Bohmian mechanics to high-order harmonic generation

This paper introduces Bohmian mechanics (BM) into the intense laser-atom physics to study high-order harmonic generation. In BM, the trajectories of atomic electron in an intense laser field can be obtained with the Bohm--Newton equation. The power spectrum with the trajectory of an atomic electron is calculated, which is found to be irregular. Next, the power spectrum associated with an atom ensemble from BM is considered, where the power spectrum becomes regular and consistent with that from quantum mechanics. Finally, the reason of the generation of the irregular spectrum is discussed.     

Transitions between secondary structures in isolated polyalanines

Monte Carlo simulations of gas-phase polyalanine peptides have been carried out with the Amber ff96 force field. A low-temperature structural transition takes place between the α-helix stable conformation and β-sheet structures, followed by the unfolding phase change. The transition state ensembles connecting the helix and sheet conformations are investigated by sampling the energy landscape along specific geometric order parameters as putative reaction coordinates, namely the electric dipole μ, the end-to-end distance d, and the gyration radius R_g. By performing series of shooting trajectories, the committor probabilities and their distributions are obtained, revealing that only the electric dipole provides a satisfactory transition coordinate for the α↔β interconversion. The nucleus at the transition is found to have a high helical content.     

Maximum entropy principle and power-law tailed distributions

In ordinary statistical mechanics the Boltzmann-Shannon entropy is related to the Maxwell-Bolzmann distribution p_i by means of a twofold link. The first link is differential and is offered by the Jaynes Maximum Entropy Principle. Indeed, the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is obtained by maximizing the Boltzmann-Shannon entropy under proper constraints. The second link is algebraic and imposes that both the entropy and the distribution must be expressed in terms of the same function in direct and inverse form. Indeed, the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution p_i is expressed in terms of the exponential function, while the Boltzmann-Shannon entropy is defined as the mean value of -ln (p_i). In generalized statistical mechanics the second link is customarily relaxed. Of course, the generalized exponential function defining the probability distribution function after inversion, produces a generalized logarithm Λ(p_i). But, in general, the mean value of -Λ(p_i) is not the entropy of the system. Here we reconsider the question first posed in [Phys. Rev. E 66, 056125 (2002) and 72, 036108 (2005)], if and how is it possible to select generalized statistical theories in which the above mentioned twofold link between entropy and the distribution function continues to hold, such as in the case of ordinary statistical mechanics. Within this scenario, apart from the standard logarithmic-exponential functions that define ordinary statistical mechanics, there emerge other new couples of direct-inverse functions, i.e. generalized logarithms Λ(x) and generalized exponentials Λ^-1(x), defining coherent and self-consistent generalized statistical theories. Interestingly, all these theories preserve the main features of ordinary statistical mechanics, and predict distribution functions presenting power-law tails. Furthermore, the obtained generalized entropies are both thermodynamically and Lesche stable.     

Eccentricity modulation of a close-in planet by a companion: Application to GJ 436 system

GJ 436b is a Neptune-size planet with 23.2 Earth masses in an elliptical orbit of period 2.64 days and eccentricity 0.16. With a typical tidal dissipation factor (Q′∼10⁶) as that of a giant planet with convective envelope, its orbital circularization timescale under internal tidal dissipation is around 1 Ga, at least two times less than the stellar age (> 3 Ga). A plausible mechanism is that the eccentricity of GJ 436b is modulated by a planetary companion due to their mutual perturbation. Here we investigate this possibility from the dynamical viewpoint. A general method is given to predict the possible locations of the dynamically coupled companions, including nearby/distance non-resonant or mean motion resonance orbits with the first planet. Applying the method to GJ 436 system, we find it is very unlikely that the eccentricity of GJ 436b is maintained at the present location by a nearby/distance companion through secular perturbation or mean motion resonance. In fact, in all these simulated cases, GJ 436b will undergo eccentricity damp and orbital decay, leaving the present location within the stellar age. However, these results do not rule out the possible existence of planet companions in nearby/distance orbits, although they are not able to maintain the eccentricity of GJ 436b. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 10833001 and 10778603) and the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB4800)     

Hans Bethe, My Teacher

I sketch my experiences with Hans Bethe (1906–2005) as a teacher at Cornell University, beginning with my doctoral studies in 1961 and continuing with my work with him on a quantum-mechanics textbook. Hans Bethe, My Teacher: Based on my talk at the Bethe Memorial,Aspen Center for Physics,Aspen,CO, in August 2006. Roman Jackiw: Roman Jackiw is Jerrold Zacharias Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.     

Objectivity in Perspective: Relationism in the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

Pekka Lahti is a prominent exponent of the renaissance of foundational studies in quantum mechanics that has taken place during the last few decades. Among other things, he and coworkers have drawn renewed attention to, and have analyzed with fresh mathematical rigor, the threat of inconsistency at the basis of quantum theory: ordinary measurement interactions, described within the mathematical formalism by Schrödinger-type equations of motion, seem to be unable to lead to the occurrence of definite measurement outcomes, whereas the same formalism is interpreted in terms of probabilities of precisely such definite outcomes. Of course, it is essential here to be explicit about how definite measurement results (or definite properties in general) should be represented in the formalism. To this end Lahti et al. have introduced their objectification requirement that says that a system can be taken to possess a definite property if it is certain (in the sense of probability 1) that this property will be found upon measurement. As they have gone on to demonstrate, this requirement entails that in general definite outcomes cannot arise in unitary measuring processes.In this paper we investigate whether it is possible to escape from this deadlock. As we shall argue, there is a way out in which the objectification requirement is fully maintained. The key idea is to adapt the notion of objectivity itself, by introducing relational or perspectival properties. It seems that such a “relational perspective” offers prospects of overcoming some of the long-standing problems in the interpretation of quantum mechanics.     

Fluctuation-theory constraint for extensive entropy in Monte-Carlo simulations

The entropy per particle in most Monte-Carlo simulations is size dependent due to correlated energy fluctuations. Guided by nanothermodynamics, we find a constraint for the Ising model that enhances the fluctuations and lowers the free energy, while making the entropy homogeneous, additive, and extensive. Although the average interaction energy becomes size dependent, the resulting distribution of energies provides a mechanism for the heterogeneity found in the dynamics of many materials.     

Pair correlations in scale-free networks

Correlation between nodes is found to be a common and important property in many complex networks. Here we investigate degree correlations of the Barabasi－Albert (BA) scale-free model with both analytical results and simulations, and find two neighbouring regions, a disassortative one for low degrees and a neutral one for high degrees. The average degree of the neighbours of a randomly picked node is expected to diverge in the limit of infinite network size. As a generalization of the concept of correlation, we also study the correlations of other scalar properties, including age and clustering coefficient. Finally we propose a correlation measurement in bipartite networks.     

Lie symmetries and invariants of constrained Hamiltonian systems

According to the theory of the invariance of ordinary differential equations under the infinitesimal transformations of group, the relations between Lie symmetries and invariants of the mechanical system with a singular Lagrangian are investigated in phase space. New dynamical equations of the system are given in canonical form and the determining equations of Lie symmetry transformations are derived. The proposition about the Lie symmetries and invariants are presented. An example is given to illustrate the application of the result in this paper.