Decoherence of flux qubits due to 1/f flux noise

We have investigated decoherence in Josephson-junction flux qubits. Based on the measurements of decoherence at various bias conditions, we discriminate contributions of different noise sources. In particular, we present a Gaussian decay function of the echo signal as evidence of dephasing due to $1/f$ flux noise whose spectral density is evaluated to be about $(10^{-6} \Phi_0)^2$/Hz at 1 Hz. We also demonstrate that at an optimal bias condition where the noise sources are well decoupled the coherence observed in the echo measurement is mainly limited by energy relaxation of the qubit.Comment: 4 pages, error in Fig.4 corrected, to appear in PR

A crystal theoretic method for finding rigged configurations from paths

The Kerov--Kirillov--Reshetikhin (KKR) bijection gives one to one correspondences between the set of highest paths and the set of rigged configurations. In this paper, we give a crystal theoretic reformulation of the KKR map from the paths to rigged configurations, using the combinatorial R and energy functions. This formalism provides tool for analysis of the periodic box-ball systems.Comment: 24 pages, version for publicatio

Creation of ballot sequences in a periodic cellular automaton

Motivated by an attempt to develop a method for solving initial value problems in a class of one dimensional periodic cellular automata (CA) associated with crystal bases and soliton equations, we consider a generalization of a simple proposition in elementary mathematics. The original proposition says that any sequence of letters 1 and 2, having no less 1's than 2's, can be changed into a ballot sequence via cyclic shifts only. We generalize it to treat sequences of cells of common capacity s > 1, each of them containing consecutive 2's (left) and 1's (right), and show that these sequences can be changed into a ballot sequence via two manipulations, cyclic and "quasi-cyclic" shifts. The latter is a new CA rule and we find that various kink-like structures are traveling along the system like particles under the time evolution of this rule.Comment: 31 pages. Section 1 changed and section 5 adde

Rab8a and Rab8b are essential for several apical transport pathways but insufficient for ciliogenesis

The small GTP-binding protein Rab8 is known to play an essential role in intracellular transport and cilia formation. We have previously demonstrated that Rab8a is required for localising apical markers in various organisms. Rab8a has a closely related isoform, Rab8b. To determine whether Rab8b can compensate for Rab8a, we generated Rab8b-knockout mice. Although the Rab8b-knockout mice did not display an overt phenotype, Rab8a and Rab8b double-knockout mice exhibited mislocalisation of apical markers and died earlier than Rab8a-knockout mice. The apical markers accumulated in three intracellular patterns in the double-knockout mice. However, the localisation of basolateral and/or dendritic markers of the double-knockout mice seemed normal. The morphology and the length of various primary and/or motile cilia, and the frequency of ciliated cells appeared to be identical in control and double-knockout mice. However, an additional knockdown of Rab10 in double-knockout cells greatly reduced the percentage of ciliated cells. Our results highlight the compensatory effect of Rab8a and Rab8b in apical transport, and the complexity of the apical transport process. In addition, neither Rab8a nor Rab8b are required for basolateral and/or dendritic transport. However, simultaneous loss of Rab8a and Rab8b has little effect on ciliogenesis, whereas additional loss of Rab10 greatly affects ciliogenesis

Axiomatic Bargaining Theory on Opportunity Assignments

This paper discusses issues of axiomatic bargaining problems over opportunity assignments. The fair arbitrator uses the principle of "equal opportunity" for all players to make the recommendation on re- source allocations. A framework in such a context is developed and several classical solutions to standard bargaining problems are reformulated and axiomatically characterized. Working Paper 06-4

Bethe ansatz at q=0 and periodic box-ball systems

A class of periodic soliton cellular automata is introduced associated with crystals of non-exceptional quantum affine algebras. Based on the Bethe ansatz at q=0, we propose explicit formulas for the dynamical period and the size of certain orbits under the time evolution in A^{(1)}_n case.Comment: 12 pages, Introduction expanded, Summary added and minor modifications mad

The Bethe ansatz in a periodic box-ball system and the ultradiscrete Riemann theta function

Vertex models with quantum group symmetry give rise to integrable cellular automata at q=0. We study a prototype example known as the periodic box-ball system. The initial value problem is solved in terms of an ultradiscrete analogue of the Riemann theta function whose period matrix originates in the Bethe ansatz at q=0.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figur

Natural attenuation of Fukushima-derived radiocesium in soils due to its vertical and lateral migration

Processes of vertical and lateral migration lead to gradual reduction in contamination of catchment soil, particularly its top layer. The reduction can be considered as natural attenuation. This, in turn, results in a gradual decrease of radiocesium activity concentrations in the surface runoff and river water, in both dissolved and particulate forms. The purpose of this research is to study the dynamics of Fukushima-derived radiocesium in undisturbed soils and floodplain deposits exposed to erosion and sedimentation during floods. Combined observations of radiocesium vertical distribution in soil and sediment deposition on artificial lawn-grass mats on the Niida River floodplain allowed us to estimate both annual mean sediment accumulation rates and maximum sedimentation rates corresponding to an extreme flood event during Tropical Storm Etau, 6-11 September 2015. Dose rates were reduced considerably for floodplain sections with high sedimentation because the top soil layer with high radionuclide contamination was eroded and/or buried under cleaner fresh sediments produced mostly due to bank erosion and sediments movements. Rate constants of natural attenuation on the sites of the Takase River and floodplain of Niida River was found to be in range 0.2-0.4 year-1. For the site in the lower reach of the Niida River, collimated shield dose readings from soil surfaces slightly increased during the period of observation from February to July 2016. Generally, due to more precipitation, steeper slopes, higher temperatures and increased biological activities in soils, self-purification of radioactive contamination in Fukushima associated with vertical and lateral radionuclide migration is faster than in Chernobyl. In many cases, monitored natural attenuation along with appropriate restrictions seems to be optimal option for water remediation in Fukushima contaminated areas

Combinatorial Bethe ansatz and ultradiscrete Riemann theta function with rational characteristics

The U_q(\hat{sl}_2) vertex model at q=0 with periodic boundary condition is an integrable cellular automaton in one-dimension. By the combinatorial Bethe ansatz, the initial value problem is solved for arbitrary states in terms of an ultradiscrete analogue of the Riemann theta function with rational characteristics.Comment: 9 page