Many-body localization: An introduction and selected topics

What happens in an isolated quantum system when both disorder and interactions are present? Over the recent years, the picture of a non-thermalizing phase of matter, the many-localized phase, has emerged as a stable solution. We present a basic introduction to the topic of many-body localization, using the simple example of a quantum spin chain that allows us to illustrate several of the properties of this phase. We then briefly review the current experimental research efforts probing this physics. The largest part of this review is a selection of more specialized questions, some of which are currently under active investigation. We conclude by summarizing the connections between many-body localization and quantum simulations.     

Performance analysis of an integrated scheme in optical burst switching high-speed networks

A new integrated scheme based on resource-reservation and adaptive network flow routing to alleviate contention in optical burst switching networks is proposed. The objective of the proposed scheme is to reduce the overall burst loss in the network and at the same time to avoid the packet out-of-sequence arrival problem. Simulations are carried out to assess the feasibility of the proposed scheme. Its performance is compared with that of contention resolution schemes based on conventional routing. Through extensive simulations, it is shown that the proposed scheme not only provides significantly better burst loss performance than the basic equal proportion and hop-length based traffic routing algorithms, but also is void of any packet re-orderings.     

Alteration of skin light-scattering and absorption properties by application of sunscreen nanoparticles: A Monte Carlo study

We report about the results of our investigations on the alteration of optical properties of the superficial layer of human skin at four UV range wavelengths, 310, 318, 360 and 400 nm, by application of 35-200 nm-sized particles of titanium dioxide (TiO₂), silicon (Si) and zinc oxide (ZnO). The theoretical study based on combination of the Mie theory and Monte Carlo simulations reveals the optimal sizes of the nanoparticles minimizing the light transmittance for the considered wavelengths.     

Study of Plasma MHD Equilibrium in HL-2A Tokamak

In an axisymmetric toroidal system, the MHD equilibrium Grad-Shafranov equation can be written as     

Numerical approximation of a viscoelastic frictional contact problemApproximation numérique d'un problème viscoélastique de contact avec frottement

We consider a fully discrete scheme for a quasistatic frictional contact problem between a viscoelastic body and an obstacle. The contact is bilateral, the friction is modeled with Tresca's law and the behavior of the material is described with a viscoelastic constitutive law with long memory. We state an existence and uniqueness result for the discrete solution, followed by error estimate results. Then, we present numerical simulations in the study of a two-dimensional test example. To cite this article: Á. Rodríguez-Arós et al., C. R. Mecanique 334 (2006).     

Strategies and simulations in a semantic framework

By means of several examples of structural operational semantics for a variety of languages, we justify the importance and interest of using the notions of strategies and simulations in the semantic framework provided by rewriting logic and implemented in the Maude metalanguage. On the one hand, we describe a basic strategy language for Maude and show its application to CCS, the ambient calculus, and the parallel functional language Eden. On the other hand, we show how the concept of stuttering simulation can be used inside Maude to show that a stack machine correctly implements the operational semantics of a simple functional language.     

Photodynamics of azobenzene in a hindering environment

We have run trajectory surface hopping simulations of the trans → cis photoisomerization of azobenzene, subject to a pulling force. The model mimics two situations: a trans-azobenzene derivative with bulky substituents that may not be easily displaced, and a recent experiment by Gaub’s group [T. Hugel, N.B. Holland, A. Cattani, L. Moroder, M. Seitz, H.E. Gaub, Science 296 (2002) 1103; N.B. Holland, T. Hugel, G. Neuert, A. Cattani-Scholz, C. Renner, D. Oesterhelt, L. Moroder, M. Seitz, H.E. Gaub, Macromolecules 36 (2003) 2015; G. Neuert, T. Hugel, R.R. Netz, H.E. Gaub, Macromolecules 39 (2005) 789], in which a polymer with azobenzene units was stretched in an atomic force microscope. In both cases, the shortening of the azobenzene moiety in going from the trans to the cis form is opposed by a pulling force. Our simulations show that the trans → cis photoconversion is only partially suppressed by considerably large forces (≈500 pN or more). However, the cis isomer reverts to trans in the ground state, with the help of the pulling force and using the vibrational energy that is available in the first 1–2 ps. The lowering of the quantum yields is therefore the combined result of hindering of the excited state process and of the hot ground state back reaction.