On the constrained structure of duality symmetric Maxwell theory

The constrained structure of the duality invariant form of Maxwell theory is considered in the Hamiltonian formulation of Dirac as well as from the symplectic viewpoint. Compared to the former the latter approach is found to be more economical and elegant. Distinctions from the constrained analysis of the usual Maxwell theory are pointed out and their implications are also discussed.Comment: Latex, 12 page

Magnetic glass in Shape Memory Alloy : Ni45Co5Mn38Sn12

The first order martensitic transition in the ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni45Co5Mn38Sn12 is also a magnetic transition and has a large field induced effect. While cooling in the presence of field this first order magnetic martensite transition is kinetically arrested. Depending on the cooling field, a fraction of the arrested ferromagnetic austenite phase persists down to the lowest temperature as a magnetic glassy state, similar to the one observed in various intermetallic alloys and in half doped manganites. A detailed investigation of this first order ferromagnetic austenite (FM-A) to low magnetization martensite (LM-M) state transition as a function of temperature and field has been carried out by magnetization measurements. Extensive cooling and heating in unequal field (CHUF) measurements and a novel field cooled protocol for isothermal MH measurements (FC-MH) are utilized to investigate the glass like arrested states and show a reverse martensite transition. Finally, we determine a field -temperature (HT) phase diagram of Ni45Co5Mn38Sn12 from various magnetization measurements which brings out the regions where thermodynamic and metastable states co-exist in the HT space clearly depicting this system as a 'Magnetic Glass'.Comment: Magnetic field tunes kinetic arrest and CHUF shows devitrification and melting of Magnetic glas

Second generation planet formation in NN Serpentis?

In this paper, we study the general impact of stellar mass-ejection events in planetary orbits in post-common envelope binaries with circumbinary planets like those around NN Serpentis. We discuss a set of simple equations that determine upper and lower limits for orbital expansion and investigate the effect of initial eccentricity. We deduce the range of possible semi-major axes and initial eccentricity values of the planets prior to the common-envelope event. In addition to spherically-symmetric mass-ejection events, we consider planetary dynamics under the influence of an expanding disk. In order to have survived, we suggest that the present planets in NN Ser must have had semi-major axes $\,{}^>_{\sim}\, 10$ AU and high eccentricity values which is in conflict with current observations. Consequently, we argue that these planets were not formed together with their hosting stellar system, but rather originated from the fraction of matter of the envelope that remained bound to the binary. According to the cooling age of the white dwarf primary of $10^6$ yr, the planets around NN Ser might be the youngest known so far and open up a wide range of further study of second generation planet formation.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Towards QCD thermodynamics using exact chiral symmetry on lattice

The thermodynamics of massless ideal gas of overlap quarks has been investigated numerically for both zero and nonzero baryon chemical potential $\mu$. While the parameter M has been shown to be irrelevant in the continuum limit, it is shown numerically that the continuum limit can be reached with relatively coarser lattices for certain range of M. Numerical limitation of the existing method of introduction of chemical potential in the overlap formalism is discussed. We have also studied the energy density of free domain wall fermions in the absence of $\mu$ and estimated the extent of lattice in the fifth dimension $L_5$ for which the overlap results are recovered. Interestingly, this value of $L_5$ is also minimum for the same range of M found in the overlap case.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Ultra-Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions: Quark Matter 2008 (QM2008

Anomalies at finite density and chiral fermions

Using perturbation theory in the Euclidean (imaginary time) formalism as well as the non-perturbative Fujikawa method, we verify that the chiral anomaly equation remains unaffected in the presence of nonzero chemical potential, $\mu$. We extend our considerations to fermions with exact chiral symmetry on the lattice and discuss the consequences for the recent Bloch-Wettig proposal for the Dirac operator at finite chemical potential. We propose a new simpler method of incorporating $\mu$ and compare it with the Bloch-Wettig idea.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures,some typos corrected, a better proof for the \mu independence of anomaly is given in section IIB, v4: the published versio

Peak effect in laser ablated DyBa2Cu3O7-d films at microwave frequencies at subcritical currents

In this paper we report the observation of a peak in the microwave surface resistance (at frequencies ~10GHz) of laser ablated DyBa2Cu3O7-d films in magnetic field ranging from 2 to 9kOe (||c) close to the superconducting transition temperature (Tc(H)). The exact nature of peak is sample dependent but it follows a general behaviour. The peak shifts to lower temperature when the magnetic field is increased. It has strong frequency dependence and the peak is pronounced at frequencies close to the depinning frequency of the flux line lattice. From the observed temperature and field dependence we argue that this peak is associated with the order disorder transition of the flux line lattice close to Tc(H).Comment: 8 pages, 2 pages (accepted for publication in JAP, Intermag symposium proceeding

Supercooling and Nucleation in Phase Transitions of the Early Universe -

The three phase transitions - the GUT, the electro-weak and the quark-hadron, which the universe is assumed to have undergone produce very important physical effects if they are assumed to be of first order. It is also important that enough supercooling is produced at these transitions so that the rate of nucleation of the lower temperature phase out of the higher temperature phase is large. We argue on the basis of finite-size scaling theory that for the quark-hadron and the electro-weak transitions the universe does nor supercool enough to produce sizeable nucleation rates. Only for the GUT transition nucleation probability seems to be significant.Comment: 10 pages, REVTEX 3.0, TIFR-TH-93-4

A method for increasing the surface area of perovskite-type oxides

A method based on hydrothermal treatments is described for increasing the surface area of sintered ABO3-type perovskite oxides. Influence of hydrothermal treatments, such as water treatment at 125-300°C under autogeneous pressure and steam treatment at 350-800°C, to low surface area (or sintered) LaCoO3 and LaMnO3 perovskite oxides on their surface properties (viz. surface area, crystal size and morphology and surface La/(Co or Mn) ratio) and also catalytic activity in complete combustion of methane at different temperatures (450-600°C) has been thoroughly investigated. The hydrothermal treatments result in the activation of the perovskite oxides by increasing their surface area very markedly