A new class of two-channel biorthogonal filter banks and wavelet bases

We propose a novel framework for a new class of two-channel biorthogonal filter banks. The framework covers two useful subclasses: i) causal stable IIR filter banks. ii) linear phase FIR filter banks. There exists a very efficient structurally perfect reconstruction implementation for such a class. Filter banks of high frequency selectivity can be achieved by using the proposed framework with low complexity. The properties of such a class are discussed in detail. The design of the analysis/synthesis systems reduces to the design of a single transfer function. Very simple design methods are given both for FIR and IIR cases. Zeros of arbitrary multiplicity at aliasing frequency can be easily imposed, for the purpose of generating wavelets with regularity property. In the IIR case, two new classes of IIR maximally flat filters different from Butterworth filters are introduced. The filter coefficients are given in closed form. The wavelet bases corresponding to the biorthogonal systems are generated. the authors also provide a novel mapping of the proposed 1-D framework into 2-D. The mapping preserves the following: i) perfect reconstruction; ii) stability in the IIR case; iii) linear phase in the FIR case; iv) zeros at aliasing frequency; v) frequency characteristic of the filters

The Empty Promise of Estate Tax Repeal

The terms of the debate over the estate tax have been framed largely by abolitionists who have propounded an antitax message that portrays the estate tax as unambiguously harmful and threatening to ordinary families and small businesses. The attack on the estate tax is linked to a larger agenda of eliminating taxes on capital and capital income and dismantling the progressive elements of the federal tax system. The slogan of estate tax repeal, while effective in mobilizing antitax sentiment, makes no sense as a matter of tax policy because it downplays revenue costs, distributional effects, administrative concerns, and consequences for the rest of the tax system. The 2001 Act illustrates the gap between the abolitionists\u27 simplistic antitax agenda and the complex reality of tradeoffs among competing tax and spending priorities. The estate tax cuts enacted in 2001 imply large revenue losses as well as a shift in tax burdens from the very rich to the middle class and from current taxpayers to future taxpayers. This appears to be a step in precisely the wrong direction, given growing inequalities of income and wealth and a looming fiscal gap

Meanfield treatment of Bragg scattering from a Bose-Einstein condensate

A unified semiclassical treatment of Bragg scattering from Bose-Einstein condensates is presented. The formalism is based on the Gross-Pitaevskii equation driven by classical light fields far detuned from atomic resonance. An approximate analytic solution is obtained and provides quantitative understanding of the atomic momentum state oscillations, as well as a simple expression for the momentum linewidth of the scattering process. The validity regime of the analytic solution is derived, and tested by three dimensional cylindrically symmetric numerical simulations.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures. Minor changes made to documen

Causality violation and singularities

We show that singularities necessarily occur when a boundary of causality violating set exists in a space-time under the physically suitable assumptions except the global causality condition in the Hawking-Penrose singularity theorems. Instead of the global causality condition, we impose some restrictions on the causality violating sets to show the occurrence of singularities.Comment: 11 pages, latex, 2 eps figure

How Stands Collapse II

I review ten problems associated with the dynamical wave function collapse program, which were described in the first of these two papers. Five of these, the \textit{interaction, preferred basis, trigger, symmetry} and \textit{superluminal} problems, were discussed as resolved there. In this volume in honor of Abner Shimony, I discuss the five remaining problems, \textit{tails, conservation law, experimental, relativity, legitimization}. Particular emphasis is given to the tails problem, first raised by Abner. The discussion of legitimization contains a new argument, that the energy density of the fluctuating field which causes collapse should exert a gravitational force. This force can be repulsive, since this energy density can be negative. Speculative illustrations of cosmological implications are offered.Comment: 37 page

Critical Exponents of the Three Dimensional Random Field Ising Model

The phase transition of the three--dimensional random field Ising model with a discrete ($\pm h$) field distribution is investigated by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Values of the critical exponents for the correlation length, specific heat, susceptibility, disconnected susceptibility and magnetization are determined simultaneously via finite size scaling. While the exponents for the magnetization and disconnected susceptibility are consistent with a first order transition, the specific heat appears to saturate indicating no latent heat. Sample to sample fluctuations of the susceptibilty are consistent with the droplet picture for the transition.Comment: Revtex, 10 pages + 4 figures included as Latex files and 1 in Postscrip