Lifetimes of image-potential states on the Pt(111) surface probed by time-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy

We have investigated the population dynamics of image-potential states on the clean Pt(111) surface. The first two image-potential states have been resolved exhibiting lifetimes of 26±7 fs and 62±7 fs. Those lifetimes are in contrast to the (111) surfaces of Ag and Cu, where the n=2 state is degenerate with bulk states leading to lifetimes shorter than 20 fs. Received: 30 March 2000 / Accepted: 2 September 2000 / Published online: 12 October 2000     

Maximum efficiency of a linear-optical Bell-state analyzer

In a photonic realization of qubits the implementation of quantum logic is rather difficult due to the extremely weak interaction on the few photon level. On the other hand, in these systems interference is available to process the quantum states. We formalize the use of interference by the definition of a simple class of operations which include linear-optical elements, auxiliary states and conditional operations. We investigate an important subclass of these tools, namely linear-optical elements and auxiliary modes in the vacuum state. For these tools, we are able to extend a previous qualitative result, a no-go theorem for perfect Bell-state analyzer on two qubits in polarization entanglement, by a quantitative statement. We show that within this subclass it is not possible to discriminate unambiguously four equiprobable Bell states with a probability higher than 50%. Received: 18 July 2000 / Revised version: 15 September 2000 / Published online: 6 December 2000     

Droplet States in the XXZ Heisenberg Chain

We consider the ground states of the ferromagnetic XXZ chain with spin up boundary conditions. The ground state of this model, restricted to a sector with a fixed number of down spins, describes a droplet of down spins in an environment of up spins. We find the exact energy and the states that describe these droplets in the limit of an infinite number of down spins. We prove that there is a gap in the spectrum above the droplet states. As the XXZ Hamiltonian has a gap above the fully magnetized ground states as well, this means that the droplet states (for sufficiently large droplets) form an isolated band. The width of this band tends to zero in the limit of infinitely large droplets. We also prove the analogous results for finite chains with periodic boundary conditions and for the infinite chain. Received: 5 September 2000 / Accepted: 8 December 2000     

Phase and population decay of image-potential states – the influence of defects

Quantum-phase and population decay of image-potential states have been investigated by two-photon photoemission with femtosecond time resolution. The influence of steps and defects on quasielastic and inelastic scattering processes is illustrated for a vicinal Cu(119) surface and diluted adsorbate layers of CO and Cu on Cu(001). Received: 19 April 2000 / Accepted: 2 September 2000 / Published online: 12 October 2000     

On Entropy Production in Quantum Statistical Mechanics

We propose a definition of entropy production in the framework of algebraic quantum statistical mechanics. We relate our definition to heat flows through the system. We also prove that entropy production is non-negative in natural non-equilibrium steady states. Received: 7 August 2000 / Accepted: 5 September 2000     

Eikonalization and unitarity constraints

An extensive generalization of the ordinary and quasi-eikonal methods is presented for the pp and elastic scattering amplitudes, which takes into account in a phenomenological way all intermediate multiparticle states involving the crossing even and crossing odd combinations of Reggeons. The formalism in this version involves a maximum of three parameters corresponding to the intermediate states which are possible in this configuration. The unitarity restriction is investigated and particular cases are discussed. An interesting result that emerges concerns the Odderon trajectory intercept: we find that unitarity dictates that this quantity must be below or equal unity unless a very peculiar equality exists between the coupling of the particles to the Pomeron and the Odderon. Received: 3 September 1999 / Revised version: 21 February 2000 / Published online: 8 May 2000 2000     

Effects of Coulomb interactions on spin states in vertical semiconductor quantum dots

The effects of direct Coulomb and exchange interactions on spin states are studied for quantum dots contained in circular and rectangular mesas. For a circular mesa a spin-triplet favored by these interactions is observed at zero and nonzero magnetic fields. We tune and measure the relative strengths of these interactions as a function of the number of confined electrons. We find that electrons tend to have parallel spins when they occupy nearly degenerate single-particle states. We use a magnetic field to adjust the single-particle state degeneracy, and find that the spin-configurations in an arbitrary magnetic field are well explained in terms of two-electron singlet and triplet states. For a rectangular mesa we observe no signatures of the spin-triplet at zero magnetic field. Due to the anisotropy in the lateral confinement single-particle state degeneracy present in the circular mesa is lifted, and Coulomb interactions become weak. We evaluate the degree of the anisotropy by measuring the magnetic field dependence of the energy spectrum for the ground and excited states, and find that at zero magnetic field the spin-singlet is more significantly favored by the lifting of level degeneracy than by the reduction in the Coulomb interaction. We also find that the spin-triplet is recovered by adjusting the level degeneracy with magnetic field. Received: 14 April 2000 / Accepted: 17 April 2000 / Published online: 6 September 2000     

Passivity and Microlocal Spectrum Condition

In the setting of vector-valued quantum fields obeying a linear wave-equation in a globally hyperbolic, stationary spacetime, it is shown that the two-point functions of passive quantum states (mixtures of ground- or KMS-states) fulfill the microlocal spectrum condition (which in the case of the canonically quantized scalar field is equivalent to saying that the two-pnt function is of Hadamard form). The fields can be of bosonic or fermionic character. We also give an abstract version of this result by showing that passive states of a topological *-dynamical system have an asymptotic pair correlation spectrum of a specific type. Received: 9 February 2000 / Accepted: 7 June 2000     

Remarks on 2–q-bit states

We distinguish six classes of families of locally equivalent states in a straightforward scheme for classifying all 2–q-bit states; four of the classes consist of two subclasses each. The simple criteria that we stated recently for checking a given state’s positivity and separability are justified, and we discuss some important properties of Lewenstein–Sanpera decompositions. An upper bound is conjectured for the sum of the degree of separability of a 2–q-bit state and its concurrence. Received: 17 July 2000 / Published online: 6 December 2000     

Study of f_{0} decays into four neutral pions

A simultaneous analysis of two different final states from annihilation at rest is used to study the decays of isoscalar states into . The data demand two scalar states, the with , and the with mass and width compatible with previous findings. Apart from the dominant scalar intensity, the (1300) plays an important role in the 5 dynamics. We find a mass of and a width of with a dominant decay into . The decay of the is less than 15% of its decay. Received: 13 September 2000 / Revised version: 4 January 2001 / Published online: 6 April 2001     

The Split Property and the Symmetry Breaking¶of the Quantum Spin Chain

We consider the relationship between the symmetry breaking and the split property of pure states of quantum spin chains. We obtain a representation theoretic condition implying that the half-sided uniform mixing condition leads to symmetry breaking of translationally invariant pure states. This is a mathematical generalization of Dichotomy previously found by I. Affleck and E. Lieb and M. Aizenman and B. Nachtergaele for ground states of a special class of Hamiltonians. Received: 1 February 1999 / Accepted: 5 December 2000     

Lifshitz Tail for Schrödinger Operator¶with Random Magnetic Field

We study the behavior of the density states at the lower edge of the spectrum for Schr?dinger operators with random magnetic fields. We use a new estimate on magnetic Schr?dinger operators, which is similar to the Avron–Herbst–Simon estimate but the bound is always nonnegative. Received: 3 January 2000 / Accepted: 18 April 2000     

Conditional quantum-state engineering in repeated 2-photon down-conversion

The U(1,1) and U(2) transformations realized by three-mode interaction in the respective parametric approximations are studied in conditional measurement, and the corresponding non-unitary transformation operators are derived. As an application, the preparation of single-mode quantum states using an optical feedback loop is discussed, with special emphasis on Fock-state preparation. For that example, the influence of non-perfect detection and feedback is alsoconsidered. Received: 12 July 2000 / Revised version: 19 September 2000 / Published online: 30 November 2000     

Optical pattern formation in alkali metal vapors: Mechanisms, phenomena and use

The phenomena in optical pattern formation are reviewed using a single mirror feedback experiment as an example. The nonlinear medium is sodium metal vapor. We discuss the mechanism responsible for the spontaneous formation of spatial structures and the selection between simple periodic patterns as hexagons and squares. Introducing a polarization changing element in the feedback loop, quasiperiodic patterns with a twelve-fold rotational symmetry are obtained and their properties are studied by filtering methods in Fourier space. Finally, we discuss the formation of localized states as spatial solitons due to a self-induced lensing effect. Their interaction is studied and the formation of clusters provides a link between localized states and extended patterns. Genuine optical features, such as the polarization degrees of freedom, the experimental accessibility of the Fourier space, and the possibility to control the optical susceptibility of atomic vapors by means of an external magnetic field, provide very powerful tools for investigating the principles of pattern formation. Received: 15 July 2000 / Revised version: 7 November 2000 / Published online: 6 December 2000     

Hysteresis in current transport in a GaAs diode containing self-assembled InAs quantum dots

We have observed hysteresis loops in current transport in a GaAs metal–semiconductor–metal diode containing InAs quantum dots. The dots in our structure are directly embedded under the GaAs–metal interface. The charging and discharging of electrons in the dots modulate the current and produce hysteresis. These processes are controlled by the applied voltages. The dots are charged by forward current flowing through the structure. The discharging of the electrons is dominated by the tunneling process under high reverse bias. The modulated currents are well fitted with an electron-trapping model considering both the ground states and the excited states of the quantum dots. Received: 5 October 2000 / Accepted: 12 December 2000 / Published online: 23 May 2001     

Measurement of K^*\bar{K}^* production in two-photon interactions

A measurement of gamma–gamma production of the final states , , , and was performed by the ARGUS collaboration at the storage ring DORIS II at DESY. Since the two intermediate states and are accessible by analysing different final states, the measurement provides several cross checks for cross-sections to these two states. The results for cross-sections obtained from different final states are found to be consistent with each other. The analysis of the partial wave structure of the state from the reaction revealed the dominance of the wave. Received: 17 December 1999 / Published online: 8 June 2000     

Beta decay of neutron-rich 118Rh and the lowest excited states in 118Pd

Beta decay of a refractory isotope ¹¹⁸Rh produced in symmetric fission and mass separated by the ion guide technique has been applied for the study of low-lying excited states of ¹¹⁸Pd. The yrast band in ¹¹⁸Pd has been observed up to a 6⁺ state and the lowest states of the asymmetric γ-band have been identified. The measured half-life of ¹¹⁸Rh is (300±60)ms. The systematics of the excited states in neutron-rich Pd-isotopes implies the saturation towards an O(6) symmetry at N = 70. Received: 19 June 2000 / Accepted: 1 August 2000     

Photon polarization operator and quantum transitions in QCD vacuum

The analytical properties of the photon polarization operator in the quark vacuum was analyzed. Branching points of the polarization operator were found and its imaginary part was calculated. Quantum transitions between quark states and the turning over of a quark's color spin in a chromomagnetic field were predicted. The negative values of the photon energy and the contribution of the photon zero energy to the branching point were taken into account Received: 20 July 2000 / Published online: 21 December 2000     

BPS States of D=4 ␣N=1 Supersymmetry

We find the combinations of momentum and domain-wall charges corresponding to BPS states preserving 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 of D=4 N=1 supersymmetry, and we show how the supersymmetry algebra implies their stability. These states form the boundary of the convex cone associated with the Jordan algebra of 4× 4 real symmetric matrices, and we explore some implications of the associated geometry. For the Wess–Zumino model we derive the conditions for preservation of 1/4 supersymmetry when one of two parallel domain-walls is rotated and in addition show that this model does not admit any classical configurations with 3/4 supersymmetry. Our analysis also provides information about BPS states of N=1 D=4 anti-de Sitter supersymmetry. Received: 6 April 2000/ Accepted: 10 September 2000