10,022 research outputs found
Topological properties of the bond-modulated honeycomb lattice
We study the combined effects of lattice deformation, e-e interaction and
spin-orbit coupling in a two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb lattice. We adopt
different kinds of hopping modulation--generalized dimerization and a Kekule
distortion--and calculate topological invariants for the non-interacting system
and for the interacting system. We identify the parameter range (Hubbard U,
hopping modulation, spin-orbit coupling) where the 2D system behaves as a
trivial insulator or Quantum Spin Hall Insulator.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures: discussion improved, typos corrected, references
updated. Matches version published in PR
Topological invariants in interacting Quantum Spin Hall: a Cluster Perturbation Theory approach
Using Cluster Perturbation Theory we calculate Green's functions,
quasi-particle energies and topological invariants for interacting electrons on
a 2-D honeycomb lattice, with intrinsic spin-orbit coupling and on-site e-e
interaction. This allows to define the parameter range (Hubbard U vs spin-orbit
coupling) where the 2D system behaves as a trivial insulator or Quantum Spin
Hall insulator. This behavior is confirmed by the existence of gapless
quasi-particle states in honeycomb ribbons. We have discussed the importance of
the cluster symmetry and the effects of the lack of full translation symmetry
typical of CPT and of most Quantum Cluster approaches. Comments on the limits
of applicability of the method are also provided.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures: discussion improved, one figure added, references
updated. Matches version published in New J. Phy
High-energy neutrinos from FR0 radio-galaxies?
The sources responsible for the emission of high-energy ( 100 TeV)
neutrinos detected by IceCube are still unknown. Among the possible candidates,
active galactic nuclei with relativistic jets are often examined, since the
outflowing plasma seems to offer the ideal environment to accelerate the
required parent high-energy cosmic rays. The non-detection of single point
sources or -- almost equivalently -- the absence, in the IceCube events, of
multiplets originating from the same sky position, constrains the cosmic
density and the neutrino output of these sources, pointing to a numerous
population of faint sources. Here we explore the possibility that FR0
radiogalaxies, the population of compact sources recently identified in large
radio and optical surveys and representing the bulk of radio-loud AGN
population, can represent suitable candidates for neutrino emission. Modeling
the spectral energy distribution of a FR0 radiogalaxy recently associated to a
-ray source detected by the Large Area Telescope onboard Fermi, we
derive the physical parameters of its jet, in particular the power carried by
it. We consider the possible mechanisms of neutrino production, concluding that
reactions in the jet between protons and ambient radiation is too
inefficient to sustain the required output. We propose an alternative scenario,
in which protons, accelerated in the jet, escape from it and diffuse in the
host galaxy, producing neutrinos as a result of scattering with the
interstellar gas, in strict analogy with the processes taking place in
star-forming galaxies.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Vortex solutions of the Lifshitz-Chern-Simons theory
We study vortex-like solutions to the Lifshitz-Chern-Simons theory. We find
that such solutions exists and have a logarithmically divergent energy, which
suggests that a Kostelitz-Thouless transition may occur, in which
voxtex-antivortex pairs are created above a critical temperature. Following a
suggestion made by Callan and Wilzcek for the global U(1) scalar field model,
we study vortex solutions of the Lifshitz-Chern-Simons model formulated on the
hyperbolic plane, finding that, as expected, the resulting configurations have
finite energy. For completeness, we also explore Lifshitz-Chern-Simons vortex
solutions on the sphere.Comment: Published version, added appendix on electromagnetic duality in
Lifshitz system
Noncommutative Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory, duality and a new noncommutative Chern-Simons theory in d=3
Noncommutative Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory in 3-dimensions is defined in
terms of star product and noncommutative fields. Seiberg-Witten map is employed
to write it in terms of ordinary fields. A parent action is introduced and the
dual action is derived. For spatial noncommutativity it is studied up to second
order in the noncommutativity parameter \theta. A new noncommutative
Chern-Simons action is defined in terms of ordinary fields, inspired by the
dual action. Moreover, a transformation between noncommuting and ordinary
fields is proposed.Comment: 7 pages. Some comments, new eqs. and references added. The version to
be published in Phys. Lett.
Radiative cooling, heating and thermal conduction in M87
The crisis of the standard cooling flow model brought about by Chandra and
XMM-Newton observations of galaxy clusters, has led to the development of
several models which explore different heating processes in order to assess if
they can quench the cooling flow. Among the most appealing mechanisms are
thermal conduction and heating through buoyant gas deposited in the ICM by
AGNs. We combine Virgo/M87 observations of three satellites (Chandra,
XMM-Newton and Beppo-SAX) to inspect the dynamics of the ICM in the center of
the cluster. Using the spectral deprojection technique, we derive the physical
quantities describing the ICM and determine the extra-heating needed to balance
the cooling flow assuming that thermal conduction operates at a fixed fraction
of the Spitzer value. We assume that the extra-heating is due to buoyant gas
and we fit the data using the model developed by Ruszkowski and Begelman
(2002). We derive a scale radius for the model of kpc, which is
comparable with the M87 AGN jet extension, and a required luminosity of the AGN
of a erg s, which is comparable to the observed AGN
luminosity. We discuss a scenario where the buoyant bubbles are filled of
relativistic particles and magnetic field responsible for the radio emission in
M87. The AGN is supposed to be intermittent and to inject populations of
buoyant bubbles through a succession of outbursts. We also study the X-ray cool
component detected in the radio lobes and suggest that it is structured in
blobs which are tied to the radio buoyant bubbles.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures and 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap
Time-dependent Circulation Flows: Iron Enrichment in Cooling Flows with Heated Return Flows
We describe a new type of dynamical model for hot gas in galaxy groups and
clusters in which gas moves simultaneously in both radial directions.
Circulation flows are consistent with (1) the failure to observe cooling gas in
X-ray spectra, (2) multiphase gas observed near the centers of these flows and
(3) the accumulation of iron in the hot gas from Type Ia supernovae in the
central galaxy. Dense inflowing gas cools, producing a positive central
temperature gradient, as in normal cooling flows. Bubbles of hot, buoyant gas
flow outward. Circulation flows eventually cool catastrophically if the outward
flowing gas transports mass but no heat; to maintain the circulation both mass
and energy must be supplied to the inflowing gas over a large volume, extending
to the cooling radius. The rapid radial recirculation of gas produces a flat
central core in the gas iron abundance, similar to many observations. We
believe the circulation flows described here are the first gasdynamic,
long-term evolutionary models that are in good agreement with all essential
features observed in the hot gas: little or no gas cools as required by XMM
spectra, the gas temperature increases outward near the center, and the gaseous
iron abundance is about solar near the center and decreases outward.Comment: 17 pages (emulateapj5) with 6 figures; accepted by The Astrophysical
Journa
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