13,382 research outputs found
Is U3Ni3Sn4 best described as near a quantum critical point?
Although most known non-Fermi liquid (NFL) materials are structurally or
chemically disordered, the role of this disorder remains unclear. In
particular, very few systems have been discovered that may be stoichiometric
and well ordered. To test whether U3Ni3Sn4 belongs in this latter class, we
present measurements of the x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) of
polycrystalline and single-crystal U3Ni3Sn4 samples that are consistent with no
measurable local structural disorder. We also present temperature-dependent
specific heat data in applied magnetic fields as high as 8 T that show features
that are inconsistent with the antiferromagnetic Griffiths' phase model, but do
support the conclusion that a Fermi liquid/NFL crossover temperature increases
with applied field. These results are inconsistent with theoretical
explanations that require strong disorder effects, but do support the view that
U3Ni3Sn4 is a stoichiometric, ordered material that exhibits NFL behavior, and
is best described as being near an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, in press with PR
Energy-weighted density matrix embedding of open correlated chemical fragments
We present a multi-scale approach to efficiently embed an ab initio
correlated chemical fragment described by its energy-weighted density matrices,
and entangled with a wider mean-field many-electron system. This approach,
first presented in Phys. Rev. B, 98, 235132 (2018), is here extended to account
for realistic long-range interactions and broken symmetry states. The scheme
allows for a systematically improvable description in the range of correlated
fluctuations out of the fragment into the system, via a self-consistent
optimization of a coupled auxiliary mean-field system. It is discussed that the
method has rigorous limits equivalent to existing quantum embedding approaches
of both dynamical mean-field theory, as well as density matrix embedding
theory, to which this method is compared, and the importance of these
correlated fluctuations is demonstrated. We derive a self-consistent local
energy functional within the scheme, and demonstrate the approach for Hydrogen
rings, where quantitative accuracy is achieved despite only a single atom being
explicitly treated.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure
Molecular clouds in the centers of galaxies: Constraints from HCN and CO-13 line emission
We have searched for HCN J=1-0 line emission in the centers of 12 galaxies and have detected it in 10 of them. We have obtained complementary data on J=1-0 and 2-1 transitions of CO-12 and CO-13 in these systems. The ratio of integrated intensities, I(CO 1-0)/I(HCN 1-0) = 25 +/- 11 for this sample. We find that HCN emission of this strength can be produced under conditions of subthermal excitation. In combination with the line ratios in CO and CO-13, HCN puts constraints on the mean conditions of molecular clouds and on the mix of cloud types within the projected beam
Quantifying structural damage from self-irradiation in a plutonium superconductor
The 18.5 K superconductor PuCoGa5 has many unusual properties, including
those due to damage induced by self-irradiation. The superconducting transition
temperature decreases sharply with time, suggesting a radiation-induced Frenkel
defect concentration much larger than predicted by current radiation damage
theories. Extended x-ray absorption fine-structure measurements demonstrate
that while the local crystal structure in fresh material is well ordered, aged
material is disordered much more strongly than expected from simple defects,
consistent with strong disorder throughout the damage cascade region. These
data highlight the potential impact of local lattice distortions relative to
defects on the properties of irradiated materials and underscore the need for
more atomic-resolution structural comparisons between radiation damage
experiments and theory.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, to be published in PR
The Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect at 1 and 2 mm towards ROSAT Clusters
An observing campaign was devoted to the search for the Sunyaev-Zeldovich
(S-Z) effect towards X-ray ROSAT Clusters in the millimetric spectral domain. A
double channel (1.2 and 2 {\it mm}) photometer was installed at the focus of
the 15m Swedish ESO Submillimeter Telescope (SEST) in Chile in september 1994
and 1995 and observations of the targets S1077, A2744, S295 and RXJ0658-5557
were gathered. Detections were found for A2744 at 1 {\it mm} and in both
channels (at 1.2 and 2 {\it mm}) towards RXJ0658-5557. For the first time there
is evidence for the S-Z enhancement and both the latter and the decrement were
detected on the same source. We discuss astrophysical and systematic effects
which could give origin to these signals.Comment: 6 pg Latex file (style file included) including 1 ps figure, XVIth
Moriond Astrophysics Meeting "The Anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave
Background", Les Arcs, Savoie-France, March 16-23 199
Self-contained Kondo effect in single molecules
Kondo coupling of f and conduction electrons is a common feature of
f-electron intermetallics. Similar effects should occur in carbon ring
systems(metallocenes). Evidence for Kondo coupling in Ce(C8H8)2 (cerocene) and
the ytterbocene Cp*2Yb(bipy) is reported from magnetic susceptibility and
L_III-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy. These well-defined systems provide a
new way to study the Kondo effect on the nanoscale, should generate insight
into the Anderson Lattice problem, and indicate the importance of this
often-ignored contribution to bonding in organometallics.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures (eps
Spatio-temporal patterns in maturation of the chokka squid (Loligo vulgaris reynaudii) off the coast of South Africa
Knowledge of the temporal and spatial characteristics of chokka squid (Loligo vulgaris reynaudii) biology in South African waters is limited, so the possibility of there being a geographically fragmented stock was examined by investigating the distribution of maturity patterns for the species, covering all known spawning areas and using both historical and recent data. Gonadosomatic indices (GSI) varied between year-round consistency and apparent seasonal peaks in both summer and winter; there was no clear spatial pattern. Monthly percentage maturity provided further evidence for two peak reproductive periods each year, although mature squid were present throughout. Sex ratios demonstrated great variability between different areas and life history stages. Male-biased sex ratios were only apparent on the inshore spawning grounds and ranged between 1.118:1 and 4.267:1. Size at sexual maturity was also seasonal, squid maturing smaller in winter/spring than in summer/autumn. Also, squid in the east matured smaller than squid in the west. Although the results from the present study do not provide conclusive evidence of distinct geographic populations, squid likely spawn over a significantly larger area of the Agulhas Bank than previously estimated, and squid on the west coast of South Africa may return to spawn on the western portion of the Agulhas Bank. It remains likely, however, that the east and west coast populations are a single stock and that migration of juveniles to the west coast and their subsequent return as sub-adults is an integral but non-essential and variable part of the life history
Fundamental properties and applications of quasi-local black hole horizons
The traditional description of black holes in terms of event horizons is
inadequate for many physical applications, especially when studying black holes
in non-stationary spacetimes. In these cases, it is often more useful to use
the quasi-local notions of trapped and marginally trapped surfaces, which lead
naturally to the framework of trapping, isolated, and dynamical horizons. This
framework allows us to analyze diverse facets of black holes in a unified
manner and to significantly generalize several results in black hole physics.
It also leads to a number of applications in mathematical general relativity,
numerical relativity, astrophysics, and quantum gravity. In this review, I will
discuss the basic ideas and recent developments in this framework, and
summarize some of its applications with an emphasis on numerical relativity.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures. Based on a talk presented at the 18th
International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation, 8-13 July
2007, Sydney, Australi
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