Non-linearity and related features of Makyoh (magic-mirror) imaging

Non-linearity in Makyoh (magic-mirror) imaging is analyzed using a geometrical optical approach. The sources of non-linearity are identified as (1) a topological mapping of the imaged surface due to surface gradients, (2) the hyperbolic-like dependence of the image intensity on the local curvatures, and (3) the quadratic dependence of the intensity due to local Gaussian surface curvatures. Criteria for an approximate linear imaging are given and the relevance to Makyoh-topography image evaluation is discussed

Infinite matrices may violate the associative law

The momentum operator for a particle in a box is represented by an infinite order Hermitian matrix $P$. Its square $P^2$ is well defined (and diagonal), but its cube $P^3$ is ill defined, because $P P^2\neq P^2 P$. Truncating these matrices to a finite order restores the associative law, but leads to other curious results.Comment: final version in J. Phys. A28 (1995) 1765-177

A Quantum Yield Map for Synthetic Eumelanin

The quantum yield of synthetic eumelanin is known to be extremely low and it has recently been reported to be dependent on excitation wavelength. In this paper, we present quantum yield as a function of excitation wavelength between 250 and 500 nm, showing it to be a factor of 4 higher at 250 nm than at 500 nm. In addition, we present a definitive map of the steady-state fluorescence as a function of excitation and emission wavelengths, and significantly, a three-dimensional map of the specific quantum yield: the fraction of photons absorbed at each wavelength that are subsequently radiated at each emission wavelength. This map contains clear features, which we attribute to certain structural models, and shows that radiative emission and specific quantum yield are negligible at emission wavelengths outside the range of 585 and 385 nm (2.2 and 3.2 eV), regardless of excitation wavelength. This information is important in the context of understanding melanin biofunctionality, and the quantum molecular biophysics therein.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

A Simple Proof of the Fundamental Theorem about Arveson Systems

With every Eo-semigroup (acting on the algebra of of bounded operators on a separable infinite-dimensional Hilbert space) there is an associated Arveson system. One of the most important results about Arveson systems is that every Arveson system is the one associated with an Eo-semigroup. In these notes we give a new proof of this result that is considerably simpler than the existing ones and allows for a generalization to product systems of Hilbert module (to be published elsewhere).Comment: Publication data added, acknowledgements and a note after acceptance added, corrects a number of inconveniences that have been produced in the published version during the publication proces

Quantum Degenerate Systems

Degenerate dynamical systems are characterized by symplectic structures whose rank is not constant throughout phase space. Their phase spaces are divided into causally disconnected, nonoverlapping regions such that there are no classical orbits connecting two different regions. Here the question of whether this classical disconnectedness survives quantization is addressed. Our conclusion is that in irreducible degenerate systems --in which the degeneracy cannot be eliminated by redefining variables in the action--, the disconnectedness is maintained in the quantum theory: there is no quantum tunnelling across degeneracy surfaces. This shows that the degeneracy surfaces are boundaries separating distinct physical systems, not only classically, but in the quantum realm as well. The relevance of this feature for gravitation and Chern-Simons theories in higher dimensions cannot be overstated.Comment: 18 pages, no figure

Positivity and conservation of superenergy tensors

Two essential properties of energy-momentum tensors T_{\mu\nu} are their positivity and conservation. This is mathematically formalized by, respectively, an energy condition, as the dominant energy condition, and the vanishing of their divergence \nabla^\mu T_{\mu\nu}=0. The classical Bel and Bel-Robinson superenergy tensors, generated from the Riemann and Weyl tensors, respectively, are rank-4 tensors. But they share these two properties with energy momentum tensors: the Dominant Property (DP) and the divergence-free property in the absence of sources (vacuum). Senovilla defined a universal algebraic construction which generates a basic superenergy tensor T{A} from any arbitrary tensor A. In this construction the seed tensor A is structured as an r-fold multivector, which can always be done. The most important feature of the basic superenergy tensors is that they satisfy automatically the DP, independently of the generating tensor A. In a previous paper we presented a more compact definition of T{A} using the r-fold Clifford algebra. This form for the superenergy tensors allowed to obtain an easy proof of the DP valid for any dimension. In this paper we include this proof. We explain which new elements appear when we consider the tensor T{A} generated by a non-degree-defined r-fold multivector A and how orthogonal Lorentz transformations and bilinear observables of spinor fields are included as particular cases of superenergy tensors. We find some sufficient conditions for the seed tensor A, which guarantee that the generated tensor T{A} is divergence-free. These sufficient conditions are satisfied by some physical fields, which are presented as examples.Comment: 19 pages, no figures. Language and minor changes. Published versio

The optimized Rayleigh-Ritz scheme for determining the quantum-mechanical spectrum

The convergence of the Rayleigh-Ritz method with nonlinear parameters optimized through minimization of the trace of the truncated matrix is demonstrated by a comparison with analytically known eigenstates of various quasi-solvable systems. We show that the basis of the harmonic oscillator eigenfunctions with optimized frequency ? enables determination of boundstate energies of one-dimensional oscillators to an arbitrary accuracy, even in the case of highly anharmonic multi-well potentials. The same is true in the spherically symmetric case of V (r) = {\omega}2r2 2 + {\lambda}rk, if k > 0. For spiked oscillators with k < -1, the basis of the pseudoharmonic oscillator eigenfunctions with two parameters ? and {\gamma} is more suitable, and optimization of the latter appears crucial for a precise determination of the spectrum.Comment: 22 pages,8 figure

Classical 5D fields generated by a uniformly accelerated point source

Gauge fields associated with the manifestly covariant dynamics of particles in $(3,1)$ spacetime are five-dimensional. In this paper we explore the old problem of fields generated by a source undergoing hyperbolic motion in this framework. The 5D fields are computed numerically using absolute time $\tau$-retarded Green-functions, and qualitatively compared with Maxwell fields generated by the same motion. We find that although the zero mode of all fields coincides with the corresponding Maxwell problem, the non-zero mode should affect, through the Lorentz force, the observed motion of test particles.Comment: 36 pages, 8 figure

A dilemma in representing observables in quantum mechanics

There are self-adjoint operators which determine both spectral and semispectral measures. These measures have very different commutativity and covariance properties. This fact poses a serious question on the physical meaning of such a self-adjoint operator and its associated operator measures.Comment: 10 page