9,787 research outputs found
New intensity and visibility aspects of a double loop neutron interferometer
Various phase shifters and absorbers can be put into the arms of a double
loop neutron interferometer. The mean intensity levels of the forward and
diffracted beams behind an empty four plate interferometer of this type have
been calculated. It is shown that the intensities in the forward and diffracted
direction can be made equal using certain absorbers. In this case the
interferometer can be regarded as a 50/50 beam splitter. Furthermore the
visibilities of single and double loop interferometers are compared to each
other by varying the transmission in the first loop using different absorbers.
It can be shown that the visibility becomes exactly 1 using a phase shifter in
the second loop. In this case the phase shifter in the second loop must be
strongly correlated to the transmission coefficient of the absorber in the
first loop. Using such a device homodyne-like measurements of very weak signals
should become possible.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in the Journal of
Optics B - Quantum and Semiclassical Optic
Non-cyclic Geometric Phase due to Spatial Evolution in a Neutron Interferometer
We present a split-beam neutron interferometric experiment to test the
non-cyclic geometric phase tied to the spatial evolution of the system: the
subjacent two-dimensional Hilbert space is spanned by the two possible paths in
the interferometer and the evolution of the state is controlled by phase
shifters and absorbers. A related experiment was reported previously by
Hasegawa et al. [Phys. Rev. A 53, 2486 (1996)] to verify the cyclic spatial
geometric phase. The interpretation of this experiment, namely to ascribe a
geometric phase to this particular state evolution, has met severe criticism
from Wagh [Phys. Rev. A 59, 1715 (1999)]. The extension to a non-cyclic
evolution manifests the correctness of the interpretation of the previous
experiment by means of an explicit calculation of the non-cyclic geometric
phase in terms of paths on the Bloch-sphere.Comment: 4 pages, revtex
Adaptive Filtering for Large Space Structures: A Closed-Form Solution
In a previous paper Schaechter proposes using an extended Kalman filter to estimate adaptively the (slowly varying) frequencies and damping ratios of a large space structure. The time varying gains for estimating the frequencies and damping ratios can be determined in closed form so it is not necessary to integrate the matrix Riccati equations. After certain approximations, the time varying adaptive gain can be written as the product of a constant matrix times a matrix derived from the components of the estimated state vector. This is an important savings of computer resources and allows the adaptive filter to be implemented with approximately the same effort as the nonadaptive filter. The success of this new approach for adaptive filtering was demonstrated using synthetic data from a two mode system
Phase Dynamics of Two Entangled Qubits
We make a geometric study of the phases acquired by a general pure bipartite
two level system after a cyclic unitary evolution. The geometric representation
of the two particle Hilbert space makes use of Hopf fibrations. It allows for a
simple description of the dynamics of the entangled state's phase during the
whole evolution. The global phase after a cyclic evolution is always an entire
multiple of for all bipartite states, a result that does not depend on
the degree of entanglement. There are three different types of phases combining
themselves so as to result in the global phase. They can be identified
as dynamical, geometrical and topological. Each one of them can be easily
identified using the presented geometric description. The interplay between
them depends on the initial state and on its trajectory and the results
obtained are shown to be in connection to those on mixed states phases.Comment: 9 figures, slightly different version from the accepted on
Flow Equations for Uplifting Half-Flat to Spin(7) Manifolds
In this short supplement to [1], we discuss the uplift of half-flat six-folds
to Spin(7) eight-folds by fibration of the former over a product of two
intervals. We show that the same can be done in two ways - one, such that the
required Spin(7) eight-fold is a double G_2 seven-fold fibration over an
interval, the G_2 seven-fold itself being the half-flat six-fold fibered over
the other interval, and second, by simply considering the fibration of the
half-flat six-fold over a product of two intervals. The flow equations one gets
are an obvious generalization of the Hitchin's flow equations (to obtain
seven-folds of G_2 holonomy from half-flat six-folds [2]). We explicitly show
the uplift of the Iwasawa using both methods, thereby proposing the form of the
new Spin(7) metrics. We give a plausibility argument ruling out the uplift of
the Iwasawa manifold to a Spin(7) eight fold at the "edge", using the second
method. For eight-folds of the type , being a
seven-fold of SU(3) structure, we motivate the possibility of including
elliptic functions into the "shape deformation" functions of seven-folds of
SU(3) structure of [1] via some connections between elliptic functions, the
Heisenberg group, theta functions, the already known -brane metric [3] and
hyper-K\"{a}hler metrics obtained in twistor spaces by deformations of
Atiyah-Hitchin manifolds by a Legendre transform in [4].Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX; v3: (JMP) journal version which includes clarifying
remarks related to connection between Spin(7)-folds and SU(3)structur
Neutron wave packet tomography
A tomographic technique is introduced in order to determine the quantum state
of the center of mass motion of neutrons. An experiment is proposed and
numerically analyzed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Minimal Uncertainty in Momentum: The Effects of IR Gravity on Quantum Mechanics
The effects of the IR aspects of gravity on quantum mechanics is
investigated. At large distances where due to gravity the space-time is curved,
there appears nonzero minimal uncertainty in the momentum of a
quantum mechanical particle. We apply the minimal uncertainty momentum to some
quantum mechanical interferometry examples and show that the phase shift
depends on the area surrounded by the path of the test particle . We also put
some limits on the related parameters. This prediction may be tested through
future experiments. The assumption of minimal uncertainty in momentum can also
explain the anomalous excess of the mass of the Cooper pair in a rotating thin
superconductor ring.Comment: 8 pages, revised version accepted by PR
Transformation toughened ceramics for the heavy duty diesel engine technology program
The objective of this program is to develop an advanced high temperature oxide structural ceramic for application to the heavy duty diesel engine. The approach is to employ transformation toughening by additions of ZrO.5HfO.5O2 solid solution to the oxide ceramics, mullite (2Al2O3S2SiO2) and alumina (Al2O3). The study is planned for three phases, each 12 months in duration. This report covers Phase 1. During this period, processing techniques were developed to incorporate the ZrO.5HfO.5O2 solid solution in the matrices while retaining the necessary metastable tetragonal phase. Modulus of rupture and of elasticity, coefficient of thermal expansion, fracture toughness by indent technique and thermal diffusivity of representative specimens were measured. In Phase 2, the process will be improved to provide higher mechanical strength and to define the techniques for scale up to component size. In Phase 3, full scale component prototypes will be fabri-]cated
On helium-dominated stellar evolution: the mysterious role of the O(He)-type stars
About a quarter of all post-asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are
hydrogen-deficient. Stellar evolutionary models explain the carbon-dominated
H-deficient stars by a (very) late thermal pulse scenario where the
hydrogen-rich envelope is mixed with the helium-rich intershell layer.
Depending on the particular time at which the final flash occurs, the entire
hydrogen envelope may be burned. In contrast, helium-dominated post-AGB stars
and their evolution are yet not understood. A small group of very hot,
helium-dominated stars is formed by O(He)-type stars. We performed a detailed
spectral analysis of ultraviolet and optical spectra of four O(He) stars by
means of state-of-the-art non-LTE model-atmosphere techniques. We determined
effective temperatures, surface gravities, and the abundances of H, He, C, N,
O, F, Ne, Si, P, S, Ar, and Fe. By deriving upper limits for the mass-loss
rates of the O(He) stars, we found that they do not exhibit enhanced mass-loss.
The comparison with evolutionary models shows that the status of the O(He)
stars remains uncertain. Their abundances match predictions of a double helium
white dwarf merger scenario, suggesting that they might be the progeny of the
compact and of the luminous helium-rich sdO-type stars. The existence of
planetary nebulae that do not show helium enrichment around every other O(He)
star, precludes a merger origin for these stars. These stars must have formed
in a different way, for instance via enhanced mass-loss during their post-AGB
evolution or a merger within a common-envelope (CE) of a CO-WD and a red giant
or AGB star. A helium-dominated stellar evolutionary sequence exists, that may
be fed by different types of mergers or CE scenarios. It appears likely, that
all these pass through the O(He) phase just before they become white dwarfs.Comment: 29 pages, 27 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Theory of minimum effort control
Optimum control theory formulations for solving problems in optimum guidance for interplanetary manned space flight mission
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