176 research outputs found
A Physical Axiomatic Approach to Schrodinger's Equation
The Schrodinger equation for non-relativistic quantum systems is derived from
some classical physics axioms within an ensemble hamiltonian framework. Such an
approach enables one to understand the structure of the equation, in particular
its linearity, in intuitive terms. Furthermore it allows for a physically
motivated and systematic investigation of potential generalisations which are
briefly discussed.Comment: Extended version. 14 page
A Schroedinger link between non-equilibrium thermodynamics and Fisher information
It is known that equilibrium thermodynamics can be deduced from a constrained
Fisher information extemizing process. We show here that, more generally, both
non-equilibrium and equilibrium thermodynamics can be obtained from such a
Fisher treatment. Equilibrium thermodynamics corresponds to the ground state
solution, and non-equilibrium thermodynamics corresponds to excited state
solutions, of a Schroedinger wave equation (SWE). That equation appears as an
output of the constrained variational process that extremizes Fisher
information. Both equilibrium- and non-equilibrium situations can thereby be
tackled by one formalism that clearly exhibits the fact that thermodynamics and
quantum mechanics can both be expressed in terms of a formal SWE, out of a
common informational basis.Comment: 12 pages, no figure
Towards nonlinear quantum Fokker-Planck equations
It is demonstrated how the equilibrium semiclassical approach of Coffey et
al. can be improved to describe more correctly the evolution. As a result a new
semiclassical Klein-Kramers equation for the Wigner function is derived, which
remains quantum for a free quantum Brownian particle as well. It is transformed
to a semiclassical Smoluchowski equation, which leads to our semiclassical
generalization of the classical Einstein law of Brownian motion derived before.
A possibility is discussed how to extend these semiclassical equations to
nonlinear quantum Fokker-Planck equations based on the Fisher information
Quantum properties of classical Fisher information
The Fisher information of a quantum observable is shown to be proportional to
both (i) the difference of a quantum and a classical variance, thus providing a
measure of nonclassicality; and (ii) the rate of entropy increase under
Gaussian diffusion, thus providing a measure of robustness. The joint
nonclassicality of position and momentum observables is shown to be
complementary to their joint robustness in an exact sense.Comment: 16 page
Use of nanoscale zero-valent iron for remediation of clayey soil contaminated with hexavalent chromium : batch and column tests
This study investigated the reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in a clayey residual soil using nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI). Five di erent ratios between nZVI and Cr(VI) were tested in batch tests (1000/11; 1000/23; 1000/35; 1000/70, and 1000/140 mg/mg) with the soil. With the selected proportion resulting best e ciency, the column tests were conducted, with molded specimens of 5 cm in diameter and 5 cm in height, with di erent nZVI injection pressures (10, 30, and 100 kPa). The soil was contaminated with 800 mg/kg of Cr(VI). The Cr(VI) and Cr(III) analyses were performed following the USEPA 3060A and USEPA 7196A standards. The results show that the reduction of Cr(VI) is dependent on the ratio between nZVI and Cr(VI), reaching 98% of e ciency. In column tests, the pressure of 30 kPa was the most e cient. As pressure increased, contaminant leaching increased. The permeability decreased over time due to the gradual increase in filtration and formation of oxyhydroxides, limiting nZVI mobility. Overall, nZVI is e cient for soil remediation with Cr(VI), but the injection process can spread the contaminated if not properly controlled during in situ application
The gravity-related decoherence master equation from hybrid dynamics
Canonical coupling between classical and quantum systems cannot result in
reversible equations, rather it leads to irreversible master equations.
Coupling of quantized non-relativistic matter to gravity is illustrated by a
simplistic example. The heuristic derivation yields the theory of
gravity-related decoherence proposed longtime ago by Penrose and the author.Comment: 9pp, extended version of invited talk at Fifth International Workshop
DICE2010 (Castello Pasquini/Castiglioncello/Tuscany, Sept. 13-17, 2010
Interacting classical and quantum ensembles
A consistent description of interactions between classical and quantum
systems is relevant to quantum measurement theory, and to calculations in
quantum chemistry and quantum gravity. A solution is offered here to this
longstanding problem, based on a universally-applicable formalism for ensembles
on configuration space. This approach overcomes difficulties arising in
previous attempts, and in particular allows for backreaction on the classical
ensemble, conservation of probability and energy, and the correct classical
equations of motion in the limit of no interaction. Applications include
automatic decoherence for quantum ensembles interacting with classical
measurement apparatuses; a generalisation of coherent states to hybrid harmonic
oscillators; and an equation for describing the interaction of quantum matter
fields with classical gravity, that implies the radius of a Robertson-Walker
universe with a quantum massive scalar field can be sharply defined only for
particular `quantized' values.Comment: 31 pages, minor clarifications and one Ref. added, to appear in PR
Neutron-induced background in the CONUS experiment
CONUS is a novel experiment aiming at detecting elastic neutrino nucleus
scattering in the fully coherent regime using high-purity Germanium (Ge)
detectors and a reactor as antineutrino () source. The detector setup
is installed at the commercial nuclear power plant in Brokdorf, Germany, at a
very small distance to the reactor core in order to guarantee a high flux of
more than 10/(scm). For the experiment, a good
understanding of neutron-induced background events is required, as the neutron
recoil signals can mimic the predicted neutrino interactions. Especially
neutron-induced events correlated with the thermal power generation are
troublesome for CONUS. On-site measurements revealed the presence of a thermal
power correlated, highly thermalized neutron field with a fluence rate of
(74530)cmd. These neutrons that are produced by nuclear
fission inside the reactor core, are reduced by a factor of 10 on
their way to the CONUS shield. With a high-purity Ge detector without shield
the -ray background was examined including highly thermal power
correlated N decay products as well as -lines from neutron
capture. Using the measured neutron spectrum as input, it was shown, with the
help of Monte Carlo simulations, that the thermal power correlated field is
successfully mitigated by the installed CONUS shield. The reactor-induced
background contribution in the region of interest is exceeded by the expected
signal by at least one order of magnitude assuming a realistic ionization
quenching factor of 0.2.Comment: 28 pages, 28 figure
Results for the response function determination of the Compact Neutron Spectrometer
The Compact Neutron Spectrometer (CNS) is a Joint European Torus (JET)
Enhancement Project, designed for fusion diagnostics in different plasma
scenarios. The CNS is based on a liquid scintillator (BC501A) which allows good
discrimination between neutron and gamma radiation. Neutron spectrometry with a
BC501A spectrometer requires the use of a reliable, fully characterized
detector. The determination of the response matrix was carried out at the Ion
Accelerator Facility (PIAF) of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB).
This facility provides several monoenergetic beams (2.5, 8, 10, 12 and 14 MeV)
and a 'white field'(Emax ~17 MeV), which allows for a full characterization of
the spectrometer in the region of interest (from ~1.5 MeV to ~17 MeV. The
energy of the incoming neutrons was determined by the time of flight method
(TOF), with time resolution in the order of 1 ns. To check the response matrix,
the measured pulse height spectra were unfolded with the code MAXED and the
resulting energy distributions were compared with those obtained from TOF. The
CNS project required modification of the PTB BC501A spectrometer design, to
replace an analog data acquisition system (NIM modules) with a digital system
developed by the 'Ente per le Nuove tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente' (ENEA).
Results for the new digital system were evaluated using new software developed
specifically for this project.Comment: Proceedings of FNDA 201
Schroedingers equation with gauge coupling derived from a continuity equation
We consider a statistical ensemble of particles of mass m, which can be
described by a probability density \rho and a probability current \vec{j} of
the form \rho \nabla S/m. The continuity equation for \rho and \vec{j} implies
a first differential equation for the basic variables \rho and S. We further
assume that this system may be described by a linear differential equation for
a complex state variable \chi. Using this assumptions and the simplest possible
Ansatz \chi(\rho,S) Schroedingers equation for a particle of mass m in an
external potential V(q,t) is deduced. All calculations are performed for a
single spatial dimension (variable q) Using a second Ansatz \chi(\rho,S,q,t)
which allows for an explict q,t-dependence of \chi, one obtains a generalized
Schroedinger equation with an unusual external influence described by a
time-dependent Planck constant. All other modifications of Schroeodingers
equation obtained within this Ansatz may be eliminated by means of a gauge
transformation. Thus, this second Ansatz may be considered as a generalized
gauging procedure. Finally, making a third Ansatz, which allows for an
non-unique external q,t-dependence of \chi, one obtains Schroedingers equation
with electromagnetic potentials \vec{A}, \phi in the familiar gauge coupling
form. A possible source of the non-uniqueness is pointed out.Comment: 25 pages, no figure
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