Covalency, double-counting and the metal-insulator phase diagram in transition metal oxides

Dynamical mean field theory calculations are used to show that for late transition-metal-oxides a critical variable for the Mott/charge-transfer transition is the number of d-electrons, which is determined by charge transfer from oxygen ions. Insulating behavior is found only for a narrow range of d-occupancy, irrespective of the size of the intra-d Coulomb repulsion. The result is useful in interpreting 'density functional +U' and 'density functional plus dynamical mean field' methods in which additional correlations are applied to a specific set of orbitals and an important role is played by the 'double counting correction' which dictates the occupancy of these correlated orbitals. General considerations are presented and are illustrated by calculations for two representative transition metal oxide systems: layered perovskite Cu-based "high-Tc" materials, an orbitally non-degenerate electronically quasi-two dimensional systems, and pseudocubic rare earch nickelates, an orbitally degenerate electronically three dimensional system. Density functional calculations yield d-occupancies very far from the Mott metal-insulator phase boundary in the nickelate materials, but closer to it in the cuprates, indicating the sensitivity of theoretical models of the cuprates to the choice of double counting correction and corroborating the critical role of lattice distortions in attaining the experimentally observed insulating phase in the nickelates.Comment: 10+ pages, 5 figure

Ising transition driven by frustration in a 2D classical model with SU(2) symmetry

We study the thermal properties of the classical antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model with both nearest ($J_1$) and next-nearest ($J_2$) exchange couplings on the square lattice by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. We show that, for $J_2/J_1 > 1/2$, thermal fluctuations give rise to an effective $Z_2$ symmetry leading to a {\it finite-temperature} phase transition. We provide strong numerical evidence that this transition is in the 2D Ising universality class, and that $T_c\to 0$ with an infinite slope when $J_2/J_1\to 1/2$.Comment: 4 pages with 4 figure

Kerr black hole lensing for generic observers in the strong deflection limit

We generalize our previous work on gravitational lensing by a Kerr black hole in the strong deflection limit, removing the restriction to observers on the equatorial plane. Starting from the Schwarzschild solution and adding corrections up to the second order in the black hole spin, we perform a complete analytical study of the lens equation for relativistic images created by photons passing very close to a Kerr black hole. We find out that, to the lowest order, all observables (including shape and shift of the black hole shadow, caustic drift and size, images position and magnification) depend on the projection of the spin on a plane orthogonal to the line of sight. In order to break the degeneracy between the black hole spin and its inclination relative to the observer, it is necessary to push the expansion to higher orders. In terms of future VLBI observations, this implies that very accurate measures are needed to determine these two parameters separately.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, one section added, to appear on Physical Review

Multi-wavelength observations of 3FGL J2039.6-5618: a candidate redback millisecond pulsar

We present multi-wavelength observations of the unassociated gamma-ray source 3FGL J2039.6-5618 detected by the Fermi Large Area Telescope. The source gamma-ray properties suggest that it is a pulsar, most likely a millisecond pulsar, for which neither radio nor $\gamma$-ray pulsations have been detected yet. We observed 3FGL J2039.6-5618 with XMM-Newton and discovered several candidate X-ray counterparts within/close to the gamma-ray error box. The brightest of these X-ray sources is variable with a period of 0.2245$\pm$0.0081 d. Its X-ray spectrum can be described by a power law with photon index $\Gamma_X =1.36\pm0.09$, and hydrogen column density $N_{\rm H} < 4 \times 10^{20}$ cm$^{-2}$, which gives an unabsorbed 0.3--10 keV X-ray flux of $1.02 \times 10^{-13}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. Observations with the Gamma-Ray Burst Optical/Near-Infrared Detector (GROND) discovered an optical counterpart to this X-ray source, with a time-average magnitude $g'\sim 19.5$. The counterpart features a flux modulation with a period of 0.22748$\pm$0.00043 d that coincides, within the errors, with that of the X-ray source, confirming the association based on the positional coincidence. We interpret the observed X-ray/optical periodicity as the orbital period of a close binary system where one of the two members is a neutron star. The light curve profile of the companion star, with two asymmetric peaks, suggests that the optical emission comes from two regions at different temperatures on its tidally-distorted surface. Based upon its X-ray and optical properties, we consider this source as the most likely X-ray counterpart to 3FGL J2039.6-5618, which we propose to be a new redback system.Comment: 35 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication on Astrophysical Journa

The Chrono-geometrical Structure of Special and General Relativity: a Re-Visitation of Canonical Geometrodynamics

A modern re-visitation of the consequences of the lack of an intrinsic notion of instantaneous 3-space in relativistic theories leads to a reformulation of their kinematical basis emphasizing the role of non-inertial frames centered on an arbitrary accelerated observer. In special relativity the exigence of predictability implies the adoption of the 3+1 point of view, which leads to a well posed initial value problem for field equations in a framework where the change of the convention of synchronization of distant clocks is realized by means of a gauge transformation. This point of view is also at the heart of the canonical approach to metric and tetrad gravity in globally hyperbolic asymptotically flat space-times, where the use of Shanmugadhasan canonical transformations allows the separation of the physical degrees of freedom of the gravitational field (the tidal effects) from the arbitrary gauge variables. Since a global vision of the equivalence principle implies that only global non-inertial frames can exist in general relativity, the gauge variables are naturally interpreted as generalized relativistic inertial effects, which have to be fixed to get a deterministic evolution in a given non-inertial frame. As a consequence, in each Einstein's space-time in this class the whole chrono-geometrical structure, including also the clock synchronization convention, is dynamically determined and a new approach to the Hole Argument leads to the conclusion that "gravitational field" and "space-time" are two faces of the same entity. This view allows to get a classical scenario for the unification of the four interactions in a scheme suited to the description of the solar system or our galaxy with a deperametrization to special relativity and the subsequent possibility to take the non-relativistic limit.Comment: 33 pages, Lectures given at the 42nd Karpacz Winter School of Theoretical Physics, "Current Mathematical Topics in Gravitation and Cosmology", Ladek, Poland, 6-11 February 200

Thermodynamic Properties and Phase Transitions in a Mean-Field Ising Spin Glass on Lattice Gas: the Random Blume-Emery-Griffiths-Capel Model

The study of the mean-field static solution of the Random Blume-Emery-Griffiths-Capel model, an Ising-spin lattice gas with quenched random magnetic interaction, is performed. The model exhibits a paramagnetic phase, described by a stable Replica Symmetric solution. When the temperature is decreased or the density increases, the system undergoes a phase transition to a Full Replica Symmetry Breaking spin-glass phase. The nature of the transition can be either of the second order (like in the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model) or, at temperature below a given critical value, of the first order in the Ehrenfest sense, with a discontinuous jump of the order parameter and accompanied by a latent heat. In this last case coexistence of phases takes place. The thermodynamics is worked out in the Full Replica Symmetry Breaking scheme, and the relative Parisi equations are solved using a pseudo-spectral method down to zero temperature.Comment: 24 pages, 12 figure

Effects of noise and confidence thresholds in nominal and metric Axelrod dynamics of social influence

We study the effects of bounded confidence thresholds and of interaction and external noise on Axelrod's model of social influence. Our study is based on a combination of numerical simulations and an integration of the mean-field Master equation describing the system in the thermodynamic limit. We find that interaction thresholds affect the system only quantitatively, but that they do not alter the basic phase structure. The known crossover between an ordered and a disordered state in finite systems subject to external noise persists in models with general confidence threshold. Interaction noise here facilitates the dynamics and reduces relaxation times. We also study Axelrod systems with metric features, and point out similarities and differences compared to models with nominal features. Metric features are used to demonstrate that a small group of extremists can have a significant impact on the opinion dynamics of a population of Axelrod agents.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figure

Open-loop and closed-loop control of posture: A random-walk analysis of center-of-pressure trajectories,” Exp Brain Res

Abstract. A new conceptual and theoretical framework for studying the human postural control system is introduced. Mathematical techniques from statistical mechanics are developed and applied to the analysis and interpretation of stabilograms. This work was based on the assumption that the act of maintaining an erect posture could be viewed, in part, as a stochastic process. Twenty-five healthy young subjects were studied under quiet-standing conditions. Center-of-pressure (COP) trajectories were analyzed as one-dimensional and twodimensional random walks. This novel approach led to the extraction of repeatable, physiologically meaningful parameters from stabilograms. It is shown that although individual stabilograms for a single subject were highly variable and random in appearance, a consistent, subjectspecific pattern emerged with the generation of averaged stabilogram-diffusion plots (mean square COP displacement vs time interval). In addition, significant inter-subject differences were found in the calculated results. This suggests that the steady-state behavior of the control mechanisms involved in maintaining erect posture can be quite variable even amongst a population of age-matched, anthropometrically similar, healthy individuals. These posturographic analyses also demonstrated that COP trajectories could be modelled as fractional Brownian motion and that at least two control systems -a shortterm mechanism and a long-term mechanism -were operating dUring quiet standing. More specifically, the present results suggest that over short-term intervals open-loop control schemes are utilized by the postural control system, whereas over long-term intervals closedloop control mechanisms are called into play. This work strongly supports the position that much can be learned about the functional organization of the postural control system by studying the steady-state behavior of the human body during periods of undisturbed stance

Lung transplantation in neonates and infants:ESPNIC survey of European neonatologists and pediatric intensivists

Lung and heart & lung transplantations in neonates and infants are extreme treatments offered for some life-threatening conditions especially in some North-American centers with promising results. These transplantations are rarely performed in Europe, and we set up a continent-based survey to describe the attitude of European neonatologists and pediatric intensivists on the subject and identify the main indications for this transplantation and the obstacles for the realization of a European lung transplantation program. Conclusion: The main indications for lung transplantation program for neonates and infants are represented by congenital disorders, and physicians indicate as main obstacles the donors’ availability. European neonatologists and pediatric intensivists are interested to create a European network to overcome this problem and realize a lung transplantation program for neonates and infants.What is Known:• Lung transplantation in neonates and infants seems to slowly increase, and some North-American centers accumulated a relevant experience.What is New:• European neonatologists and pediatric intensivists are interested in creating a European network for a lung transplantation program for neonates and infants.• The main indications for lung transplantation program for neonates and infants are represented by congenital disorders and main obstacle to lung transplantation is the donors’ availability