Phase Space Representation for Open Quantum Systems within the Lindblad Theory

The Lindblad master equation for an open quantum system with a Hamiltonian containing an arbitrary potential is written as an equation for the Wigner distribution function in the phase space representation. The time derivative of this function is given by a sum of three parts: the classical one, the quantum corrections and the contribution due to the opening of the system. In the particular case of a harmonic oscillator, quantum corrections do not exist.Comment: 19 pages, Latex, accepted for publication in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Inverse Scattering by the Stability Index Method

A novel numerical method for solving inverse scattering problem with fixed-energy data is proposed. The method contains a new important concept: the stability index of the inversion problem. This is a number, computed from the data, which shows how stable the inversion is. If this index is small, then the inversion provides a set of potentials which differ so little, that practically one can represent this set by one potential. If this index is larger than some threshold, then practically one concludes that with the given data the inversion is unstable and the potential cannot be identified uniquely from the data. Inversion of the fixed-energy phase shifts for several model potentials is considered. The results show practical efficiency of the proposed method. The method is of general nature and is applicable to a very wide variety of the inverse problems

Triple resonant four-wavemixing boosts the yield of continuous coherent VUV generation

Continuous-wave coherent radiation in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)wavelength region at 121 nm will be essential for future laser-cooling of trapped antihydrogen [1]. Cold antihydrogen will enable both tests of the fundamental symmetry between matter and antimatter at unprecedented experimental precision [2] and also experiments in antimatter gravity [3]. Another fascinating application of narrowband continuous laser radiation in the VUV is quantum information processing using single trapped ions in Rydberg-states [4, 5]. Here we describe highly efficient continuous four-wave mixing in the VUV by using three different fundamental wavelengths with a sophisticated choice of detunings to resonances of the nonlinear medium. Up to 6 microwatts of vacuum ultraviolet radiation at 121 nm can be generated which corresponds to an increase of three orders of magnitude in efficiency.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Dynamics of dinuclear system formation and its decay in heavy ion collisions

A variety of phenomena connected with the formation of a dinuclear complex is observed in the heavy ion collisions at low energies. The dinuclear system model allows us to analyze the experimental data and to interpret them by comparison of the partial capture, fusion and evaporation residue cross sections measured for the different reactions leading to the same compound nucleus. The comparison of theoretical and experimental values of the mass and angular distributions of the reaction products gives us a detailed information about reaction mechanism forming the observed yields. The observed very small cross sections of the evaporation residues may be explained by the strong fusion hindrance and/or instability of the heated and rotating compound nucleus and smallness of its survival probability. The fusion hindrance arises due to competition between complete fusion and quasifission while the smallness of survival probability is connected with the decrease of the fission barrier at large excitation energy and angular momentum of compound nucleus.Comment: 20 pages, 16 figures, Contribution to the International Symposium on Quasifission Process in Heavy Ion Reactions, 8-9 November, 2010, Messina, Ital

A cross sectional study of water quality from dental unit water lines in dental practices in the West of Scotland

OBJECTIVE: To determine the microbiological quality of water from dental units in a general practice setting and current practice for disinfection of units. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of the water quality from 40 dental units in 39 general practices and a questionnaire of the disinfection protocols used in those practices. SETTING: NHS practices in primarydental care. SUBJECTS: Thirty-nine general practices from the West of Scotland. METHODS: Water samples were collected on two separate occasions from dental units and analysed for microbiological quality by the total viable count (TVC) method. Water specimens were collected from the triple syringe, high speed outlet, cup filler and surgery tap. Each participating practitioner was asked to complete a questionnaire. Results Microbial contamination was highest from the high speed outlet followed by the triple syringe and cup filler. On average, the TVC counts from the high speed water lines at 37 degrees C and for the high speed lines, triple syringe and cup filler at 22 degrees C were significantly higher than that from the control tap water specimens. The study included units from 11 different manufacturers with ages ranging from under one year to over eight years. The age of the dental unit analysed did not appear to influence the level of microbial contamination. Five of the practices surveyed used disinfectants to clean the dental units but these had no significant effect on the microbiological quality of the water. The majority of dental units (25 out of 40) were never flushed with water between patients. A number of different non-sterile irrigants were used for surgical procedures. CONCLUSION: The microbiological quality of water from dental units in general dental practice is poor compared with that from drinking water sources. Suitable sterile irrigants should be used for surgical procedures in dental practice. Further work is required for pragmatic decontamination regimens of dental unit water lines in a general dental practice setting

Theory of nuclear excitation by electron capture for heavy ions

We investigate the resonant process of nuclear excitation by electron capture, in which a continuum electron is captured into a bound state of an ion with the simultaneous excitation of the nucleus. In order to derive the cross section a Feshbach projection operator formalism is introduced. Nuclear states and transitions are described by a nuclear collective model and making use of experimental data. Transition rates and total cross sections for NEEC followed by the radiative decay of the excited nucleus are calculated for various heavy ion collision systems