479 research outputs found
The Hamilton-jacobi Theory of Dynamics
Canonical equations, transformations, and integration principles in Hamilton-Jacobi theory of dynamic
Electron-Phonon Coupling in Boron-Doped Diamond Superconductor
The electronic structure, lattice dynamics, and electron-phonon coupling of
the boron-doped diamond are investigated using the density functional supercell
method. Our results indicate the boron-doped diamond is a phonon mediated
superconductor, con rming previous theoretical conclusions deduced from the
calculations employing the virtual crystal approximation. We show that the
optical phonon modes involving B vibrations play an important role in the
electron-phonon coupling. Di erent from previous theoretical results, our
calculated electron-phonon coupling constant is 0.39 and the estimated
superconducting transition temperature Tc is 4.4 K for the boron doped diamond
with 2.78% boron content using the Coulomb pseudopotential \mu*= 0.10, in
excellent agreement with the experimental result.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, Accepted by PR
Electrons and phonons in the ternary alloy CaAlSi} as a function of composition
We report a detailed first-principles study of the structural, electronic and
vibrational properties of the superconducting C phase of the ternary
alloy CaAlSi, both in the experimental range ,
for which the alloy has been synthesised, and in the theoretical limits of high
aluminium and high silicon concentration. Our results indicate that, in the
experimental range, the dependence of the electronic bands on composition is
well described by a rigid-band model, which breaks down outside this range.
Such a breakdown, in the (theoretical) limit of high aluminium concentration,
is connected to the appearance of vibrational instabilities, and results in
important differences between CaAl and MgB. Unlike MgB, the
interlayer band and the out-of-plane phonons play a major role on the stability
and superconductivity of CaAlSi and related C intermetallic compounds
Huge enhancement of electronmechanical responses in compositionally modulated PZT
Monte Carlo simulations based on a first-principles-derived Hamiltonian are
conducted to study the properties of PZT alloys compositionally modulated along
the [100] pseudocubic direction near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). It
is shown that compositional modulation causes the polarization to continuously
rotate away from the modulation direction, resulting in the unusual triclinic
and C-type monoclinic ground states and huge enhancement of electromechanical
responses (the peak of piezoelectric coefficient is as high as 30000 pC/N). The
orientation dependence of dipole-dipole interaction in modulated structure is
revealed as the microscopic mechanism to be responsible for these anomalies.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Proof of the Ergodic Theorem and the H-Theorem in Quantum Mechanics
It is shown how to resolve the apparent contradiction between the macroscopic
approach of phase space and the validity of the uncertainty relations. The main
notions of statistical mechanics are re-interpreted in a quantum-mechanical
way, the ergodic theorem and the H-theorem are formulated and proven (without
"assumptions of disorder"), followed by a discussion of the physical meaning of
the mathematical conditions characterizing their domain of validity.Comment: English translation by Roderich Tumulka of J. von Neumann: Beweis des
Ergodensatzes und des H-Theorems. 41 pages LaTeX, no figures; v2: typos
corrected. See also the accompanying commentary by S. Goldstein, J. L.
Lebowitz, R. Tumulka, N. Zanghi, arXiv:1003.212
Ferroelectric control of magnetization in La_{1-x}Sr_xMnO3 manganites: A first-principle study
We present a first-principles study on the interface between perovskite
ferroelectrics (PbTiO3) and conducting magnetic manganites La_{1-x}Sr_xMnO3. We
show that by switching the ferroelectric polarization, additional carriers are
accumulated or depleted at the interfacial region of the manganite and that
this change in carrier density can modify the magnetic spin configuration of
the interfacial Mn, which is consistent with the experimentally observed
anomalously large change in the magnetization. We also describe an unexpected
purely interfacial phenomenon whereby the ferroelectric polarization of the
interfacial region changes the magnetic energetics --- a degree of freedom not
present in bulk manganites. Theoretically, we show the the ground-state
magnetic structure depends sensitively on the precise choice of Hubbard
parameter within the widely-used DFT+U class of exchange correlation
functionals. We provide a simple Ising-like model that explains the evolution
of the magnetic structure with U in tandem with a discussion of various
different ways in which one might try to choose an appropriate U parameter.Comment: 36 pages, 14 figure
Modified two-potential approach to tunneling problems
One-body quantum tunneling to continuum is treated via the two-potential
approach, dividing the tunneling potential into external and internal parts. We
show that corrections to this approach can be minimized by taking the
separation radius inside the interval determined by simple expressions. The
resulting two-potential approach reproduces the resonance energy and its width,
both for narrow and wide resonances. We also demonstrate that, without losing
its accuracy, the two-potential approach can be modified to a form resembling
the R-matrix theory, yet without any uncertainties of the latter related to the
choice of the matching radius.Comment: 7 two-column pages, 3 figures, extra-explanation added, Phys. Rev. A,
in pres
Surface composition and properties of Ganymede: Updates from ground-based observations with the near-infrared imaging spectrometer SINFONI/VLT/ESO
Ganymede's surface exhibits great geological diversity, with old dark terrains, expressed through the surface composition, which is known to be dominated by two constituents: H2O-ice and an unidentified darkening agent. In this paper, new investigations of the composition of Ganymede's surface at global scale are presented. The analyses are derived from the linear spectral modeling of a high spectral resolution dataset, acquired with the near-infrared (1.40–2.50 μm) ground-based integral field spectrometer SINFONI (SINgle Faint Object Near-IR Investigation) of the Very Large Telescope (VLT hereafter) located in Chile. We show that, unlike the neighboring moon Europa, photometric corrections cannot be performed using a simple Lambertian model. However, we find that the Oren-Nayar (1994) model, generalizing the Lambert's law for rough surfaces, produces excellent results. Spectral modeling confirms that Ganymede's surface composition is dominated by H2O-ice, which is predominantly crystalline, as well as a darkening agent, but it also clearly highlights the necessity of secondary species to better fit the measurements: sulfuric acid hydrate and salts, likely sulfates and chlorinated. A latitudinal gradient and a hemispherical dichotomy are the strongest spatial patterns observed for the darkening agent, the H2O-ice, and the sulfuric acid: the darkening agent is by far the major compound at the equator and mid-latitudes (≤ ± 35°N), especially on the trailing hemisphere, while the H2O-ice and the sulfuric acid are mostly located at high latitudes and on the leading hemisphere. This anti-correlation is likely a consequence of the bombardment of the constituents in the Jovian magnetosphere which are much more intense at latitudes higher than ±35°N. Furthermore, the modeling confirms that polar caps are enriched in small, fresh, H2O-ice grains (i.e. ≤50 μm) while equatorial regions are mostly composed of larger grains (i.e. ≥200 μm, up to 1 mm). Finally, the spatial distribution of the salts is neither related to the Jovian magnetospheric bombardment nor the craters. These species are mostly detected on bright grooved terrains surrounding darker areas. Endogenous processes, such as freezing of upwelling fluids going through the ice shell, may explain this distribution. In addition, a small spectral residue that might be related to brines and/or hydrated silica-bearing minerals are located in the same areas
Recruiting general practitioners and patients with dementia into a cluster randomised controlled trial: strategies, barriers and facilitators
Background: Recruitment of general practitioners (GPs) and their patients is reported as one of the most challenging steps when undertaking primary care research. The present paper describes the recruitment process of a cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) aiming to improve dementia care in the primary care setting.
Methods: Recruitment data was analysed descriptively using frequency tables to investigate comparisons of recruitment rates and results of different recruitment strategies as well as reasons for participation and non-participation of GPs, patients with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers.
Results: Over a period of 23 months, N = 28 GPs were successfully included in the cRCT. This represents an overall recruitment rate of 4.6%. The most efficient strategy in terms of high response and low labour-intensity involved the dissemination of calls for participation in a GP research network. Most frequently reported reasons for GP's participation were Improvement of patient's well-being (n = 22, 79%) followed by Interest in dementia research (n = 18, 64%). The most common reasons for non-participation were Lack of time (n = 71, 34%) followed by Not interested in participation (n = 63, 30%). On a patient level, N = 102 PwD were successfully recruited. On average, each GP referred about n = 7 PwD (range: 1-17; mdn = 6; IQR = 3.5) and successfully recruited about n = 4 PwD (range: 1-11; mdn = 3; IQR = 3.5).
Conclusion: First, our findings propose GP research networks as a promising strategy to promote recruitment and participation of GPs and their patients in research. Second, present findings highlight the importance of including GPs and their interests in specific research topics in early stages of research in order to ensure a successful recruitment. Finally, results do not support cold calls as a successful strategy in the recruitment of GPs
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