Matrix elements of four-quark operators and \Delta L=2 hyperon decays

The study of neutrinoless double beta decays of nuclei and hyperons require the calculation of hadronic matrix elements of local four-quark operators that change the total charge by two units \Delta Q=2 . Using a low energy effective Lagrangian that induces these transitions, we compute these hadronic matrix elements in the framework of the MIT bag model. As an illustrative example we evaluate the amplitude and transition rate of \Sigma- -> p e- e-, a decay process that violates lepton number by two units (\Delta L=2). The relevant matrix element is evaluated without assuming the usual factorization approximation of the four-quark operators and the results obtained in both approaches are compared.Comment: 13 pages, 2 .eps figure

Half-metallic properties of atomic chains of carbon-transition metal compounds

We found that magnetic ground state of one-dimensional atomic chains of carbon-transition metal compounds exhibit half-metallic properties. They are semiconductors for one spin-direction, but show metallic properties for the opposite direction. The spins are fully polarized at the Fermi level and net magnetic moment per unit cell is an integer multiple of Bohr magneton. The spin-dependent electronic structure can be engineered by changing the number of carbon and type of transition metal atoms. These chains, which are stable even at high temperature and some of which keep their spin-dependent electronic properties even under moderate axial strain, hold the promise of potential applications in nanospintronics.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

The electronic specific heat in the pairing pseudogap regime

When pairing correlations in a quasi two dimensional electron system induce a pseudogap in the single particle density of states, the specific heat must also contain a sizeable pair contribution. The theoretically calculated specific heat for such a system is compared to the experimental results of Loram and his collaborators for underdoped YBa_2Cu_3O_{6+x} and La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_4 samples. The size and doping dependence of the extracted pseudogap energy scale for both materials is comparable to the values obtained from a variety of other experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 5 eps figure

ΔL=2\Delta L=2 hyperon semileptonic decays

We compute the rates of semileptonic B_A \to B_Bl^-l^- (l=e or \mu) hyperon transitions in a model where intermediate states involve loops of baryons and a Majorana neutrino. These rates turn out to be well below present experimental bounds and other theoretical estimates. From the experimental upper limit on the \Xi^- \to p\mu^-\mu^- decay, we derive the bound < 22 TeV for the effective Majorana mass of the muon neutrino. Also, an estimate of background contributions for these decays due to the allowed B_A \to B_Bl^-l^-\bar{\nu}\bar{\nu} decays are provided.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

Pi excitation of the t-J model

In this paper, we present analytical and numerical calculations of the pi resonance in the t-J model. We show in detail how the pi resonance in the particle-particle channel couples to and appears in the dynamical spin correlation function in a superconducting state. The contribution of the pi resonance to the spin excitation spectrum can be estimated from general model-independent sum rules, and it agrees with our detailed calculations. The results are in overall agreement with the exact diagonalization studies of the t-J model. Earlier calculations predicted the correct doping dependence of the neutron resonance peak in the YBCO superconductor, and in this paper detailed energy and momentum dependence of the spin correlation function is presented. The microscopic equations of motion obtained within current formalism agree with that of the SO(5) nonlinear sigma model, where the pi resonance is interpreted as a pseudo Goldstone mode of the spontaneous SO(5) symmetry breaking.Comment: 33 pages, LATEX, 14 eps fig

Superconducting Vortex with Antiferromagnetic Core

We show that a superconducting vortex in underdoped high T_c superconductors could have an antiferromagnetic core. This type of vortex configuration arises as a topological solution in the recently constructed SO(5) nonlinear sigma model and in Ginzburg-Landau theory with competing antiferromagnetic and superconducting order parameters. Experimental detection of this type of vortex by \mu SR and neutron scattering is proposed.Comment: revised version; 4 pages, LaTeX, 3 encapsulated postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

A Loosely-Coupled Collaborative Integrated Environmental Modelling Framework

Integration of environmental models requires full support of the modelling community. When a large number of models are integrated, it requires consistency within scale, datasets, and model to model interactions to minimize the uncertainty among the models. The integrated environmental modelling (IEM) framework is a necessary approach to integrate multiple environmental models for a particular study. When modellers cannot afford considerable amount of time to get involved with full and tightly-integrated IEM or an IEM has very short time frame to complete, then a loosely-coupled collaborative IEM environment can provide the benefits of the integrated approach while minimizing the effort of each individual modeller. However, such a framework will require setting rules that all participants must adhere to. These rules address the issues of model inputs and model to model interaction. The framework should also provide value-added functionality to make the IEM framework more transparent and applicable