168 research outputs found
Effective spin chains for fractional quantum Hall states
Fractional quantum Hall (FQH) states are topologically ordered which
indicates that their essential properties are insensitive to smooth
deformations of the manifold on which they are studied. Their microscopic
Hamiltonian description, however, strongly depends on geometrical details.
Recent work has shown how this dependence can be exploited to generate
effective models that are both interesting in their own right and also provide
further insight into the quantum Hall system. We review and expand on recent
efforts to understand the FQH system close to the solvable thin-torus limit in
terms of effective spin chains. In particular, we clarify how the difference
between the bosonic and fermionic FQH states, which is not apparent in the
thin-torus limit, can be seen at this level. Additionally, we discuss the
relation of the Haldane-Shastry chain to the so-called QH circle limit and
comment on its significance to recent entanglement studies.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Written for a Special Issue on Foundations of
Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience in Journal of Computational and
Theoretical Nanoscience (proceedings for nanoPHYS'09 in Tokyo
Link between the hierarchy of fractional quantum Hall states and Haldane's conjecture for quantum spin chains
We study a strong coupling expansion of the fractional quantum Hall
state away from the Tao-Thouless limit and show that the leading quantum
fluctuations lead to an effective spin-1 Hamiltonian that lacks parity
symmetry. By analyzing the energetics, discrete symmetries of low-lying
excitations, and string order parameters, we demonstrate that the
fractional quantum Hall state is adiabatically connected to both Haldane and
large- phases, and is characterized by a string order parameter which is
dual to the ordinary one. This result indicates a close relation between (a
generalized form of) the Haldane conjecture for spin chains and the fractional
quantum Hall effect.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure
Quasihole condensates in quantum Hall liquids
We develop a formalism to describe quasihole condensates in quantum Hall
liquids and thereby extend the conformal field theory approach to the full
hierarchy of spin-polarized Abelian states, and to several classes of
non-Abelian hierarchical states. Most previously proposed spin-polarized
quantum Hall wave functions appear as special cases. In this paper we explain
the physical motivations for the approach, and exemplify it by explicitly
constructing the level-two quasihole condensate state at filling fraction 2/3,
and the two level-three states at 5/13 and 5/7 which are built from
combinations of quasielectron and quasihole condensates.Comment: 16 page
Fractional periodicity and magnetism of extended quantum rings
The magnetic properties and nature of the persistent current in small
flux-penetrated rings are investigated. An effective rigid-rotator
description is formulated for this system, which coincides with a transition to
a ferromagnetic state in the model. The criteria for the onset of effective
rigid rotation is given. The model is used to understand continuum model
ground-state solutions for a 2D few-particle hard-wall quantum dot, where
ferromagnetic solutions are found even without the Zeeman coupling to spin.
After the onset of effective rigid rotation, a 97--98% correspondence can be
determined between the lattice model and continuum model eigenstate results
Work ability and physical fitness among aging workers : the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study
Background With advancing age, physical capacity gradually decreases which may lead to decreased work ability, if the physical work requirements remain the same. Examination of the importance of physical fitness for work ability among aging workers will help to find potential strategies to promote work ability in old age. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical fitness and work ability among aging workers. Methods Aging workers (n = 288, mean age 62.5, 83% women) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging study underwent cardiorespiratory, muscular fitness and functional testing. Work ability was inquired on a scale 0-10 from poor to excellent. Association between physical fitness indicators and work ability was examined using ordinary least squares regression, taking into account age, gender, occupational status, heavy physical work, body mass index and accelerometer-measured daily total physical activity. Results VO2peak, modified push-up test and maximal walking speed were positively associated with work ability (beta = 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29-0.74, beta = 0.46, 95% CI 0.26-0.66 and beta = 0.23, 95% CI 0.07-0.39, respectively), while chair rise test time was inversely associated with work ability (beta = -0.23, 95% CI -0.39--0.06). No associations were found between hand grip strength or sit-up test and work ability. Conclusions Cardiorespiratory fitness, upper body strength, and lower extremity function were positively associated with work ability. Good physical fitness may help to maintain work ability among aging workers.Peer reviewe
Changes in prolonged sedentary behaviour across the transition to retirement
AbstractBackground: Prolonged sedentary behaviour is associated with a higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases. This longitudinal study examined changes in daily total, prolonged (≥30 min) and highly prolonged (≥60 min) sedentary time across the transition to retirement by gender and occupational status.Methods: We included 689 aging workers (mean (SD) age before retirement 63.2 (1.6) years, 85% women) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study (FIREA). Sedentary time was measured annually using a wrist-worn triaxial ActiGraph accelerometer before and after retirement with on average 3.4 (range 2-4) measurement points.Results: Women increased daily total sedentary time by 22 min (95% CI 13 to 31), prolonged sedentary time by 34 min (95% CI 27 to 42) and highly prolonged sedentary time by 15 min (95% CI 11 to 20) in the transition to retirement, and remained at the higher level of sedentary time years after retirement. The highest increase in total and prolonged sedentary time was observed among women retiring from manual occupations. Men had more total and prolonged sedentary time compared with women before and after retirement. Although no changes in men's sedentary time were observed during the retirement transition, there was a gradual increase of 33 min (95% CI 6 to 60) in prolonged sedentary time from pre-retirement years to post-retirement years.Conclusion: The transition to retirement was accompanied by an abrupt increase in prolonged sedentary time in women but a more gradual increase in men. The retirement transition may be a suitable time period for interventions aiming to decrease sedentary behaviour</div
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