Constraining crystalline color superconducting quark matter with gravitational-wave data

We estimate the maximum equatorial ellipticity sustainable by compact stars composed of crystalline color-superconducting quark matter. For the theoretically allowed range of the gap parameter $\Delta$, the maximum ellipticity could be as large as $10^{-2}$, which is about 4 orders of magnitude larger than the tightest upper limit obtained by the recent science runs of the LIGO and GEO600 gravitational wave detectors based on the data from 78 radio pulsars. We point out that the current gravitational-wave strain upper limit already has some implications for the gap parameter. In particular, the upper limit for the Crab pulsar implies that $\Delta$ is less than O(20) MeV for a range of quark chemical potential accessible in compact stars, assuming that the pulsar has a mass $1.4 M_{\odot}$, radius 10 km, breaking strain $10^{-3}$, and that it has the maximum quadrupole deformation it can sustain without fracturing.Comment: Minor changes to match the published versio

High Fidelity State Transfer Over an Unmodulated Linear XY Spin Chain

We provide a class of initial encodings that can be sent with a high fidelity over an unmodulated, linear, XY spin chain. As an example, an average fidelity of ninety-six percent can be obtained using an eleven-spin encoding to transmit a state over a chain containing ten-thousand spins. An analysis of the magnetic field dependence is given, and conditions for field optimization are provided.Comment: Replaced with published version. 8 pages, 5 figure

Social Game for Building Energy Efficiency: Utility Learning, Simulation, and Analysis

We describe a social game that we designed for encouraging energy efficient behavior amongst building occupants with the aim of reducing overall energy consumption in the building. Occupants vote for their desired lighting level and win points which are used in a lottery based on how far their vote is from the maximum setting. We assume that the occupants are utility maximizers and that their utility functions capture the tradeoff between winning points and their comfort level. We model the occupants as non-cooperative agents in a continuous game and we characterize their play using the Nash equilibrium concept. Using occupant voting data, we parameterize their utility functions and use a convex optimization problem to estimate the parameters. We simulate the game defined by the estimated utility functions and show that the estimated model for occupant behavior is a good predictor of their actual behavior. In addition, we show that due to the social game, there is a significant reduction in energy consumption

Freeform Extrusion of High Solids Loading Ceramic Slurries, Part II: Extrusion Process Control

Part I of this paper provided a detailed description of a novel fabrication machine for high solids loading ceramic slurry extrusion and presented an empirical model of the ceramic extrusion process, with ram velocity as the input and extrusion force as the output. A constant force is desirable in freeform extrusion processes as it correlates with a constant material deposition rate and, thus, good part quality. The experimental results in Part I demonstrated that a constant ram velocity will produce a transient extrusion force. In some instances the extrusion force increased until ram motor skipping occurred. Further, process disturbances, such as air bubble release and nozzle clogging that cause sudden changes in extrusion force, were often present. In this paper a feedback controller for the ceramic extrusion process is designed and experimentally implemented. The controller intelligently adjusts the ram motor velocity to maintain a constant extrusion force. Since there is tremendous variability in the extrusion process characteristics, an on-off controller is utilized in this paper. Comparisons are made between parts fabricated with and without the feedback control. It is demonstrated that the use of the feedback control reduces the effect of process disturbances (i.e., air bubble release and nozzle clogging) and dramatically improves part quality.Mechanical Engineerin