Asymptotic Entanglement Dynamics and Geometry of Quantum States

A given dynamics for a composite quantum system can exhibit several distinct properties for the asymptotic entanglement behavior, like entanglement sudden death, asymptotic death of entanglement, sudden birth of entanglement, etc. A classification of the possible situations was given in [M. O. Terra Cunha, {\emph{New J. Phys}} {\bf{9}}, 237 (2007)] but for some classes there were no known examples. In this work we give a better classification for the possibile relaxing dynamics at the light of the geometry of their set of asymptotic states and give explicit examples for all the classes. Although the classification is completely general, in the search of examples it is sufficient to use two qubits with dynamics given by differential equations in Lindblad form (some of them non-autonomous). We also investigate, in each case, the probabilities to find each possible behavior for random initial states.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures; revised version accepted for publication in J. Phys. A: Math. Theo

Quantum computing with incoherent resources and quantum jumps

Spontaneous emission and the inelastic scattering of photons are two natural processes usually associated with decoherence and the reduction in the capacity to process quantum information. Here we show that when suitably detected, these photons are sufficient to build all the fundamental blocks needed to perform quantum computation in the emitting qubits while protecting them from deleterious dissipative effects. We exemplify by showing how to teleport an unknown quantum state and how to efficiently prepare graph states for the implementation of measurement-based quantum computation.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

The Geometry of Entanglement Sudden Death

In open quantum systems, entanglement can vanish faster than coherence. This phenomenon is usually called sudden death of entanglement. In this paper sudden death of entanglement is discussed from a geometrical point of view, in the context of two qubits. A classification of possible scenarios is presented, with important known examples classified. Theoretical and experimental construction of other examples is suggested as well as large dimensional and multipartite versions of the effect.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, references added, initial paragraph corrected, sectioning adopted, some parts rewritten; accepted by New J. Phy

The algal flora of the Azores: a historical and biogeographical approach.

43rd European Marine Biology Symposium. Ponta Delgada, Açores, 8-12 de Setembro de 2008

Soil classification from visible/near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectra at multiple depths.

Abstract : Visible/near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (VNIRS) offers an alternative to conventional analytical methods to estimate various soil attributes. However, the use of VNIRS in soil survey and taxonomic classification is still underexplored. We investigated the potential use of VNIRS to classify soils in a region with variable soils, geology, and topography in southeastern Brazil. We combined principal component (PC) analysis, and multinomial logistic regression to classify 291 soils at the levels of suborder (second highest), and suborder with textural classification (STC), described in the field according to the Brazilian Soil Classification System. Soil visible/near-infrared (400-2500 nm) spectra were collected from three depth intervals (0-20, 40-60, and 80-100 cm), and combined in sequence to compose a pseudo multi-depth spectral curve, which was used to derive the classification models. The percent of correctly classified soils at the suborder level was 79% using 20 PCs, and 96% using 30 PCs. At the STC level, soils were correctly classified in 100%, and 78% of the cases using 20, and 30 PCs, respectively. Given the inherent complexity and variability within soil taxonomic groups, and in contrast the similarity among different groups, combining spectral data from different depths in multivariate classification offered a simple and inexpensive solution to adequately distinguish soils. This novel approach could improve soil classification and survey in a cost-efficient manner, supporting sustainable use, and management of tropical soils

Detection of ochratoxin A in tropical wine and grape juice from Brazil.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is the main mycotoxin found in grapes, wines and grape juices and is considered one of the most harmful contaminants to human health. In this study, samples of tropical wines and grape juices from different grape varieties grown in Brazil were analysed for their OTA content by high-performance liquid chromatography. The detection and quantification limits for OTA were 0.01 and 0.03 &#956;g L&#8722;1 respectively. OTA was detected in 13 (38.24%) of the samples analysed, with concentrations ranging from <0.03 to 0.62 &#956;g L&#8722;1. OTA was not detected in any of the grape juice samples. Most of the red wine samples proved to be contaminated with OTA (75%), while only one white wine sample was contaminated. However, the OTA levels detected in all samples were well below the maximum tolerable limit (2 &#956;g L&#8722;1) in wine and grape juice established by the European Community and Brazilian legislature. The results of this study indicate a low risk of exposure to OTA by consumption of tropical wines and grape juices from Brazil

Absolute and convective instabilities of parallel propagating circularly polarized Alfvén waves: numerical results

Context.The stability of parallel propagating circularly polarized Alfvén waves (pump waves) has been studied for more than four decades with the use of normal mode analysis. It is well known that the normal mode analysis does not answer the question if a pump wave looks stable or unstable in a particular reference frame. To answer this question it is necessary to find out if the instability is absolute or convective in this reference frame. Aims.We extend our previous study of absolute and convective instabilities of pump waves with small amplitude to pump waves with arbitrary amplitude. Methods.To study the absolute and convective instabilities of pump waves with arbitrary amplitude we numerically implement Brigg's method. Results.We show that the wave is absolutely unstable in a reference frame moving with the velocity U with respect to the rest plasma if U satisfies the inequality Ul Ur) we study the signalling problem. We show that spatially amplifying waves exist only when the signalling frequency is in two symmetric frequency bands, and calculate the dependences of the boundaries of these bands on U for different values of a . We also obtain the dependences of the maximum spatial amplification rate on U for different values of a . The implication of these results on the interpretation of observational data from space missions is discussed. In particular, it is shown that circularly polarized Alfvén waves propagating in the solar wind are convectively unstable in a reference frame of any realistic spacecraft

The filamentous fungi culture collection of the Department of Food Science (CCDCA), Federal University of Lavras, Brazil

Brazil has one of the highest levels of biological diversity due to its large geographical area, high coverage by rainforests, and endemic biomes, such as the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Caatinga. Of the estimated 1.5 million species of fungi only 5% are known. Much of this unknown biodiversity is in the tropics, which is seriously threatened by some agricultural activities, reinforcing the urgent need for biodiversity studies in these areas. The maintenance and preservation of fungal cultures are important elements for such a requirment. The establishment of a culture collection of filamentous fungi in the Mycotoxins and Mycology Laboratory, Department of Food Science (CCDCA), Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) commenced from the bases of species maintenance, taxonomy, biotechnology and toxigenicity. The laboratory was established in 2007 to preserve potentially mycotoxigenic fungi, especially ochratoxin A and aflatoxins producers, which were isolated from food. Currently the CCDCA has more than 1000 isolates of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Alternaria, Chaetomium, Mucor, Eurotium, and Neosartorya. A total of 66 species are represented which were isolated from food, cave environments, and soils of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Caatinga. A total of 328 cultures are preserved and maintained by periodic subculture, 137 by mineral oil preservation, and 550 by filter paper preservation. The staff trains graduate students in the taxonomy of major taxa of importance to agricultural research and food science. Finally, the CCDCA and UFLA, Brazil, in collaboration with the IBB-Biological Engineering Centre, Micoteca da Universidade do Minho, Portugal, intend to develop a project on polyphasic studies of Aspergillus and Penicillium isolated from various substrates, sources, and environments in Brazil. To pursue this aim CCDCA intends to: a) preserve Aspergillus and Penicillium strains for comparative studies between Brazilian regions and worldwide; b) foster the study of Aspergillus and Penicillium for biotechnological and toxigenic potential, and training in identification, preservation and distribution; c) establish quality control of fungal assays; and d) establish the CCDCA as a member of the global network of culture collections and participate in the international forums and organisations related to culture collections

Fenotipagem do sistema radicular em uma coleção nuclear de arroz de terras altas.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o sistema radicular em uma coleção nuclear temática de arroz para tolerância à seca formada por 87 acessos de arroz de terras altas, subespécie japônica tropical, utilizando uma metodologia não destrutiva.Pôster - pós-graduação