Active phase stabilization in a two-fiber interferometer

We report on the frequency spectrum of phase fluctuations of a two fiber interferometer in a normal laboratory environment. A feedback system in connection with a piezo regulator is used for compensation of the fluctuations. The resulting stability of the compensator has been measured.     

Thermal relaxation of systems with quadratic heat bath coupling: I. Classical systems

We consider the evolution of systems whose coupling to the heat bath is quadratic in the bath coordinates. Performing an explicit elimination of the bath variables we arrive at an equation of evolution for the system variables alone. In the weak coupling limit we show that the equation is of the generalized Langevin form, with fluctuations that are Gaussian and that obey a fluctuation-dissipation relation. If the system-bath coupling is linear in the system coordinates the resulting fluctuations are additive and the dissipation is linear. If the coupling is nonlinear in the system coordinates, the resulting fluctuations are multiplicative and the dissipation is nonlinear.     

A Simple Mean Field Model for Social Interactions: Dynamics,Fluctuations, Criticality

We study the dynamics of a spin-flip model with a mean field interaction. The system is non reversible, spacially inhomogeneous, and it is designed to model social interactions. We obtain the limiting behavior of the empirical averages in the limit of infinitely many interacting individuals, and show that phase transition occurs. Then, after having obtained the dynamics of normal fluctuations around this limit, we analyze long time fluctuations for critical values of the parameters. We show that random inhomogeneities produce critical fluctuations at a shorter time scale compared to the homogeneous system.     

Exact joint density-current probability function for the asymmetric exclusion process

We study the asymmetric simple exclusion process with open boundaries and derive the exact form of the joint probability function for the occupation number and the current through the system. We further consider the thermodynamic limit, showing that the resulting distribution is non-Gaussian and that the density fluctuations have a discontinuity at the continuous phase transition, while the current fluctuations are continuous. The derivations are performed by using the standard operator algebraic approach and by the introduction of new operators satisfying a modified version of the original algebra.     

Separating internal and external dynamics of complex systems

The observable behavior of a complex system reflects the mechanisms governing the internal interactions between the system's components and the effect of external perturbations. Here we show that by capturing the simultaneous activity of several of the system's components we can separate the internal dynamics from the external fluctuations. The method allows us to systematically determine the origin of fluctuations in various real systems, finding that while the Internet and the computer chip have robust internal dynamics, highway and Web traffic are driven by external demand. As multichannel measurements are becoming the norm in most fields, the method could help uncover the collective dynamics of a wide array of complex systems.     

Slow energy relaxation of macromolecules and nanoclusters in solution

Many systems in the realm of nanophysics from both the living and the inorganic world display slow relaxation kinetics of energy fluctuations. In this Letter we propose a general explanation for such a phenomenon, based on the effects of interactions with the solvent. Within a simple harmonic model of the system fluctuations, we demonstrate that the inhomogeneity of coupling to the solvent of the bulk and surface atoms suffices to generate a complex spectrum of decay rates. We show for myoglobin and for a metal nanocluster that the result is a complex, nonexponential relaxation dynamics.     

Noise Influence on a Dispersive Optical Bistable System with Trilinear Interaction

The influence of fluctuations in the driving fields on an optical bistable multimode system inside a ring resonator with a second order nonlinear material is considered. Steady state solutions of the resulting Fokker-Planck equations are found for different approximations in which one or two of the modes can be eliminated adiabatically. The results of the stochastics are compared with the deterministic behaviour.     

Nonequilibrium fluctuation relation for sheared micellar gel in a jammed state

We show that the shear rate at a fixed shear stress in a micellar gel in a jammed state exhibits large fluctuations, showing positive and negative values, with the mean shear rate being positive. The resulting probability distribution functions of the global power flux to the system vary from Gaussian to non-Gaussian, depending on the driving stress, and in all cases show similar symmetry properties as predicted by the Gallavotti-Cohen steady state fluctuation relation. The fluctuation relation allows us to determine an effective temperature related to the structural constraints of the jammed state. We have measured the stress dependence of the effective temperature. Further, experiments reveal that the effective temperature and the standard deviation of the shear-rate fluctuations increase with the decrease of the system size.     

Stress Tensor Fluctuations and Passive Quantum Gravity

The quantum fluctuations of the stress tensor of a quantum field are discussed, as are the resulting space-time metric fluctuations. Passive quantum gravity is an approximation in which gravity is not directly quantized, but fluctuations of the space-time geometry are driven by stress tensor fluctuations. We discuss a decomposition of the stress tensor correlation function into three parts, and consider the physical implications of each part. The operational significance of metric fluctuations and the possible limits of validity of semiclassical gravity are discussed.     

Influence of multiplicative noise on properties of first order dynamical phase transition

Critical phenomena in distributed dynamical two-dimensional nonlinear system near the point of the Turing instability are discussed. The system is considered in the presence of thermal fluctuations and multiplicative noise (MN) representing fluctuations of the bifurcation parameter. Since such a noise of the control parameter can have macroscopic (not thermal) nature, the intensity is considered as sufficiently large in comparison with the amplitude of thermal fluctuations, and it is shown that in the system the first order phase transition occurs with the characteristics which are independent on the thermal noise. Hence the discontinuous transtion could be observable in experimental situations where this would not be possible in the absence of MN (like the Rayleigh-Benard problem). When the correlation length of MN is small, the transition results in the formation of a complex state possessing only short-range order, and when MN is spatially uniform, a quasi-one-dimensional structure will be formed.     

Model experiments for the Czochralski crystal growth technique

A lot of the physical and the numerical modeling of Czochralski crystal growth is done on the generic Rayleigh-Bénard system. To better approximate the conditions in a Czochralski puller, the influences of a rounded crucible bottom, deviations of the thermal boundary conditions from the generic case, crucible and/or crystal rotation, and the influence of magnetic fields are often studied separately. The present contribution reviews some of these topics while concentrating on studies of the flow and related temperature fluctuations in systems where a rotating magnetic field (RMF) was applied. The three-dimensional convective patterns and the resulting temperature fluctuations will be discussed both for the mere buoyant case and for the application of an RMF. It is shown that a system between a Rayleigh-Bénard and a more realistic configuration, which is still cylindrical but whose surface is partially covered by a crystal model, behaves much the same as a Rayleigh-Bénard system. An RMF can be used to damp the temperature fluctuations. Secondly, a more Czochralski-like system is examined. It turns out that the RMF does not provide the desired damping of the temperature fluctutions in the parameter range considered.     

Epidemic outbreaks in complex heterogeneous networks

We present a detailed analytical and numerical study for the spreading of infections with acquired immunity in complex population networks. We show that the large connectivity fluctuations usually found in these networks strengthen considerably the incidence of epidemic outbreaks. Scale-free networks, which are characterized by diverging connectivity fluctuations in the limit of a very large number of nodes, exhibit the lack of an epidemic threshold and always show a finite fraction of infected individuals. This particular weakness, observed also in models without immunity, defines a new epidemiological framework characterized by a highly heterogeneous response of the system to the introduction of infected individuals with different connectivity. The understanding of epidemics in complex networks might deliver new insights in the spread of information and diseases in biological and technological networks that often appear to be characterized by complex heterogeneous architectures. Received 20 September 2001 and Received in final form 4 February 2002     

Metastability of defects,potential fluctuations,and percolation transition in GaAs

Potential fluctuations due to donor–acceptor compensation have been used to observe localization–delocalization transition in semi-insulating GaAs. Photoinduced transients, resulting from relaxation of stored charges in potential valleys, have two components. The long-lived power law decay at low temperature signifies a microscopically inhomogeneous disordered phase, and single exponential decay at a higher temperature signifies a homogeneous ordered phase. Temperature dependence of steady state photocurrent and kinetics of photocurrent decay suggest percolation as a possible mechanism for photoinduced transition in semi-insulating GaAs.     

Millimeter-wave atmospheric turbulence measurements: Instrumentation, selected results, and system effects

Increasing interest in and greater usage of the millimeter-wave frequency bands has resulted in a need for better characterization of atmospheric effects at these frequencies. While attenuation is recognized as the most significant effect, recent measurements of fluctuations in intensity and phase caused by atmospheric turbulence have shown that these phenomena will also degrade system performance at both millimeter-wave and microwave frequencies. This paper describes the millimeter-wave and meteorological instrumentation used to make these measurements and gives selected results. It is determined that phase fluctuations as great as 1.5 radians and intensity fluctuations as large as 2.8 dB are observed over a 1370 m path in hot, humid weather. The effects of these fluctuations on the performance of practical, existing microwave phased array and monopulse systems are assessed. It is determined that phase fluctuations in particular will degrade the performance of microwave adaptive nulling arrays and monopulse trackers. Intergovernmental Personnel Act appointee from the Georgia Institute of Technology supported by the University Resident Research Program of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.     

Non-Markovian master equation for a system of Fermions interacting with an electromagnetic field

For a system of charged Fermions interacting with an electromagnetic field, we derive a non-Markovian master equation in the second-order approximation of the weak dissipative coupling. A complex dissipative environment including Fermions, Bosons and the free electromagnetic field is taken into account. Besides the well-known Markovian term of Lindblad’s form, that describes the decay of the system by correlated transitions of the system and environment particles, this equation includes new Markovian and non-Markovian terms proceeding from the fluctuations of the self-consistent field of the environment. These terms describe fluctuations of the energy levels, transitions among these levels stimulated by the fluctuations of the self-consistent field of the environment, and the influence of the time-evolution of the environment on the system dynamics. We derive a complementary master equation describing the environment dynamics correlated with the dynamics of the system. As an application, we obtain non-Markovian Maxwell-Bloch equations and calculate the absorption spectrum of a field propagation mode transversing an array of two-level quantum dots.     

On low frequency and 1/f noise from diffusion like processes

The noise spectrum resulting from diffusion like processes is calculated in two and three dimensions for two different forms of free energy fluctuation. For example it is shown that in a three dimensional system with ideal non-interacting particles the noise is almost white up to a certain frequency. In a two dimensional system where the free energy fluctuations are proportional to the gradient of a parameter modulating the electrical conductivity a 1/f noise power spectrum is expected in a certain frequency interval.     

Prequantum Classical Statistical Field Theory: Complex Representation, Hamilton-Schrödinger Equation, and Interpretation of Stationary States

We develop a prequantum classical statistical model in that the role of hidden variables is played by classical (vector) fields. We call this model Prequantum Classical Statistical Field Theory (PCSFT). The correspondence between classical and quantum quantities is asymptotic, so we call our approach asymptotic dequantization. We construct the complex representation of PCSFT. In particular, the conventional Schrödinger equation is obtained as the complex representation of the system of Hamilton equations on the infinite-dimensional phase space. In this note we pay the main attention to interpretation of so called pure quantum states (wave functions) in PCSFT, especially stationary states. We show, see Theorem 2, that pure states of QM can be considered as labels for Gaussian measures concentrated on one dimensional complex subspaces of phase space that are invariant with respect to the Schrödinger dynamics. “A quantum system in a stationary state ψ” in PCSFT is nothing else than a Gaussian ensemble of classical fields (fluctuations of the vacuum field of a very small magnitude) which is not changed in the process of Schrödinger's evolution. We interpret in this way the problem of stability of hydrogen atom. One of unexpected consequences of PCSFT is the infinite dimension of physical space on the prequantum scale.     

Propagation characteristics of laser beams with amplitude modulations and phase fluctuations in apertured fractional Fourier transforming system

The apertured fractional Fourier transforming system is introduced and applied to treat the propagation of Gaussian beams with amplitude modulations and phase fluctuations. Based on the treatment that a rectangular function can be expanded into an approximate sum of complex Gaussian functions with finite numbers, the analytical expressions for the mutual intensity distribution of laser beams with amplitude modulations and phase fluctuations passing through the apertured fractional Fourier transforming system are obtained. Some numerical simulations are illustrated for their propagation properties.     

Quantum spin nematics, dimerization, and deconfined criticality in quasi-1D spin-one magnets

We study theoretically the destruction of spin nematic order due to quantum fluctuations in quasi-one-dimensional spin-1 magnets. If the nematic ordering is disordered by condensing disclinations, then quantum Berry phase effects induce dimerization in the resulting paramagnet. We develop a theory for a Landau-forbidden second order transition between the spin nematic and dimerized states found in recent numerical calculations. Numerical tests of the theory are suggested.