Crystallization of Simple Fluids: Relative Stability of f.c.c. and b.c.c Structures

A free-energy functional for a crystal that contains both the symmetry conserved and symmetry broken parts of the direct pair correlation function is developed. The free-energy functional is used to investigate the crystallization of fluids interacting via the inverse power potential ; $u(r)=\epsilon {(\sigma/r)}^n$. In agreement with simulation results we find that for $n=12$ the freezing is into close packed f.c.c structure while for soft repulsions $(n\leq 6)$ b.c.c phase is more stable.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Cosmic Evolution in Generalised Brans-Dicke Theory

We have studied the Generalised Brans-Dicke theory and obtained exact solutions of a(t),phi(t),and omega(t) for different epochs of the cosmic evolution .We discuss how inflation,decceleration,cosmic acceleration can result from this solution.The time variation of G(t) is also examined.Comment: 12 pages, no figure

ATTac-2000: An Adaptive Autonomous Bidding Agent

The First Trading Agent Competition (TAC) was held from June 22nd to July 8th, 2000. TAC was designed to create a benchmark problem in the complex domain of e-marketplaces and to motivate researchers to apply unique approaches to a common task. This article describes ATTac-2000, the first-place finisher in TAC. ATTac-2000 uses a principled bidding strategy that includes several elements of adaptivity. In addition to the success at the competition, isolated empirical results are presented indicating the robustness and effectiveness of ATTac-2000's adaptive strategy

Magnetoresistance behavior of a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy: Ni_1.75Mn_1.25Ga

A negative-positive-negative switching behavior of magnetoresistance (MR) with temperature is observed in a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni_1.75Mn_1.25Ga. In the austenitic phase between 300 and 120 K, MR is negative due to s-d scattering. Curiously, below 120K MR is positive, while at still lower temperatures in the martensitic phase, MR is negative again. The positive MR cannot be explained by Lorentz contribution and is related to a magnetic transition. Evidence for this is obtained from ab initio density functional theory, a decrease in magnetization and resistivity upturn at 120 K. Theory shows that a ferrimagnetic state with anti-ferromagnetic alignment between the local magnetic moments of the Mn atoms is the energetically favoured ground state. In the martensitic phase, there are two competing factors that govern the MR behavior: a dominant negative trend up to the saturation field due to the decrease of electron scattering at twin and domain boundaries; and a weaker positive trend due to the ferrimagnetic nature of the magnetic state. MR exhibits a hysteresis between heating and cooling that is related to the first order nature of the martensitic phase transition.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures. Accepted in Phys. Rev.

Analytic derivation of the map of null rays passing near a naked singularity

Recently the energy emission from a naked singularity forming in spherical dust collapse has been investigated. This radiation is due to the particle creation in a curved spacetime. In this discussion, the central role is played by the mapping formula between the incoming and the outgoing null coordinates. For the self-similar model, this mapping formula has been derived analytically. But for the model with $C^{\infty}$ density profile, the mapping formula has been obtained only numerically. In the present paper, we argue that the singular nature of the mapping is determined by the local geometry around the point at which the singularity is first formed. If this is the case, it would be natural to expect that the mapping formula can be derived analytically. In the present paper, we analytically rederive the same mapping formula for the model with $C^{\infty}$ density profile that has been earlier derived using a numerical technique.Comment: 4 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Crossover to non-Fermi-liquid spin dynamics in cuprates

The antiferromagnetic spin correlation function $S_{\bf Q}$, the staggered spin susceptibility $\chi_{\bf Q}$ and the energy scale $\omega_{FL}=S_{\bf Q}/\chi_{\bf Q}$ are studied numerically within the t-J model and the Hubbard model, as relevant to cuprates. It is shown that $\omega_{FL}$, related to the onset of the non-Fermi-liquid spin response at $T>\omega_{FL}$, is very low in the regime below the 'optimum' hole doping $c_h < c_h^* \sim 0.16$, while it shows a steep increase in the overdoped regime. A quantitative analysis of NMR spin-spin relaxation-rate $1/T_{2G}$ for various cuprates reveals a similar behavior, indicating on a sharp, but continuous, crossover between a Fermi-liquid and a non-Fermi-liquid behavior as a function of doping.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to PR

Optically mediated nonlinear quantum optomechanics

We consider theoretically the optomechanical interaction of several mechanical modes with a single quantized cavity field mode for linear and quadratic coupling. We focus specifically on situations where the optical dissipation is the dominant source of damping, in which case the optical field can be adiabatically eliminated, resulting in effective multimode interactions between the mechanical modes. In the case of linear coupling, the coherent contribution to the interaction can be exploited e.g. in quantum state swapping protocols, while the incoherent part leads to significant modifications of cold damping or amplification from the single-mode situation. Quadratic coupling can result in a wealth of possible effective interactions including the analogs of second-harmonic generation and four-wave mixing in nonlinear optics, with specific forms depending sensitively on the sign of the coupling. The cavity-mediated mechanical interaction of two modes is investigated in two limiting cases, the resolved sideband and the Doppler regime. As an illustrative application of the formal analysis we discuss in some detail a two-mode system where a Bose-Einstein condensate is optomechanically linearly coupled to the moving end mirror of a Fabry-P\'erot cavity.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

SU(2) Chiral Sigma Model Study of Phase Transition in Hybrid Stars

We use a modified SU(2) chiral sigma model to study nuclear matter component and simple bag model for quark matter constituting a neutron star. We also study the phase transition of nuclear matter to quark matter with the mixed phase characterized by two conserved charges in the interior of highly dense neutron stars. Stable solutions of Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equations representing hybrid stars are obtained with a maximum mass of 1.67$M_{\odot}$ and radius around 8.9 km.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Origin of Large Dielectric Constant with Large Remnant Polarization and Evidence of Magnetoelectric Coupling in Multiferroic La modified BiFeO3-PbTiO3 Solid Solution

The presence of superlattice reflections and detailed analyses of the powder neutron and x-ray diffraction data reveal that La rich (BF$_{0.50}$-LF$_{0.50}$)$_{0.50}$-(PT)$_{0.50}$ (BF-LF-PT) has ferroelectric rhombohedral crystal structure with space group \textit{$R3c$} at ambient conditions. The temperature dependence of lattice parameters, tilt angle, calculated polarization $(P_{s})$, volume, and integrated intensity of superlattice and magnetic reflections show an anomaly around 170 K. Impedance spectroscopy, dielectric and ac conductivity measurements were performed in temperature range $473K \leq T \leq 573K$ to probe the origin of large remnant polarization and frequency dependent broad transitions with large dielectric constant near $T_c^{FE}$. Results of impedance spectroscopy measurements clearly show contributions of both grain and grain boundaries throughout the frequency range ($10^{3}$ Hz$\leq f\leq 10^{7}$ Hz). It could be concluded that the grain boundaries are more resistive and capacitive as compared to the grains, resulting in inhomogeneities in the sample causing broad frequency dependent dielectric anomalies. Enhancement in dielectric constant and remnant polarization values are possibly due to space charge polarization caused by piling of charges at the interface of grains and grain boundaries. The imaginary parts of dielectric constant ($\epsilon^{\prime\prime}$) Vs frequency data were fitted using Maxwell-Wagner model at $T_c^{FE}(\sim 523$K) and model fits very well with the data up to $10^{5}$ Hz. Magnetodielectric measurements prove that the sample starts exhibiting magnetoelectric coupling at $\sim 170$ K, which is also validated by neutron diffraction data.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figure