Propagation of Rarefaction Pulses in Discrete Materials with Strain-Softening Behavior

Discrete materials composed of masses connected by strongly nonlinear links with anomalous behavior (reduction of elastic modulus with strain) have very interesting wave dynamics. Such links may be composed of materials exhibiting repeatable softening behavior under loading and unloading. These discrete materials will not support strongly nonlinear compression pulses due to nonlinear dispersion but may support stationary rarefaction pulses or rarefaction shock-like waves. Here we investigate rarefaction waves in nonlinear periodic systems with a general power-law relationship between force and displacement $F \propto \delta^{n}$, where $0 < n < 1$. An exact solution of the long-wave approximation is found for the special case of $n = 1/2$, which agrees well with numerical results for the discrete chain. Theoretical and numerical analysis of stationary solutions are discussed for different values of $n$ in the interval $0 < n < 1$. The leading solitary rarefaction wave followed by a dispersive tail was generated by impact in numerical calculations.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure

Highly nonlinear contact interaction and dynamic energy dissipation by forest of carbon nanotubes

Mechanical response and energy dissipation of an array of carbon nanotubes under high-strain rate deformation was studied using a simple drop-ball test with the measurement of the dynamic force between the ball and forest of nanotubes. This convenient process allows extracting force–displacement curves and evaluating dissipated energy by the nanotubes. The contact force exhibits a strongly nonlinear dependence on displacement being fundamentally different than the Hertz law. The forest of vertically aligned nanotubes may be used as a strongly nonlinear spring in discrete systems for monitoring signal propagation speed, and as a microstructure for localized energy absorption

Exploiting Randomness in Quantum Information Processing

We consider how randomness can be made to play a useful role in quantum information processing - in particular, for decoherence control and the implementation of quantum algorithms. For a two-level system in which the decoherence channel is non-dissipative, we show that decoherence suppression is possible if memory is present in the channel. Random switching between two potentially harmful noise sources can then provide a source of stochastic control. Such random switching can also be used in an advantageous way for the implementation of quantum algorithms.Comment: 10 pages, final versio

Hospital environment as a reservoir for cross transmission. Cleaning and disinfection procedures

Background. Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) represent a serious problem for public health, as they increase the morbidity and mortality rates, present a relevant financial burden, and significantly contribute to the antimicrobial resistance. Methods. The aim of this review was to investigate the literature about HAIs, with particular reference to hospital environments and the role of cleaning and disinfection procedures. Hospital environments are an essential reservoir for HAIs cross transmission, and the application of appropriate procedures related to hand hygiene and disinfection/sterilization of surfaces and instruments remain key strategies for controlling HAIs. Results. Different procedures, based on the risk associated with the healthcare procedure, are recommended for hand hygiene: washing with soap and water, antiseptic rubbing with alcohol-based disinfectants, antiseptic and surgical hand washing. Environmental surfaces can be treated with different products, and the mostly used are chlorine-based and polyphenolic disinfectant. The reprocessing of instruments is related to their use according to the Spaulding's classification. In addition, scientific evidence demonstrated the great relevance of the "bundles" (small set of practices performed together) in controlling HAIs. Conclusions. Research agenda should include the improvement of well-known effective preventive procedures and the development of new bundles devoted to high-risk procedures and specific microorganisms

Increasing future gravitational-wave detectors sensitivity by means of amplitude filter cavities and quantum entanglement

The future laser interferometric gravitational-wave detectors sensitivity can be improved using squeezed light. In particular, recently a scheme which uses the optical field with frequency dependent squeeze factor, prepared by means of a relatively short (~30 m) amplitude filter cavity, was proposed \cite{Corbitt2004-3}. Here we consider an improved version of this scheme, which allows to further reduce the quantum noise by exploiting the quantum entanglement between the optical fields at the filter cavity two ports.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Synchronization dynamics of two nanomechanical membranes within a Fabry-Perot cavity

Spontaneous synchronization is a significant collective behavior of weakly coupled systems. Due to their inherent nonlinear nature, optomechanical systems can exhibit self-sustained oscillations which can be exploited for synchronizing different mechanical resonators. In this paper, we explore the synchronization dynamics of two membranes coupled to a common optical field within a cavity, and pumped with a strong blue-detuned laser drive. We focus on the system quantum dynamics in the parameter regime corresponding to synchronization of the classical motion of the two membranes. With an appropriate definition of the phase difference operator for the resonators, we study synchronization in the quantum case through the covariance matrix formalism. We find that for sufficiently large driving, quantum synchronization is robust with respect to quantum fluctuations and to thermal noise up to not too large temperatures. Under synchronization, the two membranes are never entangled, while quantum discord behaves similarly to quantum synchronization, that is, it is larger when the variance of the phase difference is smaller