The role of cosmic rays and Alfven waves in the structure of the galactic halo

The effect that cosmic rays and the Alfven waves they generate have on the structure of the plasma distribution perpendicular to the galactic disk is examined. It is shown that the plasma distribution exhibits two length scales and the predicted values of gas density far from the galactic plane indicate that models involving hydrostatic equilibrium should be replaced by those allowing for a galactic wind

Distributed and collaborative: Experiences of local leadership of a first-year experience program

The first year experience (FYE) is a domain in which local level leadership is critical for engaging academics in taking a whole of curriculum focus on student transition and success, and working collaboratively with professional staff. This paper describes ways in which local leadership is experienced at the faculty level in an institutional FYE program, based on interviews with faculty coordinators and small grant recipients. Initial analysis using the distributed leadership tenets described by Jones, Hadgraft, Harvey, Lefoe and Ryland (2014) revealed features, such as collaborative communities, that enabled success, as well as differences across faculties. More fine grained analysis indicated further themes in engaging others, enabling and enacting the FYE program: gaining buy-in; being opportunistic; the need for evidence of success and recognition; the need for collegial support for coordinators and self-perceptions of ‘leadership’ being about making connections, collaboration, trust and expertise

First-principle density-functional calculation of the Raman spectra of BEDT-TTF

We present a first-principles density-functional calculation for the Raman spectra of a neutral BEDT-TTF molecule. Our results are in excellent agreement with experimental results. We show that a planar structure is not a stable state of a neutral BEDT-TTF molecule. We consider three possible conformations and discuss their relation to disorder in these systems.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, submitted to the proceedings of ISCOM 200

Antiferromagnetic Spin Fluctuations in the Metallic Phase of Quasi-Two-Dimensional Organic Superconductors

We give a quantitative analysis of the previously published nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments in the k-(ET)2X family of organic charge transfer salts by using the phenomenological spin fluctuation model of Moriya, and Millis, Monien and Pines (M-MMP). For temperatures above T_nmr ~ 50 K, the model gives a good quantitative description of the data in the metallic phases of several k-(ET)2X materials. These materials display antiferromagnetic correlation lengths which increase with decreasing temperature and grow to several lattice constants by T_nmr. It is shown that the fact that the dimensionless Korringa ratio is much larger than unity is inconsistent with a broad class of theoretical models (such as dynamical mean-field theory) which neglects spatial correlations and/or vertex corrections. For materials close to the Mott insulating phase the nuclear spin relaxation rate, the Knight shift and the Korringa ratio all decrease significantly with decreasing temperature below T_nmr. This cannot be described by the M-MMP model and the most natural explanation is that a pseudogap, similar to that observed in the underdoped cuprate superconductors, opens up in the density of states below T_nmr. Such a pseudogap has recently been predicted to occur in the dimerised organic charge transfer salts materials by the resonating valence bond (RVB) theory. We propose specific new experiments on organic superconductors to elucidate these issues. For example, measurements to see if high magnetic fields or high pressures can be used to close the pseudogap would be extremely valuable.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

An evolving approach to developing academics understanding of transition for first year students. A Practice Report

The purpose of this paper is to describe the strategies used in the First Year Experience (FYE) Project at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) to engage and support academics to address student transition and diversity. The UTS FYE framework has provided a mechanism for third generation transition pedagogy which has been realised through a range of strategies including the establishment of a UTS FYE Coordinator overseeing the design and implementation of FYE Forums, the FYE small grant scheme, and supporting the First Year Transition Experience (FYTE) coordinators in faculties. These strategies have resulted in an evolving learning community in which staff have a sense of belonging and identity and their learning is situated and negotiated. The impact of this project on academics is demonstrated through the increasing participation in forums, increasing sophistication of grant applications and the leadership of the FYTE coordinators

The Poisson geometry of SU(1,1)

We study the natural Poisson structure on the Lie group SU(1,1) and related questions. In particular, we give an explicit description of the Ginzburg-Weinstein isomorphism for the sets of admissible elements. We also establish an analogue of Thompson's conjecture for this group.Comment: 11 pages, minor correction

Achieving academic engagement: Supporting academics to embed first year transition pedagogies in the curriculum

This paper describes a small grants scheme aimed at supporting academics to embed first year (FY) transition pedagogies in the curriculum, as part of a university-wide FYE strategy. The scheme enables first year subject coordinators to apply for funding to address one or more of the six transition pedagogy principles in ways appropriate for their disciplines and students. Over three years, fifty grants have been awarded to coordinators from all faculties for projects that range from resource creation to tutor development to changes in assessment and feedback practices. The paper describes the operation of the scheme and provides an initial analysis of the successes and challenges of its first two years from the perspectives of the grant holders and the UTS FYE Coordinator. Two examples of FYE grants are used to illustrate some features of successful projects

Who is entitled to authoritative knowledge? Category entitlements of parents and professionals in the literature on children’s literacy learning.

This paper critically analyses representations of librarians, teachers and parents in texts pertaining to children\u27s\u27 literacy development

Phonon anomalies due to strong electronic correlations in layered organic metals

We show how the coupling between the phonons and electrons in a strongly correlated metal can result in phonon frequencies which have a non-monotonic temperature dependence. Dynamical mean-field theory is used to study the Hubbard-Holstein model that describes the \kappa-(BEDT-TTF)_2 X family of superconducting molecular crystals. The crossover with increasing temperature from a Fermi liquid to a bad metal produces phonon anomalies that are consistent with recent Raman scattering and acoustic experiments.Comment: 6 pages, 3 eps figure

Comment on "Obliquely propagating large amplitude solitary waves in charge neutral plasmas" by F. Verheest, Nonlin. Processes Geophys., 14, 49?57, 2007

International audienceNo abstract available