An exact-diagonalization study of rare events in disordered conductors

We determine the statistical properties of wave functions in disordered quantum systems by exact diagonalization of one-, two- and quasi-one dimensional tight-binding Hamiltonians. In the quasi-one dimensional case we find that the tails of the distribution of wave-function amplitudes are described by the non-linear sigma-model. In two dimensions, the tails of the distribution function are consistent with a recent prediction based on a direct optimal fluctuation method.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure

The ultra-compact binary candidate KUV 23182+1007 is a bright quasar

KUV 23182+1007 was identified as a blue object in the Kiso UV Survey in the 1980s. Classification-dispersion spectroscopy showed a featureless continuum except for a strong emission line in the region of He II 4686 A. This is a hallmark of the rare AM CVn class of cataclysmic variable star, so we have obtained a high-S/N blue spectrum of this object to check its classification. Instead, the spectrum shows a strong quasar-like emission line centred on 4662 A. Comparison with the SDSS quasar template spectra confirms that KUV 23182+1007 is a quasar with a redshift of z = 0.665.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in IBVS. Data are available from http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/~jkt

Partitioning Schemes and Non-Integer Box Sizes for the Box-Counting Algorithm in Multifractal Analysis

We compare different partitioning schemes for the box-counting algorithm in the multifractal analysis by computing the singularity spectrum and the distribution of the box probabilities. As model system we use the Anderson model of localization in two and three dimensions. We show that a partitioning scheme which includes unrestricted values of the box size and an average over all box origins leads to smaller error bounds than the standard method using only integer ratios of the linear system size and the box size which was found by Rodriguez et al. (Eur. Phys. J. B 67, 77-82 (2009)) to yield the most reliable results.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figure

An Open-Source 7-Axis, Robotic Platform to Enable Dexterous Procedures within CT Scanners

This paper describes the design, manufacture, and performance of a highly dexterous, low-profile, 7 Degree-of-Freedom (DOF) robotic arm for CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy. Direct CT guidance allows physicians to localize tumours quickly; however, needle insertion is still performed by hand. This system is mounted to a fully active gantry superior to the patient's head and teleoperated by a radiologist. Unlike other similar robots, this robot's fully serial-link approach uses a unique combination of belt and cable drives for high-transparency and minimal-backlash, allowing for an expansive working area and numerous approach angles to targets all while maintaining a small in-bore cross-section of less than $16cm^2$. Simulations verified the system's expansive collision free work-space and ability to hit targets across the entire chest, as required for lung cancer biopsy. Targeting error is on average $<1mm$ on a teleoperated accuracy task, illustrating the system's sufficient accuracy to perform biopsy procedures. The system is designed for lung biopsies due to the large working volume that is required for reaching peripheral lung lesions, though, with its large working volume and small in-bore cross-sectional area, the robotic system is effectively a general-purpose CT-compatible manipulation device for percutaneous procedures. Finally, with the considerable development time undertaken in designing a precise and flexible-use system and with the desire to reduce the burden of other researchers in developing algorithms for image-guided surgery, this system provides open-access, and to the best of our knowledge, is the first open-hardware image-guided biopsy robot of its kind.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, final submission to IROS 201

Multifractal analysis of the metal-insulator transition in anisotropic systems

We study the Anderson model of localization with anisotropic hopping in three dimensions for weakly coupled chains and weakly coupled planes. The eigenstates of the Hamiltonian, as computed by Lanczos diagonalization for systems of sizes up to $48^3$, show multifractal behavior at the metal-insulator transition even for strong anisotropy. The critical disorder strength $W_c$ determined from the system size dependence of the singularity spectra is in a reasonable agreement with a recent study using transfer matrix methods. But the respective spectrum at $W_c$ deviates from the ``characteristic spectrum'' determined for the isotropic system. This indicates a quantitative difference of the multifractal properties of states of the anisotropic as compared to the isotropic system. Further, we calculate the Kubo conductivity for given anisotropies by exact diagonalization. Already for small system sizes of only $12^3$ sites we observe a rapidly decreasing conductivity in the directions with reduced hopping if the coupling becomes weaker.Comment: 25 RevTeX pages with 10 PS-figures include

A laser gyroscope system to detect the Gravito-Magnetic effect on Earth

Large scale square ring laser gyros with a length of four meters on each side are approaching a sensitivity of 1x10^-11 rad/s/sqrt(Hz). This is about the regime required to measure the gravitomagnetic effect (Lense Thirring) of the Earth. For an ensemble of linearly independent gyros each measurement signal depends upon the orientation of each single axis gyro with respect to the rotational axis of the Earth. Therefore at least 3 gyros are necessary to reconstruct the complete angular orientation of the apparatus. In general, the setup consists of several laser gyroscopes (we would prefer more than 3 for sufficient redundancy), rigidly referenced to each other. Adding more gyros for one plane of observation provides a cross-check against intra-system biases and furthermore has the advantage of improving the signal to noise ratio by the square root of the number of gyros. In this paper we analyze a system of two pairs of identical gyros (twins) with a slightly different orientation with respect to the Earth axis. The twin gyro configuration has several interesting properties. The relative angle can be controlled and provides a useful null measurement. A quadruple twin system could reach a 1% sensitivity after 3:2 years of data, provided each square ring has 6 m length on a side, the system is shot noise limited and there is no source for 1/f- noise.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. 2010 Honourable mention of the Gravity Research Foundation; to be published on J. Mod. Phys.

Two-color QCD with staggered fermions at finite temperature under the influence of a magnetic field

In this paper we investigate the influence of a constant external magnetic field on the finite-temperature phase structure and the chiral properties of a simplified lattice model for QCD. We assume an SU(2) gauge symmetry and employ dynamical staggered fermions of identical mass without rooting, corresponding to Nf=4 flavors of identical electric charge. For fixed mass (given in lattice units) the critical temperature is seen to rise with the magnetic field strength. For three fixed beta-values, selected such that we stay (i) within the chirally broken phase, (ii) within the transition region or (iii) within the chirally restored phase, we study the approach to the chiral limit for various values of the magnetic field. Within the chirally broken (confinement) phase the chiral condensate is found to increase monotonically with a growing magnetic field strength. In the chiral limit the increase starts linear in agreement with a chiral model studied by Shushpanov and Smilga. Within the chirally restored (deconfinement) phase the chiral condensate tends to zero in the chiral limit, irrespective of the strength of the magnetic field.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures; version accepted by Physical Review