229 research outputs found
Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Nanographite Ribbons
Electronic and magnetic properties of ribbon-shaped nanographite systems with
zigzag and armchair edges in a magnetic field are investigated by using a tight
binding model. One of the most remarkable features of these systems is the
appearance of edge states, strongly localized near zigzag edges. The edge state
in magnetic field, generating a rational fraction of the magnetic flux (\phi=
p/q) in each hexagonal plaquette of the graphite plane, behaves like a
zero-field edge state with q internal degrees of freedom. The orbital
diamagnetic susceptibility strongly depends on the edge shapes. The reason is
found in the analysis of the ring currents, which are very sensitive to the
lattice topology near the edge. Moreover, the orbital diamagnetic
susceptibility is scaled as a function of the temperature, Fermi energy and
ribbon width. Because the edge states lead to a sharp peak in the density of
states at the Fermi level, the graphite ribbons with zigzag edges show
Curie-like temperature dependence of the Pauli paramagnetic susceptibility.
Hence, it is shown that the crossover from high-temperature diamagnetic to
low-temperature paramagnetic behavior of the magnetic susceptibility of
nanographite ribbons with zigzag edges.Comment: 13 pages including 19 figures, submitted to Physical Rev
Statistical Model of Superconductivity in a 2D Binary Boson-Fermion Mixture
A two-dimensional (2D) assembly of noninteracting, temperature-dependent,
composite-boson Cooper pairs (CPs) in chemical and thermal equilibrium with
unpaired fermions is examined in a binary boson-fermion statistical model as
the superconducting singularity temperature is approached from above. The model
is derived from {\it first principles} for the BCS model interfermion
interaction from three extrema of the system Helmholtz free energy (subject to
constant pairable-fermion number) with respect to: a) the pairable-fermion
distribution function; b) the number of excited (bosonic) CPs, i.e., with
nonzero total momenta--usually ignored in BCS theory--and with the appropriate
(linear, as opposed to quadratic) dispersion relation that arises from the
Fermi sea; and c) the number of CPs with zero total momenta. Compared with the
BCS theory condensate, higher singularity temperatures for the Bose-Einstein
condensate are obtained in the binary boson-fermion mixture model which are in
rough agreement with empirical critical temperatures for quasi-2D
superconductorsComment: 16 pages and 4 figures. This is a improved versio
Normal-state conductivity in underdoped La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4 thin films: Search for nonlinear effects related to collective stripe motion
We report a detailed study of the electric-field dependence of the
normal-state conductivity in La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4 thin films for two
concentrations of doped holes, x=0.01 and 0.06, where formation of diagonal and
vertical charged stripes was recently suggested. In order to elucidate whether
high electric fields are capable of depinning the charged stripes and inducing
their collective motion, we have measured current-voltage characteristics for
various orientations of the electric field with respect to the crystallographic
axes. However, even for the highest possible fields (~1000 V/cm for x=0.01 and
\~300 V/cm for x=0.06) we observed no non-linear-conductivity features except
for those related to the conventional Joule heating of the films. Our analysis
indicates that Joule heating, rather than collective electron motion, may also
be responsible for the non-linear conductivity observed in some other 2D
transition-metal oxides as well. We discuss that a possible reason why moderate
electric fields fail to induce a collective stripe motion in layered oxides is
that fairly flexible and compressible charged stripes can adjust themselves to
the crystal lattice and individual impurities, which makes their pinning much
stronger than in the case of conventional rigid charge-density waves.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Cooper pair dispersion relation for weak to strong coupling
Cooper pairing in two dimensions is analyzed with a set of renormalized
equations to determine its binding energy for any fermion number density and
all coupling assuming a generic pairwise residual interfermion interaction. \
Also considered are Cooper pairs (CPs) with nonzero center-of-mass momentum
(CMM)--usually neglected in BCS theory--and their binding energy is expanded
analytically in powers of the CMM up to quadratic terms. A Fermi-sea-dependent
{\it linear} term in the CMM dominates the pair excitation energy in weak
coupling (also called the BCS regime) while the more familiar quadratic term
prevails in strong coupling (the Bose regime). The crossover, though strictly
unrelated to BCS theory {\it per se,} is studied numerically as it is expected
to play a central role in a model of superconductivity as a Bose-Einstein
condensation of CPs where the transition temperature vanishes for all
dimensionality for quadratic dispersion, but is {\it nonzero} for all
for linear dispersion.Comment: 11 pages plus 3 figures, revised version accepted in Physical Review
Dust Devil Tracks
Dust devils that leave dark- or light-toned tracks are common on Mars and they can also be found on the Earth’s surface. Dust devil tracks (hereinafter DDTs) are ephemeral surface features with mostly sub-annual lifetimes. Regarding their size, DDT widths can range between ∼1 m and ∼1 km, depending on the diameter of dust devil that created the track, and DDT lengths range from a few tens of meters to several kilometers, limited by the duration and horizontal ground speed of dust devils. DDTs can be classified into three main types based on their morphology and albedo in contrast to their surroundings; all are found on both planets: (a) dark continuous DDTs, (b) dark cycloidal DDTs, and (c) bright DDTs. Dark continuous DDTs are the most common type on Mars. They are characterized by their relatively homogenous and continuous low albedo surface tracks. Based on terrestrial and martian in situ studies, these DDTs most likely form when surficial dust layers are removed to expose larger-grained substrate material (coarse sands of ≥500 μm in diameter). The exposure of larger-grained materials changes the photometric properties of the surface; hence leading to lower albedo tracks because grain size is photometrically inversely proportional to the surface reflectance. However, although not observed so far, compositional differences (i.e., color differences) might also lead to albedo contrasts when dust is removed to expose substrate materials with mineralogical differences. For dark continuous DDTs, albedo drop measurements are around 2.5 % in the wavelength range of 550–850 nm on Mars and around 0.5 % in the wavelength range from 300–1100 nm on Earth. The removal of an equivalent layer thickness around 1 μm is sufficient for the formation of visible dark continuous DDTs on Mars and Earth. The next type of DDTs, dark cycloidal DDTs, are characterized by their low albedo pattern of overlapping scallops. Terrestrial in situ studies imply that they are formed when sand-sized material that is eroded from the outer vortex area of a dust devil is redeposited in annular patterns in the central vortex region. This type of DDT can also be found in on Mars in orbital image data, and although in situ studies are lacking, terrestrial analog studies, laboratory work, and numerical modeling suggest they have the same formation mechanism as those on Earth. Finally, bright DDTs are characterized by their continuous track pattern and high albedo compared to their undisturbed surroundings. They are found on both planets, but to date they have only been analyzed in situ on Earth. Here, the destruction of aggregates of dust, silt and sand by dust devils leads to smooth surfaces in contrast to the undisturbed rough surfaces surrounding the track. The resulting change in photometric properties occurs because the smoother surfaces have a higher reflectance compared to the surrounding rough surface, leading to bright DDTs. On Mars, the destruction of surficial dust-aggregates may also lead to bright DDTs. However, higher reflective surfaces may be produced by other formation mechanisms, such as dust compaction by passing dust devils, as this may also cause changes in photometric properties. On Mars, DDTs in general are found at all elevations and on a global scale, except on the permanent polar caps. DDT maximum areal densities occur during spring and summer in both hemispheres produced by an increase in dust devil activity caused by maximum insolation. Regionally, dust devil densities vary spatially likely controlled by changes in dust cover thicknesses and substrate materials. This variability makes it difficult to infer dust devil activity from DDT frequencies. Furthermore, only a fraction of dust devils leave tracks. However, DDTs can be used as proxies for dust devil lifetimes and wind directions and speeds, and they can also be used to predict lander or rover solar panel clearing events. Overall, the high DDT frequency in many areas on Mars leads to drastic albedo changes that affect large-scale weather patterns
Performance of prototypes for the ALICE electromagnetic calorimeter
The performance of prototypes for the ALICE electromagnetic sampling
calorimeter has been studied in test beam measurements at FNAL and CERN. A
array of final design modules showed an energy resolution of about
11% / 1.7 % with a uniformity of the response
to electrons of 1% and a good linearity in the energy range from 10 to 100 GeV.
The electromagnetic shower position resolution was found to be described by 1.5
mm 5.3 mm /. For an electron identification
efficiency of 90% a hadron rejection factor of was obtained.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure
Cold Gas in Cluster Cores
I review the literature's census of the cold gas in clusters of galaxies.
Cold gas here is defined as the gas that is cooler than X-ray emitting
temperatures (~10^7 K) and is not in stars. I present new Spitzer IRAC and MIPS
observations of Abell 2597 (PI: Sparks) that reveal significant amounts of warm
dust and star formation at the level of 5 solar masses per year. This rate is
inconsistent with the mass cooling rate of 20 +/- 5 solar masses per year
inferred from a FUSE [OVI] detection.Comment: 10 pages, conference proceeding
Probing exotic phenomena at the interface of nuclear and particle physics with the electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms: A unique window to hadronic and semi-leptonic CP violation
The current status of electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms which
involves the synergy between atomic experiments and three different theoretical
areas -- particle, nuclear and atomic is reviewed. Various models of particle
physics that predict CP violation, which is necessary for the existence of such
electric dipole moments, are presented. These include the standard model of
particle physics and various extensions of it. Effective hadron level combined
charge conjugation (C) and parity (P) symmetry violating interactions are
derived taking into consideration different ways in which a nucleon interacts
with other nucleons as well as with electrons. Nuclear structure calculations
of the CP-odd nuclear Schiff moment are discussed using the shell model and
other theoretical approaches. Results of the calculations of atomic electric
dipole moments due to the interaction of the nuclear Schiff moment with the
electrons and the P and time-reversal (T) symmetry violating
tensor-pseudotensor electron-nucleus are elucidated using different
relativistic many-body theories. The principles of the measurement of the
electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms are outlined. Upper limits for the
nuclear Schiff moment and tensor-pseudotensor coupling constant are obtained
combining the results of atomic experiments and relativistic many-body
theories. The coefficients for the different sources of CP violation have been
estimated at the elementary particle level for all the diamagnetic atoms of
current experimental interest and their implications for physics beyond the
standard model is discussed. Possible improvements of the current results of
the measurements as well as quantum chromodynamics, nuclear and atomic
calculations are suggested.Comment: 46 pages, 19 tables and 16 figures. A review article accepted for
EPJ
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