Byzantine Vector Consensus in Complete Graphs

Consider a network of n processes each of which has a d-dimensional vector of reals as its input. Each process can communicate directly with all the processes in the system; thus the communication network is a complete graph. All the communication channels are reliable and FIFO (first-in-first-out). The problem of Byzantine vector consensus (BVC) requires agreement on a d-dimensional vector that is in the convex hull of the d-dimensional input vectors at the non-faulty processes. We obtain the following results for Byzantine vector consensus in complete graphs while tolerating up to f Byzantine failures: * We prove that in a synchronous system, n >= max(3f+1, (d+1)f+1) is necessary and sufficient for achieving Byzantine vector consensus. * In an asynchronous system, it is known that exact consensus is impossible in presence of faulty processes. For an asynchronous system, we prove that n >= (d+2)f+1 is necessary and sufficient to achieve approximate Byzantine vector consensus. Our sufficiency proofs are constructive. We show sufficiency by providing explicit algorithms that solve exact BVC in synchronous systems, and approximate BVC in asynchronous systems. We also obtain tight bounds on the number of processes for achieving BVC using algorithms that are restricted to a simpler communication pattern

Symmetry energy from the nuclear collective motion: constraints from dipole, quadrupole, monopole and spin-dipole resonances

The experimental and theoretical studies of Giant Resonances, or more generally of the nuclear collective vibrations, are a well established domain in which sophisticated techniques have been introduced and firm conclusions reached after an effort of several decades. From it, information on the nuclear equation of state can be extracted, albeit not far from usual nuclear densities. In this contribution, which complements other contributions appearing in the current volume, we survey some of the constraints that have been extracted recently concerning the parameters of the nuclear symmetry energy. Isovector modes, in which neutrons and protons are in opposite phase, are a natural source of information and we illustrate the values of symmetry energy around saturation deduced from isovector dipole and isovector quadrupole states. The isotopic dependence of the isoscalar monopole energy has also been suggested to provide a connection to the symmetry energy: relevant theoretical arguments and experimental results are thoroughly discussed. Finally, we consider the case of the charge-exchange spin-dipole excitations in which the sum rule associated with the total strength gives in principle access to the neutron skin and thus, indirectly, to the symmetry energy.Comment: Updated version, with small corrections based on comments/suggestions from the referee. 12 pages, 9 figures; submitted to EPJA "Special Issue on Symmetry Energy

Doping a correlated band insulator: A new route to half metallic behaviour

We demonstrate in a simple model the surprising result that turning on an on-site Coulomb interaction U in a doped band insulator leads to the formation of a half-metallic state. In the undoped system, we show that increasing U leads to a first order transition between a paramagnetic, band insulator and an antiferomagnetic Mott insulator at a finite value U_{AF}. Upon doping, the system exhibits half metallic ferrimagnetism over a wide range of doping and interaction strengths on either side of U_{AF}. Our results, based on dynamical mean field theory, suggest a novel route to half-metallic behavior and provide motivation for experiments on new materials for spintronics.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figure

Phase Diagram of the Half-Filled Ionic Hubbard Model

We study the phase diagram of the ionic Hubbard model (IHM) at half-filling using dynamical mean field theory (DMFT), with two impurity solvers, namely, iterated perturbation theory (IPT) and continuous time quantum Monte Carlo (CTQMC). The physics of the IHM is governed by the competition between the staggered potential $\Delta$ and the on-site Hubbard U. In both the methods we find that for a finite $\Delta$ and at zero temperature, anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) order sets in beyond a threshold $U=U_{AF}$ via a first order phase transition below which the system is a paramagnetic band insulator. Both the methods show a clear evidence for a transition to a half-metal phase just after the AFM order is turned on, followed by the formation of an AFM insulator on further increasing U. We show that the results obtained within both the methods have good qualitative and quantitative consistency in the intermediate to strong coupling regime. On increasing the temperature, the AFM order is lost via a first order phase transition at a transition temperature $T_{AF}(U, \Delta)$ within both the methods, for weak to intermediate values of U/t. But in the strongly correlated regime, where the effective low energy Hamiltonian is the Heisenberg model, IPT is unable to capture the thermal (Neel) transition from the AFM phase to the paramagnetic phase, but the CTQMC does. As a result, at any finite temperature T, DMFT+CTQMC shows a second phase transition (not seen within DMFT+IPT) on increasing U beyond $U_{AF}$. At $U_N > U_{AF}$, when the Neel temperature $T_N$ for the effective Heisenberg model becomes lower than T, the AFM order is lost via a second order transition. In the 3-dimensonal parameter space of $(U/t,T/t,\Delta/t)$, there is a line of tricritical points that separates the surfaces of first and second order phase transitions.Comment: Revised versio

Can correlations drive a band insulator metallic?

We analyze the effects of the on-site Coulomb repulsion U on a band insulator using dynamical mean field theory (DMFT). We find the surprising result that the gap is suppressed to zero at a critical Uc1 and remains zero within a metallic phase. At a larger Uc2 there is a second transition from the metal to a Mott insulator, in which the gap increases with increasing U. These results are qualitatively different from Hartree-Fock theory which gives a monotonically decreasing but non-zero insulating gap for all finite U.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Hygrothermal effects on mechanical behavior of graphite/epoxy laminates beyond initial failure

An investigation was conducted to determine the critical load levels and associated cracking beyond which a multidirectional laminate can be considered as structurally failed. Graphite/epoxy laminates were loaded to different strain levels up to ultimate failure. Transverse matrix cracking was monitored by acoustic and optical methods. Residual stiffness and strength that were parallel and perpendicular to the cracks were determined and related to the environmental/loading history. Results indicate that cracking density in the transverse layers has no major effect on laminate residual properties as long as the angle ply layers retain their structural integrity. Exposure to hot water revealed that cracking had only a small effect on absorption and reduced swelling when these specimens were compared with uncracked specimens. Cracked, moist specimens showed a moderate reduction in strength when compared with their uncracked counterparts. Within the range of environmental/loading conditions of the present study, it is concluded that the transverse cracking process is not crucial in its effect on the structural performance of multidirectional composite laminates

Quantum tunneling of magnetization in dipolar spin-1 condensates under external fields

We study the macroscopic quantum tunneling of magnetization of the F=1 spinor condensate interacting through dipole-dipole interaction with an external magnetic field applied along the longitudinal or transverse direction. We show that the ground state energy and the effective magnetic moment of the system exhibit an interesting macroscopic quantum oscillation phenomenon originating from the oscillating dependence of thermodynamic properties of the system on the vacuum angle. Tunneling between two degenerate minima are analyzed by means of an effective potential method and the periodic instanton method.Comment: 2 figures, accepted PR

Effect of pairing correlations on incompressibility and symmetry energy in nuclear matter and finite nuclei

The role of superfluidity in the incompressibility and in the symmetry energy is studied in nuclear matter and finite nuclei. Several pairing interactions are used: surface, mixed and isovector dependent. Pairing has a small effect on the nuclear matter incompressibility at saturation density, but the effects are significant at lower densities. The pairing effect on the centroid energy of the isoscalar Giant Monopole Resonance (GMR) is also evaluated for Pb and Sn isotopes by using a microscopic constrained-HFB approach, and found to change at most by 10% the nucleus incompressibility $K_A$. It is shown by using the Local Density Approximation (LDA) that most of the pairing effect on the GMR centroid come from the low-density nuclear surface.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Quantum Nucleation in a Ferromagnetic Film Placed in a Magnetic Field at an Arbitrary Angle

We study the quantum nucleation in a thin ferromagnetic film placed in a magnetic field at an arbitrary angle. The dependence of the quantum nucleation and the temperature of the crossover from thermal to quantum regime on the direction and the strength of the applied field are presented. It is found that the maximal value of the rate and that of the crossover temperature are obtained at a some angle with the magnetic field, not in the direction of the applied field opposite to the initial easy axis.Comment: 15 pages, RevTex, 3 PostScript figures. To appear in Phys. Rev.