The Consumption of Reference Resources

Under the operational restriction of the U(1)-superselection rule, states that contain coherences between eigenstates of particle number constitute a resource. Such resources can be used to facilitate operations upon systems that otherwise cannot be performed. However, the process of doing this consumes reference resources. We show this explicitly for an example of a unitary operation that is forbidden by the U(1)-superselection rule.Comment: 4 pages 6x9 page format, 2 figure

Enhancing quantum transport in a photonic network using controllable decoherence

Transport phenomena on a quantum scale appear in a variety of systems, ranging from photosynthetic complexes to engineered quantum devices. It has been predicted that the efficiency of quantum transport can be enhanced through dynamic interaction between the system and a noisy environment. We report the first experimental demonstration of such environment-assisted quantum transport, using an engineered network of laser-written waveguides, with relative energies and inter-waveguide couplings tailored to yield the desired Hamiltonian. Controllable decoherence is simulated via broadening the bandwidth of the input illumination, yielding a significant increase in transport efficiency relative to the narrowband case. We show integrated optics to be suitable for simulating specific target Hamiltonians as well as open quantum systems with controllable loss and decoherence.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Magnetic fields in galaxies: I. Radio disks in local late-type galaxies

We develop an analytical model to follow the cosmological evolution of magnetic fields in disk galaxies. Our assumption is that fields are amplified from a small seed field via magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) turbulence. We further assume that this process is fast compared to other relevant timescales, and occurs principally in the cold disk gas. We follow the turbulent energy density using the Shabala & Alexander (2009) galaxy formation and evolution model. Three processes are important to the turbulent energy budget: infall of cool gas onto the disk and supernova feedback increase the turbulence; while star formation removes gas and hence turbulent energy from the cold gas. Finally, we assume that field energy is continuously transferred from the incoherent random field into an ordered field by differential galactic rotation. Model predictions are compared with observations of local late type galaxies by Fitt & Alexander (1993) and Shabala et al. (2008). The model reproduces observed magnetic field strengths and luminosities in low and intermediate-mass galaxies. These quantities are overpredicted in the most massive hosts, suggesting that inclusion of gas ejection by powerful AGNs is necessary in order to quench gas cooling and reconcile the predicted and observed magnetic field strengths.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures; MNRAS in pres

Small-molecule CaVα1⋅CaVβ antagonist suppresses neuronal voltage-gated calcium-channel trafficking

Extracellular calcium flow through neuronal voltage-gated CaV2.2 calcium channels converts action potential-encoded information to the release of pronociceptive neurotransmitters in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, culminating in excitation of the postsynaptic central nociceptive neurons. The CaV2.2 channel is composed of a pore-forming α1 subunit (CaVα1) that is engaged in protein-protein interactions with auxiliary α2/δ and β subunits. The high-affinity CaV2.2α1⋅CaVβ3 protein-protein interaction is essential for proper trafficking of CaV2.2 channels to the plasma membrane. Here, structure-based computational screening led to small molecules that disrupt the CaV2.2α1⋅CaVβ3 protein-protein interaction. The binding mode of these compounds reveals that three substituents closely mimic the side chains of hot-spot residues located on the α-helix of CaV2.2α1 Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed the critical nature of a salt-bridge interaction between the compounds and CaVβ3 Arg-307. In cells, compounds decreased trafficking of CaV2.2 channels to the plasma membrane and modulated the functions of the channel. In a rodent neuropathic pain model, the compounds suppressed pain responses. Small-molecule α-helical mimetics targeting ion channel protein-protein interactions may represent a strategy for developing nonopioid analgesia and for treatment of other neurological disorders associated with calcium-channel trafficking

Calculation of nonzero-temperature Casimir forces in the time domain

We show how to compute Casimir forces at nonzero temperatures with time-domain electromagnetic simulations, for example using a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Compared to our previous zero-temperature time-domain method, only a small modification is required, but we explain that some care is required to properly capture the zero-frequency contribution. We validate the method against analytical and numerical frequency-domain calculations, and show a surprising high-temperature disappearance of a non-monotonic behavior previously demonstrated in a piston-like geometry.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Physical Review A Rapid Communicatio

Predicting the cosmological constant with the scale-factor cutoff measure

It is well known that anthropic selection from a landscape with a flat prior distribution of cosmological constant Lambda gives a reasonable fit to observation. However, a realistic model of the multiverse has a physical volume that diverges with time, and the predicted distribution of Lambda depends on how the spacetime volume is regulated. We study a simple model of the multiverse with probabilities regulated by a scale-factor cutoff, and calculate the resulting distribution, considering both positive and negative values of Lambda. The results are in good agreement with observation. In particular, the scale-factor cutoff strongly suppresses the probability for values of Lambda that are more than about ten times the observed value. We also discuss several qualitative features of the scale-factor cutoff, including aspects of the distributions of the curvature parameter Omega and the primordial density contrast Q.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, 2 appendice

Positron emission tomographic imaging of Copper 64- and Gallium 68-labeled chelator conjugates of the somatostatin agonist Tyr3-octreotate

The bifunctional chelator and radiometal have been shown to have a direct effect on the pharmacokinetics of somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-targeted imaging agents. We evaluated three Y3-TATE analogues conjugated to NOTA-based chelators for radiolabeling with 64 Cu and 68 Ga for small-animal positron emission tomographic/computed tomograhic (PET/CT) imaging. Two commercially available NOTA analogues, p-SCN-Bn-NOTA and NODAGA, were evaluated. The p-SCN-Bn-NOTA analogues were conjugated to Y3- TATE through β-Ala and PEG 8 linkages. The NODAGA chelator was directly conjugated to Y3-TATE. The analogues labeled with 64 Cu or 68 Ga were analyzed in vitro for binding affinity and internalization and in vivo by PET/CT imaging, biodistribution, and Cerenkov imaging ( 68 Ga analogues). We evaluated the effects of the radiometals, chelators, and linkers on the performance of the SSTR subtype 2–targeted imaging agents and also compared them to a previously reported agent, 64 Cu-CB-TE2A-Y3-TATE. We found that the method of conjugation, particularly the length of the linkage between the chelator and the peptide, significantly impacted tumor and nontarget tissue uptake and clearance. Among the 64 Cu- and 68 Ga-labeled NOTA analogues, NODAGA-Y3-TATE had the most optimal in vivo behavior and was comparable to 64 Cu-CB-TE2A-Y3-TATE. An advantage of NODAGA-Y3-TATE is that it allows labeling with 64 Cu and 68 Ga, providing a versatile PET probe for imaging SSTr subtype 2-positive tumors

On the origin of 140 GHz emission from the 4 July 2012 solar flare

The sub-THz event observed on the 4 July 2012 with the Bauman Moscow State Technical University Radio Telescope RT-7.5 at 93 and 140~GHz as well as Kislovodsk and Mets\"ahovi radio telescopes, Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN), GOES, RHESSI, and SDO orbital stations is analyzed. The spectral flux between 93 and 140 GHz has been observed increasing with frequency. On the basis of the SDO/AIA data the differential emission measure has been calculated. It is shown that the thermal coronal plasma with the temperature above 0.5~MK cannot be responsible for the observed sub-THz flare emission. The non-thermal gyrosynchrotron mechanism can be responsible for the microwave emission near $10$~GHz but the observed millimeter spectral characteristics are likely to be produced by the thermal bremsstrahlung emission from plasma with a temperature of about 0.1~MK.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure