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E. Recami

Publications and source records attributed to E. Recami.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Non-Diffracting Waves: A new introduction

This work deals with exact solutions to the wave equations. We start by introducing the Non-Diffracting Waves (NDW), and by a definition of NDWs. Afterwards we recall -besides ordinary waves (gaussian beams, gaussian pulses)- the simplest non diffracting waves (Bessel beams, X-shaped pulses,...). In Sec.2 we show how to eliminate any backward-traveling components, first in the case of ideal NDW pulses, and then, in Sec.3, for realistic finite-energy NDW pulses. In particular, in subsec.3.1 we forward a general functional expression for any totally-forward non-diffracting pulses. Then, in Sec.4 an efficient method is set forth for the analytic description of truncated beams, a byproduct of its being the elimination of any need of lengthy numerical calculations. In Sec.5 we explore the question of the subluminal NDWs, or bullets, in terms of two different methods, the second one allowing the analytic description of non-diffracting waves with a static envelope ("Frozen Waves", FW), in terms of continuous Bessel beam superpositions. The production of such Frozen Waves (experimentally generated in recent time for Optics) is theoretically developed in Sec.6 also for the case of absorbing media. Sec.7 discusses the role of Special Relativity and of Lorentz transformations, relevant for the physical comprehension of the NDW issue. In Sec.8 we present further analytic solutions to the wave equations, with use of higher-order Bessel beams. Next, Sec.9 deals in detail with an application of NDWs to Optical Tweezers. In Sec.10 we show that "soliton-like" solutions can be found also in the different case of the ordinary linear Schroedinger equation within standard Quantum Mechanics. Some complementary issues are just mentioned in the last Section. This work also constitutes a part of a much longer Review in preparation.

physics.optics

Time as a quantum observable

Some results are reviewed and developments are presented on the study of Time in quantum mechanics as an observable, canonically conjugate to energy. Operators for the observable Time are investigated in particle and photon quantum theory. In particular, this paper deals with the hermitian (more precisely, maximal hermitian, but non-selfadjoint) operator for Time which appears: (i) for particles, in ordinary non-relativistic quantum mechanics; and (ii) for photons, in first-quantization quantum electrodynamics.

quant-ph

Theory of Frozen Waves

In this work, starting by suitable superpositions of equal-frequency Bessel beams, we develop a theoretical and experimental methodology to obtain localized stationary wave fields, with high transverse localization, whose longitudinal intensity pattern can approximately assume any desired shape within a chosen interval 0 < z < L of the propagation axis z. Their intensity envelope remains static, i.e. with velocity v=0; so that we have named ``Frozen Waves" (FW) these new solutions to the wave equations (and, in particular, to the Maxwell equations). Inside the envelope of a FW only the carrier wave does propagate: And the longitudinal shape, within the interval 0 < z < L, can be chosen in such a way that no nonnegligible field exists outside the pre-determined region (consisting, e.g., in one or more high intensity peaks). Our solutions are noticeable also for the different and interesting applications they can have, especially in electromagnetism and acoustics, such as optical tweezers, atom guides, optical or acoustic bistouries, various important medical apparata, etc.

physics.optics

Tunnelling times: An elementary introduction

In this paper we examine critically and in detail some existing definitions for the tunnelling times, namely: the phase-time; the centroid-based times; the Buttiker and Landauer times; the Larmor times; the complex (path-integral and Bohm) times; the dwell time, and finally the generalized (Olkhovsky and Recami) dwell time, by adding also some numerical evaluations. Then, we pass to examine the equivalence between quantum tunnelling and "photon tunnelling" (evanescent waves propagation), with particular attention to tunnelling with Superluminal group-velocities ("Hartman effect"). At last, in an Appendix, we add a bird-eye view of all the experimental sectors of physics in which Superluminal motions seem to appear.

quant-ph

Measurement of Superluminal optical tunneling times in double-barrier photonic bandgaps

Tunneling of optical pulses at 1.5 micron wavelength through double-barrier periodic fiber Bragg gratings is experimentally investigated. Tunneling time measurements as a function of barrier distance show that, far from the resonances of the structure, the transit time is paradoxically short, implying Superluminal propagation, and almost independent of the distance between the barriers. These results are in agreement with theoretical predictions based on phase time analysis and also provide an experimental evidence, in the optical context, of the analogous phenomenon expected in Quantum Mechanics for non-resonant superluminal tunneling of particles across two successive potential barriers. [Attention is called, in particular, to our last Figure]. PACS nos.: 42.50.Wm, 03.65.Xp, 42.70.Qs, 03.50.De, 03.65.-w, 73.40.Gk

physics.optics

About Some Regge-Like Relations for (stable) Black Holes

We associated, in a classical formulation of "strong gravity", hadron constituents with suitable stationary, axisymmetric solutions of some new Einstein-type equations supposed to describe the strong field inside hadrons. These new equations can be obtained by the Einstein equations with cosmological term Lambda. As a consequence, Lambda and the masses M result in our theory to be scaled up, and transformed into a "hadronic constant" and into "strong masses", respectively. Due to the unusual range of Lambda and M values considered, we met a series of solutions of the Kerr-Newman-de Sitter (hereafter KNdS) type with rather interesting properties. The requirement that those solutions be stable, i.e., that their temperature (or surface gravity) be vanishingly small, implies the coincidence of at least two of their (in general, three) horizons. Imposing the stability condition of a certain horizon does yield (once chosen the values of J, q and Lambda) mass and radius of the associated black-hole (hereafter BH). In the case of ordinary Einstein equations and for stable BHs of the KNdS type, we get in particular Regge-like (hereafter RL) relations among mass M, angular momentum J, charge q and cosmological constant Lambda; which did not receive enough attention in the previous literature. Besides, we show some particular and interesting cases of these relations. Another interesting point is that, with few exceptions, all such relations (among M, J, q, Lambda) lead to solutions that can be regarded as (stable) cosmological models.

math-ph

Black-body laws derived from a minimum knowledge of Physics

Starting from the knowledge of the four fundamental quantities length L, mass M, time T, absolute temperature $θ$ and accepting the validity of Gauss's law in all dimensions, we generalize, by the theory of physical dimensions, the expression of the Stephan-Boltzmann law and of the Planck's formula for the black-body radiation to a spacetime with one time and n spatial coordinates. In the particular case n=3 we shall recover the known results.

physics.gen-ph

Density profiles of dark matter halos in an improved Secondary Infall model

In this paper we calculate the density profiles of virialized halos both in the case of structure evolving hierarchically from a scale-free Gaussian delta-field having a power spectrum P(k)=A k^n in a Omega=1 Universe and in the case of the CDM model, by using a modified version of Hoffman & Shaham's (1985) (hereafter HS) and Hoffman's (1988) model. We suppose that the initial density contrast profile around local maxima is given by the mean peak profile introduced by Bardeen et al. (1986) (hereafter BBKS), and is not just proportional to the two-point correlation function, as assumed by HS. We show that the density profiles, both for scale-free Universes and the CDM model, are not power-laws but have a logarithmic slope that increases from the inner halo to its outer parts. Both scale-free, for n >=-1, and CDM density profiles are well approximated by Navarro et al. (1995, 1996, 1997) profile. The radius a, at which the slope alpha=-2, is a function of the mass of the halo and in the scale-free models also of the spectral index n.

astro-ph

Radiation Induced Fermion Resonance

The Dirac equation is solved for two novel terms which describe the interaction energy between the half integral spin of a fermion and the classical, circularly polarized, electromagnetic field. A simple experiment is suggested to test the new terms and the existence of radiation induced fermion resonance.

physics.optics

Hydrodynamics of Spinning Particles

In this note, we first obtain the decomposition of the non-relativistic field velocity into the classical part (i.e., the velocity w=p/m OF the center-of-mass (CM), and the so-called quantum part (i.e., the velocity V of the motion IN the CM frame (namely, the internal spin-motion or Zitterbewegung), these two parts being orthogonal. Our starting point is the Pauli current. Then, by inserting such a composite expression of the velocity into the kinetic energy term of the non-relativistic newtonian lagrangian, we get the appearance of the so-called "quantum potential" (which makes the difference between classical and quantum behaviour) as a pure consequence of the internal motion. Such a result carries further evidence about the possibility that the quantum behaviour of micro-systems be a direct consequence of the fundamental existence of spin.

hep-th

Micro--universes and ``strong black holes'': a purely geometric approach to elementary particles

We present here a panoramic view of our unified, bi--scale theory of gravitational and strong interactions [which is mathematically analogous to the last version of N.Rosen's bi--metric theory; and yields physical results similar to strong gravity's]. This theory, developed during the last 15 years, is purely geometrical in nature, adopting the methods of General Relativity for the description of hadron structure and strong interactions. In particular, hadrons are associated with `` strong black--holes'', from the external point of view, and with ``micro--universes'', from the internal point of view. Among the results herein presented, let us mention the derivation: (i) of confinement and (ii) asymptotic freedom for the hadron constituents; (iii) of the Yukawa behaviour for the strong potential at the static limit; (iv) of the strong coupling ``constant'', and (v) of mesonic mass spectra.

gr-qc

More About Tunnelling Times, the Dwell Time, and the ``Hartman Effect"

In a recent review paper [{\em Phys. Reports} {\bf 214} (1992) 339] we proposed, within conventional quantum mechanics, new definitions for the sub-barrier tunnelling and reflection times. \ Aims of the present paper are: \ (i) presenting and analysing the results of various numerical calculations (based on our equations) on the penetration and return times $<τ_{\, \rm Pen}>$, $<τ_{\, \rm Ret}>$, during tunnelling {\em inside} a rectangular potential barrier, for various penetration depths $x_{\rm f}$; \ (ii) putting forth and discussing suitable definitions, besides of the mean values, also of the {\em variances} (or dispersions) ${\rm D} \, {τ_{\rm T}}$ and ${\rm D} \, {τ_{\, \rm R}}$ for the time durations of transmission and reflection processes; \ (iii) mentioning, moreover, that our definition $<τ_{\rm T}>$ for the average transmission time results to constitute an {\em improvement} of the ordinary dwell--time ${\ove τ}^{\rm Dw}$ formula: \ (iv) commenting, at last, on the basis of our {\em new} numerical results, upon some recent criticism by C.R.Leavens. \ \ We stress that our numerical evaluations {\em confirm} that our approach implied, and implies, the existence of the {\em Hartman effect}: an effect that in these days (due to the theoretical connections between tunnelling and evanescent--wave propagation) is receiving ---at Cologne, Berkeley, Florence and Vienna--- indirect, but quite interesting, experimental verifications. \ Eventually, we briefly analyze some other definitions of tunnelling times.

quant-ph