The Circadian Clock Gene Period1 Connects the Molecular Clock to Neural Activity in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus.

The neural activity patterns of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons are dynamically regulated throughout the circadian cycle with highest levels of spontaneous action potentials during the day. These rhythms in electrical activity are critical for the function of the circadian timing system and yet the mechanisms by which the molecular clockwork drives changes in the membrane are not well understood. In this study, we sought to examine how the clock gene Period1 (Per1) regulates the electrical activity in the mouse SCN by transiently and selectively decreasing levels of PER1 through use of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. We found that this treatment effectively reduced SCN neural activity. Direct current injection to restore the normal membrane potential partially, but not completely, returned firing rate to normal levels. The antisense treatment also reduced baseline [Ca(2+)]i levels as measured by Fura2 imaging technique. Whole cell patch clamp recording techniques were used to examine which specific potassium currents were altered by the treatment. These recordings revealed that the large conductance [Ca(2+)]i-activated potassium currents were reduced in antisense-treated neurons and that blocking this current mimicked the effects of the anti-sense on SCN firing rate. These results indicate that the circadian clock gene Per1 alters firing rate in SCN neurons and raise the possibility that the large conductance [Ca(2+)]i-activated channel is one of the targets

Effects of an oscillating field on pattern formation in a ferromagnetic thin film: Analysis of patterns traveling at a low velocity

Magnetic domain patterns under an oscillating field is studied theoretically by using a simple Ising-like model. We propose two ways to investigate the effects of the oscillating field. The first one leads to a model in which rapidly oscillating terms are averaged out, and the model can explain the existence of the maximum amplitude of the field for the appearance of patterns. The second one leads to a model that includes the delay of the response to the field, and the model suggests the existence of a traveling pattern which moves very slowly compared with the time scale of the driving field.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Energy diffusion in frustrated quantum spin chains exhibiting Gaussian orthogonal ensemble level statistics

Frustrated quantum $XXZ$ spin chains with the next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) couplings are typically deterministic many-body systems exhibiting Gaussian orthogonal ensemble (GOE) spectral statistics. We investigate energy diffusion for these spin chains in the presence of a periodically oscillating magnetic field. Diffusion coefficients are found to obey the power law with respect to both the field strength and driving frequency with its power varying depending on the linear response and non-perturbative regimes. The widths of the linear response and the non-perturbative regimes depend on the strength of frustrations. We have also elucidated a mechanism for oscillation of energy diffusion in the case of weakened frustrations.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

High temperature thermal conductivity of 2-leg spin-1/2 ladders

Based on numerical simulations, a study of the high temperature, finite frequency, thermal conductivity $\kappa(\omega)$ of spin-1/2 ladders is presented. The exact diagonalization and a novel Lanczos technique are employed.The conductivity spectra, analyzed as a function of rung coupling, point to a non-diverging $dc-$limit but to an unconventional low frequency behavior. The results are discussed with perspective recent experiments indicating a significant magnetic contribution to the energy transport in quasi-one dimensional compounds.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Coexistence of Bloch electrons and glassy electrons in Ca10(Ir4As8)(Fe2_xIrxAs2)5 revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of Ca10(Ir4As8)(Fe2_xIrxAs2)5 shows that the Fe 3d electrons in the FeAs layer form the hole-like Fermi pocket at the zone center and the electron-like Fermi pockets at the zone corners as commonly seen in various Fe-based superconductors. The FeAs layer is heavily electron doped and has relatively good two dimensionality. On the other hand, the Ir 5d electrons are metallic and glassy probably due to atomic disorder related to the Ir 5d orbital instability. Ca10(Ir4As8)(Fe2_xIrxAs2)5 exhibits a unique electronic state where the Bloch electrons in the FeAs layer coexist with the glassy electrons in the Ir4As8 layer.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Level statistics of XXZ spin chains with a random magnetic field

The level-spacing distribution of a spin 1/2 XXZ chain is numerically studied under random magnetic field. We show explicitly how the level statistics depends on the lattice size L, the anisotropy parameter $\Delta$, and the mean amplitude of the random magnetic field h. In the energy spectrum, quantum integrability competes with nonintegrability derived from the randomness, where the XXZ interaction is modified by the parameter $\Delta$. When $\Delta \ne 0$, the level-spacing distribution mostly shows Wigner-like behavior, while when $\Delta$=0, Poisson-like behavior appears although the system is nonintegrable due to randomness. Poisson-like behavior also appears for $\Delta \ne 0$ in the large h limit. Furthermore, the level-spacing distribution depends on the lattice size L, particularly when the random field is weak.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Effects of hole-doping on the magnetic ground state and excitations in the edge-sharing CuO2_2 chains of Ca2+x_{2+x}Y2−x_{2-x}Cu5_5O10_{10}

Neutron scattering experiments were performed on the undoped and hole-doped Ca$_{2+x}$Y$_{2-x}$Cu$_5$O$_{10}$, which consists of ferromagnetic edge-sharing CuO$_2$ chains. It was previously reported that in the undoped Ca$_2$Y$_2$Cu$_5$O$_{10}$ there is an anomalous broadening of spin-wave excitations along the chain, which is caused mainly by the antiferromagnetic interchain interactions [Matsuda $et$ $al.$, Phys. Rev. B 63, 180403(R) (2001)]. A systematic study of temperature and hole concentration dependencies of the magnetic excitations shows that the magnetic excitations are softened and broadened with increasing temperature or doping holes irrespective of $Q$ direction. The broadening is larger at higher $Q$. A characteristic feature is that hole-doping is much more effective to broaden the excitations along the chain. It is also suggested that the intrachain interaction does not change so much with increasing temperature or doping although the anisotropic interaction and the interchain interaction are reduced. In the spin-glass phase ($x$=1.5) and nearly disordered phase ($x$=1.67) the magnetic excitations are much broadened in energy and $Q$. It is suggested that the spin-glass phase originates from the antiferromagnetic clusters, which are caused by the hole disproportionation.Comment: 8 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Real Space Imaging of Spin Polarons in Zn Doped SrCu2(BO3)2

We report on the real space profile of spin polarons in the quasi two-dimensional frustrated dimer spin system SrCu2(BO3)2 doped with 0.16% of Zn. The 11B nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum exhibits 15 additional boron sites near non-magnetic Zn impurities. With the help of exact diagonalizations of finite clusters, we have deduced from the boron spectrum the distribution of local magnetizations at the Cu sites with fine spatial resolution, providing direct evidence for an extended spin polaron. The results are confronted with those of other experiments performed on doped and undoped samples of SrCu2(BO3)2.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, including supplemental materials. accepted for publication in PR

Enhancement of the Thermal Conductivity in gapped Quantum Spin Chains

We study mechanism of magnetic energy transport, motivated by recent measurements of the thermal conductivity in low dimensional quantum magnets. We point out a possible mechanism of enhancement of the thermal conductivity in gapped magnetic system, where the magnetic energy transport plays a crucial role. This mechanism gives an interpretation for the recent experiment of CuGeO_3, where the thermal conductivity depends on the crystal direction.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Unexpected non-Wigner behavior in level-spacing distributions of next-nearest-neighbor coupled XXZ spin chains

The level-spacing distributions of XXZ spin chains with next-nearest-neighbor couplings are studied under periodic boundary conditions. We confirm that integrable XXZ spin chains mostly have the Poisson distribution as expected. On the contrary, the level-spacing distributions of next-nearest-neighbor coupled XXZ chains are given by non-Wigner distributions. It is against the expectations, since the models are nonintegrable.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Physical Review