Quantum Computing with Globally Controlled Exchange-type Interactions

If the interaction between qubits in a quantum computer has a non-diagonal form (e.g. the Heisenberg interaction), then one must be able to "switch it off" in order to prevent uncontrolled propagation of states. Therefore, such QC schemes typically demand local control of the interaction strength between each pair of neighboring qubits. Here we demonstrate that this degree of control is not necessary: it suffices to switch the interaction collectively - something that can in principle be achieved by global fields rather than with local manipulations. This observation may offer a significant simplification for various solid state, optical lattice and NMR implementations.Comment: 3 pages inc. 3 figure

Quantum Computing in Arrays Coupled by 'Always On' Interactions

It has recently been shown that one can perform quantum computation in a Heisenberg chain in which the interactions are 'always on', provided that one can abruptly tune the Zeeman energies of the individual (pseudo-)spins. Here we provide a more complete analysis of this scheme, including several generalizations. We generalize the interaction to an anisotropic form (incorporating the XY, or Forster, interaction as a limit), providing a proof that a chain coupled in this fashion tends to an effective Ising chain in the limit of far off-resonant spins. We derive the primitive two-qubit gate that results from exploiting abrupt Zeeman tuning with such an interaction. We also demonstrate, via numerical simulation, that the same basic scheme functions in the case of smoothly shifted Zeeman energies. We conclude with some remarks regarding generalisations to two- and three-dimensional arrays.Comment: 16 pages (preprint format) inc. 3 figure

Perceptions of time in relation to climate change

Time is at the heart of understanding climate change, from the perspective of both natural and social scientists. This article selectively reviews research on time perception and temporal aspects of decision making in sociology and psychology. First we briefly describe the temporal dimensions that characterize the issue of climate change. Second, we review relevant theoretical approaches and empirical findings. Then we propose an integration of these insights for the problem of climate change and discuss mismatches between the human mind, surrounding social dynamics, and climate change. Finally, we discuss the implications of this article for understanding and responding to climate change, and make suggestions on how we can use the strengths of the human mind and social dynamics to communicate climate change in its temporal context.This article is categorized under: Climate, History, Society, Culture &gt; Ideas and Knowledge Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change &gt; Perceptions of Climate Change </jats:p

An RXTE study of M87 and the core of the Virgo cluster

We present hard X-ray observations of the nearby radio galaxy M87 and the core of the Virgo cluster using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. These are the first hard X-ray observations of M87 not affected by contamination from the nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC4388. Thermal emission from Virgo's intracluster medium is clearly detected and has a spectrum indicative of kT=2.5keV plasma with approximately 25% cosmic abundances. No non-thermal (power-law) emission from M87 is detected in the hard X-ray band, with fluctuations in the Cosmic X-ray Background being the limiting factor. Combining with ROSAT data, we infer that the X-ray spectrum of the M87 core and jet must be steep (Gamma_core>1.90$ and Gamma_jet>1.75), and we discuss the implications of this result. In particular, these results are consistent with M87 being a mis-aligned BL-Lac object.Comment: 8 pages, 2 postscript figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Universality in the Gravitational Stretching of Clocks, Waves and Quantum States

There are discernible and fundamental differences between clocks, waves and physical states in classical physics. These fundamental concepts find a common expression in the context of quantum physics in gravitational fields; matter and light waves, quantum states and oscillator clocks become quantum synonymous through the Planck-Einstein-de Broglie relations and the equivalence principle. With this insight, gravitational effects on quantum systems can be simply and accurately analyzed. Apart from providing a transparent framework for conceptual and quantitative thinking on matter waves and quantum states in a gravitational field, we address and resolve with clarity the recent controversial discussions on the important issue of the relation and the crucial difference between gravimetery using atom interferometers and the measurement of gravitational time dilation.Comment: Gravity Research Foundation honorable mention, 201

Faint counts as a function of morphological type in a hierarchical merger model

The unprecedented resolution of the refurbished Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has led to major advances in our understanding of galaxy formation. The high image quality in the Medium Deep Survey and Hubble Deep Field has made it possible, for the first time, to classify faint distant galaxies according to morphological type. These observations have revealed a large population of galaxies classed as irregulars or which show signs of recent merger activity. Their abundance rises steeply with apparent magnitude, providing a likely explanation for the large number of blue galaxies seen at faint magnitudes. We demonstrate that such a population arises naturally in a model in which structure forms hierarchically and which is dynamically dominated by cold dark matter. The number counts of irregular, spiral and elliptical galaxies as a function of magnitude seen in the HST data are well reproduced in this model.We present detailed predictions for the outcome of spectroscopic follow-up observations of the HST surveys. By measuring the redshift distributions of faint galaxies of different morphological types, these programmes will provide a test of the hierarchical galaxy formation paradigm and might distinguish between models with different cosmological parameters.Comment: 5 pages, 3 postscript figures included. To be published as a Letter in Monthly Notices of the RAS. Postscript version available at http://star-www.dur.ac.uk/~cmb/counts.htm