5,647 research outputs found
Magnetic order and the electronic ground state in the pyrochlore iridate Nd2Ir2O7
We report a combined muon spin relaxation/rotation, bulk magnetization,
neutron scattering, and transport study of the electronic properties of the
pyrochlore iridate Nd2Ir2O7. We observe the onset of strongly hysteretic
behavior in the temperature dependent magnetization below 120 K, and an abrupt
increase in the temperature dependent resistivity below 8 K. Zero field muon
spin relaxation measurements show that the hysteretic magnetization is driven
by a transition to a magnetically disordered state, and that below 8 K a
complex magnetically ordered ground state sets in, as evidenced by the onset of
heavily damped spontaneous muon precession. Our measurements point toward the
absence of a true metal-to-insulator phase transition in this material and
suggest that Nd2Ir2O7 lies either within or on the metallic side of the
boundary of the Dirac semimetal regime within its topological phase diagram.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figure
Spin ordering and electronic texture in the bilayer iridate SrIrO
Through a neutron scattering, charge transport, and magnetization study, the
correlated ground state in the bilayer iridium oxide SrIrO is
explored. Our combined results resolve scattering consistent with a high
temperature magnetic phase that persists above 600 K, reorients at the
previously defined K, and coexists with an electronic ground state
whose phase behavior suggests the formation of a fluctuating charge or orbital
phase that freezes below K. Our study provides a window into
the emergence of multiple electronic order parameters near the boundary of the
metal to insulator phase transition of the 5d Mott phase.Comment: Revised text and figures. 4 pages, 4 figure
A charge density wave-like instability in a doped spin-orbit assisted weak Mott insulator
Layered perovskite iridates realize a rare class of Mott insulators that are predicted to be strongly spin–orbit coupled analogues of the parent state of cuprate high-temperature superconductors. Recent discoveries of pseudogap, magnetic multipolar ordered6 and possible d-wave superconducting phases in doped Sr_2IrO_4 have reinforced this analogy among the single layer variants. However, unlike the bilayer cuprates, no electronic instabilities have been reported in the doped bilayer iridate Sr_3Ir_2O_7. Here we show that Sr_3Ir_2O_7 realizes a weak Mott state with no cuprate analogue by using ultrafast time-resolved optical reflectivity to uncover an intimate connection between its insulating gap and antiferromagnetism. However, we detect a subtle charge density wave-like Fermi surface instability in metallic electron doped Sr_3Ir_2O_7 at temperatures (T_(DW)) close to 200 K via the coherent oscillations of its collective modes, which is reminiscent of that observed in cuprates. The absence of any signatures of a new spatial periodicity below T_(DW) from diffraction, scanning tunnelling and photoemission based probes suggests an unconventional and possibly short-ranged nature of this density wave order
Probing the Origins of Voids in the Distribution of Galaxies
If the voids that we see today in the distribution of galaxies existed at
recombination, they will leave an imprint on the cosmic microwave background
(CMB). On the other hand, if these voids formed much later, their effect on the
CMB will be negligible and will not be observed with the current generation of
experiments. In this paper presented at the 2004 Annual Scientific Meeting of
the Astronomical Society of Australia, we discuss our ongoing investigations
into voids of primordial origin. We show that if voids in the cold dark matter
distribution existed at the epoch of decoupling, they could contribute
significantly to the apparent rise in CMB power on small scales detected by the
Cosmic Background Imager (CBI) Deep Field. Here we present our improved method
for predicting the effects of primordial voids on the CMB in which we treat a
void as an external source in the cold dark matter (CDM) distribution employing
a Boltzmann solver. Our improved predictions include the effects of a
cosmological constant (Lambda) and acoustic oscillations generated by voids at
early times. We find that models with relatively large voids on the last
scattering surface predict too much CMB power in an Einstein--de Sitter
background cosmology but could be consistent with the current CMB observations
in a Lambda-CDM universe.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, paper presented at the 2004 Annual Scientific
Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Australia, accepted for publication in
PAS
BDM Dark Matter: CDM with a core profile and a free streaming scale
We present a new dark matter model BDM which is an hybrid between hot dark
matter HDM and cold dark matter CDM, in which the BDM particles behave as HDM
above the energy scale E_c and as CDM below this scale. Evolution of structure
formation is similar to that of CDM model but BDM predicts a nonvanishing free
streaming l_fs scale and a inner galaxy core radius r_core, both quantities
determined in terms of a single parameter E_c, which corresponds to the phase
transition energy scale of the subjacent elementary particle model. For
energies above E_c or for a scale factor a smaller then a_c, with a<a_c<a_{eq},
the particles are massless and rho redshifts as radiation. However, once the
energy becomes E\leq E_c or a>a_c then the BDM particles acquire a large mass
through a non perturbative mechanism, as baryons do, and rho redshifts as
matter with the particles having a vanishing velocity. Typical energies are
E_c=O(10-100) eV giving a l_fs \propto E_c^{-4/3}\lesssim Mpc and m_fs\propto
E_c^{-4}\lesssim 10^9 M\odot. A l_fs\neq 0, r_core\neq 0 help to resolve some
of the shortcomings of CDM such as overabundance substructure in CDM halos and
numerical fit to rotation curves in dwarf spheroidal and LSB galaxies. Finally,
our BDM model and the phase transition scale E_c can be derived from particle
physics.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure
Utilizing TAPBPR to promote exogenous peptide loading onto cell surface MHC I molecules.
The repertoire of peptides displayed at the cell surface by MHC I molecules is shaped by two intracellular peptide editors, tapasin and TAPBPR. While cell-free assays have proven extremely useful in identifying the function of both of these proteins, here we explored whether a more physiological system could be developed to assess TAPBPR-mediated peptide editing on MHC I. We reveal that membrane-associated TAPBPR targeted to the plasma membrane retains its ability to function as a peptide editor and efficiently catalyzes peptide exchange on surface-expressed MHC I molecules. Additionally, we show that soluble TAPBPR, consisting of the luminal domain alone, added to intact cells, also functions as an effective peptide editor on surface MHC I molecules. Thus, we have established two systems in which TAPBPR-mediated peptide exchange on MHC class I can be interrogated. Furthermore, we could use both plasma membrane-targeted and exogenous soluble TAPBPR to display immunogenic peptides on surface MHC I molecules and consequently induce T cell receptor engagement, IFN-γ secretion, and T cell-mediated killing of target cells. Thus, we have developed an efficient way to by-pass the natural antigen presentation pathway of cells and load immunogenic peptides of choice onto cells. Our findings highlight a potential therapeutic use for TAPBPR in increasing the immunogenicity of tumors in the future
Man-Machine Interface System for Neuromuscular Training and Evaluation Based on EMG and MMG Signals
This paper presents the UVa-NTS (University of Valladolid Neuromuscular Training System), a multifunction and portable Neuromuscular Training System. The UVa-NTS is designed to analyze the voluntary control of severe neuromotor handicapped patients, their interactive response, and their adaptation to neuromuscular interface systems, such as neural prostheses or domotic applications. Thus, it is an excellent tool to evaluate the residual muscle capabilities in the handicapped. The UVa-NTS is composed of a custom signal conditioning front-end and a computer. The front-end electronics is described thoroughly as well as the overall features of the custom software implementation. The software system is composed of a set of graphical training tools and a processing core. The UVa-NTS works with two classes of neuromuscular signals: the classic myoelectric signals (MES) and, as a novelty, the myomechanic signals (MMS). In order to evaluate the performance of the processing core, a complete analysis has been done to classify its efficiency and to check that it fulfils with the real-time constraints. Tests were performed both with healthy and selected impaired subjects. The adaptation was achieved rapidly, applying a predefined protocol for the UVa-NTS set of training tools. Fine voluntary control was demonstrated to be reached with the myoelectric signals. And the UVa-NTS demonstrated to provide a satisfactory voluntary control when applying the myomechanic signals
Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs in Praesepe
Presented are the results of a large and deep optical-near-infrared
multi-epoch survey of the Praesepe open star cluster using data from the UKIDSS
Galactic Clusters Survey. Multiple colour magnitude diagrams were used to
select potential members and proper motions were used to assign levels of
membership probability. From our sample, 145 objects were designated as high
probability members (p >= 0.6) with most of these having been found by previous
surveys although 14 new cluster members are also identified. Our membership
assignment is restricted to the bright sample of objects (Z < 18). From the
fainter sample, 39 candidates were found from an examination of multiple colour
magnitude plots. Of these, 2 have small but significant membership
probabilities. Finally, using theoretical models, cluster luminosity and mass
functions were plotted with the later being fitted with a power law of alpha =
1.11 +/- 0.37 for the mass range 0.6 to 0.125 Msun and an assumed cluster age
of 500 Myrs in the UKIDSS Z photometric band. Likewise taking an assumed
cluster age of 1 Gyr we find alpha = 1.10 +/- 0.37. Similar values were also
found for the J and K bands. These results compare favourably with the result
of Kraus & Hillenbrand (2007) (alpha = 1.4 +/- 0.2) but are significantly lower
than that of the more recent study conducted by Boudreault et al. (2009) (alpha
= 1.8 +/- 0.1).Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables and 4 appendices. Accepted for
publication in MNRAS, corrected a missing referenc
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