6,625 research outputs found
Thermal expansion of the spin-1/2 Heisenberg-chain compound Cu(CHN)(NO)
Compounds containing magnetic subsystems representing simple model spin
systems with weak magnetic coupling constants are ideal candidates to test
theoretical predictions for the generic behavior close to quantum phase
transitions. We present measurements of the thermal expansion and
magnetostriction of the spin-1/2-chain compound copper pyrazine dinitrate
Cu(CHN)(NO). Of particular interest is the low-temperature
thermal expansion close to the saturation field ,
which defines a quantum phase transition from the gapless Luttinger liquid
state to the fully saturated state with a finite excitation gap. We observe a
sign change of the thermal expansion for the different ground states, and at
the quantum critical point the low-temperature expansion approaches a
divergence. Thus, our data agree very well with the expected
quantum critical behaviour.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; to appear in the proceedings of the ICM 09 held
in Karlsruhe, German
Signature of nearly icosahedral structures in liquid and supercooled liquid Copper
A growing body of experiments display indirect evidence of icosahedral
structures in supercooled liquid metals. Computer simulations provide more
direct evidence but generally rely on approximate interatomic potentials of
unproven accuracy. We use first-principles molecular dynamics simulations to
generate realistic atomic configurations, providing structural detail not
directly available from experiment, based on interatomic forces that are more
reliable than conventional simulations. We analyze liquid copper, for which
recent experimental results are available for comparison, to quantify the
degree of local icosahedral and polytetrahedral order
Assessing Learning Outcomes in Middle-Division Classical Mechanics: The Colorado Classical Mechanics/Math Methods Instrument
Reliable and validated assessments of introductory physics have been
instrumental in driving curricular and pedagogical reforms that lead to
improved student learning. As part of an effort to systematically improve our
sophomore-level Classical Mechanics and Math Methods course (CM 1) at CU
Boulder, we have developed a tool to assess student learning of CM 1 concepts
in the upper-division. The Colorado Classical Mechanics/Math Methods Instrument
(CCMI) builds on faculty consensus learning goals and systematic observations
of student difficulties. The result is a 9-question open-ended post-test that
probes student learning in the first half of a two-semester classical mechanics
/ math methods sequence. In this paper, we describe the design and development
of this instrument, its validation, and measurements made in classes at CU
Boulder and elsewhere.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl
Extended quantum critical phase in a magnetized spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic chain
Measurements are reported of the magnetic field dependence of excitations in
the quantum critical state of the spin S=1/2 linear chain Heisenberg
antiferromagnet copper pyrazine dinitrate (CuPzN). The complete spectrum was
measured at k_B T/J <= 0.025 for H=0 and H=8.7 Tesla where the system is ~30%
magnetized. At H=0, the results are in quantitative agreement with exact
calculations of the dynamic spin correlation function for a two-spinon
continuum. At high magnetic field, there are multiple overlapping continua with
incommensurate soft modes. The boundaries of these continua confirm
long-standing predictions, and the intensities are consistent with exact
diagonalization and Bethe Ansatz calculations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Magnetothermal transport in the spin-1/2 chains of copper pyrazine dinitrate
We present experiments on the thermal transport in the spin-1/2 chain
compound copper pyrazine dinitrate Cu(C_4 H_4 N_2)(NO_3)_2. The heat
conductivity shows a surprisingly strong dependence on the applied magnetic
field B, characterized at low temperatures by two main features. The first one
appearing at low B is a characteristic dip located at mu_B B ~ k_B T, that may
arise from Umklapp scattering. The second one is a plateau-like feature in the
quantum critical regime, mu_B |B-B_c| < k_B T, where B_c is the saturation
field at T=0. The latter feature clearly points towards a momentum and field
independent mean free path of the spin excitations, contrary to theoretical
expectations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Optical properties of a light-emitting polymer directly patterned by soft lithography
Copyright © 2002 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. The following article appeared in Applied Physics Letters 81 (2002) and may be found at http://link.aip.org/link/?APPLAB/81/1955/1We present the optical properties of a directly patterned light-emitting polymer. The patterned poly(2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-paraphenylenevinylene film is fabricated using hot embossing lithography. The effect of the embossed microstructure on the light emitted from the polymer is examined by measuring the angle-dependent photoluminescence and its photonic band structure. The imposed grating modifies the emitted light by Bragg scattering into free space light that would otherwise be trapped as waveguide modes. This simple patterning technique may find application in improving the performance of light-emitting polymer devices
Neutron scattering from a coordination polymer quantum paramagnet
Inelastic neutron scattering measurements are reported for a powder sample of
the spin-1/2 quantum paramagnet . Magnetic neutron
scattering is identified above an energy gap of 1.9 meV. Analysis of the sharp
spectral maximum at the onset indicates that the material is magnetically
quasi-one-dimensional. Consideration of the wave vector dependence of the
scattering and polymeric structure further identifies the material as a
two-legged spin-1/2 ladder. Detailed comparison of the data to various models
of magnetism in this material based on the single mode approximation and the
continuous unitary transformation are presented. The latter theory provides an
excellent account of the data with leg exchange meV and
rung exchange meV.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, 1 tabl
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is capable of natural transformation in biofilms
Abstract Natural transformation is a mechanism that enables competent bacteria to acquire naked, exogenous DNA from the environment. It is a key process that facilitates the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and virulence determinants throughout bacterial populations. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen that produces large quantities of extracellular DNA (eDNA) that is required for biofilm formation. P. aeruginosa has a remarkable level of genome plasticity and diversity that suggests a high degree of horizontal gene transfer and recombination but is thought to be incapable of natural transformation. Here we show that P. aeruginosa possesses homologs of all proteins known to be involved in natural transformation in other bacterial species. We found that P. aeruginosa in biofilms is competent for natural transformation of both genomic and plasmid DNA. Furthermore, we demonstrate that type IV pili (T4P) facilitate but are not absolutely essential for natural transformation in P. aeruginosa
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