Balanced homodyne detectors in QFT

Within the dipole approximation we describe the interaction of a photodiode with the quantum electric field. The diode is modelled by an electron in a bound state which upon interaction, treated perturbatively in the paper, can get excited to one of the scattering states. We furthermore analyze a balanced homodyne detector (BHD) with a local oscillator (LO) consisting of two photodiodes illuminated by a monochromatic coherent state. We show, that to the leading order the BHD's output measures the expectation value of the quantum electric field, in the state without the LO, restricted to the frequency of the LO. The square of the output measures the two-point function of the quantum field. This shows that the BHDs provide tools for measurements of sub-vacuum (negative) expectation values of the squares quantum fields and thus for test of Quantum Energy Inequality - like bounds, or other QFT effects under the influence of external conditions.Comment: Revised version with minor mistakes remove

Real Estate Agent Remarks: Help or Hype?

This article groups the remarks of a multiple listing service listing into common themes and then uses a hedonic pricing model to determine whether such comments are priced in a meaningful way. The comments provide information on the motivation of the seller, location of the property and physical improvements or defects. Most of the comments analyzed are statistically significant. Negative comments are associated with lower sales prices suggesting the helpful nature of comments. Some of the positive comments, however, including "new paint" and "good location" are also associated with lower sales prices suggesting that some comments may be better classified as hype.

Derivation of phenomenological expressions for transition matrix elements for electron-phonon scattering

In the literature on electron-phonon scatterings very often a phenomenological expression for the transition matrix element is used which was derived in the textbooks of Ashcroft/Mermin and of Czycholl. There are various steps in the derivation of this expression. In the textbooks in part different arguments have been used in these steps, but the final result is the same. In the present paper again slightly different arguments are used which motivate the procedure in a more intuitive way. Furthermore, we generalize the phenomenological expression to describe the dependence of the matrix elements on the spin state of the initial and final electron state

Nickel hydrogen low Earth orbit test program update and status

The current status of nickel-hydrogen (NiH2) testing ongong at NWSC, Crane In, and The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, Ca are described. The objective of this testing is to develop a database for NiH2 battery use in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and support applications in Medium Altitude Orbit (MAO). Individual pressure vessel-type cells are being tested. A minimum of 200 cells (3.5 in diameter and 4.5 in diameter) are included in the test, from four U.S. vendors. As of this date (Nov. 18, 1986) approximately 60 cells have completed preliminary testing (acceptance, characterization, and environmental testing) and have gone into life cycling

BSAURUS- A Package For Inclusive B-Reconstruction in DELPHI

BSAURUS is a software package for the inclusive reconstruction of B-hadrons in Z-decay events taken by the DELPHI detector at LEP. The BSAURUS goal is to reconstruct B-decays, by making use of as many properties of b-jets as possible, with high efficiency and good purity. This is achieved by exploiting the capabilities of the DELPHI detector to their extreme, applying wherever possible physics knowledge about B production and decays and combining different information sources with modern tools- mainly artificial neural networks. This note provides a reference of how BSAURUS outputs are formed, how to access them within the DELPHI framework, and the physics performance one can expect.Comment: 52 pages, 24 figures, added author Z.

Interactive Chemical Reactivity Exploration

Elucidating chemical reactivity in complex molecular assemblies of a few hundred atoms is, despite the remarkable progress in quantum chemistry, still a major challenge. Black-box search methods to find intermediates and transition-state structures might fail in such situations because of the high-dimensionality of the potential energy surface. Here, we propose the concept of interactive chemical reactivity exploration to effectively introduce the chemist's intuition into the search process. We employ a haptic pointer device with force-feedback to allow the operator the direct manipulation of structures in three dimensions along with simultaneous perception of the quantum mechanical response upon structure modification as forces. We elaborate on the details of how such an interactive exploration should proceed and which technical difficulties need to be overcome. All reactivity-exploration concepts developed for this purpose have been implemented in the Samson programming environment.Comment: 36 pages, 14 figure

There are No Causality Problems for Fermi's Two Atom System

A repeatedly discussed gedanken experiment, proposed by Fermi to check Einstein causality, is reconsidered. It is shown that, contrary to a recent statement made by Hegerfeldt, there appears no causality paradoxon in a proper theoretical description of the experiment.Comment: 6 pages, latex, DESY 94-02

Effective Constraints and Physical Coherent States in Quantum Cosmology: A Numerical Comparison

A cosmological model with a cyclic interpretation is introduced, which is subject to quantum back-reaction and yet can be treated rather completely by physical coherent state as well as effective constraint techniques. By this comparison, the role of quantum back-reaction in quantum cosmology is unambiguously demonstrated. Also the complementary nature of strengths and weaknesses of the two procedures is illustrated. Finally, effective constraint techniques are applied to a more realistic model filled with radiation, where physical coherent states are not available.Comment: 32 pages, 25 figure