370 research outputs found
Extended Weak Coupling Limit for Friedrichs Hamiltonians
We study a class of self-adjoint operators defined on the direct sum of two
Hilbert spaces: a finite dimensional one called sometimes a ``small subsystem''
and an infinite dimensional one -- a ``reservoir''. The operator, which we call
a ``Friedrichs Hamiltonian'', has a small coupling constant in front of its
off-diagonal term. It is well known that under some conditions in the weak
coupling limit the appropriately rescaled evolution in the interaction picture
converges to a contractive semigroup when restricted to the subsystem. We show
that in this model, the properly renormalized and rescaled evolution converges
on the whole space to a new unitary evolution, which is a dilation of the above
mentioned semigroup. Similar results have been studied before \cite{AFL} in
more complicated models and they are usually referred to as "stochastic Limit".Comment: changes in notation and title, minor correction
High-accuracy Penning trap mass measurements with stored and cooled exotic ions
The technique of Penning trap mass spectrometry is briefly reviewed
particularly in view of precision experiments on unstable nuclei, performed at
different facilities worldwide. Selected examples of recent results emphasize
the importance of high-precision mass measurements in various fields of
physics
GINA - A Polarized Neutron Reflectometer at the Budapest Neutron Centre
The setup, capabilities and operation parameters of the neutron reflectometer
GINA, the recently installed "Grazing Incidence Neutron Apparatus" at the
Budapest Neutron Centre, are introduced. GINA, a dance-floor-type,
constant-energy, angle-dispersive reflectometer is equipped with a 2D
position-sensitive detector to study specular and off-specular scattering.
Wavelength options between 3.2 and 5.7 {\AA} are available for unpolarized and
polarized neutrons. Spin polarization and analysis are achieved by magnetized
transmission supermirrors and radio-frequency adiabatic spin flippers. As a
result of vertical focusing by the five-element (pyrolytic graphite)
monochromator the reflected intensity from a 20x20 mm sample has doubled. GINA
is dedicated to studies of magnetic films and heterostructures, but unpolarized
options for non-magnetic films, membranes and other surfaces are also provided.
Shortly after its startup, reflectivity values as low as 3x10-5 have been
measured on the instrument. The facility is now open for the international user
community, but its development is continuing mainly to establish new sample
environment options, the spin analysis of off-specularly scattered radiation
and further decrease of the background
MODELLING THE ELECTRON WITH COSSERAT ELASTICITY
Interactions between a finite number of bodies and the surrounding fluid, in a channel for instance, are investigated theoretically. In the planar model here the bodies or modelled grains are thin solid bodies free to move in a nearly parallel formation within a quasi-inviscid fluid. The investigation involves numerical and analytical studies and comparisons. The three main features that appear are a linear instability about a state of uniform motion, a clashing of the bodies (or of a body with a side wall) within a finite scaled time when nonlinear interaction takes effect, and a continuum-limit description of the body–fluid interaction holding for the case of many bodies
Some remarks on quasi-Hermitian operators
A quasi-Hermitian operator is an operator that is similar to its adjoint in
some sense, via a metric operator, i.e., a strictly positive self-adjoint
operator. Whereas those metric operators are in general assumed to be bounded,
we analyze the structure generated by unbounded metric operators in a Hilbert
space. Following our previous work, we introduce several generalizations of the
notion of similarity between operators. Then we explore systematically the
various types of quasi-Hermitian operators, bounded or not. Finally we discuss
their application in the so-called pseudo-Hermitian quantum mechanics.Comment: 18page
Myosin and tropomyosin stabilize the conformation of formin-nucleated actin filaments
The conformational elasticity of the actin cytoskeleton is
essential for its versatile biological functions. Increasing
evidence supports that the interplay between the structural and
functional properties of actin filaments is finely regulated by
actin-binding proteins, however, the underlying mechanisms and
biological consequences are not completely understood. Previous
studies showed that the binding of formins to the barbed end
induces conformational transitions in actin filaments by making
them more flexible through long-range allosteric interactions.
These conformational changes are accompanied by altered
functional properties of the filaments. To get insight into the
conformational regulation of formin-nucleated actin structures,
in the present work we investigated in detail how binding
partners of formin-generated actin structures, myosin and
tropomyosin, affect the conformation of the formin-nucleated
actin filaments, using fluorescence spectroscopic approaches.
Time-dependent fluorescence anisotropy and temperature-dependent
Forster-type resonance energy transfer measurements revealed
that heavy meromyosin, similarly to tropomyosin, restores the
formin-induced effects and stabilizes the conformation of actin
filaments. The stabilizing effect of heavy meromyosin is
cooperative. The kinetic analysis revealed that despite the
qualitatively similar effects of heavy meromyosin and
tropomyosin on the conformational dynamics of actin filaments,
the mechanisms of the conformational transition is different for
the two proteins. Heavy meromyosin stabilizes the formin-
nucleated actin filaments in an apparently single-step reaction
upon binding, while the stabilization by tropomyosin occurs
after complex formation. These observations support the idea
that actin-binding proteins are key elements of the molecular
mechanisms that regulate the conformational and functional
diversity of actin filaments in living cells
Spider assemblages in floodplain forests along an urbanization gradient
Urban areas have been growing radically worldwide, causing considerable changes in biodiversity of natural habitats. In floodplain forests, we studied the effects of urbanization on ground-dwelling spider assemblages along a rural–suburban–urban gradient in Hungary. We tested three traditional hypotheses (intermediate disturbance hypothesis, habitat specialist hypothesis and hygrophilous species hypothesis) and two novel expectations (shade-preferring species hypothesis, and disturbance sensitive species hypothesis) on spiders. We found that the total number of species was higher in the suburban habitat than in rural and urban ones, supporting the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. We found a decrease in the species richness of forest specialist and shade-preferring species along the urbanization gradient. We found that the number of hygrophilous and disturbance sensitive species was the lowest in the urban habitat. The spider assemblages of the rural and suburban habitats were clearly separated from the assemblages of urban habitats. Based on our findings we emphasize that low and moderate intensity of forest management contributes to the preservation of the local species richness in floodplain forests
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