65 research outputs found
Frequency Shifts and Linewidth Changes of Infrared-Active Phonons in Double-Layered High-Temperature Superconductors
We calculate frequency shifts and changes in linewidths of infrared-active
phonons within a shell model for the bare phononic system coupled to an
electronic double-layer structure with inter-layer charge transfer. The
theoretical concept is applied to YBaCuO yielding a good description of
experimental results in the normal state as well as at the transition to the
superconducting state.Comment: 8 pages, LaTex, SISSA-CM-93-00
Hybridization of electron subbands in a double quantum well at quantizing magnetic field
We employ magnetocapacitance and far-infrared spectroscopy techniques to
study the spectrum of the double-layer electron system in a parabolic quantum
well with a narrow tunnel barrier in the centre. For gate-bias-controlled
asymmetric electron density distributions in this soft two-subband system we
observe both individual subband gaps and double layer gaps at integer filling
factor . The bilayer gaps are shown to be either trivial common for two
subbands or caused by hybridization of electron subbands in magnetic field. We
describe the observed hybrid gaps at and within a simple model
for the modified bilayer spectrum.Comment: REVTeX, 24 pages, 9 figures included. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Canted antiferromagnetic phase in a double quantum well in a tilted quantizing magnetic field
We investigate the double-layer electron system in a parabolic quantum well
at filling factor in a tilted magnetic field using capacitance
spectroscopy. The competition between two ground states is found at the Zeeman
splitting appreciably smaller than the symmetric-antisymmetric splitting.
Although at the transition point the system breaks up into domains of the two
competing states, the activation energy turns out to be finite, signaling the
occurrence of a new insulator-insulator quantum phase transition. We interpret
the obtained results in terms of a predicted canted antiferromagnetic phase.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures included, accepted to PR
Collective modes in the electronic polarization of double-layer systems in the superconducting state
Standard weak coupling methods are used to study collective modes in the
superconducting state of a double-layer system with intralayer and interlayer
interaction, as well as a Josephson-type coupling and single particle hopping
between the layers by calculating the electronic polarization function
perpendicular to the layers. New analytical results are derived for the mode
frequencies corresponding to fluctuations of the relative phase and amplitude
of the layer order parameters in the case of interlayer pairing and finite
hopping . A new effect is found for finite -dependent hopping: then the
amplitude and phase fluctuations are coupled. Therefore two collective modes
may appear in the dynamical c-axis conductivity below the threshold energy for
breaking Cooper pairs. With help of numerical calculations we investigate the
temperature dependence of the collective modes and show how a plasmon
corresponding to charge fluctuations between the layers evolves in the normal
state.Comment: 17 pages, latex, 8 ps figure
Opening an energy gap in an electron double layer system at integer filling factor in a tilted magnetic field
We employ magnetocapacitance measurements to study the spectrum of a double
layer system with gate-voltage-tuned electron density distributions in tilted
magnetic fields. For the dissipative state in normal magnetic fields at filling
factor and 4, a parallel magnetic field component is found to give rise
to opening a gap at the Fermi level. We account for the effect in terms of
parallel-field-caused orthogonality breaking of the Landau wave functions with
different quantum numbers for two subbands.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures included, to appear in JETP Letter
Magnetic-Field-Induced Hybridization of Electron Subbands in a Coupled Double Quantum Well
We employ a magnetocapacitance technique to study the spectrum of the soft
two-subband (or double-layer) electron system in a parabolic quantum well with
a narrow tunnel barrier in the centre. In this system unbalanced by gate
depletion, at temperatures T\agt 30 mK we observe two sets of quantum
oscillations: one originates from the upper electron subband in the
closer-to-the-gate part of the well and the other indicates the existence of
common gaps in the spectrum at integer fillings. For the lowest filling factors
and , both the common gap presence down to the point of one- to
two-subband transition and their non-trivial magnetic field dependences point
to magnetic-field-induced hybridization of electron subbands.Comment: Major changes, added one more figure, the latest version to be
published in JETP Let
Correlation between the Josephson coupling energy and the condensation energy in bilayer cuprate superconductors
We review some previous studies concerning the intra-bilayer Josephson
plasmons and present new ellipsometric data of the c-axis infrared response of
almost optimally doped Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8}. The c-axis conductivity of
this compound exhibits the same kind of anomalies as that of underdoped
YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-delta}. We analyze these anomalies in detail and show that
they can be explained within a model involving the intra-bilayer Josephson
effect and variations of the electric field inside the unit cell. The Josephson
coupling energies of different bilayer compounds obtained from the optical data
are compared with the condensation energies and it is shown that there is a
reasonable agreement between the values of the two quantities. We argue that
the Josephson coupling energy, as determined by the frequency of the
intra-bilayer Josephson plasmon, represents a reasonable estimate of the change
of the effective c-axis kinetic energy upon entering the superconducting state.
It is further explained that this is not the case for the estimate based on the
use of the simplest ``tight-binding'' sum rule. We discuss possible
interpretations of the remarkable agreement between the Josephson coupling
energies and the condensation energies. The most plausible interpretation is
that the interlayer tunneling of the Cooper pairs provides the dominant
contribution to the condensation energy of the bilayer compounds; in other
words that the condensation energy of these compounds can be accounted for by
the interlayer tunneling theory. We suggest an extension of this theory, which
may also explain the high values of T_{c} in the single layer compounds
Tl_{2}Ba_{2}CuO_{6} and HgBa_{2}CuO_{4}, and we make several experimentally
verifiable predictions.Comment: 16 pages (including Tables) and 7 figures; accepted for publication
in Physical Review
When public action undermines public health: A critical examination of antifluoridationist literature
Background: The addition of the chemical fluorine to the water supply, called water fluoridation, reduces dental caries by making teeth more resistant to demineralisation and more likely to remineralise when initially decayed. This process has been implemented in more than 30 countries around the world, is cost-effective and has been shown to be efficacious in preventing decay across a person's lifespan. However, attempts to expand this major public health achievement in line with Australia's National Oral Health Plan 2004–2013 are almost universally met with considerable resistance from opponents of water fluoridation, who engage in coordinated campaigns to portray water fluoridation as ineffective and highly dangerous. Discussion: Water fluoridation opponents employ multiple techniques to try and undermine the scientifically established effectiveness of water fluoridation. The materials they use are often based on Internet resources or published books that present a highly misleading picture of water fluoridation. These materials are used to sway public and political opinion to the detriment of public health. Despite an extensive body of literature, both studies and results within studies are often selectively reported, giving a biased portrayal of water fluoridation effectiveness. Positive findings are downplayed or trivialised and the population implications of these findings misinterpreted. Ecological comparisons are sometimes used to support spurious conclusions. Opponents of water fluoridation frequently repeat that water fluoridation is associated with adverse health effects and studies are selectively picked from the extensive literature to convey only claimed adverse findings related to water fluoridation. Techniques such as "the big lie" and innuendo are used to associate water fluoridation with health and environmental disasters, without factual support. Half-truths are presented, fallacious statements reiterated, and attempts are made to bamboozle the public with a large list of claims and quotes often with little scientific basis. Ultimately, attempts are made to discredit and slander scientists and various health organisations that support water fluoridation. Summary: Water fluoridation is an important public health initiative that has been found to be safe and effective. Nonetheless, the implementation of water fluoridation is still regularly interrupted by a relatively small group of individuals who use misinformation and rhetoric to induce doubts in the minds of the public and government officials. It is important that public health officials are aware of these tactics so that they can better counter their negative effectJason M Armfiel
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