The Cool Giant HD 77361 - A Super Li-Rich Star

Super Li-rich stars form a very small and enigmatic group whose existence cannot be explained in terms of the standard stellar evolution theory. The goal of our study is to check the reality of this group of cool giants based on an independent technique. We have carried out such a check using the K giant HD 77361 (HR 3597), which has previously been assigned to this rare type, as an example. We have redetermined the effective temperature Teff and surface gravity log g for this star. We have applied two different methods, photometric and spectroscopic, to estimate Teff (the accuracy of the Li-abundance determination depends significantly on this parameter). The value of log g has been found from the highly accurate parallax of this nearby star. To apply the photometric method of determining Teff, we have performed UBV observations of the star, which yielded V = 6.18 +/- 0.03, B - V = 1.13 +/- 0.01, and U - B = 1.18+/-0.05. The following parameters of the star have been found: effective temperature Teff = 4370+/- 100 K, surface gravity log g = 2.30 +/- 0.10, iron abundance log e(Fe) = 7.49 +/- 0.14, microturbulence Vt = 1.1 +/- 0.2 km/s, rotational velocity V sin i = 4.5 km/s, and mass M = 1.3 +/- 0.2 Msun. The lithium abundance has been determined from a non-LTE analysis of three Li I lines: the resonance line at 6707.8 ?A and the subordinate lines at 6103.6 and 8126.4 ?A (the latter in a blend with a CN molecular line). We have found a high lithium abundance, log e(Li) = 3.75 +/- 0.11, which exceeds considerably the initial abundance log e(Li) = 3.2 +/- 0.1 for young stars in the solar neighborhood. Thus, we have confirmed that the K giant HD 77361 actually belongs to the type of super Li-rich stars.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, 4 table

Damping of Nodal Fermions Caused by a Dissipative Mode

Using a $d_{x^2 - y^2}$ superconductor in 2+1 dimensions we show that the Nambu Goldstone fluctuations are replaced by dissipative excitations. We find that the nodal quasi-particles damping is caused by the strong dissipative excitations near the nodal points. As a result we find that the scattering rates are linear in frequency and not cubic as predicted in the literature for the ``d'' wave superconductors. Our results explain the recent angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy and optical conductivity in the BSCCO high $T_c$ compounds.Comment: 10 page

General error estimate for adiabatic quantum computing

Most investigations devoted to the conditions for adiabatic quantum computing are based on the first-order correction ${\bra{\Psi_{\rm ground}(t)}\dot H(t)\ket{\Psi_{\rm excited}(t)} /\Delta E^2(t)\ll1}$. However, it is demonstrated that this first-order correction does not yield a good estimate for the computational error. Therefore, a more general criterion is proposed, which includes higher-order corrections as well and shows that the computational error can be made exponentially small -- which facilitates significantly shorter evolution times than the above first-order estimate in certain situations. Based on this criterion and rather general arguments and assumptions, it can be demonstrated that a run-time $T$ of order of the inverse minimum energy gap $\Delta E_{\rm min}$ is sufficient and necessary, i.e., T=\ord(\Delta E_{\rm min}^{-1}). For some examples, these analytical investigations are confirmed by numerical simulations. PACS: 03.67.Lx, 03.67.-a.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, several modification

Spin-1/2 particles moving on a 2D lattice with nearest-neighbor interactions can realize an autonomous quantum computer

What is the simplest Hamiltonian which can implement quantum computation without requiring any control operations during the computation process? In a previous paper we have constructed a 10-local finite-range interaction among qubits on a 2D lattice having this property. Here we show that pair-interactions among qutrits on a 2D lattice are sufficient, too, and can also implement an ergodic computer where the result can be read out from the time average state after some post-selection with high success probability. Two of the 3 qutrit states are given by the two levels of a spin-1/2 particle located at a specific lattice site, the third state is its absence. Usual hopping terms together with an attractive force among adjacent particles induce a coupled quantum walk where the particle spins are subjected to spatially inhomogeneous interactions implementing holonomic quantum computing. The holonomic method ensures that the implemented circuit does not depend on the time needed for the walk. Even though the implementation of the required type of spin-spin interactions is currently unclear, the model shows that quite simple Hamiltonians are powerful enough to allow for universal quantum computing in a closed physical system.Comment: More detailed explanations including description of a programmable version. 44 pages, 12 figures, latex. To appear in PR

DNA methylation age is accelerated in alcohol dependence.

Alcohol dependence (ALC) is a chronic, relapsing disorder that increases the burden of chronic disease and significantly contributes to numerous premature deaths each year. Previous research suggests that chronic, heavy alcohol consumption is associated with differential DNA methylation patterns. In addition, DNA methylation levels at certain CpG sites have been correlated with age. We used an epigenetic clock to investigate the potential role of excessive alcohol consumption in epigenetic aging. We explored this question in five independent cohorts, including DNA methylation data derived from datasets from blood (n = 129, n = 329), liver (n = 92, n = 49), and postmortem prefrontal cortex (n = 46). One blood dataset and one liver tissue dataset of individuals with ALC exhibited positive age acceleration (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0069, respectively), whereas the other blood and liver tissue datasets both exhibited trends of positive age acceleration that were not significant (p = 0.83 and p = 0.57, respectively). Prefrontal cortex tissue exhibited a trend of negative age acceleration (p = 0.19). These results suggest that excessive alcohol consumption may be associated with epigenetic aging in a tissue-specific manner and warrants further investigation using multiple tissue samples from the same individuals

Neutral and cationic half-sandwich arene ruthenium, Cp*Rh and Cp*Ir oximato and oxime complexes: Synthesis, structural, DFT and biological studies

The reaction of [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2 and [Cp*MCl2]2 (M = Rh/Ir) with chelating ligand 2-pyridylcyanoxime {pyC(CN)NOH} leads to the formation of neutral oximato complexes having the general formula [(arene)M{pyC(CN)NO}Cl] {arene = p-cymene, M = Ru, (1); Cp*, M = Rh (2);Cp*, M = Ir (3)}. Whereas the reaction of 2-pyridyl phenyloxime {pyC(Ph)NOH} and 2-thiazolyl methyloxime {tzC(Me)NOH} with precursor compounds afforded the cationic oxide complexes bearing formula [(arene)M{pyC(ph)NOH}Cl]+ and [(arene)M{tzC(Me)NOH}Cl]+{arene = p-cymene M = Ru, (4), (7); Cp*, M = Rh (5), (8); Cp*, M = Ir (6), (9)}. The cationic complexes were isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. All these complexes were fully characterized by analytical, spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction studies. The molecular structures of the complexes revealed typical piano stool geometry around the metal center within which the ligand acts as a NNʹ donor chelating ligand. The Chemo-sensitivity activities of the complexes evaluated against HT-29 (human colorectal cancer), and MIAPaCa-2 (human pancreatic cancer) cell line showed that the iridium-based complexes are much more potent than the ruthenium and rhodium analogues. Theoretical studies were carried out to have a deeper understanding about the charge distribution pattern and the various electronic transitions occurring in the complexes

Measurement of the ground-state flux diagram of three coupled qubits as a first step towards the demonstration of adiabatic quantum computation

The ground state susceptibility of a system consisting of three flux-qubits was measured in the complete three dimensional flux space around the common degeneracy point of the qubits. The system's Hamiltonian could be completely reconstructed from measurements made far away from the common degeneracy point. The subsequent measurements made around this point show complete agreement with the theoretical predictions which follow from this Hamiltonian. The ground state anti-crossings of the system could be read-out directly from these measurements. This allows one to determine the ground-state flux diagram, which provides the solution for the non-polynomial optimization problem MAXCUT encoded in the Hamiltonian of the three-flux-qubit system. Our results show that adiabatic quantum computation can be demonstrated with this system provided that the energy gap and/or the speed of the read-out is increased.Comment: accepted for publication by Europhysics Letter

Quadriplexeur hyperfréquence DBR dans la bande 11 -18 GHz

National audienceCet article présente une méthode de conception d'un quadriplexeur hyperfréquence planaire en technologie triplaque utilisé dans la bande 11-18 GHz. Le composant opère un découpage du spectre d'entrée en quatre canaux de largeurs de bande et d'espacements identiques (1 GHz). Le multiplexeur utilise des filtres d'ordre 8 en topologie Dual Behavior Resonator pour assurer un bon niveau de réjection et un contrôle large bande de la réponse. Les quatre canaux sont connectés en parallèle et mutuellement adaptés via un réseau à stub. De plus, de nouveaux modèles électromagnétiques de discontinuités ont été développés, ce qui facilite considérablement la phase de réglage électromagnétique. Un quadriplexeur a été conçu en technologie triplaque qui offre une bonne compacité et isolation entre filtres. Son encombrement est de 17.1 cm² et ses performances simulées sont de 5 dB de pertes d'insertion et des réjections large bande meilleures que 60 dB