389 research outputs found
Optimal query complexity for estimating the trace of a matrix
Given an implicit matrix with oracle access for any
, we study the query complexity of randomized algorithms for
estimating the trace of the matrix. This problem has many applications in
quantum physics, machine learning, and pattern matching. Two metrics are
commonly used for evaluating the estimators: i) variance; ii) a high
probability multiplicative-approximation guarantee. Almost all the known
estimators are of the form for being i.i.d. for some special distribution.
Our main results are summarized as follows. We give an exact characterization
of the minimum variance unbiased estimator in the broad class of linear
nonadaptive estimators (which subsumes all the existing known estimators). We
also consider the query complexity lower bounds for any (possibly nonlinear and
adaptive) estimators: (1) We show that any estimator requires
queries to have a guarantee of variance at most
. (2) We show that any estimator requires
queries to achieve a
-multiplicative approximation guarantee with probability at
least . Both above lower bounds are asymptotically tight.
As a corollary, we also resolve a conjecture in the seminal work of Avron and
Toledo (Journal of the ACM 2011) regarding the sample complexity of the
Gaussian Estimator.Comment: full version of the paper in ICALP 201
Very long optical path-length from a compact multi-pass cell
The multiple-pass optical cell is an important tool for laser absorption
spectroscopy and its many applications. For most practical applications, such
as trace-gas detection, a compact and robust design is essential. Here we
report an investigation into a multi-pass cell design based on a pair of
cylindrical mirrors, with a particular focus on achieving very long optical
paths. We demonstrate a path-length of 50.31 m in a cell with 40 mm diameter
mirrors spaced 88.9 mm apart - a 3-fold increase over the previously reported
longest path-length obtained with this type of cell configuration. We
characterize the mechanical stability of the cell and describe the practical
conditions necessary to achieve very long path-lengths
Magnon-magnon interactions in the Spin-Peierls compound CuGeO_3
In a magnetic substance the gap in the Raman spectrum, Delta_R, is
approximatively twice the value of the neutron scattering gap, Delta_S, if the
the magnetic excitations (magnons) are only weakly interacting.
But for CuGeO_3 the experimentally observed ratio Delta_R/Delta_S is
approximatively 1.49-1.78, indicating attractive magnon-magnon interactions in
the quasi-1D Spin-Peierls compound CuGe_3.
We present numerical estimates for Delta_R/Delta_S from exact diagonalization
studies for finite chains and find agreement with experiment for intermediate
values of the frustration parameter alpha.
An analysis of the numerical Raman intensity leads us to postulate a
continuum of two-magnon bound states in the Spin-Peierls phase. We discuss in
detail the numerical method used, the dependence of the results on the model
parameters and a novel matrix-element effect due to the dimerization of the
Raman-operator in the Spin-Peierls phase.Comment: submitted to PRB, Phys. Rev. B, in pres
Elastic Scattering by Deterministic and Random Fractals: Self-Affinity of the Diffraction Spectrum
The diffraction spectrum of coherent waves scattered from fractal supports is
calculated exactly. The fractals considered are of the class generated
iteratively by successive dilations and translations, and include
generalizations of the Cantor set and Sierpinski carpet as special cases. Also
randomized versions of these fractals are treated. The general result is that
the diffraction intensities obey a strict recursion relation, and become
self-affine in the limit of large iteration number, with a self-affinity
exponent related directly to the fractal dimension of the scattering object.
Applications include neutron scattering, x-rays, optical diffraction, magnetic
resonance imaging, electron diffraction, and He scattering, which all display
the same universal scaling.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures. Phys. Rev. E, in press. More info available at
http://www.fh.huji.ac.il/~dani
Vibrational properties of amorphous silicon from tight-binding O(N) calculation
We present an O(N) algorithm to study the vibrational properties of amorphous
silicon within the framework of tight-binding approach. The dynamical matrix
elements have been evaluated numerically in the harmonic approximation
exploiting the short-range nature of the density matrix to calculate the
vibrational density of states which is then compared with the same obtained
from a standard O() algorithm. For the purpose of illustration, an
1000-atom model is studied to calculate the localization properties of the
vibrational eigenstates using the participation numbers calculation.Comment: 5 pages including 5 ps figures; added a figure and a few references;
accepted in Phys. Rev.
Recommended from our members
Problem-based learning approaches in meteorology
Problem-Based Learning, despite recent controversies about its effectiveness, is used extensively as a teaching method throughout higher education. In meteorology, there has been little attempt to incorporate Problem-Based Learning techniques into the curriculum. Motivated by a desire to enhance the reflective engagement of students within a current field course module, this project describes the implementation of two test Problem-Based Learning activities and testing and improvement using several different and complementary means of evaluation. By the end of a 2-year program of design, implementation, testing, and reflection and re-evaluation, two robust, engaging activities have been developed that provide an enhanced and diverse learning environment in the field course. The results suggest that Problem-Based Learning techniques would be a useful addition to the meteorology curriculum and suggestions for courses and activities that may benefit from this approach are included in the conclusions
Disorder Induced Phase Transition in a Random Quantum Antiferromagnet
A two-dimensional Heisenberg model with random antiferromagnetic
nearest-neighbor exchange is studied using quantum Monte Carlo techniques. As
the strength of the randomness is increased, the system undergoes a transition
from an antiferromagnetically ordered ground state to a gapless disordered
state. The finite-size scaling of the staggered structure factor and
susceptibility is consistent with a dynamic exponent .Comment: Revtex 3.0, 10 pages + 5 postscript figures available upon request,
UCSBTH-94-1
When do fractured media become seismically anisotropic? Some implications on quantifying fracture properties
Fractures are pervasive features within the Earth's crust and they have a significant influence on the multi-physical response of the subsurface. The presence of coherent fracture sets often leads to observable seismic anisotropy enabling seismic techniques to remotely locate and characterise fracture systems. In this study, we confirm the general scale-dependence of seismic anisotropy and provide new results specific to shear-wave splitting (SWS). We find that SWS develops under conditions when the ratio of wavelength to fracture size (λS/d) is greater than 3, where Rayleigh scattering from coherent fractures leads to an effective anisotropy such that effective medium model (EMM) theory is qualitatively valid. When 1<λS/d<3 there is a transition from Rayleigh to Mie scattering, where no effective anisotropy develops and hence the SWS measurements are unstable. When λS/d<1 we observe geometric scattering and begin to see behaviour similar to transverse isotropy. We find that seismic anisotropy is more sensitive to fracture density than fracture compliance ratio. More importantly, we observe that the transition from scattering to an effective anisotropic regime occurs over a propagation distance between 1 and 2 wavelengths depending on the fracture density and compliance ratio. The existence of a transition zone means that inversion of seismic anisotropy parameters based on EMM will be fundamentally biased. More importantly, we observe that linear slip EMM commonly used in inverting fracture properties is inconsistent with our results and leads to errors of approximately 400% in fracture spacing (equivalent to fracture density) and 60% in fracture compliance. Although EMM representations can yield reliable estimates of fracture orientation and spatial location, our results show that EMM representations will systematically fail in providing quantitatively accurate estimates of other physical fracture properties, such as fracture density and compliance. Thus more robust and accurate quantitative estimates of in situ fracture properties will require improvements to effective medium models as well as the incorporation of full-waveform inversion techniques
Measurement of the polarisation of W bosons produced with large transverse momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS experiment
This paper describes an analysis of the angular distribution of W->enu and
W->munu decays, using data from pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV recorded with
the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2010, corresponding to an integrated
luminosity of about 35 pb^-1. Using the decay lepton transverse momentum and
the missing transverse energy, the W decay angular distribution projected onto
the transverse plane is obtained and analysed in terms of helicity fractions
f0, fL and fR over two ranges of W transverse momentum (ptw): 35 < ptw < 50 GeV
and ptw > 50 GeV. Good agreement is found with theoretical predictions. For ptw
> 50 GeV, the values of f0 and fL-fR, averaged over charge and lepton flavour,
are measured to be : f0 = 0.127 +/- 0.030 +/- 0.108 and fL-fR = 0.252 +/- 0.017
+/- 0.030, where the first uncertainties are statistical, and the second
include all systematic effects.Comment: 19 pages plus author list (34 pages total), 9 figures, 11 tables,
revised author list, matches European Journal of Physics C versio
Observation of a new chi_b state in radiative transitions to Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) at ATLAS
The chi_b(nP) quarkonium states are produced in proton-proton collisions at
the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and recorded by the ATLAS
detector. Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.4
fb^-1, these states are reconstructed through their radiative decays to
Upsilon(1S,2S) with Upsilon->mu+mu-. In addition to the mass peaks
corresponding to the decay modes chi_b(1P,2P)->Upsilon(1S)gamma, a new
structure centered at a mass of 10.530+/-0.005 (stat.)+/-0.009 (syst.) GeV is
also observed, in both the Upsilon(1S)gamma and Upsilon(2S)gamma decay modes.
This is interpreted as the chi_b(3P) system.Comment: 5 pages plus author list (18 pages total), 2 figures, 1 table,
corrected author list, matches final version in Physical Review Letter
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