1,230 research outputs found
<i>d</i>-wave superconductivity from electron-phonon interactions
I examine electron-phonon mediated superconductivity in the intermediate coupling and phonon frequency regime of the quasi-two-dimensional Holstein model. I use an extended Migdal-Eliashberg theory that includes vertex corrections and spatial fluctuations. I find a d-wave superconducting state that is unique close to half filling. The order parameter undergoes a transition to s-wave superconductivity on increasing filling. I explain how the inclusion of both vertex corrections and spatial fluctuations is essential for the prediction of a d-wave order parameter. I then discuss the effects of a large Coulomb pseudopotential on the superconductivity (such as is found in contemporary superconducting materials like the cuprates), which results in the destruction of the s-wave states, while leaving the d-wave states unmodified
Variational QMC study of a Hydrogen atom in jellium with comparison to LSDA and LSDA-SIC solutions
A Hydrogen atom immersed in a finite jellium sphere is solved using
variational quantum Monte Carlo (VQMC). The same system is also solved using
density functional theory (DFT), in both the local spin density (LSDA) and
self-interaction correction (SIC) approximations. The immersion energies
calculated using these methods, as functions of the background density of the
jellium, are found to lie within 1eV of each other with minima in approximately
the same positions. The DFT results show overbinding relative to the VQMC
result. The immersion energies also suggest an improved performance of the SIC
over the LSDA relative to the VQMC results. The atom-induced density is also
calculated and shows a difference between the methods, with a more extended
Friedel oscillation in the case of the VQMC result.Comment: 16 pages, 9 Postscript figure
Tilt Grain-Boundary Effects in S- and D-Wave Superconductors
We calculate the s- and d-wave superconductor order parameter in the vicinity
of a tilt grain boundary. We do this self-consistently within the Bogoliubov de
Gennes equations, using a realistic microscopic model of the grain boundary. We
present the first self-consistent calculations of supercurrent flows in such
boundaries, obtaining the current-phase characteristics of grain boundaries in
both s-wave and d-wave superconductors
Superconducting charge qubits from a microscopic many-body perspective
The quantised Josephson junction equation that underpins the behaviour of
charge qubits and other tunnel devices is usually derived through cannonical
quantisation of the classical macroscopic Josephson relations. However, this
approach may neglect effects due to the fact that the charge qubit consists of
a superconducting island of finite size connected to a large superconductor.
We show that the well known quantised Josephson equation can be derived
directly and simply from a microscopic many-body Hamiltonian. By choosing the
appropriate strong coupling limit we produce a highly simplified Hamiltonian
that nevertheless allows us to go beyond the mean field limit and predict
further finite-size terms in addition to the basic equation.Comment: Accepted for J Phys Condensed Matte
Germline Transgenic Methods for Tracking Cells and Testing Gene Function During Regeneration in the Axolotl
The salamander is the only tetrapod that regenerates complex body structures throughout life. Deciphering the underlying molecular processes of regeneration is fundamental for regenerative medicine and developmental biology, but the model organism had limited tools for molecular analysis. We describe a comprehensive set of germline transgenic strains in the laboratory-bred salamander Ambystoma mexicanum(axolotl) that open up the cellular and molecular genetic dissection of regeneration. We demonstrate tissue-dependent control of gene expression in nerve, Schwann cells, oligodendrocytes, muscle, epidermis, and cartilage. Furthermore, we demonstrate the use of tamoxifen-induced Cre/loxP-mediated recombination to indelibly mark different cell types. Finally, we inducibly overexpress the cell-cycle inhibitor p16INK4a, which negatively regulates spinal cord regeneration. These tissue-specific germline axolotl lines and tightly inducible Cre drivers and LoxP reporter lines render this classical regeneration model molecularly accessible
Bases expert statement on the use of music for movement among people with Parkinson's
First published in The Sport and Exercise Scientist, February 2020, Issue 63. Published by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences â www.bases.org.uk.Music is an artistic auditory stimulus that unfolds over time. It can prime specific actions and prompt engagement in physical activity as well as heighten motivation during motor tasks (Karageorghis, 2020). Contrastingly, it can be used to downregulate arousal to facilitate the transition from an active to a sedentary state or to ameliorate anxiety. In therapeutic applications, musical features such as rhythm, melody and harmony have been shown to elicit psychological and physiological changes (Thaut & Hoemberg, 2014). Parkinsonâs is a degenerative neurological condition in which the loss of dopamine neurons results in impaired initiation and control of movement, with common symptoms including tremor, postural instability and gait disturbance. There are also non-motor effects that include apathy, anxiety and depression. Medication does not alleviate all manifestations of the condition and there is presently no known cure (Obeso et al., 2017). It is notable that people with Parkinsonâs are estimated to be 30% less active than agematched peers (Ramaswamy et al., 2018). Nonetheless, evidence is emerging that a range of exercise-based and social activities that involve musical engagement can serve to address the common symptoms and enhance quality of life (Thaut & Hoemberg, 2014). This statement brings together an international interdisciplinary team to outline what is known about music-related applications for people with Parkinsonâs, and to provide recommendations for exercise and health practitioners.Peer reviewe
Superconducing Alloys with Weak and Strong Scattering: Anderson's Theorem and a Superconductor-Insulator Transition
We have studied the effects of strong impurity scattering on disordered
superconductors beyond the low impurity concentration limit. By applying the
full CPA to a superconductiong A-B binary alloy, we calculated the fluctuations
of the local order parameters and charge densities,
for weak and strong on site disorder. We find that for narrow
band alloy s-wav e superconductors the conditions for Anderson's theorem are
satisfied in general only for the case of particle-hole symmetry. In this case
it is satisfied regardless whether we are in the weak or strong scattering
regimes. Interestingly, we find that strong scattering leads to band splitting
and in this regime for any band filling we have a critical concentration where
a superconductor-insulator quantum phase transition occurs at T=0.Comment: 28 pages, 13 figure
Induction of non-d-wave order-parameter components by currents in d-wave superconductors
It is shown, within the framework of the Ginzburg-Landau theory for a
superconductor with d_{x^2-y^2} symmetry, that the passing of a supercurrent
through the sample results, in general, in the induction of order-parameter
components of distinct symmetry. The induction of s-wave and
d_{xy(x^2-y^2)-wave components are considered in detail. It is shown that in
both cases the order parameter remains gapless; however, the structure of the
lines of nodes and the lobes of the order parameter are modified in distinct
ways, and the magnitudes of these modifications differ in their dependence on
the (a-b plane) current direction. The magnitude of the induced s-wave
component is estimated using the results of the calculations of Ren et al.
[Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 3680 (1995)], which are based on a microscopic approach.Comment: 15 pages, includes 2 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev.
Higher anisotropic d-wave symmetry in cuprate superconductors
We derive a pair potential from tight binding further neighbours attraction
that leads to superconducting gap symmetry similar to that of the
phenomenological spin fluctuation theory of high temperature superconductors
(Monthoux, Balatsky, Pines, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 67}, 3448). We show that
higher anisotropic d-wave than the simpliest d-wave symmetry is one of the
important ingredients responsible for higher BCS characteristic ratio.Comment: Latex 5 pages, 3 figures attached, Journal Ref. : Journal of Physics
C, Vol. 11, issue 30, L371-L377 (1999
Physical weathering intensity controls bioavailable primary iron(II) silicate content in major global dust sources
The speciation of iron (Fe) reaching the ocean, for instance in windâblown dust and coastal sediments, impacts its bioavailability to phytoplankton and its impact on atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and climate. For dust reaching the Southern Ocean, primary Fe(II) silicates that are physically weathered from bedrock are highly bioavailable compared to more chemically weathered, Fe(III)ârich species, suggesting that weathering in dust source regions impacts the bioavailable Fe supply. However, this phenomenon has not been studied in other important terrestrial Fe sources, where weathering regimes and source geology vary. Here, we use Fe Xâray absorption spectroscopy on marine sediment cores to show that major global dust and sediment sources impacted by high physical weathering contain abundant primary minerals and thus are overlooked as a source of highly bioavailable Fe globally. Thus, it is important to consider the role of physical versus chemical weathering in Fe fertilization and biotic CO2 cycling
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