Dissipative evolution of quantum statistical ensembles and nonlinear response to a time-periodic perturbation

We present a detailed discussion of the evolution of a statistical ensemble of quantum mechanical systems coupled weakly to a bath. The Hilbert space of the full system is given by the tensor product between the Hilbert spaces associated with the bath and the bathed system. The statistical states of the ensemble are described in terms of density matrices. Supposing the bath to be held at some - not necessarily thermal - statistical equilibrium and tracing over the bath degrees of freedom, we obtain reduced density matrices defining the statistical states of the bathed system. The master equations describing the evolution of these reduced density matrices are derived under the most general conditions. On time scales that are large with respect to the bath correlation time and with respect to the reciprocal transition frequencies of the bathed system, the resulting evolution of the reduced density matrix of the bathed system is of Markovian type. The detailed balance relations valid for a thermal equilibrium of the bath are derived and the conditions for the validity of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem are given. Based on the general approach, we investigate the non-linear response of the bathed subsystem to a time-periodic perturbation. Summing the perturbation series we obtain the coherences and the populations for arbitrary strengths of the perturbation.Received: 26 November 2003, Published online: 30 January 2004PACS: 05.30.-d Quantum statistical mechanics - 33.35. + r Electron resonance and relaxation - 33.25. + k Nuclear resonance and relaxation     

Expansion of derivatives in one-dimensional dynamics

We study the expansion of derivatives along orbits of real and complex one-dimensional mapsf, whose Julia setJ _f attracts a finite setCrit of non-flat critical points. Assuming that for eachcεCrit, either |D f ⁿ(f(c))|→∞ (iff is real) orb _n·|Df ⁿ(f(c))|→∞ for some summable sequence {b _n} (iff is complex; this is equivalent to summability of |D f ⁿ(f(c))|⁻¹), we show that for everyxεJ _f\U _i f ⁻ⁱ(Crit), there existℓ(x)≤max _c ℓ(c) andK′(x)>0

Equitable resolvable coverings

In an earlier article, Willem H. Haemers has determined the minimum number of parallel classes in a resolvable 2‐(qk,k,1) covering for all k ≥ 2 and q = 2 or 3. Here, we complete the case q = 4, by construction of the desired coverings using the method of simulated annealing. Secondly, we look at equitable resolvable 2‐(qk,k,1) coverings. These are resolvable coverings which have the additional property that every pair of points is covered at most twice. We show that these coverings satisfy k < 2q ? , and we give several examples. In one of these examples, k > q. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 11: 113–123, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/jcd.10024     

On the nonexistence of finite time bubble trees in symmetric harmonic map heat flows from the disk to the 2-sphere

Let and be the unit disk and the unit sphere, and let be a radially symmetric harmonic map heat flow, whose singularities coincide with downward energy jumps. Then its finite time singularities are simple in the sense that precisely one harmonic sphere separates at a time.     

Lusin's condition (N) for the space mappings W 1, n under analytic assumptions

We give a sufficient analytic condition in order that a mapping fW ¹, ⁿ (;R ⁿ) satisfies Lusin's condition (N).     

Two Tree-Width-Like Graph Invariants

In this paper we introduce two tree-width-like graph invariants. The first graph invariant, which we denote by ⁼(G), is defined in terms of positive semi-definite matrices and is similar to the graph invariant (G), introduced by Colin de Verdière in [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. B., 74:121–146, 1998]. The second graph invariant, which we denote by (G), is defined in terms of a certain connected subgraph property and is similar to (G), introduced by van der Holst, Laurent, and Schrijver in [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. B., 65:291–304, 1995]. We give some theorems on the behaviour of these invariants under certain transformations. We show that ⁼(G)=(G) for any graph G with ⁼(G)4, and we give minimal forbidden minor characterizations for the graphs satisfying ⁼(G)k for k=1,2,3,4.This paper is extracted from two chapters of [7]. This work was done while the author was at the Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica, Kruislaan 413, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.     

On linear congruence relations for Kubota-Leopoldt 2-adic L-functions

Our purpose in the paper is to find the most general linear congruence relation of the Hardy-Williams type for linear combinations of special values of Kubota-Leopoldt 2-adic L-functions L₂(k,χω^1−k) with k running over any finite subset of not necessarily consisting of consecutive integers (see Acta Arith. 47 (1986) 263; Publ. Math. Fac. Sci. Besançon, Théorie des Nombres, 1995/1996; Publ. Math. Debrecen 56 (2000) 677 and cf. Mathematics and Its Applications, Vol. 511, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, London, 2000). If k runs over finite subsets of consisting of consecutive integers see Compositio Math. 111 (1998) 289; Publ. Math. Debrecen 56 (2000) 677; Hardy and Williams, 1986; Compositio Math. 75 (1990) 271; Acta Arith. 71 (1995) 273; 52 (1989) 147; J. Number Theory 34 (1990) 362. In order to obtain the most general congruences of this type we make use of divisibility properties of the generalized Vandermonde determinants obtained in Spie? et al. (Divisibility properties of generalized Vandermonde and Cauchy determinants, Preprint 627, Institute of Mathematics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, 2002). This allows us to simplify our main Theorem 2 and obtain Theorem 3 where the most general form of the linear congruence relation is given.     

Anisotropic spin-orbit coupling and magnetocrystalline anisotropy in vicinal co films

The anisotropy of the spin-orbit interaction, , in vicinal Co films has been measured using x-ray magnetic linear dichroism (XMLD). A linear increase in with Co step density is found using a new sum rule and represents the first experimental confirmation that XMLD probes the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE). X-ray magnetic circular dichroism is used to confirm that the XMLD arises from changes in the local step-edge electronic structure. The XMLD sum rule gives a larger MAE compared to macroscopic values and is discussed with respect to other local probes of the MAE.     

Modular Hypergeometric Residue Sums of Elliptic Selberg Integrals

It is shown that the residue expansion of an elliptic Selberg integral gives rise to an integral representation for a multiple modular hypergeometric series. A conjectural evaluation formula for the integral then implies a closed summation formula for the series, generalizing both the multiple basic hypergeometric ₈₇ sum of Milne-Gustafson type and the (one-dimensional) modular hypergeometric ₈₇ sum of Frenkel and Turaev. Independently, the modular invariance ensures the asymptotic correctness of our multiple modular hypergeometric summation formula for low orders in a modular parameter.     

Estimation of higher-order magnetic spin interactions of Fe(III) and Gd(III) ions doped in α-alumina powder with multifrequency EPR

Fe(III) and Gd(III) ions in α-alumina (A1₂O₃) exhibit spin states ofS = 5/2 andS = 7/2 respectively. The magnitude of the zero-field interaction (ZFI) (D = 0.10?0.15 cm^?1) gives rise to an inter Kramers doublet splitting in the same order of magnitude as the X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) quantum (0.3 cm^?1). It is demonstrated that through a careful step-by-step analysis and spectral simulation of EPR spectra taken at D-band (130 GHz), Q-band (35 GHz), and X-band (9 GHz) at room temperature, the (relative) sign and magnitude of the ZFI parameters, b ₂ ⁰ , b ₄ ⁰ , and b ₄ ³ , can be reliably estimated.