Effect of Strong Disorder in a 3-Dimensional Topological Insulator: Phase Diagram and Maps of the Z2 Invariant

We study the effect of strong disorder in a 3-dimensional topological insulators with time-reversal symmetry and broken inversion symmetry. Firstly, using level statistics analysis, we demonstrate the persistence of delocalized bulk states even at large disorder. The delocalized spectrum is seen to display the levitation and pair annihilation effect, indicating that the delocalized states continue to carry the Z2 invariant after the onset of disorder. Secondly, the Z2 invariant is computed via twisted boundary conditions using an efficient numerical algorithm. We demonstrate that the Z2 invariant remains quantized and non-fluctuating even after the spectral gap becomes filled with dense localized states. In fact, our results indicate that the Z2 invariant remains quantized until the mobility gap closes or until the Fermi level touches the mobility edges. Based on such data, we compute the phase diagram of the Bi2Se3 topological material as function of disorder strength and position of the Fermi level.Comment: references added; final versio

The Singularity in Generic Gravitational Collapse Is Spacelike, Local, and Oscillatory

A longstanding conjecture by Belinskii, Khalatnikov, and Lifshitz that the singularity in generic gravitational collapse is spacelike, local, and oscillatory is explored analytically and numerically in spatially inhomogeneous cosmological spacetimes. With a convenient choice of variables, it can be seen analytically how nonlinear terms in Einstein's equations control the approach to the singularity and cause oscillatory behavior. The analytic picture requires the drastic assumption that each spatial point evolves toward the singularity as an independent spatially homogeneous universe. In every case, detailed numerical simulations of the full Einstein evolution equations support this assumption.Comment: 7 pages includes 4 figures. Uses Revtex and psfig. Received "honorable mention" in 1998 Gravity Research Foundation essay contest. Submitted to Mod. Phys. Lett.

GEOS-20 m cable boom mechanism

The GEOS cable boom mechanism allows the controlled deployment of a 20 m long cable in a centrifugal force field. In launch configuration the flat cable is reeled on a 240 mm diameter drum. The electrical connection between the rotating drum and the stationary housing is accomplished via a flexlead positioned inside the drum. Active motion control of this drum is achieved by a self locking worm gear, driven by a stepper motor. The deployment length of the cable is monitored by an optical length indicator, sensing black bars engraved on the cable surface

Chemical Evolution of the Carina Dwarf Spheroidal

We explore a range of chemical evolution models for the Local Group dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy, Carina. A novel aspect of our work is the removal of the star formation history (SFH) as a `free parameter' in the modeling, making use, instead, of its colour-magnitude diagram (CMD)-constrained SFH. By varying the relative roles of galactic winds, re-accretion, and ram-pressure stripping within the modeling, we converge on a favoured scenario which emphasises the respective roles of winds and re-accretion. While our model is successful in recovering most elemental abundance patterns, comparable success is not found for all the neutron capture elements. Neglecting the effects of stripping results in predicted gas fractions approximately two orders of magnitude too high, relative to that observed.Comment: Accepted for publication in PoS (Proceedings of Science): Nuclei in the Cosmos XII (Cairns, Aug 2012); 6 pages; 4 figure

Surface free energy of the open XXZ spin-1/2 chain

We study the boundary free energy of the XXZ spin-\tf{1}{2} chain subject to diagonal boundary fields. We first show that the representation for its finite Trotter number approximant obtained by Bortz, Frahm and G\"{o}hmann is related to the partition function of the six-vertex model with reflecting ends. Building on the Tsuchiya determinant representation for the latter quantity we are able to take the infinite Trotter number limit. This yields a representation for the surface free energy which involves the solution of the non-linear integral equation that governs the thermodynamics of the XXZ spin-1/2 chain subject to periodic boundary conditions. We show that this integral representation allows one to extract the low-$T$ asymptotic behavior of the boundary magnetization at finite external magnetic field on the one hand and numerically plot this function on the other hand.Comment: 35 pages, 11 figures, V3: some new plots adde

Regularities with random interactions in energy centroids defined by group symmetries

Regular structures generated by random interactions in energy centroids defined over irreducible representations (irreps) of some of the group symmetries of the interacting boson models $sd$IBM, $sdg$IBM, $sd$IBM-$T$ and $sd$IBM-$ST$ are studied by deriving trace propagations equations for the centroids. It is found that, with random interactions, the lowest and highest group irreps in general carry most of the probability for the corresponding centroids to be lowest in energy. This generalizes the result known earlier, via numerical diagonalization, for the more complicated fixed spin ($J$) centroids where simple trace propagation is not possible.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure

The Quest for the Ideal Scintillator for Hybrid Phototubes

In this paper we present the results of extensive studies of scintillators for hybrid phototubes with luminescent screens. The results of the developments of such phototubes with a variety of scintillators are presented. New scintillator materials for such kind of application are discussed. The requirements for scintillators to use in such hybrid phototubes are formulated. It is shown that very fast and highly efficient inorganic scintillators like ZnO:Ga will be ideal scintillators for such kind of application.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures and 1 table. Submitted to the proceedings of SCINT2007 Conference, Winston-Salem, NC USA, June 4-8, 200

Stock Returns and Inflation: Some New Evidence

Using aggregate and industry-wise monthly UK data over a period of 44 years we examine the long run relationship between stock return index (St) and retail price index (Pt) in a VAR framework. Univariate tests confirm Pt as I(2); nevertheless pairs of St and Pt are co-integrated and share common I(1) trend. There is no evidence of shared I(2) trend. We find evidence of shifts in the co- integrating ranks and parameters, and accounting for these shifts improved estimates’ precision. The long run price elasticity of return index is consistently above unity, a finding that stands in sharp contrast to the existing ones. Overall our results suggest that tax-paying stock investors are fully insulated against inflation in the long run