Ground states of a frustrated quantum spin chain with long-range interactions

The ground state of a spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain with both frustration and long-range interactions is studied using Lanczos exact diagonalization. The evolution of the well known dimerization transition of the system with short-range frustrated interactions (the J1-J2 chain) is investigated in the presence of additional unfrustrated interactions decaying with distance as 1/r^a. It is shown that the continuous (infinite-order) dimerization transition develops into a first-order transition between a long-range ordered antiferromagnetic state and a state with coexisting dimerization and critical spin correlations at wave-number k=\pi/2. The relevance of the model to real systems is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, final published versio

On steady-state currents through nano-devices: a scattering-states numerical renormalization group approach to open quantum systems

We propose a numerical renormalization group (NRG) approach to steady-state currents through nano-devices. A discretization of the scattering-states continuum ensures the correct boundary condition for an open quantum system. We introduce two degenerate Wilson chains for current carrying left and right-moving electrons reflecting time-reversal symmetry in the absence of a finite bias $V$. We employ the time-dependent NRG to evolve the known steady-state density operator for a non-interacting junction into the density operator of the fully interacting nano-device at finite bias. We calculate the temperature dependent current as function of $V$ and applied external magnetic field using a recently developed algorithm for non-equilibrium spectral functions.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Eigenvalue estimates for the Aharonov-Bohm operator in a domain

We prove semi-classical estimates on moments of eigenvalues of the Aharonov-Bohm operator in bounded two-dimensional domains. Moreover, we present a counterexample to the generalized diamagnetic inequality which was proposed by Erdos, Loss and Vougalter. Numerical studies complement these results.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figure

N-body simulations of star clusters

Two aspects of our recent N-body studies of star clusters are presented: (1) What impact does mass segregation and selective mass loss have on integrated photometry? (2) How well compare results from N-body simulations using NBODY4 and STARLAB/KIRA?Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure with 4 panels (in colour, not well visible in black-and-white; figures screwed in PDF version, ok in postscript; to see further details get the paper source). Conference proceedings for IAUS246 'Dynamical Evolution of Dense Stellar Systems', ed. E. Vesperini (Chief Editor), M. Giersz, A. Sills, Capri, Sept. 2007; v2: references correcte

Real-time dynamics in Quantum Impurity Systems: A Time-dependent Numerical Renormalization Group Approach

We develop a general approach to the nonequilibrium dynamics of quantum impurity systems for arbitrary coupling strength. The numerical renormalization group is used to generate a complete basis set necessary for the correct description of the time evolution. We benchmark our method with the exact analytical solution for the resonant-level model. As a first application, we investigate the equilibration of a quantum dot subject to a sudden change of the gate voltage and external magnetic field. Two distinct relaxation times are identified for the spin and charge dynamics.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure