Quantifying the resource of sharing a reference frame

We define a new quantity called refbit, which allows one to quantify the resource of sharing a reference frame in quantum communication protocols. By considering both asymptotic and nonasymptotic protocols we find relations between refbits and other communication resources. We also consider the same resources in encoded, reference-frame independent, form. This allows one to rephrase and unify previous work on phase references, reference frames, and superselection rules.Comment: Updated title as PRA did not accept the word "refbit" in the title: PRA accepts neither neologisms (="a meaningless word coined by a psychotic", according to Webster), nor novophasm

Milnor’s Conjecture on Monotonicity of Topological Entropy: results and questions

This note discusses Milnor’s conjecture on monotonicity of entropy and gives a short exposition of the ideas used in its proof which was obtained in joint work with Henk Bruin, see [BvS09]. At the end of this note we explore some related conjectures and questions

Calculation of percolation thresholds in high dimensions for fcc, bcc, and diamond lattices

In a recent article, Galam and Mauger proposed an invariant for site and bond percolation thresholds, based on known values for twenty lattices (Eur. Phys. J. B 1 (1998) 255-258). Here we give a larger list of values for more than forty lattices in two to six dimensions. In this list are new results for fcc, bcc, and diamond lattices in 4, 5, and 6 dimensions. The list contains examples of lattices with equal site percolation thresholds, but different bond percolation thresholds. These and other examples show that there are deviations from the proposed invariant of up to 12% in two dimensions, increasing to 69% in higher dimensions.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures (EPS), LaTe

Quantum communication, reference frames and gauge theory

We consider quantum communication in the case that the communicating parties not only do not share a reference frame but use imperfect quantum communication channels, in that each channel applies some fixed but unknown unitary rotation to each qubit. We discuss similarities and differences between reference frames within that quantum communication model and gauge fields in gauge theory. We generalize the concept of refbits and analyze various quantum communication protocols within the communication model.Comment: pretty pointless, published nonetheles