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.     

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$g_c$.     

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.