1,792 research outputs found
Tuning of heat and charge transport by Majorana fermions
We investigate theoretically thermal and electrical conductances for the
system consisting of a quantum dot (QD) connected both to a pair of Majorana
fermions residing the edges of a Kitaev wire and two metallic leads. We
demonstrate that both quantities reveal pronounced resonances, whose positions
can be controlled by tuning of an asymmetry of the couplings of the QD and a
pair of MFs. Similar behavior is revealed for the thermopower, Wiedemann-Franz
law and dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit. The considered geometry
can thus be used as a tuner of heat and charge transport assisted by MFs
Non-Zeeman splitting for a spin-resolved STM with a Kondo adatom in a spin-polarized two-dimensional electron gas
We theoretically investigate the spin-resolved local density of states
(SR-LDOS) of a spin-polarized two-dimensional electron gas in the presence of a
Kondo adatom and a STM probe. Using Green function formalism and the atomic
approach in the limit of infinite Coulomb correlation, it is found an
analytical SR-LDOS expression in the low temperature regime of the system. This
formal result is given in terms of phase shifts originated by the adatom
scattering and Fano interference. The SR-LDOS is investigated as a function of
the probe position and different Fano factors. Our findings provide an
alternative way to spin-split the Kondo resonance without the use of huge
magnetic fields, typically necessary in adatom systems characterized by large
Kondo temperatures. We observe a non-Zeeman spin-splitting of the Kondo
resonance in the total LDOS, with one spin-component pinned around the host
Fermi level. Interestingly, this result is in accordance to recent experimental
data reported in Phys. Rev. B 82, 020406(R) (2010).Comment: Final versio
PASTIS: Bayesian extrasolar planet validation II. Constraining exoplanet blend scenarios using spectroscopic diagnoses
The statistical validation of transiting exoplanets proved to be an efficient
technique to secure the nature of small exoplanet signals which cannot be
established by purely spectroscopic means. However, the spectroscopic diagnoses
are providing us with useful constraints on the presence of blended stellar
contaminants. In this paper, we present how a contaminating star affects the
measurements of the various spectroscopic diagnoses as function of the
parameters of the target and contaminating stars using the model implemented
into the PASTIS planet-validation software. We find particular cases for which
a blend might produce a large radial velocity signal but no bisector variation.
It might also produce a bisector variation anti-correlated with the radial
velocity one, as in the case of stellar spots. In those cases, the full width
half maximum variation provides complementary constraints. These results can be
used to constrain blend scenarios for transiting planet candidates or radial
velocity planets. We review all the spectroscopic diagnoses reported in the
literature so far, especially the ones to monitor the line asymmetry. We
estimate their uncertainty and compare their sensitivity to blends. Based on
that, we recommend the use of BiGauss which is the most sensitive diagnosis to
monitor line-profile asymmetry. In this paper, we also investigate the
sensitivity of the radial velocities to constrain blend scenarios and develop a
formalism to estimate the level of dilution of a blended signal. Finally, we
apply our blend model to re-analyse the spectroscopic diagnoses of HD16702, an
unresolved face-on binary which exhibits bisector variations.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
The HARPS search for southern extrasolar planets XXV. Results from the metal-poor sample
Searching for extrasolar planets around stars of different metallicity may
provide strong constraints to the models of planet formation and evolution. In
this paper we present the overall results of a HARPS (a high-precision
spectrograph mostly dedicated to deriving precise radial velocities) program to
search for planets orbiting a sample of 104 metal-poor stars (selected [Fe/H]
below -0.5). Radial velocity time series of each star are presented and
searched for signals using several statistical diagnostics. Stars with detected
signals are presented, including 3 attributed to the presence of previously
announced giant planets orbiting the stars HD171028, HD181720, and HD190984.
Several binary stars and at least one case of a coherent signal caused by
activity-related phenomena are presented. One very promising new, possible
giant planet orbiting the star HD107094 is discussed, and the results are
analyzed in light of the metallicity-giant planet correlation. We conclude that
the frequency of giant planets orbiting metal-poor stars may be higher than
previously thought, probably reflecting the higher precision of the HARPS
survey. In the metallicity domain of our sample, we also find evidence that the
frequency of planets is a steeply rising function of the stellar metal content,
as found for higher metallicity stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Dimensionality effects in the LDOS of ferromagnetic hosts probed via STM: spin-polarized quantum beats and spin filtering
We theoretically investigate the local density of states (LDOS) probed by a
STM tip of ferromagnetic metals hosting a single adatom and a subsurface
impurity. We model the system via the two-impurity Anderson Hamiltonian. By
using the equation of motion with the relevant Green functions, we derive
analytical expressions for the LDOS of two host types: a surface and a quantum
wire. The LDOS reveals Friedel-like oscillations and Fano interference as a
function of the STM tip position. These oscillations strongly depend on the
host dimension. Interestingly, we find that the spin-dependent Fermi wave
numbers of the hosts give rise to spin-polarized quantum beats in the LDOS.
While the LDOS for the metallic surface shows a damped beating pattern, it
exhibits an opposite behavior in the quantum wire. Due to this absence of
damping, the wire operates as a spatially resolved spin filter with a high
efficiency.Comment: revised tex
GORLIN-GOLTZ SYNDROME: A CASE REPORT
Introdução: O Síndrome de Gorlin-Goltz é uma condição hereditária autossómica dominante rara caracterizada por: carcinomas basocelulares, queratoquistos odontogénicos, depressões palmo-plantares, calcificações da foice cerebral e malformações esqueléticas. Associa-se também a meduloblastoma e outras neoplasias.
Caso Clínico: Adolescente de 11 anos, com antecedentes de macrocefalia. Referenciada à consulta de estomatologia por quistos mandibulares recidivantes. O exame anátomo-patológico revelou tratarem-se de queratoquistos odontogénicos, pelo que é encaminhada para a consulta de pediatria. Objetivamente,
apresentava macrocefalia e facies “gros seiro” com bossas frontais e hipertelorismo. Efetuou estudo genético, que detetou mutação do gene PTCH1, confirmando a suspeita clínica.
Discussão: Os queratoquistos odontogénicos são o achado mais representativo do síndrome de Gorlin-Goltz nas duas primeiras décadas de vida, sendo de extrema importância um elevado índice de suspeição por parte do pediatra, com especial relevância para as alterações minor. Após o estabelecimento do
diagnóstico, é necessária uma equipa multidisciplinar para um adequado seguimento e tratamento atempado.Introduction: The Gorlin-Goltz syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant inherited condition characterized by: basal cell carcinomas, odontogenic keratocysts, palmar or plantar pits, calcification of the falx cerebri and skeletal malformations. Medulloblastoma and other tumors are also associated with it.
Case report: An 11-year-old female, with a history of macrocephaly, was referred to the Stomatology Department for recurrent mandibular cyst. Histopathological exam revealed odontogenic keratocysts, so the patient was referred to the Pediatric Department. Physical examination revealed macrocephaly and
coarse face, with frontal bossing and hy pertelorism. The genetic study performed detected a mutation in PTCH1 gene, confirming the clinical suspicion.
Discussion: Odontogenic keratocysts are the most representative finding in Gorlin-Goltz Syndrome in the first two decades of life, therefore a high suspicion level is mandatory among pediatricians concerning detection of minor changes. After the diagnosis, a multidisciplinary team is required for adequate follow-up and timely treatment
Time evolution of non-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems
We provide time-evolution operators, gauge transformations and a perturbative
treatment for non-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems, which are explicitly
time-dependent. We determine various new equivalence pairs for Hermitian and
non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, which are therefore pseudo-Hermitian and in
addition in some cases also invariant under PT-symmetry. In particular, for the
harmonic oscillator perturbed by a cubic non-Hermitian term, we evaluate
explicitly various transition amplitudes, for the situation when these systems
are exposed to a monochromatic linearly polarized electric field.Comment: 25 pages Latex, 1 eps figure, references adde
Constraining planet structure from stellar chemistry: the cases of CoRoT-7, Kepler-10, and Kepler-93
We explore the possibility that the stellar relative abundances of different
species can be used to constrain the bulk abundances of known transiting rocky
planets. We use high resolution spectra to derive stellar parameters and
chemical abundances for Fe, Si, Mg, O, and C in three stars hosting low mass,
rocky planets: CoRoT-7, Kepler-10, and Kepler-93. These planets follow the same
line along the mass-radius diagram, pointing toward a similar composition. The
derived abundance ratios are compared with the solar values. With a simple
stoichiometric model, we estimate the iron mass fraction in each planet,
assuming stellar composition. We show that in all cases, the iron mass fraction
inferred from the mass-radius relationship seems to be in good agreement with
the iron abundance derived from the host star's photospheric composition. The
results suggest that stellar abundances can be used to add constraints on the
composition of orbiting rocky planets.Comment: A&A Letters, in pres
The RoPES project with HARPS and HARPS-N. I. A system of super-Earths orbiting the moderately active K-dwarf HD 176986
We report the discovery of a system of two super-Earths orbiting the
moderately active K-dwarf HD 176986. This work is part of the RoPES RV program
of G- and K-type stars, which combines radial velocities (RVs) from the HARPS
and HARPS-N spectrographs to search for short-period terrestrial planets. HD
176986 b and c are super-Earth planets with masses of 5.74 and 9.18
M, orbital periods of 6.49 and 16.82 days, and distances of 0.063
and 0.119 AU in orbits that are consistent with circular. The host star is a
K2.5 dwarf, and despite its modest level of chromospheric activity (log(R'hk) =
- 4.90 +- 0.04), it shows a complex activity pattern. Along with the discovery
of the planets, we study the magnetic cycle and rotation of the star. HD 176986
proves to be suitable for testing the available RV analysis technique and
further our understanding of stellar activity.Comment: 21 pages, 24 figures, 7 table
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