Greedy Strategy Works for k-Center Clustering with Outliers and Coreset Construction

We study the problem of k-center clustering with outliers in arbitrary metrics and Euclidean space. Though a number of methods have been developed in the past decades, it is still quite challenging to design quality guaranteed algorithm with low complexity for this problem. Our idea is inspired by the greedy method, Gonzalez\u27s algorithm, for solving the problem of ordinary k-center clustering. Based on some novel observations, we show that this greedy strategy actually can handle k-center clustering with outliers efficiently, in terms of clustering quality and time complexity. We further show that the greedy approach yields small coreset for the problem in doubling metrics, so as to reduce the time complexity significantly. Our algorithms are easy to implement in practice. We test our method on both synthetic and real datasets. The experimental results suggest that our algorithms can achieve near optimal solutions and yield lower running times comparing with existing methods

Quantum Phase Transition in the Sub-Ohmic Spin-Boson Model: Extended Coherent-state Approach

We propose a general extended coherent state approach to the qubit (or fermion) and multi-mode boson coupling systems. The application to the spin-boson model with the discretization of a bosonic bath with arbitrary continuous spectral density is described in detail, and very accurate solutions can be obtained. The quantum phase transition in the nontrivial sub-Ohmic case can be located by the fidelity and the order-parameter critical exponents for the bath exponents $s<1/2$ can be correctly given by the fidelity susceptibility, demonstrating the strength of the approach.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Quantum phase transitions in coupled two-level atoms in a single-mode cavity

The dipole-coupled two-level atoms(qubits) in a single-mode resonant cavity is studied by extended bosonic coherent states. The numerically exact solution is presented. For finite systems, the first-order quantum phase transitions occur at the strong interatomic interaction. Similar to the original Dicke model, this system exhibits a second-order quantum phase transition from the normal to the superradiant phases. Finite-size scaling for several observables, such as the average fidelity susceptibility, the order parameter, and concurrence are performed for different interatomic interactions. The obtained scaling exponents suggest that interatomic interactions do not change the universality class.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure

Speaker-following Video Subtitles

We propose a new method for improving the presentation of subtitles in video (e.g. TV and movies). With conventional subtitles, the viewer has to constantly look away from the main viewing area to read the subtitles at the bottom of the screen, which disrupts the viewing experience and causes unnecessary eyestrain. Our method places on-screen subtitles next to the respective speakers to allow the viewer to follow the visual content while simultaneously reading the subtitles. We use novel identification algorithms to detect the speakers based on audio and visual information. Then the placement of the subtitles is determined using global optimization. A comprehensive usability study indicated that our subtitle placement method outperformed both conventional fixed-position subtitling and another previous dynamic subtitling method in terms of enhancing the overall viewing experience and reducing eyestrain

Accurate numerical solution to the finite-size Dicke model

By using extended bosonic coherent states, a new technique to solve the Dicke model exactly is proposed in the numerical sense. The accessible system size is two orders of magnitude higher than that reported in literature. Finite-size scaling for several observables, such as the ground-state energy, Berry phase, and concurrence are analyzed. The existing discrepancy for the scaling exponent of the concurrence is reconciled.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Phys. Rev. A (in press, a Rapid Communication