The suppression of superconductivity in MgCNi3 by Ni-site doping

The effects of partial substitution of Cu and Co for Ni in the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi3 are reported. Calculation of the expected electronic density of states suggests that electron (Cu) and hole (Co) doping should have different effects. For MgCNi3-xCux, solubility of Cu is limited to approximately 3% (x = 0.1), and Tc decreases systematically from 7K to 6K. For MgCNi3-xCox, solubility of Co is much more extensive, but bulk superconductivity disappears for Co doping of 1% (x = 0.03). No signature of long range magnetic ordering is observed in the magnetic susceptibility of the Co doped material.Comment: submitted, Solid State Communication

The Magnetization of Cu_2(C_5H_{12}N_2)_2Cl_4 : A Heisenberg Spin Ladder System

We study the magnetization of a Heisenberg spin ladder using exact diagonalization techniques, finding three distinct magnetic phases. We consider the results in relation to the experimental behaviour of the new copper compound Cu_2(C_5H_{12}N_2)_2Cl_4 and deduce that the compound is well described by such a model with a ratio of `chain' to `rung' bond strengths (J/J^\prime) of the order of 0.2, consistent with results from the magnetic susceptibility. The effects of temperature, spin impurities and additional diagonal bonds are presented and we give evidence that these diagonal bonds are indeed of a ferromagnetic nature.Comment: Latex file (4 pages), related figures (encapsulated postscript) appende

Complex lapse, complex action and path integrals

Imaginary time is often used in quantum tunnelling calculations. This article advocates a conceptually sounder alternative: complex lapse. In the ``3+1'' action for the Einstein gravitational field minimally coupled to a Klein-Gordon field, allowing the lapse function to be complex yields a complex action which generates both the usual Lorentzian theory and its Riemannian analogue, and in particular allows a change of signature between the two. The action and variational equations are manifestly well defined in the Hamiltonian representation, with the momentum fields consequently being complex. The complex action interpolates between the Lorentzian and Riemannian actions as they appear formally in the respective path integrals. Thus the complex-lapse theory provides a unified basis for a path-integral quantum theory of gravity involving both Lorentzian and Riemannian aspects. A major motivation is the quantum-tunnelling scenario for the origin of the universe. Taken as an explanation for the observed quantum tunnelling of particles, the complex-lapse theory determines that the argument of the lapse for the universe now is extremely small but negative.Comment: 12 pages, Te

Kerr black holes in horizon-generating form

New coordinates are given which describe non-degenerate Kerr black holes in dual-null foliations based on the outer (or inner) horizons, generalizing the Kruskal form for Schwarzschild black holes. The construction involves an area radius for the transverse surfaces and a generalization of the Regge-Wheeler radial function, both functions of the original radial coordinate only.Comment: 4 revtex4 page

Energy distribution in a BTZ black hole spacetime

We evaluate the energy distribution associated with the (2+1)-dimensional rotating BTZ black hole. The energy-momentum complexes of Landau-Lifshitz and Weinberg are employed for this computation. Both prescriptions give exactly the same form of energy distribution. Therefore, these results provide evidence in support of the claim that, for a given gravitational background, different energy-momentum complexes can give identical results in three dimensions, as it is the case in four dimensions.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX; v2: comments, clarifications and references added, version to appear in Int.J.Mod.Phys.

Construction and enlargement of traversable wormholes from Schwarzschild black holes

Analytic solutions are presented which describe the construction of a traversable wormhole from a Schwarzschild black hole, and the enlargement of such a wormhole, in Einstein gravity. The matter model is pure radiation which may have negative energy density (phantom or ghost radiation) and the idealization of impulsive radiation (infinitesimally thin null shells) is employed.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figure

Quantum fields in gravity

We give a brief description of some compelling connections between general relativity and thermodynamics through i) the semi-classical tunnelling method(s) and ii) the field-theoretical modelling of Unruh-DeWitt detectors. In both approaches it is possible to interpret some quantities in a thermodynamical frame.Comment: 4 pages, no figures, contribution to the proceedings of the conference "Relativity and Gravitation - 100 years after Einstein in Prague

Estuarine response to nutrient enrichment, a counterpart of eutrophication : a bibliography

This work is a result of our efforts to compile the literature related to the results of nutrient enrichment of estuaries. It consists of two related publications, a bibliography and an annotated bibliography; both works are accompanied by an index which applies to either bibliography. An attempt has been made to include a few key papers related to various processes, eg nutrient uptake by phytoplankton, which influence or participate in the response process

Energy Distribution in Melvin's Magnetic Universe

We use the energy-momentum complexes of Landau and Lifshitz and Papapetrou to obtain the energy distribution in Melvin's magnetic universe. For this space-time we find that these definitions of energy give the same and convincing results. The energy distribution obtained here is the same as we obtained earlier for the same space-time using the energy-momentum complex of Einstein. These results uphold the usefulness of the energy-momentum complexes.Comment: 8 pages, RevTex, no figure