Screening in Ionic Systems: Simulations for the Lebowitz Length

Simulations of the Lebowitz length, $\xi_{\text{L}}(T,\rho)$, are reported for t he restricted primitive model hard-core (diameter $a$) 1:1 electrolyte for densi ties $\rho\lesssim 4\rho_c$ and $T_c \lesssim T \lesssim 40T_c$. Finite-size eff ects are elucidated for the charge fluctuations in various subdomains that serve to evaluate $\xi_{\text{L}}$. On extrapolation to the bulk limit for $T\gtrsim 10T_c$ the low-density expansions (Bekiranov and Fisher, 1998) are seen to fail badly when $\rho > {1/10}\rho_c$ (with $\rho_c a^3 \simeq 0.08$). At highe r densities $\xi_{\text{L}}$ rises above the Debye length, \xi_{\text{D}} \prop to \sqrt{T/\rho}, by 10-30% (upto $\rho\simeq 1.3\rho_c$); the variation is portrayed fairly well by generalized Debye-H\"{u}ckel theory (Lee and Fisher, 19 96). On approaching criticality at fixed $\rho$ or fixed $T$, $\xi_{\text{L}}(T, \rho)$ remains finite with $\xi_{\text{L}}^c \simeq 0.30 a \simeq 1.3 \xi_{\text {D}}^c$ but displays a weak entropy-like singularity.Comment: 4 pages 5 figure

Universality class of criticality in the restricted primitive model electrolyte

The 1:1 equisized hard-sphere electrolyte or restricted primitive model has been simulated via grand-canonical fine-discretization Monte Carlo. Newly devised unbiased finite-size extrapolation methods using temperature-density, (T, rho), loci of inflections, Q = ^2/ maxima, canonical and C_V criticality, yield estimates of (T_c, rho_c) to +- (0.04, 3)%. Extrapolated exponents and Q-ratio are (gamma, nu, Q_c) = [1.24(3), 0.63(3); 0.624(2)] which support Ising (n = 1) behavior with (1.23_9, 0.630_3; 0.623_6), but exclude classical, XY (n = 2), SAW (n = 0), and n = 1 criticality with potentials phi(r)>Phi/r^{4.9} when r \to \infty

Quantum Resistive Transition in Type II Superconductors under Magnetic Field

It is shown that, within a Ginzburg-Landau (GL) formalism, the superconducting fluctuation is insulating at zero temperature even if the fluctuation dynamics is metallic (dissipative). Based on this fact, the low temperature behavior of the $H_{c2}$-line and the resistivity curves near a zero temperature transition are discussed. In particular, it is pointed out that the neglect of quantum fluctuations in data analysis of the dc resistivity may lead to an under-estimation of the $H_{c2}$ values near zero temperature.Comment: 7 page

Probability distribution of the order parameter in the directed percolation universality class

The probability distributions of the order parameter for two models in the directed percolation universality class were evaluated. Monte Carlo simulations have been performed for the one-dimensional generalized contact process and the Domany-Kinzel cellular automaton. In both cases, the density of active sites was chosen as the order parameter. The criticality of those models was obtained by solely using the corresponding probability distribution function. It has been shown that the present method, which has been successfully employed in treating equilibrium systems, is indeed also useful in the study of nonequilibrium phase transitions.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Asymmetric Fluid Criticality I: Scaling with Pressure Mixing

The thermodynamic behavior of a fluid near a vapor-liquid and, hence, asymmetric critical point is discussed within a general ``complete'' scaling theory incorporating pressure mixing in the nonlinear scaling fields as well as corrections to scaling. This theory allows for a Yang-Yang anomaly in which \mu_{\sigma}^{\prime\prime}(T), the second temperature derivative of the chemical potential along the phase boundary, diverges like the specific heat when T\to T_{\scriptsize c}; it also generates a leading singular term, |t|^{2\beta}, in the coexistence curve diameter, where t\equiv (T-T_{\scriptsize c}) /T_{\scriptsize c}. The behavior of various special loci, such as the critical isochore, the critical isotherm, the k-inflection loci, on which \chi^{(k)}\equiv \chi(\rho,T)/\rho^{k} (with \chi = \rho^{2} k_{\scriptsize B}TK_{T}) and C_{V}^{(k)}\equiv C_{V}(\rho,T)/\rho^{k} are maximal at fixed T, is carefully elucidated. These results are useful for analyzing simulations and experiments, since particular, nonuniversal values of k specify loci that approach the critical density most rapidly and reflect the pressure-mixing coefficient. Concrete illustrations are presented for the hard-core square-well fluid and for the restricted primitive model electrolyte. For comparison, a discussion of the classical (or Landau) theory is presented briefly and various interesting loci are determined explicitly and illustrated quantitatively for a van der Waals fluid.Comment: 21 pages in two-column format including 8 figure

A near zero velocity dispersion stellar component in the Canes Venatici dwarf spheroidal galaxy

We present a spectroscopic survey of the newly-discovered Canes Venatici dwarf galaxy using the Keck/DEIMOS spectrograph. Two stellar populations of distinct kinematics are found to be present in this galaxy: an extended, metal-poor component, of half-light radius 7'.8(+2.4/-2.1), which has a velocity dispersion of 13.9(+3.2/-2.5) km/s, and a more concentrated (half-light radius 3'.6(+1.1/-0.8) metal-rich component of extremely low velocity dispersion. At 99% confidence, the upper limit to the central velocity dispersion of the metal-rich population is 1.9 km/s. This is the lowest velocity dispersion ever measured in a galaxy. We perform a Jeans analysis on the two components, and find that the dynamics of the structures can only be consistent if we adopt extreme (and unlikely) values for the scale length and velocity dispersion of the metal-poor population. With a larger radial velocity sample and improved measurements of the density profile of the two populations, we anticipate that it will be possible to place strong constraints on the central distribution of the dark matter in this galaxy.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures, accepted by MNRA

Discretization Dependence of Criticality in Model Fluids: a Hard-core Electrolyte

Grand canonical simulations at various levels, $\zeta=5$-20, of fine- lattice discretization are reported for the near-critical 1:1 hard-core electrolyte or RPM. With the aid of finite-size scaling analyses it is shown convincingly that, contrary to recent suggestions, the universal critical behavior is independent of $\zeta$ (\grtsim 4); thus the continuum $(\zeta\to\infty)$ RPM exhibits Ising-type (as against classical, SAW, XY, etc.) criticality. A general consideration of lattice discretization provides effective extrapolation of the {\em intrinsically} erratic $\zeta$-dependence, yielding (\Tc^ {\ast},\rhoc^{\ast})\simeq (0.0493_{3},0.075) for the $\zeta=\infty$ RPM.Comment: 4 pages including 4 figure

The resistible effects of Coulomb interaction on nucleus-vapor phase coexistence

We explore the effects of Coulomb interaction upon the nuclear liquid vapor phase transition. Because large nuclei (A>60) are metastable objects, phases, phase coexistence, and phase transitions cannot be defined with any generality and the analogy to liquid vapor is ill-posed for these heavy systems. However, it is possible to account for the Coulomb interaction in the decay rates and obtain the coexistence phase diagram for the corresponding uncharged system.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Stability of Elastic Glass Phases in Random Field XY Magnets and Vortex Lattices in Type II Superconductors

A description of a dislocation-free elastic glass phase in terms of domain walls is developed and used as the basis of a renormalization group analysis of the energetics of dislocation loops added to the system. It is found that even after optimizing over possible paths of large dislocation loops, their energy is still very likely to be positive when the dislocation core energy is large. This implies the existence of an equilibrium elastic glass phase in three dimensional random field X-Y magnets, and a dislocation free, bond-orientationally ordered ``Bragg glass'' phase of vortices in dirty Type II superconductors.Comment: 12 pages, Revtex, no figures, submitted to Phys Rev Letter