695 research outputs found
Quantum Phase Transitions in the Itinerant Ferromagnet ZrZn
We report a study of the ferromagnetism of ZrZn, the most promising
material to exhibit ferromagnetic quantum criticality, at low temperatures
as function of pressure . We find that the ordered ferromagnetic moment
disappears discontinuously at =16.5 kbar. Thus a tricritical point
separates a line of first order ferromagnetic transitions from second order
(continuous) transitions at higher temperature. We also identify two lines of
transitions of the magnetisation isotherms up to 12 T in the plane where
the derivative of the magnetization changes rapidly. These quantum phase
transitions (QPT) establish a high sensitivity to local minima in the free
energy in ZrZn, thus strongly suggesting that QPT in itinerant
ferromagnets are always first order
Geometry for the accelerating universe
The Lorentzian spacetime metric is replaced by an area metric which naturally
emerges as a generalized geometry in quantum string and gauge theory. Employing
the area metric curvature scalar, the gravitational Einstein-Hilbert action is
re-interpreted as dynamics for an area metric. Without the need for dark energy
or fine-tuning, area metric cosmology explains the observed small acceleration
of the late Universe.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
Reflection-Free One-Way Edge Modes in a Gyromagnetic Photonic Crystal
We point out that electromagnetic one-way edge modes analogous to quantum
Hall edge states, originally predicted by Raghu and Haldane in 2D gyroelectric
photonic crystals possessing Dirac point-derived bandgaps, can appear in more
general settings. In particular, we show that the TM modes in a gyromagnetic
photonic crystal can be formally mapped to electronic wavefunctions in a
periodic electromagnetic field, so that the only requirement for the existence
of one-way edge modes is that the Chern number for all bands below a gap is
non-zero. In a square-lattice gyromagnetic Yttrium-Iron-Garnet photonic crystal
operating at microwave frequencies, which lacks Dirac points, time-reversal
breaking is strong enough that the effect should be easily observable. For
realistic material parameters, the edge modes occupy a 10% band gap. Numerical
simulations of a one-way waveguide incorporating this crystal show 100%
transmission across strong defects, such as perfect conductors several lattice
constants wide, larger than the width of the waveguide.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures (Figs. 1 and 2 revised.
Cosmology as Geodesic Motion
For gravity coupled to N scalar fields with arbitrary potential V, it is
shown that all flat (homogeneous and isotropic) cosmologies correspond to
geodesics in an (N+1)-dimensional `augmented' target space of Lorentzian
signature (1,N), timelike if V>0, null if V=0 and spacelike if V<0.
Accelerating cosmologies correspond to timelike geodesics that lie within an
`acceleration subcone' of the `lightcone'. Non-flat (k=-1,+1) cosmologies are
shown to evolve as projections of geodesic motion in a space of dimension
(N+2), of signature (1,N+1) for k=-1 and signature (2,N) for k=+1. This
formalism is illustrated by cosmological solutions of models with an
exponential potential, which are comprehensively analysed; the late-time
behviour for other potentials of current interest is deduced by comparison.Comment: 26 pages, 2 figures, journal version with additional reference
Multiple first-order metamagnetic transitions and quantum oscillations in ultrapure
We present measurements on ultra clean single crystals of the bilayered
ruthenate metal Sr3Ru2O7, which has a magnetic-field-tuned quantum critical
point. Quantum oscillations of differing frequencies can be seen in the
resistivity both below and above its metamagnetic transition. This frequency
shift corresponds to a small change in the Fermi surface volume that is
qualitatively consistent with the small moment change in the magnetisation
across the metamagnetic transition. Very near the metamagnetic field, unusual
behaviour is seen. There is a strong enhancement of the resistivity in a narrow
field window, with a minimum in the resistivity as a function of temperature
below 1 K that becomes more pronounced as the disorder level decreases. The
region of anomalous behaviour is bounded at low temperatures by two first-order
phase transitions. The implications of the results are discussed. PACS:
68.35.Rh, 71.27.+a, 72.15.-v, 74.70.PqComment: 12 pages 4 figures, submitte
Radiation-dominated area metric cosmology
We provide further crucial support for a refined, area metric structure of
spacetime. Based on the solution of conceptual issues, such as the consistent
coupling of fermions and the covariant identification of radiation fields on
area metric backgrounds, we show that the radiation-dominated epoch of area
metric cosmology is equivalent to that epoch in standard Einstein cosmology.
This ensures, in particular, successful nucleosynthesis. This surprising result
complements the previously derived prediction of a small late-time acceleration
of an area metric universe.Comment: 23 pages, no figures; references adde
Thermal Casimir Force between Magnetic Materials
We investigate the Casimir pressure between two parallel plates made of
magnetic materials at nonzero temperature. It is shown that for real
magnetodielectric materials only the magnetic properties of ferromagnets can
influence the Casimir pressure. This influence is accomplished through the
contribution of the zero-frequency term of the Lifshitz formula. The
possibility of the Casimir repulsion through the vacuum gap is analyzed
depending on the model used for the description of the dielectric properties of
the metal plates.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. Contribution to the Proceedings of QFEXT09,
Norman, OK, September 21-25, 200
Gravity a la Born-Infeld
A simple technique for the construction of gravity theories in Born-Infeld
style is presented, and the properties of some of these novel theories are
investigated. They regularize the positive energy Schwarzschild singularity,
and a large class of models allows for the cancellation of ghosts. The possible
correspondence to low energy string theory is discussed. By including curvature
corrections to all orders in alpha', the new theories nicely illustrate a
mechanism that string theory might use to regularize gravitational
singularities.Comment: 21 pages, 2 figures, new appendix B with corrigendum: Class. Quantum
Grav. 21 (2004) 529
Electron Transport through Disordered Domain Walls: Coherent and Incoherent Regimes
We study electron transport through a domain wall in a ferromagnetic nanowire
subject to spin-dependent scattering. A scattering matrix formalism is
developed to address both coherent and incoherent transport properties. The
coherent case corresponds to elastic scattering by static defects, which is
dominant at low temperatures, while the incoherent case provides a
phenomenological description of the inelastic scattering present in real
physical systems at room temperature. It is found that disorder scattering
increases the amount of spin-mixing of transmitted electrons, reducing the
adiabaticity. This leads, in the incoherent case, to a reduction of conductance
through the domain wall as compared to a uniformly magnetized region which is
similar to the giant magnetoresistance effect. In the coherent case, a
reduction of weak localization, together with a suppression of spin-reversing
scattering amplitudes, leads to an enhancement of conductance due to the domain
wall in the regime of strong disorder. The total effect of a domain wall on the
conductance of a nanowire is studied by incorporating the disordered regions on
either side of the wall. It is found that spin-dependent scattering in these
regions increases the domain wall magnetoconductance as compared to the effect
found by considering only the scattering inside the wall. This increase is most
dramatic in the narrow wall limit, but remains significant for wide walls.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figure
A Note on Acceleration from Product Space Compactification
We study compactifications of Einstein gravity on product spaces in vacuum
and their acceleration phases. Scalar potentials for the dimensionally reduced
effective theory are found to be of exponential form and exact solutions are
obtained for a class of product spaces. The inflation in our solutions is not
sufficient for the early universe. We comment on the possibility of obtaining
sufficient inflation by compactification in general.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, v2: further comments and references added, v3:
typos fixe
- …