Anomalous Hall Effect of Calcium-doped Lanthanum Cobaltite Films

The Hall resistivity, magnetoresistance, and magnetization of La_{1-x}Ca_{x}CoO_{3} epitaxial films with x between 0.25 and 0.4 grown on lanthanum aluminate were measured in fields up to 7 T. The x=1/3 film, shows a reentrant metal insulator transition. Below 100 K, the x=1/3 and 0.4 films have significant coercivity which increases with decreasing temperature. At low temperature the Hall resistivity remains large and essentially field independent in these films, except for a sign change at the coercive field that is more abrupt than the switching of the magnetization. A unique magnetoresistance behavior accompanies this effect. These results are discussed in terms of a percolation picture and the mixed spin state model for this system. We propose that the low-temperature Hall effect is caused by spin-polarized carriers scattering off of orbital disorder in the spin-ordered clusters.Comment: REVTeX 4, 3 pages with 4 encapsulated postscript graphics. Submitted to MMM 2002 conference proceedings (J. Appl. Phys.

Beach and cliff retreat induced by storm groups at Forte Novo,Algarve (Portugal)

Littoral cell dynamics may change through time as a reaction to modifications of the coastal system. Along the Vilamoura-Quarteira coastline, the construction of a groin field limited the sediment supply to the already narrow Forte Novo beach, located downdrift, enhanced wave action on the cliff base and lead to long-term persistent cliff retreat. This research uses a set of surveys from November 2009 to March 2010 to determine short-term soft cliff erosion associated to storm groups at this sediment starved area. Following the initial LiDAR survey, three subsequent surveys were performed using a reflectorless total station for monitoring the cliff face, and RTK-DGPS to monitor the position of the cliff top, the cliff foot and the topography of the adjacent beach. Results indicate an important reduction in beach levels during successive storms (without significant beach recovery in between), allowing waves to further attack the cliff base and contributing to further enhance the structural and permanent cliff retreat. This work demonstrates how a combination of magnitude and frequency of extreme events coupled with development of the coastline, has led to increased cliff-beach recession and to the permanent dislocation of the cliff face

Teaching and understanding of quantum interpretations in modern physics courses

Just as expert physicists vary in their personal stances on interpretation in quantum mechanics, instructors vary on whether and how to teach interpretations of quantum phenomena in introductory modern physics courses. In this paper, we document variations in instructional approaches with respect to interpretation in two similar modern physics courses recently taught at the University of Colorado, and examine associated impacts on student perspectives regarding quantum physics. We find students are more likely to prefer realist interpretations of quantum-mechanical systems when instructors are less explicit in addressing student ontologies. We also observe contextual variations in student beliefs about quantum systems, indicating that instructors who choose to address questions of ontology in quantum mechanics should do so explicitly across a range of topics.Comment: 18 pages, references, plus 2 pages supplemental materials. 8 figures. PACS: 01.40.Fk, 03.65.-

A STRINGENT CONSTRAINT ON ALTERNATIVES TO A MASSIVE BLACK HOLE AT THE CENTER OF NGC 4258

There is now dynamical evidence for massive dark objects at the center of several galaxies, but suggestions that these are supermassive black holes are based only on indirect astrophysical arguments. The recent unprecedented measurement of the rotation curve of maser emission sources at the center of NGC 4258, and the remarkable discovery that it is Keplerian to high precision, provides us a unique opportunity for testing alternatives to a BH (e.g., a massive cluster of stellar remnants, brown dwarfs, low-mass stars, or halo dark matter). We use a conservative upper limit on the systematic deviation from a Keplerian rotation curve to constrain the mass distribution at the galaxy center. Based on evaporation and physical collision time-scale arguments, we show that a central cluster is ruled out, *unless* the cluster consists of *extremely* dense objects with mass less than about 0.05 solar masses (e.g., low mass BHs or elementary particles). Since both of these dynamically-allowed systems are very improbable for other astrophysical reasons, we conclude that a central dense cluster at the center of NGC 4258 is *very* improbable, thus leaving the alternative possibility of a massive BH. We also show that the mass of the BH must be at least 98% of the mass enclosed within the inner edge of the masering disk (3.6*10^7 solar masses). A substantial contribution to that mass from a density cusp in the background mass distribution is excluded.Comment: Submitted to ApJ (Letters) on March 15, 1995. 11 pages including 1 figure; uuencoded, compressed postscript

Berry's phase contribution to the anomalous Hall effect of gadolinium

When conduction electrons are forced to follow the local spin texture, the resulting Berry phase can induce an anomalous Hall effect (AHE). In gadolinium, as in double-exchange magnets, the exchange interaction is mediated by the conduction electrons and the AHE may therefore resemble that of chromium dioxide and other metallic double-exchange ferromagnets. The Hall resistivity, magnetoresistance, and magnetization of single crystal gadolinium were measured in fields up to 30 T. Measurements between 2 K and 400 K are consistent with previously reported data. A scaling analysis for the Hall resistivity as a function of the magnetization suggests the presence of a Berry's-phase contribution to the anomalous Hall effect.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

The memory space: Exploring future uses of Web 2.0 and mobile internet through design interventions.

The QuVis Quantum Mechanics Visualization project aims to address challenges of quantum mechanics instruction through the development of interactive simulations for the learning and teaching of quantum mechanics. In this article, we describe evaluation of simulations focusing on two-level systems developed as part of the Institute of Physics Quantum Physics resources. Simulations are research-based and have been iteratively refined using student feedback in individual observation sessions and in-class trials. We give evidence that these simulations are helping students learn quantum mechanics concepts at both the introductory and advanced undergraduate level, and that students perceive simulations to be beneficial to their learning.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, 1 table; accepted for publication in the American Journal of Physic