PageRank model of opinion formation on social networks

We propose the PageRank model of opinion formation and investigate its rich properties on real directed networks of the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, LiveJournal, and Twitter. In this model, the opinion formation of linked electors is weighted with their PageRank probability. Such a probability is used by the Google search engine for ranking of web pages. We find that the society elite, corresponding to the top PageRank nodes, can impose its opinion on a significant fraction of the society. However, for a homogeneous distribution of two opinions, there exists a bistability range of opinions which depends on a conformist parameter characterizing the opinion formation. We find that the LiveJournal and Twitter networks have a stronger tendency to a totalitarian opinion formation than the university networks. We also analyze the Sznajd model generalized for scale-free networks with the weighted PageRank vote of electors.     

Time evolution of Wikipedia network ranking

X-ray circular magnetic dichroism, polarized neutron diffraction, ac susceptibility, and Seebeck effect have been measured for several members of the RCo₂ series (R = Ho, Tm, Er) as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field. The experimental results show robust parimagnetism (a general behaviour along the RCo₂ series with R being a heavy rare earth ion) and two reversal temperatures in some systems, which is an unexpected result. Polarised neutron diffraction show differences between results obtained on single crystals or polycrystalline ingots. We propose an interpretation of parimagnetic RCo₂ as a Griffiths phase of the high temperature, magnetically ordered, amorphous RCo₂ phase.     

Eigenstates of an operating quantum computer: hypersensitivity to static imperfections

We study the properties of eigenstates of an operating quantum computer which simulates the dynamical evolution in the regime of quantum chaos. Even if the quantum algorithm is polynomial in number of qubits n_q, it is shown that the ideal eigenstates become mixed and strongly modified by static imperfections above a certain threshold which drops exponentially with n_q. Above this threshold the quantum eigenstate entropy grows linearly with n_q but the computation remains reliable during a time scale which is polynomial in the imperfection strength and in n_q. Received 7 March 2002/ Received in final form 3 May 2002 Published online 19 July 2002     

Quantum ratchets in dissipative chaotic systems

Using the method of quantum trajectories, we study a quantum chaotic dissipative ratchet appearing for particles in a pulsed asymmetric potential in the presence of a dissipative environment. The system is characterized by directed transport emerging from a quantum strange attractor. This model exhibits, in the limit of small effective Planck constant, a transition from quantum to classical behavior, in agreement with the correspondence principle. We also discuss parameter values suitable for the implementation of the quantum ratchet effect with cold atoms in optical lattices.     

Dissipative quantum chaos: transition from wave packet collapse to explosion

Using the quantum trajectories approach, we study the quantum dynamics of a dissipative chaotic system described by the Zaslavsky map. For strong dissipation the quantum wave function in the phase space collapses onto a compact packet which follows classical chaotic dynamics and whose area is proportional to the Planck constant. At weak dissipation the exponential instability of quantum dynamics on the Ehrenfest time scale dominates and leads to wave packet explosion. The transition from collapse to explosion takes place when the dissipation time scale exceeds the Ehrenfest time. For integrable nonlinear dynamics the explosion practically disappears leaving place to collapse.     

Differential inhibition of postnatal brain,spinal cord and body growth by a growth hormone antagonist

Background  

Growth hormone (GH) plays an incompletely understood role in the development of the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we use transgenic mice expressing a growth hormone antagonist (GHA) to explore the role of GH in regulating postnatal brain, spinal cord and body growth into adulthood. The GHA transgene encodes a protein that inhibits the binding of GH to its receptor, specifically antagonizing the trophic effects of endogenous GH.     

Quantum chaos and random matrix theory for fidelity decay in quantum computations with static imperfections

We determine the universal law for fidelity decay in quantum computations of complex dynamics in presence of internal static imperfections in a quantum computer. Our approach is based on random matrix theory applied to quantum computations in presence of imperfections. The theoretical predictions are tested and confirmed in extensive numerical simulations of a quantum algorithm for quantum chaos in the dynamical tent map with up to 18 qubits. The theory developed determines the time scales for reliable quantum computations in absence of the quantum error correction codes. These time scales are related to the Heisenberg time, the Thouless time, and the decay time given by Fermis golden rule which are well-known in the context of mesoscopic systems. The comparison is presented for static imperfection effects and random errors in quantum gates. A new convenient method for the quantum computation of the coarse-grained Wigner function is also proposed.Received: 13 December 2003, Published online: 18 March 2004PACS: 03.67.Lx Quantum computation - 05.45.Pq Numerical simulations of chaotic systems - 05.45.Mt Quantum chaos; semiclassical methods