Pinned Low Energy Electronic Excitation in Metal Exchanged Vanadium Oxide Nanoscrolls

We measured the optical properties of mixed valent vanadium oxide nanoscrolls and their metal exchanged derivatives in order to investigate the charge dynamics in these compounds. In contrast to the prediction of a metallic state for the metal exchanged derivatives within a rigid band model, we find that the injected charges in Mn$^{2+}$ exchanged vanadium oxide nanoscrolls are pinned. A low-energy electronic excitation associated with the pinned carriers appears in the far infrared and persists at low temperature, suggesting that the nanoscrolls are weak metals in their bulk form, dominated by inhomogeneous charge disproportionation and Madelung energy effects.Comment: 4 figure

Symmetry improvement of 3PI effective actions for O(N) scalar field theory

[Abridged] n-Particle Irreducible Effective Actions ($n$PIEA) are a powerful tool for extracting non-perturbative and non-equilibrium physics from quantum field theories. Unfortunately, practical truncations of $n$PIEA can unphysically violate symmetries. Pilaftsis and Teresi (PT) addressed this by introducing a "symmetry improvement" scheme in the context of the 2PIEA for an O(2) scalar theory, ensuring that the Goldstone boson is massless in the broken symmetry phase [A. Pilaftsis and D. Teresi, Nuc.Phys. B 874, 2 (2013), pp. 594--619]. We extend this by introducing a symmetry improved 3PIEA for O(N) theories, for which the basic variables are the 1-, 2- and 3-point correlation functions. This requires the imposition of a Ward identity involving the 3-point function. The method leads to an infinity of physically distinct schemes, though an analogue of d'Alembert's principle is used to single out a unique scheme. The standard equivalence hierarchy of $n$PIEA no longer holds with symmetry improvement and we investigate the difference between the symmetry improved 3PIEA and 2PIEA. We present renormalized equations of motion and counter-terms for 2 and 3 loop truncations of the effective action, leaving their numerical solution to future work. We solve the Hartree-Fock approximation and find that our method achieves a middle ground between the unimproved 2PIEA and PT methods. The phase transition predicted by our method is weakly first order and the Goldstone theorem is satisfied. We also show that, in contrast to PT, the symmetry improved 3PIEA at 2 loops does not predict the correct Higgs decay rate, but does at 3 loops. These results suggest that symmetry improvement should not be applied to $n$PIEA truncated to $<n$ loops. We also show that symmetry improvement is compatible with the Coleman-Mermin-Wagner theorem, a check on the consistency of the formalism.Comment: 27 pages, 15 figures, 2 supplemental Mathematica notebooks. REVTeX 4.1 with amsmath. Updated with minor corrections. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Ultracold collisions in tight harmonic traps: Quantum defect model and application to metastable helium atoms

We analyze a system of two colliding ultracold atoms under strong harmonic confinement from the viewpoint of quantum defect theory and formulate a generalized self-consistent method for determining the allowed energies. We also present two highly efficient computational methods for determining the bound state energies and eigenfunctions of such systems. The perturbed harmonic oscillator problem is characterized by a long asymptotic region beyond the effective range of the interatomic potential. The first method, which is based on quantum defect theory and is an adaptation of a technique developed by one of the authors (GP) for highly excited states in a modified Coulomb potential, is very efficient for integrating through this outer region. The second method is a direct numerical solution of the radial Schr\"{o}dinger equation using a discrete variable representation of the kinetic energy operator and a scaled radial coordinate grid. The methods are applied to the case of trapped spin-polarized metastable helium atoms. The calculated eigenvalues agree very closely for the two methods, and with those computed self-consistently using the generalized self-consistent method.Comment: 11 pages,REVTEX, text substantially revised, title modifie

Reflections on the past, present, and potential futures of knowledge hierarchies in ocean biodiversity governance research

Governance of the ocean and its biodiversity is deeply entangled within social, political and cultural histories. The evolution of marine science has been subject to similar influences, and we (the authors) consider these factors to create, embed and reinforce knowledge hierarchies in ocean governance processes and associated research that set societal patterns of prioritisation and exclusion. Such knowledge hierarchies have constructed dominant Western-oriented knowledge systems as ‘rational’ and ‘objective’ approaches to environmental governance in contrast to non-Western knowledge systems and have led to a dominance of natural (normal) sciences over centralised biodiversity governance. The extraction and incorporation of traditional knowledge into the Western-oriented scientific canon through myriad historical and contemporary processes in ocean biodiversity governance often reproduce knowledge hierarchies, do not benefit knowledge holders and are often considered incomplete, inappropriate or absent. As we address current ocean biodiversity and conservation challenges, researchers must be aware of the history of knowledge extraction, impositions and assumptions within their fields. Researchers must also actively acknowledge and address these histories in their work to avoid marginalisation and support ethical, empathetic, and rigorous knowledge production that meets the needs of society. In this paper, through a development of the concept of knowledge hierarchies, we explore case studies of research diverse in geography and discipline ranging from action research in Namibia, the application of arts-based methodologies in legal proceedings to research focused at an international level, and the concept of ocean literacies, all of which are located under the umbrella of a project specifically targeting transformative ocean governance. It becomes evident that knowledge hierarchies are multi-layered, perpetuating, and often reproduced even when attempting to address hierarchies through such methods as the integration or ‘bringing together’ of diverse knowledge systems. Effective change will therefore require sensitive and multi-faceted approaches to knowledge hierarchies, including processes of embracing discomfort, which will be important to work with, as well as through. While there will be continued tensions between hierarchies, it is a sine qua non that researchers need to build a commitment to understanding where powers lie, rather than ignoring such imbalances or, similarly, by idealising approache

Laser Intensity Dependence of Photoassociation in Ultracold Metastable Helium

Photoassociation of spin-polarized metastable helium to the three lowest rovibrational levels of the J=1, $0_u^+$ state asymptoting to 2$s {}^{3}$S$_{1}+2p {}^{3}$P$_{0}$ is studied using a second-order perturbative treatment of the line shifts valid for low laser intensities, and two variants of a non-perturbative close-coupled treatment, one based upon dressed states of the matter plus laser system, and the other on a modified radiative coupling which vanishes asymptotically, thus simulating experimental conditions. These non-perturbative treatments are valid for arbitrary laser intensities and yield the complete photoassociation resonance profile. Both variants give nearly identical results for the line shifts and widths of the resonances and show that their dependence upon laser intensity is very close to linear and quadratic respectively for the two lowest levels. The resonance profiles are superimposed upon a significant background loss, a feature for this metastable helium system not present in studies of photoassociation in other systems, which is due to the very shallow nature of the excited state $0_u^+$ potential. The results for the line shifts from the close-coupled and perturbative calculations agree very closely at low laser intensities.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, title altered, text reduce

Purely-long-range bound states of He(2s3S)+(2s ^3S)+He(2p3P)(2p ^3P)

We predict the presence and positions of purely-long-range bound states of $^4$He$(2s ^3S)+{}^4$He$(2p ^3P)$ near the $2s ^3S_1+2p ^3P_{0,1}$ atomic limits. The results of the full multichannel and approximate models are compared, and we assess the sensitivity of the bound states to atomic parameters characterizing the potentials. Photoassociation to these purely-long-range molecular bound states may improve the knowledge of the scattering length associated with the collisions of two ultracold spin-polarized $^4$He$(2s ^3S)$ atoms, which is important for studies of Bose-Einstein condensates.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

Suppression of Phase Separation in LiFePO4 Nanoparticles During Battery Discharge

Using a novel electrochemical phase-field model, we question the common belief that LixFePO4 nanoparticles separate into Li-rich and Li-poor phases during battery discharge. For small currents, spinodal decomposition or nucleation leads to moving phase boundaries. Above a critical current density (in the Tafel regime), the spinodal disappears, and particles fill homogeneously, which may explain the superior rate capability and long cycle life of nano-LiFePO4 cathodes.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figure

Trade-offs between the natural environment and recreational infrastructure:A case study about peatlands under different management scenarios

The importance of peatlands for conservation and provision of public services has been well evidenced in the last years, especially in relation to their contribution to the net zero carbon emission agenda. However, little is known about the importance of recreation relative to conservation and their trade-offs. In this paper we address this knowledge gap by exploring the trade-offs between natural properties of peatlands and recreational infrastructures for different categories of recreationists (walkers, cyclists, anglers, and birdwatchers) of an open heather moors and peatlands landscape. We do so building on a series of management scenarios formulated through participatory methods and applying choice experiment related to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and UNESCO Global Geopark in the UK. Results show a high degree of heterogeneity in landscape preferences across different user groups. Recreationists had a higher appreciation for semi-natural habitats compared to pristine or restored peatland (e.g., land rewetting). Walkers and cyclists were more sensitive to changes in the availability of recreational facilities than to environmental quality, while anglers’ and birdwatchers’ preferences were more aligned with values promoted by restoration policies. Overall, our results point to a potential value conflict between benefits generated by conservation and the benefits valued most by some groups of recreationists. To maximise success conflicts like the one revealed here need to be considered in strategies that provide a central role for peatlands in net zero climate mitigation strategies