Quantum logics seen as quantum testability theories

We confute logical relativism and forward an alternative epistemological thesis according to which nonstandard truth-theories are considered theories of some metalinguistic concepts which do not coincide with truth, this latter concept being exhaustively described by Tarski's truth theory. We illustrate our viewpoint by showing that quantum logics can be interpreted as quantum physical theories of the metalinguistic concept of testability in the framework of a suitable classical language (with Tarskian semantics).     

Reconciling local realism and quantum physics: A critique to Bell

A metatheoretical generalized principle (MGP) is stated that formalizes an operational non-standard way of looking at the laws of physics. In quantum physics MGP leads to the invalidation of Bell's inequality without renouncing a minimal form of realism or locality. Therefore, the violation of Bell's inequality predicted by quantum physics does not appear to be paradoxical if MGP is accepted.Dipartimento di Fisica dell'Università-Lecce, Italy. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 99, No. 2, pp. 285–291, May, 1994.     

On the spectrum of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian

The quantum, antiferromagnetic, spin-1/2 Heisenberg Hamiltonian on thed-dimensional cubic lattice ^d is considered for any dimensiond. First the anisotropic case is considered for small transversal coupling and a convergent expansion is given for a family of eigenprojections which is complete in all finite-volume truncations. Then the general case is considered, for which an upper bound to the ground-state energy is given which is optimal for strong enough anisotropy. This bound is expressed through a functional involving the statistical expectation value at finite temperature of a certain correlation function of an Ising model defined on the lattice ^d itself.     

Nonlinear wave propagation in constrained solids subjected to thermal loads

The classical mathematical treatment governing nonlinear wave propagation in solids relies on finite strain theory. In this scenario, a system of nonlinear partial differential equations can be derived to mathematically describe nonlinear phenomena such as acoustoelasticity (wave speed dependency on quasi-static stress), wave interaction, wave distortion, and higher-harmonic generation. The present work expands the topic of nonlinear wave propagation to the case of a constrained solid subjected to thermal loads. The origin of nonlinear effects in this case is explained on the basis of the anharmonicity of interatomic potentials, and the absorption of the potential energy corresponding to the (prevented) thermal expansion. Such “residual” energy is, at least, cubic as a function of strain, hence leading to a nonlinear wave equation and higher-harmonic generation. Closed-form solutions are given for the longitudinal wave speed and the second-harmonic nonlinear parameter as a function of interatomic potential parameters and temperature increase. The model predicts a decrease in longitudinal wave speed and a corresponding increase in nonlinear parameter with increasing temperature, as a result of the thermal stresses caused by the prevented thermal expansion of the solid. Experimental measurements of the ultrasonic nonlinear parameter on a steel block under constrained thermal expansion confirm this trend. These results suggest the potential of a nonlinear ultrasonic measurement to quantify thermal stresses from prevented thermal expansion. This knowledge can be extremely useful to prevent thermal buckling of various structures, such as continuous-welded rails in hot weather.     

CDS volatility: the key signal of credit quality

This paper investigates the role of CDS volatility in providing information concerning the credit quality of a company. In Castellano and D’Ecclesia (J. Financ. Decis. Mak. 2:27, 2011) a first analysis of how CDS quotes respond to rating announcements is provided and it showed that market participants do not rely much on Rating Agencies, especially during periods characterized by very high volatility, i.e. during a financial crisis. Here, a more accurate analysis of the CDS’s ability to provide timely information on the creditworthiness of reference entities is performed, estimating the volatility of CDS quotes by using Exponential GARCH(1,1) models. The event study methodology is applied to a sample of CDS quotes for US and European markets, over the period 2004–2009. Results provide an accurate understanding of market behavior in the presence of news released by Rating Agencies. Overall, market participants seem to provide timely reactions around the event date and we show that the key element of signaling is represented by the changing volatility in CDS quotes, before and after the rating event.     

A critical experimental study of the classical tactile threshold theory

Background  

The tactile sense is being used in a variety of applications involving tactile human-machine interfaces. In a significant number of publications the classical threshold concept plays a central role in modelling and explaining psychophysical experimental results such as in stochastic resonance (SR) phenomena. In SR, noise enhances detection of sub-threshold stimuli and the phenomenon is explained stating that the required amplitude to exceed the sensory threshold barrier can be reached by adding noise to a sub-threshold stimulus. We designed an experiment to test the validity of the classical vibrotactile threshold. Using a second choice experiment, we show that individuals can order sensorial events below the level known as the classical threshold. If the observer's sensorial system is not activated by stimuli below the threshold, then a second choice could not be above the chance level. Nevertheless, our experimental results are above that chance level contradicting the definition of the classical tactile threshold.     

The ring-closing metathesis of vinyl ethers with Grubbs'' catalyst for the synthesis of dihydropyrans

A series of acyclic vinyl ethers have been prepared and treated with Grubbs' ruthenium catalyst ((Cy₃P)₂RuCl₂=CHPh). Contrary to previous findings, it has been shown that certain vinyl ethers are excellent substrates for the ring closing metathesis with ruthenium based catalysts.     

Pd(II) phthalocyanine-sensitized triplet-triplet annihilation from rubrene

Upconverted yellow singlet fluorescence from rubrene (5,6,11,12-tetraphenylnapthacene) was generated from selective excitation (lambdaex = 725 nm) of the red light absorbing triplet sensitizer palladium(II) octabutoxyphthalocyanine, PdPc(OBu)8, in vacuum degassed toluene solutions using a Nd:YAG/OPO laser system in concert with gated iCCD detection. The data are consistent with upconversion proceeding from triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) of rubrene acceptor molecules. The TTA process was confirmed by the quadratic dependence of the upconverted delayed fluorescence intensity with respect to incident light, measured by integrating the corresponding kinetic traces as a function of the incident excitation power. In vacuum degassed toluene solutions, the red-to-yellow upconversion process is stable under continuous long wavelength irradiation and is readily visualized by the naked eye even at modest laser fluence (0.6 mJ/pulse). In aerated solutions, however, selective excitation of the phthalocyanine sensitizer leads to rapid decomposition of rubrene into its corresponding endoperoxide as evidenced by UV-vis (in toluene), 1H NMR (in d6-benzene), and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, consistent with the established reactivity of rubrene with singlet dioxygen. The upconversion process in this triplet sensitizer/acceptor-annihilator combination was preliminarily investigated in solid polymer films composed of a 50:50 mixture of an ethyleneoxide/epichlorohydrin copolymer, P(EO/EP). Films that were prepared under an argon atmosphere and maintained under this inert environment successfully achieve the anticipated quadratic incident power dependence, whereas air exposure causes the film to deviate somewhat from this dependence. To the best of our knowledge, the current study represents the first example of photon upconversion using a phthalocyanine triplet sensitizer, furthering the notion that anti-Stokes light-producing sensitized TTA appears to be a general phenomenon as long as proper energy criteria are met.     

Excited-state absorption properties of platinum(II) terpyridyl acetylides

A comprehensive photophysical study is presented which compares the ground- and excited-state properties of four platinum(II) terpyridyl acetylide compounds of the general formula [Pt(tBu3tpy)(CCR)]+, where tBu3tpy is 4,4',4' '-tri-tert-butyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and R is an alkyl or aryl group. [Ru(tBu3tpy)3]2+ and the pivotal synthetic precursor [Pt(tBu3tpy)Cl]+ were also investigated in the current work. The latter two complexes possess short excited-state lifetimes and were investigated using ultrafast spectrometry while the other four compounds were evaluated using conventional nanosecond transient-absorption spectroscopy. The original intention of this study was to comprehend the nature of the impressive excited-state absorptions that emanate from this class of transition-metal chromophores. Transient-absorbance-difference spectra across the series contain the same salient features, which are modulated only slightly in wavelength and markedly in intensity as a function of the appended acetylide ligand. More intense absorption transients are observed in the arylacetylide structures relative to those bearing an alkylacetylide, consistent with transitions coupled to the pi system of the ancillary ligand. Reductive spectroelectrochemical measurements successfully generated the electronic spectrum of the tBu3tpy radical anion in all six complexes at room temperature. These measurements confirm that electronic absorptions associated with the tBu3tpy radical anion simply do not account for the intense optical transitions observed in the excited state of the Pt(II) chromophores. Transient-trapping experiments using the spectroscopically silent reductive quencher DABCO clearly demonstrate the loss of most transient-absorption features in the acetylide complexes throughout the UV, visible, and near-IR regions following bimolecular excited-state electron transfer, suggesting that these features are strongly tied to the photogenerated hole which is delocalized across the Pt center and the ancillary acetylide ligand.