On the optimality of individual entangling-probe attacks against BB84 quantum key distribution

Some MIT researchers [Phys. Rev. A 75, 042327 (2007)] have recently claimed that their implementation of the Slutsky-Brandt attack [Phys. Rev. A 57, 2383 (1998); Phys. Rev. A 71, 042312 (2005)] to the BB84 quantum-key-distribution (QKD) protocol puts the security of this protocol “to the test” by simulating “the most powerful individual-photon attack” [Phys. Rev. A 73, 012315 (2006)]. A related unfortunate news feature by a scientific journal [G. Brumfiel, Quantum cryptography is hacked, News @ Nature (april 2007); Nature 447, 372 (2007)] has spurred some concern in the QKD community and among the general public by misinterpreting the implications of this work. The present article proves the existence of a stronger individual attack on QKD protocols with encrypted error correction, for which tight bounds are shown, and clarifies why the claims of the news feature incorrectly suggest a contradiction with the established “old-style” theory of BB84 individual attacks. The full implementation of a quantum cryptographic protocol includes a reconciliation and a privacy-amplification stage, whose choice alters in general both the maximum extractable secret and the optimal eavesdropping attack. The authors of [Phys. Rev. A 75, 042327 (2007)] are concerned only with the error-free part of the so-called sifted string, and do not consider faulty bits, which, in the version of their protocol, are discarded. When using the provably superior reconciliation approach of encrypted error correction (instead of error discard), the Slutsky-Brandt attack is no more optimal and does not “threaten” the security bound derived by Lütkenhaus [Phys. Rev. A 59, 3301 (1999)]. It is shown that the method of Slutsky and collaborators [Phys. Rev. A 57, 2383 (1998)] can be adapted to reconciliation with error correction, and that the optimal entangling probe can be explicitly found. Moreover, this attack fills Lütkenhaus bound, proving that it is tight (a fact which was not previously known).     

The determination of the lifetime of hot electrons in metals by time-resolved two-photon photoemission: the role of transport effects, virtual states, and transient excitons

Experience has shown that theoretically determined lifetimes of bulk states of hot electrons in real metals agree quantitatively with the experimental ones, if theory fully takes into account the crystal structure and many-body effects of the investigated metal, i.e., if the Dyson equation is solved at the ab initio level and the effective electron–electron interaction is determined beyond the plasmon-pole approximation. Therefore the hitherto invoked transport effect [Knoesel et al.: Phys. Rev. B 57, 12812 (1998)] does not seem to exist. In this paper we show that likewise neither virtual states [Hertel: et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 535 (1996)] nor damped band-gap states [Ogawa: et al.: Phys. Rev. B 55, 10869 (1997)] exist, but that the hitherto unexplained d-band catastrophe in Cu [Cu(111), Cu(110)] can be naturally resolved by the concept of the transient exciton. This is a new quasiparticle in metals, which owes its existence to the dynamical character of dielectric screening at the microscopic level. This means that excitons, though they do not exist under stationary conditions, can be observed under ultrafast experimental conditions. Received: 30 March 2000 / Accepted: 2 September 2000 / Published online: 12 October 2000     

Growing mechanisms in the QKPZ equation aaand the DPD models

The roughening of interfaces moving in inhomogeneous media is investigated by numerical integration of the phenomenological stochastic differential equation proposed by Kardar, Parisi, and Zhang [Phys. Rev. Lett. 56, 889 (1986)] with quenched noise (QKPZ) [Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 920 (1995)]. We express the evolution equations for the mean height and the roughness into two contributions: the local and the lateral one in order to compare them with the local and the lateral contributions obtained for the directed percolation depinning models (DPD) introduced independently by Tang and Leschhorn [Phys. Rev A 45, R8309 (1992)] and Buldyrev et al. [Phys. Rev A 45, R8313 (1992)]. These models are classified in the same universality class of the QKPZ although the mechanisms of growth are quite different. In the DPD models the lateral contribution is a coupled effect of the competition between the local growth and the lateral one. In these models the lateral contribution leads to an increasing of the roughness near the criticality while in the QKPZ equation this contribution always flattens the roughness. Received 7 April 2000 and Received in final form 7 March 2001     

Diffraction of picosecond bulk longitudinal and shear waves in micron thick films

Investigation of thin metallic film properties by means of picosecond ultrasonics [C. Thomsen et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 53, 989 (1984)] has been under the scope of several studies. Generation of longitudinal and shear waves [T. Pézeril et al., Phys. Rev. B 73, 132301 (2006); O. Matsuda et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 095501 (2004)] with a wave vector normal to the film free surface has been demonstrated. Such measurements cannot provide complete information about properties of anisotropic films. Extreme focusing of a laser pump beam (≈0.5 μm) on the sample surface has recently allowed us to provide evidence of picosecond acoustic diffraction in thin metallic films (≈1 μm) [C. Rossignol et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 166106 (2005)]. The resulting longitudinal and shear wavefronts propagate at group velocity through the bulk of the film. To interpret the received signals, source directivity diagrams are calculated taking into account material anisotropy, optical penetration, and laser beam width on the sample surface. It is shown that acoustic diffraction increases with optical penetration, so competing with the increasing of directivity caused by beam width. Reflection with mode conversion at the film-substrate interface is discussed.     

Quantum Singularity in Quasiregular Spacetimes, as Indicated by Klein-Gordon, Maxwell and Dirac Fields

Klein-Gordon, Maxwell and Dirac fields are studied in quasiregular spacetimes, those space-times containing a classical quasiregular singularity, the mildest true classical singularity [G. F. R. Ellis and B. G. Schmidt, Gen. Rel. Grav. 8, 915 (1977)]. A class of static quasiregular spacetimes possessing disclinations and dislocations [R. A. Puntigam and H. H. Soleng, Class. Quantum Grav. 14, 1129 (1997)] is shown to have field operators which are not essentially self-adjoint. This class of spacetimes includes an idealized cosmic string, i.e. a four-dimensional spacetime with a conical singularity [L. H. Ford and A. Vilenkin, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 14, 2353 (1981)] and a Gal'tsov/Letelier/Tod spacetime featuring a screw dislocation [K. P. Tod, Class. Quantum Grav. 11, 1331 (1994); D. V. Gal'tsov and P. S. Letelier, Phys. Rev. D 47, 4273 (1993)]. The definition of G. T. Horowitz and D. Marolf [Phys. Rev. D52, 5670, (1995)] for a quantum-mechanically singular spacetime is one in which the spatial-derivative operator in the Klein-Gordon equation for a massive scalar field is not essentially self-adjoint. The definition is extended here, in the case of quasiregular spacetimes, to include Maxwell and Dirac fields. It is shown that the class of static quasiregular spacetimes under consideration is quantum-mechanically singular independent of the type of field.     

“Electron impact ionization of helium isoelectronic systems”

We show that the criticism [Eur. Phys. J. D 49, 167 (2008)] of our empirical formula for electron-impact ionization of atomic ions [J. Phys B. 33, 5025 (2000)] is unjustified.     

Effects of quantum interference on the spontaneous emission in a coherently driven three-level atom

A new scheme of the influence of quantum interference on the spontaneous emission in a coherently driven three-level medium is presented in this paper. The results are the same with that discussed by [S.-Y. Zhu, L.M. Narducci, M.O. Scully, Phys. Rev. A 52, 4791 (1995)] under resonance conditions, but they are different when the driven field is detuned. Received 8 September 1999 and Received in final form 13 January 2000     

Dynamic renormalization-group analysis of the d+1 dimensional Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation with both conservative and nonconservative noises

The long-wavelength properties of the (d + 1)-dimensional Kuramoto-Sivashinsky (KS) equation with both conservative and nonconservative noises are investigated by use of the dynamic renormalization-group (DRG) theory. The dynamic exponent z and roughness exponent α are calculated for substrate dimensions d = 1 and d = 2, respectively. In the case of d = 1, we arrive at the critical exponents z = 1.5 and α = 0.5 , which are consistent with the results obtained by Ueno et al. in the discussion of the same noisy KS equation in 1+1 dimensions [Phys. Rev. E 71, 046138 (2005)] and are believed to be identical with the dynamic scaling of the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) in 1+1 dimensions. In the case of d = 2, we find a fixed point with the dynamic exponents z = 2.866 and α = -0.866 , which show that, as in the 1 + 1 dimensions situation, the existence of the conservative noise in 2 + 1 or higher dimensional KS equation can also lead to new fixed points with different dynamic scaling exponents. In addition, since a higher order approximation is adopted, our calculations in this paper have improved the results obtained previously by Cuerno and Lauritsen [Phys. Rev. E 52, 4853 (1995)] in the DRG analysis of the noisy KS equation, where the conservative noise is not taken into account.     

The nearly Newtonian regime in non-linear theories of gravity

The present paper reconsiders the Newtonian limit of models of modified gravity including higher order terms in the scalar curvature in the gravitational action. This was studied using the Palatini variational principle in Meng and Wang (Gen. Rel. Grav. 36, 1947 (2004)) and Domínguez and Barraco (Phys. Rev. D 70, 043505 (2004)) with contradicting results. Here a different approach is used, and problems in the previous attempts are pointed out. It is shown that models with negative powers of the scalar curvature, like the ones used to explain the present accelerated expansion, as well as their generalization which include positive powers, can give the correct Newtonian limit, as long as the coefficients of these powers are reasonably small. Some consequences of the performed analysis seem to raise doubts for the way the Newtonian limit was derived in the purely metric approach of fourth order gravity [Dick in Gen. Rel. Grav. 36, 217 (2004)]. Finally, we comment on a recent paper [Olmo in Phys. Rev. D 72, 083505 (2005)] in which the problem of the Newtonian limit of both the purely metric and the Palatini formalism is discussed, using the equivalent Brans–Dicke theory, and with which our results partly disagree.     

A molecular dynamics investigation of dynamical heterogeneity in supercooled water

We investigate the presence of dynamical heterogeneity in supercooled water with molecular dynamics simulations using the new water model proposed by Mahoney and Jorgensen [M.W. Mahoney, W.L. Jorgensen J. Chem. Phys. 112, 8910 (2000)]. Prompted by recent theoretical results [J.P. Garrahan, D. Chandler, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 35704 (2002)] we study the dynamical aggregation of the least and the most mobile molecules. We find dynamical heterogeneity in supercooled water and string-like dynamics for the most mobile molecules. We also find the dynamical aggregation of the least mobile molecules. The two kinds of dynamical aggregation appear however to be very different. Characteristic times are different and evolve differently. String-like motions appear only for the most mobile molecules, a result predicted by the facilitation theory. The aggregation of the least mobile molecules is more organized than the bulk while the opposite is observed for the most mobile molecules.     

Comment on Radiative transfer over small distances from a heated metal

We show that there is no contradiction between the results presented by Pan [Opt. Lett. 25, 369 (2000)] and the 1/L(2) dependence of the radiative energy flux between two half-spaces separated by a small vacuum gap of width L obtained by Polder and Van Hove [Phys. Rev. B 4, 3303 (1971)] and by Loomis and Maris [Phys. Rev. B 50, 18517 (1994)].     

”Illusion of control” in Time-Horizon Minority and Parrondo Games

Human beings like to believe they are in control of their destiny. This ubiquitous trait seems to increase motivation and persistence, and is probably evolutionarily adaptive [J.D. Taylor, S.E. Brown, Psych. Bull. 103, 193 (1988); A. Bandura, Self-efficacy: the exercise of control (WH Freeman, New York, 1997)]. But how good really is our ability to control? How successful is our track record in these areas? There is little understanding of when and under what circumstances we may over-estimate [E. Langer, J. Pers. Soc. Psych. 7, 185 (1975)] or even lose our ability to control and optimize outcomes, especially when they are the result of aggregations of individual optimization processes. Here, we demonstrate analytically using the theory of Markov Chains and by numerical simulations in two classes of games, the Time-Horizon Minority Game [M.L. Hart, P. Jefferies, N.F. Johnson, Phys. A 311, 275 (2002)] and the Parrondo Game [J.M.R. Parrondo, G.P. Harmer, D. Abbott, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 5226 (2000); J.M.R. Parrondo, How to cheat a bad mathematician (ISI, Italy, 1996)], that agents who optimize their strategy based on past information may actually perform worse than non-optimizing agents. In other words, low-entropy (more informative) strategies under-perform high-entropy (or random) strategies. This provides a precise definition of the “illusion of control” in certain set-ups a priori defined to emphasize the importance of optimization. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Measurement of angular dependence of M X-ray production cross-sections in Re,Bi and U at 5.96 keV

The M X-ray production differential cross sections in Re, Bi and U elements have been measured at the 5.96 keV incident photon energy in an angular range 135°–155°. The measurements were performed using a ⁵⁵Fe source and a Si(Li) detector. The present results contradict the predictions of Cooper and Zare [Atomic Collision Processes, Gordon and Breach, New York (1969)] and experimental results of Kumar et al. [J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. 34, 613 (2001)]. that, after photoionization of inner shells, the vacancy state has equal population of magnetic substates and the subsequent X-ray emission is isotropic, but confirm the predictions of the calculations of Flügge et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 29, 7 (1972)] and experimental results of Sharma and Allawadhi [J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. 32, 2343 (1999)] and Ertugrul [Nucl. Instrum. Meth. B 119, 345 (1996)]. Total M X-ray production cross sections from the decay at the 5.96 keV photon energies are found to be in good agreement with the calculated theoretical results using the theoretical values of M shell photoionization cross section.     

Efficient nonlinear-optical frequency conversion in periodic media in the presence of diffraction of the pump and harmonic fields

It has been predicted by Shelton and Shen [Phys. Rev. A 5, 1867 (1972)] and observed by Kajikawa et al. [Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. Lett. 31, L679 (1992)] and Yamada et al. [Appl. Phys. B 60, 485 (1995)] that the efficiency of nonlinear-optical frequency conversion increases significantly in a nonlinear periodic medium and, accordingly, the intensity of the generated harmonic increases as the fourth power of the sample thickness, as opposed to the square law observed in homogeneous media. In this paper it is shown that the same enhancement of the efficiency of nonlinear-optical frequency conversion in a nonlinear periodic medium can be achieved using an ordinary pump wave in the form of a plane wave when both the pump wave and the harmonics are diffracted by the periodic structure of the nonlinear medium. The phenomenon is analyzed quantitatively in the example of second-harmonic generation. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 12, 793–799 (25 December 1999)     

Dynamics of geometric discord and measurement-induced nonlocality at finite temperature

By using geometric measure of discord (GMOD) [B. Dakić, V. Vedral, Č. Brukner, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 109502 (2010)] and measurement-induced nonlocality (MIN) [S. Luo, S. Fu, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 120401 (2011)], we investigate quantum correlation of a pair of two-level systems, each of which is interacting with a reservoir at finite temperature T. We show that, for a broad class of states of the system, GMOD and MIN can endure sudden death, and there is no asymptotic decay for MIN while asymptotic decay exists for GMOD. We also give the dynamics of GMOD and MIN with respect to the temperature and illustrate their different characteristics.     

High orders of perturbation theory. Are renormalons significant?

According to Lipatov [Sov. Phys. JETP 45, 216 (1977)], the high orders of perturbation theory are determined by saddle-point configurations, i.e., instantons, which correspond to functional integrals. According to another opinion, the contributions of individual large diagrams, i.e., renormalons, which, according to t’Hooft [The Whys of Subnuclear Physics: Proceedings of the 1977 International School of Subnuclear Physics (Erice, Trapani, Sicily, 1977), A. Zichichi (Ed.), Plenum Press, New York (1979)], are not contained in the Lipatov contribution, are also significant. The history of the conception of renormalons is presented, and the arguments in favor of and against their existence are discussed. The analytic properties of the Borel transforms of functional integrals, Green’s functions, vertex parts, and scaling functions are investigated in the case of ϕ ⁴ theory. Their analyticity in a complex plane with a cut from the first instanton singularity to infinity (the Le Guillou-Zinn-Justin hypothesis [Phys. Rev. Lett. 39, 95 (1977); Phys. Rev. B 21, 3976 (1980)] is proved. It rules out the existence of the renormalon singularities pointed out by t’Hooft and demonstrates the nonconstructiveness of the conception of renormalons as a whole. The results can be interpreted as an indication of the internal consistency of ϕ ⁴ theory. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 369–389 (August 1999)     

Magnetization and specific heat of the dimer system CuTe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>

We report on magnetization and specific heat measurements on single-crystalline CuTe₂O₅. The experimental data are directly compared to theoretical results for two different spin structures, namely an alternating spin-chain and a two-dimensional (2D) coupled dimer model, obtained by Das et al. [Phys. Rev. B 77, 224437 (2008)]. While the analysis of the specific heat does not allow to distinguish between the two models, the magnetization data is in good agreement with the 2D coupled dimer model.     

Self organized criticality in a modified Olami-Feder-Christensen model

A modified version of the Olami-Feder-Christensen model has been introduced to consider avalanche size differences. Our model well demonstrates the power-law behavior and finite size scaling of avalanche size distribution in any range of the adding parameter p _{a d d} of the model. The probability density functions of the avalanche size differences at consecutive time steps (defined as returns) appear to be well approached, in the thermodynamic limit, by q-Gaussian shape with appropriate q values which can be obtained a priori from the avalanche size exponent τ. For small system sizes, however, return distributions are found to be consistent with the crossover formulas proposed recently in Tsallis and Tirnakli [J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 201, 012001 (2010)]. Our results strengthen recent findings of Caruso et al. [Phys. Rev. E 75, 055101(R) (2007)] on the real earthquake data which support the hypothesis that knowing the magnitude of previous earthquakes does not make the magnitude of the next earthquake predictable.     

On the problem of the relation between phason elasticity and phason dynamics in quasicrystals

It has recently been claimed that the dynamics of long-wavelength phason fluctuations has been observed in i-AlPdMn quasicrystals [S. Francoual et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 225501 (2003); A. Létoublon et al. 54, 753 (2001)]. We will show that the data reported call for a more detailed development of the elasticity theory of Jarić and Nelsson [M.V. Jarić and D.R. Nelsson, Phys. Rev. B 37, 4458 (1988)] in order to determine the nature of small phonon-like atomic displacements with a symmetry that follows the phason elastic constants. We also show that a simple model with a single diffusing tile is sufficient to produce a signal that (1) is situated at a “satellite position” at a distance q from each Bragg peak; that (2) has an intensity that scales with the intensity of the corresponding Bragg peak; (3) falls off as 1/q²; and (4) has a time decay constant that is proportional to 1/Dq². It is thus superfluous to call for a picture of “phason waves” in order to explain such data, especially as such “waves” violate many physical principles.