540 research outputs found
Quantized Rotation of Atoms From Photons with Orbital Angular Momentum
We demonstrate the coherent transfer of the orbital angular momentum of a
photon to an atom in quantized units of hbar, using a 2-photon stimulated Raman
process with Laguerre-Gaussian beams to generate an atomic vortex state in a
Bose-Einstein condensate of sodium atoms. We show that the process is coherent
by creating superpositions of different vortex states, where the relative phase
between the states is determined by the relative phases of the optical fields.
Furthermore, we create vortices of charge 2 by transferring to each atom the
orbital angular momentum of two photons.Comment: New version, 4 pages and 3 figures, accepted for publication in
Physical Review Letter
Hamiltonian statistical mechanics
A framework for statistical-mechanical analysis of quantum Hamiltonians is
introduced. The approach is based upon a gradient flow equation in the space of
Hamiltonians such that the eigenvectors of the initial Hamiltonian evolve
toward those of the reference Hamiltonian. The nonlinear double-bracket
equation governing the flow is such that the eigenvalues of the initial
Hamiltonian remain unperturbed. The space of Hamiltonians is foliated by
compact invariant subspaces, which permits the construction of statistical
distributions over the Hamiltonians. In two dimensions, an explicit dynamical
model is introduced, wherein the density function on the space of Hamiltonians
approaches an equilibrium state characterised by the canonical ensemble. This
is used to compute quenched and annealed averages of quantum observables.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, references adde
Exact solution of the Zeeman effect in single-electron systems
Contrary to popular belief, the Zeeman effect can be treated exactly in
single-electron systems, for arbitrary magnetic field strengths, as long as the
term quadratic in the magnetic field can be ignored. These formulas were
actually derived already around 1927 by Darwin, using the classical picture of
angular momentum, and presented in their proper quantum-mechanical form in 1933
by Bethe, although without any proof. The expressions have since been more or
less lost from the literature; instead, the conventional treatment nowadays is
to present only the approximations for weak and strong fields, respectively.
However, in fusion research and other plasma physics applications, the magnetic
fields applied to control the shape and position of the plasma span the entire
region from weak to strong fields, and there is a need for a unified treatment.
In this paper we present the detailed quantum-mechanical derivation of the
exact eigenenergies and eigenstates of hydrogen-like atoms and ions in a static
magnetic field. Notably, these formulas are not much more complicated than the
better-known approximations. Moreover, the derivation allows the value of the
electron spin gyromagnetic ratio to be different from 2. For
completeness, we then review the details of dipole transitions between two
hydrogenic levels, and calculate the corresponding Zeeman spectrum. The various
approximations made in the derivation are also discussed in details.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to Physica Script
Proper time and Minkowski structure on causal graphs
For causal graphs we propose a definition of proper time which for small
scales is based on the concept of volume, while for large scales the usual
definition of length is applied. The scale where the change from "volume" to
"length" occurs is related to the size of a dynamical clock and defines a
natural cut-off for this type of clock. By changing the cut-off volume we may
probe the geometry of the causal graph on different scales and therey define a
continuum limit. This provides an alternative to the standard coarse graining
procedures. For regular causal lattice (like e.g. the 2-dim. light-cone
lattice) this concept can be proven to lead to a Minkowski structure. An
illustrative example of this approach is provided by the breather solutions of
the Sine-Gordon model on a 2-dimensional light-cone lattice.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure
Fuzzy Geometry of Phase Space and Quantization of Massive Fields
The quantum space-time and the phase space with fuzzy structure is
investigated as the possible quantization formalism. In this theory the state
of nonrelativistic particle corresponds to the element of fuzzy ordered set
(Foset) - fuzzy point. Due to Foset partial (weak) ordering, particle's space
coordinate x acquires principal uncertainty dx. It's shown that Shroedinger
formalism of Quantum Mechanics can be completely derived from consideration of
particle evolution in fuzzy phase space with minimal number of axioms.Comment: 13 pages, Talk given at QFEXT07 Workshop, Leipzig, Sept. 200
Characterization of anomalous Zeeman patterns in complex atomic spectra
The modeling of complex atomic spectra is a difficult task, due to the huge
number of levels and lines involved. In the presence of a magnetic field, the
computation becomes even more difficult. The anomalous Zeeman pattern is a
superposition of many absorption or emission profiles with different Zeeman
relative strengths, shifts, widths, asymmetries and sharpnesses. We propose a
statistical approach to study the effect of a magnetic field on the broadening
of spectral lines and transition arrays in atomic spectra. In this model, the
sigma and pi profiles are described using the moments of the Zeeman components,
which depend on quantum numbers and Land\'{e} factors. A graphical calculation
of these moments, together with a statistical modeling of Zeeman profiles as
expansions in terms of Hermite polynomials are presented. It is shown that the
procedure is more efficient, in terms of convergence and validity range, than
the Taylor-series expansion in powers of the magnetic field which was suggested
in the past. Finally, a simple approximate method to estimate the contribution
of a magnetic field to the width of transition arrays is proposed. It relies on
our recently published recursive technique for the numbering of LS-terms of an
arbitrary configuration.Comment: submitted to Physical Review
Le Chatelier principle in replicator dynamics
The Le Chatelier principle states that physical equilibria are not only
stable, but they also resist external perturbations via short-time
negative-feedback mechanisms: a perturbation induces processes tending to
diminish its results. The principle has deep roots, e.g., in thermodynamics it
is closely related to the second law and the positivity of the entropy
production. Here we study the applicability of the Le Chatelier principle to
evolutionary game theory, i.e., to perturbations of a Nash equilibrium within
the replicator dynamics. We show that the principle can be reformulated as a
majorization relation. This defines a stability notion that generalizes the
concept of evolutionary stability. We determine criteria for a Nash equilibrium
to satisfy the Le Chatelier principle and relate them to mutualistic
interactions (game-theoretical anticoordination) showing in which sense
mutualistic replicators can be more stable than (say) competing ones. There are
globally stable Nash equilibria, where the Le Chatelier principle is violated
even locally: in contrast to the thermodynamic equilibrium a Nash equilibrium
can amplify small perturbations, though both this type of equilibria satisfy
the detailed balance condition.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure
Evolutionary instability of Zero Determinant strategies demonstrates that winning isn't everything
Zero Determinant (ZD) strategies are a new class of probabilistic and
conditional strategies that are able to unilaterally set the expected payoff of
an opponent in iterated plays of the Prisoner's Dilemma irrespective of the
opponent's strategy, or else to set the ratio between a ZD player's and their
opponent's expected payoff. Here we show that while ZD strategies are weakly
dominant, they are not evolutionarily stable and will instead evolve into less
coercive strategies. We show that ZD strategies with an informational advantage
over other players that allows them to recognize other ZD strategies can be
evolutionarily stable (and able to exploit other players). However, such an
advantage is bound to be short-lived as opposing strategies evolve to
counteract the recognition.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures. Change in title (again!) to comply with Nature
Communications requirements. To appear in Nature Communication
Analysis of a three-component model phase diagram by Catastrophe Theory
We analyze the thermodynamical potential of a lattice gas model with three
components and five parameters using the methods of Catastrophe Theory. We find
the highest singularity, which has codimension five, and establish its
transversality. Hence the corresponding seven-degree Landau potential, the
canonical form Wigwam or , constitutes the adequate starting point to
study the overall phase diagram of this model.Comment: 16 pages, Latex file, submitted to Phys. Rev.
The PRK/Rubisco shunt strongly influences Arabidopsis seed metabolism and oil accumulation, affecting more than carbon recycling
The carbon efficiency of storage lipid biosynthesis from imported sucrose in green Brassicaceae seeds is proposed to be enhanced by the PRK/Rubisco shunt, in which ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) acts outside the context of the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle to recycle CO2 molecules released during fatty acid synthesis. This pathway utilizes metabolites generated by the nonoxidative steps of the pentose phosphate pathway. Photosynthesis provides energy for reactions such as the phosphorylation of ribulose 5-phosphate by phosphoribulokinase (PRK). Here, we show that loss of PRK in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) blocks photoautotrophic growth and is seedling-lethal. However, seeds containing prk embryos develop normally, allowing us to use genetics to assess the importance of the PRK/Rubisco shunt. Compared with nonmutant siblings, prk embryos produce one-third less lipids—a greater reduction than expected from simply blocking the proposed PRK/Rubisco shunt. However, developing prk seeds are also chlorotic and have elevated starch contents compared with their siblings, indicative of secondary effects. Overexpressing PRK did not increase embryo lipid content, but metabolite profiling suggested that Rubisco activity becomes limiting. Overall, our findings show that the PRK/Rubisco shunt is tightly integrated into the carbon metabolism of green Arabidopsis seeds, and that its manipulation affects seed glycolysis, starch metabolism, and photosynthesis.ISSN:1040-4651ISSN:1531-298XISSN:1532-298
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