Integrable Impurities as Boundary Conditions

A few exactly solvable interacting quantum many-body problems with impurities were previously reported to exhibit unusual features such as non-localization and absence of backscattering. In this work we consider the use of these integrable impurities as boundary conditions in the framework of linear transport problems. We first show that such impurities enhance the density of states at the Fermi surface, thus increasing the effective system size. The study of the real time-dynamics of a wave packet sent through a series of them inserted in both non-interacting and interacting leads then indicates that these impurities are transparent and do not add artefacts to the measurement of transport properties. We finally apply these new boundary conditions to study the conductance of an interacting scatterer using the embedding method.Comment: 6 figure

Effects of lattice distortions on low-dimensional strongly correlated systems

Cette thèse porte sur l'effet de phonons, dans la limite adiabatique, sur des systèmes de basse dimensionalité fortement corrélés. Dans une première partie, nous considérons uniquement des systèmes de spins classiques (limite grand S). Nous étudions la chaîne de spins frustrés J1 J2 couplée avec des distorsions du réseau et en présence d'un champ magnétique. Par des méthodes analytiques et numériques (Monte-Carlo), nous montrons que pour une large gamme de couplage spin-réseau un plateau d'aimantation est stabilisé à 1/3 de l'aimantation de saturation.Nous étudions ensuite un réseau frustré à deux dimensions, le réseau de Shastry-Sutherland. Nous trouvons un pseudo-plateau d'aimantation à 1/3 de l'aimantation de saturation à température non-nulle. Nous montrons, via des ondes de spins classiques et des simulations Monte-Carlo, que ce pseudo-plateau est dû à une sélection entropique d'une configuration colinéaire à travers l'effet d'Ordre par le Désordre. Nous obtenons par des simulations Monte-Carlo un diagramme de phase en fonction de la température et du champ appliqué. La seconde partie passe en revue le travail effectué sur la chaîne de Hubbard quart-remplie. Nous considérons des distorsions de Holstein (sur site) et de Peierls. Nous dérivons un Hamiltonien bosonique dans la limite basse énergie en incluant davantage d'harmoniques aux champs fermioniques et montrons que le couplage avec le réseau couple les degrés de liberté de charge et de spin. Nous retrouvons qualitativement les phases tétra et dimérisées qui ont été obtenues dans des travaux numériques antérieurs.This thesis deals with the effects of phonons, in the adiabatic limit, on low-dimensional strongly-correlated systems. In a first part, we focus on spin systems in the classical limit (large S). We study the frustrated J1 J2 chain coupled with lattice distortions and under an applied magnetic field. By means of analytical and numerical (Monte-Carlo) methods, we show that, for a wide range of the spin-lattice coupling, a magnetization plateau at 1/3 of the saturated magnetization is stabilized. We then study the two-dimensional frustrated Shastry-Sutherland lattice. Amagnetization pseudo-plateau is found at 1/3 of the saturatedmagnetization for nonzero temperature. Classical spin-waves and Monte-Carlo simulations show that this pseudoplateau is due to the entropic selection of a particular collinear configuration through the Order by Disorder effect. By means of Monte-Carlo simulations, we obtain a phase diagram in the planemagnetic field versus temperature. The second part is dedicated to the quarter-filled Hubbard chain. Both Holstein (on-site) and Peierls distortions are considered. We derive a bosonic Hamiltonian in the low-energy limit by means of the bosonization technique. We includemore harmonics in the bosonic expansion of the fermionic fields and showthat the lattice coupling couples the spin and charge degrees of fredom.We qualitatively recover tetramerized and dimerized phases that were obtained in previous numerical works

Effets des distorsions du réseau sur des systèmes de basse dimensionalité fortement corrélés

Cette thèse porte sur l effet de phonons, dans la limite adiabatique, sur des systèmes de basse dimensionalité fortement corrélés. Dans une première partie, nous considérons uniquement des systèmes de spins classiques (limite grand S). Nous étudions la chaîne de spins frustrés J1 J2 couplée avec des distorsions du réseau et en présence d un champ magnétique. Par des méthodes analytiques et numériques (Monte-Carlo), nous montrons que pour une large gamme de couplage spin-réseau un plateau d aimantation est stabilisé à 1/3 de l aimantation de saturation.Nous étudions ensuite un réseau frustré à deux dimensions, le réseau de Shastry-Sutherland. Nous trouvons un pseudo-plateau d aimantation à 1/3 de l aimantation de saturation à température non-nulle. Nous montrons, via des ondes de spins classiques et des simulations Monte-Carlo, que ce pseudo-plateau est dû à une sélection entropique d une configuration colinéaire à travers l effet d Ordre par le Désordre. Nous obtenons par des simulations Monte-Carlo un diagramme de phase en fonction de la température et du champ appliqué. La seconde partie passe en revue le travail effectué sur la chaîne de Hubbard quart-remplie. Nous considérons des distorsions de Holstein (sur site) et de Peierls. Nous dérivons un Hamiltonien bosonique dans la limite basse énergie en incluant davantage d harmoniques aux champs fermioniques et montrons que le couplage avec le réseau couple les degrés de liberté de charge et de spin. Nous retrouvons qualitativement les phases tétra et dimérisées qui ont été obtenues dans des travaux numériques antérieurs.This thesis deals with the effects of phonons, in the adiabatic limit, on low-dimensional strongly-correlated systems. In a first part, we focus on spin systems in the classical limit (large S). We study the frustrated J1 J2 chain coupled with lattice distortions and under an applied magnetic field. By means of analytical and numerical (Monte-Carlo) methods, we show that, for a wide range of the spin-lattice coupling, a magnetization plateau at 1/3 of the saturated magnetization is stabilized. We then study the two-dimensional frustrated Shastry-Sutherland lattice. Amagnetization pseudo-plateau is found at 1/3 of the saturatedmagnetization for nonzero temperature. Classical spin-waves and Monte-Carlo simulations show that this pseudoplateau is due to the entropic selection of a particular collinear configuration through the Order by Disorder effect. By means of Monte-Carlo simulations, we obtain a phase diagram in the planemagnetic field versus temperature. The second part is dedicated to the quarter-filled Hubbard chain. Both Holstein (on-site) and Peierls distortions are considered. We derive a bosonic Hamiltonian in the low-energy limit by means of the bosonization technique. We includemore harmonics in the bosonic expansion of the fermionic fields and showthat the lattice coupling couples the spin and charge degrees of freedom.We qualitatively recover tetramerized and dimerized phases that were obtained in previous numerical works.STRASBOURG-Sc. et Techniques (674822102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Task-Based Image Quality Assessment Comparing Classical and Iterative Cone Beam CT Images on Halcyon^®

Background: Despite the development of iterative reconstruction (IR) in diagnostic imaging, CBCT are generally reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) in radiotherapy. Varian medical systems, recently released with their latest Halcyon® V2.0 accelerator, a new IR algorithm for CBCT reconstruction. Purpose: To assess the image quality of radiotherapy CBCT images reconstructed with FBP and an IR algorithm. Methods: Three CBCT acquisition modes (head, thorax and pelvis large) available on a Halcyon® were assessed. Five acquisitions were performed for all modes on an image quality phantom and reconstructed with FBP and IR. Task-based image quality assessment was performed with noise power spectrum (NPS), task-based transfer function (TTF) and detectability index (d’). To illustrate the image quality obtained with both reconstruction types, CBCT acquisitions were made on 6 patients. Results: The noise magnitude and the spatial frequency of the NPS peak was lower with IR than with FBP for all modes. For all low and high-contrast inserts, the values for TTF at 50% were higher with IR than with FBP. For all inserts and all modes, the contrast values were similar with FBP and IR. For all low and high-contrast simulated lesions, d’ values were higher with IR than with FBP for all modes. These results were also found on the 6 patients where the images were less noisy but smoother with IR-CBCT. Conclusions: Using the IR algorithm for CBCT images in radiotherapy improve image quality and thus could increase the accuracy of online registration and limit positioning errors during processing

Mortality reduction by post-dilution online-haemodiafiltration : A cause-specific analysis

Background. From an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis from four randomized controlled trials comparing haemodialysis (HD) with post-dilution online-haemodiafiltration (ol-HDF), previously it appeared that HDF decreases all-cause mortality by 14% (95% confidence interval 25; 1) and fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 23% (39; 3). Significant differences were not found for fatal infections and sudden death. So far, it is unclear, however, whether the reduced mortality risk of HDF is only due to a decrease in CVD events and if so, which CVD in particular is prevented, if compared with HD. Methods. The IPD base was used for the present study. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for cause-specific mortality overall and in thirds of the convection volume were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard regression models. Annualized mortality and numbers needed to treat (NNT) were calculated as well. Results. Besides 554 patients dying from CVD, fatal infections and sudden death, 215 participants died from 'other causes', such as withdrawal from treatment and malignancies. In this group, the mortality risk was comparable between HD and ol-HDF patients, both overall and in thirds of the convection volume. Subdivision of CVD mortality in fatal cardiac, non-cardiac and unclassified CVD showed that ol-HDF was only associated with a lower risk of cardiac casualties [0.64 (0.61; 0.90)]. Annual mortality rates also suggest that the reduction in CVD death is mainly due to a decrease in cardiac fatalities, including both ischaemic heart disease and congestion. Overall, 32 and 75 patients, respectively, need to be treated by high-volume HDF (HV-HDF) to prevent one all-cause and one CVD death, respectively, per year. Conclusion. The beneficial effect of ol-HDF on all-cause and CVD mortality appears to be mainly due to a reduction in fatal cardiac events, including ischaemic heart disease as well as congestion. In HV-HDF, the NNT to prevent one CVD death is 75 per year

Mortality reduction by post-dilution online-haemodiafiltration : A cause-specific analysis

Background. From an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis from four randomized controlled trials comparing haemodialysis (HD) with post-dilution online-haemodiafiltration (ol-HDF), previously it appeared that HDF decreases all-cause mortality by 14% (95% confidence interval 25; 1) and fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 23% (39; 3). Significant differences were not found for fatal infections and sudden death. So far, it is unclear, however, whether the reduced mortality risk of HDF is only due to a decrease in CVD events and if so, which CVD in particular is prevented, if compared with HD. Methods. The IPD base was used for the present study. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for cause-specific mortality overall and in thirds of the convection volume were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard regression models. Annualized mortality and numbers needed to treat (NNT) were calculated as well. Results. Besides 554 patients dying from CVD, fatal infections and sudden death, 215 participants died from 'other causes', such as withdrawal from treatment and malignancies. In this group, the mortality risk was comparable between HD and ol-HDF patients, both overall and in thirds of the convection volume. Subdivision of CVD mortality in fatal cardiac, non-cardiac and unclassified CVD showed that ol-HDF was only associated with a lower risk of cardiac casualties [0.64 (0.61; 0.90)]. Annual mortality rates also suggest that the reduction in CVD death is mainly due to a decrease in cardiac fatalities, including both ischaemic heart disease and congestion. Overall, 32 and 75 patients, respectively, need to be treated by high-volume HDF (HV-HDF) to prevent one all-cause and one CVD death, respectively, per year. Conclusion. The beneficial effect of ol-HDF on all-cause and CVD mortality appears to be mainly due to a reduction in fatal cardiac events, including ischaemic heart disease as well as congestion. In HV-HDF, the NNT to prevent one CVD death is 75 per year