244 research outputs found
Effect of disorder on the vortex-lattice melting transition
We use a three dimensional stacked triangular network of Josephson junctions
as a model for the study of vortex structure in the mixed state of high Tc
superconductors. We show that the addition of disorder destroys the first order
melting transition occurring for clean samples. The melting transition splits
in two different (continuous) transitions, ocurring at temperatures Ti and Tp
(>Ti). At Ti the perpendicular-to-field superconductivity is lost, and at Tp
the parallel-to-field superconductivity is lost. These results agree well with
recent experiments in YBaCuO.Comment: 4 pages + 2 figure
Hysteresis loops of magnetic thin films with perpendicular anisotropy
We model the magnetization of quasi two-dimensional systems with easy
perpendicular (z-)axis anisotropy upon change of external magnetic field along
z. The model is derived from the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation for
magnetization evolution, written in closed form in terms of the z component of
the magnetization only. The model includes--in addition to the external
field--magnetic exchange, dipolar interactions and structural disorder. The
phase diagram in the disorder/interaction strength plane is presented, and the
different qualitative regimes are analyzed. The results compare very well with
observed experimental hysteresis loops and spatial magnetization patterns, as
for instance for the case of Co-Pt multilayers.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure
Velocity weakening and possibility of aftershocks in nanofriction experiments
We study the frictional behavior of small contacts as those realized in the
atomic force microscope and other experimental setups, in the framework of
generalized Prandtl-Tomlinson models. Particular attention is paid to
mechanisms that generate velocity weakening, namely a decreasing average
friction force with the relative sliding velocity.The mechanisms studied model
the possibility of viscous relaxation, or aging effects in the contact. It is
found that, in addition to producing velocity weakening, these mechanisms can
also produce aftershocks at sufficiently low sliding velocities. This provides
a remarkable analogy at the microscale, of friction properties at the
macroscale, where aftershocks and velocity weakening are two fundamental
features of seismic phenomena.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Liquid-liquid equilibrium for monodisperse spherical particles
A system of identical particles interacting through an isotropic potential
that allows for two preferred interparticle distances is numerically studied.
When the parameters of the interaction potential are adequately chosen, the
system exhibits coexistence between two different liquid phases (in addition to
the usual liquid-gas coexistence). It is shown that this coexistence can occur
at equilibrium, namely, in the region where the liquid is thermodynamically
stable.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures. Published versio
Boundary lubrication properties of materials with expansive freezing
We have performed molecular dynamics simulations of solid-solid contacts
lubricated by a model fluid displaying many of the properties of water,
particularly its expansive freezing. Near the region where expansive freezing
occurs, the lubricating film remains fluid, and the friction force decreases
linearly as the shear velocity is reduced. No sign of stick-slip motion is
observed even at the lowest velocities. We give a simple interpretation of
these results, and suggest that in general good boundary lubrication properties
will be found in the family of materials with expansive freezing.Comment: Version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
The phase diagram of high-Tc's: Influence of anisotropy and disorder
We propose a phase diagram for the vortex structure of high temperature
superconductors which incorporates the effects of anisotropy and disorder. It
is based on numerical simulations using the three-dimensional Josephson
junction array model. We support the results with an estimation of the internal
energy and configurational entropy of the system. Our results give a unified
picture of the behavior of the vortex lattice, covering from the very
anysotropic BiSrCaCuO to the less anisotropic YBaCuO, and from the first order
melting ocurring in clean samples to the continuous transitions observed in
samples with defects.Comment: 8 pages with 7 figure
Longitudinal and transverse dissipation in a simple model for the vortex lattice with screening
Transport properties of the vortex lattice in high temperature
superconductors are studied using numerical simulations in the case in which
the non-local interactions between vortex lines are dismissed. The results
obtained for the longitudinal and transverse resistivities in the presence of
quenched disorder are compared with the results of experimental measurements
and other numerical simulations where the full interaction is considered. This
work shows that the dependence on temperature of the resistivities is well
described by the model without interactions, thus indicating that many of the
transport characteristics of the vortex structure in real materials are mainly
a consequence of the topological configuration of the vortex structure only. In
addition, for highly anisotropic samples, a regime is obtained where
longitudinal coherence is lost at temperatures where transverse coherence is
still finite. I discuss the possibility of observing this regime in real
samples.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures included using epsf.st
Simple Fluids with Complex Phase Behavior
We find that a system of particles interacting through a simple isotropic
potential with a softened core is able to exhibit a rich phase behavior
including: a liquid-liquid phase transition in the supercooled phase, as has
been suggested for water; a gas-liquid-liquid triple point; a freezing line
with anomalous reentrant behavior. The essential ingredient leading to these
features resides in that the potential investigated gives origin to two
effective core radii.Comment: 7 pages including 3 eps figures + 1 jpeg figur
Analgesic effects of antidepressants alone and after their local co-administration with morphine in a rat model of neuropathic pain
Background The therapy of neuropathic pain may include the use of co-analgesics, such as antidepressants, however, their desired analgesic effect is associated with significant side effects. An alternative approach to this is their local administration which has been proposed, but there is little data regarding their local co-administration with morphine and the nature of the interaction between morphine and either doxepin or venlafaxine, two antidepressant drugs that have been recently used in neuropathic pain therapies. Methods This study was performed on rats after chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve. The von Frey and Hargreaves’ tests were used to assess mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, respectively, after intraplantar (ipl) or subcutaneous (sc) administration of amitriptyline, doxepin, or venlafaxine, or their ipl co-administration with morphine on day 12–16 after injury. Results The ipl administration of amitriptyline (3, 15 mg), doxepin (1, 5, 10, 15 mg), or venlafaxine (2, 7 mg) was effective in antagonizing CCI-induced allodynia. Their sc injection at a site distal to the injured side, did not induce alterations in pain thresholds, which supports the local mode of action. Of the three antidepressants used in this study, only ipl co-administration of amitriptyline with morphine significantly enhanced its effect in contrast to doxepin and venlafaxine, both of which weakened the analgesic effect of morphine. Conclusions In summary, the results suggest that when amitriptyline (but not doxepin or venlafaxine) is locally co-administered with morphine the effectiveness under neuropathic pain is enhanced, although additional studies are necessary to explain differential mechanisms of interaction of antidepressant drugs with morphine after local administration
Vortex structure and resistive transitions in high-Tc superconductors
The nature of the resistive transition for a current applied parallel to the
magnetic field in high-Tc materials is investigated by numerical simulation on
the three dimensional Josephson junction array model. It is shown by using
finite size scaling that for samples with disorder the critical temperature Tp
for the c axis resistivity corresponds to a percolation phase transition of
vortex lines perpendicularly to the applied field. The value of Tp is higher
than the critical temperature for j perpendicular to H, but decreases with the
thickness of the sample and with anisotropy. We predict that critical behavior
around Tp should reflect in experimentally accessible quantities, as the I-V
curves.Comment: 8 pages + 6 figure
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