4,814 research outputs found
Quantum fluctuations and glassy behavior: The case of a quantum particle in a random potential
In this paper we expand our previous investigation of a quantum particle
subject to the action of a random potential plus a fixed harmonic potential at
a finite temperature T. In the classical limit the system reduces to a
well-known ``toy'' model for an interface in a random medium. It also applies
to a single quantum particle like an an electron subject to random
interactions, where the harmonic potential can be tuned to mimic the effect of
a finite box. Using the variational approximation, or alternatively, the limit
of large spatial dimensions, together with the use the replica method, and are
able to solve the model and obtain its phase diagram in the
plane, where is the particle's mass. The phase diagram is similar to that
of a quantum spin-glass in a transverse field, where the variable
plays the role of the transverse field. The glassy phase is characterized by
replica-symmetry-breaking. The quantum transition at zero temperature is also
discussed.Comment: revised version, 23 pages, revtex, 5 postscript figures in a separate
file figures.u
Disorder effects in the quantum Heisenberg model: An Extended Dynamical mean-field theory analysis
We investigate a quantum Heisenberg model with both antiferromagnetic and
disordered nearest-neighbor couplings. We use an extended dynamical mean-field
approach, which reduces the lattice problem to a self-consistent local impurity
problem that we solve by using a quantum Monte Carlo algorithm. We consider
both two- and three-dimensional antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations and
systematically analyze the effect of disorder. We find that in three dimensions
for any small amount of disorder a spin-glass phase is realized. In two
dimensions, while clean systems display the properties of a highly correlated
spin-liquid (where the local spin susceptibility has a non-integer power-low
frequency and/or temperature dependence), in the present case this behavior is
more elusive unless disorder is very small. This is because the spin-glass
transition temperature leaves only an intermediate temperature regime where the
system can display the spin-liquid behavior, which turns out to be more
apparent in the static than in the dynamical susceptibility.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure
The Stellar Populations and Evolution of Lyman Break Galaxies
Using deep near-IR and optical observations of the HDF-N from the HST NICMOS
and WFPC2 and from the ground, we examine the spectral energy distributions
(SEDs) of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at 2.0 < z < 3.5. The UV-to-optical
rest-frame SEDs of the galaxies are much bluer than those of present-day spiral
and elliptical galaxies, and are generally similar to those of local starburst
galaxies with modest amounts of reddening. We use stellar population synthesis
models to study the properties of the stars that dominate the light from LBGs.
Under the assumption that the star-formation rate is continuous or decreasing
with time, the best-fitting models provide a lower bound on the LBG mass
estimates. LBGs with ``L*'' UV luminosities are estimated to have minimum
stellar masses ~ 10^10 solar masses, or roughly 1/10th that of a present-day L*
galaxy. By considering the effects of a second component of maximally-old
stars, we set an upper bound on the stellar masses that is ~ 3-8 times the
minimum estimate. We find only loose constraints on the individual galaxy ages,
extinction, metallicities, initial mass functions, and prior star-formation
histories. We find no galaxies whose SEDs are consistent with young (< 10^8
yr), dust-free objects, which suggests that LBGs are not dominated by ``first
generation'' stars, and that such objects are rare at these redshifts. We also
find that the typical ages for the observed star-formation events are
significantly younger than the time interval covered by this redshift range (~
1.5 Gyr). From this, and from the relative absence of candidates for quiescent,
non-star-forming galaxies at these redshifts in the NICMOS data, we suggest
that star formation in LBGs may be recurrent, with short duty cycles and a
timescale between star-formation events of < 1 Gyr. [Abridged]Comment: LaTeX, 37 pages, 21 figures. Accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journa
Phase Transitions of the Flux Line Lattice in High-Temperature Superconductors with Weak Columnar and Point Disorder
We study the effects of weak columnar and point disorder on the
vortex-lattice phase transitions in high temperature superconductors. The
combined effect of thermal fluctuations and of quenched disorder is
investigated using a simplified cage model. For columnar disorder the problem
maps into a quantum particle in a harmonic + random potential. We use the
variational approximation to show that columnar and point disorder have
opposite effect on the position of the melting line as observed experimentally.
Replica symmetry breaking plays a role at the transition into a vortex glass at
low temperatures.Comment: 4 pages in 2 columns format + 2 eps figs included, uses RevTeX and
multicol.st
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