Controlling the superconducting transition by spin-orbit coupling

Whereas there exists considerable evidence for the conversion of singlet Cooper pairs into triplet Cooper pairs in the presence of inhomogeneous magnetic fields, recent theoretical proposals have suggested an alternative way to exert control over triplet generation: intrinsic spin-orbit coupling in a homogeneous ferromagnet coupled to a superconductor. Here, we proximity-couple Nb to an asymmetric Pt/Co/Pt trilayer, which acts as an effective spin-orbit coupled ferromagnet owing to structural inversion asymmetry. Unconventional modulation of the superconducting critical temperature as a function of in-plane and out-of- plane applied magnetic fields suggests the presence of triplets that can be controlled by the magnetic orientation of a single homogeneous ferromagnet. Our studies demonstrate for the first time an active role of spin-orbit coupling in controlling the triplets -- an important step towards the realization of novel superconducting spintronic devices.Comment: 11 pages + 4 figures + supplemental informatio

Perturbative tests of non-perturbative counting

We observe that a class of quarter-BPS dyons in N=4 theories with charge vector (Q, P) and with nontrivial values of the arithmetic duality invariant I := gcd (Q wedge P) are nonperturbative in one frame but perturbative in another frame. This observation suggests a test of the recently computed nonperturbative partition functions for dyons with nontrivial values of the arithmetic invariant. For all values of I, we show that the nonperturbative counting yields vanishing indexed degeneracy for this class of states everywhere in the moduli space in precise agreement with the perturbative result.Comment: 10 pages, 0 figure

The eigenspectra of Indian musical drums

In a family of drums used in the Indian subcontinent, the circular drum head is made of material of non-uniform density. Remarkably, and in contrast to a circular membrane of uniform density, the low eigenmodes of the non-uniform membrane are harmonic. In this work we model the drum head by a non-uniform membrane whose density varies smoothly between two prescribed values. Using a Fourier-Chebyshev spectral collocation method we obtain the eigenmodes and eigenvalues of the drum head. For a suitable choice of parameters, which we find by optimising a cost function, the eigenspectra obtained from our model are in excellent agreement with experimental values. Our model and the numerical method should find application in numerical sound synthesis

Phases of 4D Scalar-tensor black holes coupled to Born-Infeld nonlinear electrodynamics

Recent results show that when non-linear electrodynamics is considered the no-scalar-hair theorems in the scalar-tensor theories (STT) of gravity, which are valid for the cases of neutral black holes and charged black holes in the Maxwell electrodynamics, can be circumvented. What is even more, in the present work, we find new non-unique, numerical solutions describing charged black holes coupled to non-linear electrodynamics in a special class of scalar-tensor theories. One of the phases has a trivial scalar field and coincides with the corresponding solution in General Relativity. The other four phases that we find are characterized by the value of the scalar field charge. The causal structure and some aspects of the stability of the solutions have also been studied. For the scalar-tensor theories considered, the black holes have a single, non-degenerate horizon, i.e., their causal structure resembles that of the Schwarzschild black hole. The thermodynamic analysis of the stability of the solutions indicates that a phase transition may occur.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, new phases, figures, clarifying remarks and acknowledgements adde

Electric field Induced Patterns in Soft Visco-elastic films: From Long Waves of Viscous Liquids to Short Waves of Elastic Solids

We show that the electric field driven surface instability of visco-elastic films has two distinct regimes: (1) The visco-elastic films behaving like a liquid display long wavelengths governed by applied voltage and surface tension, independent of its elastic storage and viscous loss moduli, and (2) the films behaving like a solid require a threshold voltage for the instability whose wavelength always scales as ~ 4 x film thickness, independent of its surface tension, applied voltage, loss and storage moduli. Wavelength in a narrow transition zone between these regimes depends on the storage modulus.Comment: Accepted for Publication in Physical Review Letter

Batalin-Tyutin Quantization of the Self-Dual Massive Theory in Three Dimensions

We quantize the self-dual massive theory by using the Batalin-Tyutin Hamiltonian method, which systematically embeds second class constraint system into first class one in the extended phase space by introducing the new fields. Through this analysis we obtain simultaneously the St\"uckelberg scalar term related to the explicit gauge-breaking effect and the new type of Wess-Zumino action related to the Chern-Simons term.Comment: 17 pages, SOGANG-HEP 191/9

Fast Breadth-First Search in Still Less Space

It is shown that a breadth-first search in a directed or undirected graph with $n$ vertices and $m$ edges can be carried out in $O(n+m)$ time with $n\log_2 3+O((\log n)^2)$ bits of working memory

Near-IR studies of recurrent nova V745 Scorpii during its 2014 outburst

The recurrent nova (RN) V745 Scorpii underwent its third known outburst on 2014 February 6. Infrared monitoring of the eruption on an almost daily basis, starting from 1.3d after discovery, shows the emergence of a powerful blast wave generated by the high velocity nova ejecta exceeding 4000 kms$^{-1}$ plowing into its surrounding environment. The temperature of the shocked gas is raised to a high value exceeding 10$^{8}$K immediately after outburst commencement. The energetics of the outburst clearly surpass those of similar symbiotic systems like RS Oph and V407 Cyg which have giant secondaries. The shock does not show a free-expansion stage but rather shows a decelerative Sedov-Taylor phase from the beginning. Such strong shockfronts are known to be sites for $\gamma$ ray generation. V745 Sco is the latest nova, apart from five other known novae, to show $\gamma$ ray emission. It may be an important testbed to resolve the crucial question whether all novae are generically $\gamma$ ray emitters by virtue of having a circumbinary reservoir of material that is shocked by the ejecta rather than $\gamma$ ray generation being restricted to only symbiotic systems with a shocked red giant (RG) wind. The lack of a free-expansion stage favors V745 Sco to have a density enhancement around the white dwarf (WD), above that contributed by a RG wind. Our analysis also suggests that the WD in V745 Sco is very massive and a potential progenitor for a future SN Ia explosion.Comment: To appear in ApJ (Letters

Thermodynamics of phase transition in higher dimensional AdS black holes

We investigate the thermodynamics of phase transition for $(n+1)$ dimensional Reissner Nordstrom (RN)-AdS black holes using a grand canonical ensemble. This phase transition is characterized by a discontinuity in specific heat. The phase transition occurs from a lower mass black hole with negative specific heat to a higher mass black hole with positive specific heat. By exploring Ehrenfest's scheme we show that this is a second order phase transition. Explicit expressions for the critical temperature and critical mass are derived. In appropriate limits the results for $(n+1)$ dimensional Schwarzschild AdS black holes are obtained.Comment: LaTex, 11 pages, 5 figures, To appear in JHE