A three dimensional dark focal spot uniformly surrounded by light

A new technique is proposed for generating a tight dark focal spot surrounded by uniform light intensity in all directions. It is based on a single focusing lens illuminated from one side, hence the alignment sensitivities associated with 4π methods are eliminated. Such a beam can be useful, e.g. as a dark atomic trap, and as the erase beam in three dimensional super-resolution fluorescence microscopy.     

Synchronized cluster formation in coupled laser networks

We experimentally investigate the phase dynamics of laser networks with homogenous time-delayed mutual coupling and establish the fundamental rules that govern their state of synchronization. We identified a specific substructure that imposes its synchronization state on the entire network and show that for any coupling configuration the network forms at most two synchronized clusters. Our results indicate that the synchronization state of the network is a nonlocal phenomenon and cannot be deduced by decomposing the network into smaller substructures, each with its individual synchronization state.     

Coulomb energies and nuclear radii in the energy density formalism

The relation between Coulomb displacement energies,ΔE _c , andΔr=r _n -r _p , the difference between the rms radii of neutrons and protons in nuclei, is investigated within the energy density formalism (EDF). The variational equation, obtained by minimizing the Coulomb plus symmetry energies, is solved assuming the symmetry interaction is a simple functional of the local nuclear matter density. Varying parameters of the model, rather unique relation betweenΔE _c andΔr is obtained (within ±50 keV).ΔE _c isindependent ofr _ex, the rms radius of the excess neutrons distribution. Using the experimental values ofr _p and adjusting the model to reproduce the recent data onΔr (Δr∽~0.05 fm for⁴⁸Ca and²⁰⁸Pb), which are significantly smaller than those obtained from current Hartree-Fock calculations, the calculatedΔE _c agree with the experimental results. Using the value ofΔr～0.05 fm and the experimental values ofr _ex, a small compression (<0.02 fm) of the proton core in the analogue state relative to its parent state emerges, thus contributing an additional electrostatic term to the Coulomb displacement energy. The size of this relative core-compression effect depends on the values assumed forΔr andr _ex, it increases with the decreasing ofΔr and the increasing ofr _ex. IfΔr～0.05 fm the effect is large enough to remove the long standing Coulomb energy anomaly. The main result of the present work is the correlation betweenΔE _c andΔr, suggesting that the difficulties of current Hartree-Fock calculations in reproducing isotope shifts ofr _p , the small value ofr _n ?r _p and the values ofΔE _c may all be different manifestations of some missing residualp n effective interaction.     

Synthesis of copper nanoparticles catalyzed by pre-formed silver nanoparticles

Synthesis of well dispersed copper nanoparticles was achieved by reduction of copper nitrate in aqueous solution using hydrazine monohydrate as a reducer in the presence of preformed silver nanoparticles as catalysts. It has been demonstrated that addition of silver nanoparticles to the reaction mixture leads to formation of aqueous dispersion of copper nanoparticles and also results in a drastic reduction in reaction time compared to procedures reported in the literature. The absorption spectrum of the dispersions, HR-TEM and STEM images and XRD pattern indicate the formation of copper nanoparticles with particle size in the range of 5–50 nm.     

Three Decades in Econophysics—From Microscopic Modelling to Macroscopic Complexity and Back

We explore recent contributions to research in Econophysics, switching between Macroscopic complexity and microscopic modelling, showing how each leads to the other and detailing the everyday applicability of both approaches and the tools they help develop. Over the past decades, the world underwent several major crises, leading to significant increase in interdependence and, thus, complexity. We show here that from the perspective of network science, these processes become more understandable and, to some extent, also controllable.     

A generalization of the fast LUP matrix decomposition algorithm and applications

We show that any m × n matrix A, over any field, can be written as a product, LSP, of three matrices, where L is a lower triangular matrix with l's on the main diagonal, S is an m × n matrix which reduces to an upper triangular matrix with nonzero diagonal elements when the zero rows are deleted, and P is an n × n permutation matrix. Moreover, L, S, and P can be found in O(m^α?1n) time, where the complexity of matrix multiplication is O(m^α). We use the LSP decomposition to construct fast algorithms for some important matrix problems. In particular, we develop O(m^α?1n) algorithms for the following problems, where A is any m × n matrix: (1) Determine if the system of equations $\text{A}\text{x}\text{=}\text{b}$ (where $\text{b}$ is a column vector) has a solution, and if so, find one such solution. (2) Find a generalized inverse, $\text{A}{}^1$, of A (i.e., $\text{AA}{}^1\text{A = A}$). (3) Find simultaneously a maximal independent set of rows and a maximal independent set of columns of A.     

The Moore Bound for Irregular Graphs

 What is the largest number of edges in a graph of order n and girth g? For d-regular graphs, essentially the best known answer is provided by the Moore bound. This result is extended here to cover irregular graphs as well, yielding an affirmative answer to an old open problem ([4] p. 163, problem 10). Received: June 27, 2000 Final version received: July 3, 2001     

A rank-three condition for invariant (1, 2)-symplectic almost Hermitian structures on flag manifolds

This paper considers invariant (1, 2)-symplectic almost Hermitian structures on the maximal flag manifod associated to a complex semi-simple Lie group G. The concept of cone-free invariant almost complex structure is introduced. It involves the rank-three subgroups of G, and generalizes the cone-free property for tournaments related to 𝕊l (n,ℂ) case. It is proved that the cone-free property is necessary for an invariant almost-complex structure to take part in an invariant (1, 2)-symplectic almost Hermitian structure. It is also sufficient if the Lie group is not B _l , l ≥ 3, G ₂ or F ₄. For B _l and F ₄ a close condition turns out to be sufficient. Received: 28 October 2001     

The small quantum group as a quantum double

We prove that the quantum double of the quasi-Hopf algebra of dimension attached in [P. Etingof, S. Gelaki, On radically graded finite-dimensional quasi-Hopf algebras, Mosc. Math. J. 5 (2) (2005) 371–378] to a simple complex Lie algebra and a primitive root of unity q of order n² is equivalent to Lusztig's small quantum group (under some conditions on n). We also give a conceptual construction of using the notion of de-equivariantization of tensor categories.     

Stability and fairness in models with a multiple membership

This article studies a model of coalition formation for the joint production (and finance) of public projects, in which agents may belong to multiple coalitions. We show that, if projects are divisible, there always exists a stable (secession-proof) structure, i.e., a structure in which no coalition would reject a proposed arrangement. When projects are indivisible, stable allocations may fail to exist and, for those cases, we resort to the least core in order to estimate the degree of instability. We also examine the compatibility of stability and fairness in metric environments with indivisible projects, where we also explore the performance of well-known solutions, such as the Shapley value and the nucleolus.