Quantum oscillations in YBa2Cu3O6+δ\mathrm{YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6+\delta}} from an incommensurate dd-density wave order

We consider quantum oscillation experiments in $\mathrm{YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6+\delta}}$ from the perspective of an incommensurate Fermi surface reconstruction using an exact transfer matrix method and the Pichard-Landauer formula for the conductivity. The specific density wave order considered is a period-8 $d$-density wave in which the current density is unidirectionally modulated. The current modulation is also naturally accompanied by a period-4 site charge modulation in the same direction, which is consistent with recent magnetic resonance measurements. In principle Landau theory also allows for a period-4 bond charge modulation, which is not discussed, but should be simple to incorporate in the future. This scenario leads to a natural, but not a unique, explanation of why only oscillations from a single electron pocket is observed, and a hole pocket of roughly twice the frequency as dictated by two-fold commensurate order, and the corresponding Luttinger sum rule, is not observed. However, it is possible that even higher magnetic fields will reveal a hole pocket of half the frequency of the electron pocket or smaller. This may be at the borderline of achievable high field measurements because at least a few complete oscillations have to be clearly resolved.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Enhanced electron correlations in the new binary stannide PdSn4: a homologue of the Dirac nodal arc semimetal PtSn4

The advent of nodal-line semi-metals, i.e. systems in which the conduction and valence bands cross each other along a closed trajectory (line or loop) inside the Brillouin zone, has opened up a new arena for the exploration of topological condensed matter in which, due to a vanishing density of states near the Fermi level, electron correlation effects may also play an important role. In spite of this conceptual richness however, material realization of nodal-line (loop) fermions is rare, with PbTaSe2, ZrSiS and PtSn4 the only promising known candidates. Here we report the synthesis and physical properties of a new compound PdSn4 that is isostructural with PtSn4 yet possesses quasiparticles with significantly enhanced effective masses. In addition, PdSn4 displays an unusual polar angular magnetoresistance which at a certain field orientation, varies linearly with field up to 55 Tesla. Our study suggests that, in association with its homologue PtSn4 whose low-lying excitations were recently claimed to possess Dirac node arcs, PdSn4 may be a promising candidate in the search for novel topological states with enhanced correlation effects.Comment: 6 figures, 1 tabl

Phenomenology of the normal state in-plane transport properties of high-TcT_c cuprates

In this article, I review progress towards an understanding of the normal state (in-plane) transport properties of high-$T_c$ cuprates in the light of recent developments in both spectroscopic and transport measurement techniques. Against a backdrop of mounting evidence for anisotropic single-particle lifetimes in cuprate superconductors, new results have emerged that advocate similar momentum dependence in the transport decay rate $\Gamma$({\bf k}). In addition, enhancement of the energy scale (up to the bare bandwidth) over which spectroscopic information on the quasiparticle response can be obtained has led to the discovery of new, unforeseen features that surprisingly, may have a significant bearing on the transport properties at the dc limit. With these two key developments in mind, I consider here whether all the ingredients necessary for a complete phenomenological description of the anomalous normal state transport properties of high-$T_c$ cuprates are now in place.Comment: 31 pages, 10 figure

Suppression of the γ−α\gamma-\alpha structural phase transition in Ce0.8La0.1Th0.1Ce_{0.8} La_{0.1} Th_{0.1} by large magnetic fields

The $\gamma-\alpha$ transition in Ce$_{0.8}$La$_{0.1}$Th$_{0.1}$ is measured as a function of applied magnetic field using both resistivity and magnetization. The $\gamma - \alpha$ transition temperature decreases with increasing magnetic field, reaching zero temperature at around 56 T. The magnetic-field dependence of the transition temperature may be fitted using a model that invokes the field and temperature dependence of the entropy of the $4f$-electron moments of the $\gamma$ phase, suggesting that the volume collapse in Ce and its alloys is primarily driven by entropic considerations

Lifshitz quantum phase transitions and Fermi surface transformation with hole doping in high-TcT_c superconductors

We study the doping evolution of the electronic structure in the normal phase of high-$T_c$ cuprates. Electronic structure and Fermi surface of cuprates with single CuO$_2$ layer in the unit cell like La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ have been calculated by the LDA+GTB method in the regime of strong electron correlations (SEC) and compared to ARPES and quantum oscillations data. We have found two critical concentrations, $x_{c1}$ and $x_{c2}$, where the Fermi surface topology changes. Following I.M. Lifshitz ideas of the quantum phase transitions (QPT) of the 2.5-order we discuss the concentration dependence of the low temperature thermodynamics. The behavior of the electronic specific heat $\delta(C/T) \sim (x - x_c)^{1/2}$ is similar to the Loram and Cooper experimental data in the vicinity of $x_{c1} \approx 0.15$.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Import Substitution Industrialization [ISI]: An approach to Global Economic Sustainability

Globalisation has over the years brought about openness, thus creating an inextricable link among countries through various channels, including trade and investment. Consequently, there has been a substantial expansion in trade in goods and services and the flow of foreign direct investment between developed and developing countries. Even though, both have benefitted from this global openness, the balance of benefits is mainly tilted to developed countries, reinforced by the fact that developing countries have been importing more and exporting less to these countries – a reflection of the under-developed state of their industrial sector, which is evident in their export of mainly unrefined or primary products, with little or no value addition taking place. This gives attestation to the presence of an insignificant import substitution-oriented manufacturing activity in such countries, which have rendered them heavily reliant on imports for their survival – by extension making them highly susceptible to external risks and shocks. This brought about the inception of ISI, which originated from as early as in the 1930s through into the 1960s in Latin America and some parts of Asia and Africa – a notion that was meant to incorporate three stages, namely ‘domestic production of previously imported non-durable consumer goods, extension of production to a wide-range of consumer durables and complex manufactured items and finally, exporting of manufactured goods, with the vision of diversifying to multiple range of items’ (Bussell,, n/d)

Robust image analysis with sparse representation on quantized visual features

10.1109/TIP.2012.2219543IEEE Transactions on Image Processing223860-871IIPR

Suppression of the γ-α structural phase transition in Ce 0.8La0.1Th0.1 by large magnetic fields

The γ-α transition in Ce0.8La0.1Th 0.1 is measured as a function of applied magnetic field using both resistivity and magnetization. The γ-α transition temperature decreases with increasing magnetic field, reaching zero temperature at around 56 T. The magnetic-field dependence of the transition temperature is quantitatively reproduced by a model that invokes the field and temperature dependence of the entropy of the 4f-electron moments of the γ phase. © 2005 IOP Publishing Ltd