34 research outputs found
New characterization based symmetry tests
Two new symmetry tests, of integral and Kolmogorov type, based on the
characterization by squares of linear statistics are proposed.
The test statistics are related to the family of degenerate U-statistics.
Their asymptotic properties are explored. The maximal eigenvalue, needed for
the derivation of their logarithmic tail behavior, was calculated or
approximated using techniques from the theory of linear operators and the
perturbation theory.
The quality of the tests is assessed using the approximate Bahadur efficiency
as well as the simulated powers. The tests are shown to be comparable with some
recent and classical tests of symmetry
Lattice dynamics reveals a local symmetry breaking in the emergent dipole phase of PbTe
Local symmetry breaking in complex materials is emerging as an important
contributor to materials properties but is inherently difficult to study. Here
we follow up an earlier structural observation of such a local symmetry broken
phase in the technologically important compound PbTe with a study of the
lattice dynamics using inelastic neutron scattering (INS). We show that the
lattice dynamics are responsive to the local symmetry broken phase, giving key
insights in the behavior of PbTe, but also revealing INS as a powerful tool for
studying local structure. The new result is the observation of the unexpected
appearance on warming of a new zone center phonon branch in PbTe. In a harmonic
solid the number of phonon branches is strictly determined by the contents and
symmetry of the unit cell. The appearance of the new mode indicates a crossover
to a dynamic lower symmetry structure with increasing temperature. No
structural transition is seen crystallographically but the appearance of the
new mode in inelastic neutron scattering coincides with the observation of
local Pb off-centering dipoles observed in the local structure. The observation
resembles relaxor ferroelectricity but since there are no inhomogeneous dopants
in pure PbTe this anomalous behavior is an intrinsic response of the system. We
call such an appearance of dipoles out of a non-dipolar ground-state
"emphanisis" meaning the appearance out of nothing. It cannot be explained
within the framework of conventional phase transition theories such as
soft-mode theory and challenges our basic understanding of the physics of
materials
Charge-Stripe Ordering From Local Octahedral Tilts: Underdoped and Superconducting La2-xSrxCuO4 (0 < x < 0.30)
The local structure of La2-xSrxCuO4, for 0 < x < 0.30, has been investigated
using the atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of neutron powder
diffraction data. The local octahedral tilts are studied to look for evidence
of [110] symmetry (i.e., LTT-symmetry) tilts locally, even though the average
tilts have [010] symmetry (i.e., LTO-symmetry) in these compounds. We argue
that this observation would suggest the presence of local charge-stripe order.
We show that the tilts are locally LTO in the undoped phase, in agreement with
the average crystal structure. At non-zero doping the PDF data are consistent
with the presence of local tilt disorder in the form of a mixture of LTO and
LTT local tilt directions and a distribution of local tilt magnitudes. We
present topological tilt models which qualitatively explain the origin of tilt
disorder in the presence of charge stripes and show that the PDF data are well
explained by such a mixture of locally small and large amplitude tilts.Comment: 11 two-column pages, 11 figure
Investigation of the thermal expansion and heat capacity of the CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics
The thermal expansion of the CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics has been measured over a wide temperature
range 120–1200 K. The high quality of the samples under study has been confirmed by good agreement of
the results of measurements of the heat capacity in the range 2–300 K and in the vicinity of the phase transition of magnetic nature at 25 K with the data for the single crystal. No anomalies in the thermal expansion
that can be associated with the phase transition at 726–732 K assumed by other investigators have been found.
The influence exerted on the thermal expansion by the heat treatment of the sample in a helium atmosphere
and in air has been investigated
Axial light emission and Ar metastable densities in a parallel plate dc micro discharge in steady state and transient regimes
Axial emission profiles in a parallel plate dc micro discharge (feedgas:
argon; discharge gap d=1mm; pressure p=10Torr) were studied by means of time
resolved imaging with a fast ICCD camera. Additionally, volt-ampere (V-A)
characteristics were recorded and Ar* metastable densities were measured by
tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS). Axial emission profiles in
the steady state regime are similar to corresponding profiles in standard size
discharges (d=1cm, p=1Torr). For some discharge conditions relaxation
oscillations are present when the micro discharge switches periodically between
low current Townsend-like mode and normal glow. At the same time the axial
emission profile shows transient behavior, starting with peak distribution at
the anode, which gradually moves towards the cathode during the normal glow.
The development of argon metastable densities highly correlates with the
oscillating discharge current. Gas temperatures in the low current
Townsend-like mode (T= 320-400K) and the high current glow mode (T=469-526K)
were determined by the broadening of the recorded spectral profiles as a
function of the discharge current.Comment: submitted to Plasma Sources Sci. Techno
Flux Phase as a Dynamic Jahn-Teller Phase: Berryonic Matter in the Cuprates?
There is considerable evidence for some form of charge ordering on the
hole-doped stripes in the cuprates, mainly associated with the low-temperature
tetragonal phase, but with some evidence for either charge density waves or a
flux phase, which is a form of dynamic charge-density wave. These three states
form a pseudospin triplet, demonstrating a close connection with the E X e
dynamic Jahn-Teller effect, suggesting that the cuprates constitute a form of
Berryonic matter. This in turn suggests a new model for the dynamic Jahn-Teller
effect as a form of flux phase. A simple model of the Cu-O bond stretching
phonons allows an estimate of electron-phonon coupling for these modes,
explaining why the half breathing mode softens so much more than the full
oxygen breathing mode. The anomalous properties of provide a coupling
(correlated hopping) which acts to stabilize density wave phases.Comment: Major Revisions: includes comparisons with specific cuprate phonon
modes, 16 eps figures, revte
Phase Separation Models for Cuprate Stripe Arrays
An electronic phase separation model provides a natural explanation for a
large variety of experimental results in the cuprates, including evidence for
both stripes and larger domains, and a termination of the phase separation in
the slightly overdoped regime, when the average hole density equals that on the
charged stripes. Several models are presented for charged stripes, showing how
density waves, superconductivity, and strong correlations compete with quantum
size effects (QSEs) in narrow stripes. The energy bands associated with the
charged stripes develop in the middle of the Mott gap, and the splitting of
these bands can be understood by considering the QSE on a single ladder.Comment: significant revisions: includes island phase, 16 eps figures, revte
How to detect fluctuating order in the high-temperature superconductors
We discuss fluctuating order in a quantum disordered phase proximate to a
quantum critical point, with particular emphasis on fluctuating stripe order.
Optimal strategies for extracting information concerning such local order from
experiments are derived with emphasis on neutron scattering and scanning
tunneling microscopy. These ideas are tested by application to two model
systems - the exactly solvable one dimensional electron gas with an impurity,
and a weakly-interacting 2D electron gas. We extensively review experiments on
the cuprate high-temperature superconductors which can be analyzed using these
strategies. We adduce evidence that stripe correlations are widespread in the
cuprates. Finally, we compare and contrast the advantages of two limiting
perspectives on the high-temperature superconductor: weak coupling, in which
correlation effects are treated as a perturbation on an underlying metallic
(although renormalized) Fermi liquid state, and strong coupling, in which the
magnetism is associated with well defined localized spins, and stripes are
viewed as a form of micro-phase separation. We present quantitative indicators
that the latter view better accounts for the observed stripe phenomena in the
cuprates.Comment: 43 pages, 11 figures, submitted to RMP; extensively revised and
greatly improved text; one new figure, one new section, two new appendices
and more reference
Antioxidant activity relationship of phenolic compounds in Hypericum perforatum L.
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The St John's Wort (<it>Hypericum perforatum</it>; Clusiaceae) has been used in traditional and modern medicine for a long time due to its high content of biologically active phenolics. The purpose of this work was to develop a method for their fractionation and identification, and to determine the most active antioxidant compounds in plant extract.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An LC-MS method which enables fast qualitative and semiquantitative analysis was developed. The composition determined is in agreement with the previous results, where 6 flavonoids, 4 naphthodianthrones and 4 phloroglucinols have been identified. Significant antioxidant activity was determined for most of the fractions by DPPH assay (the lowest IC<sub>50 </sub>of 0.52 μg/ml), NO scavenging (6.11 μg/ml), superoxide scavenging (1.86 μg/ml), lipid peroxidation (0.0079 μg/ml) and FRAP (the highest reduction capacity of 104 mg Fe equivalents/g) assays.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>LC-MS technique has been successfully applied for a quick separation and identification of the major components of <it>H. perforatum </it>fractions. Majority of the fractions analyzed have expressed a very high antioxidative activity when compared to synthetic antioxidants. The antioxidant activity could be attributed to flavonoids and phenolic acids, while phloroglucinols and naphthodianthrones showed no significant activity. It is demonstrated that it is possible to obtain, by fractionation, <it>H. perforatum </it>preparations with significantly increased phloroglucinols-to-naphthodianthrones ratio (up to 95:5).</p
Studies on Magnetic Excitation Spectra of High-Tc Superconductors
Magnetic excitation spectra c"(q,w) of YBa2Cu3Oy, La2-xSrxCuO4,
La2-y-xNdySrxCuO4 and Nd2-xCexCuO4 are compared with those of model
calculations, where q and w are the wave vector and the energy of the
excitations. In the model, the dynamical spin susceptibility is calculated by
the expression c(q,w)= c0(q,w)/{1+J(q)c0(q,w)}, where c0(q,w) is obtained by
adopting the effective energy dispersion of the quasi particles which can
reproduce the shapes of the Fermi surface, and J(q) is the exchange coupling
between the Cu-Cu electrons. It is important to consider the experimentally
observed quasi particle broadening (G) to reproduce the observed spectra of
YBa2Cu3Oy, while to reproduce the data of La2-xSrxCuO4 and La2-y-xNdySrxCuO4,
very small G values have to be used, even in the phases without the static
"stripe" order. This may be caused by the existence of the "stripe"
correlations or "stripe" fluctuations.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. submitte