Truncated-Determinant Diagrammatic Monte Carlo for Fermions with Contact Interaction

For some models of interacting fermions the known solution to the notorious sign-problem in Monte Carlo (MC) simulations is to work with macroscopic fermionic determinants; the price, however, is a macroscopic scaling of the numerical effort spent on elementary local updates. We find that the {\it ratio} of two macroscopic determinants can be found with any desired accuracy by considering truncated (local in space and time) matices. In this respect, MC for interacting fermionic systems becomes similar to that for the sign-problem-free bosonic systems with system-size independent update cost. We demonstrate the utility of the truncated-determinant method by simulating the attractive Hubbard model within the MC scheme based on partially summed Feynman diagrams. We conjecture that similar approach may be useful in other implementations of the sign-free determinant schemes.Comment: results of the actual Hubbard model simulations are adde

Normal-state magnetic susceptibility in a bilayer cuprate

The magnetic susceptibility of high-T_c superconductors is investigated in the normal state using a coupled bilayer model. While this model describes in a natural way the normal-state pseudogaps seen in c-axis optical conductivity on underdoped samples, it predicts a weakly increasing susceptibility with decreasing temperature and cannot explain the magnetic pseudogaps exhibited in NMR measurements. Our result, together with some experimental evidence suggest that the mechanism governing the c-axis optical pseudogap is different from that for the $a-b$ plane magnetic pseudogap.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Memory effect in the deposition of C20 fullerenes on a diamond surface

In this paper, the deposition of C-20 fullerenes on a diamond (001)-(2x1) surface and the fabrication of C-20 thin film at 100 K were investigated by a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation using the many-body Brenner bond order potential. First, we found that the collision dynamic of a single C-20 fullerene on a diamond surface was strongly dependent on its impact energy. Within the energy range 10-45 eV, the C-20 fullerene chemisorbed on the surface retained its free cage structure. This is consistent with the experimental observation, where it was called the memory effect in "C-20-type" films [P. Melion , Int. J. Mod. B 9, 339 (1995); P. Milani , Cluster Beam Synthesis of Nanostructured Materials (Springer, Berlin, 1999)]. Next, more than one hundred C-20 (10-25 eV) were deposited one after the other onto the surface. The initial growth stage of C-20 thin film was observed to be in the three-dimensional island mode. The randomly deposited C-20 fullerenes stacked on diamond surface and acted as building blocks forming a polymerlike structure. The assembled film was also highly porous due to cluster-cluster interaction. The bond angle distribution and the neighbor-atom-number distribution of the film presented a well-defined local order, which is of sp(3) hybridization character, the same as that of a free C-20 cage. These simulation results are again in good agreement with the experimental observation. Finally, the deposited C-20 film showed high stability even when the temperature was raised up to 1500 K

Second CERN group produces cold atoms of antihydrogen

A new experiment, by CERN's ATRAP collaboration, which introduced a technique for determining the quantum state in which antihydrogen atoms are formed was discussed. To make antihydrogen, antiprotons were taken from CERN's Antiproton Decelerator, further slowed down, and trapped with a configuration of electric fields. The evidence gathered confirmed that the H over bar atoms formed in the experiment occupy highly excited Rydberg states. (Edited abstract) 5 Refs

Shaping the National Narrative: From Hiroshima to Fukushima and Beyond

This chapter examines the efforts to shape a national narrative about the role of science and technology, including nuclear power, through key events such as the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1970 Osaka Expo. Japan provided a developmental model for other nations in East Asia. North Korea looked to Japan’s introduction of the improved Calder Hall reactor at Tōkai-mura and its production of plutonium as a way of countering the threat posed by the USA through its support of South Korea. Japan’s Calder Hall reactor provided a model for the Yongbyon reactor that operated initially from 1986 to 1994. Meanwhile, Japan pursued the dream of building fast breeder reactors and in 1993 introduced the character of Plutonium Boy to downplay the perceived dangers of plutonium. But the dangers of nuclear power were real. A string of accidents at nuclear facilities culminated in the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 which further undermined the idea that nuclear power was safe, leading to calls to shut down all Japanese power reactors. Japan’s reliance on nuclear power is now much diminished