3D short-range wetting and nonlocality

Analysis of a microscopic Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson model of 3D short-ranged wetting shows that correlation functions are characterized by two length scales, not one, as previously thought. This has a simple diagrammatic explanation using a nonlocal interfacial Hamiltonian and yields a thermodynamically consistent theory of wetting in keeping with exact sum rules. For critical wetting the second length serves to lower the cutoff in the spectrum of interfacial fluctuations determining the repulsion from the wall. We show how this corrects previous renormalization group predictions for fluctuation effects, based on local interfacial Hamiltonians. In particular, lowering the cutoff leads to a substantial reduction in the effective value of the wetting parameter and prevents the transition being driven first order. Quantitative comparison with Ising model simulation studies due to Binder, Landau, and co-workers is also made.     

Coupled Hamiltonians and three-dimensional short-range wetting transitions

We address three problems faced by effective interfacial Hamiltonian models of wetting based on a single collective coordinate

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(y) representing the position of the unbinding fluid interface. Problems (P1) and (P2) refer to the predictions of non-universality at the upper critical dimension d = 3 at critical and complete wetting, respectively, which are not borne out by Ising model simulation studies. (P3) relates to mean-field correlation function structure in the underlying continuum Landau model. Building on earlier work by Parry and Boulter we investigate the hypothesis that these concerns arise due to the coupling of order parameter fluctuations near the unbinding interface and wall. For quite general choices of collective coordinates X_i(y) we show that arbitrary two-field models H[X₁,X₂] can recover the required anomalous structure of mean-field correlation functions (P3). To go beyond mean-field theory we introduce a set

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of Hamiltonians based on proper collective coordinates s(y) near the wall which have both interfacial and spin-like components. We argue that an optimum model H[s,

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]

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, in which the degree of coupling is controlled by an angle like variable δ^*, best describes the non-universality of the Ising model and investigate its critical behaviour. For critical wetting the appropriate Ginzburg criterion shows that the true asymptotic critical regime for the local susceptibility χ₁ is dramatically reduced consistent with observations of mean-field behaviour in simulations (P1). For complete wetting the model yields a precise expression for the temperature dependence of the renormalised critical amplitude θ in good agreement with simulations (P2). We highlight the importance of a new wetting parameter which describes the physics that emerges due to the coupling effects.     

Precursor films in wetting phenomena

The spontaneous spreading of non-volatile liquid droplets on solid substrates poses a classic problem in the context of wetting phenomena. It is well known that the spreading of a macroscopic droplet is in many cases accompanied by a thin film of macroscopic lateral extent, the so-called precursor film, which emanates from the three-phase contact line region and spreads ahead of the latter with a much higher speed. Such films have been usually associated with liquid-on-solid systems, but in the last decade similar films have been reported to occur in solid-on-solid systems. While the situations in which the thickness of such films is of mesoscopic size are fairly well understood, an intriguing and yet to be fully understood aspect is the spreading of microscopic, i.e. molecularly thin, films. Here we review the available experimental observations of such films in various liquid-on-solid and solid-on-solid systems, as well as the corresponding theoretical models and studies aimed at understanding their formation and spreading dynamics. Recent developments and perspectives for future research are discussed.     

High-energy phenomena,short-range nuclear structure and QCD

A systematic review and theoretical analysis of the experimental data on multi GeV lepton, photon, hadron, deuteron (nucleus) reactions from nuclei forbidden in the case of scattering from free nucleons is presented. It is shown that all these data can be quantitatively described as a manifestation of short-range few nucleon correlations. Calculations for elastic and (deep)inelastic electromagnetic and weak form factors of the deuteron and other nuclei, are given. The inclusive production of leading particles in the nucleus fragmentation region in high-energy lepton, hadron or nucleus-induced collisions is analyzed. The straightforward correspondence between the Weinberg equation for the light-cone wave functions of the deuteron and the non-relativistic Schrödinger equation is found. It is shown that the predictions of quantum chromodynamics for short-distance phenomena in nuclei are in agreement both with experimental data and theoretical expectations due to short range correlations in nuclei. Several feasible experiments are considered which could establish the existence of relativistic nuclear physics.     

润湿现象和毛细现象的热力学描述

应用多组分、多界面系统的热力学基本公式,对沾湿、浸湿、铺展、毛细现象等进行讨论,所得结论与传统方法一致。     

Nonlocality Without Nonlocality

Bell’s theorem is purported to demonstrate the impossibility of a local “hidden variable” theory underpinning quantum mechanics. It relies on the well-known assumption of ‘locality’, and also on a little-examined assumption called ‘statistical independence’ (SI). Violations of this assumption have variously been thought to suggest “backward causation”, a “conspiracy” on the part of nature, or the denial of “free will”. It will be shown here that these are spurious worries, and that denial of SI simply implies nonlocal correlation between spacelike degrees of freedom. Lorentz-invariant theories in which SI does not hold are easily constructed: two are exhibited here. It is conjectured, on this basis, that quantum-mechanical phenomena may be modeled by a local theory after all. This paper is dedicated to the memory of John A. Wheeler.     

Phonon contribution to wetting phenomena: macroscopic theory

We present a macroscopic treatment that clarifies the role of phonons in the wetting of a solid by an ideal liquid, such as liquid ⁴He. We show that in the equation for the wetting temperature the phonon contribution cancels exactly. Therefore, a pure phonon mechanism always results in wetting, and other mechanisms determine whether wetting or non-wetting occurs. The importance of ripplon excitations for the wetting phenomenon is discussed.     

Nonlocality and Entanglement

By constructing a series of mixture, which is inseparable but satisfies the Mermin-Klyshko inequality, for the N-qubit system, we prove that ＂violation of the Mermin-Klyshko inequality＂ is not equivalent to ＂the state is inseparable＂.     

Realism and Single-Quanta Nonlocality

We show that local realism applied to states characterized by a single quantum equally and coherently shared between a number of qubits (so-called W states) produces predictions incompatible with quantum theory. The origin of this incompatibility is shown to originate from the destructive interference of amplitude probabilities associated with nonlocal states, a phenomenon that has no classical analog.     

Three-Slit Experiments and Quantum Nonlocality

An interesting link between two very different physical aspects of quantum mechanics is revealed; these are the absence of third-order interference and Tsirelson’s bound for the nonlocal correlations. Considering multiple-slit experiments—not only the traditional configuration with two slits, but also configurations with three and more slits—Sorkin detected that third-order (and higher-order) interference is not possible in quantum mechanics. The EPR experiments show that quantum mechanics involves nonlocal correlations which are demonstrated in a violation of the Bell or CHSH inequality, but are still limited by a bound discovered by Tsirelson. It now turns out that Tsirelson’s bound holds in a broad class of probabilistic theories provided that they rule out third-order interference. A major characteristic of this class is the existence of a reasonable calculus of conditional probability or, phrased more physically, of a reasonable model for the quantum measurement process.     

Single-Particle Nonlocality and Conditional Measurements

I suggest that quantum mechanical nonlocality may in a certain sense allow a particle to be in two places at the same time, without violating causality. I discuss the measurable consequences of such a feat, and speculate about possible statistical tests which could distinguish this view of quantum mechanics from a corpuscular one. In particular, I describe some experiments being set up at Toronto which will investigate atomic tunneling, looking among other things for a signature of such alkali schizophrenia.     

Nonlocality in imaging

We show how an effective nonlocality in imaging can lead to the sampling of a spatial region which is not significantly illuminated by an imaging probe. The nonlocality is embodied in the effective nonlocal potential describing inelastic scattering which occurs when coupled channel Schr?dinger equations are reduced to a single integro-differential equation. The context in which this prediction will be illustrated is atomic resolution imaging based on energy-loss spectroscopy in scanning transmission electron microscopy.     

Nonlocality is transitive

We show a transitivity property of nonlocal correlations: There exist tripartite nonsignaling correlations of which the bipartite marginals between A and B as well as B and C are nonlocal and any tripartite nonsignaling system between A, B, and C consistent with them must be such that the bipartite marginal between A and C is also nonlocal. This property represents a step towards ruling out certain alternative models for the explanation of quantum correlations such as hidden communication at finite speed. Whereas it is not possible to rule out this model experimentally, it is the goal of our approach to demonstrate this explanation to be logically inconsistent: either the communication cannot remain hidden, or its speed has to be infinite. The existence of a three-party system that is pairwise nonlocal is of independent interest in the light of the monogamy property of nonlocality.     

Nonlocality in Relativistic Dynamics

Recent experiments have renewed interest in nonlocal interpretations of quantum mechanics. The experimental observation of the violation of Bell's inequalities implies the existence of nonlocality. Bohm expressed the nonlocal connection between quantum particles through the wave function and the quantum potential. This paper shows that a similar connection exists in a relativistic dynamical theory known as parametrized relativistic quantum theory (PRQT). We present an introduction to PRQT, derive the quantum potential for a system of relativistic scalar particles, and discuss alternative interpretations of nonlocality.     

Nonlocality and the Kochen-Specker paradox

A new proof of the impossibility of reconciling realism and locality in quantum mechanics is given. Unlike proofs based on Bell's inequality, the present work makes minimal and transparent use of probability theory and proceeds by demonstrating a Kochen-Specker type of paradox based on the value assignments to the spin components of two spatially separated spin-1 systems in the singlet state of their total spin. An essential part of the argument is to distinguish carefully two commonly confused types of contextuality; we call them ontological and environmental contextuality. These in turn are associated with two quite distinct senses of nonlocality. We indicate the relevance of our treatment to other related discussions in recent literature on the philosophy of quantum mechanics.