Searching for optimal configurations by simulated tunneling

Optimization theory deals with algorithms finding the lowest cost (energy) configuration in a minimal number of steps. When the cost function has many local minima, the deterministic algorithms become easily trapped in suboptimal solutions. The simulated annealing method tries to overcome this difficulty by introducting thermal noise in the problem. Here we explore the possibility of implementing search procedures analogous to the quantum tunneling effect. The suggested dynamics is a guided diffusion process of an interactingpopulation of configurations. Different dynamical aspects of the search process are formulated first in a simple one-dimensional tight-binding model with a hierarchical potential. The new algorithm is then applied to the Traveling Salesman Problem. It is demonstrated that the use of interacting, evolving populations of tours representing our wave packet leads to systematic improvements and possibly, to the optimal tour. In addition, the structure of the cost function landscape for a given instance becomes locally accessible. The performance of the algorithm and its implications for parallel computing and genetic programming are briefly discussed.     

Strukturelle Charakterisierung der Dicyanamid-Komplexe von Kupfer(II), Nickel(II) bzw. Kobalt(II) mit Aminopyridinen

Summary New dicyanamide complexes of the typeM[N(CN)₂]₂ L ₂ (M=Cu or Ni;L=2-, 3-, 4-aminopyridine, 2-amino-5-nitropyridine) and Co[N(CN)₂]₂ (2-amino-5-nitropyridine)₂ were prepared and studied by spectroscopic methods as well as by room-temperature magnetic moments. The results show that the Cu(II) complexes have elongated pseudooctahedral structures while the Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes are octahedral. In most cases the N(CN)₂ groups are in bridging function and through their cyanide nitrogens, or-more rarely-amide and cyanide nitrogens connect the basic structure units into polymeric conglomerates. In the Cu(II) systems exchange coupling is seen from the _eff value or ESR spectrum.

Professor Viktor Gutmann zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Characterization of reaction products formed during thin-layer chromatographic detection of thiocarbamate herbicides

The reaction between thiocarbamate herbicides and 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone-N-chloroimine or 2,6-dibromobenzoquinone-N-chloroimine is suitable for the detection of these herbicides on thin-layer plates with high sensitivity. The reactions were followed by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. We have established the formation of 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimines. In the case of the bromo-derivative, halogen exchange and substitution on the quinone ring took place simultaneously leading to the formation of mixed halogenated 2,6-dihalo- and, in addition, 2,3,6-trihalobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimines. The final product of the detection reaction, i.e. 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimine was reacted with 2,6-dibromobenzoquinone-N-chloroimine where 2,6-dichloro-3-bromobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimine formed as a consequence of the looser bromine-carbon linkage on the 2 and 6 positions of the quinone ring.     

Effect of LET on radiolysis of C6−C8 cycloalkane systems

The - and -radiolysis of cyclohexane, cycloheptane and cyclooctane was investigated in the absence and presence of iodine scavenger. Comparison of the distributions of products formed revealed considerable differences between - and -radiolysis, and the decomposition of strainless cyclohexane and strained cycloheptane and cyclooctane.     

On X-ray measurements of residual stresses in materials with lattice strain gradient

The non-linear distribution of lattice strain ³¹⁰vs sin² observed on the surface of a polished steel specimen can be interpreted by tri-axial stress state with surface components of stress tensor ₁₁(0)= ₂₂(0) and gradientsg ₁₁= ₁₁/T, g ₃₃= ₃₃/T. The distribution of experimental values is duscussed from the viewpoint of various ways of calculating ₁₁.The authors would like to thank Dr. J. Musil, D. Sc. of the Institute of Physics of Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences for kindly providing the samples which made possible this study.     

Scalar gluonium candidates and the radiativeJ/ψ decays

We discuss productions of scalar gluonium candidates in the radiativeJ/ decays. The branching ratios of such productions are estimated on the basis of the Euler-Heisenberg effective Lagrangian for gluon-photon couplings. We mention that these estimates cannot be expected to be accurate to better than within a factor 2. We show that the radiativeJ/ decays probably invalidate gluoniumgg interpretation of the GAMS meson F₀(1590) and a narrow 0⁺⁺ stateS lying below 1 GeV. However, a possible wide scalar effective gluonium candidate(920) is shown not to be excluded by the data on the decayJ/. We also find that the experimental data about radiativeJ/ decays presumably agree with a recently suggested interpretation of F₀(1590) as being approximately a half-and-half mixture of pure 0⁺⁺ gluoniumgg andSU(3)_f singlet quarkoniumq¯q states.