452 research outputs found
CGRaBS: An All-Sky Survey of Gamma-Ray Blazar Candidates
We describe a uniform all-sky survey of bright blazars, selected primarily by
their flat radio spectra, that is designed to provide a large catalog of likely
gamma-ray AGN. The defined sample has 1625 targets with radio and X-ray
properties similar to those of the EGRET blazars, spread uniformly across the
|b| > 10 deg sky. We also report progress toward optical characterization of
the sample; of objects with known R < 23, 85% have been classified and 81% have
measured redshifts. One goal of this program is to focus attention on the most
interesting (e.g., high redshift, high luminosity, ...) sources for intensive
multiwavelength study during the observations by the Large Area Telescope (LAT)
on GLAST.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, 1 machine-readable table available at
http://astro.stanford.edu/CGRaBS/ ; accepted for publication in ApJ
Field dependent thermodynamics and Quantum Critical Phenomena in the dimerized spin system Cu2(C5H12N2)2Cl4
Experimental data for the uniform susceptibility, magnetization and specific
heat for the material Cu2(C5H12N2)2Cl4 (abbreviated CuHpCl) as a function of
temperature and external field are compared with those of three different
dimerized spin models: alternating spin-chains, spin-ladders and the bilayer
Heisenberg model. It is shown that because this material consists of weakly
coupled spin-dimers, much of the data is insensitive to how the dimers are
coupled together and what the effective dimensionality of the system is. When
such a system is tuned to the quantum critical point by application of a field,
the dimensionality shows up in the power-law dependences of thermodynamic
quantities on temperature. We discuss the temperature window for such a quantum
critical behavior in CuHpCl.Comment: Revtex, 5 pages, 4 figures (postscript
Various series expansions for a Heisenberg antiferromagnet model for SrCu(BO)
We use a variety of series expansion methods at both zero and finite
temperature to study an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin model proposed
recently by Miyahara and Ueda for the quasi two-dimensional material
SrCu(BO). We confirm that this model exhibits a first-order quantum
phase transition at T=0 between a gapped dimer phase and a gapless N\'eel phase
when the ratio of nearest and next-nearest neighbour interactions is
varied, and locate the transition at . Using longer series we are
able to give more accurate estimates of the model parameters by fitting to the
high temperature susceptibility data.Comment: RevTeX, 13 figure
Magnetic Phase Transition of the Perovskite-type Ti Oxides
Properties and mechanism of the magnetic phase transition of the
perovskite-type Ti oxides, which is driven by the Ti-O-Ti bond angle
distortion, are studied theoretically by using the effective spin and
pseudo-spin Hamiltonian with strong Coulomb repulsion. It is shown that the
A-type antiferromagnetic(AFM(A)) to ferromagnetic(FM) phase transition occurs
as the Ti-O-Ti bond angle is decreased. Through this phase transition, the
orbital state is hardly changed so that the spin-exchange coupling along the
c-axis changes nearly continuously from positive to negative and takes
approximately zero at the phase boundary. The resultant strong
two-dimensionality in the spin coupling causes a rapid suppression of the
critical temperature as is observed experimentally.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure
Hormonal gain control of a medial preoptic area social reward circuit
Neural networks that control reproduction must integrate social and hormonal signals, tune motivation, and invigorate social interactions. However, the neurocircuit mechanisms for these processes remain unresolved. The medial preoptic area (mPOA), an essential node for social behaviors and is comprised of molecularly-diverse neurons with widespread projections. Here, we identify a steroid-responsive subset of neurotensin (Nts) expressing mPOA neurons that interface with the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to form a socially-engaged reward circuit. Using in vivo 2-photon imaging in female mice, we show that mPOANts neurons preferentially encode attractive male cues compared to non-social appetitive stimuli. Ovarian hormone signals regulate both the physiological and cue encoding properties of these cells. Furthermore, optogenetic stimulation of mPOANts-VTA circuitry promotes rewarding phenotypes, social approach, and striatal dopamine release. Collectively, these data demonstrate that steroid-sensitive mPOA neurons encode ethologically-relevant stimuli and co-opt midbrain reward circuits to promote prosocial behavior critical for species survival
Why fencers should bounce: a new method of movement to engage the stretch-shortening cycle
While teaching a heel first contact style of footwork in fencing (also referred to as toe contribution avoidance) is in keeping with long standing traditions, it is not conducive to todayâs modern style of fast paced and explosive fencing. Equally, fencers towards the elite-end seem to be gradually adopting a more spring-based style, as their body progressively and organically transitions to âball of the footâ based footwork, in order for them to fence competitively in the manner they have intuitively associated with success. Therefore, if from a young age fencers are taught to make full use of the stretch shortening cycle (SSC) via âbouncingâ or simply by initiating movement via the ball of the foot, this will expedite the learning process. It will demonstrate to them how the SSC can be used to move at greater speed, cover greater distances when advancing, retreating and lunging, and conserve the much-needed energy required to compete over day long competitions. This paper details the mechanistic underpinnings of the SSC and its application to the modern day fencer
Magnetic and Orbital States and Their Phase Transition of the Perovskite-Type Ti Oxides: Strong Coupling Approach
The properties and mechanism of the magnetic phase transition of the
perovskite-type Ti oxides, which is driven by the Ti-O-Ti bond angle
distortion, are studied theoretically by using the effective spin and
pseudospin Hamiltonian with strong Coulomb repulsion. It is shown that the
A-type antiferromagnetic (AFM(A)) to ferromagnetic (FM) phase transition occurs
as the Ti-O-Ti bond angle is decreased. Through this phase transition, the
orbital state changes only little whereas the spin-exchange coupling along the
c-axis is expected to change from positive to negative nearly continuously and
approaches zero at the phase boundary. The resultant strong two-dimensionality
in the spin coupling causes rapid suppression of the critical temperature, as
observed experimentally. It may induce large quantum fluctuations in this
region.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figure
Chaotic Waveguide-Based Resonators for Microlasers
We propose the construction of highly directional emission microlasers using
two-dimensional high-index semiconductor waveguides as {\it open} resonators.
The prototype waveguide is formed by two collinear leads connected to a cavity
of certain shape. The proposed lasing mechanism requires that the shape of the
cavity yield mixed chaotic ray dynamics so as to have the appropiate (phase
space) resonance islands. These islands allow, via Heisenberg's uncertainty
principle, the appearance of quasi bound states (QBS) which, in turn,
propitiate the lasing mechanism. The energy values of the QBS are found through
the solution of the Helmholtz equation. We use classical ray dynamics to
predict the direction and intensity of the lasing produced by such open
resonators for typical values of the index of refraction.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Multi-Phonon -Vibrational Bands and the Triaxial Projected Shell Model
We present a fully quantum-mechanical, microscopic, unified treatment of
ground-state band and multi-phonon -vibrational bands using shell model
diagonalization with the triaxial projected shell model. The results agree very
well with data on the g- and -band spectra in Er, as well
as with recently measured 2-phonon -bandhead energies in
Er and Er. Multi-phonon -excitation energies are
predicted.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett.
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