Wannier functions analysis of the nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equation with a periodic potential

In the present Letter we use the Wannier function basis to construct lattice approximations of the nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equation with a periodic potential. We show that the nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equation with a periodic potential is equivalent to a vector lattice with long-range interactions. For the case-example of the cosine potential we study the validity of the so-called tight-binding approximation i.e., the approximation when nearest neighbor interactions are dominant. The results are relevant to Bose-Einstein condensate theory as well as to other physical systems like, for example, electromagnetic wave propagation in nonlinear photonic crystals.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Compressibility and Electronic Structure of MgB2 up to 8 GPa

The lattice parameters of MgB2 up to pressures of 8 GPa were determined using high-resolution x-ray powder diffraction in a diamond anvil cell. The bulk modulus, B0, was determined to be 151 +-5 GPa. Both experimental and first-principles calculations indicate nearly isotropic mechanical behavior under pressure. This small anisotropy is in contrast to the 2 dimensional nature of the boron pi states. The pressure dependence of the density of states at the Fermi level and a reasonable value for the average phonon frequency account within the context of BCS theory for the reduction of Tc under pressure.Comment: REVTeX file. 4 pages, 4 figure

Impact ionization in GaAs: a screened exchange density functional approach

Results are presented of a fully ab-initio calculation of impact ionization rates in GaAs within the density functional theory framework, using a screened-exchange formalism and the highly precise all-electron full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method. The calculated impact ionization rates show a marked orientation dependence in {\bf k} space, indicating the strong restrictions imposed by the conservation of energy and momentum. This anisotropy diminishes as the impacting electron energy increases. A Keldysh type fit performed on the energy-dependent rate shows a rather soft edge and a threshold energy greater than the direct band gap. The consistency with available Monte Carlo and empirical pseudopotential calculations shows the reliability of our approach and paves the way to ab-initio calculations of pair production rates in new and more complex materials.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Current-density functional for disordered systems

The effective action for the current and density is shown to satisfy an evolution equation, the functional generalization of Callan-Symanzik equation. The solution describes the dependence of the one-particle irreducible vertex functions on the strength of the quenched disorder and the annealed Coulomb interaction. The result is non-perturbative, no small parameter is assumed. The a.c. conductivity is obtained by the numerical solution of the evolution equation on finite lattices in the absence of the Coulomb interaction. The static limit is performed and the conductivity is found to be vanishing beyond a certain threshold of the impurity strength.Comment: final version, 28 pages, 17 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Real-space local polynomial basis for solid-state electronic-structure calculations: A finite-element approach

We present an approach to solid-state electronic-structure calculations based on the finite-element method. In this method, the basis functions are strictly local, piecewise polynomials. Because the basis is composed of polynomials, the method is completely general and its convergence can be controlled systematically. Because the basis functions are strictly local in real space, the method allows for variable resolution in real space; produces sparse, structured matrices, enabling the effective use of iterative solution methods; and is well suited to parallel implementation. The method thus combines the significant advantages of both real-space-grid and basis-oriented approaches and so promises to be particularly well suited for large, accurate ab initio calculations. We develop the theory of our approach in detail, discuss advantages and disadvantages, and report initial results, including the first fully three-dimensional electronic band structures calculated by the method.Comment: replacement: single spaced, included figures, added journal referenc

Equation of state and phonon frequency calculations of diamond at high pressures

The pressure-volume relationship and the zone-center optical phonon frequency of cubic diamond at pressures up to 600 GPa have been calculated based on Density Functional Theory within the Local Density Approximation and the Generalized Gradient Approximation. Three different approaches, viz. a pseudopotential method applied in the basis of plane waves, an all-electron method relying on Augmented Plane Waves plus Local Orbitals, and an intermediate approach implemented in the basis of Projector Augmented Waves have been used. All these methods and approximations yield consistent results for the pressure derivative of the bulk modulus and the volume dependence of the mode Grueneisen parameter of diamond. The results are at variance with recent precise measurements up to 140 GPa. Possible implications for the experimental pressure determination based on the ruby luminescence method are discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Airway stem cell reconstitution by the transplantation of primary or pluripotent stem cell-derived basal cells

Life-long reconstitution of a tissue's resident stem cell compartment with engrafted cells has the potential to durably replenish organ function. Here, we demonstrate the engraftment of the airway epithelial stem cell compartment via intra-airway transplantation of mouse or human primary and pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived airway basal cells (BCs). Murine primary or PSC-derived BCs transplanted into polidocanol-injured syngeneic recipients give rise for at least two years to progeny that stably display the morphologic, molecular, and functional phenotypes of airway epithelia. The engrafted basal-like cells retain extensive self-renewal potential, evident by the capacity to reconstitute the tracheal epithelium through seven generations of secondary transplantation. Using the same approach, human primary or PSC-derived BCs transplanted into NOD scid gamma (NSG) recipient mice similarly display multilineage airway epithelial differentiation in vivo. Our results may provide a step toward potential future syngeneic cell-based therapy for patients with diseases resulting from airway epithelial cell damage or dysfunction

Observation of a new chi_b state in radiative transitions to Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) at ATLAS

The chi_b(nP) quarkonium states are produced in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and recorded by the ATLAS detector. Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.4 fb^-1, these states are reconstructed through their radiative decays to Upsilon(1S,2S) with Upsilon->mu+mu-. In addition to the mass peaks corresponding to the decay modes chi_b(1P,2P)->Upsilon(1S)gamma, a new structure centered at a mass of 10.530+/-0.005 (stat.)+/-0.009 (syst.) GeV is also observed, in both the Upsilon(1S)gamma and Upsilon(2S)gamma decay modes. This is interpreted as the chi_b(3P) system.Comment: 5 pages plus author list (18 pages total), 2 figures, 1 table, corrected author list, matches final version in Physical Review Letter

Search for displaced vertices arising from decays of new heavy particles in 7 TeV pp collisions at ATLAS

We present the results of a search for new, heavy particles that decay at a significant distance from their production point into a final state containing charged hadrons in association with a high-momentum muon. The search is conducted in a pp-collision data sample with a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV and an integrated luminosity of 33 pb^-1 collected in 2010 by the ATLAS detector operating at the Large Hadron Collider. Production of such particles is expected in various scenarios of physics beyond the standard model. We observe no signal and place limits on the production cross-section of supersymmetric particles in an R-parity-violating scenario as a function of the neutralino lifetime. Limits are presented for different squark and neutralino masses, enabling extension of the limits to a variety of other models.Comment: 8 pages plus author list (20 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version to appear in Physics Letters

Reducing heterotic M-theory to five dimensional supergravity on a manifold with boundary

This paper constructs the reduction of heterotic $M$-theory in eleven dimensions to a supergravity model on a manifold with boundary in five dimensions using a Calabi-Yau three-fold. New results are presented for the boundary terms in the action and for the boundary conditions on the bulk fields. Some general features of dualisation on a manifold with boundary are used to explain the origin of some topological terms in the action. The effect of gaugino condensation on the fermion boundary conditions leads to a `twist' in the chirality of the gravitino which can provide an uplifting mechanism in the vacuum energy to cancel the cosmological constant after moduli stabilisation.Comment: 16 pages, RevTe