Trapping and injecting single domain walls in magnetic wire by local fields

A single domain wall (DW) moves at linearly increasing velocity under an increasing homogeneous drive magnetic field. Present experiments show that the DW is braked and finally trapped at a given position when an additional antiparallel local magnetic field is applied. That position and its velocity are further controlled by suitable tuning of the local field. In turn, the parallel local field of small amplitude does not significantly affect the effective wall speed at long distance, although it generates tail-to-tail and head-to-head pairs of walls moving along opposite directions when that field is strong enough.     

Compensation of second-order dispersion in femtosecond pulses after filamentation using volume holographic transmission gratings recorded in dichromated gelatin

We have designed and developed a pulse compressor with volume transmission holographic gratings to be implemented in post-compression experiments based on filamentation in gases. Pulse compression down to 13?fs has been demonstrated. The gratings have been recorded in commercial PFG-04 dichromated gelatin emulsions with a recording wavelength of 532?nm, attaining sufficient index modulation to achieve high efficiency when they are illuminated by an 800-nm laser.     

Quantum dynamics in ultracold atomic physics

We review recent developments in the theory of quantum dynamics in ultracold atomic physics, including exact techniques and methods based on phase-space mappings that are applicable when the complexity becomes exponentially large. Phase-space representations include the truncated Wigner, positive-P and general Gaussian operator representations which can treat both bosons and fermions. These phase-space methods include both traditional approaches using a phase-space of classical dimension, and more recent methods that use a non-classical phase-space of increased dimensionality. Examples used include quantum Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) entanglement of a four-mode BEC, time-reversal tests of dephasing in single-mode traps, BEC quantum collisions with up to 106 modes and 105 interacting particles, quantum interferometry in a multi-mode trap with nonlinear absorption, and the theory of quantum entropy in phase-space. We also treat the approach of variational optimization of the sampling error, giving an elementary example of a nonlinear oscillator.     

The application of quasi-elastic neutron scattering techniques (QENS) in surface diffusion studies

Neutron scattering techniques such as quasi-elastic neutron scattering, QENS, have proven to be well-suited tools for studying structure and dynamics of surface adsorbed molecules. In contrast to many more widely used surface science techniques neutron scattering allows the microscopic characterization of samples under a wide range of thermodynamic conditions, as the samples are not constrained to ultra high vacuum environment. Moreover, neutron scattering allows the separation of coherent and incoherent scattering, giving access to different diffusive mechanisms such as single particle diffusion, mass transport, rotations, or vibrations. In this paper we will review recent progress and the state-of-the-art in neutron scattering experiments on surface adsorbed molecules in the sub-monolayer coverage range with a specific emphasis on studies of carbon and other high surface density substrates. We will also cover recent progress in theoretical modeling, since the usefulness of neutron scattering data on surface dynamics can be strongly enhanced by computational modeling, such as molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the development of analytical models.     

Constants of Motion for Several One-Dimensional Systems and Problems Associated with Getting Their Hamiltonians

The constants of motion of the following systems are deduced: a relativistic particle with linear dissipation; a no-relativistic particle with a time explicitly depending force; a no-relativistic particle with a constant force and time depending mass; and a relativistic particle under a conservative force with position depending mass. The Hamiltonian for these systems, which is determined by getting the velocity as a function of position and generalized linear momentum, can be found explicitly at first approximation for the first system. The Hamiltonians for the other systems are kept implicitly in their expressions for their constants of motion.     

Activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors elicits pigment granule dispersion in retinal pigment epithelium isolated from bluegill

Background

In fish, melanin pigment granules in the retinal pigment epithelium disperse into apical projections as part of the suite of responses the eye makes to bright light conditions. This pigment granule dispersion serves to reduce photobleaching and occurs in response to neurochemicals secreted by the retina. Previous work has shown that acetylcholine may be involved in inducing light-adaptive pigment dispersion. Acetylcholine receptors are of two main types, nicotinic and muscarinic. Muscarinic receptors are in the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily, and five different muscarinic receptors have been molecularly cloned in human. These receptors are coupled to adenylyl cyclase, calcium mobilization and ion channel activation. To determine the receptor pathway involved in eliciting pigment granule migration, we isolated retinal pigment epithelium from bluegill and subjected it to a battery of cholinergic agents.

Results

The general cholinergic agonist carbachol induces pigment granule dispersion in isolated retinal pigment epithelium. Carbachol-induced pigment granule dispersion is blocked by the muscarinic antagonist atropine, by the M₁ antagonist pirenzepine, and by the M₃ antagonist 4-DAMP. Pigment granule dispersion was also induced by the M₁ agonist 4-[N-(4-chlorophenyl) carbamoyloxy]-4-pent-2-ammonium iodide. In contrast the M₂ antagonist AF-DX 116 and the M₄ antagonist tropicamide failed to block carbachol-induced dispersion, and the M₂ agonist arecaidine but-2-ynyl ester tosylate failed to elicit dispersion.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that carbachol-mediated pigment granule dispersion occurs through the activation of M_odd muscarinic receptors, which in other systems couple to phosphoinositide hydrolysis and elevation of intracellular calcium. This conclusion must be corroborated by molecular studies, but suggests Ca²⁺-dependent pathways may be involved in light-adaptive pigment dispersion.

     

He2 and HeH molecular ions in a strong magnetic field: The Lagrange-mesh approach

Accurate calculations for the ground state of the molecular ions He³⁺₂ and HeH²⁺ placed in a strong magnetic field B?10² a.u.$B?{10}^2\text{a.u.}$ (≈2.35×10¹¹ G$\approx 2.35\times {10}^{11}\text{G}$) using the Lagrange-mesh method are presented. The Born–Oppenheimer approximation of zero order (infinitely massive centers) and the parallel configuration (molecular axis parallel to the magnetic field) are considered. Total energies are found with 9–10 s.d. The obtained results show that the molecular ions He³⁺₂ and HeH²⁺ exist at B>100 a.u.$B>100\text{a.u.}$ and B>1000 a.u.$B>1000\text{a.u.}$, respectively, as predicted in Turbiner and López Vieyra (2007) [1] while a saddle point in the potential curve appears for the first time at B∼80 a.u.$B\sim 80\text{a.u.}$ and B∼740 a.u.$B\sim 740\text{a.u.}$, respectively.     

Derivation of the Keldysh Path Integral from the Master Equation of a Harmonic Oscillator in a Thermal Bath Via Supercoherent States

We consider a harmonic oscillator coupled to a Markovian environment, i.e. a thermal reservoir. We derive the Keldysh path integral and the corresponding lesser, greater, time-ordered, antitime-ordered, retarded, advanced, and Keldysh Green’s functions for this system. In order to give a conceptually clear derivation, we use the superoperator formalism and also define supercoherent states. The supercoherent states and the creation and annihilation superoperators provide a natural way to rewrite the master equation into a path integral.