6,597 research outputs found
Fractionalization in a square-lattice model with time-reversal symmetry
We propose a two-dimensional time-reversal invariant system of essentially
non-interacting electrons on a square lattice that exhibits configurations with
fractional charges e/2. These are vortex-like topological defects in the
dimerization order parameter describing spatial modulation in the electron
hopping amplitudes. Charge fractionalization is established by a simple
counting argument, analytical calculation within the effective low-energy
theory, and by an exact numerical diagonalization of the lattice Hamiltonian.
We comment on the exchange statistics of fractional charges and possible
realizations of the system.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, RevTex 4. (v2) improved discussion of lattice
effects and confinement; clearer figure
Dodecahedral topology fails to explain quadrupole-octupole alignment
The CMB quadrupole and octupole, as well as being weaker than expected, align
suspiciously well with each other. Non-trivial spatial topology can explain the
weakness. Might it also explain the alignment? The answer, at least in the case
of the Poincare dodecahedral space, is a resounding no.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur
Invariance of Structure in an Aging Colloidal Glass
We study concentrated colloidal suspensions, a model system which has a glass
transition. The non-equilibrium nature of the glassy state is most clearly
highlighted by aging -- the dependence of the system's properties on the time
elapsed since vitrification. Fast laser scanning confocal microscopy allows us
to image a colloidal glass and track the particles in three dimensions. We
analyze the static structure in terms of tetrahedral packing. We find that
while the aging of the suspension clearly affects its dynamics, none of the
geometrical quantities associated with tetrahedra change with age.Comment: Submitted to the proceedings of "The 3rd International Workshop on
Complex Systems" in Sendai, Japa
Ice storm effects on the canopy structure of a northern hardwood forest after 8 years
Ice storms can cause severe damage to forest canopies, resulting in differential mortality among tree species and size classes and leading to long-lasting changes in the vertical structure and composition of the forest. An intense ice storm in 1998 damaged large areas of the northern hardwood forest, including much of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire (USA). Following up on detailed poststorm assessments, we measured changes in the vertical structure of the forest canopy 8 years poststorm. We focused on how the presence of disease-induced advance regeneration of American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) has affected canopy structure in the recovering forest. We measured foliage-height profiles using a point-quadrat approach and a pole-mounted leaf area index (LAI) sensor. Although the total LAIs of damaged and undamaged areas were similar, areas damaged in 1998 showed an increased proportion of total leaf area between 6 and 10 m above the ground. The foliage at this height is largely (54%) beech. To the extent that this heavily beech-dominated understory layer suppresses regeneration of other species, these findings suggest that rare disturbances of mature northern hardwood forests affected by beech bark disease will increase the importance of damage-prone and economically marginal beech
Polynomial Interpretation of Multipole Vectors
Copi, Huterer, Starkman and Schwarz introduced multipole vectors in a tensor
context and used them to demonstrate that the first-year WMAP quadrupole and
octopole planes align at roughly the 99.9% confidence level. In the present
article the language of polynomials provides a new and independent derivation
of the multipole vector concept. Bezout's Theorem supports an elementary proof
that the multipole vectors exist and are unique (up to rescaling). The
constructive nature of the proof leads to a fast, practical algorithm for
computing multipole vectors. We illustrate the algorithm by finding exact
solutions for some simple toy examples, and numerical solutions for the
first-year WMAP quadrupole and octopole. We then apply our algorithm to Monte
Carlo skies to independently re-confirm the estimate that the WMAP quadrupole
and octopole planes align at the 99.9% level.Comment: Version 1: 6 pages. Version 2: added uniqueness proof to Corollary 2;
added proper citation (to Starkman et al.) for Open Question; other minor
improvement
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