On Relativistic Quantum Information Properties of Entangled Wave Vectors of Massive Fermions

We study special relativistic effects on the entanglement between either spins or momenta of composite quantum systems of two spin- \frac12\frac{1}{2} massive particles, either indistinguishable or distinguishable, in inertial reference frames in relative motion. For the case of indistinguishable particles, we consider a balanced scenario where the momenta of the pair are well-defined but not maximally entangled in the rest frame while the spins of the pair are described by a one-parameter (η) family of entangled bipartite states. For the case of distinguishable particles, we consider an unbalanced scenario where the momenta of the pair are well-defined and maximally entangled in the rest frame while the spins of the pair are described by a one-parameter (ξ) family of non-maximally entangled bipartite states. In both cases, we show that neither the spin-spin (ss) nor the momentum-momentum (mm) entanglements quantified by means of Wootters’ concurrence are Lorentz invariant quantities: the total amount of entanglement regarded as the sum of these entanglements is not the same in different inertial moving frames. In particular, for any value of the entangling parameters, both ss and mm-entanglements are attenuated by Lorentz transformations and their parametric rates of change with respect to the entanglements observed in a rest frame have the same monotonic behavior. However, for indistinguishable (distinguishable) particles, the change in entanglement for the momenta is (is not) the same as the change in entanglement for spins. As a consequence, in both cases, no entanglement compensation between spin and momentum degrees of freedom occurs.     

Entropy-Driven Cutoff Phenomena

In this paper we present, in the context of Diaconis’ paradigm, a general method to detect the cutoff phenomenon. We use this method to prove cutoff in a variety of models, some already known and others not yet appeared in literature, including a non-reversible random walk on a cylindrical lattice. All the given examples clearly indicate that a drift towards the opportune quantiles of the stationary measure could be held responsible for this phenomenon. In the case of birth-and-death chains this mechanism is fairly well understood; our work is an effort to generalize this picture to more general systems, such as systems having stationary measure spread over the whole state space or systems in which the study of the cutoff may not be reduced to a one-dimensional problem. In those situations the drift may be looked for by means of a suitable partitioning of the state space into classes; using a statistical mechanics language it is then possible to set up a kind of energy-entropy competition between the weight and the size of the classes. Under the lens of this partitioning one can focus the mentioned drift and prove cutoff with relative ease.     

Closed-form Solutions in Optimal Design of Structures with Nonlinear Behavior

ABSTRACT

Optimal design problems for flexural systems with a nonlinear constitutive law are considered, in the presence of constraints on displacements. A general nonlinear holonomic moment-curvature relationship is assumed and a direct variational method is applied in order to obtain optimality criteria. Accordingly, a general method of solution is proposed and some examples are solved.     

Structural characterization of Lu0.7Y0.3AlO3 single crystal by Raman spectroscopy

Lutetium yttrium orthoaluminate perovskite [Lu_0.7Y_0.3AlO₃ (LuYAP)] crystals show great potential as fast response and high‐efficiency scintillators as an alternative to LuAlO₃ (LuAP) crystals. This paper aims to offer a complete analysis of the vibrational modes of the LuYAP crystal by means of polarized Raman spectroscopy in the temperature range of 20–290 K and confronting the experimental results with numerical methods in order to characterize the crystal structure. Furthermore, an interpretation of the data in terms of vibrating molecular structures is suggested and the results are successfully confronted with the vibrational modes of similar perovskite crystals. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Brain networks responsive to aversive visual stimuli in humans

The neural mechanisms subserving recognition of noxious stimuli and empathy for pain appear to involve at least in part the cortical regions associated with the processing of pain affect. An important issue concerns the specificity of brain networks associated with observing and representing painful conditions, in comparison with other unpleasant stimuli. Recently, we found both similarities and differences between the brain patterns of activity related to the observation of noxious or disgusting stimuli delivered to one hand or foot. Overlap regions included the perigenual anterior cingulate (pACC), whose activity was related to the perceived unpleasantness. We aimed here at revealing how pACC functional connectivity changes in relationship to the different experimental conditions, using a psychophysiological interaction model. Activity in pACC during the observation of painful stimuli was specifically and positively related to regions in the right hemisphere, including portions of the prefrontal, midcingulate and insular cortex. On the other hand, positive changes in pACC connectivity during the vision of disgusting stimuli were present in the right basal ganglia. These data suggest that pACC activity is part of different networks involved in the recognition of painful or disgusting stimuli.     

Evaluation of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons distribution along depth profiles in the Ross Sea, Antarctica

The presence and the distribution along depth profiles of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons (VCHCs) were evaluated in seawater samples collected in the Ross Sea (Southern Ocean, Antarctica) during the 2002-2003 Italian expedition. Sampling areas were located where the Circumpolar Deep Water interacts with the shelf waters that supply the Ross Sea.The VCHCs investigated were: 1,1,1-trichloroethane (C₂H₃Cl₃), tetrachloromethane (CCl₄), trichloroethylene (C₂HCl₃), tetrachloroethylene (C₂Cl₄). The analytical procedure consisted of a liquid-liquid extraction carried out with n-hexane directly in Antarctica, followed by gas chromatographic analysis with electron capture detection carried out in Italy.Concentration levels for the VCHCs analysed ranged from digits to hundreds of ng/L according to the station, depth and substance considered. Important differences in concentration levels between the three stations near the Ross Ice Shelf and the two stations located in the Cape Adare area were observed. In particular the stations situated in the Cape Adare zone, at certain depths, showed a thermal inversion due to the mixing of the Circumpolar Deep Water with the waters generated inside the Ross Sea Basin. The lowest concentration levels were recorded at this temperature increase.     

Tree ring microanalysis by LA–ICP–MS for environmental monitoring: validation or refutation? Two case histories

An empirical approach is presented for validating trace metal profiles in tree rings for use as environmental archives. Concentration profiles of Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb and U in tree rings and lake sediments are compared for assessing the reliability of the former as an environmental proxy. Laser ablation sampling in conjunction with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) is used for the direct analysis of tree rings. An optimised analytical protocol is devised with particular emphasis on sample preparation and quantification strategy. Significant correlations in the two environmental archives were found for zinc, copper and uranium, while cadmium and lead temporal trends, although showing enrichment in recent years, do not agree with the concentration profiles in lacustrine sediment cores. A chemical model based on metal affinity for hard type ligands present in wood is proposed to explain these results. Moreover, spring and winter wood are analysed separately thanks to the high spatial resolution of laser ablation sampling. As a result, enhanced metal loadings are shown to lead to intraring differences in trace metal concentrations.     

Extendable cohomologies for complex analytic varieties

We introduce a cohomology, called extendable cohomology, for abstract complex singular varieties based on suitable differential forms. Beside a study of the general properties of such a cohomology, we show that, given a complex vector bundle, one can compute its topological Chern classes using the extendable Chern classes, defined via a Chern–Weil type theory. We also prove that the localizations of the extendable Chern classes represent the localizations of the respective topological Chern classes, thus obtaining an abstract residue theorem for compact singular complex analytic varieties. As an application of our theory, we prove a Camacho–Sad type index theorem for holomorphic foliations of singular complex varieties.     

Hard X‐ray‐induced damage on carbon–binder matrix for in situ synchrotron transmission X‐ray microscopy tomography of Li‐ion batteries

The electrode of Li‐ion batteries is required to be chemically and mechanically stable in the electrolyte environment for in situ monitoring by transmission X‐ray microscopy (TXM). Evidence has shown that continuous irradiation has an impact on the microstructure and the electrochemical performance of the electrode. To identify the root cause of the radiation damage, a wire‐shaped electrode is soaked in an electrolyte in a quartz capillary and monitored using TXM under hard X‐ray illumination. The results show that expansion of the carbon–binder matrix by the accumulated X‐ray dose is the key factor of radiation damage. For in situ TXM tomography, intermittent X‐ray exposure during image capturing can be used to avoid the morphology change caused by radiation damage on the carbon–binder matrix.