Optical Resonances in Reflectivity near Crystal Modes with Spatial Dispersion

We study the effect of spatial dispersion of crystal modes on optical properties such as the reflectivity $R$. As an example for isotropic media, we investigate the simplest model for phonons in ionic crystals and compare with previous results for highly anisotropic plasmons, which are now understood from a more general point of view. As a consequence of the wave vector dependence of the dielectric function small changes in the lineshape are predicted. Beyond that, if the frequency of minimal $R$ is near a pole of the dispersionless dielectric function, the relative amplitude of dips in $R$ with normal and anomalous dispersion differ significantly, if dissipation and disorder are low.Comment: 4 pages, 7 eps figures, minor change

The influence of magnetic order on the magnetoresistance anisotropy of Fe1+δ−x_{1+\delta-x}Cux_{x}Te

We performed resistance measurements on Fe$_{1+\delta-x}$Cu$_{x}$Te with $x_{EDX}\leq 0.06$ in the presence of in-plane applied magnetic fields, revealing a resistance anisotropy that can be induced at a temperature far below the structural and magnetic zero-field transition temperatures. The observed resistance anisotropy strongly depends on the field orientation with respect to the crystallographic axes, as well as on the field-cooling history. Our results imply a correlation between the observed features and the low-temperature magnetic order. Hysteresis in the angle-dependence indicates a strong pinning of the magnetic order within a temperature range that varies with the Cu content. The resistance anisotropy vanishes at different temperatures depending on whether an external magnetic field or a remnant field is present: the closing temperature is higher in the presence of an external field. For $x_{EDX} = 0.06$ the resistance anisotropy closes above the structural transition, at the same temperature at which the zero-field short-range magnetic order disappears and the sample becomes paramagnetic. Thus we suggest that under an external magnetic field the resistance anisotropy mirrors the magnetic order parameter. We discuss similarities to nematic order observed in other iron pnictide materials.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Pleistocene reptile swim traces confirmed from South Africa’s Cape south coast

Large Pleistocene reptile tracks and traces were described from the Cape south coast of South Africa in 2020, including ‘probable swim traces’. These trace fossils were found on loose slabs and blocks of the Klein Brak Formation. Subsequently, another surface has become exposed on this coastline, also on a loose slab. It exhibits more definitive evidence of swim traces in epirelief, probably made by the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) or water monitor (Varanus niloticus), although a chelonian origin cannot be excluded. Length of a possible crocodylian trackmaker was estimated from measurements of interdigital distance in the swim traces. These provide a compelling example of reptile swim traces from Africa.Significance: Pleistocene reptile swim traces have now been confidently confirmed from the Cape south coast of South Africa. The findings complement the suite of recently identified large reptile tracks. Trackmaker size can be estimated from the dimensions of reptile swim traces. These are the first compelling non-dinosaurian reptile swim traces to be described from Africa

Use of induced acceleration to quantify the (de)stabilization effect of external and internal forces on postural responses

Due to the mechanical coupling between the body segments, it is impossible to see with the naked eye the causes of body movements and understand the interaction between movements of different body parts. The goal of this paper is to investigate the use of induced acceleration analysis to reveal the causes of body movements. We derive the analytical equations to calculate induced accelerations and evaluate its potential to study human postural responses to support-surface translations. We measured the kinematic and kinetic responses of a subject to sudden forward and backward translations of a moving platform. The kinematic and kinetics served as input to the induced acceleration analyses. The induced accelerations showed explicitly that the platform acceleration and deceleration contributed to the destabilization and restabilization of standing balance, respectively. Furthermore, the joint torques, coriolis and centrifugal forces caused by swinging of the arms, contributed positively to stabilization of the center of mass. It is concluded that induced acceleration analyses is a valuable tool in understanding balance responses to different kinds of perturbations and may help to identify the causes of movement in different pathologies