2,360 research outputs found
Non-Nominal Value of the Dynamical Effective Charge in Alkaline-Earth Oxides
We calculate ab-initio the electronic states and the Born dynamical charge Z*
of the alkaline-earth oxides in the local-density approximation. We investigate
the trend of increasing Z* values through the series, using band-by-band
decompositions and computational experiments performed on fake materials with
artificially-modified covalence. The deviations of Z* from the nominal value 2
are due to the increasing interaction between O 2p orbitals and unoccupied
cation d states. We also explain the variations, along the series, of the
individual contributions to Z* arising from the occupied band manifolds.Comment: 12 pages Latex, plus 2 Postscript figure
Theory of Orbital Magnetization in Solids
In this review article, we survey the relatively new theory of orbital
magnetization in solids-often referred to as the "modern theory of orbital
magnetization"-and its applications. Surprisingly, while the calculation of the
orbital magnetization in finite systems such as atoms and molecules is straight
forward, in extended systems or solids it has long eluded calculations owing to
the fact that the position operator is ill-defined in such a context.
Approaches that overcome this problem were first developed in 2005 and in the
first part of this review we present the main ideas reaching from a Wannier
function approach to semi-classical and finite-temperature formalisms. In the
second part, we describe practical aspects of calculating the orbital
magnetization, such as taking k-space derivatives, a formalism for
pseudopotentials, a single k-point derivation, a Wannier interpolation scheme,
and DFT specific aspects. We then show results of recent calculations on Fe,
Co, and Ni. In the last part of this review, we focus on direct applications of
the orbital magnetization. In particular, we will review how properties such as
the nuclear magnetic resonance shielding tensor and the electron paramagnetic
resonance g-tensor can elegantly be calculated in terms of a derivative of the
orbital magnetization
Modeling the Yield Curve of BRICS Countries: Parametric vs. Machine Learning Techniques
We compare parametric and machine learning techniques (namely: Neural Networks) for in\u2013sample modeling of the yield curve of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). To such aim, we applied the Dynamic De Rezende\u2013Ferreira five\u2013factor model with time\u2013varying decay parameters and a Feed\u2013Forward Neural Network to the bond market data of the BRICS countries. To enhance the flexibility of the parametric model, we also introduce a new procedure to estimate the time varying parameters that significantly improve its performance. Our contribution spans towards two directions. First, we offer a comprehensive investigation of the bond market in the BRICS countries examined both by time and maturity; working on five countries at once we also ensure that our results are not specific to a particular data\u2013set; second we make recommendations concerning modelling and estimation choices of the yield curve. In this respect, although comparing highly flexible estimation methods, we highlight superior in\u2013sample capabilities of the neural network in all the examined markets and then suggest that machine learning techniques can be a valid alternative to more traditional methods also in presence of marked turbulence
Lattice Twisting Operators and Vertex Operators in Sine-Gordon Theory in One Dimension
In one dimension, the exponential position operators introduced in a theory
of polarization are identified with the twisting operators appearing in the
Lieb-Schultz-Mattis argument, and their finite-size expectation values
measure the overlap between the unique ground state and an excited state.
Insulators are characterized by . We identify with
ground-state expectation values of vertex operators in the sine-Gordon model.
This allows an accurate detection of quantum phase transitions in the
universality classes of the Gaussian model. We apply this theory to the
half-filled extended Hubbard model and obtain agreement with the level-crossing
approach.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Multiferroic BiFeO3-BiMnO3 Nanocheckerboard From First Principles
We present a first principles study of an unusual heterostructure, an
atomic-scale checkerboard of BiFeO3-BiMnO3, and compare its properties to the
two bulk constituent materials, BiFeO3 and BiMnO3. The "nanocheckerboard" is
found to have a multiferroic ground state with the desired properties of each
constituent: polar and ferrimagnetic due to BiFeO3 and BiMnO3, respectively.
The effect of B-site cation ordering on magnetic ordering in the BiFeO3-BiMnO3
system is studied. The checkerboard geometry is seen to give rise to a a novel
magnetostructural effect that is neither present in the bulk constituent
materials, nor in the layered BiFeO3-BiMnO3 superlattice.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure
Topological quantum phase transition in the BEC-BCS crossover phenomena
A crossover between the Bose Einstein condensation (BEC) and BCS
superconducting state is described topologically in the chiral symmetric
fermion system with attractive interaction. Using a local Z_2 Berry phase, we
found a quantum phase transition between the BEC and BCS phases without
accompanying the bulk gap closing.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
The effects of interface morphology on Schottky barrier heights: a case study on Al/GaAs(001)
The problem of Fermi-level pinning at semiconductor-metal contacts is
readdressed starting from first-principles calculations for Al/GaAs. We give
quantitative evidence that the Schottky barrier height is very little affected
by any structural distortions on the metal side---including elongations of the
metal-semiconductor bond (i.e. interface strain)---whereas it strongly depends
on the interface structure on the semiconductor side. A rationale for these
findings is given in terms of the interface dipole generated by the ionic
effective charges.Comment: 5 pages, latex file, 2 postscript figures automatically include
Ground-State Decay Rate for the Zener Breakdown in Band and Mott Insulators
Non-linear transport of electrons in strong electric fields, as typified by
dielectric breakdown, is re-formulated in terms of the ground-state decay rate
originally studied by Schwinger in non-linear QED. We discuss the effect of
electron interaction on Zener tunneling by comparing the dielectric breakdown
of the band insulator and the Mott insulator, where the latter is studied by
the time-dependent density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG). The relation
with the Berry's phase theory of polarization is also established.Comment: 5 pages 2 figures, revised text, version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
Strong-correlation effects in Born effective charges
Large values of Born effective charges are generally considered as reliable
indicators of the genuine tendency of an insulator towards ferroelectric
instability. However, these quantities can be very much influenced by strong
electron correlation and metallic behavior, which are not exclusive properties
of ferroelectric materials. In this paper we compare the Born effective charges
of some prototypical ferroelectrics with those of magnetic, non-ferroelectric
compounds using a novel, self-interaction free methodology that improves on the
local-density approximation description of the electronic properties. We show
that the inclusion of strong-correlation effects systermatically reduces the
size of the Born effective charges and the electron localization lengths.
Furthermore we give an interpretation of the Born effective charges in terms of
band energy structure and orbital occupations which can be used as a guideline
to rationalize their values in the general case.Comment: 10 pages, 4 postscript figure
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