non-indigenous species are less successful at occupying space on reef compared to artificial structures, and manipulations of biotic and abiotic conditions (primarily orientation and to a lesser extent biotic resistance) on experimental “reefs” explained a large portion of this variation, however they could not fully explain the magnitude of differences
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