Parametric relaxation of spectra

We study the change of an quasienergy spectrum upon variation of the weight of a perturbation in the Floquet operatorF=F ₀e^–iV . Employing ideas from level dynamics and random matrix-theory we show that the distribution of nearest-neighbor spacings can display effectively irreversible behavior. Small deviations from equilibrium relax in a certain collision time which scales with the numberN of levels as _collN ^–3/2.     

Fractal drums and then-dimensional modified Weyl-Berry conjecture

In this paper, we study the spectrum of the Dirichlet Laplacian in a bounded (or, more generally, of finite volume) open set R ⁿ (n1) with fractal boundary of interior Minkowski dimension (n–1,n]. By means of the technique of tessellation of domains, we give the exact second term of the asymptotic expansion of the counting functionN() (i.e. the number of positive eigenvalues less than ) as +, which is of the form ^/2 times a negative, bounded and left-continuous function of . This explains the reason why the modified Weyl-Berry conjecture does not hold generally forn2. In addition, we also obtain explicit upper and lower bounds on the second term ofN().     

The asymmetric contact process on a finite set

The contact process onZ has one phase transition; let _c be the critical value at which the transition occurs. Let _N be the extinction time of the contact process on {0,...,N}. Durrett and Liu (1988), Durrett and Schonmann (1988), and Durrett, Schonmann, and Tanaka (1989) have respectively proved that the subcritical, supercritical, and critical phases can be characterized using a large finite system (instead ofZ) in the following way. There are constants ₁() and ₂() such that if < _c , lim _{N N} /logN = 1/₁(); if > _c , lim _N log _N /N = ₂(); if = _c , lim _{N N} /N= and lim _{N N} /N ⁴=0 in probability. In this paper we consider the asymmetric contact process onZ when it has two distinct critical values _c1< _c2. The arguments of Durrett and Liu and of Durrett and Schonmann hold for < _c1 and > _c2. We show that for [ _c1< _c2), lim _{N N} /N=-1/, (where _i is an edge speed) and for = _c2, lim _N log _N /logN=2 in probability.     

Mean-Field Critical Behavior for the Contact Process

The contact process is a model of spread of an infectious disease. Combining with the result of ref. 1, we prove that the critical exponents take on the mean-field values for sufficiently high dimensional nearest-neighbor models and for sufficiently spread-out models with d>4:()– _c as _c and ()( _c–)^–1 as _c, where () and () are the spread probability and the susceptibility of the infection respectively, and _c is the critical infection rate. Our results imply that the upper critical dimension for the contact process is at most 4.     

Kac-Moody symmetry of generalized non-linear Schrödinger equations

The classical non-linear Schrödinger equation associated with a symmetric Lie algebra =km is known to possess a class of conserved quantities which from a realization of the algebrak []. The construction is now extended to provide a realization of the Kac-Moody algebrak[, ^–1] (with central extension). One can then define auxiliary quantities to obtain the full algebra [, ^–1]. This leads to the formal linearization of the system.     

Realization of holonomic constraints and freezing of high frequency degrees of freedom in the light of classical perturbation theory. Part II

As in Part I of this paper, we consider the problem of the energy exchanges between two subsystems, of which one is a system of harmonic oscillators, while the other one is any dynamical system ofn degrees of freedom. Such a problem is of interest both for the realization of holonomic constraints of classical mechanics, and for the freezing of the internal degrees of freedom in molecular collisions. The results of Part I, which referred to the particular case =1, are here extended to the more difficult case >1. For the rate of energy transfer we find exponential estimates of Nekhoroshev's type, namely of the form exp (_*/)^1/a , where is a positive real number giving the size of the involved frequencies, and _* anda are constants. For the particularly relevant constanta we find in generala=1/ however, in the particular case when the frequencies are equal (collision of identical molecules), we finda=1 independently of , as conjectured by Jeans in the year 1903.     

Analysis of the order parameter for uniform nearest particle system

The uniform nearest particle system (UNPS) is studied, which is a continuoustime Markov process with state space . The rigorous upper bound ^(mf) = ( – 1)/ for the order parameter ₂, is given by the correlation identity and the FKG inequality. Then an improvement of this bound ^(mf) is shown in a similar fashion; C( – 1)/|log( – 1) for >1. Recently, Mountford proved that the critical value _c=1. Combining his result and our improved bound implies that if the critical exponent exists, it is strictly greater than the mean-field value 1 in the weak sense.     

Asymptotic Characteristics of the Evolution of Polarization of Nonmonochromatic Radiation in Single-Mode Optical Fibers with a Random Twisting of Axes of Linear Birefringence. I. Limiting of Polarization in an Infinitely Long Fiber

We reduce the problem of finding the limiting value of the fiber-ensemble averaged degree of radiation polarization of in an infinitely long optical fiber to the problem of distributions (including joint distributions) of random complex amplitudes E(,z) of the electric field in an optical wave for different wavelengths and the fiber length z tending to infinity. We prove that the random complex vector E(,z) is uniformly distributed on a three-dimensional sphere if z. It is also proved that the random vectors E(₁,z) and E(₂,z) are independent if ₁₂ and z, whence it follows that their joint distribution is entirely determined by the distribution of each of them. The result obtained allows us to find the limiting average values of various quantities describing the radiation upon passing an optical fiber with a random twisting of the anisotropy axes. In particular, on the basis of this result, we show that the average degree of polarization of incoherent radiation upon passing a fiber with such random irregularities tends to zero as the optical-fiber length goes to infinity.     

The asymmetric contact process at its second critical value

The asymmetric contact process onZ has two distinct critical values ₁ > ₂ (at least with sufficient asymmetry). One can consider the process on {0,...,N} and analyze the time (which we call _N ) till complete vacany starting from complete occupation. Its behavior has already been resolved for all regions of except for =₂. For this value, Schinazi proved that lim _N log _N /logN=2 in probability and conjectured that _N /N ² converges in distribution. It is that result that we prove in this paper. We rely heavily on the Brownian motion behavior of the edge particle, which comes from Galves and Presutti and Kuczek.     

On the maximization of the central gravitational red-shift of a schwarzschild sphere with a given surface gravitational red-shift

Following Bondi static, spherically symmetric equilibrium configurations with a core and an envelope have been considered. It has been shown that for any configurations with nonnegative pressure and density and with a surface red-shiftz _s 4.77 arbitrarily large central red-shiftsz _c are possible in the limiting case of arbitrarily large radius. The effects of imposition of further constraints in the form of a real speed of sound not exceeding the speed of light are also examined. It is seen that for a given limiting sound-to-light-speed ratio . (i) There exists a limiting surface red-shiftz _s() 1.71. (ii) A configuration withz _s >z _s() is not possible, (iii) A configuration withz _s=z _s() has a unique and finitez _c=z _c(). (iv) Forz _s<z _s() arbitrarily large central red-shifts can be obtained for configurations with arbitrarily large radii.     

A contact process with a single inhomogeneous site

The one-dimensional basic contact process is a Markov process for which particles give birth on vacant nearest neighbor sites at rate >0 and particles die at rate one. We introduce a one-dimensional contact process with a single inhomogeneous site: the evolution is as above except that a particle located at the origin does not die. Let _c be the critical value of the basic contact process. We show that for _c the upper invariant measures of the inhomogeneous contact process and the basic contact process coincide except at a finite number of sites. The behavior at = _c is much more intersting: the upper invariant measure of the inhomogeneous contact process concentrates on configurations with infinitely many particles, while it is known that the critical basic contact process dies out. So a single inhomogeneity may provoke a perturbation unbounded in space. As a byproduct of our analysis we prove that the connectivity probabilities of the critical basic contact process are not summable. We also give a biological interpretation of this model.     

A relation between a.c. spectrum of ergodic Jacobi matrices and the spectra of periodic approximants

We study ergodic Jacobi matrices onl ²(Z), and prove a general theorem relating their a.c. spectrum to the spectra of periodic Jacobi matrices, that are obtained by cutting finite pieces from the ergodic potential and then repeating them. We apply this theorem to the almost Mathieu operator: (H _{, ,} u)(n)=u(n+1)+u(n–1)+ cos(2n+)u(n), and prove the existence of a.c. spectrum for sufficiently small , all irrational 's, and a.e. . Moreover, for 0<2 and (Lebesgue) a.e. pair , , we prove the explicit equality of measures: |_ac|=||=4 –2.Work partially supported by the US-Israel BSF     

Fractional noise

Fractional noiseN(t),t 0, is a stochastic process for every , and is defined as the fractional derivative or fractional integral of white noise. For = 1 we recover Brownian motion and for = 1/2 we findf ^–1-noise. For 1/2 1, a superposition of fractional noise is related to the fractional diffusion equation.     

Effective stimulated emission and excited-state absorption cross-section spectra of para-phenylene-ethynylene polymers

The effective stimulated emission cross-section spectra, em,eff(), the stimulated emission cross-section spectra, em(), and the excited-state absorption cross-section spectra, ex()=em()–em,eff(), of the conjugated polymers poly(2,5-dioctadecyloxy-paraphenylene-ethynylene-co-2,5-thienyl) (OPT) and poly(2,5-dioctadecyloxy-paraphenylene-ethynylene-co-2,5-pyridinyl) (OPP) in tetrahydrofuran are determined in the fluorescence region. em,eff() determined by a fluorescence amplification technique is found to be small compared to em() indicating that ex() is nearly as large as em(). The laser excitation to the wide inhomogeneously broadened S1-absorption band leads to the formation of spectrally structured inhomogeneously broadened lattice relaxed exciton conformations extending on average over two monomer units which are thought to be responsible for upper-to-lower-state stimulated emission and lower-to-upper-state (excited-state) absorption.     

Ergodicité et limite semi-classique

Consider a self adjoint quantic hamiltonian:P(h)=p(x, hD _x) whereh>0 is the Planck's constant andp some smooth classical observable on the phase space R²ⁿ . When the classical flow on a compact energy shell {p=} is ergodic we prove that in the limith 0 almost all the eigenfunctions ofP(h) whose energy is near of are distributed according to the Liouville measure on {p=}.In the high energy case ( +) this sort of problem was considered by A. Schnirelman, S. Zelditch, and Y. Colin de Verdière.     

Time evolution of infinite classical systems with singular,long range,two body interactions

Existence of dynamics for infinitely many hard-spheres inv dimensions is proven in a set of full equilibrium measure.Singular unbounded perturbations are considered with pair potentials diverging as (x – a)^–, >2 anda is the hard-core diameter. Long range forces are allowed with potentials decreasing at infinity asx , <v. The result corrects and generalizes a proof given in a previous paper by the same authors.Research partially supported by a CNR fellowship Posit. 204530.Research partially supported by a CNR fellowship.     

Zero measure spectrum for the almost Mathieu operator

We study the almost Mathieu operator: (H _{, ,} u)(n)=u(n+1)+u(n-1)+ cos (2n+)u(n), onl ² (Z), and show that for all ,, and (Lebesgue) a.e. , the Lebesgue measure of its spectrum is precisely |4–2|. In particular, for ||=2 the spectrum is a zero measure cantor set. Moreover, for a large set of irrational 's (and ||=2) we show that the Hausdorff dimension of the spectrum is smaller than or equal to 1/2.Work partially supported by the GIF     

Superradiating 4P-4S-3P cascade of sodium vapour arising on the leading edge of the exciting laser pulse

Investigations of the superradiating cascade of sodium vapour 4P-4S-3P ₁ = 2.21 µm and ₂=1.14 µm) arising on the leading edge of the exciting laser pulse were carried out. The dependences of the actual delay time _D of the ₁ pulse on the population rise time of the laser-excited 4P state were measured and compared with those calculated following the existing theoretical model. The dependence of the actual delay time _D on the inverse density of excited atoms 1/N* is also presented. Analysis of this dependence revealed the influence of the Doppler dephasing and of the second, ₂, transition on the formation of the ₁ superradiance.     

Scattering states and bound states in λ℘(φ)2

By analyzing the Bethe-Salpeter equation for even ()₂ models we show that for weak coupling the mass spectrum is discrete and of finite multiplicity below 2m. Moreover on even states of energy less than 4(m–) we show that theS matrix is unitary. Herem is the physical mass and =()0 as 0. Our results rely essentially only on a simple assumption about the analyticity of the Bethe-Salpeter kernel which has been verified for weak coupling. For the interaction ⁴, (/m _o ² 1) we show that there are no even bound states of energy less than 4(m–).Work supported in part by NSF, Grant MPS 74-13252     

A complementary thermodynamic limit for classical Coulomb matter

The canonical equilibrium measure of classical two-component Coulomb matter with regularized interactions is analyzed in a finite volume. It is shown that, in the mean-field regime, the one-particle density is inhomogeneous on a new characteristic length scale _inh. For a system ofN positive andN negative particles, _inh and the characteristic length scale of correlations _corr (=Debye screening length) are related via _inh=(2N)^1/2 _corr. The major conceptual conclusion that is drawn from this is that one needs two nontrivial complementary thermodynamic limits to define the equilibrium thermodynamics of two-component Coulomb systems. One of them is the standard thermodynamic limit (infinite volume), where one takesN, _corr fixed. Its complementary limit is characterized byN, _inh fixed, and is a finite-volume inhomogeneous mean-field limit. The most prominent new feature in the mean-field thermodynamic limit, which is absent in the standard thermodynamic limit, is an anomalous first-order phase transition where the Coulomb system explodes or implodes, respectively. The phase transition is connected with the existence of a metastable plasma phase far below the ionization temperature.