Quantum stabilization of classically unstable plateau structures

Motivated by the intriguing report, in some frustrated quantum antiferromagnets, of magnetization plateaus whose simple collinear structure is {\it not} stabilized by an external magnetic field in the classical limit, we develop a semiclassical method to estimate the zero-point energy of collinear configurations even when they do not correspond to a local minimum of the classical energy. For the spin-1/2 frustrated square-lattice antiferromagnet, this approach leads to the stabilization of a large 1/2 plateau with "up-up-up-down" structure for J_2/J_1>1/2, in agreement with exact diagonalization results, while for the spin-1/2 anisotropic triangular antiferromagnet, it predicts that the 1/3 plateau with "up-up-down" structure is stable far from the isotropic point, in agreement with the properties of Cs_2CuBr_4.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Phase diagram of the fully frustrated transverse-field Ising model on the honeycomb lattice

Motivated by the current interest in the quantum dimer model on the triangular lattice, we investigate the phase diagram of the closely related fully-frustrated transverse field Ising model on the honeycomb lattice using classical and semi-classical approximations. We show that, in addition to the fully polarized phase at large field, the classical model possesses a multitude of phases that break the translational symmetry which in the dimer language, correspond to a plaquette phase and a columnar phase separated by an infinite cascade of mixed phases. The modification of the phase diagram by quantum fluctuations has been investigated in the context of linear spin-wave theory. The extrapolation of the semiclassical energies suggests that the plaquette phase extends down to zero field for spin 1/2, in agreement with the $\sqrt{12}\times\sqrt{12}$ phase of the quantum dimer model on the triangular lattice with only kinetic energy.Comment: 15 Pages, 11 Figures, Accepted for PR

Dynamical structure factors and excitation modes of the bilayer Heisenberg model

Using quantum Monte Carlo simulations along with higher-order spin-wave theory, bond-operator and strong-coupling expansions, we analyse the dynamical spin structure factor of the spin-half Heisenberg model on the square-lattice bilayer. We identify distinct contributions from the low-energy Goldstone modes in the magnetically ordered phase and the gapped triplon modes in the quantum disordered phase. In the antisymmetric (with respect to layer inversion) channel, the dynamical spin structure factor exhibits a continuous evolution of spectral features across the quantum phase transition, connecting the two types of modes. Instead, in the symmetric channel we find a depletion of the spectral weight when moving from the ordered to the disordered phase. While the dynamical spin structure factor does not exhibit a well-defined distinct contribution from the amplitude (or Higgs) mode in the ordered phase, we identify an only marginally-damped amplitude mode in the dynamical singlet structure factor, obtained from interlayer bond correlations, in the vicinity of the quantum critical point. These findings provide quantitative information in direct relation to possible neutron or light scattering experiments in a fundamental two-dimensional quantum-critical spin system.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figure

The impact of stapling technique and surgeon specialism on anastomotic failure after right-sided colorectal resection. An international multi-centre, prospective audit

There is little evidence to support choice of technique and configuration for stapled anastomoses after right hemicolectomy and ileocaecal resection. This study aimed to determine the relationship between stapling technique and anastomotic failure

Crack of a helicopter main rotor actuator attachment: failure analysis and lessons learned

A Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), in the course of a training flight, leaving the ground during thetaxi to take off, went into an uncontrolled rolling to the right; consequently the helicopter gradually laid downon the right side. The impact with the runway destroyed the rotating blades up to the hubs rotor. The accidentinvestigation focused on main rotor oscillatory plate servo actuators . These components, directly linked to thecloche movements, regulate main rotor blades plane tilt and pitch. Following the preliminary examination, onlyfront servo actuator attachment was found to be broken in two parts. In detail, the present paper deals with thefracture analysis results. The servo actuator attachment material is a 2014 Aluminum alloy extrudate, undergoneto T651 heat treatment. Fracture surfaces were examined by optical and electronic microscopy in order todetermine the main morphological features and consequently to trace the origin of failure mechanism andcauses. The accordance with the specification requirements about alloy composition was verified by quantitativeelementary analysis through inductive coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP); furthermore, semi-quantitativeelementary analysis was locally verified by Energy dispersion spectroscopy X ray (EDS_RX). Finally, thehydrogen content of the material was evaluated by the total hydrogen analysis. Microstructural andtechnological alloy characteristics were verified as well by using metallographic microscopy and hardness testingof the material.Macroscopic fracture surfaces evidences were characterized by the lack of any significant plastic deformationsand by the presence of symmetry compared to the servo actuator axis. Microscopic fracture features of both theinvestigated surfaces were not coherent to the hypothesis of an impact of the main rotor to the soil. Furtherachieved evidences, such as grain boundary fracture propagation, the presence of corrosion products, were all inaccordance with a Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) progressive fracture mechanism.Finite Element Analysis (FEA) located the highest tensile stress value, when the servo actuator is in its nominalworking condition, at the same points where the corrosion products were more concentrated (i.e. in the part ofthe fracture exposed to oxidative air effect for the longest time). The good agreement between FEA andmorphological evidences allowed to determine the progressive fracture origin area, though it was not possible toindividuate the crack initiation point. In fact, in correspondence to the initiation area of both the fracturesurfaces, shining and flat morphology was found;. then there were evidence of plastic deformations, due to thedetachment of a servo actuator part.The ICP analysis and hardness testing results were in accordance with the material specification requirements.However, the hydrogen content was one order of magnitude greater than the required value and many andunexpected globular formations were observed on the fracture surface. Part of these were dendritic formations,while the others looked smooth and shining. Further, FESEM boundary grain observation gave evidences of ahigh presence of precipitates on the investigated surfaces. Hence, observed microstructural characteristics,boundary grain precipitates and globular formations allowed to hypothesize possible overheating/eutecticmelting phenomena, occurred during manufacturing processes.As widely reported in literature, the AA 2014 alloy is one of the aluminum-copper-magnesium-silicon type,employing copper aluminide (CuAl2 ) as the primary precipitation-hardening agent. The need for a maximumCu phase dispersion in solid solution requires a heat treatment range with an upper limit (507°C) that is near tothe melting of the eutectics (510°C). Moreover, since the 1960s, AA2014 has been defined as sensitive to SCC.This condition is mainly related to the presence of coarse-grained and aligned CuAl2 precipitates. Thisarrangement is due to an overheating (more than 507°C) or to a cooling process carried out too slowly.Microstructural analysis was carried out on three items: 1) a large portion of the broken actuator attachment; 2)on a servoactuator coming from the same production batch; 3) on a servo actuator coming from a differentproduction batch.The microstructure from the broken actuator attachment showed a great amount of precipitates (secondphases) lengthwise aligned to the boundary grain, pores, and also cavities and dendritic globular formations.Analysis results, morphology evidences and reference images available on scientific literature were found to bein excellent agreement and validated the embrittlement and subsequent SCC mechanism hypotesis(intergranular failure propagation).In conclusion, flight accident causes are attributable to main rotor actuator attachment failure.Failure mechanism is classifiable as SCC supported by microstructural anomalies of the material. Theinvestigation of the manufacturing process highlighted how one of the servo actuator batches was not properlyproduced due to poor control and accuracy of heat treatment temperature and/or cooling time. This led tohydrogen embrittlement and to a microstructural problem (globular formations and boundary grainprecipitates). The combination of those phenomena caused an increase of the SCC sensitivity and were thebasic progressive failure driving forces.Nevertheless, as above mentioned, alloy composition was found compliant with the material specificationrequirements and this just because none of the scheduled quality control tests is able to determine the peculiarmicrostructural anomalies reported

FROM ARCHIVE DOCUMENTATION TO ONLINE 3D MODEL VISUALIZATION OF NO LONGER EXISTING STRUCTURES: THE TURIN 1911 PROJECT

Rebuilding the past of cultural heritage through digitization, archiving and visualization by means of digital technology is becoming an emerging issue to ensure the transmission of physical and digital documentation to future generations as evidence of culture, but also to enable present generation to enlarge, facilitate and cross relate data and information in new ways. In this global effort, the digital 3D documentation of no longer existing cultural heritage can be essential for the understanding of past events and nowadays, various digital techniques and tools are developing for multiple purposes. In the present research the entire workflow, starting from archive documentation collection and digitization to the 3D models metrically controlled creation and online sharing, is considered. The technical issues to obtain a detail 3D model are examined stressing limits and potentiality of 3D reconstruction of disappeared heritage and its visualization exploiting three complexes belonging to 1911 Turin World’s Fair

An assessment of vortex detection criteria for 2C-2D PIV data

The aim of the article is to propose a robust and reliable engineering method for identifying and characterizing vortical structures within a flow field measured with a classic twocomponent PIV measurement system. Some of the most popular vortex-detection criteria are briefly presented for comparison purposes. Many of these fail if spurious vectors are present within the flow field due to poor PIV image quality. The proposed method was tested both on synthetic images of ideal vortices, having different spatial resolutions and different noise levels in order to perform a parametric assessment, and on real PIV images of a four-bladed rotor wake

Cardiolipin drives cytochrome c proapoptotic and antiapoptotic actions

""\\"Cytochrome c (cytc) is pivotal in mitochondrial respiration and apoptosis. The heme-Fe-atom of native hexacoordinated horse heart cytc (hhcytc) displays a very low reactivity toward ligands and does not exhibit catalytic properties. However, on interaction with cardiolipin (CL), hhcytc changes its tertiary structure disrupting the heme-Fe-Met80 distal bond. The CL-hhcytc complex displays a very low midpoint potential, out of the range required for its physiological role, binds CO and NO with high affinity, facilitates peroxynitrite isomerization to NO(3)(-), and displays peroxidase activity. As a whole, the CL-hhcytc complex could play either proapoptotic effects, catalyzing lipid peroxidation and the subsequent hhcytc release into the cytoplasm, or antiapoptotic actions, such as scavenging peroxynitrite (i.e., protecting the mitochondrion from reactive nitrogen and oxygen species), and binding of CO and NO (i.e., inhibiting lipid peroxidation and hhcytc traslocation). Here, the CL-driven allosteric modulation of hhcytc properties is reviewed, highlighting proapoptotic and antiapoptotic actions. (C) 2011 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 63(3): 160-165, 2011\\""

Satellite X-band SAR data exploitation trends in the framework of ASI's COSMO-SkyMed Open Call initiative

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