699 research outputs found
Condensation of achiral simple currents in topological lattice models: a Hamiltonian study of topological symmetry breaking
We describe a family of phase transitions connecting phases of differing
non-trivial topological order by explicitly constructing Hamiltonians of the
Levin-Wen[PRB 71, 045110] type which can be tuned between two solvable points,
each of which realizes a different topologically ordered phase. We show that
the low-energy degrees of freedom near the phase transition can be mapped onto
those of a Potts model, and we discuss the stability of the resulting phase
diagram to small perturbations about the model. We further explain how the
excitations in the condensed phase are formed from those in the original
topological theory, some of which are split into multiple components by
condensation, and we discuss the implications of our results for understanding
the nature of general achiral topological phases in 2+1 dimensions in terms of
doubled Chern-Simons theories
Monopole Flux State on the Pyrochlore Lattice
The ground state of a spin 1/2 nearest neighbor quantum Heisenberg
antiferromagnet on the pyrochlore lattice is investigated using a large
SU(N) fermionic mean field theory. We find several mean field states, of which
the state of lowest energy upon Gutzwiller projection, is a parity and time
reversal breaking chiral phase with a unit monopole flux exiting each
tetrahedron. This "monopole flux" state has a Fermi surface consisting of 4
lines intersecting at a point. At mean field the low-energy excitations about
the Fermi surface are gapless spinons. An analysis using the projective
symmetry group of this state suggests that the state is stable to small
fluctuations which neither induce a gap, nor alter the unusual Fermi surface
NMR study of a bimesogenic liquid crystal with two nematic phases
Recent interest in bimesogenic liquid crystals showing two nematic phases has led us to investigate the nematic mean-field interactions in these nematic phases by using rigid solutes as probes. The nematic potential that is modelled by two independent Maier-Saupe terms is successful in fitting the observed dipolar couplings (order parameters) of para-, meta- and ortho-dichlorobenzene solutes in both the nematic phases of 39 wt% of 4-n-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) in α,ω-bis(4-4′-cyanobiphenyl)nonane (CB_C9_CB) to better than the 5% level. The derived liquid-crystal potential parameters G₁ and G₂ for each solute in the N and Ntb phases will be discussed. The most interesting observation is that G1 (associated with size and shape interactions) is almost constant in the Ntb phase, whereas G₂ (associated with longer-range electrostatic interactions) has large variation, even changing sign
Spin-transfer switching and low-field precession in exchange-biased spin valve nano-pillars
Using a three-dimensional focused-ion beam lithography process we have
fabricated nanopillar devices which show spin transfer torque switching at zero
external magnetic fields. Under a small in-plane external bias field, a
field-dependent peak in the differential resistance versus current is observed
similar to that reported in asymmetrical nanopillar devices. This is
interpreted as evidence for the low-field excitation of spin waves which in our
case is attributed to a spin-scattering asymmetry enhanced by the IrMn exchange
bias layer coupled to a relatively thin CoFe fixed layer.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures. To appear in APL, April 200
Cygnus X-3 in outburst : quenched radio emission, radiation losses and variable local opacity
We present multiwavelength observations of Cygnus X-3 during an extended
outburst in 1994 February - March. Intensive radio monitoring at 13.3, 3.6 &
2.0 cm is complemented by observations at (sub)millimetre and infrared
wavelengths, which find Cyg X-3 to be unusually bright and variable, and
include the first reported detection of the source at 0.45 mm. We report the
first confirmation of quenched radio emission prior to radio flaring
independent of observations at Green Bank. The observations reveal evidence for
wavelength-dependent radiation losses and gradually decreasing opacity in the
environment of the radio jet. We find that the radiation losses are likely to
be predominantly inverse Compton losses experienced by the radio-emitting
electrons in the strong radiation field of a luminous companion to the compact
object. We interpret the decreasing opacity during the flare sequence as
resulting from a decreasing proportion of thermal electrons entrained in the
jet, reflecting a decreasing density in the region of jet formation. We
present, drawing in part on the work of other authors, a model based upon
mass-transfer rate instability predicting gamma-ray, X-ray, infrared and radio
trends during a radio flaring sequence.Comment: LaTeX, 11 pages, 6 figures. Submitted to MNRA
Critical Current Oscillations in Strong Ferromagnetic Pi-Junctions
We report magnetic and electrical measurements of Nb Josephson junctions with
strongly ferromagnetic barriers of Co, Ni and Ni80Fe20 (Py). All these
materials show multiple oscillations of critical current with barrier thickness
implying repeated 0-pi phase-transitions in the superconducting order
parameter. We show in particular that the Co barrier devices can be accurately
modelled using existing clean limit theories and so that, despite the high
exchange energy (309 meV), the large IcRN value in the pi-state means Co
barriers are ideally suited to the practical development of superconducting
pi-shift devices.Comment: 4 pages 3 figures 1 table. Revised version as accepted for
publication. To appear in Physical Review Letter
0-pi oscillations in nanostructured Nb/Fe/Nb Josephson junctions
The physics of the phase shift in ferromagnetic Josephson junctions may
enable a range of applications for spin-electronic devices and quantum
computing. We investigate transitions from ``0'' to ``'' states in
Nb/Fe/Nb Josephson junctions by varying the Fe barrier thickness from 0.5 nm to
5.5 nm. From magnetic measurements we estimate for Fe a magnetic dead layer of
about 1.1 nm. By fitting the characteristic voltage oscillations with existing
theoretical models we extrapolate an exchange energy of 256 meV, a Fermi
velocity of m/s and an electron mean free path of 6.2 nm, in
agreement with other reported values. From the temperature dependence of the
product we show that its decay rate exhibits a nonmonotonic
oscillatory behavior with the Fe barrier thickness.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J.
An audit of the quality of inpatient care for adults with learning disability in the UK
OBJECTIVES: To audit patient hospital records to evaluate the performance of acute general and mental health services in delivering inpatient care to people with learning disability and explore the influence of organisational factors on the quality of care they deliver. SETTING: Nine acute general hospital Trusts and six mental health services. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with learning disability who received inpatient hospital care between May 2013 and April 2014. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Data on seven key indicators of high-quality care were collected from 176 patients. These covered physical health/monitoring, communication and meeting needs, capacity and decision-making, discharge planning and carer involvement. The impact of services having an electronic system for flagging patients with learning disability and employing a learning disability liaison nurse was assessed. RESULTS: Indicators of physical healthcare (body mass index, swallowing assessment, epilepsy risk assessment) were poorly recorded in acute general and mental health inpatient settings. Overall, only 34 (19.3%) patients received any assessment of swallowing and 12 of the 57 with epilepsy (21.1%) had an epilepsy risk assessment. For most quality indicators, there was a non-statistically significant trend for improved performance in services with a learning disability liaison nurse. The presence of an electronic flagging system showed less evidence of benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatient care for people with learning disability needs to be improved. The work gives tentative support to the role of a learning disability liaison nurse in acute general and mental health services, but further work is needed to confirm these benefits and to trial other interventions that might improve the quality and safety of care for this high-need group
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