1,754 research outputs found
Direct Observation of an Incommensurate Charge Density Wave in the BiS2-based Superconductor NdO1-xFxBiS2
The nature of superconductivity in BiS-based superconductors has been
controversial while ab-initio calculations proposed this system in close
proximity to a charge-density-wave (CDW) phase. Using high-energy high-flux
X-ray diffraction, we reveal an intrinsic and long-range CDW phase coexisting
with superconductivity in NdOFBiS superconductor ( = 0.37
and 0.3). The CDW wavevector in NdOFBiS correspond
Q = (0.17, 0.17, 0.5) and is associated with transverse atomic
displacements. Interestingly, this wavevector does not match theoretical
expectations based on either phonon softening or Fermi surface nesting. In
NdOFBiS, where the superconducting transition temperature
is highest, the CDW satellites are slightly broader and weaker compared to
NdOFBiS, possibly suggesting the competition with the
superconductivity. Lastly, we measure a thermal diffuse scattering across the
superconducting transition temperature and find no meaningful changes in favor
of the unconventional pairing mechanism. Our result suggests the importance of
understanding CDW which might hold a key to the superconductivity in the
BiS-based superconductor.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, Supplementary to be uploade
Neurostimulation Reveals Context-Dependent Arbitration Between Model-Based and Model-Free Reinforcement Learning
While it is established that humans use model-based (MB) and model-free (MF) reinforcement learning in a complementary fashion, much less is known about how the brain determines which of these systems should control behavior at any given moment. Here we provide causal evidence for a neural mechanism that acts as a context-dependent arbitrator between both systems. We applied excitatory and inhibitory transcranial direct current stimulation over a region of the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex previously found to encode the reliability of both learning systems. The opposing neural interventions resulted in a bidirectional shift of control between MB and MF learning. Stimulation also affected the sensitivity of the arbitration mechanism itself, as it changed how often subjects switched between the dominant system over time. Both of these effects depended on varying task contexts that either favored MB or MF control, indicating that this arbitration mechanism is not context-invariant but flexibly incorporates information about current environmental demands
Neurostimulation reveals context-dependent arbitration between model-based and model-free reinforcement learning
While it is established that humans use model-based (MB) and model-free (MF) reinforcement learning in a complementary fashion, much less is known about how the brain determines which of these systems should control behavior at any given moment. Here we provide causal evidence for a neural mechanism that acts as a context-dependent arbitrator between both systems. We applied excitatory and inhibitory transcranial direct current stimulation over a region of the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex previously found to encode the reliability of both learning systems. The opposing neural interventions resulted in a bidirectional shift of control between MB and MF learning. Stimulation also affected the sensitivity of the arbitration mechanism itself, as it changed how often subjects switched between the dominant system over time. Both of these effects depended on varying task contexts that either favored MB or MF control, indicating that this arbitration mechanism is not context-invariant but flexibly incorporates information about current environmental demands
Kinetically Inhibited Order in a Diamond-Lattice Antiferromagnet
Frustrated magnetic systems exhibit highly degenerate ground states and
strong fluctuations, often leading to new physics. An intriguing example of
current interest is the antiferromagnet on a diamond lattice, realized
physically in A-site spinel materials. This is a prototypical system in three
dimensions where frustration arises from competing interactions rather than
purely geometric constraints, and theory suggests the possibility of unusual
magnetic order at low temperature. Here we present a comprehensive
single-crystal neutron scattering study of CoAl2O4, a highly frustrated A-site
spinel. We observe strong diffuse scattering that peaks at wavevectors
associated with Neel ordering. Below the temperature T*=6.5 K, there is a
dramatic change in the elastic scattering lineshape accompanied by the
emergence of well-defined spin-wave excitations. T* had previously been
associated with the onset of glassy behavior. Our new results suggest instead
that T* signifies a first-order phase transition, but with true long-range
order inhibited by the kinetic freezing of domain walls. This scenario might be
expected to occur widely in frustrated systems containing first-order phase
transitions and is a natural explanation for existing reports of anomalous
glassy behavior in other materials.Comment: 40 pages, 9 figures, Introduction and discussion altered and
expanded. Additional section and figure added to Supplementary Informatio
Intramolecular thermal stepwise [2 + 2] cycloadditions: investigation of a stereoselective synthesis of [n.2.0]-bicyclolactones
YesFused cyclobutanes are found in a range of natural products and formation of these motifs in a straightforward and easy manner represents an interesting synthetic challenge. To this end we investigated an intramolecular variant of the thermal enamine [2 + 2] cyclisation, developing a diastereoselective intramolecular enamine [2 + 2] cyclisation furnishing δ lactone and lactam fused cyclobutenes in good yield and excellent diastereoselectivity.The work was funded by Yorkshire Cancer Researc
The dual nature of magnetism in a uranium heavy fermion system
The duality between localized and itinerant nature of magnetism in
electron systems has been a longstanding puzzle. Here, we report
inelastic neutron scattering measurements, which reveal both local and
itinerant aspects of magnetism in a single crystalline system of
UPtSi. In the antiferromagnetic state, we observe broad continuum
of diffuse magnetic scattering with a resonance-like gap of 7 meV,
and surprising absence of coherent spin-waves, suggestive of itinerant
magnetism. While the gap closes above the Neel temperature, strong dynamic spin
correlations persist to high temperature. Nevertheless, the size and
temperature dependence of the total magnetic spectral weight can be well
described by local moment with . Furthermore, polarized neutron
measurements reveal that the magnetic fluctuations are mostly transverse, with
little or none of the longitudinal component expected for itinerant moments.
These results suggest that a dual description of local and itinerant magnetism
is required to understand UPtSi, and by extension, other 5
systems in general.Comment: see supplementary material for more detail
Neurostimulation Reveals Context-Dependent Arbitration Between Model-Based and Model-Free Reinforcement Learning
While it is established that humans use model-based (MB) and model-free (MF) reinforcement learning in a complementary fashion, much less is known about how the brain determines which of these systems should control behavior at any given moment. Here we provide causal evidence for a neural mechanism that acts as a context-dependent arbitrator between both systems. We applied excitatory and inhibitory transcranial direct current stimulation over a region of the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex previously found to encode the reliability of both learning systems. The opposing neural interventions resulted in a bidirectional shift of control between MB and MF learning. Stimulation also affected the sensitivity of the arbitration mechanism itself, as it changed how often subjects switched between the dominant system over time. Both of these effects depended on varying task contexts that either favored MB or MF control, indicating that this arbitration mechanism is not context-invariant but flexibly incorporates information about current environmental demands
Absence of anomalous negative lattice-expansion for polycrystalline sample of Tb2Ti2O7
High resolution X-ray powder-diffraction experiments on a well-characterized
polycrystalline sample of the spin liquid Tb2Ti2O7 reveal that it shows normal
positive thermal-expansion above 4 K, which does not agree with the intriguing
anomalous negative thermal-expansion due to a magneto-elastic coupling reported
for a single crystal sample below 20 K. We also performed a Rietveld profile
refinement of a powder-diffraction pattern taken at a room temperature, and
confirmed that it is consistent with the fully ordered cubic pyrochlore
structure.Comment: 2 pages, 3 figure
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