Thermal equilibration between two quantum systems

Two identical finite quantum systems prepared initially at different temperatures, isolated from the environment, and subsequently brought into contact are demonstrated to relax towards Gibbs-like quasi-equilibrium states with a common temperature and small fluctuations around the time-averaged expectation values of generic observables. The temporal thermalization process proceeds via a chain of intermediate Gibbs-like states. We specify the conditions under which this scenario occurs and corroborate the quantum equilibration with two different models.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, including supplementary materia

Quantum machine using cold atoms

For a machine to be useful in practice, it preferably has to meet two requirements: namely, (i) to be able to perform work under a load and (ii) its operational regime should ideally not depend on the time at which the machine is switched-on. We devise a minimal setup, consisting of two atoms only, for an ac-driven quantum motor which fulfills both these conditions. Explicitly, the motor consists of two different interacting atoms placed into a ring-shaped periodic optical potential -- an optical "bracelet" --, resulting from the interference of two counter-propagating Laguerre-Gauss laser beams. This bracelet is additionally threaded by a pulsating magnetic flux. While the first atom plays a role of a quantum "carrier", the second serves as a quantum "starter", which sets off the "carrier" into a steady rotational motion. For fixed zero-momentum initial conditions the asymptotic carrier velocity saturates to a unique, nonzero value which becomes increasingly independent on the starting time with increasing "bracelet"-size. We identify the quantum mechanisms of rectification and demonstrate that our quantum motor is able to perform useful work.Comment: simplified notations, extended figure captions; 16 pages, 6 figure

Stress-strain state simulation of large-sized cable-stayed shell structures

This paper studies the opportunities for applying framed cable-stayed shell structures to generate innovative structures in civil engineering. Numerical solution methods for stress-strain state problems of these kinds of geometrically nonlinear structures were developed. Developed methods efficiency is presented by a range of large-dimensional space antenna reflectors

Tuning the mobility of a driven Bose-Einstein condensate via diabatic Floquet bands

We study the response of ultracold atoms to a weak force in the presence of a temporally strongly modulated optical lattice potential. It is experimentally demonstrated that the strong ac-driving allows for a tailoring of the mobility of a dilute atomic Bose-Einstein condensate with the atoms moving ballistically either along or against the direction of the applied force. Our results are in agreement with a theoretical analysis of the Floquet spectrum of a model system, thus revealing the existence of diabatic Floquet bands in the atom's band spectra and highlighting their role in the non-equilibrium transport of the atoms

Modelling large-sized mesh reflector with extended aperture

Offset large-sized deployable mesh reflector with symmetric frontal and rear nets is described in the paper. This reflector involves extended aperture area and reduced framework elements by applying beam elements in the peripheral areas of reflecting surface. Strain-stress analysis is conducted to calculate reflecting surface shape of required accuracy

Modeling large pneumatic reflectors based on innovative materials

Large pneumatic structures of deploying space reflector are highly efficient and significantly advantageous due to the following reasons: significant coverage at low material usage and deployment simplicity. At the same time experimental modeling of such structures is time-consuming and costly. So, numerical analysis of such structures is very important in preliminary design. This paper presents the mathematical problem statement of stress-strain state of pneumatic structures, as well as the modal analysis results for two pneumatic reflectors of 50 and 100 meters in size applying such materials as Kevlar and thin polyamide films. The above described problems were solved by well-known nonlinear finite element method

Stress-strain state simulation of large-sized cable-stayed shell structures

This paper studies the opportunities for applying framed cable-stayed shell structures to generate innovative structures in civil engineering. Numerical solution methods for stress-strain state problems of these kinds of geometrically nonlinear structures were developed. Developed methods efficiency is presented by a range of large-dimensional space antenna reflectors

Modelling large-sized mesh reflector with extended aperture

Offset large-sized deployable mesh reflector with symmetric frontal and rear nets is described in the paper. This reflector involves extended aperture area and reduced framework elements by applying beam elements in the peripheral areas of reflecting surface. Strain-stress analysis is conducted to calculate reflecting surface shape of required accuracy