High-pressure phases and transitions of the layered alkaline earth nitridosilicates SrSiN2 and BaSiN2

We investigate the high-pressure phase diagram of SrSiN2 and BaSiN2 with density-functional calculation. Searching a manifold of possible candidate structures, we propose new structural modifications of SrSiN2 and BaSiN2 attainable in high-pressure experiments. The monoclinic ground state of SrSiN2 transforms at 3 GPa into an orthorhombic BaSiN2 type. At 14 GPa a CaSiN2-type structure becomes the most stable configuration of SrSiN2. A hitherto unknown Pbcm modification is adopted at 85 GPa and, finally, at 131 GPa a LiFeO2-type structure. The higher homologue BaSiN2 transforms to a CaSiN2 type at 41 GPa and further to a Pbcm modification at 105 GPa. Both systems follow the pressure-coordination rule: the coordination environment of Si increases from tetrahedral through trigonal bipyramidal to octahedral. Some high-pressure phases are related in structure through simple group–subgroup mechanisms, indicating displacive phase transformations with low activation barriers

The Poisson Bracket for Poisson Forms in Multisymplectic Field Theory

We present a general definition of the Poisson bracket between differential forms on the extended multiphase space appearing in the geometric formulation of first order classical field theories and, more generally, on exact multisymplectic manifolds. It is well defined for a certain class of differential forms that we propose to call Poisson forms and turns the space of Poisson forms into a Lie superalgebra.Comment: 40 pages LaTe

Interacting particles at a metal-insulator transition

We study the influence of many-particle interaction in a system which, in the single particle case, exhibits a metal-insulator transition induced by a finite amount of onsite pontential fluctuations. Thereby, we consider the problem of interacting particles in the one-dimensional quasiperiodic Aubry-Andre chain. We employ the density-matrix renormalization scheme to investigate the finite particle density situation. In the case of incommensurate densities, the expected transition from the single-particle analysis is reproduced. Generally speaking, interaction does not alter the incommensurate transition. For commensurate densities, we map out the entire phase diagram and find that the transition into a metallic state occurs for attractive interactions and infinite small fluctuations -- in contrast to the case of incommensurate densities. Our results for commensurate densities also show agreement with a recent analytic renormalization group approach.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures The original paper was splitted and rewritten. This is the published version of the DMRG part of the original pape

A complex geo-scientific strategy for landslide hazard mitigation ? from airborne mapping to ground monitoring

International audienceAfter a large landslide event in Sibratsgfäll/Austria several exploration methods were evaluated on their applicability to investigate and monitor landslide areas. The resulting optimised strategy consists of the combined application of airborne electromagnetics, ground geoelectrical measurements and geoelectrical monitoring combined with hydrological and geological mapping and geotechnical modelling. Interdisciplinary communication and discussion was the primary key to assess this complicated hazard situation

Robust signatures in the current-voltage characteristics of DNA molecules oriented between two graphene nanoribbon electrodes

In this work we numerically calculate the electric current through three kinds of DNA sequences (telomeric, \lambda-DNA, and p53-DNA) described by different heuristic models. A bias voltage is applied between two zig-zag edged graphene contacts attached to the DNA segments, while a gate terminal modulates the conductance of the molecule. The calculation of current is performed by integrating the transmission function (calculated using the lattice Green's function) over the range of energies allowed by the chemical potentials. We show that a telomeric DNA sequence, when treated as a quantum wire in the fully coherent low-temperature regime, works as an excellent semiconductor. Clear steps are apparent in the current-voltage curves of telomeric sequences and are present independent of lengths and sequence initialisation at the contacts. The current-voltage curves suggest the existence of stepped structures independent of length and sequencing initialisation at the contacts. We also find that the molecule-electrode coupling can drastically influence the magnitude of the current. The difference between telomeric DNA and other DNA, such as \lambda-DNA and DNA for the tumour suppressor p53, is particularly visible in the length dependence of the current

On the universal AC optical background in graphene

The latest experiments have confirmed the theoretically expected universal value $\pi e^2/2h$ of the ac conductivity of graphene and have revealed departures of the quasiparticle dynamics from predictions for the Dirac fermions in idealized graphene. We present analytical expressions for the ac conductivity in graphene which allow one to study how it is affected by interactions, temperature, external magnetic field and the opening of a gap in the quasiparticle spectrum. We show that the ac conductivity of graphene does not necessarily give a metrologically accurate value of the von Klitzing constant $h/e^2$, because it is depleted by the electron-phonon interaction. In a weak magnetic field the ac conductivity oscillates around the universal value and the Drude peak evolves into a peak at the cyclotron frequency.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures; v2: to match New J. Phys. (Focus on Graphene issue

Influence of Different Envelope Maskers on Signal Recognition and Neuronal Representation in the Auditory System of a Grasshopper

Background: Animals that communicate by sound face the problem that the signals arriving at the receiver often are degraded and masked by noise. Frequency filters in the receiver’s auditory system may improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by excluding parts of the spectrum which are not occupied by the species-specific signals. This solution, however, is hardly amenable to species that produce broad band signals or have ears with broad frequency tuning. In mammals auditory filters exist that work in the temporal domain of amplitude modulations (AM). Do insects also use this type of filtering? Principal Findings: Combining behavioural and neurophysiological experiments we investigated whether AM filters may improve the recognition of masked communication signals in grasshoppers. The AM pattern of the sound, its envelope, is crucial for signal recognition in these animals. We degraded the species-specific song by adding random fluctuations to its envelope. Six noise bands were used that differed in their overlap with the spectral content of the song envelope. If AM filters contribute to reduced masking, signal recognition should depend on the degree of overlap between the song envelope spectrum and the noise spectra. Contrary to this prediction, the resistance against signal degradation was the same for five of six masker bands. Most remarkably, the band with the strongest frequency overlap to the natural song envelope (0–100 Hz) impaired acceptance of degraded signals the least. To assess the noise filter capacities of singl

The twisted XXZ chain at roots of unity revisited

The symmetries of the twisted XXZ spin-chain (alias the twisted six-vertex model) at roots of unity are investigated. It is shown that when the twist parameter is chosen to depend on the total spin an infinite-dimensional non-abelian symmetry algebra can be explicitly constructed for all spin sectors. This symmetry algebra is identified to be the upper or lower Borel subalgebra of the sl_2 loop algebra. The proof uses only the intertwining property of the six-vertex monodromy matrix and the familiar relations of the six-vertex Yang-Baxter algebra.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures. One footnote and some comments in the conclusions adde