Spin transport properties of a quantum dot coupled to ferromagnetic leads with noncollinear magnetizations

A correct general formula for the spin current through an interacting quantum dot coupled to ferromagnetic leads with magnetization at an arbitrary angle $\theta$ is derived within the framework of the Keldysh formalism. Under asymmetric conditions, the spin current component J_{z} may change sign for $0<\theta<\pi$. It is shown that the spin current and spin tunneling magnetoresistance exhibit different angle dependence in the free and Coulomb blockade regimes. In the latter case, the competition of spin precession and the spin-valve effect could lead to an anomaly in the angle dependence of the spin current.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures; some parts of the text has been revised in this version accepted by J. Phys.: Condens. Matte

Mott insulating phases and quantum phase transitions of interacting spin-3/2 fermionic cold atoms in optical lattices at half filling

We study various Mott insulating phases of interacting spin-3/2 fermionic ultracold atoms in two-dimensional square optical lattices at half filling. Using a generalized one-band Hubbard model with hidden SO(5) symmetry, we identify two distinct symmetry breaking phases: the degenerate antiferromagnetic spin-dipole/spin-octupole ordering and spin-quadrupole ordering, depending on the sign of the spin-dependent interaction. These two competing orders exhibit very different symmetry properties, low energy excitations and topological characterizations. Near the SU(4) symmetric point, a quantum critical state with a $\pi$-flux phase may emerge due to strong quantum fluctuations, leading to spin algebraic correlations and gapless excitations.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Lifshitz transitions in a heavy-Fermion liquid driven by short-range antiferromagnetic correlations in the two-dimensional Kondo lattice model

The heavy-Fermion liquid with short-range antiferromagnetic correlations is carefully considered in the two-dimensional Kondo-Heisenberg lattice model. As the ratio of the local Heisenberg superexchange $J_{H}$ to the Kondo coupling $J_{K}$ increases, Lifshitz transitions are anticipated, where the topology of the Fermi surface (FS) of the heavy quasiparticles changes from a hole-like circle to four kidney-like pockets centered around $(\pi ,\pi)$. In-between these two limiting cases, a first-order quantum phase transition is identified at $J_{H}/J_{K}=0.1055$ where a small circle begins to emerge within the large deformed circle. When $J_{H}/J_{K}=0.1425$, the two deformed circles intersect each other and then decompose into four kidney-like Fermi pockets via a second-order quantum phase transition. As $J_{H}/J_{K}$ increases further, the Fermi pockets are shifted along the direction ($\pi,\pi$) to ($\pi/2,\pi/2$), and the resulting FS is consistent with the FS obtained recently using the quantum Monte Carlo cluster approach to the Kondo lattice system in the presence of the antiferrmagnetic order.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Correlations in interference and diffraction

Quantum formalism of Fraunhofer diffraction is obtained. The state of the diffraction optical field is connected with the state of the incident optical field by a diffraction factor. Based on this formalism, correlations of the diffraction modes are calculated with different kinds of incident optical fields. Influence of correlations of the incident modes on the diffraction pattern is analyzed and an explanation of the ''ghost'' diffraction is proposed.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures, Latex, to appear in J. Mod. Op

Applicability of self-consistent mean-field theory

Within the constrained Hartree-Fock (CHF) theory, an analytic condition is derived to estimate whether a concept of the self-consistent mean field is realized or not in level repulsive region. The derived condition states that an iterative calculation of CHF equation does not converge when the quantum fluctuations coming from two-body residual interaction and quadrupole deformation become larger than a single-particle energy difference between two avoided crossing orbits. By means of the numerical calculation, it is shown that the analytic condition works well for a realistic case.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Combination Therapy With Fingolimod and Neural Stem Cells Promotes Functional Myelination

Myelination, which occurs predominantly postnatally and continues throughout life, is important for proper neurologic function of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). We have previously demonstrated that the combination therapy of fingolimod (FTY720) and transplanted neural stem cells (NSCs) had a significantly enhanced therapeutic effect on the chronic stage of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of CNS autoimmunity, compared to using either one of them alone. However, reduced disease severity may be secondary to the immunomodulatory effects of FTY720 and NSCs, while whether this therapy directly affects myelinogenesis remains unknown. To investigate this important question, we used three myelination models under minimal or non-inflammatory microenvironments. Our results showed that FTY720 drives NSCs to differentiate into oligodendrocytes and promotes myelination in an ex vivo brain slice culture model, and in the developing CNS of healthy postnatal mice in vivo. Elevated levels of neurotrophic factors, e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, were observed in the CNS of the treated infant mice. Further, FTY720 and NSCs efficiently prolonged the survival and improved sensorimotor function of shiverer mice. Together, these data demonstrate a direct effect of FTY720, beyond its known immunomodulatory capacity, in NSC differentiation and myelin development as a novel mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect in demyelinating diseases

The Use of Dispersion Relations in the ππ\pi\pi and KKˉK\bar K Coupled-Channel System

Systematic and careful studies are made on the properties of the IJ=00 $\pi\pi$ and $K\bar K$ coupled-channel system, using newly derived dispersion relations between the phase shifts and poles and cuts. The effects of nearby branch point singularities to the determination of the $f_0(980)$ resonance are estimated and and discussed.Comment: 22 pages with 5 eps figures. A numerical bug in previous version is fixed, discussions slightly expanded. No major conclusion is change