Regular partitions of dual polar spaces

We describe several classes of regular partitions of dual polar spaces and determine their associated parameters and eigenvalues. We also give some general methods for computing the eigenvalues of regular partitions of dual polar spaces.     

How To Play Two-Player Restricted Quantum Games with 10 Cards

We show that it is possible to play ‘restricted’ two-player quantum games proposed originally by Marinatto and Weber (Phys. Lett. A 272:291–303, 2000) by purely macroscopic means, in the simplest case having as the only equipment a pack of 10 cards. Our example shows also that some apparently ‘genuine quantum’ results, even those that emerge as a consequence of dealing with entangled states, can be obtained by suitable application of Kolmogorovian probability calculus and secondary-school mathematics, without application of the ‘Hilbert space machinery’.     

Supplier quality improvement: The value of information under uncertainty

We consider supplier development decisions for prime manufacturers with extensive supply bases producing complex, highly engineered products. We propose a novel modelling approach to support supply chain managers decide the optimal level of investment to improve quality performance under uncertainty. We develop a Poisson–Gamma model within a Bayesian framework, representing both the epistemic and aleatory uncertainties in non-conformance rates. Estimates are obtained to value a supplier quality improvement activity and assess if it is worth gaining more information to reduce epistemic uncertainty. The theoretical properties of our model provide new insights about the relationship between the degree of epistemic uncertainty, the effectiveness of development programmes, and the levels of investment. We find that the optimal level of investment does not have a monotonic relationship with the rate of effectiveness. If investment is deferred until epistemic uncertainty is removed then the expected optimal investment monotonically decreases as prior variance increases but only if the prior mean is above a critical threshold. We develop methods to facilitate practical application of the model to industrial decisions by a) enabling use of the model with typical data available to major companies and b) developing computationally efficient approximations that can be implemented easily. Application to a real industry context illustrates the use of the model to support practical planning decisions to learn more about supplier quality and to invest in improving supplier capability.     

Experimental realization of linear-optical partial swap gates

We present a linear-optical implementation of a class of two-qubit partial SWAP gates for polarization states of photons. Different gate operations, including the SWAP and entangling sqrt[SWAP], can be obtained by changing a classical control parameter, namely, the path difference in the interferometer. Reconstruction of output states, full quantum process tomography, and an evaluation of entanglement of formation prove very good performance of the gates.     

Ultrasonics in heterogeneous metal catalysis: sonochemical chemo- and enantioselective hydrogenations over supported platinum catalysts

Sonochemical chemo- and enantioselective hydrogenations over supported platinum catalysts are described. We disclose our results with respect to a sonochemical modification of the chemoselective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde over supported platinum catalysts, and the asymmetric hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate promoted by various ultrasonic pretreatments. The ultrasonic pretreatment of the supported platinum catalysts was found to be highly beneficial in almost every case, improving both the catalytic activity and selectivity. The effect of additional experimental variables, such as hydrogen pressure, catalyst support, temperature and the ultrasonic insonation time were also studied. The enantioselectivity of the hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate increased up to 97.1% ee. In the case of cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation, the selective preparation of cinnamyl alcohol became possible. The theoretical aspects of the working mechanisms in comparison with 'silent' reactions will also be provided.     

The Structure of the Algebra of Observables in the Intermediate Situation of the ∈-Model

We look at the action of the spin-1/2 operatorsof quantum mechanics on the state of an entity in aphysical way, and use this as a guideline to define theoperators of the intermediate situations of a general spin-1/2 measurement model called the-model. Then we test the possible linearity ofthe operators so constructed.