573 research outputs found
Edge states and topological insulating phases generated by curving a nanowire with Rashba spin-orbit coupling
We prove that curvature effects in low-dimensional nanomaterials can promote
the generation of topological states of matter by considering the paradigmatic
example of quantum wires with Rashba spin-orbit coupling, which are
periodically corrugated at the nanometer scale. The effect of the periodic
curvature generally results in the appearance of insulating phases with a
corresponding novel butterfly spectrum characterized by the formation of fine
measure complex regions of forbidden energies. When the Fermi energy lies in
the gaps, the system displays localized end states protected by topology. We
further show that for certain corrugation periods the system possesses
topologically non-trivial insulating phases at half-filling. Our results
suggest that the local curvature and the topology of the electronic states are
inextricably intertwined in geometrically deformed nanomaterials.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Curvature-induced Rashba spin-orbit interaction in strain-driven nanostructures
We derive the effective dimensionally reduced Schr\"odinger equation with
spin-orbit interaction in low-dimensional electronic strain driven
nanostructures. A method of adiabatic separation among fast normal quantum
degrees of freedom and slow tangential quantum degrees of freedom is used to
show the emergence of a strain-induced Rashba-like spin-orbit interaction
(SOI). By applying this analysis to one-dimensional curved quantum wires we
demonstrate that the curvature-induced Rashba SOI leads to enhanced spin-orbit
effects.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, to be published in SPIN (World Scientific) as
Topical Issue on Functional Nanomembrane
The Status of Conference Interpreters: A Global Survey into the Profession
The study of status has so far received scant attention as a research topic in Interpreting Studies. Although several authors refer to conference interpreting as “one of the fairest and loftiest occupations in the world” (Herbert, 1952: 3), no empirical investigation has been carried out so far to assess the validity of the myths attached to the profession. Even though the majority of studies have focused almost exclusively on the status of translators, an empirical study carried out by Dam and Zethsen (2013) revealed that conference interpreters do not place themselves at the top of the status continuum, which means that conference interpreters’ considerations on status do not correspond to the assumptions found in literature about the high standing of the interpreting profession. This paper illustrates the findings of a global survey addressed to conference interpreters worldwide, filled out by 803 respondents, whose objective was to assess how conference interpreters perceive their occupational status and how they believe that conference interpreting is regarded in society. The theoretical framework draws insights from Social Theory and the Sociology of the Professions, which seek to shed light both on interpreters’ self-perception of their work and on how the profession is socially represented
Through Women’s Eyes. Conference Interpreters’ Self-Perceived Status in a Gendered Perspective
This paper aims to analyse the differences between female and male conference interpreters’ self-perceived status. Several studies (Angelelli 2004; Katan 2011; Zwischenberger 2011) indicate that women make up most of the professionals working in the translational professions, but little academic attention has been devoted to the question as to whether female and male interpreters have different attitudes towards their profession and their self-perceived status. Sociological studies on feminised professions suggest that women are generally underestimated in the workplace, which leads to them to perceive their status as lower compared to their male colleagues (Cortina/San Román 2006). To test whether this phenomenon was experienced by conference interpreters as well, the responses of a world survey (n = 805) were analysed, with a special focus on interpreters’ self-perception of the status, prestige and social value of their profession. The results showed that, when asked to evaluate their self-perceived status, there were hardly any differences between the scores obtained by female and male interpreters. However, major differences emerged when men and women expressed their opinions on the way they think their work is seen by laypeople, showing that female interpreters perceive their status as far lower than their male counterparts do. 
The Professional Status of Public Service Interpreters. A Comparison with Nurses
Abstract: This paper aims to investigate the relationship between the professional status of public service interpreters and that which sociologists (Etzioni, 1969; Abbott and Meerabeau, 1998) have attributed to semi-professionals such as nurses. Drawing on the sociological theories of professionalization (Albrecht et al., 2003) and on certain hypotheses suggested by interpreting scholars (Sela-Sheffy and Shlesinger, 2011), the concept of semi-profession will be defined and discussed. Subsequently, the three sociological features shared by the two professions – the lack of specialised training, increasing feminisation and the caring nature of their tasks – will be analysed from a sociological perspective. To test these assumptions, the results of a global questionnaire on the status of public service interpreters – which gathered 888 responses – will be illustrated and commented. The data showed a close relationship between the two professions, which appears to confirm the hypothesis that nurses and public service interpreters are still following the path towards full professionalization.Resumen: Mediante este trabajo pretendemos analizar la relaciĂłn entre el estatus profesional de los intĂ©rpretes de SSPP y el estatus que algunos sociĂłlogos (Etzioni, 1969; Abbott and Meerabeau, 1998) han atribuido a semiprofesionales como las enfermeras. Basándonos en las teorĂas sobre el proceso de profesionalizaciĂłn (Albrecht et al., 2003) y en las hipĂłtesis sugeridas por algunos estudiosos de interpretaciĂłn (Sela-Sheffy y Shlesinger, 2011), vamos a definir y discutir el concepto de semiprofesiĂłn. Además, las tres principales caracterĂsticas sociolĂłgicas comunes a las dos profesiones – la falta de educaciĂłn especializada, la creciente feminizaciĂłn y la actitud solidaria de algunas de las tareas que desarrollan – se analizarán desde una perspectiva sociolĂłgica. Para probar estas afirmaciones, los resultados de una encuensta global sobre el estatus profesional de los intĂ©rpretes que trabajan en los SSPP – que obtuvo 888 respuestas – serán analizados y comentados. La evidencia ha mostrado una relaciĂłn cercana entre las dos profesiones, que parece validar la hipĂłtesis de que la interpretaciĂłn de SSPP y la enfermerĂa todavĂa están siguendo el camino hacia una mayor profesionalizaciĂłn.
Designing Electron Spin Textures and Spin Interferometers by Shape Deformations
We demonstrate that the spin orientation of an electron propagating in a
one-dimensional nanostructure with Rashba spin-orbit (SO) coupling can be
manipulated on demand by changing the geometry of the nanosystem. Shape
deformations that result in a non-uniform curvature give rise to complex
three-dimensional spin textures in space. We employ the paradigmatic example of
an elliptically deformed quantum ring to unveil the way to get an
all-geometrical and all-electrical control of the spin orientation. The
resulting spin textures exhibit a tunable topological character with windings
around the radial and the out-of-plane directions. We show that these
topologically non trivial spin patterns affect the spin interference effect in
the deformed ring, thereby resulting in different geometry-driven ballistic
electronic transport behaviors. Our results establish a deep connection between
electronic spin textures, spin transport and the nanoscale shape of the system.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
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