66 research outputs found
Quantum linear mutual information and classical correlations in globally pure bipartite systems
We investigate the correlations of initially separable probability
distributions in a globally pure bipartite system with two degrees of freedom
for classical and quantum systems. A classical version of the quantum linear
mutual information is introduced and the two quantities are compared for a
system of oscillators coupled with both linear and non-linear interactions. The
classical correlations help to understand how much of the quantum loss of
purity are due to intrinsic quantum effects and how much is related to the
probabilistic character of the initial states, a characteristic shared by both
the classical and quantum pictures. Our examples show that, for initially
localized Gaussian states, the classical statistical mutual linear entropy
follows its quantum counterpart for short times. For non-Gaussian states the
behavior of the classical and quantum measures of information are still
qualitatively similar, although the fingerprints of the non-classical nature of
the initial state can be observed in their different amplitudes of oscillation.Comment: (16 pages, 4 figures
Estimating purity in terms of correlation functions
We prove a rigorous inequality estimating the purity of a reduced density
matrix of a composite quantum system in terms of cross-correlation of the same
state and an arbitrary product state. Various immediate applications of our
result are proposed, in particular concerning Gaussian wave-packet propagation
under classically regular dynamics.Comment: 3 page
Self-organized criticality in deterministic systems with disorder
Using the Bak-Sneppen model of biological evolution as our paradigm, we
investigate in which cases noise can be substituted with a deterministic signal
without destroying Self-Organized Criticality (SOC). If the deterministic
signal is chaotic the universality class is preserved; some non-universal
features, such as the threshold, depend on the time correlation of the signal.
We also show that, if the signal introduced is periodic, SOC is preserved but
in a different universality class, as long as the spectrum of frequencies is
broad enough.Comment: RevTex, 8 pages, 8 figure
Evolution of entanglement under echo dynamics
Echo dynamics and fidelity are often used to discuss stability in quantum
information processing and quantum chaos. Yet fidelity yields no information
about entanglement, the characteristic property of quantum mechanics. We study
the evolution of entanglement in echo dynamics. We find qualitatively different
behavior between integrable and chaotic systems on one hand and between random
and coherent initial states for integrable systems on the other. For the latter
the evolution of entanglement is given by a classical time scale. Analytic
results are illustrated numerically in a Jaynes Cummings model.Comment: 5 RevTeX pages, 3 EPS figures (one color) ; v2: considerable revision
;inequality proof omitte
Dynamical aspects of quantum entanglement for weakly coupled kicked tops
We investigate how the dynamical production of quantum entanglement for
weakly coupled, composite quantum systems is influenced by the chaotic dynamics
of the corresponding classical system, using coupled kicked tops. The linear
entropy for the subsystem (a kicked top) is employed as a measure of
entanglement. A perturbative formula for the entanglement production rate is
derived. The formula contains a correlation function that can be evaluated only
from the information of uncoupled tops. Using this expression and the
assumption that the correlation function decays exponentially which is
plausible for chaotic tops, it is shown that {\it the increment of the strength
of chaos does not enhance the production rate of entanglement} when the
coupling is weak enough and the subsystems (kicked tops) are strongly chaotic.
The result is confirmed by numerical experiments. The perturbative approach is
also applied to a weakly chaotic region, where tori and chaotic sea coexist in
the corresponding classical phase space, to reexamine a recent numerical study
that suggests an intimate relationship between the linear stability of the
corresponding classical trajectory and the entanglement production rate.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Dust Devil Tracks
Dust devils that leave dark- or light-toned tracks are common on Mars and they can also be found on the Earth’s surface. Dust devil tracks (hereinafter DDTs) are ephemeral surface features with mostly sub-annual lifetimes. Regarding their size, DDT widths can range between ∼1 m and ∼1 km, depending on the diameter of dust devil that created the track, and DDT lengths range from a few tens of meters to several kilometers, limited by the duration and horizontal ground speed of dust devils. DDTs can be classified into three main types based on their morphology and albedo in contrast to their surroundings; all are found on both planets: (a) dark continuous DDTs, (b) dark cycloidal DDTs, and (c) bright DDTs. Dark continuous DDTs are the most common type on Mars. They are characterized by their relatively homogenous and continuous low albedo surface tracks. Based on terrestrial and martian in situ studies, these DDTs most likely form when surficial dust layers are removed to expose larger-grained substrate material (coarse sands of ≥500 μm in diameter). The exposure of larger-grained materials changes the photometric properties of the surface; hence leading to lower albedo tracks because grain size is photometrically inversely proportional to the surface reflectance. However, although not observed so far, compositional differences (i.e., color differences) might also lead to albedo contrasts when dust is removed to expose substrate materials with mineralogical differences. For dark continuous DDTs, albedo drop measurements are around 2.5 % in the wavelength range of 550–850 nm on Mars and around 0.5 % in the wavelength range from 300–1100 nm on Earth. The removal of an equivalent layer thickness around 1 μm is sufficient for the formation of visible dark continuous DDTs on Mars and Earth. The next type of DDTs, dark cycloidal DDTs, are characterized by their low albedo pattern of overlapping scallops. Terrestrial in situ studies imply that they are formed when sand-sized material that is eroded from the outer vortex area of a dust devil is redeposited in annular patterns in the central vortex region. This type of DDT can also be found in on Mars in orbital image data, and although in situ studies are lacking, terrestrial analog studies, laboratory work, and numerical modeling suggest they have the same formation mechanism as those on Earth. Finally, bright DDTs are characterized by their continuous track pattern and high albedo compared to their undisturbed surroundings. They are found on both planets, but to date they have only been analyzed in situ on Earth. Here, the destruction of aggregates of dust, silt and sand by dust devils leads to smooth surfaces in contrast to the undisturbed rough surfaces surrounding the track. The resulting change in photometric properties occurs because the smoother surfaces have a higher reflectance compared to the surrounding rough surface, leading to bright DDTs. On Mars, the destruction of surficial dust-aggregates may also lead to bright DDTs. However, higher reflective surfaces may be produced by other formation mechanisms, such as dust compaction by passing dust devils, as this may also cause changes in photometric properties. On Mars, DDTs in general are found at all elevations and on a global scale, except on the permanent polar caps. DDT maximum areal densities occur during spring and summer in both hemispheres produced by an increase in dust devil activity caused by maximum insolation. Regionally, dust devil densities vary spatially likely controlled by changes in dust cover thicknesses and substrate materials. This variability makes it difficult to infer dust devil activity from DDT frequencies. Furthermore, only a fraction of dust devils leave tracks. However, DDTs can be used as proxies for dust devil lifetimes and wind directions and speeds, and they can also be used to predict lander or rover solar panel clearing events. Overall, the high DDT frequency in many areas on Mars leads to drastic albedo changes that affect large-scale weather patterns
Genetic characterization of cassava (Manihot esculenta) landraces in Brazil assessed with simple sequence repeats
Based on nine microsatellite loci, the aim of this study was to appraise the genetic diversity of 42 cassava (Manihot esculenta) landraces from selected regions in Brazil, and examine how this variety is distributed according to origin in several municipalities in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Amazonas and Mato Grosso. High diversity values were found among the five above-mentioned regions, with 3.3 alleles per locus on an average, a high percentage of polymorphic loci varying from 88.8% to 100%, an average of 0.265 for observed heterozygosity and 0.570 for gene diversity. Most genetic diversity was concentrated within the regions themselves (HS = 0.52). Cluster analysis and principal component based scatter plotting showed greater similarity among landraces from São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Amazonas, whereas those from Minas Gerais were clustered into a sub-group within this group. The plants from Mato Grosso, mostly collected in the municipality of General Carneiro, provided the highest differentiation. The migration of human populations is one among the possible reasons for this closer resemblance or greater disparity among plants from the various regions
Chaos and the Quantum Phase Transition in the Dicke Model
We investigate the quantum chaotic properties of the Dicke Hamiltonian; a
quantum-optical model which describes a single-mode bosonic field interacting
with an ensemble of two-level atoms. This model exhibits a zero-temperature
quantum phase transition in the N \go \infty limit, which we describe exactly
in an effective Hamiltonian approach. We then numerically investigate the
system at finite and, by analysing the level statistics, we demonstrate
that the system undergoes a transition from quasi-integrability to quantum
chaotic, and that this transition is caused by the precursors of the quantum
phase-transition. Our considerations of the wavefunction indicate that this is
connected with a delocalisation of the system and the emergence of macroscopic
coherence. We also derive a semi-classical Dicke model, which exhibits
analogues of all the important features of the quantum model, such as the phase
transition and the concurrent onset of chaos.Comment: 51 pages, 15 figures, late
History and Applications of Dust Devil Studies
Studies of dust devils, and their impact on society, are reviewed. Dust devils have been noted since antiquity, and have been documented in many countries, as well as on the planet Mars. As time-variable vortex entities, they have become a cultural motif. Three major stimuli of dust devil research are identified, nuclear testing, terrestrial climate studies, and perhaps most significantly, Mars research. Dust devils present an occasional safety hazard to light structures and have caused several deaths
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