Why 'scaffolding' is the wrong metaphor : the cognitive usefulness of mathematical representations.

The metaphor of scaffolding has become current in discussions of the cognitive help we get from artefacts, environmental affordances and each other. Consideration of mathematical tools and representations indicates that in these cases at least (and plausibly for others), scaffolding is the wrong picture, because scaffolding in good order is immobile, temporary and crude. Mathematical representations can be manipulated, are not temporary structures to aid development, and are refined. Reflection on examples from elementary algebra indicates that Menary is on the right track with his ‘enculturation’ view of mathematical cognition. Moreover, these examples allow us to elaborate his remarks on the uniqueness of mathematical representations and their role in the emergence of new thoughts.Peer reviewe

Quantum lattice gases and their invariants

The one particle sector of the simplest one dimensional quantum lattice gas automaton has been observed to simulate both the (relativistic) Dirac and (nonrelativistic) Schroedinger equations, in different continuum limits. By analyzing the discrete analogues of plane waves in this sector we find conserved quantities corresponding to energy and momentum. We show that the Klein paradox obtains so that in some regimes the model must be considered to be relativistic and the negative energy modes interpreted as positive energy modes of antiparticles. With a formally similar approach--the Bethe ansatz--we find the evolution eigenfunctions in the two particle sector of the quantum lattice gas automaton and conclude by discussing consequences of these calculations and their extension to more particles, additional velocities, and higher dimensions.Comment: 19 pages, plain TeX, 11 PostScript figures included with epsf.tex (ignore the under/overfull \vbox error messages

Modulational instability and wave amplification in finite water depth

The modulational instability of a uniform wave train to side band perturbations is one of the most plausible mechanisms for the generation of rogue waves in deep water. In a condition of finite water depth, however, the interaction with the sea floor generates a wave-induced current that subtracts energy from the wave field and consequently attenuates the instability mechanism. As a result, a plane wave remains stable under the influence of collinear side bands for relative depths <i>kh</i> &leq; 1.36 (where <i>k</i> is the wavenumber of the plane wave and <i>h</i> is the water depth), but it can still destabilise due to oblique perturbations. Using direct numerical simulations of the Euler equations, it is here demonstrated that oblique side bands are capable of triggering modulational instability and eventually leading to the formation of rogue waves also for <i>kh</i> &leq; 1.36. Results, nonetheless, indicate that modulational instability cannot sustain a substantial wave growth for <i>kh</i> < 0.8

On the probability of occurrence of rogue waves

A number of extreme and rogue wave studies have been conducted theoretically, numerically, experimentally and based on field data in the last years, which have significantly advanced our knowledge of ocean waves. So far, however, consensus on the probability of occurrence of rogue waves has not been achieved. The present investigation is addressing this topic from the perspective of design needs. Probability of occurrence of extreme and rogue wave crests in deep water is here discussed based on higher order time simulations, experiments and hindcast data. Focus is given to occurrence of rogue waves in high sea states

A simple trapped-ion architecture for high-fidelity Toffoli gates

We discuss a simple architecture for a quantum Toffoli gate implemented using three trapped ions. The gate, which in principle can be implemented with a single laser-induced operation, is effective under rather general conditions and is strikingly robust (within any experimentally realistic range of values) against dephasing, heating and random fluctuations of the Hamiltonian parameters. We provide a full characterization of the unitary and noise-affected gate using three-qubit quantum process tomography

Three-Qubit Gate Realization Using Single Quantum Particle

Using virtual spin formalism it is shown that a quantum particle with eight energy levels can store three qubits. The formalism allows to realize a universal set of quantum gates. Feasible formalism implementation is suggested which uses nuclear spin-7/2 as a storage medium and radio frequency pulses as the gates. One pulse realization of all universal gates has been found, including three-qubit Toffoli gate.Comment: LaTeX, 6 pages, no figures; Submitted to "Pis'ma v Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz.

A Two-Player Game of Life

We present a new extension of Conway's game of life for two players, which we call p2life. P2life allows one of two types of token, black or white, to inhabit a cell, and adds competitive elements into the birth and survival rules of the original game. We solve the mean-field equation for p2life and determine by simulation that the asymptotic density of p2life approaches 0.0362.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Evading quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics is potentially advantageous for certain information-processing tasks, but its probabilistic nature and requirement of measurement back action often limit the precision of conventional classical information-processing devices, such as sensors and atomic clocks. Here we show that by engineering the dynamics of coupled quantum systems, it is possible to construct a subsystem that evades the measurement back action of quantum mechanics, at all times of interest, and obeys any classical dynamics, linear or nonlinear, that we choose. We call such a system a quantum-mechanics-free subsystem (QMFS). All of the observables of a QMFS are quantum-nondemolition (QND) observables; moreover, they are dynamical QND observables, thus demolishing the widely held belief that QND observables are constants of motion. QMFSs point to a new strategy for designing classical information-processing devices in regimes where quantum noise is detrimental, unifying previous approaches that employ QND observables, back-action evasion, and quantum noise cancellation. Potential applications include gravitational-wave detection, optomechanical force sensing, atomic magnetometry, and classical computing. Demonstrations of dynamical QMFSs include the generation of broad-band squeezed light for use in interferometric gravitational-wave detection, experiments using entangled atomic spin ensembles, and implementations of the quantum Toffoli gate.Comment: v2: changed the title, added a figure, and made some minor update

Density Functional Theory for the Photoionization Dynamics of Uracil

Photoionization dynamics of the RNA base Uracil is studied in the framework of Density Functional Theory (DFT). The photoionization calculations take advantage of a newly developed parallel version of a multicentric approach to the calculation of the electronic continuum spectrum which uses a set of B-spline radial basis functions and a Kohn-Sham density functional hamiltonian. Both valence and core ionizations are considered. Scattering resonances in selected single-particle ionization channels are classified by the symmetry of the resonant state and the peak energy position in the photoelectron kinetic energy scale; the present results highlight once more the site specificity of core ionization processes. We further suggest that the resonant structures previously characterized in low-energy electron collision experiments are partly shifted below threshold by the photoionization processes. A critical evaluation of the theoretical results providing a guide for future experimental work on similar biosystems