577 research outputs found
Proton Decay from Excited States in Spherical Nuclei
Based on a single particle model which describes the time evolution of the
wave function during tunneling across a one dimensional potential barrier we
study the proton decay of Pb from excited states with non-vanishing
angular momentum . Several quantities of interest in this process like
the decay rate , the period of oscillation , the transient
time , the tunneling time and the average value of the proton
packet position are computed and compared with the WKB results.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure
Unconventional decay law for excited states in closed many-body systems
We study the time evolution of an initially excited many-body state in a
finite system of interacting Fermi-particles in the situation when the
interaction gives rise to the ``chaotic'' structure of compound states. This
situation is generic for highly excited many-particle states in quantum
systems, such as heavy nuclei, complex atoms, quantum dots, spin systems, and
quantum computers. For a strong interaction the leading term for the return
probability has the form with
as the variance of the strength function. The conventional
exponential linear dependence formally arises for a
very large time. However, the prefactor turns out to be exponentially
large, thus resulting in a strong difference from the conventional estimate for
.Comment: RevTex, 4 pages including 1 eps-figur
Local Spectral Density for a Periodically Driven System of Coupled Quantum States with Strong Imperfection in Unperturbed Energies
A random matrix theory approach is applied in order to analyze the
localization properties of local spectral density for a generic system of
coupled quantum states with strong static imperfection in the unperturbed
energy levels. The system is excited by an external periodic field, the
temporal profile of which is close to monochromatic one. The shape of local
spectral density is shown to be well described by the contour obtained from a
relevant model of periodically driven two-states system with irreversible
losses to an external thermal bath. The shape width and the inverse
participation ratio are determined as functions both of the Rabi frequency and
of parameters specifying the localization effect for our system in the absence
of external field.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Optics and Spectroscop
A measure of majorisation emerging from single-shot statistical mechanics
The use of the von Neumann entropy in formulating the laws of thermodynamics
has recently been challenged. It is associated with the average work whereas
the work guaranteed to be extracted in any single run of an experiment is the
more interesting quantity in general. We show that an expression that
quantifies majorisation determines the optimal guaranteed work. We argue it
should therefore be the central quantity of statistical mechanics, rather than
the von Neumann entropy. In the limit of many identical and independent
subsystems (asymptotic i.i.d) the von Neumann entropy expressions are recovered
but in the non-equilbrium regime the optimal guaranteed work can be radically
different to the optimal average. Moreover our measure of majorisation governs
which evolutions can be realized via thermal interactions, whereas the
nondecrease of the von Neumann entropy is not sufficiently restrictive. Our
results are inspired by single-shot information theory.Comment: 54 pages (15+39), 9 figures. Changed title / changed presentation,
same main results / added minor result on pure bipartite state entanglement
(appendix G) / near to published versio
Recommended from our members
First principles calculation of point defects and mobility degradation in bulk AlSb for radiation detection application
The development of high resolution, room temperature semiconductor radiation detectors requires the introduction of materials with increased carrier mobility-lifetime ({mu}{tau}) product, while having a band gap in the 1.4-2.2 eV range. AlSb is a promising material for this application. However, systematic improvements in the material quality are necessary to achieve an adequate {mu}{tau} product. We are using a combination of simulation and experiment to develop a fundamental understanding of the factors which affect detector material quality. First principles calculations are used to study the microscopic mechanisms of mobility degradation from point defects and to calculate the intrinsic limit of mobility from phonon scattering. We use density functional theory (DFT) to calculate the formation energies of native and impurity point defects, to determine their equilibrium concentrations as a function of temperature and charge state. Perturbation theory via the Born approximation is coupled with Boltzmann transport theory to calculate the contribution toward mobility degradation of each type of point defect, using DFT-computed carrier scattering rates. A comparison is made to measured carrier concentrations and mobilities from AlSb crystals grown in our lab. We find our predictions in good quantitative agreement with experiment, allowing optimized annealing conditions to be deduced. A major result is the determination of oxygen impurity as a severe mobility killer, despite the ability of oxygen to compensation dope AlSb and reduce the net carrier concentration. In this case, increased resistivity is not a good indicator of improved material performance, due to the concomitant sharp reduction in {mu}{tau}
Calculation of the photoionization with de-excitation cross sections of He and helium-like ions
We discuss the results of the calculation of the photoionization with
de-excitation of excited He and helium-like ions Li and B at high
but non-relativistic photon energies . Several lower and
states are considered. We present and analyze the ratios
of the cross sections of photoionization with de-excitation,
, and of the photo-ionization with excitation,
. The dependence of on the excitation
of the target object and the charge of its nucleus is presented. Apart to
theoretical interest, results obtained can be verified using such long living
excited state as of He.Comment: 10 pages, 6 table
Triple coalescence singularity in a dynamical atomic process
We show that the high energy limit for the amplitude of the double electron
capture to the bound state of the Coulomb field of a nucleus with emission of a
single photon is determined by behavior of the wave function in the vicinity of
the singular triple coalescence point.Comment: 3 page
Cluster Interpretation of Properties of Alternating Parity Bands in Heavy Nuclei
The properties of the states of the alternating parity bands in actinides,
Ba, Ce and Nd isotopes are analyzed within a cluster model. The model is based
on the assumption that cluster type shapes are produced by the collective
motion of the nuclear system in the mass asymmetry coordinate. The calculated
spin dependences of the parity splitting and of the electric multipole
transition moments are in agreement with the experimental data.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figure
Neurodegeneration and Epilepsy in a Zebrafish Model of CLN3 Disease (Batten Disease)
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses are a group of lysosomal storage disorders that comprise the most common, genetically heterogeneous, fatal neurodegenerative disorders of children. They are characterised by childhood onset, visual failure, epileptic seizures, psychomotor retardation and dementia. CLN3 disease, also known as Batten disease, is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the CLN3 gene, 80–85% of which are a ~1 kb deletion. Currently no treatments exist, and after much suffering, the disease inevitably results in premature death. The aim of this study was to generate a zebrafish model of CLN3 disease using antisense morpholino injection, and characterise the pathological and functional consequences of Cln3 deficiency, thereby providing a tool for future drug discovery. The model was shown to faithfully recapitulate the pathological signs of CLN3 disease, including reduced survival, neuronal loss, retinopathy, axonopathy, loss of motor function, lysosomal storage of subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase, and epileptic seizures, albeit with an earlier onset and faster progression than the human disease. Our study provides proof of principle that the advantages of the zebrafish over other model systems can be utilised to further our understanding of the pathogenesis of CLN3 disease and accelerate drug discovery
Pulmonary metastasectomy versus continued active monitoring in colorectal cancer (PulMiCC): a multicentre randomised clinical trial
BACKGROUND: Lung metastasectomy in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer has been widely adopted without good evidence of survival or palliative benefit. We aimed to test its effectiveness in a randomised controlled trial (RCT).
METHODS: Multidisciplinary teams in 13 hospitals recruited participants with potentially resectable lung metastases to a multicentre, two-arm RCT comparing active monitoring with or without metastasectomy. Other local or systemic treatments were decided by the local team. Randomisation was remote and stratified by site with minimisation for age, sex, primary cancer stage, interval since primary resection, prior liver involvement, the number of metastases, and carcinoembryonic antigen level. The central Trial Management Group were blind to patient allocation until completion of the analysis. Analysis was on intention to treat with a margin for non-inferiority of 10%.
RESULTS: Between December 2010 and December 2016, 65 participants were randomised. Characteristics were well-matched in the two arms and similar to those in reported studies: age 35 to 86 years (interquartile range (IQR) 60 to 74); primary resection IQR 16 to 35 months previously; stage at resection T1, 2 or 3 in 3, 8 and 46; N1 or N2 in 31 and 26; unknown in 8. Lung metastases 1 to 5 (median 2); 16/65 had previous liver metastases; carcinoembryonic antigen normal in 55/65. There were no other interventions in the first 6 months, no crossovers from control to treatment, and no treatment-related deaths or major adverse events. The Hazard ratio for death within 5 years, comparing metastasectomy with control, was 0.82 (95%CI 0.43, 1.56).
CONCLUSIONS: Because of poor and worsening recruitment, the study was stopped. The small number of participants in the trial (N = 65) precludes a conclusive answer to the research question given the large overlap in the confidence intervals in the proportions still alive at all time points. A widely held belief is that the 5-year absolute survival benefit with metastasectomy is about 35%: 40% after metastasectomy compared to < 5% in controls. The estimated survival in this study was 38% (23-62%) for metastasectomy patients and 29% (16-52%) in the well-matched controls. That is the new and important finding of this RCT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT01106261. Registered on 19 April 2010
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