Quantum thermodynamic Carnot and Otto-like cycles for a two-level system

From the thermodynamic equilibrium properties of a two-level system with variable energy-level gap $\Delta$, and a careful distinction between the Gibbs relation $dE = T dS + (E/\Delta) d\Delta$ and the energy balance equation $dE = \delta Q^\leftarrow - \delta W^\to$, we infer some important aspects of the second law of thermodynamics and, contrary to a recent suggestion based on the analysis of an Otto-like thermodynamic cycle between two values of $\Delta$ of a spin-1/2 system, we show that a quantum thermodynamic Carnot cycle, with the celebrated optimal efficiency $1 - (T_{low}/T_{high})$, is possible in principle with no need of an infinite number of infinitesimal processes, provided we cycle smoothly over at least three (in general four) values of $\Delta$, and we change $\Delta$ not only along the isoentropics, but also along the isotherms, e.g., by use of the recently suggested maser-laser tandem technique. We derive general bounds to the net-work to high-temperature-heat ratio for a Carnot cycle and for the 'inscribed' Otto-like cycle, and represent these cycles on useful thermodynamic diagrams.Comment: RevTex4, 4 pages, 1 figur

A simple proof of the characterization of functions of low Aviles Giga energy on a ball via regularity

The Aviles Giga functional is a well known second order functional that forms a model for blistering and in a certain regime liquid crystals, a related functional models thin magnetized films. Given Lipschitz domain $\Omega\subset R^2$ the functional is $I_{\epsilon}(u)=1/2\int_{\Omega} \epsilon^{-1}|1-|Du|^2|^2+\epsilon|D^2 u|^2$ where $u$ belongs to the subset of functions in $W^{2,2}_{0}(\Omega)$ whose gradient (in the sense of trace) satisfies $Du(x)\cdot \eta_x=1$ where $\eta_x$ is the inward pointing unit normal to $\partial \Omega$ at $x$. In Jabin, Otto, Perthame characterized a class of functions which includes all limits of sequences $u_n\in W^{2,2}_0(\Omega)$ with $I_{\epsilon_n}(u_n)\to 0$ as $\epsilon_n\to 0$. A corollary to their work is that if there exists such a sequence $(u_n)$ for a bounded domain $\Omega$, then $\Omega$ must be a ball and (up to change of sign) $u:=\lim_{n\to \infty} u_n =\mathrm{dist}(\cdot,\partial\Omega)$. Recently we provided a quantitative generalization of this corollary over the space of convex domains using `compensated compactness' inspired calculations originating from the proof of coercivity of $I_{\epsilon}$ by DeSimone, Muller, Kohn, Otto. In this note we use methods of regularity theory and ODE to provide a sharper estimate and a much simpler proof for the case where $\Omega=B_1(0)$ without the requiring the trace condition on $Du$.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figur

Bhakti and Christian Faith according to Rudolf Otto (1869-1937)

This study is obliged to the "Marburg School of the Science of Religions" (R. Otto, H. Frick, K. Goldammer, E. Benz). The methodological concept follows the comparison of religions, as it is classically demonstrated by R. Otto in his work about "West-östliche Mystik"[1] concern-ing the contrasting of Shankara and Meister Eckhart. That the comparison of the figures of the masters which is practised in this school may yield good results is also proved by G. Mensching, Otto's disciple in Bonn, in his book on "Buddha und Christus - ein Vergleich"[2] and H. Frick, Otto's successor on the Marburg chair in Systematic Theology, in his early trea-tise upon "Ghazalis Selbstbiographie. Ein Vergleich mit Augustins Konfessionen"[3][4]. Spe-cial emphasis should be given to the attempt of F. Heiler who as early as in 1918 contrasts Buddha as a "master of contemplation" to Jesus as a "master of prayer" in his work "Die bud-dhistische Versenkung"[5]. All the mentioned attempts are based on the eminent enquiries in the field of the common history of religions and the psychology of religion as R. Otto's "Das Heilige" [6] and F. Heiler's "Das Gebet"[7]. Worth mentioning is also the comprehensive study of the Marburg church historian and distinguished authority of the Asian religious world, E. Benz, about "Die Vision"[8]. Benz, also a disciple of R. Otto, was a famous re-searcher of mysticism and spiritualism as well (Joachim of Floris, J. Böhme, E. Swedenborg). ..

A Reference System Architecture with Data Sovereignty for Human-Centric Data Ecosystems

Since the European information economy faces insufficient access to and joint utilization of data, data ecosystems increasingly emerge as economical solutions in B2B environments. Contrarily, in B2C ambits, concepts for sharing and monetizing personal data have not yet prevailed, impeding growth and innovation. Their major pitfall is European data protection law that merely ascribes human data subjects a need for data privacy while widely neglecting their economic participatory claims to data. The study reports on a design science research (DSR) approach addressing this gap and proposes an abstract reference system architecture for an ecosystem centered on humans with personal data. In this DSR approach, multiple methods are embedded to iteratively build and evaluate the artifact, i.e., structured literature reviews, design recovery, prototyping, and expert interviews. Managerial contributions embody novel design knowledge about the conceptual development of human-centric B2C data ecosystems, considering their legal, ethical, economic, and technical constraints

Supersymmetric Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory

We prove that three-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory is finite to all loops. This leaves open the possibility that different regularization methods give different finite effective actions. We show that for this model dimensional regularization and regularization by dimensional reduction yield the same effective action.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, latex, espcrc2. Contribution to the Proceedings of the 30th Ahrenshoop Symposium on the Theory of Elementary Particles, edited by D. Lust, H.-J. Otto and G. Weigt, to appear in Nuclear Physics B, Proceedings Supplemen

Ganztagsbildung – ein weiterführender Begriff? [Rezension]

Sammelrezension zu: (1) Hans-Uwe Otto, Thomas Coelen (Hrsg.), Grundbegriffe der Ganztagsbildung. Beiträge zu einem neuen Bildungsverständnis in der Wissensgesellschaft. Wiesbaden VS Verlag 2004 ; (2) Hans-Uwe Otto, Thomas Coelen (Hrsg.), Ganztägige Bildungssysteme. Innovation durch Vergleich. Münster Waxman 2005. (DIPF/Orig.