1,452 research outputs found
Entanglement of internal and external angular momenta of a single atom
We consider the exchange of spin and orbital angular momenta between a
circularly polarized Laguerre-Gaussian beam of light and a single atom trapped
in a two-dimensional harmonic potential. The radiation field is treated
classically but the atomic center-of-mass motion is quantized. The spin and
orbital angular momenta of the field are individually conserved upon
absorption, and this results in the entanglement of the internal and external
degrees of freedom of the atom. We suggest applications of this entanglement in
quantum information processing.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Models for Enhanced Absorption in Inhomogeneous Superconductors
We discuss the low-frequency absorption arising from quenched inhomogeneity
in the superfluid density rho_s of a model superconductor. Such inhomogeneities
may arise in a high-T_c superconductor from a wide variety of sources,
including quenched random disorder and static charge density waves such as
stripes. Using standard classical methods for treating randomly inhomogeneous
media, we show that both mechanisms produce additional absorption at finite
frequencies. For a two-fluid model with weak mean-square fluctuations <(d
rho_s)^2 > in rho_s and a frequency-independent quasiparticle conductivity, the
extra absorption has oscillator strength proportional to the quantity <(d
rho_s)^2>/rho_s, as observed in some experiments. Similar behavior is found in
a two-fluid model with anticorrelated fluctuations in the superfluid and normal
fluid densities. The extra absorption typically occurs as a Lorentzian centered
at zero frequency. We present simple model calculations for this extra
absorption under conditions of both weak and strong fluctuations. The relation
between our results and other model calculations is briefly discussed
Eigenstates of a Small Josephson Junction Coupled to a Resonant Cavity
We carry out a quantum-mechanical analysis of a small Josephson junction
coupled to a single-mode resonant cavity. We find that the eigenstates of the
combined junction-cavity system are strongly entangled only when the gate
voltage applied at one of the superconducting islands is tuned to certain
special values. One such value corresponds to the resonant absorption of a
single photon by Cooper pairs in the junction. Another special value
corresponds to a {\em two-photon} absorption process. Near the single-photon
resonant absorption, the system is accurately described by a simplified model
in which only the lowest two levels of the Josephson junction are retained in
the Hamiltonian matrix. We noticed that this approximation does not work very
well as the number of photons in the resonator increases. Our system shows also
the phenomenon of ``collapse and revival'' under suitable initial conditions,
and our full numerical solution agrees with the two level approximation result.Comment: 7 pages, and 6 figures. To be published in Phys. Rev.
Dynamics of a Josephson Array in a Resonant Cavity
We derive dynamical equations for a Josephson array coupled to a resonant
cavity by applying the Heisenberg equations of motion to a model Hamiltonian
described by us earlier [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 63}, 144522 (2001); Phys. Rev. B
{\bf 64}, 179902 (E)]. By means of a canonical transformation, we also show
that, in the absence of an applied current and dissipation, our model reduces
to one described by Shnirman {\it et al} [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 79}, 2371
(1997)] for coupled qubits, and that it corresponds to a capacitive coupling
between the array and the cavity mode. From extensive numerical solutions of
the model in one dimension, we find that the array locks into a coherent,
periodic state above a critical number of active junctions, that the
current-voltage characteristics of the array have self-induced resonant steps
(SIRS's), that when active junctions are synchronized on a SIRS, the
energy emitted into the resonant cavity is quadratic in , and that when a
fixed number of junctions is biased on a SIRS, the energy is linear in the
input power. All these results are in agreement with recent experiments. By
choosing the initial conditions carefully, we can drive the array into any of a
variety of different integer SIRS's. We tentatively identify terms in the
equations of motion which give rise to both the SIRS's and the coherence
threshold. We also find higher-order integer SIRS's and fractional SIRS's in
some simulations. We conclude that a resonant cavity can produce threshold
behavior and SIRS's even in a one-dimensional array with appropriate
experimental parameters, and that the experimental data, including the coherent
emission, can be understood from classical equations of motion.Comment: 15 pages, 10 eps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Flux Pinning and Phase Transitions in Model High-Temperature Superconductors with Columnar Defects
We calculate the degree of flux pinning by defects in model high-temperature
superconductors (HTSC's). The HTSC is modeled as a three-dimensional network of
resistively-shunted Josephson junctions in an external magnetic field,
corresponding to a HTSC in the extreme Type-II limit. Disorder is introduced
either by randomizing the coupling between grains (Model A disorder) or by
removing grains (Model B disorder). Three types of defects are considered:
point disorder, random line disorder, and periodic line disorder; but the
emphasis is on random line disorder. Static and dynamic properties of the
models are determined by Monte Carlo simulations and by solution of the
analogous coupled overdamped Josephson equations in the presence of thermal
noise. Random line defects considerably raise the superconducting transition
temperature T, and increase the apparent critical current density
J, in comparison to the defect-free crystal. They are more effective
in these respects than a comparable volume density of point defects, in
agreement with the experiments of Civale {\it et al}. Periodic line defects
commensurate with the flux lattice are found to raise T even more than
do random line defects. Random line defects are most effective when their
density approximately equals the flux density. Near T, our static and
dynamic results appear consistent with the anisotropic Bose glass scaling
hypotheses of Nelson and Vinokur, but with possibly different critical indices:Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX(REVTeX v3.0, twocolumn), 11 figures (not included
Quantitatively monitoring the resilience of patterned vegetation in the Sahel
This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordData availability statement:
The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Zenodo. Processed images can be found at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5536861. Analysis results can be found at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4050362.Patterning of vegetation in drylands is a consequence of localised feedback mechanisms. Such feedbacks also determine ecosystem resilience - i.e. the ability to recover from perturbation. Hence the patterning of vegetation has been hypothesised to be an indicator of resilience, i.e. spots are less resilient than labyrinths. Previous studies have made this qualitative link and used models to quantitatively explore it, but few have quantitatively analysed available data to test the hypothesis. Here we provide methods for quantitatively monitoring the resilience of patterned vegetation, applied to 40 sites in the Sahel (a mix of previously identified and new ones). We show that an existing quantification of vegetation patterns in terms of a feature vector metric can effectively distinguish gaps, labyrinths, spots, and a novel category of spot-labyrinths at their maximum extent, whereas NDVI does not. The feature vector pattern metric correlates with mean precipitation. We then explored two approaches to measuring resilience. First we treated the rainy season as a perturbation and examined the subsequent rate of decay of patterns and NDVI as possible measures of resilience. This showed faster decay rates - conventionally interpreted as greater resilience - associated with wetter, more vegetated sites. Second we detrended the seasonal cycle and examined temporal autocorrelation and variance of the residuals as possible measures of resilience. Autocorrelation and variance of our pattern metric increase with declining mean precipitation, consistent with loss of resilience. Thus, drier sites appear less resilient, but we find no significant correlation between the mean or maximum value of the pattern metric (and associated morphological pattern types) and either of our measures of resilience.Leverhulme TrustAlan Turing InstituteScience and Technology Facilities Council (STFC
The influence of 'significant others' on persistent back pain and work participation: a qualitative exploration of illness perceptions
Background
Individual illness perceptions have been highlighted as important influences on clinical outcomes for back pain. However, the illness perceptions of 'significant others' (spouse/partner/close family member) are rarely explored, particularly in relation to persistent back pain and work participation. The aim of this study was to initiate qualitative research in this area in order to further understand these wider influences on outcome.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews based on the chronic pain version of the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire-Revised were conducted with a convenience sample of UK disability benefit claimants, along with their significant others (n=5 dyads). Data were analysed using template analysis.
Results
Significant others shared, and perhaps further reinforced, claimants' unhelpful illness beliefs including fear of pain/re-injury associated with certain types of work and activity, and pessimism about the likelihood of return to work. In some cases, significant others appeared more resigned to the permanence and negative inevitable consequences of the claimant's back pain condition on work participation, and were more sceptical about the availability of suitable work and sympathy from employers. In their pursuit of authenticity, claimants were keen to stress their desire to work whilst emphasising how the severity and physical limitations of their condition prevented them from doing so. In this vein, and seemingly based on their perceptions of what makes a 'good' significant other, significant others acted as a 'witness to pain', supporting claimants' self-limiting behaviour and statements of incapacity, often responding with empathy and assistance. The beliefs and responses of significant others may also have been influenced by their own experience of chronic illness, thus participants lives were often intertwined and defined by illness.
Conclusions
The findings from this exploratory study reveal how others and wider social circumstances might contribute both to the propensity of persistent back pain and to its consequences. This is an area that has received little attention to date, and wider support of these findings may usefully inform the design of future intervention programmes aimed at restoring work participation
The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey I: Introduction and observational overview
The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey (VFTS) is an ESO Large Programme that has
obtained multi-epoch optical spectroscopy of over 800 massive stars in the 30
Doradus region of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Here we introduce our
scientific motivations and give an overview of the survey targets, including
optical and near-infrared photometry and comprehensive details of the data
reduction. One of the principal objectives was to detect massive binary systems
via variations in their radial velocities, thus shaping the multi-epoch
observing strategy. Spectral classifications are given for the massive
emission-line stars observed by the survey, including the discovery of a new
Wolf-Rayet star (VFTS 682, classified as WN5h), 2' to the northeast of R136. To
illustrate the diversity of objects encompassed by the survey, we investigate
the spectral properties of sixteen targets identified by Gruendl & Chu from
Spitzer photometry as candidate young stellar objects or stars with notable
mid-infrared excesses. Detailed spectral classification and quantitative
analysis of the O- and B-type stars in the VFTS sample, paying particular
attention to the effects of rotational mixing and binarity, will be presented
in a series of future articles to address fundamental questions in both stellar
and cluster evolution.Comment: Accepted by A&A, 52 pages (main body: 19 pages, supplementary tables:
33 pages), v3: two classifications updated to match a parallel pape
Spintronics: Fundamentals and applications
Spintronics, or spin electronics, involves the study of active control and
manipulation of spin degrees of freedom in solid-state systems. This article
reviews the current status of this subject, including both recent advances and
well-established results. The primary focus is on the basic physical principles
underlying the generation of carrier spin polarization, spin dynamics, and
spin-polarized transport in semiconductors and metals. Spin transport differs
from charge transport in that spin is a nonconserved quantity in solids due to
spin-orbit and hyperfine coupling. The authors discuss in detail spin
decoherence mechanisms in metals and semiconductors. Various theories of spin
injection and spin-polarized transport are applied to hybrid structures
relevant to spin-based devices and fundamental studies of materials properties.
Experimental work is reviewed with the emphasis on projected applications, in
which external electric and magnetic fields and illumination by light will be
used to control spin and charge dynamics to create new functionalities not
feasible or ineffective with conventional electronics.Comment: invited review, 36 figures, 900+ references; minor stylistic changes
from the published versio
Detecting Specific Genotype by Environment Interactions Using Marginal Maximum Likelihood Estimation in the Classical Twin Design
Considerable effort has been devoted to the analysis of genotype by environment (G × E) interactions in various phenotypic domains, such as cognitive abilities and personality. In many studies, environmental variables were observed (measured) variables. In case of an unmeasured environment, van der Sluis et al. (2006) proposed to study heteroscedasticity in the factor model using only MZ twin data. This method is closely related to the Jinks and Fulker (1970) test for G × E, but slightly more powerful. In this paper, we identify four challenges to the investigation of G × E in general, and specifically to the heteroscedasticity approaches of Jinks and Fulker and van der Sluis et al. We propose extensions of these approaches purported to solve these problems. These extensions comprise: (1) including DZ twin data, (2) modeling both A × E and A × C interactions; and (3) extending the univariate approach to a multivariate approach. By means of simulations, we study the power of the univariate method to detect the different G × E interactions in varying situations. In addition, we study how well we could distinguish between A × E, A × C, and C × E. We apply a multivariate version of the extended model to an empirical data set on cognitive abilities
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