No directed fractal percolation in zero area

We consider the fractal percolation process on the unit square with fixed decimation parameterN and level-dependent retention parameters {p _k}; that is, for allk ⩾ 1, at thek th stage every retained square of side lengthN ¹⁻ k is partitioned intoN ² congruent subsquares, and each of these is retained with probabilityp _k. independent of all others. We show that if Π_k p _k =0 (i.e., if the area of the limiting set vanishes a.s.), then a.s. the limiting set contains no directed crossings of the unit square (a directed crossing is a path that crosses the unit square from left to right, and moves only up, down, and to the right).     

Time-reversal symmetry violation and the oscillating universe

The expressions for the fractional number ofK ⁰'s and¯K ⁰'s in a neutral kaon beam are discussed with reference to time-reversal asymmetry. The suggested relation between the sign of Re ( is the Lee-WuT-violation parameter) and the cosmological arrow of time ifCPT is broken is further clarified.Research sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Office of Aerospace Research, U.S. Air Force, under AFOSR grant number EOOAR-68-0010, through the European Office of Aerospace Research.     

The design of a Tort law to control accidents

In this paper we analyse a two-stage game involving the government and n agents who engage in a single activity (driving). The government establishes the legal policy setting and the agents proceed to play a non-cooperative game of incomplete information with a risk of accident in which their behavioral strategy is their level of care. We examine the Nash-equilibrium conditions for single-activity accidents between heterogeneous agents, ‘good’ drivers or ‘bad’ drivers allowing a variable damage function and a liability rule defined on the cube. The relative desirability for society of alternative equilibria and the conditions under which they can obtain are discussed. The constraints which circumscribe the ability of the government to induce an equilibrium involving careful driving are demonstrated. It transpires that when the proportion of good drivers increases, it becomes more difficult to sustain a careful equilibrium whereas an equilibrium of reckless behavior becomes easier to sustain. Various extensions of the models are also presented.     

Quasisymmetric embeddings, the observable diameter, and expansion properties of graphs

It is shown that the edges of any n-point vertex expander can be replaced by new edges so that the resulting graph is an edge expander, and such that any two vertices that are joined by a new edge are at distance in the original graph. This result is optimal, and is shown to have various geometric consequences. In particular, it is used to obtain an alternative perspective on the recent algorithm of Arora et al. [Proceedings of the 36th Annual ACM Symposium on the Theory of Computing, 2004, pp. 222-231.] for approximating the edge expansion of a graph, and to give a nearly optimal lower bound on the ratio between the observable diameter and the diameter of doubling metric measure spaces which are quasisymmetrically embeddable in Hilbert space.     

New Coins From Old: Computing With Unknown Bias

Suppose that we are given a function f : (0, 1)→(0,1) and, for some unknown p∈(0, 1), a sequence of independent tosses of a p-coin (i.e., a coin with probability p of “heads”). For which functions f is it possible to simulate an f(p)-coin? This question was raised by S. Asmussen and J. Propp. A simple simulation scheme for the constant function f(p)≡1/2 was described by von Neumann (1951); this scheme can be easily implemented using a finite automaton. We prove that in general, an f(p)-coin can be simulated by a finite automaton for all p ∈ (0, 1), if and only if f is a rational function over ℚ. We also show that if an f(p)-coin can be simulated by a pushdown automaton, then f is an algebraic function over ℚ; however, pushdown automata can simulate f(p)-coins for certain nonrational functions such as . These results complement the work of Keane and O’Brien (1994), who determined the functions f for which an f(p)-coin can be simulated when there are no computational restrictions on the simulation scheme. * Supported by a Miller Fellowship. † Supported in part by NSF Grant DMS-0104073 and by a Miller Professorship. ‡ This work is supported under a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.     

An asymptotic solution for the diffraction by a discontinuity in curvature coupled with surface diffraction

An extension is developed for the asymptotic theory of electromagnetic diffraction by a discontinuity in curvature on a smooth convex perfectly-conducting surface. It covers the case where the rays incident on and diffracted from the discontinuity are nearly tangent to the surface or are creeping rays, so that surface diffraction is involved. This extension is restricted to those diffracted rays lying on the same side of the discontinuity as the incident ray; this includes backscatter but excludes forward scattering.     

Fractional shot noise in the kondo regime

Transport through quantum dots in the Kondo regime obeys an effective low-temperature theory in terms of weakly interacting quasiparticles. Despite the weakness of the interaction, we find that the backscattering current and hence the shot noise are dominated by two-quasiparticle scattering. We show that the simultaneous presence of one- and two-quasiparticle scattering results in a universal average charge 5/3e as measured by shot-noise experiments. An experimental verification of our prediction would constitute a most stringent test of the low-energy theory of the Kondo effect.     

Interplay of spin and charge channels in zero-dimensional systems

We study the interplay of charge and spin (zero-mode) channels in quantum dots. The latter affects the former in the form of a distinct signature on the differential conductance. We also obtain both longitudinal and transverse spin susceptibilities. All these observables, underlain by spin fluctuations, become accentuated as one approaches the Stoner instability. The nonperturbative effects of zero-mode interaction are described in terms of the propagation of gauge bosons associated with charge [U(1)] and spin [SU(2)] fluctuations in the dot, while transverse spin fluctuations are analyzed perturbatively.     

Interaction of scanning probes with semiconductor nanocrystals; physical mechanism and basis for near-field optical imaging

We investigate the modification of photoluminescence (PL) from single semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (NCs) in the proximity of metal and semiconducting atomic force microscope (AFM) tips. The presence of the tip alters the radiative decay rate of an emitter via interference and opens efficient nonradiative decay channels via energy transfer to the tip material. These effects cause quenching (or enhancement) of the emitter's PL intensity as a function of its distance from the interacting tip. We take advantage of this highly distance-dependent effect to realize a contrast mechanism for high-resolution optical imaging. AFM tips are optimized as energy acceptors by chemical functionalization with InAs NCs to achieve optical resolution down to 30 nm. The presented experimental scheme offers high-resolution optical information while maintaining the benefits of traditional AFM imaging. We directly measure the PL intensity of single NCs as a function of the tip distance. Our results are in good agreement with calculations made by a classical theoretical model describing an oscillating dipole interacting with a planar mirror.