We discuss a PT-symmetric Hamiltonian with complex eigenvalues. It is based on the dimensionless Schrödinger equation for a particle in a square box with the PT-symmetric potential V (x, y) = iaxy. Perturbation theory clearly shows that some of the eigenvalues are complex for sufficiently small values of |a|. Point-group symmetry proves useful to guess if some of the eigenvalues may already be complex for all values of the coupling constant. We confirm those conclusions by means of an accurate numerical calculation based on the diagonalization method. On the other hand, the Schrödinger equation with the potential V (x, y) = iaxy 2 exhibits real eigenvalues for sufficiently small values of |a|. Point group symmetry suggests that PT-symmetry may be broken in the former case and unbroken in the latter one.

We analyse several non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with antiunitary symmetry from the point of view of their point-group symmetry. It enables one to predict the degeneracy of the energy levels and to reduce the dimension of the matrices necessary for the diagonalization of the Hamiltonian in a given basis set. We can also classify the solutions according to the irreducible representations of the point group. One of the main results of this paper is that PT-symmetric Hamiltonians with point-group symmetry C 2v exhibit complex eigenvalues for all values of a potential parameter.In such cases the PT phase transition takes place at the trivial Hermitian limit and suggests that the phenomenon is not robust.

We calculate accurate critical parameters for a class of non-hermitian Hamiltonians by means of the diagonalization method. We study three one-dimensional models and two perturbed rigid rotors with PT symmetry. One of the latter models illustrates the necessity of a more general condition for the appearance of real eigenvalues that we also discuss here.

Carrier phase estimation in real-time Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers is usually performed by tracking loops due to their very low computational complexity. We show that a careful design of these loops allows them to operate properly in high-dynamics environments, that is, accelerations up to 40 g or more. Their phase and frequency discriminators and loop filter are derived considering the digital nature of the loop inputs. Based on these ideas, we propose a new loop structure named Unambiguous Frequency-Aided Phase-Locked Loop (UFA-PLL). In terms of tracking capacity and noise resistance UFA-PLL has the same advantages of frequently used coupled-loop schemes, but it is simpler to design and to implement. Moreover, it can keep phase lock in situations where other loops cannot. The loop design is completed selecting the correlation time and loop bandwidth that minimize the pull-out probability, without relying on typical rules of thumb. Optimal and efficient ways to smooth the phase estimates are also presented. Hence, high-quality phase measurements—usually exploited in offline and quasistatic applications—become practical for real-time and high-dynamics receivers. Experiments with fixed-point implementations of the proposed loops and actual radio signals are also shown.

A retrospective analysis (2000 to 2013) of cattle poisoning caused by toxic plants and other compounds was carried out in the Pampas region of Argentina by the Animal Health Group of INTA-EEA, Balcarce. During this period, 1263 reports of diseases of different etiologies (infectious, parasitic, toxic, metabolic and miscellaneous) were recorded in cattle, by collecting anamnestic, clinical and pathological information. A toxic etiology was diagnosed in 21.1% of these reports. Iatrogenic poisoning caused by ionophores was the most frequently recorded etiology. Consumption of toxic plants (Wedelia glauca, Solanum glaucophyllum, among others), mycotoxins (Claviceps purpurea, Claviceps paspali, Epichloë coenophiala, among others), and plants producing cyanide and nitrates/nitrites were also commonly diagnosed. The high frequency of toxic episodes and the difficulties in their diagnosis by practitioners in our livestock production systems emphasizes the importance of this report.

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We show that the resonances of the Stark effect in hydrogen reported by Fernández-Menchero and Summers [Phys. Rev. A 88, 022509 (2013)] are considerably less accurate than the number of digits appear to suggest. In particular, the imaginary part of the lowest resonance is several orders of magnitude greater than it should be. We compare the results of that paper with those provided by the Riccati-Padé method, perturbation theory, and an asymptotic expansion for the resonance width. The inaccuracy of those results can be traced back to the lack of precision in the calculation of the matrix elements of the secular equation. We carry out a more accurate calculation with the same method and show that the agreement with earlier results of other authors is greatly improved.