A quantum solution to the arrow-of-time dilemma

The arrow of time dilemma: the laws of physics are invariant for time inversion, whereas the familiar phenomena we see everyday are not (i.e. entropy increases). I show that, within a quantum mechanical framework, all phenomena which leave a trail of information behind (and hence can be studied by physics) are those where entropy necessarily increases or remains constant. All phenomena where the entropy decreases must not leave any information of their having happened. This situation is completely indistinguishable from their not having happened at all. In the light of this observation, the second law of thermodynamics is reduced to a mere tautology: physics cannot study those processes where entropy has decreased, even if they were commonplace.Comment: Contains slightly more material than the published version (the additional material is clearly labeled in the latex source). Because of PRL's title policy, the leading "A" was left out of the title in the published pape

Network Transitivity and Matrix Models

This paper is a step towards a systematic theory of the transitivity (clustering) phenomenon in random networks. A static framework is used, with adjacency matrix playing the role of the dynamical variable. Hence, our model is a matrix model, where matrices are random, but their elements take values 0 and 1 only. Confusion present in some papers where earlier attempts to incorporate transitivity in a similar framework have been made is hopefully dissipated. Inspired by more conventional matrix models, new analytic techniques to develop a static model with non-trivial clustering are introduced. Computer simulations complete the analytic discussion.Comment: 11 pages, 7 eps figures, 2-column revtex format, print bug correcte

This elusive objective existence

Zurek's existential interpretation of quantum mechanics suffers from three classical prejudices, including the belief that space and time are intrinsically and infinitely differentiated. They compel him to relativize the concept of objective existence in two ways. The elimination of these prejudices makes it possible to recognize the quantum formalism's ontological implications - the relative and contingent reality of spatiotemporal distinctions and the extrinsic and finite spatiotemporal differentiation of the physical world - which in turn makes it possible to arrive at an unqualified objective existence. Contrary to a widespread misconception, viewing the quantum formalism as being fundamentally a probability algorithm does not imply that quantum mechanics is concerned with states of knowledge rather than states of Nature. On the contrary, it makes possible a complete and strongly objective description of the physical world that requires no reference to observers. What objectively exists, in a sense that requires no qualification, is the trajectories of macroscopic objects, whose fuzziness is empirically irrelevant, the properties and values of whose possession these trajectories provide indelible records, and the fuzzy and temporally undifferentiated states of affairs that obtain between measurements and are described by counterfactual probability assignments.Comment: To appear in IJQI; 21 pages, LaTe

Drinfeld Twists and Symmetric Bethe Vectors of Supersymmetric Fermion Models

We construct the Drinfeld twists (factorizing $F$-matrices) of the $gl(m|n)$-invariant fermion model. Completely symmetric representation of the pseudo-particle creation operators of the model are obtained in the basis provided by the $F$-matrix (the $F$-basis). We resolve the hierarchy of the nested Bethe vectors in the $F$-basis for the $gl(m|n)$ supersymmetric model.Comment: Latex File, 24 pages, no figure, some misprints are correcte

Delayed - Choice Entanglement - Swapping with Vacuum-One Photon Quantum States

We report the experimental realization of a recently discovered quantum information protocol by Asher Peres implying an apparent non-local quantum mechanical retrodiction effect. The demonstration is carried out by applying a novel quantum optical method by which each singlet entangled state is physically implemented by a two-dimensional subspace of Fock states of a mode of the electromagnetic field, specifically the space spanned by the vacuum and the one photon state, along lines suggested recently by E. Knill et al., Nature 409, 46 (2001) and by M. Duan et al., Nature 414, 413 (2001). The successful implementation of the new technique is expected to play an important role in modern quantum information and communication and in EPR quantum non-locality studies

Realism about the Wave Function

A century after the discovery of quantum mechanics, the meaning of quantum mechanics still remains elusive. This is largely due to the puzzling nature of the wave function, the central object in quantum mechanics. If we are realists about quantum mechanics, how should we understand the wave function? What does it represent? What is its physical meaning? Answering these questions would improve our understanding of what it means to be a realist about quantum mechanics. In this survey article, I review and compare several realist interpretations of the wave function. They fall into three categories: ontological interpretations, nomological interpretations, and the \emph{sui generis} interpretation. For simplicity, I will focus on non-relativistic quantum mechanics.Comment: Penultimate version for Philosophy Compas

Identifying dynamical modules from genetic regulatory systems: applications to the segment polarity network

BACKGROUND It is widely accepted that genetic regulatory systems are 'modular', in that the whole system is made up of smaller 'subsystems' corresponding to specific biological functions. Most attempts to identify modules in genetic regulatory systems have relied on the topology of the underlying network. However, it is the temporal activity (dynamics) of genes and proteins that corresponds to biological functions, and hence it is dynamics that we focus on here for identifying subsystems. RESULTS Using Boolean network models as an exemplar, we present a new technique to identify subsystems, based on their dynamical properties. The main part of the method depends only on the stable dynamics (attractors) of the system, thus requiring no prior knowledge of the underlying network. However, knowledge of the logical relationships between the network components can be used to describe how each subsystem is regulated. To demonstrate its applicability to genetic regulatory systems, we apply the method to a model of the Drosophila segment polarity network, providing a detailed breakdown of the system. CONCLUSION We have designed a technique for decomposing any set of discrete-state, discrete-time attractors into subsystems. Having a suitable mathematical model also allows us to describe how each subsystem is regulated and how robust each subsystem is against perturbations. However, since the subsystems are found directly from the attractors, a mathematical model or underlying network topology is not necessarily required to identify them, potentially allowing the method to be applied directly to experimental expression data

Further Development of the Sextupole Dipole Corrector (MSCB) Magnet for the LHC

Combined sextupole-dipole corrector magnets (MSCB) will be mounted in each half cell of the new Large Hadron Collider (LHC) being built at CERN. The dipole part, used for particle orbit corrections, will be powered individually and is designed for low current, originally 30 A but now 55 A. The sextupole part, used for chromaticity corrections, is connected via cold busbars in families of 12 or 13 magnets and is powered with 550 A. Several versions of this corrector magnet were tested as model magnets in order to develop the final design for the series. In the first design the coils are nested, with the dipole coil wound around the sextupole coil to obtain as short a magnet as possible, accepting the slight cross-talk between the coils due to persistent currents, and increased saturation effects. The design has evolved and an alternative design, in which the dipole and sextupole coils are separated, is now favored. Tests at 4.5 K and at 1.9 K were conducted to determine the training behavior, the field quality, and the cross-talk between the windings. This paper discusses the results for the different configurations

Transformation of the tax system during the Middle Ages : the case of Russia

The reorganization of the world and its globalization, a new turn of migration processes led to the appearance of problems that had not previously disturbed into the modern society. Consequently, nowadays there is a need to study the historical past so that we could understand the modern trends. The origin of modern problems, phenomena, processes and, especially, their appearance can be traced using the example of economic and political systems that have existed before. In this regard, it would be especially interesting to trace the specific aspects of modern taxation, why the Eastern and European tax collection systems occurred to be different, what influenced the formation of the mechanism of tax collection in different countries in the past, and, most importantly, how the interaction of the Asian and European taxation systems created the specifics of tax collection in the "middle" countries of Eastern Europe. The presented article is devoted to the analysis of the development of the taxation system of the feudal states of Eastern Europe such as Volga Bulgaria, Ulus Dzhuchi and the Kazan vilayet in the first half of the 16th century. While comparing them with the fiscal systems of the countries of the Muslim East, using the reports of Arab-Persian travelers, information from the Russian sources and information from Khan yarlyks, the authors analyze the diversity in the evolution of the of tax system and the extortion of a huge part of the population of Eastern Europe.peer-reviewe

Baryon stopping and hyperon enhancement in the improved dual parton model

We present an improved version of the dual parton model which contains a new realization of the diquark breaking mechanism of baryon stopping. We reproduce in this way the net baryon yield in nuclear collisions. The model, which also considers strings originating from diquark-antidiquark pairs in the nucleon sea, reproduces the observed yields of p and Lambda and their antiparticles and underestimates cascades by less than 50 %. However, Omega's are underestimated by a factor five. Agreement with data is restored by final state interaction, with an averaged cross-section as small as 0.14 mb. Hyperon yields increase significantly faster than antihyperons, in agreement with experiment.Comment: 40 pages, 18 postscript figure