119 research outputs found
Zigzag edge modes in Z2 topological insulator: reentrance and completely flat spectrum
The spectrum and wave function of helical edge modes in Z_2 topological
insulator are derived on a square lattice using Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang (BHZ)
model. The BHZ model is characterized by a "mass" term M (k) that is
parameterized as M (k) = Delta - B k^2. A topological insulator realizes when
the parameters Delta and B fall on the regime, either 0 < Delta /B < 4 or 4 <
Delta /B < 8. At Delta /B = 4, which separates the cases of positive and
negative (quantized) spin Hall conductivities, the edge modes show a
corresponding change that depends on the edge geometry. In the (1,0)-edge, the
spectrum of edge mode remains the same against change of Delta /B, although the
main location of the mode moves from the zone center for Delta /B < 4, to the
zone boundary for Delta /B > 4 of the 1D Brillouin zone. In the (1,1)-edge
geometry, the group velocity at the zone center changes sign at Delta /B = 4
where the spectrum becomes independent of the momentum, i.e. flat, over the
whole 1D Brillouin zone. Furthermore, for Delta/B < 1.354..., the edge mode
starting from the zone center vanishes in an intermediate region of the 1D
Brillouin zone, but reenters near the zone boundary, where the energy of the
edge mode is marginally below the lowest bulk excitations. On the other hand,
the behavior of reentrant mode in real space is indistinguishable from an
ordinary edge mode.Comment: 19 pages, 33 figure
Significance of Off-Center Rattling for Emerging Low-lying THz Modes in type-I Clathrates
We show that the distinct differences of low-lying THz-frequency dynamics
between type-I clathrates with on-center and off-center guest ions naturally
follow from a theoretical model taking into account essential features of the
dynamics of rattling guest ions. Our model analysis demonstrates the drastic
change from the conventional dynamics shown by on-center systems to the
peculiar dynamics of off-center systems in a unified manner. We claim that
glass-like plateau thermal conductivities observed for off-center systems stem
from the flattening of acoustic phonon dispersion in the regime |k|<|G|/4. The
mechanism is applicable to other systems such as glasses or relaxers
Bulk electronic state of superconducting topological insulator
We study electronic properties of a superconducting topological insulator
whose parent material is a topological insulator. We calculate the temperature
dependence of the specific heat and spin susceptibility for four promising
superconducting pairings proposed by L. Fu and E. Berg (Phys. Rev. Lett. 105,
097001). Since the line shapes of temperature dependence of specific heat are
almost identical among three of the four pairings, it is difficult to identify
them simply from the specific heat. On the other hand, we obtain wide varieties
of the temperature dependence of spin susceptibility for each pairing
reflecting the spin structure of Cooper pair. We propose that the pairing
symmetry of superconducting topological insulator can be determined from
measurement of Knight shift by changing the direction of applied magnetic
field.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures. Accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jp
Flat edge modes of graphene and of Z2 topological insulator
A graphene nano-ribbon in the zigzag edge geometry exhibits a specific type of gapless edge modes with a partly flat band dispersion. We argue that the appearance of such edge modes are naturally understood by regarding graphene as the gapless limit of a Z2 topological insulator. To illustrate this idea, we consider both Kane-Mele (graphene-based) and Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang models: the latter is proposed for HgTe/CdTe 2D quantum well. Much focus is on the role of valley degrees of freedom, especially, on how they are projected onto and determine the 1D edge spectrum in different edge geometries
An international validation study of the IL-2 Luc assay for evaluating the potential immunotoxic effects of chemicals on T cells and a proposal for reference data for immunotoxic chemicals
To evaluate the immunotoxic effects of xenobiotics, we have established the Multi-ImmunoTox assay, in which three stable reporter cell lines are used to evaluate the effects of chemicals on the IL-2, IFN-\u3b3, IL-1\u3b2 and IL-8 promoters. Here, we report the official validation study of the IL-2 luciferase assay (IL-2 Luc assay). In the Phase I study that evaluated five coded chemicals in three sets of experiments, the average within-laboratory reproducibility was 86.7%. In the Phase II study, 20 coded chemicals were evaluated at multiple laboratories. In the combined results of the Phase I and II studies, the between-laboratory reproducibility was 80.0%. These results suggested that the IL-2 Luc assay was reproducible both between and within laboratories. To determine the predictivity, we collected immunotoxicological information and constructed the reference data by classifying the chemical into immunotoxic compounds targeting T cells or others according to previously reported criteria. When compared with the reference data, the average predictivity of the Phase I and II studies was 75.0%, while that of additional 60 chemicals examined by the lead laboratory was 82.5%. Although the IL-2 Luc assay alone is not sufficient to predict immunotoxicity, it will be a useful tool when combined with other immune tests
Dual role of cerebral blood flow in regional brain temperature control in the healthy newborn infant.
Small shifts in brain temperature after hypoxia-ischaemia affect cell viability. The main determinants of brain temperature are cerebral metabolism, which contributes to local heat production, and brain perfusion, which removes heat. However, few studies have addressed the effect of cerebral metabolism and perfusion on regional brain temperature in human neonates because of the lack of non-invasive cot-side monitors. This study aimed (i) to determine non-invasive monitoring tools of cerebral metabolism and perfusion by combining near-infrared spectroscopy and echocardiography, and (ii) to investigate the dependence of brain temperature on cerebral metabolism and perfusion in unsedated newborn infants. Thirty-two healthy newborn infants were recruited. They were studied with cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy, echocardiography, and a zero-heat flux tissue thermometer. A surrogate of cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured using superior vena cava flow adjusted for cerebral volume (rSVC flow). The tissue oxygenation index, fractional oxygen extraction (FOE), and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen relative to rSVC flow (CMRO2 index) were also estimated. A greater rSVC flow was positively associated with higher brain temperatures, particularly for superficial structures. The CMRO2 index and rSVC flow were positively coupled. However, brain temperature was independent of FOE and the CMRO2 index. A cooler ambient temperature was associated with a greater temperature gradient between the scalp surface and the body core. Cerebral oxygen metabolism and perfusion were monitored in newborn infants without using tracers. In these healthy newborn infants, cerebral perfusion and ambient temperature were significant independent variables of brain temperature. CBF has primarily been associated with heat removal from the brain. However, our results suggest that CBF is likely to deliver heat specifically to the superficial brain. Further studies are required to assess the effect of cerebral metabolism and perfusion on regional brain temperature in low-cardiac output conditions, fever, and with therapeutic hypothermia
- …