Mott transition and dimerization in the one-dimensional SU(n)(n) Hubbard model

The one-dimensional SU$(n)$ Hubbard model is investigated numerically for $n=2,3,4$, and 5 at half filling and $1/n$ filling using the density-matrix renormalization-group (DMRG) method. The energy gaps and various quantum information entropies are calculated. In the half-filled case, finite spin and charge gaps are found for arbitrary positive $U$ if $n > 2$. Furthermore, it is shown that the transition to the gapped phase at $U_{\rm c}=0$ is of Kosterlitz-Thouless type and is accompanied by a bond dimerization both for even and odd $n$. In the $1/n$-filled case, the transition has similar features as the metal-insulator transition in the half-filled SU(2) Hubbard model. The charge gap opens exponentially slowly for $U>U_{\rm c}=0$, the spin sector remains gapless, and the ground state is non-dimerized.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figure

SU(N) quantum spin models: A variational wavefunction study

The study of SU(N) quantum spin models is relevant to a variety of physical systems including ultracold atoms in optical lattices, and also leads to insights into novel quantum phases and phase transitions of SU(2) spin models. We use Gutzwiller projected fermionic variational wavefunctions to explore the phase diagram and correlation functions of SU(N) spin models in the self-conjugate representation, with Heisenberg bilinear and biquadratic interactions. In 1D, the variational phase diagram of the SU(4) spin chain is constructed by examining instabilities of the Gutzwiller projected free fermion ground state to various broken symmetries, and it agrees well with exact results.The spin and dimer correlations of the Gutzwiller projected free fermion state with N flavors of fermions are also in good agreement with exact and 1/N calculations for the critical points of SU(N) spin chains. In 2D, the variational phase diagram on the square lattice is obtained by studying instabilities of the Gutzwiller projected pi-flux state. The variational ground state of the pure Heisenberg model is found to exhibit long range Neel order for N=2,4 and spin Peierls order for N > 4. For N=4 and 6, biquadratic interactions lead to a complex phase diagram which includes an extended valence bond crystal in both cases, as well as a stable pi-flux phase for N=6. The spin correlations of the projected pi-flux state at N=4 are in good agreement with 1/N calculations. We find that this state also shows strongly enhanced dimer correlations, in qualitative accord with the large-N results. We compare our results with a recent QMC study of the SU(4) Heisenberg model.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figs, added references to arxiv versio

Insulating charge density wave for a half-filled SU(N) Hubbard model with an attractive on-site interaction in one dimension

We study a one-dimensional SU(N) Hubbard model with an attractive on-site interaction and $N>2$ at half-filling on the bipartite lattice using density-matrix renormalization-group method and a perturbation theory. We find that the ground state of the SU(N) Hubbard model is a charge density wave state with two-fold degeneracy. All the excitations are found to be gapful, resulting in an insulating ground state, on contrary to that in the SU(2) case. Moreover, the charge gap is equal to the Cooperon gap, which behaves as $-2Nt^2/(N-1)U$ in the strong coupling regime. However, the spin gap $\Delta_{s}$ and the quasiparticle gap $\Delta_{1}$ as well open exponentially in the weak coupling region, while in the strong coupling region, they linearly depend on $U$ such that $\Delta_{s}\sim -U(N-1)$ and $\Delta_{1}\sim -U(N-1)/2$.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Quantum Non-Demolition Detection of Strongly Correlated Systems

Preparation, manipulation, and detection of strongly correlated states of quantum many body systems are among the most important goals and challenges of modern physics. Ultracold atoms offer an unprecedented playground for realization of these goals. Here we show how strongly correlated states of ultracold atoms can be detected in a quantum non-demolition scheme, that is, in the fundamentally least destructive way permitted by quantum mechanics. In our method, spatially resolved components of atomic spins couple to quantum polarization degrees of freedom of light. In this way quantum correlations of matter are faithfully mapped on those of light; the latter can then be efficiently measured using homodyne detection. We illustrate the power of such spatially resolved quantum noise limited polarization measurement by applying it to detect various standard and "exotic" types of antiferromagnetic order in lattice systems and by indicating the feasibility of detection of superfluid order in Fermi liquids.Comment: Published versio

Duality approach to one-dimensional degenerate electronic systems

We investigate the possible classification of zero-temperature spin-gapped phases of multicomponent electronic systems in one spatial dimension. At the heart of our analysis is the existence of non-perturbative duality symmetries which emerge within a low-energy description. These dualities fall into a finite number of classes that can be listed and depend only on the algebraic properties of the symmetries of the system: its physical symmetry group and the maximal continuous symmetry group of the interaction. We further characterize possible competing orders associated to the dualities and discuss the nature of the quantum phase transitions between them. Finally, as an illustration, the duality approach is applied to the description of the phases of two-leg electronic ladders for incommensurate filling.Comment: 53 pages, 3 figures, published versio

Random Convex Hulls and Extreme Value Statistics

In this paper we study the statistical properties of convex hulls of $N$ random points in a plane chosen according to a given distribution. The points may be chosen independently or they may be correlated. After a non-exhaustive survey of the somewhat sporadic literature and diverse methods used in the random convex hull problem, we present a unifying approach, based on the notion of support function of a closed curve and the associated Cauchy's formulae, that allows us to compute exactly the mean perimeter and the mean area enclosed by the convex polygon both in case of independent as well as correlated points. Our method demonstrates a beautiful link between the random convex hull problem and the subject of extreme value statistics. As an example of correlated points, we study here in detail the case when the points represent the vertices of $n$ independent random walks. In the continuum time limit this reduces to $n$ independent planar Brownian trajectories for which we compute exactly, for all $n$, the mean perimeter and the mean area of their global convex hull. Our results have relevant applications in ecology in estimating the home range of a herd of animals. Some of these results were announced recently in a short communication [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 103}, 140602 (2009)].Comment: 61 pages (pedagogical review); invited contribution to the special issue of J. Stat. Phys. celebrating the 50 years of Yeshiba/Rutgers meeting

Chaperone use during intimate examinations in primary care: postal survey of family physicians

BACKGROUND: Physicians have long been advised to have a third party present during certain parts of a physical examination; however, little is known about the frequency of chaperone use for those specific intimate examinations regularly performed in primary care. We aimed to determine the frequency of chaperone use among family physicians across a variety of intimate physical examinations for both male and female patients, and also to identify the factors associated with chaperone use. METHODS: Questionnaires were mailed to a randomly selected sample of 500 Ontario members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Participants were asked about their use of chaperones when performing a variety of intimate examinations, namely female pelvic, breast, and rectal exams and male genital and rectal exams. RESULTS: 276 of 500 were returned (56%), of which 257 were useable. Chaperones were more commonly used with female patients than with males (t = 9.09 [df = 249], p < 0.001), with the female pelvic exam being the most likely of the five exams to be attended by a chaperone (53%). As well, male physicians were more likely to use chaperones for examination of female patients than were female physicians for the examination of male patients. Logistic regression analyses identified two independent factors – sex of physician and availability of a nurse – that were significantly associated with chaperone use. For female pelvic exam, male physicians were significantly more likely to report using a chaperone (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR] 40.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 16.91–97.52). Likewise, having a nurse available also significantly increased the likelihood of a chaperone being used (adjusted OR 6.92, 95% CI 2.74–17.46). This pattern of results was consistent across the other four exams. Approximately two-thirds of respondents reported using nurses as chaperones, 15% cited the use of other office staff, and 10% relied on the presence of a family member. CONCLUSION: Clinical practice concerning the use of chaperones during intimate exams continues to be discordant with the recommendations of medical associations and medico-legal societies. Chaperones are used by only a minority of Ontario family physicians. Chaperone use is higher for examinations of female patients than of male patients and is highest for female pelvic exams. The availability of a nurse in the clinic to act as a chaperone is associated with more frequent use of chaperones

Hereditary renal adysplasia, pulmonary hypoplasia and Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hereditary renal adysplasia is an autosomal dominant trait with incomplete penetrance and variable expression that is usually associated with malformative combinations (including Müllerian anomalies) affecting different mesodermal organs such as the heart, lung, and urogenital system.</p> <p>Case report</p> <p>A case showing pulmonary hypoplasia, hip dysplasia, hereditary renal adysplasia, and Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome in adulthood is reported here. The i.v. pyelography showed right renal agenesis with a normal left kidney and ureter. Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging also showed right renal agenesis with multicystic embryonary remnants in the right hemipelvis probably corresponding to a dysgenetic kidney. An uretrocystoscopy showed absence of ectopic ureter and of the right hemitrigone. She was scheduled for a diagnostic laparoscopy and creation of a neovagina according to the McIndoe technique with a prosthesis and skin graft. Laparoscopy confirmed the absence of the uterus. On both sides, an elongated, solid, rudimentary uterine horn could be observed. Both ovaries were also elongated, located high in both abdominal flanks and somewhat dysgenetics. A conventional cytogenetic study revealed a normal female karyotype 46, XX at a level of 550 GTG bands. A CGH analysis was performed using a 244K oligoarray CGH detecting 11 copy number variants described as normal variants in the databases. The 17q12 and 22q11.21 microdeletions described in other MRKH patients were not present in this case. Four years after operation her evolution is normal, without symptoms and the neovagina is adequately functional. The geneticists have studied her family history and the pedigree of the family is shown.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We suggest that primary damage to the mesoderm (paraaxil, intermediate, and lateral) caused by mutations in a yet unidentified gene is responsible for: 1) skeletal dysplasia, 2) inappropriate interactions between the bronchial mesoderm and endodermal lung bud as well as between the blastema metanephric and ureteric bud, and eventually 3) Müllerian anomalies (peritoneal mesothelium) at the same level. These anomalies would be transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity.</p

Association of CLEC16A with human common variable immunodeficiency disorder and role in murine B cells

Common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID) is the most common symptomatic primary immunodeficiency in adults, characterized by B-cell abnormalities and inadequate antibody response. CVID patients have considerable autoimmune comorbidity and we therefore hypothesized that genetic susceptibility to CVID may overlap with autoimmune disorders. Here, in the largest genetic study performed in CVID to date, we compare 778 CVID cases with 10, 999 controls across 123, 127 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the Immunochip. We identify the first non-HLA genome-wide significant risk locus at CLEC16A (rs17806056, P = 2.0 x 10(-9)) and confirm the previously reported human leukocyte antigen (HLA) associations on chromosome 6p21 (rs1049225, P = 4.8 x 10(-16)). Clec16a knockdown (KD) mice showed reduced number of B cells and elevated IgM levels compared with controls, suggesting that CLEC16A may be involved in immune regulatory pathways of relevance to CVID. In conclusion, the CLEC16A associations in CVID represent the first robust evidence of non-HLA associations in this immunodeficiency condition