605 research outputs found
Lectures on conformal field theory and Kac-Moody algebras
This is an introduction to the basic ideas and to a few further selected
topics in conformal quantum field theory and in the theory of Kac-Moody
algebras.Comment: 59 pages, LaTeX2e, extended version of lectures given at the Graduate
Course on Conformal Field Theory and Integrable Models (Budapest, August
1996), to appear in Springer Lecture Notes in Physic
Precision cutting of glassy polymers: influence of aging on the cutting process
ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the influence of aging on the cutting mechanics of glassy polymers. Polystyrene (PS), a glassy polymer, typically behaves brittle when subjected to a stress, it can be made ductile by rejuvenation. It was expected that PS would show a different cutting behaviour when it would be aged or rejuvenated. To investigate this two different molecular weight PS grades were used. Both aged and (mechanically) rejuvenated samples were made from each grade and cut. Cutting forces, chip morphology and surface quality were investigated. Although the chips showed no differences in brittleness and ductility, the measured cutting forces indicated that there is a difference between aged and rejuvenated PS. Also an interesting difference in cutting forces between the two PS grades was found. Investigation of the surface quality of the PS samples showed that the aged samples have smoother surfaces than the rejuvenated samples. It can be concluded that aging does have effect on the cutting mechanics and the obtained surface roughness
Preferential degradation of polyphenols from Sphagnum - 4-isopropenylphenol as a proxy for past hydrological conditions in Sphagnum-dominated peat
The net accumulation of remains of Sphagnum spp. is fundamental to the development of many peatlands. The effect of polyphenols from Sphagnum on decomposition processes is frequently cited but has barely been studied. The central area of the Rödmossamyran peatland (Sweden) is an open lawn that consists mostly of Sphagnum spp. with a very low contribution from vascular plants. In order to determine the effects of decay on sphagnum phenols, 53 samples of a 2.7 m deep core from this lawn were analysed with pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (pyrolysis-GC/MS) and compared with more traditional decomposition proxies such as C/N ratio, UV light transmission of alkaline peat extracts, and bulk density. Factor Analysis of 72 quantified pyrolysis products suggested that the variation in 4-isopropenylphenol was largely determined by aerobic decomposition instead of Sphagnum abundance. In order to evaluate the effects of aerobic decay in Sphagnum peat, down-core records from different climatic regions were compared using molecular markers for plant biopolymers and C/N ratio. These included markers for lignin from vascular plants ((di)methoxyphenols), polyphenols from Sphagnum spp. (4-isopropenylphenol), and cellulose (levoglucosan). Our results indicate that polyphenols from Sphagnum are preferentially degraded over polysaccharides; consequently the variability of the marker for sphagnum acid, 4-isopropenylphenol, was found indicative of decomposition instead of reflecting the abundance of Sphagnum remains. The fact that 4-isopropenylphenol is aerobically degraded in combination with its specificity for Sphagnum spp. makes it a consistent indicator of past hydrological conditions in Sphagnum-dominated peat. In contrast, the variability of C/N records in Sphagnum-dominated peat was influenced by both vegetation shifts and decomposition, and the dominant effect differed between the studied peatlands. Our results provide direction for modelling studies that try to predict possible feedback mechanisms between peatlands and future climate change, and indicate that the focus in Sphagnum decay studies should be on carbohydrates rather than on phenolic compounds
Quantum many-body simulations using Gaussian phase-space representations
Phase-space representations are of increasing importance as a viable and
successful means to study exponentially complex quantum many-body systems from
first principles. This review traces the background of these methods, starting
from the early work of Wigner, Glauber and Sudarshan. We focus on modern
phase-space approaches using non-classical phase-space representations. These
lead to the Gaussian representation, which unifies bosonic and fermionic
phase-space. Examples treated include quantum solitons in optical fibers,
colliding Bose-Einstein condensates, and strongly correlated fermions on
lattices.Comment: Short Review (10 pages); Corrected typo in eq (14); Added a few more
reference
Aspects of Fractional Superstrings
We investigate some issues relating to recently proposed fractional
superstring theories with . Using the factorization
approach of Gepner and Qiu, we systematically rederive the partition functions
of the and theories and examine their spacetime supersymmetry.
Generalized GSO projection operators for the model are found. Uniqueness
of the twist field, , as source of spacetime fermions is
demonstrated. Last, we derive a linear (rather than quadratic) relationship
between the required conformal anomaly and the conformal dimension of the
supercurrent ghost.Comment: 36 pages, CALT-68-1756 Revisions to match form to appear in Comm.
Math. Phys. Use standard TeX. Derivation of affine partition functions
related to models is now shown. References Update
Theory for a Hanbury Brown Twiss experiment with a ballistically expanding cloud of cold atoms
We have studied one-body and two-body correlation functions in a
ballistically expanding, non-interacting atomic cloud in the presence of
gravity. We find that the correlation functions are equivalent to those at
thermal equilibrium in the trap with an appropriate rescaling of the
coordinates. We derive simple expressions for the correlation lengths and give
some physical interpretations. Finally a simple model to take into account
finite detector resolution is discussed
Design of a five-axis ultra-precision micro-milling machine—UltraMill. Part 1: Holistic design approach, design considerations and specifications
High-accuracy three-dimensional miniature components and microstructures are increasingly in demand in the sector of electro-optics, automotive, biotechnology, aerospace and information-technology industries. A rational approach to mechanical micro machining is to develop ultra-precision machines with small footprints. In part 1 of this two-part paper, the-state-of-the-art of ultra-precision machines with micro-machining capability is critically reviewed. The design considerations and specifications of a five-axis ultra-precision micro-milling machine—UltraMill—are discussed. Three prioritised design issues: motion accuracy, dynamic stiffness and thermal stability, formulate the holistic design approach for UltraMill. This approach has been applied to the development of key machine components and their integration so as to achieve high accuracy and nanometer surface finish
Can a Lattice String Have a Vanishing Cosmological Constant?
We prove that a class of one-loop partition functions found by Dienes, giving
rise to a vanishing cosmological constant to one-loop, cannot be realized by a
consistent lattice string. The construction of non-supersymmetric string with a
vanishing cosmological constant therefore remains as elusive as ever. We also
discuss a new test that any one-loop partition function for a lattice string
must satisfy.Comment: 14 page
An Effective Superstring Spectral Action
A supersymmetric theory in two-dimensions has enough data to define a
noncommutative space thus making it possible to use all the tools of
noncommutative geometry. In particular, we apply this to the N=1 supersymmetric
non-linear sigma model and derive an expression for the generalized loop space
Dirac operator, in presence of a general background, using canonical
quantization. The spectral action principle is used to show that the
superstring partition function is also a spectral action valid for the
fluctuations of the string modes.Comment: 31 pages, Latex fil
Quantum dynamics in ultra-cold atomic physics
We review recent developments in the theory of quantum dynamics in ultra-cold
atomic physics, including exact techniques, but focusing on methods based on
phase-space mappings that are appli- cable when the complexity becomes
exponentially large. These phase-space representations include the truncated
Wigner, positive-P and general Gaussian operator representations which can
treat both bosons and fermions. These phase-space methods include both
traditional approaches using a phase-space of classical dimension, and more
recent methods that use a non-classical phase-space of increased
dimensionality. Examples used include quantum EPR entanglement of a four-mode
BEC, time-reversal tests of dephasing in single-mode traps, BEC quantum
collisions with up to 106 modes and 105 interacting particles, quantum
interferometry in a multi-mode trap with nonlinear absorp- tion, and the theory
of quantum entropy in phase-space. We also treat the approach of variational
optimization of the sampling error, giving an elementary example of a nonlinear
oscillator
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