A frustrated quantum spin-{\boldmath s} model on the Union Jack lattice with spins {\boldmath s>1/2}

The zero-temperature phase diagrams of a two-dimensional frustrated quantum antiferromagnetic system, namely the Union Jack model, are studied using the coupled cluster method (CCM) for the two cases when the lattice spins have spin quantum number $s=1$ and $s=3/2$. The system is defined on a square lattice and the spins interact via isotropic Heisenberg interactions such that all nearest-neighbour (NN) exchange bonds are present with identical strength $J_{1}>0$, and only half of the next-nearest-neighbour (NNN) exchange bonds are present with identical strength $J_{2} \equiv \kappa J_{1} > 0$. The bonds are arranged such that on the $2 \times 2$ unit cell they form the pattern of the Union Jack flag. Clearly, the NN bonds by themselves (viz., with $J_{2}=0$) produce an antiferromagnetic N\'{e}el-ordered phase, but as the relative strength $\kappa$ of the frustrating NNN bonds is increased a phase transition occurs in the classical case ($s \rightarrow \infty$) at $\kappa^{\rm cl}_{c}=0.5$ to a canted ferrimagnetic phase. In the quantum cases considered here we also find strong evidence for a corresponding phase transition between a N\'{e}el-ordered phase and a quantum canted ferrimagnetic phase at a critical coupling $\kappa_{c_{1}}=0.580 \pm 0.015$ for $s=1$ and $\kappa_{c_{1}}=0.545 \pm 0.015$ for $s=3/2$. In both cases the ground-state energy $E$ and its first derivative $dE/d\kappa$ seem continuous, thus providing a typical scenario of a second-order phase transition at $\kappa=\kappa_{c_{1}}$, although the order parameter for the transition (viz., the average ground-state on-site magnetization) does not go to zero there on either side of the transition.Comment: 1

Phase transition in the transverse Ising model using the extended coupled-cluster method

The phase transition present in the linear-chain and square-lattice cases of the transverse Ising model is examined. The extended coupled cluster method (ECCM) can describe both sides of the phase transition with a unified approach. The correlation length and the excitation energy are determined. We demonstrate the ability of the ECCM to use both the weak- and the strong-coupling starting state in a unified approach for the study of critical behavior.Comment: 10 pages, 7 eps-figure

Foreground removal from CMB temperature maps using an MLP neural network

One of the main obstacles in extracting the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) signal from observations in the mm-submm range is the foreground contamination by emission from galactic components: mainly synchrotron, free-free and thermal dust emission. Due to the statistical nature of the intrinsic CMB signal it is essential to minimize the systematic errors in the CMB temperature determinations. Following the available knowledge of the spectral behavior of the galactic foregrounds simple, power law-like spectra have been assumed. The feasibility of using a simple neural network for extracting the CMB temperature signal from the combined CMB and foreground signals has been investigated. As a specific example, we have analysed simulated data, like that expected from the ESA Planck Surveyor mission. A simple multilayer perceptron neural network with 2 hidden layers can provide temperature estimates, over more than 80 percent of the sky, that are to a high degree uncorrelated with the foreground signals. A single network will be able to cover the dynamic range of the Planck noise level over the entire sky.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

The Hamiltonian limit of (3+1)D SU(3) lattice gauge theory on anisotropic lattices

The extreme anisotropic limit of Euclidean SU(3) lattice gauge theory is examined to extract the Hamiltonian limit, using standard path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) methods. We examine the mean plaquette and string tension and compare them to results obtained within the Hamiltonian framework of Kogut and Susskind. The results are a significant improvement upon previous Hamiltonian estimates, despite the extrapolation procedure necessary to extract observables. We conclude that the PIMC method is a reliable method of obtaining results for the Hamiltonian version of the theory. Our results also clearly demonstrate the universality between the Hamiltonian and Euclidean formulations of lattice gauge theory. It is particularly important to take into account the renormalization of both the anisotropy, and the Euclidean coupling $\beta_E$, in obtaining these results.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure

Diffusion quantum Monte Carlo study of three-dimensional Wigner crystals

We report diffusion quantum Monte Carlo calculations of three-dimensional Wigner crystals in the density range r_s=100-150. We have tested different types of orbital for use in the approximate wave functions but none improve upon the simple Gaussian form. The Gaussian exponents are optimized by directly minimizing the diffusion quantum Monte Carlo energy. We have carefully investigated and sought to minimize the potential biases in our Monte Carlo results. We conclude that the uniform electron gas undergoes a transition from a ferromagnetic fluid to a body-centered-cubic Wigner crystal at r_s=106+/-1. The diffusion quantum Monte Carlo results are compared with those from Hartree-Fock and Hartree theory in order to understand the role played by exchange and correlation in Wigner crystals. We also study "floating" Wigner crystals and give results for their pair-correlation functions

Magnetic order in spin-1 and spin-3/2 interpolating square-triangle Heisenberg antiferromagnets

Using the coupled cluster method we investigate spin-$s$ $J_{1}$-$J_{2}'$ Heisenberg antiferromagnets (HAFs) on an infinite, anisotropic, triangular lattice when the spin quantum number $s=1$ or $s=3/2$. With respect to a square-lattice geometry the model has antiferromagnetic ($J_{1} > 0$) bonds between nearest neighbours and competing ($J_{2}' > 0$) bonds between next-nearest neighbours across only one of the diagonals of each square plaquette, the same one in each square. In a topologically equivalent triangular-lattice geometry, we have two types of nearest-neighbour bonds: namely the $J_{2}' \equiv \kappa J_{1}$ bonds along parallel chains and the $J_{1}$ bonds producing an interchain coupling. The model thus interpolates between an isotropic HAF on the square lattice at $\kappa = 0$ and a set of decoupled chains at $\kappa \rightarrow \infty$, with the isotropic HAF on the triangular lattice in between at $\kappa = 1$. For both the $s=1$ and the $s=3/2$ models we find a second-order quantum phase transition at $\kappa_{c}=0.615 \pm 0.010$ and $\kappa_{c}=0.575 \pm 0.005$ respectively, between a N\'{e}el antiferromagnetic state and a helical state. In both cases the ground-state energy $E$ and its first derivative $dE/d\kappa$ are continuous at $\kappa=\kappa_{c}$, while the order parameter for the transition (viz., the average on-site magnetization) does not go to zero on either side of the transition. The transition at $\kappa = \kappa_{c}$ for both the $s=1$ and $s=3/2$ cases is analogous to that observed in our previous work for the $s=1/2$ case at a value $\kappa_{c}=0.80 \pm 0.01$. However, for the higher spin values the transition is of continuous (second-order) type, as in the classical case, whereas for the $s=1/2$ case it appears to be weakly first-order in nature (although a second-order transition could not be excluded).Comment: 17 pages, 8 figues (Figs. 2-7 have subfigs. (a)-(d)

Dynamics and Melting of Stripes, Crystals, and Bubbles with Quenched Disorder

Two-dimensional systems in which there is a competition between long-range repulsion and short range attraction exhibit a remarkable variety of patterns such as stripes, bubbles, and labyrinths. Such systems include magnetic films, Langmuir monolayers, polymers, gels, water-oil mixtures, and two-dimensional electron systems. In many of these systems quenched disorder from the underlying substrate may be present. We examine the dynamics and stripe formation in the presence of both an applied dc drive and quenched disorder. When the disorder strength exceeds a critical value, an applied dc drive can induce a dynamical stripe ordering transition to a state that is more ordered than the originating undriven, unpinned pattern.Comment: 6 pages, 7 postscript figures; Proceedings of International Workshop on Anomalous Distributions, Nonlinear Dynamics and Nonextensivity, Santa Fe, 200

Tune in to your emotions: a robust personalized affective music player

The emotional power of music is exploited in a personalized affective music player (AMP) that selects music for mood enhancement. A biosignal approach is used to measure listeners’ personal emotional reactions to their own music as input for affective user models. Regression and kernel density estimation are applied to model the physiological changes the music elicits. Using these models, personalized music selections based on an affective goal state can be made. The AMP was validated in real-world trials over the course of several weeks. Results show that our models can cope with noisy situations and handle large inter-individual differences in the music domain. The AMP augments music listening where its techniques enable automated affect guidance. Our approach provides valuable insights for affective computing and user modeling, for which the AMP is a suitable carrier application

On spectral minimal partitions: the case of the sphere

We consider spectral minimal partitions. Continuing work of the the present authors about problems for planar domains, [23], we focus on the sphere and obtain a sharp result for 3-partitions which is related to questions from harmonic analysis, in particular to a conjecture of Bishop