Is Empty Spacetime a Physical Thing?

This article deals with empty spacetime and the question of its physical reality. By “empty spacetime” we mean a collection of bare spacetime points, the remains of ridding spacetime of all matter and fields. We ask whether these geometric objects—themselves intrinsic to the concept of field—might be observable through some physical test. By taking quantum-mechanical notions into account, we challenge the negative conclusion drawn from the diffeomorphism invariance postulate of general relativity, and we propose new foundational ideas regarding the possible observation—as well as conceptual overthrow—of this geometric ether.     

Entanglement and Classical Correlations in the Quantum Frame

The frame of classical probability theory can be generalized by enlarging the usual family of random variables in order to encompass nondeterministic ones. This leads to a frame in which two kinds of correlations emerge: the classical correlation that is coded in the mixed state of the physical system and a new correlation, to be called probabilistic entanglement, which may occur also at pure states. We examine to what extent this characterization of correlations can be applied to quantum mechanics. Explicit calculations on simple examples outline that a same quantum state can show only classical correlations or only entanglement depending on its statistical content; situations may also arise in which the two kinds of correlations compensate each other.     

Entangled Gaussian States of a Two-Dimensional Nonstationary Damped Oscillator

The evolution of some Gaussian states of a two-dimensional quantum oscillator with varying frequency and friction is considered. An analysis related to the entanglement evolution of quantum states is carried out. The symplectic-tomography representation is used.     

Spatiotemporal and statistical symmetries

The notion of symmetries, either statistical or deterministic, can be useful for the characterization of complex systems and their bifurcations. In this paper, we investigate the connection between the (microscopic) spatiotemporal symmetries of a space-time functionu(x, t), on the one hand, and the (macroscopic) symmetries of statistical quantities such as the spatial (resp. temporal) two-point correlations and the spatial (resp. temporal) average, on the other hand. We show, how, under certain conditions, these symmetries are related to the symmetries of the orbits described byu(x, t) in the characteristic (phase) spaces. We also determine the largest group of spatiotemporal symmetries (in the sense introduced in our earlier work) satisfied by a given space-time functionu(x, t) and indicate how to extract the subgroups of point symmetries, namely those directly implemented on the space and time variables. Conversely, we determine all the functions invariant by a given space-time symmetry group. Finally, we illustrate all the previous points with specific examples.     

The intruder orbitals in superdeformed bands and alignment additivity of odd–odd nuclei in the region

The particle-number conserving (PNC) method for treating the cranked shell model with monopole and quadrupole pairing correlations is used to study the superdeformed (SD) bands observed in odd–odd nuclei in the A190 mass region. Spins are assigned to the levels in these bands. The microscopic mechanism of the ω evolution of the dynamic moment of inertia J⁽²⁾ for these SD bands are analyzed. In particular, the major roles of the j_15/2 neutron and i_13/2 proton orbitals played in the SD bands are investigated in detail by contributions to J⁽²⁾ from each cranked orbital and interference terms between two cranked orbitals. Additivity in the A190 mass region is investigated. The experimental evidence for additivity of alignments in ¹⁹²Tl can be reproduced by our calculations.     

Modelling of pressure-strain correlations for Taylor-Proudman turbulence

The theoretical foundation for the modelling of the turbulent pressure-strain correlations in rotating reference frame is presented. Based on the recently developed materially-frame indifference principle it is observed that most of the existing second-moment closures violate the Taylor-Proudman theorem in the limit of rapid rotation. It is shown that the application of the materially-frame indifference principle gives rise to the formation of a new pressure-strain correlation model which satisfies the Taylor-Proudman theorem. Project supported by thr National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 19421003), the State Education Commission and Tsinghua University.     

Isotopic compositions and scalings

We review experimental and theoretical studies devoted to extract information on the behaviour of the symmetry energy, in density regions different from the normal value, with charge-asymmetric reactions at Fermi energies. In particular, we focus on the analysis of fragmentation reactions and isotopic properties of the reaction products. Results concerning “isoscaling” properties and the N/Z equilibration among the reaction partners in semi-peripheral reactions are also discussed.