302 research outputs found
Spherical harmonic transform with GPUs
We describe an algorithm for computing an inverse spherical harmonic
transform suitable for graphic processing units (GPU). We use CUDA and base our
implementation on a Fortran90 routine included in a publicly available parallel
package, S2HAT. We focus our attention on the two major sequential steps
involved in the transforms computation, retaining the efficient parallel
framework of the original code. We detail optimization techniques used to
enhance the performance of the CUDA-based code and contrast them with those
implemented in the Fortran90 version. We also present performance comparisons
of a single CPU plus GPU unit with the S2HAT code running on either a single or
4 processors. In particular we find that use of the latest generation of GPUs,
such as NVIDIA GF100 (Fermi), can accelerate the spherical harmonic transforms
by as much as 18 times with respect to S2HAT executed on one core, and by as
much as 5.5 with respect to S2HAT on 4 cores, with the overall performance
being limited by the Fast Fourier transforms. The work presented here has been
performed in the context of the Cosmic Microwave Background simulations and
analysis. However, we expect that the developed software will be of more
general interest and applicability
Chaos in Andreev Billiards
A new type of classical billiard - the Andreev billiard - is investigated
using the tangent map technique. Andreev billiards consist of a normal region
surrounded by a superconducting region. In contrast with previously studied
billiards, Andreev billiards are integrable in zero magnetic field, {\it
regardless of their shape}. A magnetic field renders chaotic motion in a
generically shaped billiard, which is demonstrated for the Bunimovich stadium
by examination of both Poincar\'e sections and Lyapunov exponents. The issue of
the feasibility of certain experimental realizations is addressed.Comment: ReVTeX3.0, 4 pages, 3 figures appended as postscript file (uuencoded
with uufiles
Nonlocal Effects on the Magnetic Penetration Depth in d-wave Superconductors
We show that, under certain conditions, the low temperature behavior of the
magnetic penetration depth of a pure d-wave superconductor is
determined by nonlocal electrodynamics and, contrary to the general belief, the
deviation is proportional to T^2 and
not T. We predict that the dependence, due to
nonlocality, should be observable experimentally in nominally clean high-T_c
superconductors below a crossover temperature . Possible complications due to impurities, surface quality and
crystal axes orientation are discussed.Comment: REVTeX3.0; 4 pages, 1 EPS figure (included); Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Let
Improvement of several properties of lead tungstate crystals with different doping ions
A very good radiation resistance of Lead Tungstate crystals is mandatory for their use in the high precision electromagnetic calorimeter of the CMS experiment at LHC. Since the beginning of 1996 we have organised systematic investigations of the parameters influencing the radiation hardness of this crystal. Two classes of parameters have been particularly studied, the first one related to the control of the stoichiometry and structure associated defects, the second one connected with the suppression and the charge compensation of existing defects with different kinds of doping ions. This paper reports about the second part of this study and complements a first paper where the role of the stoichiometry was already discussed. Results of tests are given on a significant statistical sample of full size crystals ( 23cm) which show a considerable improvement in the optical properties and the radiation resistance of appropriately doped crystals
On the Relationship Between the Pseudo- and Superconducting Gaps: Effects of Residual Pairing Correlations Below Tc
The existence of a normal state spectral gap in underdoped cuprates raises
important questions about the associated superconducting phase. For example,
how does this pseudogap evolve into its below Tc counterpart? In this paper we
characterize this unusual superconductor by investigating the nature of the
``residual'' pseudogap below Tc and, find that it leads to an important
distinction between the superconducting excitation gap and order parameter. Our
approach is based on a conserving diagrammatic BCS Bose-Einstein crossover
theory which yields the precise BCS result in weak coupling at any T<Tc and
reproduces Leggett's results in the T=0 limit. We explore the resulting
experimental implications.Comment: REVTeX, 4 pages, 1 EPS figure (included
Size distribution of magnetic charge domains in thermally activated but out-of-equilibrium artificial spin ice
International audienceA crystal of emerging magnetic charges is expected in the phase diagram of the dipolar kagome spin ice. An observation of charge crystallites in thermally demagnetized artificial spin ice arrays has been recently reported by S. Zhang and coworkers and explained through the thermodynamics of the system as it approaches a charge-ordered state. Following a similar approach, we have generated a partial order of magnetic charges in an artificial kagome spin ice lattice made out of ferrimagnetic material having a Curie temperature of 475 K. A statistical study of the size of the charge domains reveals an unconventional sawtooth distribution. This distribution is in disagreement with the predictions of the thermodynamic model and is shown to be a signature of the kinetic process governing the remagnetization
The importance of the weak: Interaction modifiers in artificial spin ices
The modification of geometry and interactions in two-dimensional magnetic
nanosystems has enabled a range of studies addressing the magnetic order,
collective low-energy dynamics, and emergent magnetic properties, in e.g.
artificial spin ice structures. The common denominator of all these
investigations is the use of Ising-like mesospins as building blocks, in the
form of elongated magnetic islands. Here we introduce a new approach: single
interaction modifiers, using slave-mesospins in the form of discs, within which
the mesospin is free to rotate in the disc plane. We show that by placing these
on the vertices of square artificial spin ice arrays and varying their
diameter, it is possible to tailor the strength and the ratio of the
interaction energies. We demonstrate the existence of degenerate ice-rule
obeying states in square artificial spin ice structures, enabling the
exploration of thermal dynamics in a spin liquid manifold. Furthermore, we even
observe the emergence of flux lattices on larger length-scales, when the energy
landscape of the vertices is reversed. The work highlights the potential of a
design strategy for two-dimensional magnetic nano-architectures, through which
mixed dimensionality of mesospins can be used to promote thermally emergent
mesoscale magnetic states.Comment: 17 pages, including methods, 4 figures. Supplementary information
contains 16 pages and 15 figure
Shared values and deliberative valuation:Future directions
Valuation that focuses only on individual values evades the substantial collective and intersubjective meanings, significance and value from ecosystems. Shared, plural and cultural values of ecosystems constitute a diffuse and interdisciplinary field of research, covering an area that links questions around value ontology, elicitation and aggregation with questions of participation, ethics, and social justice. Synthesising understanding from various contributions to this Special Issue of Ecosystem Services, and with a particular focus on deliberation and deliberative valuation, we discuss key findings and present 35 future research questions in eight topic areas: 1) the ontology of shared values; 2) the role of catalyst and conflict points; 3) shared values and cultural ecosystem services; 4) transcendental values; 5) the process and outcomes of deliberation; 6) deliberative monetary valuation; 7) value aggregation, meta-values and ‘rules of the game’; and 8) integrating valuation methods. The results of this Special Issue and these key questions can help develop a more extensive evidence base to mature the area and develop environmental valuation into a more pluralistic, comprehensive, robust, legitimate and effective way of safeguarding ecosystems and their services for the future
Superconducting transitions from the pseudogap state: d-wave symmetry, lattice, and low-dimensional effects
We investigate the behavior of the superconducting transition temperature
within a previously developed BCS-Bose Einstein crossover picture. This
picture, based on a decoupling scheme of Kadanoff and Martin, further extended
by Patton, can be used to derive a simple form for the superconducting
transition temperature in the presence of a pseudogap. We extend previous work
which addressed the case of s-wave pairing in jellium, to explore the solutions
for T_c as a function of variable coupling in more physically relevant
situations. We thereby ascertain the effects of reduced dimensionality,
periodic lattices and a d-wave pairing interaction. Implications for the
cuprate superconductors are discussed.Comment: REVTeX, 11 pages, 6 EPS figures included, Replace with published
versio
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