Information theory and the problem of molecular structure

Recently it has been shown that the classical stick and ball viewpoint of molecules is inconsistent with quantum theory (QT). We suggest an unusual reconciliation: The QT state is not a physical property, but instead reflects our state of knowledge about observable aspects of reality. We show how this perspective is nevertheless objective. Applied to molecules, the view permits structure to exist only when observable evidence is compatible with this feature. Typically one must replace the a priori model (in particular, the dynamical generator) with one consistent with the evidence. We show that such structure is stable in the context of first-order perturbation theory. We also indicate how dynamics can be inferred from scattering data—a process alternative to postulating (field-theoretic) models for environment.     

Weak “phase transitions” in asymptotic properties of lattice sums

Two classes ofn-dimensional lattice sums are shown to exhibit a weak form of a phase transition in their asymptotic properties. Both classes depend on two parameters such that the leading term in an asymptotic limit of one parameter is independent of the structure of the lattice in one domain of the second parameter and dependent on the structure in an adjacent domain, with a boundary point, or transition temperature, between the two domains.     

Der Zusammenhang zwischen der magnetischen Suszeptibilität und der chemischen Bindung halbleitender Verbindungen mit Sphaleritstruktur

Zusammenfassung Auf Grund einer einfachen Vorstellung wird gezeigt, wie sich mit Hilfe der magnetischen Suszeptibilität bei halbleitenden Verbindungen von Sphaleritstruktur die Abweichung von der idealen Kovalenzbindung vergleichen läßt und wie man die Messung der magnetischen Suszeptibilität zur Abschätzung der Energie des verbotenen Bandes und umgekehrt verwenden kann. Gleichzeitig werden die bei Zimmertemperatur bestimmten Werte der molaren Suszeptibilität der Verbindungen ZnSe, CdTe, CuBr, AgI, CdS und ZnS angegeben.

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, . ZnSe, CdTe, CuBr, AgI, CdS ZnS .

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Der Autor ist Frau Dr. N. A. Gorjunova (Physikalisch-technisches Institut, Leningrad) und Herrn Dr. E. Klier (Mathematisch-physikalische Fakultät, Prag) für die Verleihung der Proben und Herrn P. Jansa (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Prag) für die Hilfe bei der Messung zu Dank verpflichtet.     

The Feynman Path Integrals and Everett's Universal Wave Function

We study here the properties of some quantum mechanical wave functions, which, in contrast to the regular quantum mechanical wave functions, can be predetermined with certainty (probability 1) by performing dense measurements (or continuous observations). These specific certain states are the junction points through which pass all the diverse paths that can proceed between each two such neighboring sure points. When we compare the properties of these points to the properties of the well-known universal wave functions of Everett we find a strong similarity between these two apparently uncorrelated entities, and in this way find the same similarity between the Feynman path integrals and Everett's universal wave functions.     

“Square root” of the Dirac equation in extended supersymmetry

We discuss the possibility of extracting the square root from the Dirac equation in N-extended supersymmetry, with the aim of constructing a more fundamental dynamical theory. Although a square root of the Dirac operator can be defined in N-extended superspace for N2, it is not possible to construct with its help a new dynamical model that meets the standard requirements imposed on the theory.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 3, pp. 5–9, March, 1990.     

Anti-photon

It should be apparent from the title of this article that the author does not like the use of the word photon, which dates from 1926. In his view, there is no such thing as a photon. Only a comedy of errors and historical accidents led to its popularity among physicists and optical scientists. I admit that the word is short and convenient. Its use is also habit forming. Similarly, one might find it convenient to speak of the aether or vacuum to stand for empty space, even if no such thing existed. There are very good substitute words for photon, (e.g., radiation or light), and for photonics (e.g., optics or quantum optics). Similar objections are possible to use of the word phonon, which dates from 1932. Objects like electrons, neutrinos of finite rest mass, or helium atoms can, under suitable conditions, be considered to be particles, since their theories then have viable non-relativistic and non-quantum limits. This paper outlines the main features of the quantum theory of radiation and indicates how they can be used to treat problems in quantum optics.It is a pleasure to join in the 60th birthday celebration of the Director, Herbert Walther, of the Max-Planck-Institute for Quantum Optics at Garching, and wish him much happiness and many more years of his very great scientific creativity.     

Gibbs and Markov random systems with constraints

This paper concerns random systems made up out of a finite collection of elements. We are interested in how a fixed structure of interactions reflects on the assignment of probabilities to overall states. In particular, we consider two simple models of random systems: one generalizing the notion of Gibbs ensemble abstracted from statistical physics; the other, Markov fields derived from the idea of a Markov chain. We give background for these two types, review proofs that they are in fact identical for systems with nonzero probabilities, and explore the new behavior that arises with constraints. Finally, we discuss unsolved problems and make suggestions for further work.     

On some frequent but controversial statements concerning the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen correlations

Quite often the compatibility of the EPR correlations with the relativity theory has been questioned; it has been stated that the first in time of two correlated measurements instantaneously collapses the other subsystem; it has been suggested that a causal asymmetry is built into the Feynman propagator. However, the EPR transition amplitude, as derived from the S matrix, is Lorentz andCPT invariant; the correlation formula is symmetric in the two measurements irrespective of their time ordering, so that the link of the correlations is the Feynman zigzag, and that causality isCPT invariant at the microlevel; finally, although the Feynman propagator has theP andCT symmetries, no causal asymmetry follows from that. As for Stapp's views concerning process and becoming, and his Whiteheadean concept of an advancing front, I object that they belong to factlike macrophysics, and are refuted at the microlevel by the EPR phenomenology, which displays direct Fokker-like space-time connections. The reason for this is a radical one. The very blending of a space-time picture and of a probability calculus is a paradox. The only adequate paradigm is one denying objectivity to space-time—but this, of course, is also required by the complementary of the x and the k pictures, which only look compatible at the macrolevel. Therefore, the classical objectivity must yield in favor of intersubjectivity. Only the macroscopic preparing and measuring devices have factlike objectivity; the transition of the quantal system takes place beyond both thex and thek 4-spaces. Then, the intrinsic symmetries between retarded and advanced waves, and statistical prediction and retrodiction, entails that the future has no less (but no more) existence than the past. It is the future that is significant in creative process, the elementary forms of which should be termed precognition or psychokinesis—respectively symmetric to the factlike taboos that we can neither know into the future nor act into the past. It is gratifying that Robert Jahn, at the Engineering School of Princeton University, is conducting (after others) conclusive experiments demonstrating low level psychokinesis—a phenomenon implied by the very symmetry of the negentropy-information transition. So, what pierces the veil of maya is the (rare) occurrence of paranormal phenomena. The essential severance between act and potentia is not a spacelike advancing front, but the out of and the into factlike space-time. Finally, I do not feel that an adequate understanding of the EPR phenomenology requires going beyond the present status of relativistic quantum mechanics. Rather, I believe that the potentialities of this formalism have not yet been fully exploited.     

Role of time in the sum-over-histories framework for gravity

I sketch a self-contained framework for quantum mechanics based on its path-integral or sum-over-histories formulation. The framework is very close to that for classical stochastic processes like Brownian motion, and its interpretation requires neither measurement nor state-vector as a basic notion. The rules for forming probabilities are nonclassical in two ways: they use complex amplitudes, and they (apparently unavoidably) require one to truncate the histories at a collapse time, which can be chosen arbitrarily far into the future. Adapting this framework to gravity yields a formulation of quantum gravity with a fully spacetime character, thereby overcoming the frozen nature of the canonical formalism. Within the proposed adaptation, the value of the collapse time is identified with total elapsed spacetime four-volume. Interestingly, this turns the cosmological constant into an essentially classical constant of integration, removing the need for microscopic fine tuning to obtain an experimentally viable value for it. Some implications of the V = T rule for quantum cosmology are also discussed.     

On the electromagnetic structure of elementary particles

Using modern similarity and dimensionality methods, criteria of similarity are derived and used as transformations, which effect the conversion from one natural system of units to another. The exclusion principles thus defined are used to determine the powers of the similarity criteria in quantitative relations.Systems of units of the fermion and boson types are used in the simplest identification of the parameters corresponding to elementary particles.A set of electric and magnetic physical constants with dimensionality length, area, and volume, is obtained and successfully unified within the limits of a vortex ring, the maximum dimensions of which are defined by the Compton wavelength, and the minimum by the classical radius of the particle. The vortex ring model is in accordance with the latest experimental data, and it enables the behavior of the incident and target particles in the scattering process to be predicted.In modern theoretical physics the elementary particles are still considered as essentially structureless point formations, and hence it is impossible to give a purely theoretical treatment of the structure of the particles. Thus the various attempts in this direction (Hofstadter, Blokhintsev) have a polyphenomenological character and are internally inconsistent. (The search for the structure of an elementary particle is carried out on the assumption that it is not elementary, since truly elementary particles are defined as point size.) The author recognizes the need for an original approach to the structure of elementary particles, based on a method of study adequate for the problem. Such a method is the theory of dimensionality and similarity (Sedov, Gukhman, and Kirpichev), which serves as a scientific basis of a physical experiment (Kirpichev), or as the scientific basis for a model of the phenomena, insofar as the criteria of similarity are a reflection of the physical model of the process (Gukhman).It is a pleasure to thank Academician L. I. Sedov and Professor K. A. Putilov for valuable criticism and advice, and Professor A. S. Irisov and V. V. Lokhin for useful discussions.     

Cosmological surrealism: More than “eternal reality” is needed

Inflationary cosmology makes the universe eternal and provides for recurrent universe creation, ad infinitum — making it also plausible to assume that our Big Bang was also preceeded by others, etc.. However, GR tells us that in the parent universe's reference frame, the newborn universe's expansion will never start. Our picture of reality in spacetime has to be enlarged.Wolfson Distinguished Chair in Theoretical Physics.Also on leave from the University of Texas, Center for Particle Physics, Austin, Texas.     

Bohr's discussion of the fourth uncertainty relation revisited

Bohr's 1930 derivation of the uncertainty relation c ² m th bears a close relationship to Einstein's 1913 derivation of the gravitational redshift via the equivalence principle. A rewording of Bohr's argument is presented here, not taking the last step of acceleration as equivalent to a uniform gravity field, thus yielding a derivation of the formula c ² m th, avoiding Treder's 1971 objection.     

Bell-type inequalities in the nonideal case: Proof of a conjecture of bell

Recently Bell has conjectured that, with epsilonics, one should be able to argue, à la EPR, from almost ideal correlations (in parallel Bohm-Bell pair experiments) to almost determinism, and that this should suffice to derive an approximate Bell-type inequality. Here we prove that this is indeed the case. Such an inequality—in principle testable—is derived employing only weak locality conditions, imperfect correlation, and a propensity interpretation of certain conditional probabilities. Outcome-independence (Jarrett's completeness condition), hence factorability of joint probabilities, is not assumed, but rather an approximate form of this is derived. An alternative proof to the original one of Bell [1971] constraining stochastic, contextual hidden-variables theories is thus provided.     

Einkristalle von halbleitendem Kadmiumantimonid — CdSb

Zusammenfassung Aus halbleitendem Kadmiumantimonid (CdSb) wurden Einkristalle gezüchtet, und zwar durch freie Kristallisation der geimpften Schmelze in Form von Plättchen. Einkristalle von ausreichend großen Dimensionen wurden nach der modifizierten Methode von Czochralski zubereitet. Es wurde festgestellt, daß der Zerfall der Schmelze von CdSb im Verlaufe der Züchtung des Kristalls bei geeignet angeordneter Einrichtung auf die Eigenschaften des entstandenen Einkristalls keinen Einfluß nimmt.

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CdSb

CdSb , -, , - , . , CdSb .

     

Splitting the Cartesian point

It is argued that the point structure of space and time must be constructed from the primitive extensional character of space and time. A procedure for doing this is laid down and applied to one-dimensional and two-dimensional systems of abstract extensions. Topological and metrical properties of the constructed point systems, which differ nontrivially from the usual and ² models, are examined. Briefly, constructed points are associated with directions and the Cartesian point is split. In one-dimension each point splits into a point pair compatible with the linear ordering. An application to one-dimensional particle motion is given, with the result that natural topological assumptions force the number of left point, right point transitions to remain locally finite in a continuous motion. In general, Cartesian points are seen to correspond to certain filters on a suitable Boolean algebra. Constructed points correspond to ultrafilters. Thus, point construction gives a natural refinement of the Cartesian systems.     

Some properties of topological geons

We investigate the Finkelstein-Misner geons for a non-simply-connected space-time manifold (M, g ₀). We use relations between different Lorentzian structures unequivalent tog ₀ and topological properties ofM given by the Morse theory. It implies that to some pieces of geons we have to associate Wheeler's worm-holes. Geons that correspond to time-orientable Lorentz structures are related tog ₀ by Morse functions that describe the attaching of a handle of index one. In the case of geons associated to time-nonorientable Lorentzian structures, appropriate handles are related to loops along which the notion of time reverses. If we assume electromagnetic properties of geons, then only four species, v, e, p, m, of different geons can exist and geon m has to decay according to mv+p+e.     

The triviality of continuous multipliers for the real line

It is proved without resort to calculus methods that every continuous group multiplier for R can be reduced to the identity by a continuous remultiplication. The method introduced may generalize to infinitedimensional Abelian groups such as occur in analyzing the projective representations of the Bondi-Metzner-Sachs (BMS) group.     

Particle velocities faster than the speed of light

In connection with another article by the author, we show how it might be possible to travel faster than the speed of light. We show that for clocks and rods moving faster than the speed of light, we get instead of time dilation and Lorentz contraction, respectively, time contraction and Lorentz expansion, respectively. It is shown that this paper is in confirmation with earlier articles dealing with this subject.     

On the Conventionality of Simultaneity in Special Relativity

In this paper the classical topic of conventionality in defining the simultaneity (or synchrony) of distant events is tackled again, and the validity of Reichenbach's view is carefully circumscribed. In particular, the role of one-way assumptions in the foundations of special relativity is emphasized. The restriction by the round-trip isotropy condition on the admissible distance functions in inertial frames is studied, and its relevance to several issues (absolute simultaneity, the interpretation of Michelson–Morley type experiments, the self-measured speed of a clock) is shown. Two clock transport synchronizations in an inertial frame, using self-measured speed and proper distance, are presented in detail, and the agreement of the synchronies so established with standard synchrony is proven to be non- circular. By assuming a reasonable concept of convention this result is shown to dissolve several objections by supporters of a strong version of conventionalism. Throughout, a number of common misapprehensions in the literature are pointed out.     

Coherent quantum oscillation trajectories

We discuss coherent oscillations in the quantum potential view of quantum mechanics, giving examples for both a superposition of position states, and a superposition of momentum states.