Frontiers of open quantum system dynamics

We briefly examine recent developments in the field of open quantum system theory, devoted to the introduction of a satisfactory notion of memory for a quantum dynamics. In particular, we will consider a possible formalization of the notion of non-Markovian dynamics, as well as the construction of quantum evolution equations featuring a memory kernel. Connections will be drawn to the corresponding notions in the framework of classical stochastic processes, thus pointing to the key differences between a quantum and classical formalization of the notion of memory effects.Comment: 15 pages, contribution to "Quantum Physics and Geometry", Lecture Notes of the Unione Matematica Italiana 25,E. Ballico et al. (eds.

Thickness Dependence of the Electrical Resistivity of Epitaxially Grown Silver Films

Silver films were deposited onto (111)-oriented single-crystal silicon substrates under different deposition conditions. The thickness dependence of their electrical resistivity was analysed in terms of the Fuchs-Sondheimer theory. The scattering parameter p was found to vary from +0.8 to -0.8. The results are correlated with film structure. The negative p values are traced back to the predominant contribution of grain boundary scattering in the case of polycrystalline films.

State Identification and Verification with Satisfaction

We use SAT-solving to construct adaptive distinguishing sequences and unique input/output sequences for finite state machines in the flavour of Mealy machines. These sequences solve the state identification and state verification problems respectively. Preliminary experiments evaluate our implementation and show that this approach via SAT-solving works well and is able to find many short sequences