1,235 research outputs found
Filamentation processes and dynamical excitation of light condensates in optical media with competing nonlinearities
We analyze both theoretically and by means of numerical simulations the
phenomena of filamentation and dynamical formation of self-guided nonlinear
waves in media featuring competing cubic and quintic nonlinearities. We provide
a theoretical description of recent experiments in terms of a linear stability
analysis supported with simulations, showing the possibility of experimental
observation of the modulational instability suppression of intense light pulses
travelling across such nonlinear media. We also show a novel mechanism of
indirect excitation of {\em light condensates} by means of coalescence
processes of nonlinear coherent structures produced by managed filamentation of
high power laser beams.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Dephasing by a nonstationary classical intermittent noise
We consider a new phenomenological model for a classical
intermittent noise and study its effects on the dephasing of a two-level
system. Within this model, the evolution of the relative phase between the
states is described as a continuous time random walk (CTRW). Using
renewal theory, we find exact expressions for the dephasing factor and identify
the physically relevant various regimes in terms of the coupling to the noise.
In particular, we point out the consequences of the non-stationarity and
pronounced non-Gaussian features of this noise, including some new anomalous
and aging dephasing scenarii.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Cross-Over between universality classes in a magnetically disordered metallic wire
In this article we present numerical results of conduction in a disordered
quasi-1D wire in the possible presence of magnetic impurities. Our analysis
leads us to the study of universal properties in different conduction regimes
such as the localized and metallic ones. In particular, we analyse the
cross-over between universality classes occurring when the strength of magnetic
disorder is increased. For this purpose, we use a numerical Landauer approach,
and derive the scattering matrix of the wire from electron's Green's function.Comment: Final version, accepted for publication in New Journ. of Physics, 27
pages, 28 figures. Replaces the earlier shorter preprint arXiv:0910.427
On the relevance of polyynyl-substituted PAHs to astrophysics
We report on the absorption spectra of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
(PAH) molecules anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene carrying either an ethynyl
(-C2H) or a butadiynyl (-C4H) group. Measurements were carried out in the mid
infrared at room temperature on grains embedded in CsI pellets and in the near
ultraviolet at cryogenic temperature on molecules isolated in Ne matrices. The
infrared measurements show that interstellar populations of
polyynyl-substituted PAHs would give rise to collective features in the same
way non-substituted PAHs give rise to the aromatic infrared bands. The main
features characteristic of the substituted molecules correspond to the
acetylenic CH stretching mode near 3.05 mum and to the almost isoenergetic
acetylenic CCH in- and out-of-plane bending modes near 15.9 mum.
Sub-populations defined by the length of the polyynyl side group cause
collective features which correspond to the various acetylenic CC stretching
modes. The ultraviolet spectra reveal that the addition of an ethynyl group to
a non-substituted PAH molecule results in all its electronic transitions being
redshifted. Due to fast internal energy conversion, the bands at shorter
wavelengths are significantly broadened. Those at longer wavelengths are only
barely affected in this respect. As a consequence, their relative peak
absorption increases. The substitution with the longer butadiynyl chain causes
the same effects with a larger magnitude, resulting in the spectra to show a
prominent if not dominating pi-pi* transition at long wavelength. After
discussing the relevance of polyynyl-substituted PAHs to astrophysics, we
conclude that this class of highly conjugated, unsaturated molecules are valid
candidates for the carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ 2 April 201
Non-Universal Quasi-Long Range Order in the Glassy Phase of Impure Superconductors
The structural correlation functions of a weakly disordered Abrikosov lattice
are calculated for the first time in a systematic RG-expansion in d=4-\epsilon
dimensions. It is shown, that in the asymptotic limit the Abrikosov lattice
exhibits still quasi long range translational order described by a
non-universal exponent \bar\eta_{\bf G} which depends on the ratio of the
renormalized elastic constants \kappa =\tilde c_{66}/\tilde c_{11} of the flux
line (FL) lattice. Our calculations show clearly three distinct scaling regimes
corresponding to the Larkin, the manifold and the asymptotic Bragg glass
regime. On a wide range of intermediate length scales the FL displacement
correlation function increases as a power law with twice of the manifold
roughness exponent \zeta_{rm}(\kappa), which is also non-universal. Our
results, in particular the \kappa-dependence of the exponents, are in variance
with those of the variational treatment with replica symmetry breaking which
allows in principle an experimental discrimination between the two approaches.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Freezing transitions and the density of states of 2D random Dirac Hamiltonians
Using an exact mapping to disordered Coulomb gases, we introduce a novel
method to study two dimensional Dirac fermions with quenched disorder in two
dimensions which allows to treat non perturbative freezing phenomena. For
purely random gauge disorder it is known that the exact zero energy eigenstate
exhibits a freezing-like transition at a threshold value of disorder
. Here we compute the dynamical exponent which
characterizes the critical behaviour of the density of states around zero
energy, and find that it also exhibits a phase transition. Specifically, we
find that (and ) with for and
for . For a finite system size we find large
sample to sample fluctuations with a typical .
Adding a scalar random potential of small variance , as in the
corresponding quantum Hall system, yields a finite noncritical whose scaling exponent exhibits two transitions, one
at and the other at . These transitions are shown
to be related to the one of a directed polymer on a Cayley tree with random
signs (or complex) Boltzmann weights. Some observations are made for the strong
disorder regime relevant to describe transport in the quantum Hall system
Effects of a Weight Loss Program on Metabolic Syndrome, Eating Disorders and Psychological Outcomes: Mediation by Endocannabinoids?
To evaluate the effects of weight loss on endocannabinoids, cardiometabolic and psychological parameters, eating disorders (ED) as well as quality of life (QoL) and to elucidate the role of endocannabinoids in metabolic syndrome (MS).
In total, 114 patients with obesity were prospectively included in a 12-month weight loss program. Plasma endocannabinoids were measured by mass spectrometry; ED, psychological and QoL-related parameters were evaluated by self-reported questionnaires; physical activity was measured by accelerometer. Nutritional assessment was done by a 3-day food diary.
Among completers (n = 87), body weight decreased in 35 patients (-9.1 ± 8.6 kg), remained stable in 39 patients, and increased in 13 patients (+5.8 ± 3.4 kg). 75% of patients with MS at baseline were free of MS at follow-up, and their baseline plasma N-palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) values were significantly lower when compared to patients with persisting MS. At baseline, there was a positive relationship between PEA and waist circumference (p = 0.005, R2 = 0.08), fasting glucose (p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.12), total cholesterol (p = 0.001, R2 = 0.11), triglycerides (p = 0.001, R2 = 0.11), LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.03, R2 = 0.05) as well as depression score (p = 0.002, R2 = 0.29).
Plasma PEA might play a role in metabolic improvement after weight loss. Even in subjects without weight loss, a multidisciplinary intervention improves psychological outcomes, ED, and QoL
Melting of two dimensional solids on disordered substrate
We study 2D solids with weak substrate disorder, using Coulomb gas
renormalisation. The melting transition is found to be replaced by a sharp
crossover between a high liquid with thermally induced dislocations, and a
low glassy regime with disorder induced dislocations at scales larger than
which we compute (, the Larkin and
translational correlation lengths). We discuss experimental consequences,
reminiscent of melting, such as size effects in vortex flow and AC response in
superconducting films.Comment: 4 pages, uses RevTeX, Amssymb, multicol,eps
Absence of Two-Dimensional Bragg Glasses
The stability to dislocations of the elastic phase, or ``Bragg glass'', of a
randomly pinned elastic medium in two dimensions is studied using the
minimum-cost-flow algorithm for a disordered fully-packed loop model. The
elastic phase is found to be unstable to dislocations due to the quenched
disorder. The energetics of dislocations are discussed within the framework of
renormalization group predictions as well as in terms of a domain wall picture.Comment: 5 pages, REVTEX, 3 figures included. Further information can be
obtained from [email protected]
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