4,942 research outputs found
Commitment and Oblivious Transfer in the Bounded Storage Model with Errors
The bounded storage model restricts the memory of an adversary in a
cryptographic protocol, rather than restricting its computational power, making
information theoretically secure protocols feasible. We present the first
protocols for commitment and oblivious transfer in the bounded storage model
with errors, i.e., the model where the public random sources available to the
two parties are not exactly the same, but instead are only required to have a
small Hamming distance between themselves. Commitment and oblivious transfer
protocols were known previously only for the error-free variant of the bounded
storage model, which is harder to realize
Frequency Dependence of Aging, Rejuvenation and Memory in a disordered ferroelectric
We characterize in details the aging properties of the ferroelectric phase of
K Ta_{1-x} Nb_x O_3 (KTN), where both rejuvenation and (partial) memory are
observed. In particular, we carefully examine the frequency dependence of
several quantities that characterize aging, rejuvenation and memory. We find a
marked subaging behaviour, with an a.c. dielectric susceptiblity scaling as
, where is the waiting time. We suggest an
interpretation in terms of pinned domain walls, much along the lines proposed
for aging in a disordered ferromagnet, where both domain wall reconformations
and overall (cumulative) domain growth are needed to rationalize the
experimental findings.Comment: submitted to EPJ
The self-consistent quantum-electrostatic problem in strongly non-linear regime
The self-consistent quantum-electrostatic (also known as
Poisson-Schr\"odinger) problem is notoriously difficult in situations where the
density of states varies rapidly with energy. At low temperatures, these
fluctuations make the problem highly non-linear which renders iterative schemes
deeply unstable. We present a stable algorithm that provides a solution to this
problem with controlled accuracy. The technique is intrinsically convergent
including in highly non-linear regimes. We illustrate our approach with (i) a
calculation of the compressible and incompressible stripes in the integer
quantum Hall regime and (ii) a calculation of the differential conductance of a
quantum point contact geometry. Our technique provides a viable route for the
predictive modeling of the transport properties of quantum nanoelectronics
devices.Comment: 28 pages. 14 figures. Added solution to a potential failure mode of
the algorith
Sputtering of Oxygen Ice by Low Energy Ions
Naturally occurring ices lie on both interstellar dust grains and on
celestial objects, such as those in the outer solar system. These ices are
continu- ously subjected to irradiation by ions from the solar wind and/or
cosmic rays, which modify their surfaces. As a result, new molecular species
may form which can be sputtered off into space or planetary atmospheres. We
determined the experimental values of sputtering yields for irradiation of
oxygen ice at 10 K by singly (He+, C+, N+, O+ and Ar+) and doubly (C2+, N2+ and
O2+) charged ions with 4 keV kinetic energy. In these laboratory experiments,
oxygen ice was deposited and irradiated by ions in an ultra high vacuum chamber
at low temperature to simulate the environment of space. The number of
molecules removed by sputtering was observed by measurement of the ice
thickness using laser interferometry. Preliminary mass spectra were taken of
sputtered species and of molecules formed in the ice by temperature programmed
desorption (TPD). We find that the experimental sputtering yields increase
approximately linearly with the projectile ion mass (or momentum squared) for
all ions studied. No difference was found between the sputtering yield for
singly and doubly charged ions of the same atom within the experimental
uncertainty, as expected for a process dominated by momentum transfer. The
experimental sputter yields are in good agreement with values calculated using
a theoretical model except in the case of oxygen ions. Preliminary studies have
shown molecular oxygen as the dominant species sputtered and TPD measurements
indicate ozone formation.Comment: to be published in Surface Science (2015
Quantum critical 5f-electrons avoid singularities in U(Ru,Rh)2Si2
We present specific heat measurements of 4% Rh-doped U(Ru,Rh)2Si2 at magnetic
fields above the proposed metamagnetic transition field Hm~34 T, revealing
striking similarities to the isotructural Ce analog CeRu2Si2, suggesting that
strongly renormalized hybridized band models apply equally well to both
systems. The vanishing bandwidths as H --> Hm are consistent with a putative
quantum critical point close to Hm. The existence of a phase transition into an
ordered phase in the vicinity of Hm for 4% Rh-doped U(Ru,Rh)2Si2, but not for
CeRu2Si2, is consistent with a stronger super-exchange in the case of the U 5-f
system, with irreversible processes at the transition revealing a strong
coupling of the 5f orbitals to the lattice, most suggestive of orbital or
electric quadrupolar order.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
MODELING AND SIMULATION OF THERMOELECTRIC PLANT OF COMBINED CYCLES AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The impact any power plant has upon the environment must be minimized as much as
possible. Due to its high efficiency, low emission levels and low cooling requirements,
combined cycle plants are considered to be environmentally friendly. This study evaluates
the effect of operational conditions on pollutants (CO, CO2, SOx, NOx) emissions levels,
waste-heat and wastewater of a combined-cycle natural gas and steam power plant. The
HYSYS process simulation was used for modelling and simulation. The study clearly
shows that the absolute quantity of pollutants emitted is high. Also, it was possible to
verify that the unit operate in the condition of minimal emissions regarding the maximum
possible, and thus a reduction or elimination of such pollutants is not possible
High magnetic field thermal-expansion and elastic properties of CeRhIn
We report high magnetic field thermal-expansion and magnetostriction results
on CeRhIn single crystals. Several transitions, both first and second
order, are observed when the field is applied perpendicular to the
crystallographic c-axis. The magnetic field dependence of the thermal-expansion
coefficient above 15 K, where the magnetic correlations are negligible, can be
explained supposing an almost pure ground state doublet, in
apparent contradiction with neutron scattering experiments. Although the
spin-lattice interaction is relevant in this compound, the effect of the
magnetic correlations on the elastic properties is relatively weak, as revealed
by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure
Non-Fermi Liquid behavior in CeIrIn near a metamagnetic transition
We present specific heat and resistivity study of CeIrIn5 in magnetic fields
up to 17 T and temperature down to 50 mK. Both quantities were measured with
the magnetic field parallel to the c-axis (H || [001]) and within the a-b plane
(H \perp [001]). Non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) behavior develops above 12 T for H ||
[001]. The Fermi liquid state is much more robust for H \perp [001] and is
suppressed only moderately at the highest applied field. Based on the observed
trends and the proximity to a metamagnetic phase transition, which exists at
fields above 25 T for H || [001], we suggest that the observed NFL behavior in
CeIrIn5 is a consequence of a metamagnetic quantum critical point.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Letter
The impacts of climate change and variability in Portugal : key points regarding the transboundary rivers shared with Spain
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