title:
Electron Photodetachment from Aqueous Anions. III. Dynamics of Geminate
  Pairs Derived from Photoexcitation of Mono- vs. Poly- atomic Anions

abstract:
  Photostimulated electron detachment from aqueous inorganic anions is the
simplest example of solvent-mediated electron transfer. Here we contrast the
behavior of halide anions with that of small polyatomic anions, such as
pseudohalide anions (e.g., HS-) and common polyvalent anions (e.g., SO32-).
Geminate recombination dynamics of hydrated electrons generated by 200 nm
photoexcitation of aqueous anions (I-, Br-, OH-, HS-, CNS-, CO32-, SO32-, and
Fe(CN)64-) have been studied. Prompt quantum yields for the formation of
solvated, thermalized electrons and quantum yields for free electrons were
determined. Pump-probe kinetics for 200 nm photoexcitation were compared with
kinetics obtained at lower photoexcitation energy (225 nm or 242 nm) for the
same anions, where possible. Free diffusion and mean force potential models of
geminate recombination dynamics were used to analyze these kinetics. These
analyses suggest that for polyatomic anions (including all polyvalent anions
studied) the initial electron distribution has a broad component, even at
relatively low photoexcitation energy. There seem to be no well-defined
threshold energy below which the broadening of the distribution does not occur,
as is the case for halide anions. Direct ionization to the conduction band of
water is the most likely photoprocess broadening the electron distribution. Our
study suggests that halide anions are in the class of their own; electron
photodetachment from polyatomic, especially polyvalent, anions follows a
different set of rules.


title: Numerical Investigations of Kuiper Belt Binaries

abstract:
  Observations of the Kuiper Belt indicate that a larger than expected
percentage of KBO's (approximately 8 out of 500) are in binary pairs. The
formation and survival of such objects presents a conundrum [1]. Two competing
theories have been postulated to try to solve this problem. One entails the
physical collision of bodies [2] while the other utilizes dynamical friction or
a third body to dissipate excess momentum and energy from the system [3].
Although in general known binaries tend to differ significantly in mass, such
as seen in the Earth-Moon or asteroid binary systems [4], Kuiper binaries
discovered to date tend to instead be of similar size [5, 6]. This paper
investigates the stability, development and lifetimes for Kuiper Belt binaries
by tracking their orbital dynamics and subsequent evolution. Section two
details the numerical model while Section three discusses the initial
conditions. Finally, in Section four the results are discussed with Section
five containing the conclusions.


title: Density fluctuations on mm and Mpc scales

abstract:
  We will in this paper report on suggestive similarities between density
fluctuation power versus wavenumber on small (mm) and large (Mpc) scales. The
small scale measurements were made in fusion plasmas and compared to
predictions from classical fluid turbulence theory. The data is consistent with
the dissipative range of 2D turbulence. Alternatively, the results can be
fitted to a functional form that can not be explained by turbulence theory. The
large scale measurements were part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxy
redshift examination. We found that the equations describing fusion plasmas
also hold for the galaxy data. The comparable dependency of density fluctuation
power on wavenumber in fusion plasmas and galaxies might indicate a common
origin of these fluctuations.


title: Nondifractive Propagation of Light in Photonic Crystals

abstract:
  We show that diffraction of electromagnetic radiation (in particular of a
visible light) can disappear in propagation through materials with periodically
in space modulated refraction index, i.e. photonic crystals. In this way the
light beams of arbitrary width can propagate without diffractive broadening
and, equivalently, arbitrary light patterns can propagate without diffractive
smearing.


title: Hyperbolic Transverse Patterns in Nonlinear Optical Resonators

abstract:
  We consider a nonlinear optical system in general, and a broad aperture laser
in particular in a resonator where the diffraction coefficients are of opposite
signs along two transverse directions. The system is described by the
hyperbolic Maxwell-Bloch equations, where the spatial coupling is provided by
the DAlambert operator rather than by the Laplace operator. We show that this
system supports hyperbolic transverse patterns residing on hyperbolas in far
field domain, and consisting of stretched vortices in near field domain. These
structures are described analytically by normal form analysis, and investigated
numerically.


title: Entropy in the natural time-domain

abstract:
  A surrogate data analysis is presented, which is based on the fluctuations of
the ``entropy'' $S$ defined in the natural time-domain [Phys. Rev. E {\bf 68},
031106, 2003]. This entropy is not a static one as, for example, the Shannon
entropy. The analysis is applied to three types of time-series, i.e., seismic
electric signals, ``artificial'' noises and electrocardiograms, and
``recognizes'' the non-Markovianity in all these signals. Furthermore, it
differentiates the electrocardiograms of healthy humans from those of the
sudden cardiac death ones. If $\delta S$ and $\delta S_{shuf}$ denote the
standard deviation when calculating the entropy by means of a time-window
sweeping through the original data and the ``shuffled'' (randomized) data,
respectively, it seems that the ratio $\delta S_{shuf}/\delta S$ plays a
key-role. The physical meaning of $\delta S_{shuf}$ is investigated.


title:
Natural entropy fluctuations discriminate similar looking electric
  signals emitted from systems of different dynamics

abstract:
  Complexity measures are introduced, that quantify the change of the natural
entropy fluctuations at different length scales in time-series emitted from
systems operating far from equilibrium. They identify impending sudden cardiac
death (SD) by analyzing fifteen minutes electrocardiograms, and comparing to
those of truly healthy humans (H). These measures seem to be complementary to
the ones suggested recently [Phys. Rev. E {\bf 70}, 011106 (2004)] and
altogether enable the classification of individuals into three categories: H,
heart disease patients and SD. All the SD individuals, who exhibit critical
dynamics, result in a common behavior.


title: Soliton control in chirped photonic lattices

abstract:
  We study optical solitons in chirped periodic optical lattices whose
amplitude or frequency changes in the transverse direction. We discover that
soliton propagation in such lattices can be accompanied by the progressive
self-bending of the soliton trajectory, and we show that the soliton bending
rate and output position can be controlled by varying the lattice depth, as
well as the chirp amplitude and frequency modulation rate. This effect has
potential applications for controllable soliton steering and routing.


title:
Non-relativistic quantum scattering from non-local separable potentials:
  the eigenchannel approach

abstract:
  A recently formulated version of the eigenchannel method [R. Szmytkowski,
Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) {\bf 311}, 503 (2004)] is applied to quantum scattering of
Schr\"odinger particles from non-local separable potentials. Eigenchannel
vectors and negative cotangents of eigenphase-shifts are introduced as
eigensolutions to some weighted matrix spectral problem, without a necessity of
prior construction and diagonalization of the scattering matrix. Explicit
expressions for the scattering amplitude, the total cross section in terms of
the eigenchannel vectors and the eigenphase-shifts are derived. An illustrative
example is provided.


title:
Pattern Informatics and Its Application for Optimal Forecasting of Large
  Earthquakes in Japan

abstract:
  Pattern informatics (PI) technique can be used to detect precursory seismic
activation or quiescence and make earthquake forecast. Here we apply the PI
method for optimal forecasting of large earthquakes in Japan, using the data
catalogue maintained by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The PI method is
tested to forecast large (magnitude m >= 5) earthquakes for the time period
1995-2004 in the Kobe region. Visual inspection and statistical testing show
that the optimized PI method has forecasting skill, relative to the seismic
intensity data often used as a standard null hypothesis. Moreover, we find a
retrospective forecast that the 1995 Kobe earthquake (m = 7.2) falls in a
seismically anomalous area. Another approach to test the forecasting algorithm
is to create a future potential map for large (m >= 5) earthquake events. This
is illustrated using the Kobe and Tokyo regions for the forecast period
2000-2009. Based on the resulting Kobe map we point out several forecasted
areas: the epicentral area of the 1995 Kobe earthquake, the Wakayama area, the
Mie area, and the Aichi area. The Tokyo forecasted map was created prior to the
occurrence of the Oct. 23, 2004 Niigata earthquake (m = 6.8) and the principal
aftershocks with m >= 5.0. We find that these events occurred in a forecasted
area in the Tokyo map. The PI technique for regional seismicity observation
substantiates an example showing considerable promise as an intermediate-term
earthquake forecasting in Japan.


title:
Is it possible to "prescribe" the diffusion for a geminate pair in a
  force field?

abstract:
  Given the difficulty of obtaining compact analytical solutions for diffusion
of interacting geminate pairs (such as electron-hole pairs generated by
ionization of liquid) it is common, following the original method of Mozumder,
to "prescribe" this diffusion. With this approach, the survival probability of
the pair is represented as a product of the survival probability for a freely
diffusing pair and a suitably defined weighting function. This approach gives
the correct limiting survival probability for a pair in the Coulomb field. The
same approach was used for simulation of reaction dynamics in radiolytic spurs
("independent reaction times" approach of Pimblott) and solve other vexing
diffusion problems that do not have analytical solution. A reasonable question
is, can the same method be used for any other interaction potential than
Coulomb? Here we demonstrate that such a prescription is generally impossible.
The correct result given by the prescribed diffusion approach for the Coulomb
potential is, actually, purely accidental. The method is inherently
contradictory and it should be used with caution.


title: Asymmetric spreading in highly advective, disordered environments

abstract:
  Spreading of bacteria in a highly advective, disordered environment is
examined. Predictions of super-diffusive spreading for a simplified
reaction-diffusion equation are tested. Concentration profiles display
anomalous growth and super-diffusive spreading. A perturbation analysis yields
a crossover time between diffusive and super-diffusive behavior. The time's
dependence on the convection velocity and disorder is tested. Like the
simplified equation, the full linear reaction-diffusion equation displays
super-diffusive spreading perpendicular to the convection. However, for mean
positive growth rates the full nonlinear reaction-diffusion equation produces
symmetric spreading with a Fisher wavefront, whereas net negative growth rates
cause an asymmetry, with a slower wavefront velocity perpendicular to the
convection.


title: GEM -- An Energy Conserving Electromagnetic Gyrofluid Model

abstract:
  The details of fluctuation free energy conservation in the gyrofluid model
are examined. The polarisation equation relates ExB flow and eddy energy to
combinations of the potential and the density and perpendicular temperature.
These determine the combinations which must appear under derivatives in the
moment equations so that not only thermal free energy but its combination with
the ExB energy is properly conserved by parallel and perpendicular
compressional effects. The resulting system exhibits the same qualitative
energy transfer properties as corresponding Braginskii or Landau fluid models.
One clear result is that the numerical model built on these equations is well
behaved for arbitrarily large perpendicular wavenumber, allowing exploration of
two scale phenomena linking dynamics at the ion and electron gyroradii. When
the numerical formulation is done in the globally consistent flux tube model,
the results with adiabatic electrons are consistent with the ``Cyclone Base
Case'' results of gyrokinetic models.


title: Geometrical and statistical factors in fission of small metal clusters

abstract:
  Fission of metastable charged univalent metal clusters has been studied on
example of Na_{10}^{2+} and Na_{18}^{2+} clusters by means of density
functional theory methods. Energetics of the process, i.e. dissociation
energies and fission barriers, as well as its dynamics, i.e. fission pathways,
have been analyzed. The dissociation energies and fission barriers have been
calculated for the full range of fission channels for the Na_{10}^{2+} cluster.
The impact of cluster structure on the fission process has been elucidated. The
calculations show that the geometry of the smaller fragment and geometry of its
immediate neighborhood in the larger fragment play a leading role in defining
the fission barrier height. The present study demonstrates importance of
rearrangement of the cluster structure during fission. It may include forming a
neck between the two fragments or fissioning via another isomer state of the
parent cluster; examples of such processes are given. For several low-lying
isomers of Na_{10}^{2+} cluster the potential barriers for transitions between
these isomer states are calculated and compared with the corresponding fission
barriers. These data suggest that there is a competition between "direct"
fission and fission going via intermediate isomer states of the parent cluster.
An impact of the cluster geometry on the change of the system's entropy due to
fission is also discussed.


title: Theory of tectonics in the sphere

abstract:
  Soft or Deformable Plate Tectonics in the sphere must follow geometric rules
inferred from the orthographic projection. An analytic equivalent of this
geometry can be derived by the application of Potential Field Methods in the
case of Atlantic type oceans. Laplace equation must be obeyed by the velocity
field between the ridge and the passive margin if we neglect the very slight
compressibility of ocean lithosphere. A strain wave propagates in the sphere
analogous to the behaviour of a free harmonic oscillator. Combining zonal
harmonics of order one and sectorial harmonics of degree one we obtain a
tesseral harmonic equivalent to the orthographic solution. This potential field
approach is valid for homogeneous deformation regime in oceanic lithosphere.
Above a compression threshold of 5 to 10% buckling and simultaneous faulting
occurs. In Pacific type oceans a dynamic approach, similar to a forced
oscillation, must be applied because there are sinks in subduction zones.


title: Polarized Helium to Image the Lung

abstract:
  The main findings of the european PHIL project (Polarised Helium to Image the
Lung) are reported. State of the art optical pumping techniques for polarising
^3He gas are described. MRI methodological improvements allow dynamical
ventilation images with a good resolution, ultimately limited by gas diffusion.
Diffusion imaging appears as a robust method of lung diagnosis. A discussion of
the potential advantage of low field MRI is presented. Selected PHIL results
for emphysema are given, with the perspectives that this joint work opens up
for the future of respiratory medicine.


title:
Nineteenth century air pollution variations in Paris inferred from
  Eiffel Tower potential gradient measurements

abstract:
  Early surface measurements of atmospheric Potential Gradient were made in
many European cities in the nineteenth century (C19th). The data was usually
obtained at hourly resolution, and good accounts of the calibration of the
instruments are also often available. The PG measurements made by Chauveau on
the Eiffel Tower, soon after its completion in the 1890s, are particularly
notable. Atmospheric electrical proxy techniques in combination with simple
boundary layer meteorology are used to determine air pollution levels. The
C19th PG measurements in both polluted and clean Parisian air present a unique
resource for European air pollution and atmospheric composition studies.


title: A novel technique to determine atmospheric ion mobility spectra

abstract:
  Detailed tropospheric ion measurements are needed to improve understanding of
the electrical microphysics affecting clouds. Additionally, atmospheric ion
mobility spectra can be used to identify ion growth processes leading to
condensation nucleus formation. However these measurements are rare,
particularly in the troposphere where the majority of clouds form. Developments
in the operating theory of the classical instrument for ion measurement, the
aspirated cylindrical capacitor, are described, which enable ion mobility
spectrum information to be extracted from the rate of voltage decay of the
aspirated capacitor in air. In this paper, data from historical balloon-borne
ion counter ascents will be reanalysed to extract new ion mobility spectra from
simple voltage time series. Such data recovery will increase the amount of
atmospheric ion spectra available for analysis.


title:
Classical Electromagnetism as a Consequence of Coulomb's Law, Special
  Relativity and Hamilton's Principle and its Relationship to Quantum
  Electrodynamics

abstract:
  It is demonstrated how all the mechanical equations of classical
electrodynamics (CEM) may be derived from only Coulomb's inverse square force
law, special relativity and Hamilton's Principle. The instantaneous nature of
the Coulomb force in the centre-of-mass frame of two interacting charged
objects, mediated by the exchange of space-like virtual photons, is predicted
by QED. The interaction Lagrangian of QED is shown to be identical, in the
appropriate limit, to the potential energy term in the Lorentz-invariant
Lagrangian of CEM. A comparison is made with the Feynman-Wheeler
action-at-a-distance formulation of CEM.


title: Einstein's concept of a clock and clock paradox

abstract:
  A geometric illustration of the Lorentz transformations is given. According
to similarity between space and time and correspondence between a ruler and a
clock, like the division number in a moving ruler, the tick number of a moving
clock is independent of its relative speed and hence invariant under the
Lorentz transformations. So the hand of the moving clock never runs slow but
the time interval between its two consecutive ticks contracts. Thus it is
Einstein's concept of slowing of the hands of moving clocks to create the clock
paradox or twin paradox. Regrettably, the concept of the clock that Einstein
retained is equivalent to Newton's concept of absolute time that he rejected.
This is a blemish in Einstein's otherwise perfect special relativity.


title: On the Nature of the Electric Charge

abstract:
  The geometry of the elementary charge is studied in the framework of the
concept of space considered as a tessellation lattice ('tessellattice'), which
has recently been developed by M. Bounias and the author. The
descriptive-geometric sense of the electric and magnetic fields and their
carriers - photons - is analyzed. The notion of the scalar and vector
potentials of a charged particle and their behavior at the motion of the
particle along a path is investigated in detail. Based on the potentials, the
Lagrangian leading to the Maxwell equations is constructed. The distinctive
properties of the inerton and the photon - two basic elementary excitations, or
quasi-particles of the space tessellattice - are discussed. Summarizing, we may
say that the work suggests the detailed interpretation of the Maxwell equations
in terms of the submicroscopic approach to Nature.


title: Autonomous free-energy transducer working under thermal fluctuations

abstract:
  By a modular combination of mesoscopic detectors and gates, we present a
thoughtful pump that transports gas particles against the difference of their
density at the expense of the diffusion of another species of gas particles. We
also discuss briefly the relevance of the model to the study of
structure-function relationship of the biomolecular machines.


title:
Illustrations of the Relativistic Conservation Law for the Center of
  Energy

abstract:
  The relativistic conservation law involving the center of energy is reviewed
and illustrated using simple examples from classical electromagnetic theory. It
is emphasized that this conservation law is parallel to the conservation laws
for energy, linear momentum, and energy, in arising from the generators of the
Poincare group for electromagnetic theory; yet this relativistic law reflecting
the continuous flow of energy goes virtually unmentioned in the text books. The
illustrations here present situations both where external forces are present
and are absent. The cases of a parallel plate capacitor, a flattened slip-joint
solenoid, and two interacting charges are included.


title: The Ascending Double-Cone: A Closer Look at a Familiar Demonstration

abstract:
  The double-cone ascending an inclined V-rail is a common exhibit used for
demonstrating concepts related to center-of-mass in introductory physics
courses. While the conceptual explanation is well-known--the widening of the
ramp allows the center of mass of the cone to drop, overbalancing the increase
in altitude due to the inclination of the ramp--there remains rich physical
content waiting to be extracted through deeper exploration. Such an
investigations seems to be absent from the literature. This article seeks to
remedy the omission.


title:
Perturbative approach to the nonlinear saturation of the tearing mode
  for any current gradient

abstract:
  Within the traditional frame of reduced MHD, a new rigorous perturbation
expansion provides the equation ruling the nonlinear growth and saturation of
the tearing mode for any current gradient. The small parameter is the magnetic
island width w. For the first time, the final equation displays at once terms
of order w ln(1/w) and w which have the same magnitude for practical purposes;
two new O(w) terms involve the current gradient. The technique is applicable to
the case of an external forcing. The solution for a static forcing is computed
explicitly and it exhibits three physical regimes.


title:
Destroying the superfluid state of fermionic atoms by the magnetic field
  in Feshbach resonance experiments

abstract:
  We show that the superfluid state (SF) of fermionic atoms exist only for the
magnetic fields lesser than the critical magnetic field. This critical magnetic
field is determined by the equality of the Zeeman energy splitting for atoms
with different spin projections to the energy gap of fermionic atoms without a
magnetic field. For magnetic fields usually using in Feshbach resonance
experiments a SF state is lost because these fields are much more than the
critical field. We show that the transition temperature $ T_c $ of the SF state
decreases as the magnetic field increases.


title:
6-dimensional Kaluza-Klein Theory for Basic Quantum Particles and
  Electron-Photon Interaction

abstract:
  By extending original Kaluza-Klein theory to 6-dimension, the basic quantum
field equations for 0-spin particle, 1-spin particle and 1/2 spin particle with
mass >0 are directly derived from 6-dimensional Einstein equations. It shows
that the current quantum field equations of basic particles become pure
geometry properties under 6-dimension time-space. The field equations of
electron and photon can be unified in one 6-dimensional extended Maxwell
equation. The equations containing interactions between electron and photon
will be derived from Einstein equation under 6-dimension time-space. It shows
that the interactions in QED can be considered as the effect of local geometry
curvature changing instead of exchange virtual photons.


title: Deghosting of Ocean Bottom Cable Data:Two approaches

abstract:
  Two filter based approaches for deghosting of Ocean Bottom Cable data are
presented. One of them is phase shifting of geophone followed by least square
matching of cross ghosted geophone and hydrophone data.In the second
approach,phase shifting of geophone is followed by direct matching of
geophone's amplitude spectrum with that of the hydrophone within the seismic
bandwidth.Results obtained from both approaches were found to be at par with
one of the proprietary softwares available with ONGC.


title:
Enrico Fermi and the discovery of neutron-induced radioactivity: a
  project being crowned

abstract:
  This paper deals with the Physics Institute of via Panisperna in Rome,
getting ready for investigation on neutron physics before Fermi's discovery of
neutron-induced radioactivity. The importance of nuclear research had been
acknowledged in the Physics Institute in Rome since 1929. The Institute had
been directed towards nuclear physics since then, but from the experimental
point of view, still in 1933, it was not yet engaged in nuclear experiments on
account of the lack of adequate supplies. An adjustment of the equipment and
supplies was undertaken, so that strong radioactive sources, Geiger-Mueller
counters and Wilson chambers were finally available at the end of 1933, thanks
largely to Rasetti's efforts.

categories: physics.hist-ph nucl-ex physics.pop-ph physics.soc-ph


title: Low-cost nanosecond electronic coincidence detector

abstract:
  We present a simple and low-cost implementation of a fast electronic
coincidence detector based on PECL logic with a TTL-compatible interface. The
detector has negligible dead time and the coincidence window is adjustable with
a minimum width of 1 ns. Coincidence measurements of two independent sources of
Bose-Einstein distributed photocounts are presented using different coincidence
window widths.


title: Brillouin-zone spectroscopy of nonlinear photonic lattices

abstract:
  We present a novel, real-time, experimental technique for linear and
nonlinear Brillouin zone spectroscopy of photonic lattices. The method relies
on excitation with random-phase waves and far-field visualization of the
spatial spectrum of the light exiting the lattice. Our technique facilitates
mapping the borders of the extended Brillouin zones and the areas of normal and
anomalous dispersion within each zone. For photonic lattices with defects
(e.g., photonic crystal fibers), our technique enables far-field visualization
of the defect mode overlaid on the extended Brillouin zone structure of the
lattice. The technique is general and can be used for photonic crystal fibers
as well as for periodic structures in areas beyond optics.


title: InGaAsP annular Bragg lasers: theory, applications and modal properties

abstract:
  A novel class of circular resonators, based on a radial defect surrounded by
Bragg reflectors, is studied in detail. Simple rules for the design and
analysis of such structures are derived using a transfer matrix formalism.
Unlike conventional ring resonators, annular Bragg resonators (ABR) are not
limited by the total internal reflection condition, and can exhibit both large
free spectral ranges and low bend losses. The Bragg reflection mechanism
enables the confinement of light within a defect consisting of a low refractive
index medium (such as air). Strong atom-photon interaction can be achieved in
such a structure, making it a promising candidate for sensing and cavity QED
applications. For sensing applications, we show that the ABR structure can
possess significantly higher sensitivity when compared to a conventional ring
resonator sensor. Lasing action and low threshold levels are demonstrated in
ABR lasers at telecommunication wavelengths under pulsed optical pumping at
room temperatures. The impact of the intensity and dimensions of the pump-spot
on the emitted spectrum is studied in detail.


title: On mirror symmetry, CSB and anti-hydrogen states in natural atom H

abstract:
  Molecular band spectra reveal a left-right symmetry for atoms (Van Hooydonk,
Spectrochim.Acta A, 2000, 56, 2273). Intra-atomic left-right symmetry points to
antiatom states and, to make sense, this must also show in line spectra. H
Lyman ns-states show a mirror plane at quantum number n=pi/2. Symmetry breaking
oscillator (1-0.5pi/n)sup(2) means that some of these n-states are
anti-hydrogenic. This view runs ahead of CERN AD-projects on antihydrogen.


title:
Mexican hat curve for hydrogen- and antihydrogen-states in natural atom
  H

abstract:
  Molecular band spectra as well as atomic line spectra reveal a left-right
symmetry for atoms (Van Hooydonk, Spectrochim. Acta A, 2000, 56, 2273 and Phys.
Rev. A 66, 044103 (2002). We now extract a Mexican hat shaped or double well
curve from the line spectrum (Lyman ns-series) of natural atom H. An H CSB
theory and its oscillator contribution (1-0.5pi/n)sup(2)/nsup(2) lead to
unprecedented results for antihydrogen physics, ahead of the CERN-AD-project on
artificial antihydrogen.


title: Quantum Accelerator Modes from the Farey Tree

abstract:
  We show that mode-locking finds a purely quantum non-dissipative counterpart
in atom-optical quantum accelerator modes. These modes are formed by exposing
cold atoms to periodic kicks in the direction of the gravitational field. They
are anchored to generalized Arnol'd tongues, parameter regions where driven
nonlinear classical systems exhibit mode-locking. A hierarchy for the rational
numbers known as the Farey Tree provides an ordering of the Arnol'd tongues and
hence of experimentally observed accelerator modes.


title: An unlikely result

abstract: This paper has been withdrawn by the authors


title: On momentum and energy of a non-radiating electromagnetic field

abstract:
  This paper inspects more closely the problem of the momentum and energy of a
bound (non-radiating) electromagnetic (EM) field. It has been shown that for an
isolated system of non-relativistic mechanically free charged particles a
transformation of mechanical to EM momentum and vice versa occurs in accordance
with the requirement PG=const, where PG is the canonical momentum. If such a
system contains bound charges, fixed on insulators then, according to the
assumption of a number of authors, a so-called "hidden" momentum can contribute
into the total momentum of the system. The problem of "hidden momentum" (pro
and contra) is also examined in the paper, as well as the law of conservation
of total energy for different static configurations of the system "magnetic
dipole plus charged particle". Analyzing two expressions for electromagnetic
momentum of a bound EM field, qA and the Poynting expression, we emphasize that
they coincide with each other for quasi-static configurations, but give a
discrepancy for rapid dynamical processes. We conclude that neither the first,
nor the second expressions provide a continuous implementation of the momentum
conservation law. Finally, we consider the energy flux in a bound EM field,
using the Umov vector. It has been shown that Umov vector can be directly
derived from Maxwell equations. A new form of the momentum-energy tensor, which
explicitly unites the mechanical and EM masses, has been proposed.


title: Drop Splashing on a Dry Smooth Surface

abstract:
  The corona splash due to the impact of a liquid drop on a smooth dry
substrate is investigated with high speed photography. A striking phenomenon is
observed: splashing can be completely suppressed by decreasing the pressure of
the surrounding gas. The threshold pressure where a splash first occurs is
measured as a function of the impact velocity and found to scale with the
molecular weight of the gas and the viscosity of the liquid. Both experimental
scaling relations support a model in which compressible effects in the gas are
responsible for splashing in liquid solid impacts.


title: Constructing A Small Strain Potential for Multi-Scale Modeling

abstract:
  For problems relating to fracture, a consistent embedding of a quantum (QM)
domain in its classical (CM) environment requires that the classical system
should yield the same structure and elastic properties as the QM domain for
states near equilibrium. It is proposed that an appropriate classical potential
can be constructed using ab initio data on the equilibrium and weakly strained
configurations calculated from the quantum description, rather than the more
usual approach of fitting to a wide range of empirical data. The scheme is
illustrated in detail for a model system, silica nanorod that has the proper
stiochiometric ratio of Si:O as observed in real silica. The potential is
chosen to be pairwise additive, with the same pair potential functional form as
familiar phenomenological TTAM potential. Here, the parameters are determined
using a genetic algorithm with force data obtained directly from a quantum
calculation. The resulting potential gives excellent agreement with properties
of the reference quantum calculations both for structure (bond lengths, bond
angles) and elasticity (Young's modulus). The proposed method for constructing
the classical potential is carried out for two different choices for the
quantum mechanical description: a transfer Hamiltonian method (NDDO with
coupled cluster parameterization) and density functional theory (with plane
wave basis set and PBE exchange correlation functional). The quality of the
potentials obtained in both cases is quite good, although the two quantum rods
have significant differences.


title:
Energy Loss Distribution in the Plane Couette Flow and the
  Taylor-Couette Flow between Concentric Rotating Cylinders

abstract:
  The distribution of energy loss due to viscosity friction in plane Couette
flow and Taylor-Couette Flow between concentric rotating cylinders are studied
in detail for various flow conditions. The energy loss is related to the
industrial processes in some fluid delivery devices and has significant
influence on the flow efficiency, flow stability, turbulent transition, mixing,
and heat transfer behaviours, etc. Therefore, it is important to know about the
energy loss distribution in the flow domain and to know its influence on the
flow for better understanding of the flow physics. The calculation or
methodology of calculating the energy loss distribution in the Taylor-Couette
flow between concentric rotating cylinders is not readily found in the open
literature. In this paper, the principle and the calculation are given for
single cylinder rotation of either the inner or outer cylinder, and counter and
same direction rotation of two cylinders. For comparison, the distribution of
energy loss in a plane Couette flow is also derived for various flow
conditions. Discussions of the effect of energy loss on the flow behaviour are
carried out from which some findings are suggested.


title: Epistemology in Cyclic Time

abstract:
  Consider the scenario, in which human civilization undergoes periodic eras of
progression and regression, and consequently, changes in cosmological knowledge
are cyclic. There exist solutions of general theory of relativity, such as the
G\"{o}del universe, in which the cosmos is rotating. If the real universe is
indeed rotating, than this would be a reversion to rotating universe models,
used in ancient cosmological models. We argue that such reversions in physical
models would be inevitable in a space-time in which time is having $S^1$
(circular) topology.


title: Propagative waves pattern in a falling liquid curtain

abstract:
  We have preformed experiments on a liquid curtain falling from a horizontal,
wetted, tube and lateraly constrained by two vertical wires. The fluid motion
nearly reduces to a free-fall, with a very low detachment velocity below the
tube. Thus, the curtain contains a large subsonic area, i.e. a domain where the
sinuous waves travel faster than the fluid. The upper boundary not being
constrained in the transverse direction, we have observed the appearance of an
up to now unreported instability when the flow rate is progressively reduced:
the top of the curtain enters a pendulum-like motion, coupled to a propagative
pattern of curtain undulations, structured as a chessboard. Measurements of the
phase velocity and frequency of this pattern are reported. Data are in
agreement with a simple dimensional argument suggesting that the wave velocity
is proportional to the surface tension divided by the mass flux of liquid per
unit length. This scaling is also that followed by the fluid velocity at the
transonic point, i.e. the point where the fluid velocity equals that of sinuous
waves. We finally discuss implications of these results on the global stability
of falling curtains.


title:
Searches for Permanent Electric Dipole Moments - Some Recent
  Developments

abstract:
  Searches for permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) of fundamental
particles render the possibility to discover New Physics beyond present
Standard Theory. New ideas for experiments have come up recently which may
allow to lower present limits substantially or even find unambiguous effects.
Such are predicted by a variety of speculative models. The identification of
potential sources for CP and T-violation will require to study several systems,
which all have different sensitivity to possible mechanisms generating EDMs.


title: Observation of Single-Photon Switching

abstract:
  We report an experimental demonstration of single-photon switching in
laser-cooled $^{87}$Rb atoms. A resonant probe pulse with an energy per unit
area of one photon per $\lambda^2/2\pi$ propagates through the optically thick
atoms. Its energy transmittance is greater than 63% or loss is less than
$e^{-1}$ due to the effect of electromagnetically induced transparency. In the
presence of a switching pulse with an energy per unit area of 1.4 photons per
$\lambda^2/2\pi$, the energy transmittance of the same probe pulse becomes less
than 37% or $e^{-1}$. This substantial reduction of the probe transmittance
caused by single switching photons has potential applications in
single-photon-level nonlinear optics and the manipulation of quantum
information.


title:
Anisotropic Local Stress and Particle Hopping in a Deeply Supercooled
  Liquid

abstract:
  The origin of the microscopic motions that lead to stress relaxation in
deeply supercooled liquid remains unclear. We show that in such a liquid the
stress relaxation is locally anisotropic which can serve as the driving force
for the hopping of the system on its free energy surface. However, not all
hopping are equally effective in relaxing the local stress, suggesting that
diffusion can decouple from viscosity even at local level. On the other hand,
orientational relaxation is found to be always coupled to stress relaxation.


title:
Vibrational excitation of diatomic molecular ions in strong-field
  ionization of diatomic molecules

abstract:
  A model based on the strong-field and Born-Oppenheimer approximations
qualitatively describes the distribution over vibrational states formed in a
diatomic molecular ion following ionization of the neutral molecule by intense
laser pulses. Good agreement is found with a recent experiment [X. Urbain et
al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 163004 (2004)]. In particular, the observed deviation
from a Franck-Condon-like distribution is reproduced. Additionally, we
demonstrate control of the vibrational distribution by a variation of the peak
intensity or a change of frequency of the laser pulse.


title:
On the dependence of third- and fourth-order moments on stability in the
  turbulent boundary layer

abstract:
  In this short review it is suggested that the relationship between third- and
fourth-order moments of turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer depends on
stability. This can explain some differences among datasets, and provides a key
point for modelling improvement.


title: Electrodynamics in material media

abstract:
  Transformation equations for physical quantities that characterize plane
electromagnetic wave propagation in transparent optical media are presented.
The Doppler effect, and measurements performed by an observer moving with the
wave are also considered. The results, not mentioned in introductory Physics
textbooks, are simple to derive and could be used in undergraduate courses.


title: The Heider balance and social distance

abstract:
  The Heider balance is a state of a group of people with established mutual
relations between them. These relations, friendly or hostile, can be measured
in the Bogardus scale of the social distance. In previous works on the Heider
balance, these relations have been described with integers 0 and $\pm1$.
Recently we have proposed real numbers instead. Also, differential equations
have been used to simulate the time evolution of the relations, which were
allowed to vary within a given range. In this work, we investigate an influence
of this allowed range on the system dynamics. As a result, we have found that a
narrowing of the range of relations leads to a large delay in achieving the
Heider balance. Another point is that a slight shift of the initial
distribution of the social distance towards friendship can lead to a total
elimination of hostility.


title: A note regarding Gram-Schmidt states on $T^2$

abstract:
  An efficient procedure for generating Gram-Schmidt states on a toroidal
surface $T^2$ is presented. As an application of the method, low-lying
eigenvalues and wave functions for an electron on $T^2$ subjected to a constant
magnetic field are determined.


title: Locating where Transient Signals Travel in Inhomogeneous Media

abstract:
  Locating where transient signals travel between a source and receiver
requires a final step that is needed after using a theory of diffraction such
as the integral theorem of Helmholtz and Kirchhoff. Introduced here, the final
step accounts for interference between adjacent apertures on a phase screen by
adaptively adjusting their phase and amplitude, yielding a hierarchy of energy
contributions to any desired window of signal travel time at the receiver. The
method allows one to check errors in ray theory at finite wavelengths. Acoustic
propagation at long distance in the oceanic waveguide (50-100 Hz, 0.05 s
resolution) has significant deviations from ray theory. The boundary condition
of zero pressure at the surface of the ocean appears to cause sound to travel
in a nearly horizontal trajectory for a much greater distance near the surface
than predicted by rays. The first Fresnel zone is an inappropriate scale to
characterize where transient sounds travel near a ray path as assumed by a
standard scattering theory. Instead, the Fresnel zone is too large by an order
of magnitude for cases investigated here. Regions where sounds travel can have
complicated structures defying a simple length scale. These results are
applicable to the physics of underwater sound, optics, radio communication,
radar, geophysics, and theories of wave-scattering.


title:
A comprehensive Fourier (k-) space design approach for controllable
  single and multiple photon localization states

abstract:
  A Fourier-space based design approach for the systematic control of single
and multiple photon localization states in a 1D lattice is presented. Resultant
lattices are aperiodic in nature, such that lattice periodicity is not a useful
optimization parameter to achieve novel field localization characteristics.
Instead, direct control of field localization comes via control of the Parseval
strength competition between the different Fourier components characterizing a
lattice. This is achieved via an inverse optimization algorithm, tailoring the
aperiodic lattice Fourier components to match that of a target Fourier
distribution appropriate for the desired photonic localization properties. We
present simulation results indicating the performance of a novel aperiodic
lattice exhibiting a doubly-resonant high-Q characteristic.


title: Performance of an Operating High Energy Physics Data Grid: D0SAR-Grid

abstract:
  The D0 experiment at Fermilab's Tevatron will record several petabytes of
data over the next five years in pursuing the goals of understanding nature and
searching for the origin of mass. Computing resources required to analyze these
data far exceed capabilities of any one institution. Moreover, the widely
scattered geographical distribution of D0 collaborators poses further serious
difficulties for optimal use of human and computing resources. These
difficulties will exacerbate in future high energy physics experiments, like
the LHC. The computing grid has long been recognized as a solution to these
problems. This technology is being made a more immediate reality to end users
in D0 by developing a grid in the D0 Southern Analysis Region (D0SAR),
D0SAR-Grid, using all available resources within it and a home-grown local task
manager, McFarm. We will present the architecture in which the D0SAR-Grid is
implemented, the use of technology and the functionality of the grid, and the
experience from operating the grid in simulation, reprocessing and data
analyses for a currently running HEP experiment.


abstract:
  The complete gauge-invariant set of the one-loop QED corrections to the
parity-nonconserving 6s-7s amplitude in $^{133}$Cs is evaluated to all orders
in $\alpha Z$ using a local version of the Dirac-Hartree-Fock potential. The
calculations are peformed in both length and velocity gauges for the absorbed
photon. The total binding QED correction is found to be -0.27(3)%, which
differs from previous evaluations of this effect. The weak charge of
$^{133}$Cs, derived using two most accurate values of the vector transition
polarizability $\beta$, is $Q_W=-72.57(46)$ for $\beta = 26.957(51) a_{\rm
B}^3$ and $Q_W=-73.09(54)$ for $\beta= 27.15(11)a_{\rm B}^3 $. The first value
deviates by $1.1\sigma$ from the prediction of the Standard Model, while the
second one is in perfect agreement with it.


title: A catastrophe model for fast magnetic reconnection onset

abstract:
  A catastrophe model for the onset of fast magnetic reconnection is presented
that suggests why plasma systems with magnetic free energy remain apparently
stable for long times and then suddenly release their energy. For a given set
of plasma parameters there are generally two stable reconnection solutions: a
slow (Sweet-Parker) solution and a fast (Alfv\'enic) Hall reconnection
solution. Below a critical resistivity the slow solution disappears and fast
reconnection dominates. Scaling arguments predicting the two solutions and the
critical resistivity are confirmed with two-fluid simulations.


title:
Density-functional studies of tungsten trioxide, tungsten bronzes, and
  related systems

abstract:
  Tungsten trioxide adopts a variety of structures which can be intercalated
with charged species to alter the electronic properties, thus forming `tungsten
bronzes'. Similar optical effects are observed upon removing oxygen from WO_3,
although the electronic properties are slightly different. Here we present a
computational study of cubic and hexagonal alkali bronzes and examine the
effects on cell size and band structure as the size of the intercalated ion is
increased. With the exception of hydrogen (which is predicted to be unstable as
an intercalate), the behaviour of the bronzes are relatively consistent. NaWO_3
is the most stable of the cubic systems, although in the hexagonal system the
larger ions are more stable. The band structures are identical, with the
intercalated atom donating its single electron to the tungsten 5d valence band.
Next, this was extended to a study of fractional doping in the Na_xWO_3 system
(0 < x < 1). A linear variation in cell parameter, and a systematic change in
the position of the Fermi level up into the valence band was observed with
increasing x. In the underdoped WO_3-x system however, the Fermi level
undergoes a sudden jump into the conduction band at around x = 0.2. Lastly,
three compounds of a layered WO_4×a,wdiaminoalkane hybrid series were
studied and found to be insulating, with features in the band structure similar
to those of the parent WO_3 compound which relate well to experimental
UV-visible spectroscopy results.


title:
Invariability Conditions of Motion Equations of non-Abelian Gauge Fields
  and Elimination of Higgs Mechanism

abstract:
  It is proved that in order to keep both the Lagrangian and the motion
equation of non-Abelian gauge fields unchanged under the gauge transformation
simultaneously, a certain restriction conditions should be established between
the gauge potentials and the group parameters. The result is equivalent to the
Faddeev--Popov theory. For non-Abelian gauge fields, it leads to the result
that the gauge potentials themselves are unchanged under gauge transformations.
In this way, the mass items can be added into the Lagrangian directly without
violating gauge invariability and the theory is also renormalizable so that the
Higgs mechanism becomes unnecessary. The description of gauge theory also
becomes more symmetrical and simple.


title:
Axially open nonradiative structures: an example of single-mode
  resonator based on the sample holder

abstract:
  The concept of nonradiative dielectric resonator is generalized in order to
include axially open configurations having rotational invariance. The resulting
additional nonradiative conditions are established for the different resonance
modes on the basis of their azimuthal modal index. An approximate chart of the
allowed dielectric and geometrical parameters for the TE011 mode is given. A
practical realization of the proposed device based on commercial fused quartz
tubes is demonstrated at millimeter wavelengths, together with simple
excitation and tuning mechanisms. The observed resonances are characterized in
their basic parameters, as well as in the field distribution by means of a
finite element method. The predictions of the theoretical analysis are well
confirmed, both in the general behaviour and in the expected quality factors.
The resulting device, in which the sample holder acts itself as single-mode
resonating element, combines an extreme ease of realization with
state-of-the-art performances. The general benefits of the proposed open
single-mode resonators are finally discussed.


title: Heterogeneous Economic Networks

abstract:
  The Japanese shareholding network at the end of March 2002 is studied. To
understand the characteristics of this network intuitively, we visualize it as
a directed graph and an adjacency matrix. Especially detailed features of
networks concerned with the automobile industry sector are discussed by using
the visualized networks. The shareholding network is also considered as an
undirected graph, because many quantities characterizing networks are defined
for undirected cases. For this undirected shareholding network, we show that a
degree distribution is well fitted by a power law function with an exponential
tail. The exponent in the power law range is gamma=1.8. We also show that the
spectrum of this network follows asymptotically the power law distribution with
the exponent delta=2.6. By comparison with gamma and delta, we find a scaling
relation delta=2gamma-1. The reason why this relation holds is attributed to
the local tree-like structure of networks. To clarify this structure, the
correlation between degrees and clustering coefficients is considered. We show
that this correlation is negative and fitted by the power law function with the
exponent alpha=1.1. This guarantees the local tree-like structure of the
network and suggests the existence of a hierarchical structure. We also show
that the degree correlation is negative and follows the power law function with
the exponent nu=0.8. This indicates a degree-nonassortative network, in which
hubs are not directly connected with each other. To understand these features
of the network from the viewpoint of a company's growth, we consider the
correlation between the degree and the company's total assets and age. It is
clarified that the degree and the company's total assets correlate strongly,
but the degree and the company's age have no correlation.


title: Relativity in Classical Mechanics: Momentum, Energy and the Third Law

abstract:
  Most of the logical objections against the classical laws of motion, as they
are usually presented in textbooks, centre on the fact that defining force in
terms of mass and acceleration, the first two laws are mere assertions of
concepts to be introduced in the theory; conversely, the third law expresses
the experimental fact that the ratio of masses is inversely proportional to the
ratio of accelerations, but it is known to fail when the interacting bodies are
rapidly accelerated or far apart, leading to objections at the research level,
particularly when electromagnetic phenomena is present. Following a
specification of the coordinate system with respect to which velocities and
accelerations are to be measured, relative to a fixed spacetime point, this
contribution argues that the limitation of the third law is removed; as a
consequence, Energy and Momentum relations are given an alternative
formulation, extending their fundamental aspects and terms to the relativistic
level. Most important, the presented alternative relations seem to preserve
exactly the same form of the concepts as originally used by Newton in the
Principia.


title: Experimental evidence of the ether-dragging hypothesis in GPS data

abstract:
  In the global positioning system (GPS) satellites, the earth-centered,
earth-fixed (ECEF) reference frame is used for calculations. In the application
of the theory of special relativity to GPS satellites, one must use the ECEF
reference frame; another reference frame, for example one based on the solar
system, cannot be applied to GPS satellite experiments. Therefore, the ECEF
reference frame is a stationary gravitational frame.


title: A Hadron Blind Detector for the PHENIX Experiment at RHIC

abstract:
  A Hadron Blind Detector (HBD) is being developed for the PHENIX experiment at
RHIC. It consists of a Cherenkov radiator operated with pure CF4 directly
coupled in a windowless configuration to a triple-GEM detector element with a
CsI photocathode and pad readout. The HBD operates in the bandwidth 6-11.5
eV(110-200 nm). We studied the detector response to minimum ionizing particles
and to electrons. We present measurements of the CsI quantum efficiency, which
are in very good agreement with previously published results over the bandwidth
6-8.3 eV and extend them up to 10.3 eV. Discharge probability andaging studies
of the GEMs and the CsI photocathode in pure CF4 are presented.


title:
Swinging of two-dimensional solitons in harmonic and Bessel optical
  lattices

abstract:
  We consider parametric amplification of two-dimensional spatial soliton
swinging in longitudinally modulated harmonic and Bessel lattices in Kerr-type
saturable medium. We show that soliton center oscillations along different axes
in two-dimensional lattices are coupled, which give rise to a number of
interesting propagation scenarios including periodic damping and excitation of
soliton oscillations along perpendicular axes, selective amplification of
soliton swinging along one of transverse axes and enhancement of soliton
spiraling.


title: Momentum space properties from coordinate space electron density

abstract:
  Electron density and electron momentum density, while independently tractable
experimentally, bear no direct connection without going through the
many-electron wave function. However, invoking a variant of the
constrained-search formulation of density functional theory, we develop a
general scheme (valid for arbitrary external potentials) yielding decent
momentum space properties, starting exclusively from the coordinate space
electron density. Numerical illustration of the scheme is provided for the
closed-shell atomic systems He, Be and Ne and for $1s^1~2s^1$ singlet
electronic excited state for Helium by calculating the Compton profiles and the
$<p^n>$ expectation values derived from given coordinate space electron
densities.


title: Topological Quantum Computation and Error Correction by Biological Cells

abstract:
  A Topological examination of phospholipid dynamics in the Far from
Equilibrium state has demonstrated that metabolically active cells use waste
heat to generate spatially patterned membrane flows by forced convection and
shear. This paper explains the resemblance between this nonlinear membrane
model and Witten Kitaev type Topological Quantum Computation systems, and
demonstrates how this self-organising membrane enables biological cells to
circumvent the decoherence problem, perform error correction procedures, and
produce classical level output as shielded current flow through cytoskeletal
protein conduit. Cellular outputs are shown to be Turing compatible as they are
determined by computable in principle hydromagnetic fluid flows, and
importantly, are Adaptive from an Evolutionary perspective.


title: Spacetime Deformations and Electromagnetism in Material Media

abstract:
  This paper is intended to investigate the relation between electrodynamics in
anisotropic material media and its analogous formulation in an spacetime, with
non-null Riemann curvature tensor. After discussing the electromagnetism via
chiral differential forms, we point out the optical activity of a given
material medium, closely related to topological spin, and the Faraday rotation,
associated to topological torsion. Both quantities are defined in terms of the
magnetic potential and the electric and magnetic fields and excitations. We
revisit some properties of material media and the associated Green dyadics.
Some related features of ferrite are also investigated. It is well-known that
the constitutive tensor is essentially equivalent to the Riemann curvature
tensor. In order to investigate the propagation of electromagnetic waves in
material media, we prove that it is analogous to consider the electromagnetic
wave propagation in the vacuum, but this time in a curved spacetime, which is
obtained by a deformation of the lorenztian metric of Minkowski spacetime.
Spacetime deformations leave invariant the form of Maxwell equations. Also,
there exists a close relation between Maxwell equations in curved spacetime and
in an anisotropic material medium, indicating that electromagnetism and
spacetime properties are deeply related. Besides, the geometrical aspects of
wave propagation can be described by an effective geometry which represents a
deformation of the lorentzian metric of Minkowski spacetime.


title:
Generalized Thermostatistics and Wavelet Analysis of the Solar Wind and
  Proton Density Variability

abstract:
  In this paper, we analyze the probability density function (PDF) of solar
wind velocity and proton density, based on generalized thermostatistics (GT)
approach, comparing theoretical results with observational data. The time
series analyzed were obtained from the SOHO satellite mission where
measurements were sampled every hour. We present in the investigations data for
two years of different solar activity: (a) moderate activity (MA) period (1997)
and (b) high activity (HA) period (2000). For the MA period, the results show
good agreement between experimental data and GT model. For the HA period, the
agreement between experimental and theoretical PDFs was fairly good, but some
distortions were observed, probably due to intermittent characteristics of
turbulent processes. As a complementary analysis, the Global Wavelet Spectrum
(GWS) was obtained allowing the characterization of the predominant temporal
variability scales for both the periods and the stochastics aspects of the
nonlinear solar wind variability are discussed.


title: Scale Invariance in Global Terrorism

abstract:
  Traditional analyses of international terrorism have not sought to explain
the emergence of rare but extremely severe events. Using the tools of extremal
statistics to analyze the set of terrorist attacks worldwide between 1968 and
2004, as compiled by the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of
Terrorism (MIPT), we find that the relationship between the frequency and
severity of terrorist attacks exhibits the ``scale-free'' property with an
exponent of close to two. This property is robust, even when we restrict our
analysis to events from a single type of weapon or events within major
industrialized nations. We also find that the distribution of event sizes has
changed very little over the past 37 years, suggesting that scale invariance is
an inherent feature of global terrorism.


title: Stability of Small Neutral and Charged Strontium Clusters

abstract:
  Dissociation and fission of small neutral, singly and doubly charged
strontium clusters are studied by means of ab initio density functional theory
methods and high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Magic numbers for
small strontium clusters possessing enhanced stability towards monomer
evaporation and fission are determined. It is shown that ionization of small
strontium clusters results in the alteration of the magic numbers. Thermal
promotion of the Coulombic fission for the Sr_7^{2+} cluster is predicted.


title: Lippmann-Schwinger description of multiphoton ionization

abstract:
  We outline a formalism and develop a computational procedure to treat the
process of multiphoton ionization (MPI) of atomic targets in strong laser
fields. We treat the MPI process nonperturbatively as a decay phenomenon by
solving a coupled set of the integral Lippmann-Schwinger equations. As basic
building blocks of the theory we use a complete set of field-free atomic
states, discrete and continuous. This approach should enable us to provide both
the total and differential cross-sections of MPI of atoms with one or two
electrons. As an illustration, we apply the proposed procedure to a simple
model of MPI from a square well potential and to the hydrogen atom.


title:
Holographic Digital Fourier Microscopy for Selective Imaging of
  Biological Tissue

abstract:
  This paper presents an application of digital Fourier holography for
selective imaging of scatterers with different sizes in turbid media such as
biological tissues. A combination of Fourier holography and high-resolution
digital recording, digital Fourier microscopy (DFM) permits crucial flexibility
in applying filtering to highlight scatterers of interest in the tissue. The
high-resolution digital hologram is a result of the collation of Fourier
holographic frames to form a large-size composite hologram. It is expected that
DFM has an improved signal-to-noise ratio as compared to conventional direct
digital imaging, e.g. phase microscopy, as applied to imaging of small-size
objects. The demonstration of the Fourier filtering capacity of DFM using a
biological phantom represents the main focus of this paper.


title:
Calculations of total photoionization cross-section for^M two-electron
  atomic systems

abstract:
  We outline a non-perturbative procedure for calculating the total
photoionization cross-section of two-electron atomic systems. The procedure is
based on the Floquet-Fourie representation of the solution of the
time-dependent Schrodinger equation. The Floquet-Fourie ansatz produces a set
of equations which is recast into a generalized eigenvalue problem by means of
the complex rotation procedure. With the use of the Hylleraas-type basis
functions, the total photoionization cross-sections are obtained within the
accuracy of a fraction of a percent. The total photoionization cross-sections
for neutral helium are in good agreement with the convergent close-coupling
calculations of Kheifets and Bray [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 58}, 4501 (1999)] but
deviate notably from the experimental data of Samson {\em et al.} [J. Phys. B
{\bf 27} 887 (1994)].


title:
Solar Cycle Variations in Ice Acidity at the End of the Last Ice Age:
  Possible Marker of a Climatically Significant Interstellar Dust Incursion

abstract:
  Hammer et al. [1997] report the presence of regularly spaced acidity peaks
(H+, F-, Cl-) in the Byrd Station, Antarctica ice core. The event has a
duration of about one century and falls at the beginning of the deglacial
warming. Volcanism appears to be an unlikely cause since the total acid
deposition of this event was about 18 fold greater than the largest known
volcanic eruption, and since volcanic eruptions are not known to recur with
such regularity. We show that the recurrence period of these peaks averages to
11.5 +/- 2.4 years, which approximates the solar cycle period, and suggest that
this feature may have an extraterrestrial origin. We propose that this material
may mark a period of enhanced interstellar dust and gas influx modulated by the
solar cycle. The presence of this material could have made the Sun more active
and have been responsible for initiating the warming that ended the last ice
age.


title: Strong optical force induced by morphology dependent resonances

abstract:
  We consider the resonant optical force acting on a pair of transparent
microspheres by the excitation of the Morphology Dependent Resonance (MDR). The
bonding and anti-bonding modes of the MDR correspond to strong attractions and
repulsions respectively. The dependence of the force on separation and the role
of absorption are discussed. At resonance, the force can be enhanced by orders
of magnitude so that it will dominate over other relevant forces. We find that
a stable binding configuration can be induced by the resonant optical force.


title: First-Principles Method for Open Electronic Systems

abstract:
  We prove the existence of the exact density-functional theory formalism for
open electronic systems, and develop subsequently an exact time-dependent
density-functional theory (TDDFT) formulation for the dynamic response. The
TDDFT formulation depends in principle only on the electron density of the
reduced system. Based on the nonequilibrium Green's function technique, it is
expressed in the form of the equation of motion for the reduced single-electron
density matrix, and this provides thus an efficient numerical approach to
calculate the dynamic properties of open electronic systems. In the
steady-state limit, the conventional first-principles nonequilibrium Green's
function formulation for the current is recovered.


title: Predicting atomic dopant solvation in helium clusters: the MgHe$_n$ case

abstract:
  We present a quantum Monte Carlo study of the solvation and spectroscopic
properties of the Mg doped helium clusters MgHe$_n$ with $n=2-50$. Three high
level (MP4, CCSD(T) and CCSDT) MgHe interaction potentials have been used to
study the sensitivity of the dopant location on the shape of the pair
interaction. Despite the similar MgHe well depth, the pair distribution
functions obtained in the diffusion Monte Carlo simulations markedly differ for
the three pair potentials, therefore indicating different solubility properties
for Mg in He$_n$. Moreover, we found interesting size effects for the behavior
of the Mg impurity.
  As a sensitive probe of the solvation properties, the Mg excitation spectra
have been simulated for various cluster sizes and compared with the available
experimental results. The interaction between the excited $^1$P Mg atom and the
He moiety has been approximated using the Diatomics-in-Molecules method and the
two excited $^1\Pi$ and $^1\Sigma$ MgHe potentials. The shape of the simulated
MgHe$_{50}$ spectra show a substantial dependency on the location of the Mg
impurity, and hence on the MgHe pair interaction employed.
  To unravel the dependency of the solvation behavior on the shape of the
computed potentials, exact Density Functional Theory has been adapted to the
case of doped He$_n$ and various energy distributions have been computed. The
results indicate the shape of the repulsive part of the MgHe potential as an
important cause of the different behaviours.


title:
Coherent Transport and Concentration of Particles in Optical Traps using
  Varying Transverse Beam Profiles

abstract:
  Tailored time-dependent variations of the transverse profile together with
longitudinal phase shifts of laser beams are studied. It is shown theoretically
that a standing wave setup and real-time beam forming techniques (e.g. by
computer-addressed holograms) should make it possible to implement smooth
transport across and along the beams employed in optical trapping schemes.
Novel modes for the efficient collection, transport, and concentration of
trapped particles should thus become realizable in optical trapping setups.


title:
Hyperfine splitting in heavy ions with the nuclear magnetization
  distribution determined from experiments on muonic atoms

abstract:
  The hyperfine splitting in hydrogenlike $^{209}$Bi, $^{203}$Tl, and
$^{205}$Tl is calculated with the nuclear magnetization determined from
experimental data on the hyperfine splitting in the corresponding muonic atoms.
The single-particle and configuration-mixing nuclear models are considered. The
QED corrections are taken into account for both electronic and muonic atoms.
The obtained results are compared with other calculations and with experiment.


title: Trojan states of electrons guided by Bessel beams

abstract:
  Previous work [I. Bialynicki-Birula, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 93}, 20402 (2004)]
is extended to cover more realistic examples of electromagnetic waves, viz. the
Bessel beams. It is shown that electrons may be guided by a Bessel beam with
nonvanishing orbital angular momentum. The mechanism for trapping the electrons
near the electromagnetic vortex line of such a wave field is the same as for
the Trojan states of Rydberg electrons produced by a circularly polarized wave.
The main difference is that in the present case the transverse motion of
electrons in a beam is confined under the action of the electromagnetic wave
alone, no additional attraction center is required. We also discuss briefly the
motion of electrons in Neumann and Hankel beams.


title:
A Study of the Scintillation Induced by Alpha Particles and Gamma Rays
  in Liquid Xenon in an Electric Field

abstract:
  Scintillation produced in liquid xenon by alpha particles and gamma rays has
been studied as a function of applied electric field. For back scattered gamma
rays with energy of about 200 keV, the number of scintillation photons was
found to decrease by 64+/-2% with increasing field strength. Consequently, the
pulse shape discrimination power between alpha particles and gamma rays is
found to reduce with increasing field, but remaining non-zero at higher fields.


title: Novel Single Photon Detectors for UV Imaging

abstract:
  There are several applications which require high position resolution UV
imaging. For these applications we have developed and successfully tested a new
version of a 2D UV single photon imaging detector based on a microgap RPC. The
main features of such a detectors is the high position resolution - 30 micron
in digital form and the high quantum efficiency (1-8% in the spectral interval
of 220-140 nm). Additionally, they are spark- protected and can operate without
any feedback problems at high gains, close to a streamer mode. In attempts to
extend the sensitivity of RPCs to longer wavelengths we have successfully
tested the operation of the first sealed parallel-plate gaseous detectors with
CsTe photocathodes. Finally, the comparison with other types of photosensitive
detectors is given and possible fields of applications are identified.


title:
Networks as Renormalized Models for Emergent Behavior in Physical
  Systems

abstract:
  Networks are paradigms for describing complex biological, social and
technological systems. Here I argue that networks provide a coherent framework
to construct coarse-grained models for many different physical systems. To
elucidate these ideas, I discuss two long-standing problems. The first concerns
the structure and dynamics of magnetic fields in the solar corona, as
exemplified by sunspots that startled Galileo almost 400 years ago. We
discovered that the magnetic structure of the corona embodies a scale free
network, with spots at all scales. A network model representing the
three-dimensional geometry of magnetic fields, where links rewire and nodes
merge when they collide in space, gives quantitative agreement with available
data, and suggests new measurements. Seismicity is addressed in terms of
relations between events without imposing space-time windows. A metric
estimates the correlation between any two earthquakes. Linking strongly
correlated pairs, and ignoring pairs with weak correlation organizes the
spatio-temporal process into a sparse, directed, weighted network. New scaling
laws for seismicity are found. For instance, the aftershock decay rate
decreases as 1/t in time up to a correlation time, t[omori]. An estimate from
the data gives t[omori] to be about one year for small magnitude 3 earthquakes,
about 1400 years for the Landers event, and roughly 26,000 years for the
earthquake causing the 2004 Asian tsunami. Our results confirm Kagan's
conjecture that aftershocks can rumble on for centuries.

categories: physics.geo-ph astro-ph cond-mat.stat-mech physics.plasm-ph


title: Vibron-polaron in alpha-helices. I. Single-vibron states

abstract:
  The vibron dynamics associated to amide-I vibrations in a 3D alpha-helix is
described according to a generalized Davydov model. The helix is modeled by
three spines of hydrogen-bonded peptide units linked via covalent bonds. To
remove the intramolecular anharmonicity of each amide-I mode and to
renormalized the vibron-phonon coupling, two unitary transformation have been
applied to reach the dressed anharmonic vibron point of view. It is shown that
the vibron dynamics results from the competition between inter-spine and
intra-spine vibron hops and that the two kinds of hopping processes do not
experience the same dressing mechanism. Therefore, at low temperature (or weak
vibron-phonon coupling), the polaron behaves as an undressed vibron delocalized
over all the spines whereas at biological temperature (or strong vibron-phonon
coupling), the dressing effect strongly reduces the vibrational exchanges
between different spines. As a result the polaron propagates along a single
spine as in the 1D Davydov model. Although the helix supports both acoustical
and optical phonons, this feature originates in the coupling between the vibron
and the acoustical phonons, only. Finally, the lattice distortion which
accompanies the polaron has been determined and it is shown that residues
located on the excited spine are subjected to a stronger deformation than the
other residues.


title: Dynamical Alignment in Three Species Tokamak Edge Turbulence

abstract:
  Three dimensional computations of self consistent three species gyrofluid
turbulence are carried out for tokamak edge conditions. Profiles as well as
disturbances in dependent variables are followed, running the dynamical system
to transport equilibrium. The third species density shows a significant
correlation with that of the electrons, regardless of initial conditions and
drive mechanisms. For decaying systems the densities evolve toward each other.
Companion tests with a simple two dimensional drift wave model show this
persists even if the third species is a passively advected test field.
Similarity in the transport character of electrons and the trace species does
not imply that the electrons themselves have a test particle transport
character.


title: Integrated optical components on atom chips

abstract:
  We report on the integration of small-scale optical components into silicon
wafers for use in atom chips. We present an on-chip fibre-optic atom detection
scheme that can probe clouds with small atom numbers. The fibres can also be
used to generate microscopic dipole traps. We describe our most recent results
with optical microcavities and show that single-atom detection can be realised
on an atom chip. The key components have been fabricated by etching directly
into the atom chip silicon substrate.


title: Interface effects and termination of finite length nanotubes

abstract:
  The objective of the present paper is to investigate interface effects in
carbon nanotubes. We use both real and k-space tight binding method. We study
in detail the effect of wrapping vector on the electronic properties. We
analyze the effect of the curvature in closed nanotube to the electronic
properties. The finite length of the nanotube affects the electronic
properties.


title: Relativistic unitary coupled cluster theory and applications

abstract:
  We present the first formulation and application of relativistic unitary
coupled cluster theory to atomic properties. The remarkable features of this
theory are highlighted, and it is used to calculate the lifetimes of
$5^{2}D_{3/2}$ and $6^{2}P_{3/2}$ states of $Ba^{+}$ and $Pb^{+}$ respectively.
The results clearly suggest that it is very well suited for accurate \emph{ab
initio} calculations of properties of heavy atomic systems.


title:
X-ray propagation through hollow channel: PolyCAD - a ray tracing code
  (1)

abstract:
  A new CAD program, PolyCAD, designed for X-ray photon tracing in
polycapillary optics is described. To understand the PolyCAD code and its
results, the theoretical basis of X-ray transmission by a single cylindrical
channel (monocapillary) is discussed first. Then the simplest cases of
cylindrically and conically shaped polycapillary optics are examined. PolyCAD
allows any type of X-ray source to be used: an X-ray tube of finite beam
dimensions or an astrophysical object can be simulated in combination with the
polycapillary optics. The radiation distribution images formed on a screen
located at various focal distances are discussed. The good agreement of some of
the PolyCAD results with those reported in earlier papers validate the code.
This is the first paper of a series dedicated to the development of an
exhaustive CAD program, work is in progress to develop the code to include
other polycapillary-optics shapes, such as semi-lenses and full-lenses.


title: On the dark energy

abstract:
  The dark energy problem may have a simple solution in the model of cosmology
based on the space-time interaction hypothesis. The hypothesis throws light on
the nature of time (see Time-Transcendence-Truth, Monograph published in 2006).


title:
Detailed analysis of a pseudoresonant interaction between cellular
  flames and velocity turbulence

abstract:
  This work is dedicated to the analysis of the delicate details of the effect
of upstream velocity fluctuations on the flame propagation speed. The
investigation was carried out using the Sivashinsky model of cellularisation of
hydrodynamically unstable flame fronts. We identified the perturbations of the
steadily propagating flames which can be significantly amplified over finite
periods of time. These perturbations were used to model the effect of upstream
velocity fluctuations on the flame front dynamics and to study a possibility to
control the flame propagation speed.


title: Nostos - Spherical TPCs

abstract:
  A new concept, the spherical TPC, presents unique advantages when low energy
neutrinos are to be detected. Some of the applications are: a) observation of
the e oscillation when emitted by a tritium source (<E e > = 14 keV) in a 10 m
radius sphere. This project, baptized NOSTOS, intends to give the mixing angle
13, the Weinberg angle and a much lower limit (< 10-12 ?B) of the neutrino
magnetic moment, b) an array of small (radius 2-4 m), cheap spheres scattered
around the world would be perfect to monitor extragalactic supernovae, c)
detect the spectrum of low energy (pp - 7Be) solar neutrinos.


title:
Electroweak gauge fields, particles, and antiparticles arise from
  probability

abstract:
  Probabilities of events are expressed by the spinor functions and by
operators of a probability creation and by operators of a probability
annihilation. The motion equations in form of the Dirac equations with the
additional fields are obtained for these spinor functions. Some of these
additional fields behave as the gauge fields and others behave as the mass
members. Such motion equations, contained all five elements of Clifford's
pentad, is invariant for the electroweak gauge transformations. The creation
operators and the annihilation operators of particles and antiparticles
obtained from these probabilistic functions. The motion equation of the U(2)
Yang-Mills field components is formulated similarly to the Klein-Gordon
equation with the nonzero mass.


title: Superfluidity of Dense $^4$He in Vycor

abstract:
  We calculate properties of a model of $^4$He in Vycor using the Path Integral
Monte Carlo method. We find that $^4$He forms a distinct layered structure with
a highly localized first layer, a disordered second layer with some atoms
delocalized and able to give rise to the observed superfluid response, and
higher layers nearly perfect crystals. The addition of a single $^3$He atom was
enough to bring down the total superfluidity by blocking the exchange in the
second layer. Our results are consistent with the persistent liquid layer model
to explain the observations. Such a model may be relevant to the experiments on
bulk solid $^4$He, if there is a fine network of grain boundaries in those
systems.


title:
Elementary Informational Structures of Particle Physics and their
  Relation to Quantum Mechanics and Space-Time

abstract:
  Bohr's dictum "Physical phenomena are observed relative to different
experimental setups" is applied to a set of binary elements that represent the
smallest units of information. A description relative to "macroscopic" setups
of such elements is formulated. This requires the introduction of a Hilbert
space formalism. It is shown, that the Hilbert space is symmetric with respect
to the de Sitter group SO(3,2). For macroscopic setups SO(3,2) is approximated
by the Poincare group. A space-time manifold is obtained that expresses the
orientation of macroscopic setups relative to each other. Individual binary
elements can then be given a "position" relative to macroscopic reference
frames. To an observer binary elements will then exhibit properties of massive
particles. This informational approach to particle physics determines a mass
scale, delivers interaction terms for all four interactions and is, in
principle, capable of fixing coupling constants and masses. Despite its
simplicity it forms a promising basis for a theoretical model that leads beyond
the standard model.


title: Absorption of infra-red radiation by atmospheric molecular cluster-ions

abstract:
  Protonated water clusters are a common species of atmospheric molecular
cluster-ion, produced by cosmic rays throughout the troposphere and
stratosphere. Under clear-sky conditions or periods of increased atmospheric
ionisation, such as solar proton events, the IR absorption by atmospheric ions
may affect climate through the radiative balance. Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectrometry in a long path cell, of path length 545m, has been used to detect
IR absorption by corona-generated positive molecular cluster-ions. The column
concentration of ions in the laboratory spectroscopy experiment was estimated
to be ~10^13 m-2; the column concentration of protonated atmospheric ions
estimated using a simple model is ~10^14 m-2. Two regions of absorption, at
12.3 and 9.1 um are associated with enhanced ion concentrations. After
filtering of the measured spectra to compensate for spurious signals from
neutral water vapour and residual carbon dioxide, the strongest absorption
region is at 9.5 to 8.8 um (1050 to 1140 cm-1) with a fractional change in
transmissivity of 0.03 plus/minus 0.015, and the absorption at 12.5 to 12.1 um
(800 to 825 cm-1) is 0.015 plus/minus 0.008.


title: Recurrence plot statistics and the effect of embedding

abstract:
  Recurrence plots provide a graphical representation of the recurrent patterns
in a timeseries, the quantification of which is a relatively new field. Here we
derive analytical expressions which relate the values of key statistics,
notably determinism and entropy of line length distribution, to the correlation
sum as a function of embedding dimension. These expressions are obtained by
deriving the transformation which generates an embedded recurrence plot from an
unembedded plot. A single unembedded recurrence plot thus provides the
statistics of all possible embedded recurrence plots. If the correlation sum
scales exponentially with embedding dimension, we show that these statistics
are determined entirely by the exponent of the exponential. This explains the
results of Iwanski and Bradley (Chaos 8 [1998] 861-871) who found that certain
recurrence plot statistics are apparently invariant to embedding dimension for
certain low-dimensional systems. We also examine the relationship between the
mutual information content of two timeseries and the common recurrent structure
seen in their recurrence plots. This allows time-localized contributions to
mutual information to be visualized. This technique is demonstrated using
geomagnetic index data; we show that the AU and AL geomagnetic indices share
half their information, and find the timescale on which mutual features appear.


title:
Bijectivity of the Normalization and Fermi-Coulomb Hole Sum Rules for
  Approximate Wave Functions

abstract:
  We prove the bijectivity of the constraints of normalization and of the
Fermi-Coulomb hole charge sum rule at each electron position for approximate
wave functions. This bijectivity is surprising in light of the fact that
normalization depends upon the probability of finding an electron at some
position, whereas the Fermi-Coulomb hole sum rule depends on the probability of
two electrons staying apart because of correlations due to the Pauli exclusion
principle and Coulomb repulsion. We further demonstrate the bijectivity of
these sum rules by example.


title: Phase distortion mechanisms in linear beam vacuum devices

abstract:
  The mechanism for phase distortion in linear beam vacuum devices is
identified in the simplest system that pertains to such devices, the force-free
drifting electron beam. We show that the dominant cause of phase distortion in
a force-free drifting beam is the inverse dependence of arrival time on
velocity for an electron, i.e., the ``$1/u$ nonlinearity,'' and that a
secondary cause of phase distortion is the nonlinearity of the velocity
modulation. We claim that this is the mechanism for phase distortion in all
linear beam vacuum devices, and provide evidence from a traveling wave tube
calculation. Finally, we discuss the force-free drifting beam example in the
context of the "self-intermodulation" description of phase distortion recently
described in Refs. [J. W\"ohlbier and J. Booske, Phys. Rev. E, vol. 69, 2004,
066502], [J. W\"ohlbier and J. Booske, IEEE Trans. Elec. Devices, To appear.]


title: Macro-players in stock markets

abstract:
  It is usually assumed that stock prices reflect a balance between large
numbers of small individual sellers and buyers. However, over the past fifty
years mutual funds and other institutional shareholders have assumed an ever
increasing part of stock transactions: their assets, as a percentage of GDP,
have been multiplied by more than one hundred. The paper presents evidence
which shows that reactions to major shocks are often dominated by a small
number of institutional players. Most often the market gets a wrong perception
and inadequate understanding of such events because the relevant information
(e.g. the fact that one mutual fund has sold several million shares) only
becomes available weeks or months after the event, through reports to the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Our observations suggest that there
is a radical difference between small ($ < 0.5% $) day-to-day price variations
which may be due to the interplay of many agents and large ($ >5% $) price
changes which, on the contrary, may be caused by massive sales (or purchases)
by a few players. This suggests that the mechanisms which account for large
returns are markedly different from those ruling small returns.


title: Consensus formation: The case of using cell phones while driving

abstract:
  Several models (including the widely used Sznajd model) have been proposed in
order to describe the social phenomenon of consensus formation. The objective
of the present paper is to supplement the simulations based on these models
with a ``real world simulation''; it considers a situation which can be
considered as an ideal laboratory for analyzing consensus formation, namely the
authorization or prohibition of using cell phones while driving. This is a
convenient laboratory for several reasons (i) The issue was raised in similar
terms in all industrialized countries, a circumstance that facilitates
comparative analysis by providing a {\it set of observations} (as opposed to
single observations generated, for instance, in election contests). (ii) This
is a situation where we happen to know the rule a ``rational'' agent should
follow. (iii) Because the issue is a matter of life and death, the phenomenon
can be considered as fairly robust with respect to various, endogenous or
exogenous, sources of noise. (iv) The relevant data are available on the
Internet and in newspaper data bases. \qL Our observations strongly suggest
that there is a missing variable in most consensus formation simulations. In
its conclusion, the paper calls for a large scale effort for identifying,
documenting and analyzing other real-world cases of consensus formation.


title: Suicide: the key role of short range ties

abstract:
  The paper explores the connection between short-range social ties (i.e. links
with close relatives) and the occurrence of suicide. The objective is to
discriminate between a model based on social ties and a model based on
psychological traumas. Our methodological strategy is to focus on instances
characterized by the severance of some social ties. We consider several
situations of this kind. (i) Prisoners in the first days after their
incarceration. (ii) Prisoners in solitary confinement. (iii) Prisoners who are
transferred from one prison to another. (iv) Prisoners in closed versus open
prisons. (v) Prisoners in the weeks following their release. (vi) Immigrants in
the years following their relocation. (vii) Unmarried versus married people.
  Furthermore, in order to test the impact of major shocks we consider the
responses in terms of suicides to the following shocks. (i) The attack of
September 11, 2001 in Manhattan. (ii) The Korean War. (iii) The two world wars.
(iv) The Great Depression in the United States. (v) The hyperinflation episode
of 1923 in Germany. Major global traumatic shocks such as 9/11 or wars have no
influence on suicide rates once changing environment conditions have been
controlled for.
  Overall, it turns out that the observations have a natural interpretation in
terms of short-range ties. In contrast, the trauma model seems unable to
adequately account for many observations.


title: The occupation of a box as a toy model for the seismic cycle of a fault

abstract:
  We illustrate how a simple statistical model can describe the quasiperiodic
occurrence of large earthquakes. The model idealizes the loading of elastic
energy in a seismic fault by the stochastic filling of a box. The emptying of
the box after it is full is analogous to the generation of a large earthquake
in which the fault relaxes after having been loaded to its failure threshold.
The duration of the filling process is analogous to the seismic cycle, the time
interval between two successive large earthquakes in a particular fault. The
simplicity of the model enables us to derive the statistical distribution of
its seismic cycle. We use this distribution to fit the series of earthquakes
with magnitude around 6 that occurred at the Parkfield segment of the San
Andreas fault in California. Using this fit, we estimate the probability of the
next large earthquake at Parkfield and devise a simple forecasting strategy.


title:
The Large Number Coincidence, The Cosmic Coincidence and the Critical
  Acceleration

abstract:
  The coincidence problem among the pure numbers of order near 10^{40} is
resolved with the Raychaudhuri and Friedmann-Robertson-Lemaitre-Walker
equations and a trivial relationship involving the fine structure constant. The
fact that the large number coincidence occurs only in the same epoch in which
other coincidences among cosmic parameters occur could be considered a distinct
coincidence problem suggesting an underlying physical connection. A natural set
of scaling laws for the cosmological constant and the critical acceleration are
identified that would resolve the coincidence among cosmic coincidences.


title:
Modulational instabilities in Josephson oscillations of elongated
  coupled condensates

abstract:
  We study the Josephson oscillations of two coupled elongated condensates.
Linearized calculations show that the oscillating mode uniform over the length
of the condensates (uniform Josephson mode) is unstable : modes of non zero
longitudinal momentum grow exponentially. In the limit of strong atom
interactions, we give scaling laws for the instability time constant and
unstable wave vectors. Beyond the linearized approach, numerical calculations
show a damped recurrence behavior : the energy in the Josephson mode presents
damped oscillations. Finally, we derive conditions on the confinement of the
condensates to prevent instabilities.


title:
Bremsstrahlung from dense plasmas and the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal
  effect

abstract:
  The suppression of the bremsstrahlung cross section due to multiple
scattering of the emitting electrons is an important effect in dense media
(Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effect). Here, we study the emission from a dense,
fully-ionized and non-relativistic hydrogen plasma. Using the dielectric
approach, we relate optical properties such as emission and absorption to
equilibrium force-force correlation functions, which allow for a systematic
perturbative treatment with the help of thermodynamic Green functions. By
considering self-energy and vertex corrections, medium modifications such as
multiple scattering of the emitting electrons are taken into account. Results
are presented for the absorption coefficient as a function of the frequency at
various densities. It is shown that the modification of the inverse
bremsstrahlung due to medium effects becomes more significant in the low
frequency and high density region.


title:
Observations and simulations of receiver-induced refractivity biases in
  GPS radio occultation

abstract: This paper has been withdrawn.


title: Addressing student models of energy loss in quantum tunnelling

abstract:
  We report on a multi-year, multi-institution study to investigate student
reasoning about energy in the context of quantum tunnelling. We use ungraded
surveys, graded examination questions, individual clinical interviews, and
multiple-choice exams to build a picture of the types of responses that
students typically give. We find that two descriptions of tunnelling through a
square barrier are particularly common. Students often state that tunnelling
particles lose energy while tunnelling. When sketching wave functions, students
also show a shift in the axis of oscillation, as if the height of the axis of
oscillation indicated the energy of the particle. We find inconsistencies
between students' conceptual, mathematical, and graphical models of quantum
tunnelling. As part of a curriculum in quantum physics, we have developed
instructional materials to help students develop a more robust and less
inconsistent picture of tunnelling, and present data suggesting that we have
succeeded in doing so.


title: Snell's Law from an Elementary Particle Viewpoint

abstract:
  Snell's law of light deflection between media with different indices of
refraction is usually discussed in terms of the Maxwell electromagnetic wave
theory. Snell's law may also be derived from a photon beam theory of light
rays. This latter particle physics view is by far the most simple one for
understanding the laws of refraction.


title: Compression of Atomic Phase Space Using an Asymmetric One-Way Barrier

abstract:
  We show how to construct asymmetric optical barriers for atoms. These
barriers can be used to compress phase space of a sample by creating a confined
region in space where atoms can accumulate with heating at the single photon
recoil level. We illustrate our method with a simple two-level model and then
show how it can be applied to more realistic multi-level atoms.


title: Statistical Mechanics of an Optical Phase Space Compressor

abstract:
  We describe the statistical mechanics of a new method to produce very cold
atoms or molecules. The method results from trapping a gas in a potential well,
and sweeping through the well a semi-permeable barrier, one that allows
particles to leave but not to return. If the sweep is sufficiently slow, all
the particles trapped in the well compress into an arbitrarily cold gas. We
derive analytical expressions for the velocity distribution of particles in the
cold gas, and compare these results with numerical simulations.


title:
Polarization properties and dispersion relations for spiral resonances
  of a dielectric rod

abstract:
  Dielectric microcavities based on cylindrical and deformed cylindrical shapes
have been employed as resonators for microlasers. Such systems support spiral
resonances with finite momentum along the cylinder axis. For such modes the
boundary conditions do not separate and simple TM and TE polarization states do
not exist. We formulate a theory for the dispersion relations and polarization
properties of such resonances for an infinite dielectric rod of arbitrary
cross-section and then solve for these quantities for the case of a circular
cross-section (cylinder). Useful analytic formulas are obtained using the
eikonal (Einstein-Brillouin-Keller) method which are shown to be excellent
approximations to the exact results from the wave equation. The major finding
is that the polarization of the radiation emitted into the far-field is linear
up to a polarization critical angle (PCA) at which it changes to elliptical.
The PCA always lies between the Brewster and total-internal-reflection angles
for the dielectric, as is shown by an analysis based on the Jones matrices of
the spiraling rays.