Observation of soliton tunneling phenomena and soliton ejection

We study, theoretically and experimentally, the nonlinear dynamics of a wave packet launched inside a trap potential. Increasing the power of the wave packet transforms its dynamics from linear tunneling through a potential barrier, to soliton tunneling, and eventually, above a well-defined threshold, to the ejection of a soliton from the potential trap.     

Miyamoto involutions in axial algebras of Jordan type half

Nonassociative commutative algebras A, generated by idempotents e whose adjoint operators ad _e : A → A, given by x ? xe, are diagonalizable and have few eigenvalues, are of recent interest. When certain fusion (multiplication) rules between the associated eigenspaces are imposed, the structure of these algebras remains rich yet rather rigid. For example, vertex operator algebras give rise to such algebras. The connection between the Monster algebra and Monster group extends to many axial algebras which then have interesting groups of automorphisms.Axial algebras of Jordan type η are commutative algebras generated by idempotents whose adjoint operators have a minimal polynomial dividing (x-1)x(x-η), where η ? {0, 1} is fixed, with well-defined and restrictive fusion rules. The case of η ≠1/2 was thoroughly analyzed by Hall, Rehren and Shpectorov in a recent paper, in which axial algebras were introduced. Here we focus on the case where η = 1/2, which is less understood and is of a different nature.     

Nonabelian free subgroups in homomorphic images of valued quaternion division algebras

Given a quaternion division algebra a noncentral element is called pure if its square belongs to the center. A theorem of Rowen and Segev (2004) asserts that for any quaternion division algebra of positive characteristic and any pure element the quotient of by the normal subgroup generated by is abelian-by-nilpotent-by-abelian. In this note we construct a quaternion division algebra of characteristic zero containing a pure element such that contains a nonabelian free group. This demonstrates that the situation in characteristic zero is very different.

     

Observation of vortex-ring "discrete" solitons in 2D photonic lattices

We present the experimental observation of both on-site and off-site vortex-ring solitons of unity topological charge in a nonlinear photonic lattice, along with a theoretical study of their propagation dynamics and stability.     

Observation of elliptic incoherent spatial solitons

We present the first experimental observation of spatially incoherent elliptic solitons. We use partially spatially incoherent light with anisotropic correlation statistics and observe elliptic solitons supported by the photorefractive screening nonlinearity.     

Random-phase solitons in nonlinear periodic lattices

We predict the existence of random phase solitons in nonlinear periodic lattices. These solitons exist when the nonlinear response time is much longer than the characteristic time of random phase fluctuations. The intensity profiles, power spectra, and statistical (coherence) properties of these stationary waves conform to the periodicity of the lattice. The general phenomenon of such solitons is analyzed in the context of nonlinear photonic lattices.     

Hidden neuronal correlations in cultured networks

Utilization of a clustering algorithm on neuronal spatiotemporal correlation matrices recorded during a spontaneous activity of in vitro networks revealed the existence of hidden correlations: the sequence of synchronized bursting events (SBEs) is composed of statistically distinguishable subgroups each with its own distinct pattern of interneuron spatiotemporal correlations. These findings hint that each of the SBE subgroups can serve as a template for coding, storage, and retrieval of a specific information.     

Observation of second-band vortex solitons in 2D photonic lattices

We demonstrate second-band bright vortex-array solitons in photonic lattices. This constitutes the first experimental observation of higher-band solitons in any 2D periodic system. These solitons possess complex intensity and phase structures, yet they can be excited by a simple highly localized vortex-ring beam. Finally, we show that the linear diffraction of such beams exhibits preferential transport along the lattice axes.     

White matter changes in multiple sclerosis: correlation of q-space diffusion MRI and 1H MRS

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic usefulness of high b-value diffusion magnetic resonance brain imaging ("q-space" imaging) in multiple sclerosis (MS). More specifically, we aimed at evaluating the ability of this methodology to identify tissue damage in the so-called normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). DESIGN: In this study we examined the correlation between q-space diffusion imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-based two-dimensional 1H chemical shift imaging. Eight MS patients with different degree of disease severity and seven healthy subjects were scanned in a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The MRI protocol included diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) (with bmax of 1000 s/mm2), high b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (with bmax of 14,000 s/mm2) and 2D chemical shift imaging. The high b-value data set was analyzed using the q-space methodology to produce apparent displacement and probability maps. RESULTS: We found that the q-space diffusion displacement and probability image intensities correlated well with N-acetylaspartate levels (r=.61 and .54, respectively). Furthermore, NAWM that was abnormal on MRS was also found to be abnormal using q-space diffusion imaging. In these areas, the q-space displacement values increased from 3.8+/-0.2 to 4.6+/-0.6 microm (P<.02), the q-space probability values decreased from 7.4+/-0.3 to 6.8+/-0.3 (P<.002), while DTI revealed only a small, but still significant, reduction in fractional anisotropy values from 0.40+/-0.02 to 0.37+/-0.02 (P<.05). CONCLUSION: High b-value diffusion imaging can detect tissue damage in the NAWM of MS patients. Despite the theoretical limitation of this method, in practice it provides additional information which is clinically relevant for detection of tissue damage not seen in conventional imaging techniques.