Effects of colored noise and noise delay on a calcium oscillation system

As a calcium oscillations system is in steady state, the effects of colored noise and noise delay on the system is investigated using stochastic simulation methods. The results indicate that: (1) the colored noise can induce coherence bi-resonance phenomenon. (2) there exist three peaks in the R–_τ0$R\text{–}{\tau }_0$ (R$R$ is the reciprocal coefficient of variance, and _τ0${\tau }_0$ is the self-correlation time of the colored noise) curves. For the same noise intensity Q=1$Q=1$, the Gaussian colored noise can induce calcium spikes but the white noise cannot do this. (3) the delay time can improve noise induced spikes regularity as _τ0${\tau }_0$ is small, and R$R$ has a significant minimum with increasing τ$\tau$ as _τ0${\tau }_0$ is large. (4) large values of ζ$\zeta$ reduce noise induced spikes regularity.     

Three PT-symmetric Hamiltonians with completely different spectra

We discuss three Hamiltonians, each with a central-field part H₀$H_0$ and a PT-symmetric perturbation igz$igz$. When H₀$H_0$ is the isotropic Harmonic oscillator the spectrum is real for all g$g$ because H$H$ is isospectral to H₀+g²/2$H_0+g^2/2$. When H₀$H_0$ is the Hydrogen atom then infinitely many eigenvalues are complex for all g$g$. If the potential in H₀$H_0$ is linear in the radial variable r$r$ then the spectrum of H$H$ exhibits real eigenvalues for 0<g<g_c$0<g<g_c$ and a PT phase transition at g_c$g_c$.     

Properties of reachable sets in the sub-Lorentzian geometry

The aim of this paper is to develop local theory of future timelike, nonspacelike and null reachable sets from a given point _q0$q_0$ in the sub-Lorentzian geometry. In particular, we prove that if U$U$ is a normal neighbourhood of _q0$q_0$ then the three reachable sets, computed relative to U$U$, have identical interiors and boundaries with respect to U$U$. Further, among other things, we show that for Lorentzian metrics on contact distributions on R²ⁿ⁺¹${\mathbb{R}}^{2n+1}$, n≥1$n\ge 1$, the boundary of reachable sets from _q0$q_0$ is, in a neighbourhood of _q0$q_0$, made up of null future directed curves starting from _q0$q_0$. Every such curve has only a finite number of non-smooth points; smooth pieces of every such curve are Hamiltonian geodesics. For general sub-Lorentzian structures, contrary to the Lorentzian case, timelike curves may appear on the boundary. It turns out that such curves are always Goh curves. We also generalize a classical result on null Lorentzian geodesics: every null future directed Hamiltonian sub-Lorentzian geodesic initiating at _q0$q_0$ is contained, at least to a certain moment of time, in the boundary of the reachable set from _q0$q_0$.     

Reduction of generalized complex structures

We study reduction of generalized complex structures. More precisely, we investigate the following question. Let J$J$ be a generalized complex structure on a manifold M$M$, which admits an action of a Lie group G$G$ preserving J$J$. Assume that _M0$M_0$ is a G$G$-invariant smooth submanifold and the G$G$-action on _M0$M_0$ is proper and free so that _MG?_M0/G$M_G?M_0/G$ is a smooth manifold. Under what condition does J$J$ descend to a generalized complex structure on _MG$M_G$? We describe a sufficient condition for the reduction to hold, which includes the Marsden–Weinstein reduction of symplectic manifolds and the reduction of the complex structures in Kähler manifolds as special cases. As an application, we study reduction of generalized Kähler manifolds.     

Is space-time symmetry a suitable generalization of parity-time symmetry?

We discuss space-time symmetric Hamiltonian operators of the form H=H₀+igH^′$H=H_0+ig{H}^{\prime }$, where H₀$H_0$ is Hermitian and g$g$ real. H₀$H_0$ is invariant under the unitary operations of a point group G$G$ while H^′$H^{\prime }$ is invariant under transformation by elements of a subgroup G^′$G^{\prime }$ of G$G$. If G$G$ exhibits irreducible representations of dimension greater than unity, then it is possible that H$H$ has complex eigenvalues for sufficiently small nonzero values of g$g$. In the particular case that H$H$ is parity-time symmetric then it appears to exhibit real eigenvalues for all 0<g<g_c$0<g<g_c$, where g_c$g_c$ is the exceptional point closest to the origin. Point-group symmetry and perturbation theory enable one to predict whether H$H$ may exhibit real or complex eigenvalues for g>0$g>0$. We illustrate the main theoretical results and conclusions of this paper by means of two- and three-dimensional Hamiltonians exhibiting a variety of different point-group symmetries.     

Analysis of inverse stochastic resonance and the long-term firing of Hodgkin–Huxley neurons with Gaussian white noise

In order to explain the occurrence of a minimum in firing rate which occurs for certain mean input levels μ$\mu$ as noise level σ$\sigma$ increases (inverse stochastic resonance, ISR) in Hodgkin–Huxley (HH) systems, we analyze the underlying transitions from a stable equilibrium point to limit cycle and vice-versa. For a value of μ$\mu$ at which ISR is pronounced, properties of the corresponding stable equilibrium point are found. A linearized approximation around this point has oscillatory solutions from whose maxima spikes tend to occur. A one dimensional diffusion is also constructed for small noise. Properties of the basin of attraction of the limit cycle (spike) are investigated heuristically. Long term trials of duration 500000 ms are carried out for values of σ$\sigma$ from 0 to 2.0. The graph of mean spike count versus σ$\sigma$ is divided into 4 regions _R1,…,_R4$R_1,\dots ,R_4$, where _R3$R_3$ contains the minimum associated with ISR. In _R1$R_1$ transitions to the basin of attraction of the rest point are not observed until a small critical value of σ=_σc1$\sigma ={\sigma }_{c_1}$ is reached, at the beginning of _R2$R_2$. The sudden decline in firing rate when σ$\sigma$ is just greater than _σc1${\sigma }_{c_1}$ implies that there is only a small range of noise levels 0<σ<_σc1$0<\sigma <{\sigma }_{c_1}$ where repetitive spiking is safe from annihilation by noise. The firing rate remains small throughout _R3$R_3$. At a larger critical value σ=_σc2$\sigma ={\sigma }_{c_2}$ which signals the beginning of _R4$R_4$, the probability of transitions from the basin of attraction of the equilibrium point to that of the limit cycle apparently becomes greater than zero and the spike rate thereafter increases with increasing σ$\sigma$. The quantitative scheme underlying the ISR curve is outlined in terms of the properties of exit time random variables. In the final subsection, several statistical properties of the main random variables associated with long term spiking activity are given, including distributions of exit times from the two relevant basins of attraction and the interspike interval.     

Thermodynamics properties of an anisotropic Ising antiferromagnet in both external longitudinal and transverse fields

We have studied the anisotropic two-dimensional nearest-neighbor Ising model with competitive interactions in both uniform longitudinal field H$H$ and transverse magnetic field Ω$\Omega$. Using the effective-field theory (EFT) with correlation in cluster with N=1$N=1$ spin we calculate the thermodynamic properties as a function of temperature with values H$H$ and Ω$\Omega$ fixed. The model consists of ferromagnetic interaction _Jx$J_x$ in the x$x$ direction and antiferromagnetic interaction _Jy$J_y$ in the y$y$ direction, and it is found that for H/_Jy∈[0,2]$H/J_y\in [0,2]$ the system exhibits a second-order phase transition. The thermodynamic properties are obtained for the particular case of λ=_Jx/_Jy=1$\lambda =J_x/J_y=1$ (isotropic square lattice).     

Non-Abelian fusion rules from an Abelian system

We demonstrate the emergence of non-Abelian fusion rules for excitations of a two dimensional lattice model built out of Abelian degrees of freedom. It can be considered as an extension of the usual toric code model on a two dimensional lattice augmented with matter fields. It consists of the usual C(Z_p)$\mathbb{C}\left({\mathbb{Z}}_p\right)$ gauge degrees of freedom living on the links together with matter degrees of freedom living on the vertices. The matter part is described by a n$n$ dimensional vector space which we call H_n$H_n$. The Z_p${\mathbb{Z}}_p$ gauge particles act on the vertex particles and thus H_n$H_n$ can be thought of as a C(Z_p)$\mathbb{C}\left({\mathbb{Z}}_p\right)$ module. An exactly solvable model is built with operators acting in this Hilbert space. The vertex excitations for this model are studied and shown to obey non-Abelian fusion rules. We will show this for specific values of n$n$ and p$p$, though we believe this feature holds for all n>p$n>p$. We will see that non-Abelian anyons of the quantum double of C(S₃)$\mathbb{C}\left(S_3\right)$ are obtained as part of the vertex excitations of the model with n=6$n=6$ and p=3$p=3$. Ising anyons are obtained in the model with n=4$n=4$ and p=2$p=2$. The n=3$n=3$ and p=2$p=2$ case is also worked out as this is the simplest model exhibiting non-Abelian fusion rules. Another common feature shared by these models is that the ground states have a higher symmetry than Z_p${\mathbb{Z}}_p$. This makes them possible candidates for realizing quantum computation.     

Quantum spherical model with competing interactions

We analyse the phase diagram of a quantum mean spherical model in terms of the temperature T$T$, a quantum parameter g$g$, and the ratio p=−_J2/_J1$p=-J_2/J_1$, where _J1>0$J_1>0$ refers to ferromagnetic interactions between first-neighbour sites along the d$d$ directions of a hypercubic lattice, and _J2<0$J_2<0$ is associated with competing antiferromagnetic interactions between second neighbours along m≤d$m\le d$ directions. We regain a number of known results for the classical version of this model, including the topology of the critical line in the g=0$g=0$ space, with a Lifshitz point at p=1/4$p=1/4$, for d>2$d>2$, and closed-form expressions for the decay of the pair correlations in one dimension. In the T=0$T=0$ phase diagram, there is a critical border, _gc=_gc(p)$g_c=g_c\left(p\right)$ for d≥2$d\ge 2$, with a singularity at the Lifshitz point if d<(m+4)/2$d<(m+4)/2$. We also establish upper and lower critical dimensions, and analyse the quantum critical behavior in the neighborhood of p=1/4$p=1/4$.     

Phase separation in polydisperse rod–coil block copolymers

The stability limits of the homogeneous state of melts of rod–coil RC$RC$, R_C2$R{C}_2$, and CRC$CRC$ polydisperse block copolymers have been investigated in the framework of the weak segregation theory. It was assumed that the number of units in either the rod-like R$R$ or the flexible C$C$ block is a random variable distributed by the Schulz–Zimm distribution. Inspection of the spinodal curves shows that the copolymer melts with polydisperse rigid blocks are less stable with respect to formation of the nematic state than melts with the monodisperse ones. If flexible C$C$ blocks are polydisperse the homogeneous state of a rod–coil melt is less stable against microphase separation than the homogeneous state of monodisperse melt of the same architecture.     

Singular unitarity in “quantization commutes with reduction”

Let M$M$ be a connected compact quantizable Kähler manifold equipped with a Hamiltonian action of a connected compact Lie group G$G$. Let M//G=?⁻¹(0)/G=_M0$M//G={?}^{-1}\left(0\right)/G=M_0$ be the symplectic quotient at value 0 of the moment map ?$?$. The space _M0$M_0$ may in general not be smooth. It is known that, as vector spaces, there is a natural isomorphism between the quantum Hilbert space over _M0$M_0$ and the G$G$-invariant subspace of the quantum Hilbert space over M$M$. In this paper, without any regularity assumption on the quotient _M0$M_0$, we discuss the relation between the inner products of these two quantum Hilbert spaces under the above natural isomorphism; we establish asymptotic unitarity to leading order in Planck’s constant of a modified map of the above isomorphism under a “metaplectic correction” of the two quantum Hilbert spaces.     

The Bethe lattice treatment of sound attenuation for a spin- 3/2 Ising model

The sound attenuation phenomena is investigated for a spin- 3/2 Ising model on the Bethe lattice in terms of the recursion relations by using the Onsager theory of irreversible thermodynamics. The dependencies of sound attenuation on the temperature (T$T$), frequency (w$w$), Onsager coefficient (γ$\gamma$) and external magnetic field (H$H$) near the second-order (_Tc)$\left(T_c\right)$ and first-order (_Tt)$\left(T_t\right)$ phase transition temperatures are examined for given coordination numbers q$q$ on the Bethe lattice. It is assumed that the sound wave couples to the order-parameter fluctuations which decay mainly via the order-parameter relaxation process, thus two relaxation times are obtained and which are used to obtain an expression for the sound attenuation coefficient (α)$\left(\alpha \right)$. Our investigations revealed that only one peak is obtained near _Tt$T_t$ and three peaks are found near _Tc$T_c$ when the Onsager coefficient is varied at a given constant frequency for q=3$q=3$. Fixing the Onsager coefficient and varying the frequency always leads to two peaks for q=3,4$q=3,4$ and 6 near _Tc$T_c$. The sound attenuation peaks are observed near _Tt$T_t$ at lower values of external magnetic field, but as it increases the sound attenuation peaks decrease and eventually disappear.     

A hidden analytic structure of the Rabi model

The Rabi model describes the simplest interaction between a cavity mode with a frequency ω_c${\omega }_c$ and a two-level system with a resonance frequency ω₀${\omega }_0$. It is shown here that the spectrum of the Rabi model coincides with the support of the discrete Stieltjes integral measure in the orthogonality relations of recently introduced orthogonal polynomials. The exactly solvable limit of the Rabi model corresponding to Δ=ω₀/(2ω_c)=0$\Delta ={\omega }_0/\left(2{\omega }_c\right)=0$, which describes a displaced harmonic oscillator, is characterized by the discrete Charlier polynomials in normalized energy ?$?$, which are orthogonal on an equidistant lattice. A non-zero value of Δ$\Delta$ leads to non-classical discrete orthogonal polynomials ?_k(?)${?}_k\left(?\right)$ and induces a deformation of the underlying equidistant lattice. The results provide a basis for a novel analytic method of solving the Rabi model. The number of ca. 1350 calculable energy levels per parity subspace obtained in double precision (cca 16 digits) by an elementary stepping algorithm is up to two orders of magnitude higher than is possible to obtain by Braak’s solution. Any first n$n$ eigenvalues of the Rabi model arranged in increasing order can be determined as zeros of ?_N(?)${?}_N\left(?\right)$ of at least the degree N=n+n_t$N=n+n_t$. The value of n_t>0$n_t>0$, which is slowly increasing with n$n$, depends on the required precision. For instance, n_t?26$n_t?26$ for n=1000$n=1000$ and dimensionless interaction constant κ=0.2$\kappa =0.2$, if double precision is required. Given that the sequence of the l$l$th zeros x_nl$x_{nl}$’s of ?_n(?)${?}_n\left(?\right)$’s defines a monotonically decreasing discrete flow with increasing n$n$, the Rabi model is indistinguishable from an algebraically solvable model in any finite precision. Although we can rigorously prove our results only for dimensionless interaction constant κ<1$\kappa <1$, numerics and exactly solvable example suggest that the main conclusions remain to be valid also for κ≥1$\kappa \ge 1$.     

A new entropy based on a group-theoretical structure

A multi-parametric version of the nonadditive entropy S_q$S_q$ is introduced. This new entropic form, denoted by S_a,b,r$S_{a,b,r}$, possesses many interesting statistical properties, and it reduces to the entropy S_q$S_q$ for b=0$b=0$, a=r:=1−q$a=r:=1-q$ (hence Boltzmann–Gibbs entropy S_BG$S_{BG}$ for b=0$b=0$, a=r→0$a=r\to 0$). The construction of the entropy S_a,b,r$S_{a,b,r}$ is based on a general group-theoretical approach recently proposed by one of us, Tempesta (2016). Indeed, essentially all the properties of this new entropy are obtained as a consequence of the existence of a rational group law, which expresses the structure of S_a,b,r$S_{a,b,r}$ with respect to the composition of statistically independent subsystems. Depending on the choice of the parameters, the entropy S_a,b,r$S_{a,b,r}$ can be used to cover a wide range of physical situations, in which the measure of the accessible phase space increases say exponentially with the number of particles N$N$ of the system, or even stabilizes, by increasing N$N$, to a limiting value.     

Entanglement thresholds for displaying the quantum nature of teleportation

A protocol for transferring an unknown single qubit state evidences quantum features when the average fidelity of the outcomes is, in principle, greater than 2/3$2/3$. We propose to use the probabilistic and unambiguous state extraction scheme   as a mechanism to redistribute the fidelity in the outcome of the standard teleportation when the process is performed with an X$X$-state as a noisy quantum channel. We show that the entanglement of the channel is necessary but not sufficient in order for the average fidelity f_X$f_X$ to display quantum features, i.e., we find a threshold C_X$C_X$ for the concurrence of the channel. On the other hand, if the mechanism for redistributing fidelity is successful then we find a filterable outcome with average fidelity f_X,0$f_{X,0}$ that can be greater than f_X$f_X$. In addition, we find the threshold concurrence of the channel C_X,0$C_{X,0}$ in order for the average fidelity f_X,0$f_{X,0}$ to display quantum features and surprisingly, the threshold concurrence C_X,0$C_{X,0}$ can be less than C_X$C_X$. Even more, we find some special cases for which the threshold values become zero.     

Complex scale-free networks with tunable power-law exponent and clustering

We introduce a network evolution process motivated by the network of citations in the scientific literature. In each iteration of the process a node is born and directed links are created from the new node to a set of target nodes already in the network. This set includes m$m$ “ambassador” nodes and l$l$ of each ambassador’s descendants where m$m$ and l$l$ are random variables selected from any choice of distributions _pl$p_l$ and _qm$q_m$. The process mimics the tendency of authors to cite varying numbers of papers included in the bibliographies of the other papers they cite. We show that the degree distributions of the networks generated after a large number of iterations are scale-free and derive an expression for the power-law exponent. In a particular case of the model where the number of ambassadors is always the constant m$m$ and the number of selected descendants from each ambassador is the constant l$l$, the power-law exponent is (2l+1)/l$(2l+1)/l$. For this example we derive expressions for the degree distribution and clustering coefficient in terms of l$l$ and m$m$. We conclude that the proposed model can be tuned to have the same power law exponent and clustering coefficient of a broad range of the scale-free distributions that have been studied empirically.     

Empirical constraints on parton energy loss in nucleus–nucleus collisions at RHIC

We present empirical features of parton energy loss in nucleus–nucleus collisions at RHIC through studies of the spectra and nuclear modification factors (R_AA$R_{AA}$) for charged hadrons, neutral pions (π⁰${\pi }^0$) and non-photonic electrons. The flat distribution of R_AA$R_{AA}$ at high transverse momentum (pT$p_T$) for a given collision centrality is consistent with a scenario where parton energy loss ΔpT$\mathrm{\Delta }{p}_T$ is proportional to pT$p_T$. The centrality dependence of the parton energy loss indicates the absence of path length dependence in the magnitude of energy loss. The lack of strong path length dependence suggests a dynamical picture where the dense partonic medium undergoes rapid expansion and the density of the medium falls rapidly in the first a few Fermi interval, which may be much shorter than the full path length. Implications of the empirical constraints on the parton energy loss will also be discussed.     

On the parallel transport of the Ricci curvatures

Geometrical characterizations are given for the tensor R⋅S$R\cdot S$, where S$S$ is the Ricci tensor   of a (semi-)Riemannian manifold (M,g)$(M,g)$ and R$R$ denotes the curvature operator   acting on S$S$ as a derivation, and of the Ricci Tachibana tensor  _∧g⋅S${\wedge }_g\cdot S$, where the natural metrical operator  _∧g${\wedge }_g$ also acts as a derivation on S$S$. As a combination, the Ricci curvatures   associated with directions on M$M$, of which the isotropy determines that M$M$ is Einstein, are extended to the Ricci curvatures of Deszcz   associated with directions and planes on M$M$, and of which the isotropy determines that M$M$ is Ricci pseudo-symmetric in the sense of Deszcz.