Resonant transmission through an open quantum dot

We have measured the low-temperature transport properties of a quantum dot formed in a one-dimensional channel. In zero magnetic field this device shows quantized ballistic conductance plateaus with resonant tunneling peaks in each transition region between plateaus. Studies of this structure as a function of applied perpendicular magnetic field and source-drain bias indicate that resonant structure deriving from tightly bound states is split by Coulomb charging at zero magnetic field.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev. B (1997). 8 LaTex pages with 5 figure

Dark energy and dark matter from an inhomogeneous dilaton

A cosmological scenario is proposed where the dark matter (DM) and dark energy (DE) of the universe are two simultaneous manifestations of an inhomogenous dilaton. The equation of state of the field is scale-dependent and pressureless at galactic and larger scales and it has negative pressure as a DE at very large scales. The dilaton drives an inflationary phase followed by a kinetic energy-dominated one, as in the "quintessential inflation" model introduced by Peebles & Vilenkin, and soon after the end of inflation particle production seeds the first inhomogeneities that lead to galaxy formation. The dilaton is trapped near the minimum of the potential where it oscillates like a massive field, and the excess of kinetic energy is dissipated via the mechanism of "gravitational cooling" first introduced by Seidel & Suen. The inhomogeneities therefore behave like solitonic oscillations around the minimum of the potential, known as "oscillatons", that we propose account for most DM in galaxies. Those regions where the dilaton does not transform enough kinetic energy into reheating or carry an excess of it from regions that have cooled, evolve to the tail of the potential as DE, driving the acceleration of the universe.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, uses revtex, submitted PR

Keldysh Green's function approach to coherence in a non-equilibrium steady state: connecting Bose-Einstein condensation and lasing

Solid state quantum condensates often differ from previous examples of condensates (such as Helium, ultra-cold atomic gases, and superconductors) in that the quasiparticles condensing have relatively short lifetimes, and so as for lasers, external pumping is required to maintain a steady state. On the other hand, compared to lasers, the quasiparticles are generally more strongly interacting, and therefore better able to thermalise. This leads to questions of how to describe such non-equilibrium condensates, and their relation to equilibrium condensates and lasers. This chapter discusses in detail how the non-equilibrium Green's function approach can be applied to the description of such a non-equilibrium condensate, in particular, a system of microcavity polaritons, driven out of equilibrium by coupling to multiple baths. By considering the steady states, and fluctuations about them, it is possible to provide a description that relates both to equilibrium condensation and to lasing, while at the same time, making clear the differences from simple lasers

Non Linear Current Response of a Many-Level Tunneling System: Higher Harmonics Generation

The fully nonlinear response of a many-level tunneling system to a strong alternating field of high frequency $\omega$ is studied in terms of the Schwinger-Keldysh nonequilibrium Green functions. The nonlinear time dependent tunneling current $I(t)$ is calculated exactly and its resonance structure is elucidated. In particular, it is shown that under certain reasonable conditions on the physical parameters, the Fourier component $I_{n}$ is sharply peaked at $n=\frac {\Delta E} {\hbar \omega}$, where $\Delta E$ is the spacing between two levels. This frequency multiplication results from the highly nonlinear process of $n$ photon absorption (or emission) by the tunneling system. It is also conjectured that this effect (which so far is studied mainly in the context of nonlinear optics) might be experimentally feasible.Comment: 28 pages, LaTex, 7 figures are available upon request from [email protected], submitted to Phys.Rev.

Measurement of the partial widths of the Z into up- and down-type quarks

Using the entire OPAL LEP1 on-peak Z hadronic decay sample, Z -> qbarq gamma decays were selected by tagging hadronic final states with isolated photon candidates in the electromagnetic calorimeter. Combining the measured rates of Z -> qbarq gamma decays with the total rate of hadronic Z decays permits the simultaneous determination of the widths of the Z into up- and down-type quarks. The values obtained, with total errors, were Gamma u = 300 ^{+19}_{-18} MeV and Gamma d = 381 ^{+12}_{-12} MeV. The results are in good agreement with the Standard Model expectation.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures, Submitted to Phys. Letts.

Search for R-Parity Violating Decays of Scalar Fermions at LEP

A search for pair-produced scalar fermions under the assumption that R-parity is not conserved has been performed using data collected with the OPAL detector at LEP. The data samples analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 610 pb-1 collected at centre-of-mass energies of sqrt(s) 189-209 GeV. An important consequence of R-parity violation is that the lightest supersymmetric particle is expected to be unstable. Searches of R-parity violating decays of charged sleptons, sneutrinos and squarks have been performed under the assumptions that the lightest supersymmetric particle decays promptly and that only one of the R-parity violating couplings is dominant for each of the decay modes considered. Such processes would yield final states consisting of leptons, jets, or both with or without missing energy. No significant single-like excess of events has been observed with respect to the Standard Model expectations. Limits on the production cross- section of scalar fermions in R-parity violating scenarios are obtained. Constraints on the supersymmetric particle masses are also presented in an R-parity violating framework analogous to the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.Comment: 51 pages, 24 figures, Submitted to Eur. Phys. J.