Design and analytically full-wave validation of the invisibility cloaks, concentrators, and field rotators created with a general class of transformations

We investigate a general class of electromagnetic devices created with any continuous transformation functions by rigorously calculating the analytical expressions of the electromagnetic field in the whole space. Some interesting phenomena associated with these transformation devices, including the invisibility cloaks, concentrators, and field rotators, are discussed. By carefully choosing the transformation function, we can realize cloaks which are insensitive to perturbations at both the inner and outer boundaries. Furthermore, we find that when the coating layer of the concentrator is realized with left-handed materials, energy will circulate between the coating and the core, and the energy transmits through the core of the concentrator can be much bigger than that transmits through the concentrator. Therefore, such concentrator is also a power flux amplifier. Finally, we propose a spherical field rotator, which functions as not only a wave vector rotator, but also a polarization rotator, depending on the orientations of the spherical rotator with respect to the incident wave direction. The functionality of these novel transformation devices are all successfully confirmed by our analytical full wave method, which also provides an alternate computational efficient validation method in contrast to numerical validation methods.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figure

Pairing in the iron arsenides: a functional RG treatment

We study the phase diagram of a microscopic model for the superconducting iron arsenides by means of a functional renormalization group. Our treatment establishes a connection between a strongly simplified two-patch model by Chubukov et al. and a five-band- analysis by Wang et al.. For a wide parameter range, the dominant pairing instability occurs in the extended s-wave channel. The results clearly show the relevance of pair scattering between electron and hole pockets. We also give arguments that the phase transition between the antiferromagnetic phase for the undoped system and the superconducting phase may be first order

Evolution of ground state and upper critical field in R(1-x)GdxNi2B2C (R = Lu, Y): Coexistence of superconductivity and spin-glass state

We report effects of local magnetic moment, Gd3+, doping (x =< 0.3) on superconducting and magnetic properties of the closely related Lu(1-x)GdxNi2B2C and Y(1-x)GdxNi2B2C series. The superconducting transition temperature decreases and the heat capacity jump associated with it drops rapidly with Gd-doping; qualitative changes with doping are also observed in the temperature-dependent upper critical field behavior, and a region of coexistence of superconductivity and spin-glass state is delineated on the x - T phase diagram. The evolution of superconducting properties can be understood within Abrikosov-Gor'kov theory of magnetic impurities in superconductors taking into account the paramagnetic effect on upper critical field with additional contributions particular for the family under study

Spin dynamics near a putative antiferromagnetic quantum critical point in Cu substituted BaFe2_2As2_2 and its relation to high-temperature superconductivity

We present the results of elastic and inelastic neutron scattering measurements on non-superconducting Ba(Fe${_{0.957}}$Cu${_{0.043}}$)${_2}$As${_2}$, a composition close to a quantum critical point between AFM ordered and paramagnetic phases. By comparing these results with the spin fluctuations in the low Cu composition as well as the parent compound BaFe$_2$As$_2$ and superconducting Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ compounds, we demonstrate that paramagnon-like spin fluctuations are evident in the antiferromagnetically ordered state of Ba(Fe$_{0.957}$Cu$_{0.043}$)$_2$As$_2$, which is distinct from the AFM-like spin fluctuations in the superconducting compounds. Our observations suggest that Cu substitution decouples the interaction between quasiparticles and the spin fluctuations. We also show that the spin-spin correlation length, ${\xi(T)}$, increases rapidly as the temperature is lowered and find ${\omega/T}$ scaling behavior, the hallmark of quantum criticality, at an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

High-strain deformation of conglomerates: Numerical modelling, strain analysis, and an example from the Wutai Mountains, North China Craton

Conglomerates have been widely used to investigate deformation history and rheology, strain, vorticity and viscosity. Previous studies reveal that several factors, such as pebble shapes and concentrations, as well as material properties, affect conglomerate deformation. However, how pebble concentration and interaction between pebbles affect deformation is not understood very well. We use the 2D numerical modelling platform ELLE coupled to the full field crystal visco-plasticity code (VPFFT) to simulate the deformation of conglomerates with various viscosity contrasts between pebbles and matrix and different pebble concentrations, with both linear (stress exponent n = 1) and power-law (n = 3) viscous rheologies, under simple shear conditions up to a shear strain of ten. Pebbles can behave as effectively passive, deformable or effectively rigid. An increase in pebble concentrations/viscosity contrasts enhances pebble deformation, but reduces their rotation. A mean aspect ratio (Rf) - orientation (ϕ) plot is proposed to gain an estimate of pebble deformation behaviour and the amount of bulk strain. Closely spaced rigid or deformable pebbles can form clusters that mechanically act as single inclusions. Rigid clusters rotate and survive for only short strain increments, whereas the more stable deformable ones keep on elongating with minor rotation. We provide a natural example of deformed conglomerates from the Wutai Mountains, North China Craton. These consist of banded-iron-formation (BIF) pebbles embedded in a schistose matrix. Using the mean Rf-ϕ plot, a finite strain of ∼6 under simple shear could be determined. The viscosity of the pebbles is estimated at about 5-8 times that of the matrix for a linear rheology (n = 1), or 2 to 5 times if a power-law rheology with n = 3 is assumed

One dimensional Coulomb-like problem in deformed space with minimal length

Spectrum and eigenfunctions in the momentum representation for 1D Coulomb potential with deformed Heisenberg algebra leading to minimal length are found exactly. It is shown that correction due to the deformation is proportional to square root of the deformation parameter. We obtain the same spectrum using Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization condition.Comment: 11 pages, typos corrected, references adde

NMR evidence for inhomogeneous glassy behavior driven by nematic fluctuations in iron arsenide superconductors

We present $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation rate data in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ and Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Cu$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ as a function of temperature, doping and magnetic field. The relaxation curves exhibit a broad distribution of relaxation rates, consistent with inhomogeneous glassy behavior up to 100 K. The doping and temperature response of the width of the dynamical heterogeneity is similar to that of the nematic susceptibility measured by elastoresistance measurements. We argue that quenched random fields which couple to the nematic order give rise to a nematic glass that is reflected in the spin dynamics.Comment: Accepted to Physical Review

The Final SDSS High-Redshift Quasar Sample of 52 Quasars at z>5.7

We present the discovery of nine quasars at $z\sim6$ identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) imaging data. This completes our survey of $z\sim6$ quasars in the SDSS footprint. Our final sample consists of 52 quasars at $5.7<z\le6.4$, including 29 quasars with $z_{\rm AB}\le20$ mag selected from 11,240 deg$^2$ of the SDSS single-epoch imaging survey (the main survey), 10 quasars with $20\le z_{\rm AB}\le20.5$ selected from 4223 deg$^2$ of the SDSS overlap regions (regions with two or more imaging scans), and 13 quasars down to $z_{\rm AB}\approx22$ mag from the 277 deg$^2$ in Stripe 82. They span a wide luminosity range of $-29.0\le M_{1450}\le-24.5$. This well-defined sample is used to derive the quasar luminosity function (QLF) at $z\sim6$. After combining our SDSS sample with two faint ($M_{1450}\ge-23$ mag) quasars from the literature, we obtain the parameters for a double power-law fit to the QLF. The bright-end slope $\beta$ of the QLF is well constrained to be $\beta=-2.8\pm0.2$. Due to the small number of low-luminosity quasars, the faint-end slope $\alpha$ and the characteristic magnitude $M_{1450}^{\ast}$ are less well constrained, with $\alpha=-1.90_{-0.44}^{+0.58}$ and $M^{\ast}=-25.2_{-3.8}^{+1.2}$ mag. The spatial density of luminous quasars, parametrized as $\rho(M_{1450}<-26,z)=\rho(z=6)\,10^{k(z-6)}$, drops rapidly from $z\sim5$ to 6, with $k=-0.72\pm0.11$. Based on our fitted QLF and assuming an IGM clumping factor of $C=3$, we find that the observed quasar population cannot provide enough photons to ionize the $z\sim6$ IGM at $\sim90$\% confidence. Quasars may still provide a significant fraction of the required photons, although much larger samples of faint quasars are needed for more stringent constraints on the quasar contribution to reionization.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Detection of Orbital Fluctuations Above the Structural Transition Temperature in the Iron-Pnictides and Chalcogenides

We use point contact spectroscopy to probe $\rm{AEFe_2As_2}$ ($\rm{AE=Ca, Sr, Ba}$) and $\rm{Fe_{1+y}Te}$. For $\rm{AE=Sr, Ba}$ we detect orbital fluctuations above $T_S$ while for AE=Ca these fluctuations start below $T_S$. Co doping preserves the orbital fluctuations while K doping suppresses it. The fluctuations are only seen at those dopings and temperatures where an in-plane resistive anisotropy is known to exist. We predict an in-plane resistive anisotropy of $\rm{Fe_{1+y}Te}$ above $T_S$. Our data are examined in light of the recent work by W.-C. Lee and P. Phillips (arXiv:1110.5917v2). We also study how joule heating in the PCS junctions impacts the spectra. Spectroscopic information is only obtained from those PCS junctions that are free of heating effects while those PCS junctions that are in the thermal regime display bulk resistivity phenomenon.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review