From Disordered Crystal to Glass: Exact Theory

We calculate thermodynamic properties of a disordered model insulator, starting from the ideal simple-cubic lattice ($g = 0$) and increasing the disorder parameter $g$ to $\gg 1/2$. As in earlier Einstein- and Debye- approximations, there is a phase transition at $g_{c} = 1/2$. For $g<g_{c}$ the low-T heat-capacity $C \sim T^{3}$ whereas for $g>g_{c}$, $C \sim T$. The van Hove singularities disappear at {\em any finite $g$}. For $g>1/2$ we discover novel {\em fixed points} in the self-energy and spectral density of this model glass.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett., 8 pages, 4 figure

The role of slip transfer at grain boundaries in the propagation of microstructurally short fatigue cracks in Ni-based superalloys

Crack initiation and propagation under high-cycle fatigue conditions have been investigated for a polycrystalline Ni-based superalloy by in-situ synchrotron assisted diffraction and phase contrast tomography. The cracks nucleated along the longest coherent twin boundaries pre-existing on the specimen surface, that were well oriented for slip and that presented a large elastic incompatibility across them. Moreover, the propagation of microstructurally short cracks was found to be determined by the easy slip transfer paths across the pre-existing grain boundaries. This information can only be obtained by characterization techniques like the ones presented here that provide the full set of 3D microstructural information

Length-dependent oscillations of the conductance through atomic chains: The importance of electronic correlations

We calculate the conductance of atomic chains as a function of their length. Using the Density Matrix Renormalization Group algorithm for a many-body model which takes into account electron-electron interactions and the shape of the contacts between the chain and the leads, we show that length-dependent oscillations of the conductance whose period depends on the electron density in the chain can result from electron-electron scattering alone. The amplitude of these oscillations can increase with the length of the chain, in contrast to the result from approaches which neglect the interactions.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Strange and charm mesons at FAIR

We study the properties of strange and charm mesons in hot and dense matter within a self-consistent coupled-channel approach for the experimental conditions of density and temperature expected for the CBM experiment at FAIR/GSI. The in-medium solution at finite temperature accounts for Pauli blocking effects, mean-field binding of all the baryons involved, and meson self-energies. We analyze the behaviour in this hot and dense environment of dynamically-generated baryonic resonances together with the evolution with density and temperature of the strange and open-charm meson spectral functions. We test the spectral functions for strange mesons using energy-weighted sum rules and finally discuss the implications of the properties of charm mesons on the D_{s0}(2317) and the predicted X(3700) scalar resonances.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, invited talk at XXXI Mazurian Lakes Conference on Physics: Nuclear Physics and the Road to FAIR, August 30-September 6, 2009, Piaski, Polan

Long-range ferromagnetism of Mn12 acetate single-molecule magnets under a transverse magnetic field

We use neutron diffraction to probe the magnetization components of a crystal of Mn12 single-molecule magnets. Each of these molecules behaves, at low temperatures, as a nanomagnet with spin S = 10 and strong anisotropy along the crystallographic c axis. Application of a magnetic field perpendicular to c induces quantum tunneling between opposite spin orientations, enabling the spins to attain thermal equilibrium. Below approximately 0.9 K, intermolecular interactions turn this equilibrium state into a ferromagnetically ordered phase. However, long range ferromagnetic correlations nearly disappear for fields larger 5.5 T, possibly suggesting the existence of a quantum critical point.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Charmed hadrons in nuclear medium

We study the properties of charmed hadrons in dense matter within a coupled-channel approach which accounts for Pauli blocking effects and meson self-energies in a self-consistent manner. We analyze the behaviour in this dense environment of dynamically-generated baryonic resonances as well as the open-charm meson spectral functions. We discuss the implications of the in-medium properties of open-charm mesons on the $D_{s0}(2317)$ and the predicted X(3700) scalar resonances.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, invited parallel talk in the 5th International Conference on Quarks and Nuclear Physics (QNP09), Beijing, September 21-26, 200

The \rho\rho interaction in the hidden gauge formalism and the f_0(1370) and f_2(1270) resonances

We have studied the interaction of vectors mesons within the hidden gauge formalism and applied it to the particular case of the $\rho \rho$ interaction. We find a strong attraction in the isospin, spin channels I,S=0,0 and 0,2, which is enough to bind the $\rho \rho$ system. We also find that the attraction in the I,S=0,2 channel is much stronger than in the 0,0 case. The states develop a width when the $\rho$ mass distribution is considered, and particularly when the $\pi \pi$ decay channel is turned on. Using a regularization scheme with cut offs of natural size, we obtain results in fair agreement with the mass and the width of the $f_0(1370)$ and $f_2(1270)$ meson states, providing a natural explanation of why the tensor state is more bound than the scalar and offering a new picture for these states, which would be dynamically generated from the $\rho \rho$ interaction or, in simpler words, $\rho \rho$ molecular states.Comment: Version accepted for publicatio