Random walk approach to spin dynamics in a two-dimensional electron gas with spin-orbit coupling

We introduce and solve a semi-classical random walk (RW) model that describes the dynamics of spin polarization waves in zinc-blende semiconductor quantum wells. We derive the dispersion relations for these waves, including the Rashba, linear and cubic Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions, as well as the effects of an electric field applied parallel to the spin polarization wavevector. In agreement with fully quantum mechanical calculations [Kleinert and Bryksin, Phys. Rev. B \textbf{76}, 205326 (2007)], the RW approach predicts that spin waves acquire a phase velocity in the presence of the field that crosses zero at a nonzero wavevector, $q_0$. In addition, we show that the spin-wave decay rate is independent of field at $q_0$ but increases as $(q-q_0)^2$ for $q\neq q_0$. These predictions can be tested experimentally by suitable transient spin grating experiments

Criticality in the two-dimensional random-bond Ising model

The two-dimensional (2D) random-bond Ising model has a novel multicritical point on the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase boundary. This random phase transition is one of the simplest examples of a 2D critical point occurring at both finite temperatures and disorder strength. We study the associated critical properties, by mapping the random 2D Ising model onto a network model. The model closely resembles network models of quantum Hall plateau transitions, but has different symmetries. Numerical transfer matrix calculations enable us to obtain estimates for the critical exponents at the random Ising phase transition. The values are consistent with recent estimates obtained from high-temperature series.Comment: minor changes, 7 pages LaTex, 8 postscript figures included using epsf; to be published Phys. Rev. B 55 (1997

Pairing via Index theorem

This work is motivated by a specific point of view: at short distances and high energies the undoped and underdoped cuprates resemble the $\pi$-flux phase of the t-J model. The purpose of this paper is to present a mechanism by which pairing grows out of the doped $\pi$-flux phase. According to this mechanism pairing symmetry is determined by a parameter controlling the quantum tunneling of gauge flux quanta. For zero tunneling the symmetry is $d_{x^2-y^2}+id_{xy}$, while for large tunneling it is $d_{x^2-y^2}$. A zero-temperature critical point separates these two limits

The Complexity of Repairing, Adjusting, and Aggregating of Extensions in Abstract Argumentation

We study the computational complexity of problems that arise in abstract argumentation in the context of dynamic argumentation, minimal change, and aggregation. In particular, we consider the following problems where always an argumentation framework F and a small positive integer k are given. - The Repair problem asks whether a given set of arguments can be modified into an extension by at most k elementary changes (i.e., the extension is of distance k from the given set). - The Adjust problem asks whether a given extension can be modified by at most k elementary changes into an extension that contains a specified argument. - The Center problem asks whether, given two extensions of distance k, whether there is a "center" extension that is a distance at most (k-1) from both given extensions. We study these problems in the framework of parameterized complexity, and take the distance k as the parameter. Our results covers several different semantics, including admissible, complete, preferred, semi-stable and stable semantics

Casimir force on amplifying bodies

Based on a unified approach to macroscopic QED that allows for the inclusion of amplification in a limited space and frequency range, we study the Casimir force as a Lorentz force on an arbitrary partially amplifying system of linearly locally responding (isotropic) magnetoelectric bodies. We demonstrate that the force on a weakly polarisable/magnetisable amplifying object in the presence of a purely absorbing environment can be expressed as a sum over the Casimir--Polder forces on the excited atoms inside the body. As an example, the resonant force between a plate consisting of a dilute gas of excited atoms and a perfect mirror is calculated

Critical Conductance and Its Fluctuations at Integer Hall Plateau Transitions

Under periodic boundary condition in the transverse direction, we calculate the averaged zero-temperature two-terminal conductance ($$) and its statistical fluctuations ($$ for $n\le 4$) at the critical point of integer quantum Hall plateau transitions. We find {\it universal} values for $=(0.58\pm0.03){e^2\over h}$, and $=({e^2\over h})^{2n}A_{2n}$, where $A_{2,4,6,8}=0.081\pm0.005$; $0.013\pm0.003$; $0.0026\pm0.005$; and $(8\pm2)\times10^{-4}$ respectively. We also determine the leading finite size scaling corrections to these observables. Comparisons with experiments will be made.Comment: 13 pages, 3 Postscript figures included, Final version with minor corrections, To appear in Physical Review Letter

Casimir-Polder forces: A non-perturbative approach

Within the frame of macroscopic QED in linear, causal media, we study the radiation force of Casimir-Polder type acting on an atom which is positioned near dispersing and absorbing magnetodielectric bodies and initially prepared in an arbitrary electronic state. It is shown that minimal and multipolar coupling lead to essentially the same lowest-order perturbative result for the force acting on an atom in an energy eigenstate. To go beyond perturbation theory, the calculations are based on the exact center-of-mass equation of motion. For a nondriven atom in the weak-coupling regime, the force as a function of time is a superposition of force components that are related to the electronic density-matrix elements at a chosen time. Even the force component associated with the ground state is not derivable from a potential in the ususal way, because of the position dependence of the atomic polarizability. Further, when the atom is initially prepared in a coherent superposition of energy eigenstates, then temporally oscillating force components are observed, which are due to the interaction of the atom with both electric and magnetic fields.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figures, additional misprints correcte

Network Models of Quantum Percolation and Their Field-Theory Representations

We obtain the field-theory representations of several network models that are relevant to 2D transport in high magnetic fields. Among them, the simplest one, which is relevant to the plateau transition in the quantum Hall effect, is equivalent to a particular representation of an antiferromagnetic SU(2N) ($N\to 0$) spin chain. Since the later can be mapped onto a $\theta\ne 0$, $U(2N)/U(N)\times U(N)$ sigma model, and since recent numerical analyses of the corresponding network give a delocalization transition with $\nu\approx 2.3$, we conclude that the same exponent is applicable to the sigma model

Interaction of the quantized electromagnetic field with atoms in the presence of dispersing and absorbing dielectric bodies

A general theory of the interaction of the quantized electromagnetic field with atoms in the presence of dispersing and absorbing dielectric bodies of given Kramers--Kronig consistent permittivities is developed. It is based on a source-quantity representation of the electromagnetic field, in which the electromagnetic-field operators are expressed in terms of a continuous set of fundamental bosonic fields via the Green tensor of the classical problem. Introducing scalar and vector potentials, the formalism is extended in order to include in the theory the interaction of the quantized electromagnetic field with additional atoms. Both the minimal-coupling scheme and the multipolar-coupling scheme are considered. The theory replaces the standard concept of mode decomposition which fails for complex permittivities. It enables us to treat the effects of dispersion and absorption in a consistent way and to give a unified approach to the atom-field interaction, without any restriction to a particular interaction regime in a particular frequency range. All relevant information about the dielectric bodies such as form and intrinsic dispersion and absorption is contained in the Green tensor. The application of the theory to the spontaneous decay of an excited atom in the presence of dispersing and absorbing bodies is addressed.Comment: Paper presented at the International Conference on Quantum Optics and VIII Seminar on Quantum Optics, Raubichi, Belarus, May 28-31, 2000, 14 pages, LaTeX2e, no figure