The decomposition of global conformal invariants IV: A proposition on local Riemannian invariants

This is the fourth in a series of papers where we prove a conjecture of Deser and Schwimmer regarding the algebraic structure of “global conformal invariants”; these are defined to be conformally invariant integrals of geometric scalars. The conjecture asserts that the integrand of any such integral can be expressed as a linear combination of a local conformal invariant, a divergence and of the Chern-Gauss-Bonnet integrand.The present paper lays out the second half of this entire work: The second half proves certain purely algebraic statements regarding local Riemannian invariants; these were used extensively in the first two papers in this series, see Alexakis (2007, 2009) [2] and [3]. These results may be of independent interest, applicable to related problems.     

In response to the article by Maxim Kontsevich: Rozansky–Witten Invariants Via Formal Geometry

We show that recently constructed invariants of 3-dimensional manifolds and of hyperkähler manifolds (L. Rozansky and E. witten) come from characteristic classes of foliations and from Gelfand-fuks cohomology.     

Separation of chiral molecules by temperature programmed desorption

The Monte Carlo simulation method was used to model thermal desorption of a pair of enantiomers from a solid surface with a chiral periodic pattern of active sites. The main objective of the study was to determine the optimal number of the active sites and their spatial distribution within the unit cell of the surface to achieve the most efficient separation of the enantiomers. For that purpose we tested the series of chiral patterns which were found previously for the equilibrium adsorption. Temperature programmed desorption spectra were calculated using a square lattice of adsorption sites in which the active sites were distributed spatially according to the candidate patterns. Additionally, influence of relaxation of the adsorbed layer on the relative shift of the TPD peaks of the enantiomers was assessed and the key factors affecting the chiral separation were identified.     

‘Universal’ inequalities for the eigenvalues of the Hodge de Rham Laplacian

We obtain ‘universal’ inequalities for the eigenvalues of the Laplacian acting on differential forms of a Euclidean compact submanifold. These inequalities generalize the Yang inequality concerning the eigenvalues of the Dirichlet Laplacian of a bounded Euclidean domain.      

Ion–laser interactions: The most complete solution

Trapped ions are considered one of the best candidates to perform quantum information processing. By interacting them with laser beams they are, somehow, easy to manipulate, which makes them an excellent choice for the production of nonclassical states of their vibrational motion, the reconstruction of quasiprobability distribution functions, the production of quantum gates, etc. However, most of these effects have been produced in the so-called low intensity regime, this is, when the Rabi frequency (laser intensity) is much smaller than the trap frequency. Because of the possibility to produce faster quantum gates in other regimes it is of importance to study this system in a more complete manner, which is the motivation for this contribution. We start by studying the way ions are trapped in Paul traps and review the basic mechanisms of trapping. Then we show how the problem may be completely solved for trapping states; i.e., we find (exact) eigenstates of the full Hamiltonian. We show how, in the low intensity regime, Jaynes–Cummings and anti-Jaynes–Cummings interactions may be obtained, without using the rotating wave approximation and analyze the medium and high intensity regimes where dispersive Hamiltonians are produced. The traditional approach (low intensity regime) is also studied and used for the generation of non-classical states of the vibrational wavefunction. In particular, we show how to add and subtract vibrational quanta to an initial state, how to produce specific superpositions of number states and how to generate NOON states for the two-dimensional vibration of the ion. It is also shown how squeezing may be measured. The time dependent problem is studied by using Lewis–Ermakov methods. We give a solution to the problem when the time dependence of the trap is considered and also analyze a specific (artificial) time dependence that produces squeezing of the initial vibrational wave function. A way to mimic the ion–laser interaction via classical optics is also introduced.     

Homology of Centralizers

Given a group Π, we study the group homology of centralizers Π _g , g ? Π, and of their central quotients Π _g /〈 g〉. This study is motivated by the structure of the Hochschild and the cyclic homology of group algebras, and is based on Quillen's approach to the cyclic homology of algebras via algebra extensions. A method of computing the de Rham complex of a group algebra by means of a Gruenberg resolution is also developed.     

Conjugacy Classes and Invariant Subrings of R-Automorphisms of R[x]

We consider the group G of R-automorphisms of the polynomial ring R[x] in the case where the ring R has nonzero nilpotent elements. Little is known about G in this case, and because of the importance of G in understanding questions involving the polynomial ring R[x], we initiate here several lines of investigation. We do this by examining in detail examples involving the ring of integers modulo n. If R is a local ring with maximal ideal m such that R/m = ?₂ and m ² = (0), we describe more explicitly the structure of G and determine all rings of invariants of R[x] with respect to subgroups of G.     

Contactless electroreflectance of GaNyAs1−y/GaAs multi quantum wells: The conduction band offset and electron effective mass issues

Interband transitions in GaN_yAs_1−y/GaAs multi quantum well (MQW) samples with y=0.012 and 0.023 have been studied by contactless electroreflectance spectroscopy (CER). Optical transitions related to absorption in the GaAs barriers and in the GaN_yAs_1−y/GaAs QWs have been observed and analyzed. The GaAs related transition exhibits clear Franz-Keldysh oscillations with the period corresponding to the built-in electric field of 14 and 17 kV/cm for samples with y=0.012 and 0.023, respectively. The portion of the CER spectrum related to absorption in the GaN_yAs_1−y/GaAs QW exhibits two clear resonances which are attributed to optical transitions between the ground and excited states confined in the QWs. The resonance attributed to the ground state transition is associated with absorption between the first light- and heavy-hole subbands and the first electron subband (11L and 11H) while the resonance attributed to the excited state transition is associated with absorption between the second heavy-hole subband and the second electron subband (22H). The energies of the 11H and 22H transitions have been matched with those obtained from theoretical calculations performed within the effective mass approximation. Thus, the GaN_yAs_1−y/GaAs QWs are type-I structures with a conduction band offset, Q_C, between 70 and 80%. Moreover, the incorporation of N atoms into GaAs is found to cause a significant increase in the electron effective mass. The determined values of electron effective mass for GaN_yAs_1−y/GaAs QW with y=0.012 and 0.023 are 0.105m₀ and 0.115m₀, respectively.     

Enhanced granular magnetoresistance due to ferromagnetic layers

Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) of sequentially evaporated Fe-Ag structures has been investigated. Direct experimental evidence is given, showing that inserting ferromagnetic layers into a granular structure significantly enhances the magnetoresistance. The increase in the GMR effect is attributed to spin polarization effects. The large enhancement (up to more than a fourfold value) and the linear variation of the GMR in low magnetic fields are explained by scattering of the spin polarized conduction electrons on paramagnetic grains.     

Partition numbers

We continue [21] and study partition numbers of partial orderings which are related to (ω)/fin. In particular, we investigate P_f, be the suborder of ((ω)/fin)^ω containing only filtered elements, the Mathias partial order M, and (ω), (ω)^ω the lattice of (infinite) partitions of ω, respectively. We show that Solomon's inequality holds for M and that it consistently fails for P_f. We show that the partition number of (ω) is C. We also show that consistently the distributivity number of (ω)^ω is smaller than the distributivity number of (ω)/fin. We also investigate partitions of a Polish space into closed sets. We show that such a partition either is countable or has size at least D, where D is the dominating number. We also show that the existence of a dominating family of size ₁ does not imply that a Polish space can be partitioned into ₁ many closed sets.