3,568 research outputs found
Adaptive self-organization in a realistic neural network model
Information processing in complex systems is often found to be maximally
efficient close to critical states associated with phase transitions. It is
therefore conceivable that also neural information processing operates close to
criticality. This is further supported by the observation of power-law
distributions, which are a hallmark of phase transitions. An important open
question is how neural networks could remain close to a critical point while
undergoing a continual change in the course of development, adaptation,
learning, and more. An influential contribution was made by Bornholdt and
Rohlf, introducing a generic mechanism of robust self-organized criticality in
adaptive networks. Here, we address the question whether this mechanism is
relevant for real neural networks. We show in a realistic model that
spike-time-dependent synaptic plasticity can self-organize neural networks
robustly toward criticality. Our model reproduces several empirical
observations and makes testable predictions on the distribution of synaptic
strength, relating them to the critical state of the network. These results
suggest that the interplay between dynamics and topology may be essential for
neural information processing.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Ice nucleation and cloud microphysical properties in tropical tropopause layer cirrus
In past modeling studies, it has generally been assumed that the predominant mechanism for nucleation of ice in the uppermost troposphere is homogeneous freezing of aqueous aerosols. However, recent in situ and remote-sensing measurements of the properties of cirrus clouds at very low temperatures in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) are broadly inconsistent with theoretial predictions based on the homogeneous freezing assumption. The nearly ubiquitous occurence of gravity waves in the TTL makes the predictions from homogeneous nucleation theory particularly difficult to reconcile with measurements. These measured properties include ice number concentrations, which are much lower than theory predicts; ice crystal size distributions, which are much broader than theory predicts; and cloud extinctions, which are much lower than theory predicts. Although other explanations are possible, one way to limit ice concentrations is to have on the order of 50 L<sup>&minus;1</sup> effective ice nuclei (IN) that could nucleate ice at relatively low supersaturations. We suggest that ammonium sulfate particles, which would be dry much of the time in the cold TTL, are a potential IN candidate for TTL cirrus. However, this mechanism remains to be fully quantified for the size distribution of ammonium sulfate (possibly internally mixed with organics) actually present in the upper troposphere. Possible implications of the observed cloud microphysical properties for ice sedimentation, dehydration, and cloud persistence are also discussed
Triplets of Spikes in a Model of Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity
Classical experiments on spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) use a protocol based on pairs of presynaptic and postsynaptic spikes repeated at a given frequency to induce synaptic potentiation or depression. Therefore, standard STDP models have expressed the weight change as a function of pairs of presynaptic and postsynaptic spike. Unfortunately, those paired-based STDP models cannot account for the dependence on the repetition frequency of the pairs of spike. Moreover, those STDP models cannot reproduce recent triplet and quadruplet experiments. Here, we examine a triplet rule (i.e., a rule which considers sets of three spikes, i.e., two pre and one post or one pre and two post) and compare it to classical pair-based STDP learning rules. With such a triplet rule, it is possible to fit experimental data from visual cortical slices as well as from hippocampal cultures. Moreover, when assuming stochastic spike trains, the triplet learning rule can be mapped to a Bienenstock–Cooper–Munro learning rule
Quantum interference of ultrastable twin optical beams
We report the first measurement of the quantum phase-difference noise of an
ultrastable nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator that emits twin beams
classically phase-locked at exact frequency degeneracy. The measurement
illustrates the property of a lossless balanced beam-splitter to convert
number-difference squeezing into phase-difference squeezing and, thus, provides
indirect evidence for Heisenberg-limited interferometry using twin beams. This
experiment is a generalization of the Hong-Ou-Mandel interference effect for
continuous variables and constitutes a milestone towards continuous-variable
entanglement of bright, ultrastable nondegenerate beams.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figs, accepted by Phys. Rev. Let
A lattice model for the line tension of a sessile drop
Within a semi--infinite thre--dimensional lattice gas model describing the
coexistence of two phases on a substrate, we study, by cluster expansion
techniques, the free energy (line tension) associated with the contact line
between the two phases and the substrate. We show that this line tension, is
given at low temperature by a convergent series whose leading term is negative,
and equals 0 at zero temperature
Polarization instabilities in a two-photon laser
We describe the operating characteristics of a new type of quantum oscillator
that is based on a two-photon stimulated emission process. This two-photon
laser consists of spin-polarized and laser-driven K atoms placed in a
high-finesse transverse-mode-degenerate optical resonator, and produces a beam
with a power of 0.2 W at a wavelength of 770 nm. We observe
complex dynamical instabilities of the state of polarization of the two-photon
laser, which are made possible by the atomic Zeeman degeneracy. We conjecture
that the laser could emit polarization-entangled twin beams if this degeneracy
is lifted.Comment: Accepted by Physical Review Letters. REVTeX 4 pages, 4 EPS figure
Rigorous Probabilistic Analysis of Equilibrium Crystal Shapes
The rigorous microscopic theory of equilibrium crystal shapes has made
enormous progress during the last decade. We review here the main results which
have been obtained, both in two and higher dimensions. In particular, we
describe how the phenomenological Wulff and Winterbottom constructions can be
derived from the microscopic description provided by the equilibrium
statistical mechanics of lattice gases. We focus on the main conceptual issues
and describe the central ideas of the existing approaches.Comment: To appear in the March 2000 special issue of Journal of Mathematical
Physics on Probabilistic Methods in Statistical Physic
Echtzeitholografie mit BSO-Kristall zum Messen der Schichtdickenänderung beim Aushärten von Zwei-Komponenten-Klebstoffen
Die Präzisions-Klebeverbindungen empfindlicher Bauteile können infolge der Schichtdickenänderung des Klebstoffs beim Aushärten (Schwinden) neben maßlichen Veränderungen auch erhebliche Spannungen und daraus resultierende unzulässige Bauteildeformationen auftreten. Um die Schichtdickenänderung quantitativ erfassen zu können, sind insbesondere berührungslos messende Verfahren geeignet, da die Messungen während des Aushärtens des Klebstoffes, d.h. in seiner "flüssigen Phase" erfolgen müssen. Unter bestimmten noch zu erörternden Voraussetzungen bietet sich die Echtzeitholografie an, diese Meßaufgabe zu lösen
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