714 research outputs found
Quantum Fluctuation Relations for the Lindblad Master Equation
An open quantum system interacting with its environment can be modeled under
suitable assumptions as a Markov process, described by a Lindblad master
equation. In this work, we derive a general set of fluctuation relations for
systems governed by a Lindblad equation. These identities provide quantum
versions of Jarzynski-Hatano-Sasa and Crooks relations. In the linear response
regime, these fluctuation relations yield a fluctuation-dissipation theorem
(FDT) valid for a stationary state arbitrarily far from equilibrium. For a
closed system, this FDT reduces to the celebrated Callen-Welton-Kubo formula
Composite quasiparticle formation and the low-energy effective Hamiltonians of the one- and two-dimensional Hubbard Model
We investigate the effect of hole doping on the strong-coupling Hubbard model
at half-filling in spatial dimensions . We start with an
antiferromagnetic mean-field description of the insulating state, and show that
doping creates solitons in the antiferromagnetic background. In one dimension,
the soliton is topological, spinless, and decoupled from the background
antiferromagnetic fluctuations at low energies. In two dimensions and above,
the soliton is non-topological, has spin quantum number 1/2, and is strongly
coupled to the antiferromagnetic fluctuations. We derive the effective action
governing the quasiparticle motion, study the properties of a single carrier,
and comment on a possible description at finite concentration.Comment: REVTEX 3.0, 22 pages with 14 figures in the PostScript format
compressed using uufile. Submitted to Phys. Rev. B. The complete PostScript
file including figures can be obtained via ftp at
ftp://serval.berkeley.edu/hubbard.ps . It is also available via www at
http://roemer.fys.ku.dk/recent.ht
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The impact of logging roads on dung beetle assemblages in a tropical rainforest reserve
The demand for timber products is facilitating the degradation and opening up of large areas of intact habitats rich in biodiversity. Logging creates an extensive network of access roads within the forest, yet these are commonly ignored or excluded when assessing impacts of logging on forest biodiversity. Here we determine the impact of these roads on the overall condition of selectively logged forests in Borneo, Southeast Asia. Focusing on dung beetles along > 40 km logging roads we determine: (i) the magnitude and extent of edge effects alongside logging roads; (ii) whether vegetation characteristics can explain patterns in dung beetle communities, and; (iii) how the inclusion of road edge forest impacts dung beetle assemblages within the overall logged landscape. We found that while vegetation structure was significantly affected up to 34 m from the road edge, impacts on dung beetle communities penetrated much further and were discernible up to 170 m into the forest interior. We found larger species and particularly tunnelling species responded more than other functional groups which were also influenced by micro-habitat variation. We provide important new insights into the long-term ecological impacts of tropical logging. We also support calls for improved logging road design both during and after timber extraction to conserve more effectively biodiversity in production forests, for instance, by considering the minimum volume of timber, per unit length of logging road needed to justify road construction. In particular, we suggest that governments and certification bodies need to highlight more clearly the biodiversity and environmental impacts of logging roads
Active Brownian Particles. From Individual to Collective Stochastic Dynamics
We review theoretical models of individual motility as well as collective
dynamics and pattern formation of active particles. We focus on simple models
of active dynamics with a particular emphasis on nonlinear and stochastic
dynamics of such self-propelled entities in the framework of statistical
mechanics. Examples of such active units in complex physico-chemical and
biological systems are chemically powered nano-rods, localized patterns in
reaction-diffusion system, motile cells or macroscopic animals. Based on the
description of individual motion of point-like active particles by stochastic
differential equations, we discuss different velocity-dependent friction
functions, the impact of various types of fluctuations and calculate
characteristic observables such as stationary velocity distributions or
diffusion coefficients. Finally, we consider not only the free and confined
individual active dynamics but also different types of interaction between
active particles. The resulting collective dynamical behavior of large
assemblies and aggregates of active units is discussed and an overview over
some recent results on spatiotemporal pattern formation in such systems is
given.Comment: 161 pages, Review, Eur Phys J Special-Topics, accepte
Search for supersymmetry with a dominant R-parity violating LQDbar couplings in e+e- collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 130GeV to 172 GeV
A search for pair-production of supersymmetric particles under the assumption
that R-parity is violated via a dominant LQDbar coupling has been performed
using the data collected by ALEPH at centre-of-mass energies of 130-172 GeV.
The observed candidate events in the data are in agreement with the Standard
Model expectation. This result is translated into lower limits on the masses of
charginos, neutralinos, sleptons, sneutrinos and squarks. For instance, for
m_0=500 GeV/c^2 and tan(beta)=sqrt(2) charginos with masses smaller than 81
GeV/c^2 and neutralinos with masses smaller than 29 GeV/c^2 are excluded at the
95% confidence level for any generation structure of the LQDbar coupling.Comment: 32 pages, 30 figure
The effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on pulmonary surfactant function and ultrastructure
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pulmonary surfactant reduces surface tension and is present at the air-liquid interface in the alveoli where inhaled nanoparticles preferentially deposit. We investigated the effect of titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) nanosized particles (NSP) and microsized particles (MSP) on biophysical surfactant function after direct particle contact and after surface area cycling <it>in vitro</it>. In addition, TiO<sub>2 </sub>effects on surfactant ultrastructure were visualized.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A natural porcine surfactant preparation was incubated with increasing concentrations (50-500 μg/ml) of TiO<sub>2 </sub>NSP or MSP, respectively. Biophysical surfactant function was measured in a pulsating bubble surfactometer before and after surface area cycling. Furthermore, surfactant ultrastructure was evaluated with a transmission electron microscope.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>TiO<sub>2 </sub>NSP, but not MSP, induced a surfactant dysfunction. For TiO<sub>2 </sub>NSP, adsorption surface tension (γ<sub>ads</sub>) increased in a dose-dependent manner from 28.2 ± 2.3 mN/m to 33.2 ± 2.3 mN/m (p < 0.01), and surface tension at minimum bubble size (γ<sub>min</sub>) slightly increased from 4.8 ± 0.5 mN/m up to 8.4 ± 1.3 mN/m (p < 0.01) at high TiO<sub>2 </sub>NSP concentrations. Presence of NSP during surface area cycling caused large and significant increases in both γ<sub>ads </sub>(63.6 ± 0.4 mN/m) and γ<sub>min </sub>(21.1 ± 0.4 mN/m). Interestingly, TiO<sub>2 </sub>NSP induced aberrations in the surfactant ultrastructure. Lamellar body like structures were deformed and decreased in size. In addition, unilamellar vesicles were formed. Particle aggregates were found between single lamellae.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>TiO<sub>2 </sub>nanosized particles can alter the structure and function of pulmonary surfactant. Particle size and surface area respectively play a critical role for the biophysical surfactant response in the lung.</p
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Viewing forests through the lens of complex systems science
Complex systems science provides a transdisciplinary framework to study systems characterized by (1) heterogeneity, (2) hierarchy, (3) self‐organization, (4) openness, (5) adaptation, (6) memory, (7) non‐linearity, and (8) uncertainty. Complex systems thinking has inspired both theory and applied strategies for improving ecosystem resilience and adaptability, but applications in forest ecology and management are just beginning to emerge. We review the properties of complex systems using four well‐studied forest biomes (temperate, boreal, tropical and Mediterranean) as examples. The lens of complex systems science yields insights into facets of forest structure and dynamics that facilitate comparisons among ecosystems. These biomes share the main properties of complex systems but differ in specific ecological properties, disturbance regimes, and human uses. We show how this approach can help forest scientists and managers to conceptualize forests as integrated social‐ecological systems and provide concrete examples of how to manage forests as complex adaptive systems
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