Three-isotope plot of fractionation in photolysis: A perturbation theoretical expression

The slope of the three-isotope plot for the isotopomer fractionation by direct or nearly direct photodissociation is obtained using a perturbation theoretical analysis. This result, correct to first order in the mass difference, is the same as that for equilibrium chemical exchange reactions, a similarity unexpected a priori. A comparison is made with computational results for N2O photodissociation. This theoretical slope for mass-dependent photolytic fractionation can be used to analyze the data for isotopic anomalies in spin-allowed photodissociation reactions. Earlier work on chemical equilibria is extended by avoiding a high-temperature approximation

Self-organization via active exploration in robotic applications

We describe a neural network based robotic system. Unlike traditional robotic systems, our approach focussed on non-stationary problems. We indicate that self-organization capability is necessary for any system to operate successfully in a non-stationary environment. We suggest that self-organization should be based on an active exploration process. We investigated neural architectures having novelty sensitivity, selective attention, reinforcement learning, habit formation, flexible criteria categorization properties and analyzed the resulting behavior (consisting of an intelligent initiation of exploration) by computer simulations. While various computer vision researchers acknowledged recently the importance of active processes (Swain and Stricker, 1991), the proposed approaches within the new framework still suffer from a lack of self-organization (Aloimonos and Bandyopadhyay, 1987; Bajcsy, 1988). A self-organizing, neural network based robot (MAVIN) has been recently proposed (Baloch and Waxman, 1991). This robot has the capability of position, size rotation invariant pattern categorization, recognition and pavlovian conditioning. Our robot does not have initially invariant processing properties. The reason for this is the emphasis we put on active exploration. We maintain the point of view that such invariant properties emerge from an internalization of exploratory sensory-motor activity. Rather than coding the equilibria of such mental capabilities, we are seeking to capture its dynamics to understand on the one hand how the emergence of such invariances is possible and on the other hand the dynamics that lead to these invariances. The second point is crucial for an adaptive robot to acquire new invariances in non-stationary environments, as demonstrated by the inverting glass experiments of Helmholtz. We will introduce Pavlovian conditioning circuits in our future work for the precise objective of achieving the generation, coordination, and internalization of sequence of actions

Wet and dry internal friction can be measured with the Jarzynski equality

The existence of two types of internal friction wet and dry is revisited, and a simple protocol is proposed for distinguishing between the two types and extracting the appropriate internal friction coefficient. The scheme requires repeatedly stretching a polymer molecule, and measuring the average work dissipated in the process by applying the Jarzynski equality. The internal friction coefficient is then estimated from the average dissipated work in the extrapolated limit of zero solvent viscosity. The validity of the protocol is established through analytical calculations on a one-dimensional free-draining Hookean spring-dashpot model for a polymer, and Brownian dynamics simulations of: (a) a single-mode nonlinear spring-dashpot model for a polymer, and (b) a finitely extensible bead-spring chain with cohesive intra-chain interactions, both of which incorporate fluctuating hydrodynamic interactions. Well-established single-molecule manipulation techniques, such as optical tweezer-based pulling, can be used to implement the suggested protocol experimentally.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figure

Neutrino Interactions in Octet Baryon Matter

Neutrino processes caused by the neutral current are studied in octet baryon matter. Previous confusion about the baryonic matrix elements of the neutral current interaction is excluded, and a correct table for them improved by consideration of the proton spin problem is presented instead.Comment: 6 page

Significance of thermal fluctuations and hydrodynamic interactions in receptor-ligand mediated adhesive dynamics of a spherical particle in wall bound shear flow

The dynamics of adhesion of a spherical micro-particle to a ligand-coated wall, in shear flow, is studied using a Langevin equation that accounts for thermal fluctuations, hydrodynamic interactions and adhesive interactions. Contrary to the conventional assumption that thermal fluctuations play a negligible role at high P$\acute{e}$clet numbers, we find that for particles with low surface densities of receptors, rotational diffusion caused by fluctuations about the flow and gradient directions aids in bond formation, leading to significantly greater adhesion on average, compared to simulations where thermal fluctuations are completely ignored. The role of wall hydrodynamic interactions on the steady state motion of a particle, when the particle is close to the wall, has also been explored. At high P$\acute{e}$clet numbers, the shear induced force that arises due to the stresslet part of the Stokes dipole, plays a dominant role, reducing the particle velocity significantly, and affecting the states of motion of the particle. The coupling between the translational and rotational degrees of freedom of the particle, brought about by the presence of hydrodynamic interactions, is found to have no influence on the binding dynamics. On the other hand, the drag coefficient, which depends on the distance of the particle from the wall, plays a crucial role at low rates of bond formation. A significant difference in the effect of both the shear force and the position dependent drag force, on the states of motion of the particle, is observed when the P$\acute{e}$let number is small.Comment: The manuscript has been accepted as an article in Physical Review E Journa

Analysis of radial segregation of granular mixtures in a rotating drum

This paper considers the segregation of a granular mixture in a rotating drum. Extending a recent kinematic model for grain transport on sandpile surfaces to the case of rotating drums, an analysis is presented for radial segregation in the rolling regime, where a thin layer is avalanching down while the rest of the material follows rigid body rotation. We argue that segregation is driven not just by differences in the angle of repose of the species, as has been assumed in earlier investigations, but also by differences in the size and surface properties of the grains. The cases of grains differing only in size (slightly or widely) and only in surface properties are considered, and the predictions are in qualitative agreement with observations. The model yields results inconsistent with the assumptions for more general cases, and we speculate on how this may be corrected.Comment: 12 pages inclusive of 10 PostScript (*.eps) figures, uses svjour, psfrag and graphicx. Submitted for publication to Euro. Phys. J.

Bootstrap and collider physics of parity violating conformal field theories in d=3d=3

We study the crossing equations in $d=3$ for the four point function of two $U(1)$ currents and two scalars including the presence of a parity violating term for the $s$-channel stress tensor exchange. We show the existence of a new tower of double trace operators in the $t$-channel whose presence is necessary for the crossing equation to be satisfied and determine the corresponding large spin parity violating OPE coefficients. Contrary to the parity even situation, we find that the parity odd $s$-channel light cone stress tensor block do not have logarithmic singularities. This implies that the parity odd term does not contribute to anomalous dimensions in the crossed channel at this order in light cone expansion. We then study the constraints imposed by reflection positivity and crossing symmetry on such a four point function. We reproduce the previously known parity odd collider bounds through this analysis. The contribution of the parity violating term in the collider bound results from a square root branch cut present in the light cone block as opposed to a logarithmic cut in the parity even case, together with the application of the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality.Comment: References update

Constraints on parity violating conformal field theories in d=3d=3

We derive constraints on three-point functions involving the stress tensor, $T$, and a conserved $U(1)$ current, $j$, in 2+1 dimensional conformal field theories that violate parity, using conformal collider bounds introduced by Hofman and Maldacena. Conformal invariance allows parity-odd tensor-structures for the $\langle T T T \rangle$ and $\langle j j T \rangle$ correlation functions which are unique to three space-time dimensions. Let the parameters which determine the $\langle T T T \rangle$ correlation function be $t_4$ and $\alpha_T$ , where $\alpha_T$ is the parity-violating contribution. Similarly let the parameters which determine $\langle j j T \rangle$ correlation function be $a_2$, and $\alpha_J$ , where $\alpha_J$ is the parity-violating contribution. We show that the parameters $(t_4, \alpha_T)$ and $(a_2, \alpha_J)$ are bounded to lie inside a disc at the origin of the $t_4$ - $\alpha_T$ plane and the $a_2$ - $\alpha_J$ plane respectively. We then show that large $N$ Chern-Simons theories coupled to a fundamental fermion/boson lie on the circle which bounds these discs. The `t Hooft coupling determines the location of these theories on the boundary circles.Comment: Minor typos corrected, Figures changed , References adde