Homomorphisms between JC＊-algebras and Lie C＊-algebras

It is shown that every almost ＊-homomorphism h ： A→B of a unital JC＊-algebra A to a unital JC＊-algebra B is a ＊-homomorphism when h（rx） = rh（x） （r 〉 1） for all x∈A, and that every almost linear mapping h ： A→B is a ＊-homomorphism when h（2^nu o y） - h（2^nu） o h（y）, h（3^nu o y） - h（3^nu） o h（y） or h（q^nu o y） = h（q^nu） o h（y） for all unitaries u ∈A, all y ∈A, and n = 0, 1,.... Here the numbers 2, 3, q depend on the functional equations given in the almost linear mappings. We prove that every almost ＊-homomorphism h ： A→B of a unital Lie C＊-algebra A to a unital Lie C＊-algebra B is a ＊-homomorphism when h（rx） = rh（x） （r 〉 1） for all x ∈A.     

Experimental quantum cloning with prior partial information

When prior partial information about a state to be cloned is available, it can be cloned with a fidelity higher than that of universal quantum cloning. We experimentally verify this intriguing relationship between the cloning fidelity and the prior information by reporting the first experimental optimal quantum state-dependent cloner, using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Our experiments may further cast important implications into many quantum information processing protocols.     

Bandwidth control in a hybrid fiber acousto-optic filter

We report a bandwidth variation technique in an acousto-optic filter. Utilizing the adiabatic conversion in both optical and acoustic modes, we obtain a novel hybrid waveguide composed of serial concatenation of single-mode fiber (SMF) and two-mode hollow optical fiber (HOF). On the basis of dissimilarity in the phase-matching conditions and beat-length dispersion in SMF and HOF, the FWHM of the resonant bands is varied from 3.8 to 190 nm near the 1.5-microm region in a single device. Furthermore, we theoretically analyze the acousto-optic coupling among the guided modes in HOF, which shows good agreement with experimental observations.     

Long optically controlled delays in optical fibers

Optically controlled delay lines in optical fibers are demonstrated by use of the group-velocity control of signal pulses based on stimulated Brillouin scattering. We achieve continuous time delay within the range of 150 ns, much larger than the width of the 40 ns signal pulse, using cascaded fiber segments joined by unidirectional optical attenuators. In the meantime, we also observe a large amount of pulse broadening, which agrees well with a theoretical prediction based on linear theory.     

Classification and identification of recorded and synthesized impact sounds by practiced listeners, musicians, and nonmusicians

Three experiments were conducted to test the viability of a low-parameter modal model for synthesizing impact sounds to be used in commercial and psychoacoustic research. The model was constrained to have four physically based parameters dictating the amplitude, frequency, and decay of modes. The values of these parameters were selected by ear to roughly match the recordings of ten different resonant objects suspended by hand and struck with different mallets. In experiment 1, neither 35 professional musicians nor 187 college undergraduates could identify which of the two matched sounds was the real recording with better than chance accuracy, though significantly better than chance performance was obtained when modal parameters were selected without the previously imposed physical constraints. In experiment 2, the undergraduates identified the source corresponding to the recorded and synthesized sounds with the same level of accuracy and largely the same pattern of errors. Finally, experiment 3 showed highly practiced listeners to be largely insensitive to changes in the acoustic waveform resulting from an increase in the number of free parameters used in the modal model beyond 3. The results suggest that low-parameter, modal models might be exploited meaningfully in many commercial and research applications involving human perception of impact sounds.     

Quantitative conditions do not guarantee the validity of the adiabatic approximation

In this Letter, we point out that the widely used quantitative conditions in the adiabatic theorem are insufficient in that they do not guarantee the validity of the adiabatic approximation. We also reexamine the inconsistency issue raised by Marzlin and Sanders [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 160408 (2004)] and elucidate the underlying cause.     

Kinematic approach to the mixed state geometric phase in nonunitary evolution

A kinematic approach to the geometric phase for mixed quantal states in nonunitary evolution is proposed. This phase is manifestly gauge invariant and can be experimentally tested in interferometry. It leads to well-known results when the evolution is unitary.     

Magnetic determination of H(c2) under accurate alignment in (TMTSF)2ClO4

Cantilever magnetometry has been used to measure the upper critical magnetic field H(c2) of the quasi-one-dimensional molecular organic superconductor (TMTSF)2ClO4. From simultaneous resistivity and torque magnetization experiments conducted under precise field alignment, H(c2) at low temperature is shown to reach 5 T, nearly twice the Pauli paramagnetic limit imposed on spin singlet superconductors. These results constitute the first thermodynamic evidence for a large H(c2) in this system and provide support for spin triplet pairing in this unconventional superconductor.     

Consistent resolution of possible anomalies in B0-->phi K(S) and B+ --> eta'K+ Decays

In the framework of R-parity violating (R(p)) supersymmetry, we try to find a consistent explanation for both recently measured CP asymmetry in B0 --> phi K(S) decay and the large branching ratio of B+/- --> eta'K+/- decay, which are inconsistent with the standard model (SM) prediction. We also investigate other charmless hadronic B -- >PP and B --> VP decay modes whose experimental data favor the SM: for instance, recently measured CP asymmetries in B0 --> eta(')K(S) and B0 -- >J/Psi K(S). We find that all the observed data can be accommodated for certain values of R(p) couplings.     

Thermal-noise effect on the transition to Rayleigh-Bénard convection

We report measurements of fluctuation and roll patterns near the transition to Rayleigh-Bénard convection which are consistent with a fluctuation-induced first-order transition, as predicted by Swift and Hohenberg. Above onset, we find convection rolls with noise-induced fluctuations, time-dependent amplitude modulation and roll undulation, and homogeneous dislocation nucleation.