Group delay in THz spectroscopy with ultra-wideband log-spiral antennae

We report on the group delay observed in continuous-wave terahertz spectroscopy based on photomixing with phase-sensitive homodyne detection. We discuss the different contributions of the experimental setup to the phase difference \Delta\phi(\nu) between transmitter arm and receiver arm. A simple model based on three contributions yields a quantitative description of the overall behavior of \Delta\phi(\nu). Firstly, the optical path-length difference gives rise to a term linear in frequency. Secondly, the ultra-wideband log-spiral antennae effectively radiate and receive in a frequency-dependent active region, which in the most simple model is an annular area with a circumference equal to the wavelength. The corresponding term changes by roughly 6 pi between 100 GHz and 1 THz. The third contribution stems from the photomixer impedance. In contrast, the derivative (d\Delta\phi / d\nu) is dominated by the contribution of periodic modulations of \Delta\phi(\nu) caused by standing waves, e.g., in the photomixers' Si lenses. Furthermore, we discuss the Fourier-transformed spectra, which are equivalent to the waveform in a time-domain experiment. In the time domain, the group delay introduced by the log-spiral antennae gives rise to strongly chirped signals, in which low frequencies are delayed. Correcting for the contributions of antennae and photomixers yields sharp peaks or "pulses" and thus facilitates a time-domain-like analysis of our continuous-wave data.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

On Motives Associated to Graph Polynomials

The appearance of multiple zeta values in anomalous dimensions and $\beta$-functions of renormalizable quantum field theories has given evidence towards a motivic interpretation of these renormalization group functions. In this paper we start to hunt the motive, restricting our attention to a subclass of graphs in four dimensional scalar field theory which give scheme independent contributions to the above functions.Comment: 54

Spin Resonance and dc Current Generation in a Quantum Wire

We show that in a quantum wire the spin-orbit interaction leads to a narrow spin resonance at low temperatures, even in the absence of an external magnetic field. Resonance absorption by linearly polarized radiation gives a dc spin current; resonance absorption by circularly polarized radiation gives a dc electric current or magnetization

Phase diagram and critical properties in the Polyakov--Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model

We investigate the phase diagram of the so-called Polyakov--Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model at finite temperature and nonzero chemical potential with three quark flavours. Chiral and deconfinement phase transitions are discussed, and the relevant order-like parameters are analyzed. The results are compared with simple thermodynamic expectations and lattice data. A special attention is payed to the critical end point: as the strength of the flavour-mixing interaction becomes weaker, the critical end point moves to low temperatures and can even disappear.Comment: Talk given at the 9th International Conference on Quark Confinement and the Hadron Spectrum - QCHS IX, Madrid, Spain, 30 August - September 201