1,177 research outputs found
Phase transitions in the one-dimensional frustrated quantum XY model and Josephson-junction ladders
A one-dimensional quantum version of the frustrated XY (planar rotor) model
is considered which can be physically realized as a ladder of
Josephson-junctions at half a flux quantum per plaquette. This system undergoes
a superconductor to insulator transition at zero temperature as a function of
charging energy. The critical behavior is studied using a Monte Carlo transfer
matrix applied to the path-integral representation of the model and a
finite-size-scaling analysis of data on small system sizes. Depending on the
ratio between the interchain and intrachain couplings the system can have
single or double transitions which is consistent with the prediction that its
critical behavior should be described by the two-dimensional classical XY-Ising
model.Comment: 13 pages, Revtex, J. Appl. Phys. (to appear), Inpe-las-00
HOW DO FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO USE HUMOR IN ONLINE TEACHING
Humor is a ubiquitous experience that facilitates learning, social coordination and wellbeing. This study examined how the faculty at the University of New Mexico used humor in its online courses. The process involved faculty interviews, a focus group of instructional online designers, questionnaires and documentation to collect data, and then used thematic analysis and code development to arrive at its findings. The study found that the humor pedagogy at the University of New Mexico has fallen into disuse for online courses because of (1) a hesitation (fear) to use humor, (2) fear of what students would think, and (3), hesitation (reluctance) to share or recommend humor usage to fellow faculty members. These findings hopefully will energize the university to reintroduce the humor pedagogy back into its learning sciences curriculum
Phase transitions in a frustrated XY model with zig-zag couplings
We study a new generalized version of the square-lattice frustrated XY model
where unequal ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic couplings are arranged in a
zig-zag pattern. The ratio between the couplings can be used to tune the
system, continuously, from the isotropic square-lattice to the
triangular-lattice frustrated XY model. The model can be physically realized as
a Josephson-junction array with two different couplings, in a magnetic field
corresponding to half-flux quanta per plaquette. Mean-field approximation,
Ginzburg-Landau expansion and finite-size scaling of Monte Carlo simulations
are used to study the phase diagram and critical behavior. Depending on the
value of , two separate transitions or a transition line in the
universality class of the XY-Ising model, with combined and U(1)
symmetries, takes place. In particular, the phase transitions of the standard
square-lattice and triangular-lattice frustrated XY models correspond to two
different cuts through the same transition line. Estimates of the chiral
() critical exponents on this transition line deviate significantly from
the pure Ising values, consistent with that along the critical line of the
XY-Ising model. This suggests that a frustrated XY model or Josephson-junction
array with a zig-zag coupling modulation can provide a physical realization of
the XY-Ising model critical line.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, RevTex, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Phase-coherence threshold and vortex-glass state in diluted Josephson-junction arrays in a magnetic field
We study numerically the interplay of phase coherence and vortex-glass state
in two-dimensional Josephson-junction arrays with average rational values of
flux quantum per plaquette and random dilution of junctions. For ,
we find evidence of a phase coherence threshold value , below the
percolation concentration of diluted junctions , where the superconducting
transition vanishes. For the array behaves as a
zero-temperature vortex glass with nonzero linear resistance at finite
temperatures. The zero-temperature critical currents are insensitive to
variations in in the vortex glass region while they are strongly
dependent in the phase coherent region.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Equilibrium Shape and Size of Supported Heteroepitaxial Nanoislands
We study the equilibrium shape, shape transitions and optimal size of
strained heteroepitaxial nanoislands with a two-dimensional atomistic model
using simply adjustable interatomic pair potentials. We map out the global
phase diagram as a function of substrate-adsorbate misfit and interaction. This
phase diagram reveals all the phases corresponding to different well-known
growth modes. In particular, for large enough misfits and attractive substrate
there is a Stranski-Krastanow regime, where nano-sized islands grow on top of
wetting films. We analyze the various terms contributing to the total island
energy in detail, and show how the competition between them leads to the
optimal shape and size of the islands. Finally, we also develop an analytic
interpolation formula for the various contributions to the total energy of
strained nanoislands.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
Low 25-OH vitamin D levels at time of diagnosis and recurrence of ovarian cancer.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between 25-OH vitamin D and ovarian cancer as a diagnostic marker or recurrence disease marker. We studied the following: (1) 61 women without gynecologic diseases, (2) 45 women affected by benign ovarian disease, (3) 46 women with recent diagnosis of ovarian cancer, (4) 26 follow-up women with recurrent ovarian cancer, and (5) 32 follow-up women with stable ovarian cancer. The 25-OH vitamin D was quantified with LUMIPULSE® G 25-OH vitamin D on LUMIPULSE® G 1200 (Fujirebio, Japan). As a threshold value, identified by ROC curve analysis, 20.2 ng/mL (sensitivity 73.3 %, specificity 84 %) was chosen corresponding to the limit between sufficient and insufficient 25-OH vitamin D according to the WHO. Low 25-OH vitamin D levels were observed in 26 % of women without gynecologic diseases, in 80 % of women with recent diagnosis of ovarian cancer and in 24 % women affected by benign ovarian diseases (p < 0.001). The follow-up study showed an insufficient level of 25-OH vitamin D in 73 % women with recurrent ovarian cancer and in 47 % women with stable ovarian cancer (p < 0.0003). This study showed that patients with ovarian cancer are often insufficient in 25-OH vitamin D compared to women with benign ovarian diseases. The women with recurrent ovarian cancer presented more often low levels compared to women with stable ovarian cancer. This study suggests that 25-OH vitamin D, due to its antiproliferative properties, can be a good marker for ovarian cancer also
Finite spin-glass transition of the XY model in three dimensions
A three-dimensional XY spin-glass model is investigated by a
nonequilibrium relaxation method. We have introduced a new criterion for the
finite-time scaling analysis. A transition temperature is obtained by a
crossing point of obtained data. The scaling analysis on the relaxation
functions of the spin-glass susceptibility and the chiral-glass susceptibility
shows that both transitions occur simultaneously. The result is checked by
relaxation functions of the Binder parameters and the glass correlation lengths
of the spin and the chirality. Every result is consistent if we consider that
the transition is driven by the spin degrees of freedom.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, incorrect arguments are delete
Equilibrium shape and dislocation nucleation in strained epitaxial nanoislands
We study numerically the equilibrium shapes, shape transitions and
dislocation nucleation of small strained epitaxial islands with a
two-dimensional atomistic model, using simple interatomic pair potentials. We
first map out the phase diagram for the equilibrium island shapes as a function
of island size (up to N = 105 atoms) and lattice misfit with the substrate and
show that nanoscopic islands have four generic equilibrium shapes, in contrast
with predictions from the continuum theory of elasticity. For increasing
substrate-adsorbate attraction, we find islands that form on top of a finite
wetting layer as observed in Stranski-Krastanow growth. We also investigate
energy barriers and transition paths for transitions between different shapes
of the islands and for dislocation nucleation in initially coherent islands. In
particular, we find that dislocations nucleate spontaneously at the edges of
the adsorbate-substrate interface above a critical size or lattice misfit.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, uses wrapfig.sty and epsfig.st
Nonlinear sliding friction of adsorbed overlayers on disordered substrates
We study the response of an adsorbed monolayer on a disordered substrate
under a driving force using Brownian molecular-dynamics simulation. We find
that the sharp longitudinal and transverse depinning transitions with
hysteresis still persist in the presence of weak disorder. However, the
transitions are smeared out in the strong disorder limit. The theoretical
results here provide a natural explanation for the recent data for the
depinning transition of Kr films on gold substrate.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figs, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Current-voltage scaling of a Josephson-junction array at irrational frustration
Numerical simulations of the current-voltage characteristics of an ordered
two-dimensional Josephson junction array at an irrational flux quantum per
plaquette are presented. The results are consistent with an scaling analysis
which assumes a zero temperature vortex glass transition. The thermal
correlation length exponent characterizing this transition is found to be
significantly different from the corresponding value for vortex-glass models in
disordered two-dimensional superconductors. This leads to a current scale where
nonlinearities appear in the current-voltage characteristics decreasing with
temperature roughly as in contrast with the behavior expected
for disordered models.Comment: RevTex 3.0, 12 pages with Latex figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. B
54, Rapid. Com
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