21,257 research outputs found
A strong electroweak phase transition in the 2HDM after LHC8
The nature of the electroweak phase transition in two-Higgs-doublet models is revisited in light of the recent LHC results. A scan over an extensive region of their parameter space is performed, showing that a strongly first-order phase transition favours a light neutral scalar with SM-like properties, together with a heavy pseudo-scalar (m_A^0 > 400 GeV) and a mass hierarchy in the scalar sector, m_H^+ gamma gamma decay channel and find that an enhancement in the branching ratio is allowed, and in some cases even preferred, when a strongly first-order phase transition is required
Further investigation of a contactless patient-electrode interface of an Electrical Impedance Mammography system
The Sussex Mk4 Electrical Impedance Mammography (EIM) system is a novel instrument, designed for the detection of early breast cancer, based upon Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). Many innovations in the field have been incorporated in the design improving both signal distribution and response. This paper investigates the behaviour of the contactless patient-electrode interface. The interface was studied in detail using phantom and healthy volunteer, in-vivo, data. Our findings show the necessity for the careful design of electrode enclosure so that the response of the system is not affected by the unpredictable positioning of the breast; it closely mimics those conditions seen when using the phantom. The paper includes a number of possible designs and their individual characteristics. In addition an explanation on the unanticipated effects and solutions for such are described. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd
Experimentally Feasible Security Check for n-qubit Quantum Secret Sharing
In this article we present a general security strategy for quantum secret
sharing (QSS) protocols based on the HBB scheme presented by Hillery, Bu\v{z}ek
and Berthiaume [Phys. Rev A \textbf{59}, 1829 (1999)]. We focus on a
generalization of the HBB protocol to communication parties thus including
-partite GHZ states. We show that the multipartite version of the HBB scheme
is insecure in certain settings and impractical when going to large . To
provide security for such QSS schemes in general we use the framework presented
by some of the authors [M. Huber, F. Minert, A. Gabriel, B. C. Hiesmayr, Phys.
Rev. Lett. \textbf{104}, 210501 (2010)] to detect certain genuine partite
entanglement between the communication parties. In particular, we present a
simple inequality which tests the security.Comment: 5 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Interplay between nanometer-scale strain variations and externally applied strain in graphene
We present a molecular modeling study analyzing nanometer-scale strain
variations in graphene as a function of externally applied tensile strain. We
consider two different mechanisms that could underlie nanometer-scale strain
variations: static perturbations from lattice imperfections of an underlying
substrate and thermal fluctuations. For both cases we observe a decrease in the
out-of-plane atomic displacements with increasing strain, which is accompanied
by an increase in the in-plane displacements. Reflecting the non-linear elastic
properties of graphene, both trends together yield a non-monotonic variation of
the total displacements with increasing tensile strain. This variation allows
to test the role of nanometer-scale strain variations in limiting the carrier
mobility of high-quality graphene samples
Echoes of the electroweak phase transition: discovering a second Higgs doublet through A0 → ZH0
The existence of a second Higgs doublet in nature could lead to a cosmological first-order electroweak
phase transition and explain the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe. We obtain the
spectrum and properties of the new scalars H0, A0, and H� that signal such a phase transition and show that
the observation of the decay A0 → ZH0 at LHC would be a “smoking gun” signature of these scenarios. We
analyze the LHC search prospects for this decay in the llbb¯ and llWþW− final states, arguing that current
data may be sensitive to this signature in the former channel as well as there being great potential for a
discovery in either channel at the very early stages of the 14 TeV run
Is U3Ni3Sn4 best described as near a quantum critical point?
Although most known non-Fermi liquid (NFL) materials are structurally or
chemically disordered, the role of this disorder remains unclear. In
particular, very few systems have been discovered that may be stoichiometric
and well ordered. To test whether U3Ni3Sn4 belongs in this latter class, we
present measurements of the x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) of
polycrystalline and single-crystal U3Ni3Sn4 samples that are consistent with no
measurable local structural disorder. We also present temperature-dependent
specific heat data in applied magnetic fields as high as 8 T that show features
that are inconsistent with the antiferromagnetic Griffiths' phase model, but do
support the conclusion that a Fermi liquid/NFL crossover temperature increases
with applied field. These results are inconsistent with theoretical
explanations that require strong disorder effects, but do support the view that
U3Ni3Sn4 is a stoichiometric, ordered material that exhibits NFL behavior, and
is best described as being near an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, in press with PR
- …