1,033 research outputs found
Real-time dynamics of lattice gauge theories with a few-qubit quantum computer
Gauge theories are fundamental to our understanding of interactions between
the elementary constituents of matter as mediated by gauge bosons. However,
computing the real-time dynamics in gauge theories is a notorious challenge for
classical computational methods. In the spirit of Feynman's vision of a quantum
simulator, this has recently stimulated theoretical effort to devise schemes
for simulating such theories on engineered quantum-mechanical devices, with the
difficulty that gauge invariance and the associated local conservation laws
(Gauss laws) need to be implemented. Here we report the first experimental
demonstration of a digital quantum simulation of a lattice gauge theory, by
realising 1+1-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (Schwinger model) on a
few-qubit trapped-ion quantum computer. We are interested in the real-time
evolution of the Schwinger mechanism, describing the instability of the bare
vacuum due to quantum fluctuations, which manifests itself in the spontaneous
creation of electron-positron pairs. To make efficient use of our quantum
resources, we map the original problem to a spin model by eliminating the gauge
fields in favour of exotic long-range interactions, which have a direct and
efficient implementation on an ion trap architecture. We explore the Schwinger
mechanism of particle-antiparticle generation by monitoring the mass production
and the vacuum persistence amplitude. Moreover, we track the real-time
evolution of entanglement in the system, which illustrates how particle
creation and entanglement generation are directly related. Our work represents
a first step towards quantum simulating high-energy theories with atomic
physics experiments, the long-term vision being the extension to real-time
quantum simulations of non-Abelian lattice gauge theories
Bose-Einstein condensation at constant temperature
We present a novel experimental approach to Bose-Einstein condensation by
increasing the particle number of the system at almost constant temperature. In
particular the emergence of a new condensate is observed in multi-component F=1
spinor condensates of 87-Rb. Furthermore we develop a simple rate-equation
model for multi-component BEC thermodynamics at finite temperature which well
reproduces the measured effects.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, RevTe
Extensions and block decompositions for finite-dimensional representations of equivariant map algebras
Suppose a finite group acts on a scheme and a finite-dimensional Lie
algebra . The associated equivariant map algebra is the Lie
algebra of equivariant regular maps from to . The irreducible
finite-dimensional representations of these algebras were classified in
previous work with P. Senesi, where it was shown that they are all tensor
products of evaluation representations and one-dimensional representations. In
the current paper, we describe the extensions between irreducible
finite-dimensional representations of an equivariant map algebra in the case
that is an affine scheme of finite type and is reductive.
This allows us to also describe explicitly the blocks of the category of
finite-dimensional representations in terms of spectral characters, whose
definition we extend to this general setting. Applying our results to the case
of generalized current algebras (the case where the group acting is trivial),
we recover known results but with very different proofs. For (twisted) loop
algebras, we recover known results on block decompositions (again with very
different proofs) and new explicit formulas for extensions. Finally,
specializing our results to the case of (twisted) multiloop algebras and
generalized Onsager algebras yields previously unknown results on both
extensions and block decompositions.Comment: 41 pages; v2: minor corrections, formatting changed to match
published versio
Inhibition of electromagnetically induced absorption due to excited state decoherence in Rb vapor
The explanation presented in [Taichenachev et al, Phys. Rev. A {\bf 61},
011802 (2000)] according to which the electromagnetically induced absorption
(EIA) resonances observed in degenerate two level systems are due to coherence
transfer from the excited to the ground state is experimentally tested in a
Hanle type experiment observing the parametric resonance on the line of
Rb. While EIA occurs in the transition in a cell
containing only vapor, collisions with a buffer gas ( of )
cause the sign reversal of this resonance as a consequence of collisional
decoherence of the excited state. A theoretical model in good qualitative
agreement with the experimental results is presented.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Physical Review
A Model for QCD at High Density and Large Quark Mass
We study the high density region of QCD within an effective model obtained in
the frame of the hopping parameter expansion and choosing Polyakov type of
loops as the main dynamical variables representing the fermionic matter. To get
a first idea of the phase structure, the model is analyzed in strong coupling
expansion and using a mean field approximation. In numerical simulations, the
model still shows the so-called sign problem, a difficulty peculiar to non-zero
chemical potential, but it permits the development of algorithms which ensure a
good overlap of the Monte Carlo ensemble with the true one. We review the main
features of the model and present calculations concerning the dependence of
various observables on the chemical potential and on the temperature, in
particular of the charge density and the diquark susceptibility, which may be
used to characterize the various phases expected at high baryonic density. We
obtain in this way information about the phase structure of the model and the
corresponding phase transitions and cross over regions, which can be considered
as hints for the behaviour of non-zero density QCD.Comment: 21 pages, 29 figure
Cinacalcet-induced hypocalcemia in a cohort of European haemodialysis patients: predictors, therapeutic approaches and outcomes
BACKGROUND: Calcimimetic treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic dialysis patients is often followed by hypocalcemia. METHODS: We investigated the frequency, predictors, consequences and therapeutic responses following cinacalcet-induced hypocalcemia in an incident European hemodialysis cohort of 1068 patients with a cinacalcet prescription. RESULTS: Of 905 normocalcemic patients initiating cinacalcet, 67% developed hypocalcemia within 12 months: 68% mild, 23% moderate, 9% severe. Compared to persistently normocalcemic patients, those with severe hypocalcemia were more often diabetic, overweight, had cardiovascular disease, shorter dialysis vintage, used a catheter dialysis access, had fewer active vitamin-D sterols, and exhibited higher CRP and iPTH and lower calcium levels. Multivariate predictors of hypocalcemia included a catheter for vascular access, low albumin and high iPTH. Generally, no therapeutic intervention to prevent hypocalcemia was taken prior to cinacalcet initiation. After the hypocalcemic event, the most common clinical response was no change of the dialysis or medical regimen. Following the hypocalcemic event, iPTH remained low even in those with severe hypocalcemia. The number of deaths and cardiovascular events did not differ between patients with and without hypocalcemia within six months following cinacalcet initiation. CONCLUSION: Two-thirds of cinacalcet initiated patients experienced hypocalcaemia with 9% being severe. Hypocalcemia was mostly asymptomatic, transient (with and without targeted intervention to correct it) and not associated with an increase in cardiovascular events or deaths
Cross-verification of independent quantum devices
Quantum computers are on the brink of surpassing the capabilities of even the
most powerful classical computers. This naturally raises the question of how
one can trust the results of a quantum computer when they cannot be compared to
classical simulation. Here we present a verification technique that exploits
the principles of measurement-based quantum computation to link quantum
circuits of different input size, depth, and structure. Our approach enables
consistency checks of quantum computations within a device, as well as between
independent devices. We showcase our protocol by applying it to five
state-of-the-art quantum processors, based on four distinct physical
architectures: nuclear magnetic resonance, superconducting circuits, trapped
ions, and photonics, with up to 6 qubits and 200 distinct circuits
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