11,145 research outputs found
Branching rate expansion around annihilating random walks
We present some exact results for branching and annihilating random walks. We
compute the nonuniversal threshold value of the annihilation rate for having a
phase transition in the simplest reaction-diffusion system belonging to the
directed percolation universality class. Also, we show that the accepted
scenario for the appearance of a phase transition in the parity conserving
universality class must be improved. In order to obtain these results we
perform an expansion in the branching rate around pure annihilation, a theory
without branching. This expansion is possible because we manage to solve pure
annihilation exactly in any dimension.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
A square root of the harmonic oscillator
Allowing for the inclusion of the parity operator, it is possible to
construct an oscillator model whose Hamiltonian admits an EXACT square root,
which is different from the conventional approach based on creation and
annihilation operators. We outline such a model, the method of solution and
some generalizations.Comment: RevTex, 10 pages in preprint form, no figure
Engineering magnetic domain-wall structure in permalloy nanowires
Using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy we investigate the behavior of
domain walls pinned at non-topographic defects in Cr(3 nm)/Permalloy(10
nm)/Cr(5 nm) nanowires of width 500 nm. The pinning sites consist of linear
defects where magnetic properties are modified by a Ga ion probe with diameter
~ 10 nm using a focused ion beam microscope. We study the detailed change of
the modified region (which is on the scale of the focused ion spot) using
electron energy loss spectroscopy and differential phase contrast imaging on an
aberration (Cs) corrected scanning transmission electron microscope. The signal
variation observed indicates that the region modified by the irradiation
corresponds to ~ 40-50 nm despite the ion probe size of only 10 nm. Employing
the Fresnel mode of Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we show that it
is possible to control the domain wall structure and its depinning strength not
only via the irradiation dose but also the line orientation.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Applie
Fingerprinting the magnetic behavior of antiferromagnetic nanostructures using remanent magnetization curves
Antiferromagnetic (AF) nanostructures from Co3O4, CoO and Cr2O3 were prepared
by the nanocasting method and were characterized magnetometrically. The field
and temperature dependent magnetization data suggests that the nanostructures
consist of a core-shell structure. The core behaves as a regular
antiferromagnet and the shell as a two-dimensional diluted antiferromagnet in a
field (2d DAFF) as previously shown on Co3O4 nanowires [Benitez et al., Phys.
Rev. Lett. 101, 097206 (2008)]. Here we present a more general picture on three
different material systems, i.e. Co3O4, CoO and Cr2O3. In particular we
consider the thermoremanent (TRM) and the isothermoremanent (IRM) magnetization
curves as "fingerprints" in order to identify the irreversible magnetization
contribution originating from the shells. The TRM/IRM fingerprints are compared
to those of superparamagnetic systems, superspin glasses and 3d DAFFs. We
demonstrate that TRM/IRM vs. H plots are generally useful fingerprints to
identify irreversible magnetization contributions encountered in particular in
nanomagnets.Comment: submitted to PR
CAFE: Calar Alto Fiber-fed Echelle spectrograph
We present here CAFE, the Calar Alto Fiber-fed Echelle spectrograph, a new
instrument built at the Centro Astronomico Hispano Alem\'an (CAHA). CAFE is a
single fiber, high-resolution (70000) spectrograph, covering the
wavelength range between 3650-9800\AA. It was built on the basis of the common
design for Echelle spectrographs. Its main aim is to measure radial velocities
of stellar objects up to 13-14 mag with a precision as good as a few
tens of . To achieve this goal the design was simplified at maximum,
removing all possible movable components, the central wavelength is fixed, so
the wavelentgth coverage; no filter wheel, one slit and so on, with a
particular care taken in the thermal and mechanical stability. The instrument
is fully operational and publically accessible at the 2.2m telescope of the
Calar Alto Observatory.
In this article we describe (i) the design, summarizing its manufacturing
phase; (ii) characterize the main properties of the instrument; (iii) describe
the reduction pipeline; and (iv) show the results from the first light and
commissioning runs. The preliminar results indicate that the instrument fulfill
the specifications and it can achieve the foreseen goals. In particular, they
show that the instrument is more efficient than anticipated, reaching a
20 for a stellar object as faint as 14.5 mag in 2700s
integration time. The instrument is a wonderful machine for exoplanetary
research (by studying large samples of possible systems cotaining massive
planets), galactic dynamics (high precise radial velocities in moving groups or
stellar associations) or astrochemistry.Comment: 12 pages, 23 figures; Acepted for publishing in A&A, 201
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