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.     

Infrared lattice bands of some pearls

From analysis of anisotropical lattice bands properties of 50 reflection spectra both of the CO stretching and bending bands measured from some pearl (Ca⁺⁺CO ₃ ^–– or Ca⁺⁺HCO ₃ ^–– layer) we discussed following subjects.i) Quantized properties present both in reflectivity and in energy. ii) classifications of the Optical Activity. iii) Polar distributions of the CO₃ oscillators in Ca⁺⁺CO ₃ ^–– surface mono-layer. iv) Force constants of these oscillators. v) Step variation of the dipolemoment and their influences to the degree of Optical Activity. vi) Two types of hysteresis loops of the values of Y_N (M_2Jbend ()/M_1Jstret. ()) derived from the oscillators which are at innert-state, at weak active-state and at active-state.     

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.     

Non-isovalent alkali metal “substitution” in YBa2Cu3O7−y granular ceramics

The aim of this paper is to study the influence of non-isovalent doping in YBa₂Cu₃O_7–y in particular on its synthesis conditions and on the resistive properties both with and without a magnetic field. We concentrate on the study of possible alkali ions (Na, K, Cs) substitution at the barium sites. A low temperature sintering process is used in order to induce a reactive liquid phase. The final chemical composition is discussed as a function of the amount of the liquid phase. No alkali ion is substituted. Carbonate layers are present. However, this (lack of) substitution leads to induced vacancies and improved electrical transport properties which are as good as in highly pure materials. For conciseness the case of Na substitution only is illustrated. The use of such data in order to probe the microstructure is emphasized.     

The evaluation map in field theory,sigma-models and strings I

The rôle of the evaluation map in anomaly calculations for field theory, sigma-models and strings is investigated. In this paper, anomalies in field theory (with and without a backgrounds connection), are obtained as pull-backs of suitable forms via evaluation maps. The cohomology of the group of gauge transformations is computed in terms of the cohomology of the base manifold and of the cohomology of the structure group. This allows us to clarify the different topological significance of gauge and gravitational anomalies. The relation between locality and universality is discussed and local cohomology is linked to the cohomology of classifying spaces. The problem of combining the locality requirement and the index theorem approach to anomalies is also examined. Anomaly cancellation in field theories derived from superstrings is analyzed and the relevant geometrical constraints are discussed.On leave of absence from Dipartimento di Fisica dell'Universitá di Padova and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di PadovaWork supported in part by: Ministero Pubblica Istruzione (research project on Geometry and Physics)On leave of absence from Department of Mathematics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514. Work supported in part by N.S.F.     

Gravity and Signature Change

The use of proper time to describe classical spacetimes which contain both Euclidean and Lorentzian regions permits the introduction of smooth (generalized) orthonormal frames. This remarkable fact permits one to describe both a variational treatment of Einstein's equations and distribution theory using straightforward generalizations of the standard treatments for constant signature.     

Variational formulation of general relativity from 1915 to 1925 “Palatini's method” discovered by Einstein in 1925

Among the three basic variational approaches to general relativity, the metric-affine variational principle, according to which the metric and the affine connection are varied independently, is commonly known as the Palatini method. In this paper we revisit the history of the golden age of general relativity, through a discussion of the papers involving a variational formulation of the field problem. In particular we find that the original Palatini paper of 1919 was rather far from what is usually meant by Palatini's method, which was instead formulated, to our knowledge, by Einstein in 1925.     

Single fluorescence centers on the tips of crystal needles: First observation and prospects for application in scanning one-atom fluorescence microscopy

A scanning optical fluorescence microscope is suggested, whose active element (needle) is made of a crystal containing impurity ions or color centers subject to excitation by laser radiation. The excitation energy from a single impurity center at the very tip of the needle is transferred by the resonance dipole-dipole exchange mechanism to fluorescence centers on the surface of the sample under study. It is demonstrated that this approach can help attain a nanometer-high spatial resolution at a high sensitivity substantially exceeding in some cases the sensitivity of the standard near-field fluorescence microscopy technique. Various crystals and impurity centers, potentially most suitable for the implementation of the method under consideration, are briefly analyzed. Information is presented on the manufacture of sharp-pointed needles from LiF crystals containing F₂-centers and the first observation of single F₂-centers on their tips by the laser-photoelectron projection microscopy technique, which allows one to speak of the practical creation of the first active elements for the microscope suggested.Dedicated to Prof. F. P. Schäfer on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Quasigroups Connected with Clifford Groups

In Clifford groups, a nonassociative product is defined which leads to the definition of nonassociative groups. These nonassociative groups have matrix representations on the condition that the row by column product of two matrices is replaced by the column by column product. A nonassociative group of transformations connected with the Lorentz group is determined, together with its irreducible, double-valued matrix representation, whose matrices undergo the column by column product.     

Einstein,Gödel,Bohr

Linear combinations of elements of reality, as defined by Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen, may not be themselves elements of reality. There are questions which can be formulated (and unambiguously answered) in the ordinary language of experimental physics, but cannot be represented in the mathematical framework of quantum theory in a nontrivial way.     

Random and cooperative sequential adsorption on infinite ladders and strips

We analyze various processes where particles are added irreversibly and sequentially at the sites of infinite ladders or broader strips (i.e., on terraces) of adsorption sites. For sufficiently narrow strips or ladders, exact solution in closed form is possible for a variety of processes. Often this is most naturally achieved by mapping the process onto an equivalent one-dimensional process typically involvingcompetitive adsorption. We demonstrate this procedure for sequential adsorption with nearest-neighbor exclusion on a 2× square ladder. For other select processes on strips slightly too broad for exact solution, almost exact analysis is possible exploiting an empty-site shielding property. In this way, we determine a jamming coverage of 0.91556671 for random sequential adsorption of dimers on a 2× square ladder. For broader strips, we note that the complexity of these problems quickly approaches that for × lattices.     

Solutions without phase-slip for the Ginsburg-Landau equation

We consider the Ginsburg-Landau equation for a complex scalar field in one dimension and consider initial data which have two different stationary solutions as their limits in space asx±. If these solutions are not very different, then we show that the initial data will evolve to a stationary solution by a phase melting process which avoids phase slips, i.e., which does not go through zero amplitude.     

Lattice theory,quadratic spaces,and quantum proposition systems

A quadratic space is a generalization of a Hilbert space. The geometry of certain kinds of subspaces (closed, splitting, etc.) is approached from the purely lattice theoretic point of view. In particular, theorems of Mackey and Kaplansky are given purely lattice theoretic proofs. Under certain conditions, the lattice of closed elements is a quantum proposition system (i.e., a complete orthomodular atomistic lattice with the covering property).     

On measurement and irreversible processes

The nature of physical measurements performed on microscopic systems is discussed, and it is suggested that the procedures which are conventionally referred to as measurements fall into at least three different categories. The connection between observation processes and irreversible processes is stressed. The customary quantum mechanical treatment of irreversible processes is discussed, and its deficiencies from the philosophical point of view are criticized. The standpoint that quantum mechanics should not be considered as a basic philosophical system but rather as an immensely useful tool is defended. Some attempts at developing a more basic theory are discussed, and a hypothesis is put forward concerning the role of entropy within some possible future nonlocal hidden-variable theory.     

A proposal for Ramsey interferences when spontaneous emission can occur between two interaction zones

The possibility of observing Ramsey fringes in situations where the time separation between two interaction zones is larger than the lifetime is discussed. The spectral characteristics of emission exhibit interferences which are shown to be due to the fact that the spontaneous emission event can occur in two different zones and thus erasing any Welcher-Weg information.It is indeed a great honor for me to contribute an article on the occasion of H. Walther's 60th birthday     

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.     

Squeezed “atomic” states,pseudo-Hermitian operators and Wigner D-matrices

The states of N two-level atoms can be mapped onto the eigenvectors of angular momentum (with j=N/2) and this system in interaction with a radiation field constitutes a fundamental model in Quantum Optics. There from one may construct atomic coherent states and minimum uncertainty packets. The squeezing of such states is of considerable contemporary interest. We show that the properties of squeezed atomic states are most elegantly and economically expressed in terms of pseudo-Hermitian operators and through Wigner D-matrices and their analytical continuation.     

Lorentz matrices: A review

This is an expository review of the Lorentz transformation, which is a change of coordinates used by one inertial observer to those used by another one. The transformation can be represented by a four-by-four matrix, the Lorentz matrix or the Minkowski-Lorentz matrix. The most familiar, or special, case has thex axis of both observers parallel to their relative velocity. A more general transformation drops this constraint. But then a seeming paradox arises when there are three observers, and this has led to a challenge to the self-consistency of the special theory of relativity. It is shown here that this challenge is based on a misunderstanding. The properties of the more general Lorentz transformation are reviewed consistently in terms of the matrix approach, which the author believes is now the easiest approach to understand. The spectral analysis of the Lorentz matrix is also discussed. Several checks are included to make assurance double sure.     

AN EXTENSION OF “POPPER'S EXPERIMENT” CAN TEST INTERPRETATIONS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS

Karl Popper proposed a way to test whether a proposed relation of a quantum-mechanical state to perceived reality in the Copenhagen interpretation (CI) of quantum mechanics—namely that the state of a particle is merely an expression of what is known about the system—is in agreement with all experimental facts. A conceptual flaw in Popper's proposal is identified and an improved version of his experiment (called Extension step 1)—which fully serves its original purpose—is suggested. The main purpose of this paper is to suggest to perform this experiment. The results of this experiment predicted under the alternative assumptions that the CI or the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) is correct are shown to be identical. Only after a further modification (called Extension step 2) (the use of an ion isolated from the macroscopic environment as particle detector) the predictions using the respective interpretations become qualitatively different. This is because what is known by a human observer H can fail as a basis for the prediction of the statistical distribution of measurement results within the MWI in special cases: The temporal evolution of a system un-entangled with H (like the isolated ion) can depend on another system's state components that are entangled with states ortogonal to H. Thus—within the CI—for H they are known not to exist. Yet H can infer their existence by studying the evolution of the ion.     

Proof of a retroactive influence

Quantum theory predicts that, e.g., in a Stern-Gerlach experiment with electrons the measured spin component does not come about by an adjustment at the last moment, a forced flipping or tilting of the spin (vector), which would imply z-angular momentum exchange between particle and instrument, but will afterward appear to have had the value already before the measurement. Because an electron spin cannot have components in all directions at the same time, the measuring direction has a privileged status before the measurement, however we choose that direction, which implies a retroactive effect. A second proof of retroactivity is derived from a special case of the paradox of Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen. It is strongly suggested by our result that, in essential respects, both Bohr and Einstein were right in their famous controversy about determinism and considering microprocesses as a whole.