5,180 research outputs found
Dual-fermion approach to the Anderson-Hubbard model
We apply the recently developed dual fermion algorithm for disordered
interacting systems to the Anderson-Hubbard model. This algorithm is compared
with dynamical cluster approximation calculations for a one-dimensional system
to establish the quality of the approximation in comparison with an established
cluster method. We continue with a three-dimensional (3d) system and look at
the antiferromagnetic, Mott and Anderson localization transitions. The dual
fermion approach leads to quantitative as well as qualitative improvement of
the dynamical mean-field results and it allows one to calculate the hysteresis
in the double occupancy in 3d taking into account nonlocal correlations
Interpretation of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Spectra in Doped LaCuO
The nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectrum of strontium doped
LaCuO surprisingly resembles the NQR spectrum of LaCuO doped
with excess oxygen, both spectra being dominated by a main peak and one
principal satellite peak at similar frequencies. Using first-principles cluster
calculations this is investigated here by calculating the electric field
gradient (EFG) at the central copper site of the cluster after replacing a
lanthanum atom in the cluster with a strontium atom or adding an interstitial
oxygen to the cluster. In each case the EFG was increased by approximately 10 %
leading unexpectedly to the explanation that the NQR spectra are only
accidentally similar and the origins are quite different. Additionally the
widths of the peaks in the NQR spectra are explained by the different EFG of
copper centres remote from the impurity. A model, based on holes moving rapidly
across the planar oxygen atoms, is proposed to explain the observed increase in
frequency of both the main and satellite peaks in the NQR spectrum as the
doping concentration is increased
A study to explore the use of orbital remote sensing to determine native arid plant distribution
The author has identified the following significant results. It is possible to determine, from ERTS imagery, native arid plant distribution. Using techniques of multispectral masking and extensive fieldwork, three native vegetation communities were defined and mapped in the Avra Valley study area. A map was made of the Yuma area with the aid of ground truth correlations between areas of desert pavement visible on ERTS images and unique vegetation types. With the exception of the Yuma soil-vegetation correlation phenomena, only very gross differentiations of desert vegetation communities can be made from ERTS data. Vegetation communities with obvious vegetation density differences such as saguaro-paloverde, creosote bush, and riparian vegetation can be separated on the Avra Valley imagery while more similar communities such as creosote bush and saltbush could not be differentiated. It is suggested that large differences in vegetation density are needed before the signatures of two different vegetation types can be differentiated on ERTS imagery. This is due to the relatively insignificant contribution of vegetation to the total radiometric signature of a given desert scene. Where more detailed information concerning the vegetation of arid regions is required, large scale imagery is appropriate
High-pressure spin shifts in the pseudogap regime of superconducting YBa2Cu4O8 as revealed by 17O NMR
A new NMR anvil cell design is used for measuring the influence of high
pressure on the electronic properties of the high-temperature superconductor
YBaCuO above the superconducting transition temperature . It is found that pressure increases the spin shift at all temperatures in
such a way that the pseudo-gap feature has almost disappeared at 63 kbar. This
change of the temperature dependent spin susceptibility can be explained by a
pressure induced proportional decrease (factor of two) of a temperature
dependent component, and an increase (factor of 9) of a temperature independent
component, contrary to the effects of increasing doping. The results
demonstrate that one can use anvil cell NMR to investigate the tuning of the
electronic properties of correlated electronic materials with pressure.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Vitamin C inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis in congestive heart failure
Background - Proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor- and oxidative stress induce apoptotic cell death in endothelial cells (ECs). Systemic inflammation and increased oxidative stress in congestive heart failure (CHF) coincide with enhanced EC apoptosis and the development of endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated the effects of antioxidative vitamin C therapy on EC apoptosis in CHF patients. Methods and Results - Vitamin C dose dependently suppressed the induction of EC apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor- and angiotensin II in vitro as assessed by DNA fragmentation, DAPI nuclear staining, and MTT viability assay. The antiapoptotic effect of vitamin C was associated with reduced cytochrome C release from mitochondria and the inhibition of caspase-9 activity. To assess EC protection by vitamin C in CHF patients, we prospectively randomized CHF patients in a double-blind trial to vitamin C treatment versus placebo. Vitamin C administration to CHF patients markedly reduced plasma levels of circulating apoptotic microparticles to 32±8% of baseline levels, whereas placebo had no effect (87±14%, P<0.005). In addition, vitamin C administration suppressed the proapoptotic activity on EC of the serum of CHF patients (P<0.001). Conclusions - Administration of vitamin C to CHF patients suppresses EC apoptosis in vivo, which might contribute to the established functional benefit of vitamin C supplementation on endothelial function
Trapping and manipulating neutral atoms with electrostatic fields
We report on experiments with cold thermal Li atoms confined in combined
magnetic and electric potentials. A novel type of three-dimensional trap was
formed by modulating a magnetic guide using electrostatic fields. We observed
atoms trapped in a string of up to six individual such traps, a controlled
transport of an atomic cloud over a distance of 400m, and a dynamic
splitting of a single trap into a double well potential. Applications for
quantum information processing are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Diffusion in nanopores recorded by microscopic measuring techniques
The poster presents two measuring techniques which, by their very nature, can be focused on,
exclusively, microscopic dimensions, including the interior of the individual particles (crystallites) of
the material under study. Correspondingly, they are referred to as “microscopic measuring techniques”.
The examples presented refer, in particular, to the potentials of these techniques for investigating mass
transfer in complex systems
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