53,056 research outputs found
The fully kinetic Biermann battery and associated generation of pressure anisotropy
The dynamical evolution of a fully kinetic, collisionless system with imposed
background density and temperature gradients is investigated analytically. The
temperature gradient leads to the generation of temperature anisotropy, with
the temperature along the gradient becoming larger than that in the direction
perpendicular to it. This causes the system to become unstable to pressure
anisotropy driven instabilities, dominantly to electron Weibel. When both
density and temperature gradients are present and non-parallel to each other,
we obtain a Biermann-like linear in time magnetic field growth. Accompanying
particle in cell numerical simulations are shown to confirm our analytical
results.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, + Supplementary materials (4 pages, 2 figures
Directional pinning and anisotropy in YBa2Cu3O7-x with BaZrO3 nanorods: intrinsic and nanorods-induced anisotropy
We present a study of the anisotropic vortex parameters as obtained from
measurements of the microwave complex resistivity in the vortex state with a
tilted applied magnetic field in YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films with BaZrO3 nanorods.
We present the angular dependence of the vortex viscosity , the pinning
constant k_p and the upper limit for the creep factor \chi_M. We show that the
directional effect of the nanorods is absent in \eta, which is dictated by the
mass anisotropy \gamma. By contrast, pinning-mediated properties are strongly
affected by the nanorods. It is significant that the pinning and creep affected
by the nanorods is detectable also at our very high operating frequency, which
implies very short-range displacements of the vortices from their equilibrium
position.Comment: Proceedings of VORTEX VIII Conference, to be published in Physica
Anisotropy and directional pinning in YBaCuO with BaZrO3 nanorods
Measurements of anisotropic transport properties (dc and high-frequency
regime) of driven vortex matter in YBaCuO with elongated
strong-pinning sites (c-axis aligned, self-assembled BaZrO nanorods) are
used to demonstrate that the effective-mass angular scaling takes place only in
intrinsic physical quantities (flux-flow resistivity), and not in
pinning-related Labusch parameter and critical currents. Comparison of the
dynamics at different time scales shows evidence for a transition of the vortex
matter toward a Mott phase, driven by the presence of nanorods. The strong
pinning in dc arises partially from a dynamic effect.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication on Applied Physics
Letters. With respect to v1: changed title, slightly shortene
Nonlinear c-axis transport in Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_(8+d) from two-barrier tunneling
Motivated by the peculiar features observed through intrinsic tunneling
spectroscopy of BiSrCaCuO mesas in the normal state,
we have extended the normal state two-barrier model for the c-axis transport
[M. Giura et al., Phys. Rev. B {\bf 68}, 134505 (2003)] to the analysis of
curves. We have found that the purely normal-state model reproduces all
the following experimental features: (a) the parabolic -dependence of
in the high- region (above the conventional pseudogap temperature),
(b) the emergence and the nearly voltage-independent position of the "humps"
from this parabolic behavior lowering the temperature, and (c) the crossing of
the absolute curves at a characteristic voltage . Our
findings indicate that conventional tunneling can be at the origin of most of
the uncommon features of the c axis transport in
BiSrCaCuO. We have compared our calculations to
experimental data taken in severely underdoped and slightly underdoped
BiSrCaCuO small mesas. We have found good agreement
between the data and the calculations, without any shift of the calculated
dI/dV on the vertical scale. In particular, in the normal state (above
) simple tunneling reproduces the experimental dI/dV quantitatively.
Below quantitative discrepancies are limited to a simple rescaling of
the voltage in the theoretical curves by a factor 2. The need for such
modifications remains an open question, that might be connected to a change of
the charge of a fraction of the carriers across the pseudogap opening.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
Effects of nanoscale spatial inhomogeneity in strongly correlated systems
We calculate ground-state energies and density distributions of Hubbard
superlattices characterized by periodic modulations of the on-site interaction
and the on-site potential. Both density-matrix renormalization group and
density-functional methods are employed and compared. We find that small
variations in the on-site potential can simulate, cancel, or even
overcompensate effects due to much larger variations in the on-site interaction
. Our findings highlight the importance of nanoscale spatial inhomogeneity
in strongly correlated systems, and call for reexamination of model
calculations assuming spatial homogeneity.Comment: 5 pages, 1 table, 4 figures, to appear in PR
Using mixed methods for analysing culture : The Cultural Capital and Social Exclusion project
This paper discusses the use of material generated in a mixed method investigation into cultural tastes and practices, conducted in Britain from 2003 to 2006, which employed a survey, focus groups and household interviews. The study analysed the patterning of cultural life across a number of fields, enhancing the empirical and methodological template provided by Bourdieuâs Distinction. Here we discuss criticisms of Bourdieu emerging from subsequent studies of class, culture and taste, outline the arguments related to the use of mixed methods and present illustrative results from the analysis of these different types of data. We discuss how the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods informed our analysis of cultural life in contemporary Britain. No single method was able to shed light on all aspects of our inquiry, lending support to the view that mixing methods is the most productive strategy for the investigation of complex social phenomena
Dynamically generated dimension reduction and crossover in a spin orbital model
We study a spin orbital model in which the spin-spin interaction couples
linearly to the orbital isospin. Fluctuations drive the transition from
paramagnetic state to C type ordered state into a strongly first order one, as
observed in . At T=0, there is a FOCS to FOGS transition. Close to the
transition point, the system shows dynamically generated dimension reduction
and crossover, resulting in one or more spin reentrant transitions.Comment: Submitted to PRL. 4 pages and one figur
Density-functionals not based on the electron gas: Local-density approximation for a Luttinger liquid
By shifting the reference system for the local-density approximation (LDA)
from the electron gas to other model systems one obtains a new class of density
functionals, which by design account for the correlations present in the chosen
reference system. This strategy is illustrated by constructing an explicit LDA
for the one-dimensional Hubbard model. While the traditional {\it ab initio}
LDA is based on a Fermi liquid (the electron gas), this one is based on a
Luttinger liquid. First applications to inhomogeneous Hubbard models, including
one containing a localized impurity, are reported.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures (final version, contains additional applications
and discussion; accepted by Phys. Rev. Lett.
The impact of inappropriate soil management on river water quality: a case study in the Kurundu Oya Sub-catchment of the Upper Mahaweli Catchment, Sri Lanka
The results of many studies have revealed that intensive farming on steep slopes, coupled with over application of fertilizers and accumulation of nutrients in downstream water bodies due to soil erosion, have contributed to environmental hazards in the Upper Mahaweli Catchment Area (UMCA) of Sri Lanka. The encroachment of riparian zones for exotic vegetable cultivation has aggravated this situation. In view of this, a study was conducted in the Kurundu Oya catchment, a micro-catchment of the UMCA, to investigate the soil management practices within the farming systems and their impacts on river water quality. Three villages were selected along the Kurundu Oya: Mahakudugala, Kumbalgamuwa and Batagolla. The study consisted of a survey of 150 households in 2007 and 2008, to gather information on the characteristics of householders and on soil management practices. A soil survey was carried out to analyze the soil fertility of farmlands. Water quality parameters were measured periodically in different sections of a selected stream. The results revealed that nearly 50 % of the riparian zones in the upper catchment of the Kurundu Oya stream are encroached to cultivate potato and other exotic vegetables. In addition, it was observed that over application of fertilizers on the vegetable plots was causing nutrient accumulation and the plots also recorded high levels of phosphorous (P) (above 75 ppm). Results of the water quality analysis showed that nitrate and available P levels were within the standard limits, but nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) levels were close to the upper level of the standard limit. Therefore, in order to minimize water pollution, it is strongly recommended that fertilizer application is based on soil tests. In addition, encroachment of sensitive lands has to be addressed. Priority should be given to strengthening institutional capacity in order to facilitate the implementation of existing environmental legislation.Length: pp.49-60Soil managementSoil degradationCatchment areasErosionSedimentationWater pollutionFertilizer applicationNitrogenVegetable growing
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