Spontaneous Lorentz violation: the case of infrared QED

It is by now clear that the infrared sector of quantum electrodynamics (QED) has an intriguingly complex structure. Based on earlier pioneering work on this subject, two of us recently proposed a simple modification of QED by constructing a generalization of the U(1) charge group of QED to the ``Sky'' group incorporating the well-known spontaneous Lorentz violation due to infrared photons, but still compatible in particular with locality (Balachandran and Vaidya, Eur Phys J Plus 128:118, 2013). It was shown that the ``Sky'' group is generated by the algebra of angle-dependent charges and a study of its superselection sectors has revealed a manifest description of spontaneous breaking of the Lorentz symmetry. We further elaborate this approach here and investigate in some detail the properties of charged particles dressed by the infrared photons. We find that Lorentz violation due to soft photons may be manifestly codified in an angle-dependent fermion mass, modifying therefore the fermion dispersion relations. The fact that the masses of the charged particles are not Lorentz invariant affects their spin content, and time dilation formulas for decays should also get corrections.

Construction of Singer Subgroup Orbit Codes Based on Cyclic Difference Sets

A recent approach for the construction of constant dimension subspace codes, designed for error correction in random networks, is to consider the codes as orbits of suitable subgroups of the general linear group. In particular, a cyclic orbit code is the orbit of a cyclic subgroup. Hence a possible method to construct large cyclic orbit codes with a given minimum subspace distance is to select a subspace such that the orbit of the Singer subgroup satisfies the distance constraint. In this paper we propose a method where some basic properties of difference sets are employed to select such a subspace, thereby providing a systematic way of constructing cyclic orbit codes with specified parameters. We also present an explicit example of such a construction.

Fluctuation theory of Rashba Fermi gases: Gaussian and beyond

Fermi gases with generalized Rashba spin-orbit coupling induced by a synthetic gauge field have the potential of realizing many interesting states, such as rashbon condensates and topological phases. Here, we address the key open problem of the fluctuation theory of such systems and demonstrate that beyond-Gaussian effects are essential to capture the finite temperature physics of such systems. We obtain their phase diagram by constructing an approximate non-Gaussian theory. We conclusively establish that spin-orbit coupling can enhance the exponentially small transition temperature (T-c) of a weakly attracting superfluid to the order of the Fermi temperature, paving a pathway towards high T-c superfluids.

Protein Structure and Function: Looking through the Network of Side-Chain Interactions

Network theory has become an excellent method of choice through which biological data are smoothly integrated to gain insights into complex biological problems. Understanding protein structure, folding, and function has been an important problem, which is being extensively investigated by the network approach. Since the sequence uniquely determines the structure, this review focuses on the networks of non-covalently connected amino acid side chains in proteins. Questions in structural biology are addressed within the framework of such a formalism. While general applications are mentioned in this review, challenging problems which have demanded the attention of scientific community for a long time, such as allostery and protein folding, are considered in greater detail. Our aim has been to explore these important problems through the eyes of networks. Various methods of constructing protein structure networks (PSN) are consolidated. They include the methods based on geometry, edges weighted by different schemes, and also bipartite network of protein-nucleic acid complexes. A number of network metrics that elegantly capture the general features as well as specific features related to phenomena, such as allostery and protein model validation, are described. Additionally, an integration of network theory with ensembles of equilibrium structures of a single protein or that of a large number of structures from the data bank has been presented to perceive complex phenomena from network perspective. Finally, we discuss briefly the capabilities, limitations, and the scope for further explorations of protein structure networks.

The Feedback Capacity of the Binary Erasure Channel With a No-Consecutive-Ones Input Constraint

The input-constrained erasure channel with feedback is considered, where the binary input sequence contains no consecutive ones, i.e., it satisfies the (1, infinity)-RLL constraint. We derive the capacity for this setting, which can be expressed as C-is an element of = max(0 <= p <= 0.5) (1-is an element of) H-b (p)/1+(1-is an element of) p, where is an element of is the erasure probability and Hb(.) is the binary entropy function. Moreover, we prove that a priori knowledge of the erasure at the encoder does not increase the feedback capacity. The feedback capacity was calculated using an equivalent dynamic programming (DP) formulation with an optimal average-reward that is equal to the capacity. Furthermore, we obtained an optimal encoding procedure from the solution of the DP, leading to a capacity-achieving, zero-error coding scheme for our setting. DP is, thus, shown to be a tool not only for solving optimization problems, such as capacity calculation, but also for constructing optimal coding schemes. The derived capacity expression also serves as the only non-trivial upper bound known on the capacity of the input-constrained erasure channel without feedback, a problem that is still open.

Sandwiched assembly of ZnO nanowires between graphene layers for a self-powered and fast responsive ultraviolet photodetector

A heterostructure of graphene and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires (NWs) is fabricated by sandwiching an array of ZnO NWs between two graphene layers for an ultraviolet (UV) photodetector. This unique structure allows NWs to be in direct contact with the graphene layers, minimizing the effect of the substrate or metal electrodes. In this device, graphene layers act as highly conducting electrodes with a high mobility of the generated charge carriers. An excellent sensitivity is demonstrated towards UV illumination, with a reversible photoresponse even for a short period of UV illumination. Response and recovery times of a few milliseconds demonstrated a much faster photoresponse than most of the conventional ZnO nanostructure-based photodetectors. It is shown that the generation of a built-in electric field between the interface of graphene and ZnO NWs effectively contributes to the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs for photocurrent generation without applying any external bias. Upon application of external bias voltage, the electric field further increases the drift velocity of photogenerated electrons by reducing the charge recombination rates, and results in an enhancement of the photocurrent. Therefore, the graphene-based heterostructure (G/ZnO NW/G) opens avenues to constructing a novel heterostructure with a combination of two functionally dissimilar materials.

Sandwiched assembly of ZnO nanowires between graphene layers for a self-powered and fast responsive ultraviolet photodetector

A heterostructure of graphene and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires (NWs) is fabricated by sandwiching an array of ZnO NWs between two graphene layers for an ultraviolet (UV) photodetector. This unique structure allows NWs to be in direct contact with the graphene layers, minimizing the effect of the substrate or metal electrodes. In this device, graphene layers act as highly conducting electrodes with a high mobility of the generated charge carriers. An excellent sensitivity is demonstrated towards UV illumination, with a reversible photoresponse even for a short period of UV illumination. Response and recovery times of a few milliseconds demonstrated a much faster photoresponse than most of the conventional ZnO nanostructure-based photodetectors. It is shown that the generation of a built-in electric field between the interface of graphene and ZnO NWs effectively contributes to the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs for photocurrent generation without applying any external bias. Upon application of external bias voltage, the electric field further increases the drift velocity of photogenerated electrons by reducing the charge recombination rates, and results in an enhancement of the photocurrent. Therefore, the graphene-based heterostructure (G/ZnO NW/G) opens avenues to constructing a novel heterostructure with a combination of two functionally dissimilar materials.

PIB: Profiling Influential Blogger in Online Social Networks, A Knowledge Driven Data Mining Approach

Online Social Networks (OSNs) facilitate to create and spread information easily and rapidly, influencing others to participate and propagandize. This work proposes a novel method of profiling Influential Blogger (IB) based on the activities performed on one's blog documents who influences various other bloggers in Social Blog Network (SBN). After constructing a social blogging site, a SBN is analyzed with appropriate parameters to get the Influential Blog Power (IBP) of each blogger in the network and demonstrate that profiling IB is adequate and accurate. The proposed Profiling Influential Blogger (PIB) Algorithm survival rate of IB is high and stable. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Boundary knot method for 2D and 3D Helmholtz and convection-diffusion problems under complicated geometry

The boundary knot method (BKM) of very recent origin is an inherently meshless, integration-free, boundary-type, radial basis function collocation technique for the numerical discretization of general partial differential equation systems. Unlike the method of fundamental solutions, the use of non-singular general solution in the BKM avoids the unnecessary requirement of constructing a controversial artificial boundary outside the physical domain. The purpose of this paper is to extend the BKM to solve 2D Helmholtz and convection-diffusion problems under rather complicated irregular geometry. The method is also first applied to 3D problems. Numerical experiments validate that the BKM can produce highly accurate solutions using a relatively small number of knots. For inhomogeneous cases, some inner knots are found necessary to guarantee accuracy and stability. The stability and convergence of the BKM are numerically illustrated and the completeness issue is also discussed.

Effects of Subgrid-Scale Modeling on Time Correlations in Large Eddy Simulation

The effects of the unresolved subgrid-scale (SGS) motions on the energy balance of the resolved scales in large eddy simulation (LES) have been investigated actively because modeling the energy transfer between the resolved and unresolved scales is crucial to constructing accurate SGS models. But the subgrid scales not only modify the energy balance, they also contribute to temporal decorrelation of the resolved scales. The importance of this effect in applications including the predictability problem and the evaluation of sound radiation by turbulent flows motivates the present study of the effect of SGS modeling on turbulent time correlations. This paper compares the two-point, two-time Eulerian velocity correlation in isotropic homogeneous turbulence evaluated by direct numerical simulation (DNS) with the correlations evaluated by LES using a standard spectral eddy viscosity. It proves convenient to express the two-point correlations in terms of spatial Fourier decomposition of the velocity field. The LES fields are more coherent than the DNS fields: their time correlations decay more slowly at all resolved scales of motion and both their integral scales and microscales are larger than those of the DNS field. Filtering alone is not responsible for this effect: in the Fourier representation, the time correlations of the filtered DNS field are identical to those of the DNS field itself. The possibility of modeling the decorrelating effects of the unresolved scales of motion by including a random force in the model is briefly discussed. The results could have applications to the problem of computing sound sources in isotropic homogeneous turbulence by LES

Temporally adaptive estimation of logistic classifiers on data streams

Modern technology has allowed real-time data collection in a variety of domains, ranging from environmental monitoring to healthcare. Consequently, there is a growing need for algorithms capable of performing inferential tasks in an online manner, continuously revising their estimates to reflect the current status of the underlying process. In particular, we are interested in constructing online and temporally adaptive classifiers capable of handling the possibly drifting decision boundaries arising in streaming environments. We first make a quadratic approximation to the log-likelihood that yields a recursive algorithm for fitting logistic regression online. We then suggest a novel way of equipping this framework with self-tuning forgetting factors. The resulting scheme is capable of tracking changes in the underlying probability distribution, adapting the decision boundary appropriately and hence maintaining high classification accuracy in dynamic or unstable environments. We demonstrate the scheme's effectiveness in both real and simulated streaming environments. © Springer-Verlag 2009.

Comparison of constructions of irregular Gallager codes

The low-density parity check codes whose performance is closest to the Shannon limit are `Gallager codes' based on irregular graphs. We compare alternative methods for constructing these graphs and present two results. First, we find a `super-Poisson' construction which gives a small improvement in empirical performance over a random construction. Second, whereas Gallager codes normally take N2 time to encode, we investigate constructions of regular and irregular Gallager codes that allow more rapid encoding and have smaller memory requirements in the encoder. We find that these `fast encoding' Gallager codes have equally good performance.

Computer generated hologram with geometric occlusion using GPU-accelerated depth buffer rasterization for three-dimensional display

We present a method of rapidly producing computer-generated holograms that exhibit geometric occlusion in the reconstructed image. Conceptually, a bundle of rays is shot from every hologram sample into the object volume.We use z buffering to find the nearest intersecting object point for every ray and add its complex field contribution to the corresponding hologram sample. Each hologram sample belongs to an independent operation, allowing us to exploit the parallel computing capability of modern programmable graphics processing units (GPUs). Unlike algorithms that use points or planar segments as the basis for constructing the hologram, our algorithm's complexity is dependent on fixed system parameters, such as the number of ray-casting operations, and can therefore handle complicated models more efficiently. The finite number of hologram pixels is, in effect, a windowing function, and from analyzing the Wigner distribution function of windowed free-space transfer function we find an upper limit on the cone angle of the ray bundle. Experimentally, we found that an angular sampling distance of 0:01' for a 2:66' cone angle produces acceptable reconstruction quality. © 2009 Optical Society of America.

Quasi-static three-point bending of carbon fiber sandwich beams with square honeycomb cores

Sandwich beams comprising identical face sheets and a square honeycomb core were manufactured from carbon fiber composite sheets. Analytical expressions were derived for four competing collapse mechanisms of simply supported and clamped sandwich beams in three-point bending: core shear, face microbuckling, face wrinkling, and indentation. Selected geometries of sandwich beams were tested to illustrate these collapse modes, with good agreement between analytic predictions and measurements of the failure load. Finite element (FE) simulations of the three-point bending responses of these beams were also conducted by constructing a FE model by laying up unidirectional plies in appropriate orientations. The initiation and growth of damage in the laminates were included in the FE calculations. With this embellishment, the FE model was able to predict the measured load versus displacement response and the failure sequence in each of the composite beams. © 2011 American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Dynamic constitutive equation of GFRP obtained by Lagrange experiment

The note presents a method of constructing dynamic constitutive equations of material by means of Lagrange experiment and analysis. Tests were carried out by a light gas gun and the stress history profiles were recorded on multiple Lagrange positions. The dynamic constitutive equations were deduced from the regression of a series of data which was obtained by Lagrange analysis based upon recorded multiple stress histories. Here constitutive equations of glass fibre reinforced phenolic resin composite(GFRP) in uniaxil strain state under dynamic loading are given. The proposed equations of the material agree well with experimental results.