Characterization of the domain chaos convection state by the largest Lyapunov exponent

Using numerical integrations of the Boussinesq equations in rotating cylindrical domains with realistic boundary conditions, we have computed the value of the largest Lyapunov exponent lambda1 for a variety of aspect ratios and driving strengths. We study in particular the domain chaos state, which bifurcates supercritically from the conducting fluid state and involves extended propagating fronts as well as point defects. We compare our results with those from Egolf et al., [Nature 404, 733 (2000)], who suggested that the value of lambda1 for the spiral defect chaos state of a convecting fluid was determined primarily by bursts of instability arising from short-lived, spatially localized dislocation nucleation events. We also show that the quantity lambda1 is not intensive for aspect ratios Gamma over the range 20<Gamma<40 and that the scaling exponent of lambda1 near onset is consistent with the value predicted by the amplitude equation formalism

Casimir forces from a loop integral formulation

We reformulate the Casimir force in the presence of a non-trivial background. The force may be written in terms of loop variables, the loop being a curve around the scattering sites. A natural path ordering of exponentials take place when a particular representation of the scattering centres is given. The basic object to be evaluated is a reduced (or abbreviated) classical pseudo-action that can be operator valued.Comment: references added, text clarified in place

Quantum estimation of a damping constant

We discuss an interferometric approach to the estimation of quantum mechanical damping. We study specific classes of entangled and separable probe states consisting of superpositions of coherent states. Based on the assumption of limited quantum resources we show that entanglement improves the estimation of an unknown damping constant.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Entanglement dynamics in a non-Markovian environment: an exactly solvable model

We study the non-Markovian effects on the dynamics of entanglement in an exactly-solvable model that involves two independent oscillators each coupled to its own stochastic noise source. First, we develop Lie algebraic and functional integral methods to find an exact solution to the single-oscillator problem which includes an analytic expression for the density matrix and the complete statistics, i.e., the probability distribution functions for observables. For long bath time-correlations, we see non-monotonic evolution of the uncertainties in observables. Further, we extend this exact solution to the two-particle problem and find the dynamics of entanglement in a subspace. We find the phenomena of `sudden death' and `rebirth' of entanglement. Interestingly, all memory effects enter via the functional form of the energy and hence the time of death and rebirth is controlled by the amount of noisy energy added into each oscillator. If this energy increases above (decreases below) a threshold, we obtain sudden death (rebirth) of entanglement.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures; revision for PR

On the temperature dependence of the interaction-induced entanglement

Both direct and indirect weak nonresonant interactions are shown to produce entanglement between two initially disentangled systems prepared as a tensor product of thermal states, provided the initial temperature is sufficiently low. Entanglement is determined by the Peres-Horodeckii criterion, which establishes that a composite state is entangled if its partial transpose is not positive. If the initial temperature of the thermal states is higher than an upper critical value $T_{uc}$ the minimal eigenvalue of the partially transposed density matrix of the composite state remains positive in the course of the evolution. If the initial temperature of the thermal states is lower than a lower critical value $T_{lc}\leq T_{uc}$ the minimal eigenvalue of the partially transposed density matrix of the composite state becomes negative which means that entanglement develops. We calculate the lower bound $T_{lb}$ for $T_{lc}$ and show that the negativity of the composite state is negligibly small in the interval $T_{lb}<T<T_{uc}$. Therefore the lower bound temperature $T_{lb}$ can be considered as \textit{the} critical temperature for the generation of entanglement.Comment: 27 pages and 7 figure

Numerical simulations of neutron star-black hole binaries in the near-equal-mass regime

Simulations of neutron star-black hole (NSBH) binaries generally consider black holes with masses in the range $(5-10)M_\odot$, where we expect to find most stellar mass black holes. The existence of lower mass black holes, however, cannot be theoretically ruled out. Low-mass black holes in binary systems with a neutron star companion could mimic neutron star-neutron (NSNS) binaries, as they power similar gravitational wave (GW) and electromagnetic (EM) signals. To understand the differences and similarities between NSNS mergers and low-mass NSBH mergers, numerical simulations are required. Here, we perform a set of simulations of low-mass NSBH mergers, including systems compatible with GW170817. Our simulations use a composition and temperature dependent equation of state (DD2) and approximate neutrino transport, but no magnetic fields. We find that low-mass NSBH mergers produce remnant disks significantly less massive than previously expected, and consistent with the post-merger outflow mass inferred from GW170817 for moderately asymmetric mass ratio. The dynamical ejecta produced by systems compatible with GW170817 is negligible except if the mass ratio and black hole spin are at the edge of the allowed parameter space. That dynamical ejecta is cold, neutron-rich, and surprisingly slow for ejecta produced during the tidal disruption of a neutron star : $v\sim (0.1-0.15)c$. We also find that the final mass of the remnant black hole is consistent with existing analytical predictions, while the final spin of that black hole is noticeably larger than expected -- up to $\chi_{\rm BH}=0.84$ for our equal mass case

Direct Measurement of intermediate-range Casimir-Polder potentials

We present the first direct measurements of Casimir-Polder forces between solid surfaces and atomic gases in the transition regime between the electrostatic short-distance and the retarded long-distance limit. The experimental method is based on ultracold ground-state Rb atoms that are reflected from evanescent wave barriers at the surface of a dielectric glass prism. Our novel approach does not require assumptions about the potential shape. The experimental data confirm the theoretical prediction in the transition regime.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Explicit solution of the linearized Einstein equations in TT gauge for all multipoles

We write out the explicit form of the metric for a linearized gravitational wave in the transverse-traceless gauge for any multipole, thus generalizing the well-known quadrupole solution of Teukolsky. The solution is derived using the generalized Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli formalism developed by Sarbach and Tiglio.Comment: 9 pages. Minor corrections, updated references. Final version to appear in Class. Quantum Gra

Energy Norms and the Stability of the Einstein Evolution Equations

The Einstein evolution equations may be written in a variety of equivalent analytical forms, but numerical solutions of these different formulations display a wide range of growth rates for constraint violations. For symmetric hyperbolic formulations of the equations, an exact expression for the growth rate is derived using an energy norm. This expression agrees with the growth rate determined by numerical solution of the equations. An approximate method for estimating the growth rate is also derived. This estimate can be evaluated algebraically from the initial data, and is shown to exhibit qualitatively the same dependence as the numerically-determined rate on the parameters that specify the formulation of the equations. This simple rate estimate therefore provides a useful tool for finding the most well-behaved forms of the evolution equations.Comment: Corrected typos; to appear in Physical Review