The interface of the Ising model and the Brownian sheet

We study the limit theorem related to the interface of the three-dimensional Ising model. Dobrushin proved that the interface does not fluctuate and becomes rigid for sufficiently large. We define the random fieldX ^L (t, s), 0t, s1, on the interface, and prove that X^L(t, s) converges to the Brownian sheet as L for sufficiently large, whereL denotes the size of the system. This result does not mean that the interface itself converges to the Brownian sheet.     

Fast Encoding Method for Image Vector Quantization Based on Multiple Appropriate Features to Estimate Euclidean Distance

The encoding process of finding the best-matched codeword (winner) for a certain input vector in image vector quantization (VQ) is computationally very expensive due to a lot of k-dimensional Euclidean distance computations. In order to speed up the VQ encoding process, it is beneficial to firstly estimate how large the Euclidean distance is between the input vector and a candidate codeword by using appropriate low dimensional features of a vector instead of an immediate Euclidean distance computation. If the estimated Euclidean distance is large enough, it implies that the current candidate codeword could not be a winner so that it can be rejected safely and thus avoid actual Euclidean distance computation. Sum (1-D), L₂ norm (1-D) and partial sums (2-D) of a vector are used together as the appropriate features in this paper because they are the first three simplest features. Then, four estimations of Euclidean distance between the input vector and a codeword are connected to each other by the Cauchy–Schwarz inequality to realize codeword rejection. For typical standard images with very different details (Lena, F-16, Pepper and Baboon), the final remaining must-do actual Euclidean distance computations can be eliminated obviously and the total computational cost including all overhead can also be reduced obviously compared to the state-of-the-art EEENNS method meanwhile keeping a full search (FS) equivalent PSNR.     

Universal reconnection of non-Abelian cosmic strings

We show that local and semilocal strings in Abelian and non-Abelian gauge theories with critical couplings always reconnect classically in collision, by using moduli space approximation. The moduli matrix formalism explicitly identifies a well-defined set of the vortex moduli parameters. Our analysis of generic geodesic motion in terms of those shows right-angle scattering in head-on collision of two vortices, which is known to give the reconnection of the strings.     

Near Field Stimulated Time of Flight Mass Surface Analyzer

This work describes a groundbreaking process that provides a direct highly localized measurement of the atomic mass on surfaces at room temperature. Employing an original system that joins a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) device and a time of flight (TOF) mass analyzer, we could previously ionize surface atoms by the combination of an optical laser pulse and an electric pulse at the STM tip. Desorbed ions from a localized area were accelerated and detected by a TOF chamber. We will demonstrate in this paper that high localization and mass discrimination can be obtained even without the aid of an electric pulse from the tip. We reduced the angle of incidence of the laser beam to zero (laser beam parallel to the sample surface). In this condition we were able to demonstrate for the first time ionic desorption at a confinement level of the order of 5-10nm, an order of magnitude better than previous configurations.This paper was originally presented at the 11th Optical Near Field Workshop, which was held on June 28, 2002 at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, organized by the Optical Near Field Group of the Optical Society of Japan, an affiliate of the Japan Society of Applied Physics.     

Changes in Hip and Knee Muscle Strength in Patients Following Total Hip Arthroplasty

Objective: To investigate changes in hip and knee muscle strength in patients before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in comparison with that in healthy adults. Methods: The study included 21 women who underwent unilateral THA (THA group) and 21 age-matched healthy women (healthy group). Maximal isometric strengths of hip flexors, extensors, and abductors, and knee extensors and flexors were measured before surgery and at 4 weeks and 6 months after surgery. Results: Before surgery, muscle strength on both sides, except for hip flexors on the uninvolved side, was significantly lower in the THA group than the corresponding muscle strength in the healthy group. Up to 6 months after THA, strength of all muscle groups on both sides was significantly improved compared with their preoperative status, although the knee extensor strength on the involved side temporarily worsened at 4 weeks. However, the strength of hip extensors and knee extensors on the involved side, and hip abductors on both sides in the THA group remained below that in the healthy group. Conclusions: Our results suggest that rehabilitation specialists should consider increasing the focus on the uninvolved side and encourage patients to continue strength training beyond 6 months after surgery.     

Wilsonian RG Analysis of the P-wave Nucleon–Nucleon Scattering Including Pions

We perform a Wilsonian renormalization group analysis for the nucleon–nucleon scattering in the P waves in the nuclear effective field theory including pions, in a similar way to the one done for the S-waves in our previous paper. We emphasize that the one-pion exchange interaction with large momentum transfer is of the same order as the leading contact interaction, so that there is no mismatch of the power counting. It is explicitly shown by obtaining consistent sets of renormalization group equations, that the cutoff dependence generated by the loop diagrams containing pion exchanges can be compensated by the cutoff dependence of the coupling constants of the contact interactions.     

Surface modification without desorption: recycling of Cl on Si(100)-(2 x 1)

We demonstrate chlorine-induced modification of Si(100)-(2 x 1) under conditions where Cl is recycled rather than desorbed as SiCl2. A dimer with 2 Cl atoms, 2SiCl, converts to SiCl2+Si, allowing the bare Si atom to escape onto the terrace. At temperatures below the desorption threshold, the SiCl2 unit decays through Cl diffusion, allowing the second Si atom to escape. The result is a dimer vacancy, terrace regrowth structures, and Cl that is able to participate in another pitting event. Access to this unexpected roughening pathway is controlled by the Cl concentration and temperature. This previously overlooked process represents an important component of Si(100) surface processing.     

Crystal Phases of TiO2 Ultrafine Particles Prepared by Laser Ablation of Solid Rods

Titanium dioxide ultrafine particles (UFPs) are produced by pulsed laser ablation of titanium or titanium dioxide (anatase and rutile) rods in an atmosphere of He or O₂/He mixture. The collected UFPs on cellulose membrane filters at the exit of the ablation chamber are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TiO₂ particles produced are composed of very small particles (diameter: 10–50nm) that are completely anatase, irrespective of the rod material, and relatively large particles (diameter: 100nm–1m) that are a mixture of anatase and rutile. The large particles consist of the direct strip-off fragments coming from the rod surface. The particles obtained from the laser ablation on TiO₂ rods in an atmosphere of He contains gray particles that are supposed to be amorphous TiO₂ (x < 2). In the presence of O₂ in the ablation chamber, these oxygen defects in amorphous TiO₂ are stabilized and anatase UFPs are formed. These results suggest that the crystal phase of the products can be controlled by adjusting the rod material and the gases used in the ablation process.     

New Method of Calculating a Multiplication by using the Generalized Bernstein-Vazirani Algorithm

We present a new method of more speedily calculating a multiplication by using the generalized Bernstein-Vazirani algorithm and many parallel quantum systems. Given the set of real values \(\{a_{1},a_{2},a_{3},\ldots ,a_{N}\}\) and a function \(g:\textbf {R}\rightarrow \{0,1\}\), we shall determine the following values \(\{g(a_{1}),g(a_{2}),g(a_{3}),\ldots , g(a_{N})\}\) simultaneously. The speed of determining the values is shown to outperform the classical case by a factor of \(N\). Next, we consider it as a number in binary representation; M₁ = (g(a₁),g(a₂),g(a₃),…,g(a _N )). By using \(M\) parallel quantum systems, we have \(M\) numbers in binary representation, simultaneously. The speed of obtaining the \(M\) numbers is shown to outperform the classical case by a factor of \(M\). Finally, we calculate the product; \( M_{1}\times M_{2}\times \cdots \times M_{M}. \) The speed of obtaining the product is shown to outperform the classical case by a factor of N × M.     

Ruijsenaars' Commuting Difference Operators as Commuting Transfer Matrices

For Belavin's elliptic quantum R-matrix, we construct an L-operator as a set of difference operators acting on functions on the type A weight space. According to the fundamental relation RLL=LLR, taking the trace of the L-operator gives a set of commuting difference operators. We show that for the above mentioned L-operator this approach gives Macdonald type operators with elliptic theta function coefficient, actually equivalent to Ruijsenaars' operators. The relationship between the difference L-operator and Krichever's Lax matrix is given, and an explicit formula for elliptic commuting differential operators is derived. We also study the invariant subspace for the system which is spanned by symmetric theta functions on the weight space. Received: 27 December 1995 / Accepted: 11 November 1996