Artificial square ice and related dipolar nanoarrays

We study a frustrated dipolar array recently manufactured lithographically by Wang in order to realize the square ice model in an artificial structure. We discuss models for thermodynamics and dynamics of this system. We show that an ice regime can be stabilized by small changes in the array geometry; a different magnetic state, kagome ice, can similarly be constructed. At low temperatures, the square ice regime is terminated by a thermodynamic ordering transition, which can be chosen to be ferro- or antiferromagnetic. We show that the arrays do not fully equilibrate experimentally, and identify a likely dynamical bottleneck.     

Divergence- and Curl-Preserving Prolongation and Restriction Formulas

We present new second-order prolongation and restriction formulas which preserve the divergence and, in some cases, the curl of a discretized vector field. The formulas are suitable for adaptive and hierarchical mesh algorithms with a factor-of-2 linear resolution change. We examine both staggered and collocated discretizations for the vector field on two- and three-dimensional Cartesian grids. The new formulas can be used in combination with numerical schemes that require a divergence-free solution in some discrete sense, such as the constrained transport schemes of computational magnetohydrodynamics. We also obtain divergence-preserving interpolation functions which may be used for streamline or field line tracing.     

Low-energy signatures of charge and spin fluctuations in Raman and optical spectra of the cuprates

We calculate the optical and Raman response within a phenomenological model of fermion quasiparticles coupled to nearly critical collective modes. We find that, whereas critical scaling properties might be masked in optical spectra due to charge conservation, distinct critical signatures of charge and spin fluctuations can be detected in Raman spectra exploiting specific symmetry properties. We compare our results with recent experiments on the cuprates.     

Engineering correlation and entanglement dynamics in spin systems

We show that correlation and entanglement dynamics of spin systems can be precisely controlled and engineered using only a small number of external physical control parameters. We first point out that the correlation dynamics of such systems can be understood in terms of spin-wave propagation, giving a simple physical explanation of the behavior seen in a number of recent works. We then extend this picture to more realistic translationally invariant systems prepared in product states. Since spin waves propagate according to a system's dispersion relation which typically depends on external physical parameters, this insight provides a convenient way to understand how dynamics can be controlled. We demonstrate these ideas in a simple example system, showing that correlations can be made to propagate in well-defined packets whose speed can be engineered in advance, controlled during the evolution, or even stopped altogether.     

Correlations and cross-correlations in the Brazilian agrarian commodities and stocks

We investigate the auto-correlations and cross-correlations of the volatility time series in the Brazilian stock and commodity market, using the recently introduced Detrended Cross-Correlation Analysis. We find that the auto-correlations in stock volatilities are weaker than the auto-correlations in the commodity volatility series, contrary to earlier findings for the USA market where commodity volatility exponents were found to be lower than for stocks. We also find that the cross-correlations in the Brazilian stock and commodity market are stronger than what would be expected from simple combinations of auto-correlations of individual series, implying that there may be hidden factors that govern the behavior of the observed volatility series. This enhanced cross-correlation behavior is found in a considerable fraction of Brazilian stocks and agricultural commodities considered in the present work, suggesting that further studies should be directed into investigating these super-cross-correlations, and pinpointing the exogenous variables responsible for such behavior.     

Differentiating information transfer and causal effect

The concepts of information transfer and causal effect have received much recent attention, yet often the two are not appropriately distinguished and certain measures have been suggested to be suitable for both. We discuss two existing measures, transfer entropy and information flow, which can be used separately to quantify information transfer and causal information flow respectively. We apply these measures to cellular automata on a local scale in space and time, in order to explicitly contrast them and emphasize the differences between information transfer and causality. We also describe the manner in which the measures are complementary, including the conditions under which they in fact converge. We show that causal information flow is a primary tool to describe the causal structure of a system, while information transfer can then be used to describe the emergent computation on that causal structure.     

Quantum Fisher information and chaos in the Dicke model

We introduce a method of quantum tomography for a continuous variable system in position and momentum space. We consider a single two-level probe interacting with a quantum harmonic oscillator by means of a class of Hamiltonians, linear in position and momentum variables, during a tunable time span. We study two cases: the reconstruction of the wavefunctions of pure states and the direct measurement of the density matrix of mixed states. We show that our method can be applied to several physical systems where high quantum control can be experimentally achieved.     

Statistical mechanics and financial markets: Antagony between derivatives and market self-regulation

We establish specific correspondences between notions of economics and statistical mechanics. There are several situations wherein a rather accurate correspondence has already been established, for instance in utility theory for exchange economy with quasilinear utility function, which has been mapped to analogous thermodynamics. We discuss how statistical mechanics can be applied to define the efficiency of financial markets, via a mapping of stock fluctuations to the Random Energy Model (REM) at particular temperatures. We introduce the concept of reflection in economics; the effective reflection number, in particular, is found to be crucial in understanding the self-regulation of the market. We also establish a qualitative similarity between market with derivatives and certain statistical mechanics models. Such an analogy supports a hypothesis that financial derivatives are antagonistic to the self-regulation of financial markets. As a whole, our analysis is complementary to established concepts and methods of neoclassical economics for markets without derivatives.     

The asteroidal belt and Kirkwood gaps—I. A statistical study

In this paper we have made a spectral analysis study of matter distribution in the asteroidal belt. We have Fourier analysed this distribution and obtained the autocorrelation and power spectrum, and have identified the ratios from the resonance theory. We have shown that the Kirkwood gaps cannot be satisfactorily interpreted as due to mere resonance between the asteroid and Jupiter orbital motions. We propose that they may be regarded as a consequence of density waves generated in the gas dise in the ecliptic plane in the neighbourhood of the Sun. We have also shown that the process is non-Marcovian and hence cannot be subjected to a hydrodynamical analysis.     

Current-induced exchange interactions and effective temperature in localized moment systems

We study theoretically the spin dynamics of a magnetic dimer serving as a contact between two electrodes. We find that the spin-spin coupling in the dimer can be dramatically modified from its equilibrium value. We show that the interaction can be tuned in such a way that it effectively changes its sign. The calculations show that, for large enough bias, the exchange interaction can even be changed from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic. The physical principles behind this result can be used as a new tool to achieve magneto-electric effects in molecular magnet systems.     

Black holes and black hole thermodynamics without event horizons

We investigate whether black holes can be defined without using event horizons. In particular we focus on the thermodynamic properties of event horizons and the alternative, locally defined horizons. We discuss the assumptions and limitations of the proofs of the zeroth, first and second laws of black hole mechanics for both event horizons and trapping horizons. This leads to the possibility that black holes may be more usefully defined in terms of trapping horizons. We also review how Hawking radiation may be seen to arise from trapping horizons and discuss which horizon area should be associated with the gravitational entropy.     

Composite Structure and Causality

We study the question of whether a composite structure of elementary particles, with a length scale 1/Λ, can leave observable effects of non-locality and causality violation at higher energies (but ≲Λ). We formulate a model-independent approach based on Bogoliubov-Shirkov formulation of causality. We analyze the relation between the fundamental theory (of finer constituents) and the derived theory (of composite particles). We assume that the fundamental theory is causal and formulate a condition which must be fulfilled for the derived theory to be causal. We analyze the condition and exhibit possibilities which fulfil and which violate the condition. We make comments on how causality violating amplitudes can arise.     

Anomalous refraction and diffraction in discrete optical systems

We experimentally prove that light propagation in a discrete system, i.e., an array of coupled waveguides, exhibits striking anomalies. We show that refraction is restricted to a cone, irrespective of the initial tilt of the beam. Diffraction can be controlled in size and sign by the input conditions. Diffractive beam spreading can even be arrested and diverging light can be focused. The results can be thoroughly theoretically explained.     

Quantum Coherences and Classical Inhomogeneities as Equivalent Thermodynamics Resources

Quantum energy coherences represent a thermodynamic resource, which can be exploited to extract energy from a thermal reservoir and deliver that energy as work. We argue that there exists a closely analogous classical thermodynamic resource, namely, energy-shell inhomogeneities in the phase space distribution of a system’s initial state. We compare the amount of work that can be obtained from quantum coherences with the amount that can be obtained from classical inhomogeneities, and find them to be equal in the semiclassical limit. We thus conclude that coherences do not provide a unique thermodynamic advantage of quantum systems over classical systems, in situations where a well-defined semiclassical correspondence exists.     

Dyson pairs and zero mass black holes

It has been argued by Dyson in the context of QED in flat space-time that perturbative expansions in powers of the electric charge e cannot be convergent because if e is purely imaginary then the vacuum should be unstable to the production of charged pairs. We investigate the spontaneous production of such Dyson pairs in electrodynamics coupled to gravity. They are found to consist of pairs of zero rest mass black holes with regular horizons. The properties of these zero rest mass black holes are discussed. We also consider ways in which a dilaton may be included and the relevance of this to recent ideas in string theory. We discuss accelerating solutions and find that, in certain circumstances, the “no strut” condition may be satisfied giving a regular solution describing a pair of zero rest mass black holes accelerating away from one another. We also study wormhole and tachyonic solutions and how they affect the stability of the vacuum.     

Symmetry and resonant modes in platonic grating stacks

We study the flexural wave modes existing in finite stacks of gratings containing rigid, zero-radius pins. We group the modes into even and odd classes, and derive dispersion equations for each. We study the recently discovered elasto-dynamically inhibited transmission (EDIT) phenomenon, and relate it to the occurrence of trapped waves of even and odd symmetries being simultaneously resonant. We show how the EDIT interaction may be steered over a wide range of frequencies and angles, using a strategy in which the single-grating reflectance is kept high, so enabling the quality factors of the even and odd resonances to be kept large.     

Entanglement reciprocation between qubits and continuous variables

We investigate how entanglement can be transferred between qubits and continuous-variable (CV) systems. We find that one ebit borne in maximally entangled qubits can be fully transferred to two CV systems which are initially prepared in a pure separable Gaussian field with high excitation. We show that it is possible to retrieve the entanglement back to qubits from the entangled CV systems. The deposition of multiple ebits from qubits to the initially separable CV systems is also pointed out. We show that the entanglement transfer and retrieval are done at a quasisteady state.     

Erasable and unerasable correlations

We address the problem of removing correlation from sets of states while preserving as much local quantum information as possible. We prove that states obtained from universal cloning can only be decorrelated at the expense of complete erasure of local information (i.e., information about the copied state). We solve analytically the problem of decorrelation for two qubits and two qumodes (harmonic oscillators in Gaussian states), and provide sets of decorrelable states and the minimum amount of noise to be added for decorrelation.     

Propensity and probability in quantum mechanics

We give in this letter an operational definition of quantum mechanical propensity based on a realistic measuring process. We show that such a propensity can be defined by a state to be measured, a filter or a reference state and a group of possible “motions” of such filter. Such a propensity exhibits the tendency of the measured state to take up certain states of the filter accessible by its “motion”. We give two examples of such propensities for space-momentum and spin-orientation measurements.     

Josephson-junction qubits: entanglement and coherence

We review briefly the problems that are driving the search for a quantum computer. These include, primarily, methods for encryption and decryption based on Shor’s algorithm for factoring large integers and the use of Pell’s equation for encryption. We also outline some of the approaches that have been suggested for implementing a quantum computer and then focus on Josephson-junction systems as qubits. We have been investigating the current-biased Josephson junction for this application, a suggestion we made about 2 years ago. We have studied macroscopic quantum tunneling and energy level spectroscopy, using microwaves, in single junctions and recently we have begun measurements of the two-quantum bit (qubit) system, i.e. two capacitively coupled junctions. Theoretical studies of energy levels and their dynamic evolution are also in progress. In the present report we discuss the basics of single Josephson junctions and compare their potential as qubits with the potentials of other systems. We also discuss our future plans to obtain greater isolation of the junctions from sources of decoherence and to develop realistic qubits. An important first step must be to exhibit quantum entanglement and measure coherence times. Then it must be shown that the states of the qubits can be initialized, that gate operations can be performed, and that the results can be read out.