Stratifiable Families of Extremals and Sufficient Conditions for Optimality in Optimal Control Problems

It is shown that, if a parametrized fämily of extremals F can be stratified in a way compatible with the flow map generated by F, then those trajectories of the family which realize the minimal values of the cost in F are indeed optimal in comparison with all trajectories which lie in the region R covered by the trajectories of F. It is not assumed that F is a field covering the state space injectively. As illustration, an optimal synthesis is constructed for a system where the flow of extremals exhibits a simple cusp singularity.     

Exact Scaling Functions for One-Dimensional Stationary KPZ Growth

We determine the stationary two-point correlation function of the one-dimensional KPZ equation through the scaling limit of a solvable microscopic model, the polynuclear growth model. The equivalence to a directed polymer problem with specific boundary conditions allows one to express the corresponding scaling function in terms of the solution to a Riemann–Hilbert problem related to the Painlevé II equation. We solve these equations numerically with very high precision and compare our, up to numerical rounding exact, result with the prediction of Colaiori and Moore⁽¹⁾ obtained from the mode coupling approximation.     

Mössbauer Study of Ceramic Finds from the Galería de las Ofrendas, Chavín de Huántar

Ceramic finds from the Galería de las Ofrendas at Chavín de Huántar and surface finds from the settlement of Chavín were characterised by combining the results of archaeological typology with archaeometric studies using neutron activation analysis, Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thin-section microscopy. Sherds from the pyramid Tello are included in the study as representative of local material. The analyses show that the vessels were made from different raw materials and that different firing procedures were used in their production. Sherds of certain styles largely exhibit similar types of Mössbauer patterns and in many instances also have similar element compositions. This supports the archaeological notion that the vessels were brought to Chavín from the provinces, perhaps on the occasion of a festivity.     

Doppler cooling a single Ca+ ion with a violet extended-cavity diode laser

We present a scheme for employing a violet extended-cavity diode laser in experiments with single, trapped ions. For this the grating-stabilised laser is spatially and spectrally filtered and referenced to a Fabry–Pérot cavity. We measure an upper limit to the line width by observing a 305-kHz FWHM beat note with the second harmonic of a titanium sapphire laser. The laser is subsequently used to optically cool a single ⁴⁰Ca⁺ ion close to the Doppler limit. PACS 03.67.Lx; 32.80.Pj; 42.55.Px