Une formule de Landau–Zener pour un croisement non dégénéré et involutif de codimension 3Landau–Zener formula for non-degenerate involutive codimension 3 crossings

In this Note, we study a 2×2 system of evolution equations with some codimension 3 crossing. We derive two conditions of non-degeneracy. We focus on one of them and reduce our system to some Landau–Zener's type system. Using this reduction, we describe the energy transfer at the crossing by Landau–Zener formula for 2-scales semi-classical measures. To cite this article: C. Fermanian Kammerer, P. Gérard, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 915–920.     

Aspects of Generic Entanglement

We study entanglement and other correlation properties of random states in high-dimensional bipartite systems. These correlations are quantified by parameters that are subject to the ``concentration of measure' phenomenon, meaning that on a large-probability set these parameters are close to their expectation. For the entropy of entanglement, this has the counterintuitive consequence that there exist large subspaces in which all pure states are close to maximally entangled. This, in turn, implies the existence of mixed states with entanglement of formation near that of a maximally entangled state, but with negligible quantum mutual information and, therefore, negligible distillable entanglement, secret key, and common randomness. It also implies a very strong locking effect for the entanglement of formation: its value can jump from maximal to near zero by tracing over a number of qubits negligible compared to the size of the total system. Furthermore, such properties are generic. Similar phenomena are observed for random multiparty states, leading us to speculate on the possibility that the theory of entanglement is much simplified when restricted to asymptotically generic states. Further consequences of our results include a complete derandomization of the protocol for universal superdense coding of quantum states.     

Study of an identity

We solve the word problem of the identity x(yz) = (xy)(yz) by investigating a certain group describing the geometry of that identity. We also construct a concrete realization of the one-generated free algebra relative to the above identity. Received March 23, 2001; accepted in final form July 6, 2002.     

Mixed formulations for a class of variational inequalitiesFormulations mixtes pour une classe d'inéquations variationnelles

This Note is an attempt to extend the mixed finite element method to a class of variational inequalities including the problems of Signorini and of unilateral contact in elasticity with or without friction. Existence and uniqueness for the continuous and the discrete problems as well as error estimates are established in a general abstract framework. As a result, the mixed approximation of the Signorini problem is proved to converge with an error bound in h^3/4. To cite this article: L. Slimane et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 334 (2002) 87–92     

Towards molecular-scale electronics and biomolecular self-assembly

This paper provides an overview of recent research developments in the field of nanoelectronics with organic materials such as carbon nanotubes and DNA-templated nanowires. Carbon nanotubes and gold electrodes are chemically functionalized in order to contact carbon nanotubes by self-assembly. The transport properties of these nanotubes are dominated by charging effects and display clear Coulomb blockade behaviour. A different approach towards nanoscale electronics is based on the molecular recognition properties of biomolecules such as DNA. As an example, DNA is stretched between electrodes using a molecular combing technique. A two-step metallization procedure leads to the formation of highly conductive gold nanowires.     

Naphthalimide-thiazoles as novel photonucleases: molecular design, synthesis, and evaluation

A new family of photonucleases, naphthalimide-thiazoles was synthesized and evaluated. These compounds intercalated into DNA efficiently and damaged DNA photochemically at concentrations as low as 5 μM. Mechanistic experiment suggests that a novel naphthalimide-thiazole radical produced via an excited triple state might be involved in the DNA photodamage. Different activity may arise from the impact of substituents at 2-phenyl ring of thiazole on the electron population of excited triple state according to AM1 semi-empirical calculation.     

Robust Speed Control of a Low Damped Electromechanical System Based on CRONE Control: Application to a Four Mass Experimental Test Bench

Robust speed control of a low damped electromechanical system with backlash is studied, controlled load angular speed being not measured. The proposed control strategy combines a Luenberger observer (load angular speed and load torque disturbance estimations) and a robust CRONE controller. The observer provides estimation of the load angular speed and of the disturbance torque applied on the load. Through the computation of only three independent parameters (as many as a PID controller), the CRONE controller permits to ensure the robust speed control of the load in spite of plant parametric variations and speed observation errors. The proposed control strategy is applied to a four mass experimental test bench.