550 research outputs found

    Anomalous Breaking of Anisotropic Scaling Symmetry in the Quantum Lifshitz Model

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    In this note we investigate the anomalous breaking of anisotropic scaling symmetry in a non-relativistic field theory with dynamical exponent z=2. On general grounds, one can show that there exist two possible "central charges" which characterize the breaking of scale invariance. Using heat kernel methods, we compute these two central charges in the quantum Lifshitz model, a free field theory which is second order in time and fourth order in spatial derivatives. We find that one of the two central charges vanishes. Interestingly, this is also true for strongly coupled non-relativistic field theories with a geometric dual described by a metric and a massive vector field.Comment: 26 pages; major revision (results were unaffected), published versio

    Holographic Renormalization for z=2 Lifshitz Space-Times from AdS

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    Lifshitz space-times with critical exponent z=2 can be obtained by dimensional reduction of Schroedinger space-times with critical exponent z=0. The latter space-times are asymptotically AdS solutions of AdS gravity coupled to an axion-dilaton system and can be uplifted to solutions of type IIB supergravity. This basic observation is used to perform holographic renormalization for 4-dimensional asymptotically z=2 locally Lifshitz space-times by Scherk-Schwarz dimensional reduction of the corresponding problem of holographic renormalization for 5-dimensional asymptotically locally AdS space-times coupled to an axion-dilaton system. We can thus define and characterize a 4-dimensional asymptotically locally z=2 Lifshitz space-time in terms of 5-dimensional AdS boundary data. In this setup the 4-dimensional structure of the Fefferman-Graham expansion and the structure of the counterterm action, including the scale anomaly, will be discussed. We find that for asymptotically locally z=2 Lifshitz space-times obtained in this way there are two anomalies each with their own associated nonzero central charge. Both anomalies follow from the Scherk--Schwarz dimensional reduction of the 5-dimensional conformal anomaly of AdS gravity coupled to an axion-dilaton system. Together they make up an action that is of the Horava-Lifshitz type with nonzero potential term for z=2 conformal gravity.Comment: 32 pages, v2: modified discussion of the central charge

    Neuroanatomical correlates of olfactory loss in normal aged subjects

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    In non-demented older persons, smell dysfunction, measured premortem, has been associated with postmortem brain degeneration similar to that of Alzheimer's disease. We hypothesized that distinct measures of gray and white matter integrity evaluated through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques could detect degenerative changes associated with age-related olfactory dysfunction. High-resolution T1-weighted images and diffusion-tensor images (DTI) of 30 clinically healthy subjects aged 51 to 77 were acquired with a 3-Tesla MRI scanner. Odor identification performance was assessed by means of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). UPSIT scores correlated with right amygdalar volume and bilateral perirhinal and entorhinal cortices gray matter volume. Olfactory performance also correlated with postcentral gyrus cortical thickness and with fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity levels in the splenium of the corpus callosum and the superior longitudinal fasciculi. Our results suggest that age-related olfactory loss is accompanied by diffuse degenerative changes that might correspond to the preclinical stages of neurodegenerative processes

    Tuning the S=1/2S = 1/2 square-lattice antiferromagnet Sr2_2Cu(Te1x_{1-x}Wx_x)O6_6 from N\'eel order to quantum disorder to columnar order

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    The spin-1/2 square-lattice Heisenberg model is predicted to have a quantum disordered ground state when magnetic frustration is maximized by competing nearest-neighbor J1J_1 and next-nearest-neighbor J2J_2 interactions (J2/J10.5J_2/J_1 \approx 0.5). The double perovskites Sr2_2CuTeO6_6 and Sr2_2CuWO6_6 are isostructural spin-1/2 square-lattice antiferromagnets with N\'eel (J1J_1 dominates) and columnar (J2J_2 dominates) magnetic order, respectively. Here we characterize the full isostructural solid solution series Sr2_2Cu(Te1x_{1-x}Wx_x)O6_6 (0x10 \leq x \leq 1) tunable from N\'eel order to quantum disorder to columnar order. A spin-liquid-like ground state was previously observed for the xx = 0.5 phase, but we show that the magnetic order is suppressed below 1.5 K in a much wider region of xx \approx 0.1-0.6. This coincides with significant TT-linear terms in the low-temperature specific heat. However, density functional theory calculations predict most of the materials are not in the highly frustrated J2/J10.5J_2/J_1 \approx 0.5 region square-lattice Heisenberg model. Thus, a combination of both magnetic frustration and quenched disorder is the likely origin of the spin-liquid-like state in xx = 0.5.Comment: 20+5 pages, 6+4 figures. Accepted for publication in PR

    Pressure Studies on a High-TcT_c Superconductor Pseudogap and Critical Temperatures

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    We report simultaneous hydrostatic pressure studies on the critical temperature TcT_c and on the pseudogap temperature TT^* performed through resistivity measurements on an optimally doped high-TcT_c oxide Hg0.82Re0.18Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δHg_{0.82}Re_{0.18}Ba_2Ca_2Cu_3O_{8+\delta}. The resistivity is measured as function of the temperature for several different applied pressure below 1GPa. We find that both TcT_c and TT^* increases linearly with the pressure. This result demonstrate that the well known intrinsic pressure effect on TcT_c is also present at TT^* and both temperatures are originated by the same superconducting mechanism.Comment: 4 pages and 2 figures in eps, final versio

    Initial operation of the International Gravitational Event Collaboration

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    The International Gravitational Event Collaboration, IGEC, is a coordinated effort by research groups operating gravitational wave detectors working towards the detection of millisecond bursts of gravitational waves. Here we report on the current IGEC resonant bar observatory, its data analysis procedures, the main properties of the first exchanged data set. Even though the available data set is not complete, in the years 1997 and 1998 up to four detectors were operating simultaneously. Preliminary results are mentioned.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables; Proceeding of the GWDAW'99. Submitted to the International Journal of Modern Physic

    Cerebellar resting-state functional connectivity in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy: Characterization of abnormalities and potential for differential diagnosis at the single-patient level

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    Background: Recent studies using resting-state functional connectivity and machine-learning to distinguish patients with neurodegenerative diseases from other groups of subjects show promising results. This approach has not been tested to discriminate between Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients. Objectives: Our first aim is to characterize possible abnormalities in resting-state functional connectivity between the cerebellum and a set of intrinsic-connectivity brain networks and between the cerebellum and different regions of the striatum in PD and MSA. The second objective of this study is to assess the potential of cerebellar connectivity measures to distinguish between PD and MSA patients at the single-patient level. Methods: Fifty-nine healthy controls, 62 PD patients, and 30 MSA patients underwent resting-state functional MRI with a 3T scanner. Independent component analysis and dual regression were used to define seven restingstate networks of interest. To assess striatal connectivity, a seed-to-voxel approach was used after dividing the striatum into six regions bilaterally. Measures of cerebellar-brain network and cerebellar-striatal connectivity were then used as features in a support vector machine to discriminate between PD and MSA patients. Results: MSA patients displayed reduced cerebellar connectivity with different brain networks and with the striatum compared with PD patients and with controls. The classification procedure achieved an overall accuracy of 77.17% with 83.33% of the MSA subjects and 74.19% of the PD patients correctly classified. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that measures of cerebellar functional connectivity have the potential to distinguish between PD and MSA patients
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