4,665 research outputs found
Magnetic field enhanced structural instability in EuTiO_{3}
EuTiO_{3} undergoes a structural phase transition from cubic to tetragonal at
T_S = 282 K which is not accompanied by any long range magnetic order. However,
it is related to the oxygen ocathedra rotation driven by a zone boundary
acoustic mode softening. Here we show that this displacive second order
structural phase transition can be shifted to higher temperatures by the
application of an external magnetic field (increased by 4 K for mu_{0}H = 9 T).
This observed field dependence is in agreement with theoretical predictions
based on a coupled spin-anharmonic-phonon interaction model.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
A retrospective study of the prevalence of the canine degenerative myelopathy associated superoxide dismutase 1 mutation (SOD1: c. 118G> A) in a referral population of German Shepherd dogs from the UK
BACKGROUND: Canine degenerative myelopathy (CDM) is an adult onset, progressive neurodegenerative disease of the spinal cord. The disease was originally described in the German Shepherd dog (GSD), but it is now known to occur in many other dog breeds. A previous study has identified a mutation in the superoxide dismutase 1 gene (SOD1:c.118G > A) that is associated with susceptibility to CDM. In the present study, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was used to genotype GSD for SOD1:c.118G > A in order to estimate the prevalence of the mutation in a referral population of GSD in the UK. RESULTS: This study demonstrated that the RFLP assay, based on use of PCR and subsequent digestion with the Eco571 enzyme, provided a simple genotyping test for the SOD1:c.118G > A mutation. In a young GSD population (i.e. dogs less than 6 years of age, before clinical signs of the disease usually become apparent), 8 of 50 dogs were found to be homozygous and a further 19 were heterozygous for the mutation. In dogs over 8 years of age, 21 of 50 dogs admitted to a tertiary referral hospital with pelvic limb ataxia as a major clinical sign were homozygous for the mutation, compared to none of 50 dogs of similar age, but where no neurological disease was reported on referral. CONCLUSIONS: This data suggests that genotyping for the SOD1:c.118G > A mutation is clinically applicable and that the mutation has a high degree of penetrance. Genotyping might also be useful for screening the GSD population to avoid mating of two carriers, but since the allele frequency is relatively high in the UK population of GSD, care should be taken to avoid reduction in genetic diversity within the breed
Intrinsic and structural isotope effects in Fe-based superconductors
The currently available results of the isotope effect on the superconducting
transition temperature T_c in Fe-based high-temperature superconductors (HTS)
are highly controversial. The values of the Fe isotope effect (Fe-IE) exponent
\alpha_Fe for various families of Fe-based HTS were found to be as well
positive, as negative, or even be exceedingly larger than the BCS value
\alpha_BCS=0.5. Here we demonstrate that the Fe isotope substitution causes
small structural modifications which, in turn, affect T_c. Upon correcting the
isotope effect exponent for these structural effects, an almost unique value of
\alpha~0.35-0.4 is observed for at least three different families of Fe-based
HTS.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Oxygen-isotope effect on the superconducting gap in the cuprate superconductor Y_{1-x}Pr_xBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}
The oxygen-isotope (^{16}O/^{18}O) effect (OIE) on the zero-temperature
superconducting energy gap \Delta_0 was studied for a series of
Y_{1-x}Pr_xBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta} samples (0.0\leq x\leq0.45). The OIE on
\Delta_0 was found to scale with the one on the superconducting transition
temperature. These experimental results are in quantitative agreement with
predictions from a polaronic model for cuprate high-temperature superconductors
and rule out approaches based on purely electronic mechanisms.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Constraints on Cosmological Parameters from Future Galaxy Cluster Surveys
We study the expected redshift evolution of galaxy cluster abundance between
0 < z < 3 in different cosmologies, including the effects of the cosmic
equation of state parameter w=p/rho. Using the halo mass function obtained in
recent large scale numerical simulations, we model the expected cluster yields
in a 12 deg^2 Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect (SZE) survey and a deep 10^4 deg^2 X-ray
survey over a wide range of cosmological parameters. We quantify the
statistical differences among cosmologies using both the total number and
redshift distribution of clusters. Provided that the local cluster abundance is
known to a few percent accuracy, we find only mild degeneracies between w and
either Omega_m or h. As a result, both surveys will provide improved
constraints on Omega_m and w. The Omega_m-w degeneracy from both surveys is
complementary to those found either in studies of CMB anisotropies or of
high-redshift Supernovae (SNe). As a result, combining these surveys together
with either CMB or SNe studies can reduce the statistical uncertainty on both w
and Omega_m to levels below what could be obtained by combining only the latter
two data sets. Our results indicate a formal statistical uncertainty of about
3% (68% confidence) on both Omega_m and w when the SZE survey is combined with
either the CMB or SN data; the large number of clusters in the X-ray survey
further suppresses the degeneracy between w and both Omega_m and h. Systematics
and internal evolution of cluster structure at the present pose uncertainties
above these levels. We briefly discuss and quantify the relevant systematic
errors. By focusing on clusters with measured temperatures in the X-ray survey,
we reduce our sensitivity to systematics such as non-standard evolution of
internal cluster structure.Comment: ApJ, revised version. Expanded discussion of systematics;
Press-Schechter mass function replaced by fit from simulation
External Shear in Quadruply Imaged Lens Systems
We use publicly available N-body simulations and semi-analytic models of
galaxy formation to estimate the levels of external shear due to structure near
the lens in gravitational lens systems. We also describe two selection effects,
specific to four-image systems, that enhance the probability of observing
systems to have higher external shear. Ignoring additional contributions from
"cosmic shear" and assuming that lens galaxies are not significantly flattened,
we find that the mean shear at the position of a quadruple lens galaxy is 0.11,
the rms shear is roughly 0.15, and there is roughly a 45% likelihood of
external shear greater than 0.1. This is much larger than previous estimates
and in good agreement with typical measured external shear. The higher shear
primarily stems from the tendency of early-type galaxies, which are the
majority of lenses, to reside in overdense regions.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, ApJ in press, minor revision
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