1,007 research outputs found
Topological insulator particles as optically induced oscillators: towards dynamical force measurements and optical rheology
We report the first experimental study upon the optical trapping and
manipulation of topological insulator (TI) particles. By virtue of the unique
TI properties, which have a conducting surface and an insulating bulk, the
particles present a peculiar behaviour in the presence of a single laser beam
optical tweezers: they oscillate in a plane perpendicular to the direction of
the laser propagation, as a result of the competition between radiation
pressure and gradient forces. In other words, TI particles behave as optically
induced oscillators, allowing dynamical measurements with unprecedented
simplicity and purely optical control. Actually, optical rheology of soft
matter interfaces and biological membranes, as well as dynamical force
measurements in macromolecules and biopolymers, may be quoted as feasible
possibilities for the near future.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Correspondence and requests for Supplementary
Material should be addressed to [email protected]
Nambu monopoles interacting with lattice defects in two-dimensional artificial square spin ice
The interactions between an excitation (similar to a pair of Nambu monopoles)
and a lattice defect are studied in an artificial two-dimensional square spin
ice. This is done by considering a square array of islands containing only one
island different from all others. This difference is incorporated in the
magnetic moment (spin) of the "imperfect" island and several cases are studied,
including the special situation in which this distinct spin is zero (vacancy).
We have shown that the two extreme points of a malformed island behave like two
opposite magnetic charges. Then, the effective interaction between a pair of
Nambu monopoles with the deformed island is a problem involving four magnetic
charges (two pairs of opposite poles) and a string. We also sketch the
configuration of the field lines of these four charges to confirm this picture.
The influence of the string on this interaction decays rapidly with the string
distance from the defect.Comment: 7 pages, 13 figure
Novel photochromic 2,2´-bithiophene azo dyes
The photochromic behaviour of two series of 2,2’-bithiophene azo dyes in THF solutions was studied. The photochromic properties and colour constancy were strongly dependent on the substitution pattern of the dyes. Under visible irradiation (> 420 nm) while some dyes exhibited a significant change in the colour intensity others exhibited an almost stable absorption. The photokinetic parameters of these systems are described.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT
Dirac-like Monopoles in Three Dimensions and Their Possible Influences on the Dynamics of Particles
Dirac-like monopoles are studied in three-dimensional Abelian Maxwell and
Maxwell-Chern-Simons models. Their scalar nature is highlighted and discussed
through a dimensional reduction of four-dimensional electrodynamics with
electric and magnetic sources. Some general properties and similarities of them
when are considered in Minkowski or Euclidian space are mentioned. However, by
virtue of the structure of the space-time in which they are considered a number
of differences among them take place. Furthermore, we pay attention to some
consequences of these objects when acting upon usual particles. Among other
subjects, special attention is given to the study of a Lorentz-violating
non-minimal coupling between neutral fermions and the field generated by a
monopole alone. In addition, an analogue of the Aharonov-Casher effect is
discussed in this framework.Comment: 20 pages. Latex format. No figures. Accepted for publication in Phys.
Rev.
On thermalization of magnetic nano-arrays at fabrication
We propose a model to predict and control the statistical ensemble of
magnetic degrees of freedom in Artificial Spin Ice (ASI) during thermalized
adiabatic growth. We predict that as-grown arrays are controlled by the
temperature at fabrication and by their lattice constant, and that they can be
described by an effective temperature. If the geometry is conducive to a phase
transition, then the lowest temperature phase is accessed in arrays of lattice
constant smaller than a critical value, which depends on the temperature at
deposition. Alternatively, for arrays of equal lattice constant, there is a
temperature threshold at deposition and the lowest temperature phase is
accessed for fabrication temperatures {\it larger rather than smaller} than
this temperature threshold. Finally we show how to define and control the
effective temperature of the as-grown array and how to measure critical
exponents directly. We discuss the role of kinetics at the critical point, and
applications to experiments, in particular to as-grown thermalized square ASI,
and to magnetic monopole crystallization in as-grown honeycomb ASI.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures. A theoretical approach to experimental results
reported in: Morgan J P, Stein A, Langridge S and Marrows C (2010) Nature
Physics 7 7
Classical Solutions in a Lorentz-violating Maxwell-Chern-Simons Electrodynamics
We take as starting point the planar model arising from the dimensional
reduction of the Maxwell Electrodynamics with the (Lorentz-violating)
Carroll-Field-Jackiw term. We then write and study the extended Maxwell
equations and the corresponding wave equations for the potentials. The solution
to these equations show some interesting deviations from the usual MCS
Electrodynamics, with background-dependent correction terms. In the case of a
time-like background, the correction terms dominate over the MCS sector in the
region far from the origin, and establish the behaviour of a massless
Electrodynamics (in the electric sector). In the space-like case, the solutions
indicate the clear manifestation of spatial anisotropy, which is consistent
with the existence of a privileged direction is space.Comment: latex, 8 page
The dynamic exponent of the Ising model on negatively curved surfaces
We investigate the dynamic critical exponent of the two-dimensional Ising
model defined on a curved surface with constant negative curvature. By using
the short-time relaxation method, we find a quantitative alteration of the
dynamic exponent from the known value for the planar Ising model. This
phenomenon is attributed to the fact that the Ising lattices embedded on
negatively curved surfaces act as ones in infinite dimensions, thus yielding
the dynamic exponent deduced from mean field theory. We further demonstrate
that the static critical exponent for the correlation length exhibits the mean
field exponent, which agrees with the existing results obtained from canonical
Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures. to appear in J. Stat. Mec
Geometric effects on critical behaviours of the Ising model
We investigate the critical behaviour of the two-dimensional Ising model
defined on a curved surface with a constant negative curvature. Finite-size
scaling analysis reveals that the critical exponents for the zero-field
magnetic susceptibility and the correlation length deviate from those for the
Ising lattice model on a flat plane. Furthermore, when reducing the effects of
boundary spins, the values of the critical exponents tend to those derived from
the mean field theory. These findings evidence that the underlying geometric
character is responsible for the critical properties the Ising model when the
lattice is embedded on negatively curved surfaces.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, to appear in J. Phys. A: Math. Ge
Reproductive parameters and the use of MOET in transgenic founder goat carrying the human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) gene.
Abstract: This study aimed to monitor estrous cycle parameters of a human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF)-transgenic founder female goat and to perform superovulation and embryo recovery (surgical or transcervical method) for further transfer to recipients to quickly obtain offspring. Two experiments were performed using a transgenic (TF) and a non-transgenic (NTF) female. In experiment 1, three estrous cycles were monitored for the following parameters: estrus behavior, progesterone concentration and ovarian activity. In experiment 2, two superovulation/embryo recovery sessions were performed and the recovered embryos were transferred to previously prepared recipients. Data were compared by either t test or Fisher's exact test. The mean interval between natural estrus was 20.7 ± 0.6 and 19.7 ± 0.6 (P > 0.05) days for the TF and NTF, respectively. Progesterone concentrations and ovarian activity were normal and similar between goats. The ovulation rate was similar between TF and NTF (12.0 ± 1.4 vs. 18.0 ± 4.2 CL; P > 0.05). No significant differences in embryo recovery rate (P > 0.05) were observed between the surgical and transcervical methods for TF (69.2 vs. 72.7%) or NTF (100.0 vs. 86.7%). Sixteen embryos from the TF were transferred to recipients, and eight kids were born. Among these kids, the transgene was identified in three (two males and one female), resulting in a transgenesis rate of 37.5%. In summary, the TF is a true founder, since she proved fertility and capacity of transmitting the hG-CSF transgene to progeny, suggesting that the analyzed reproductive traits were not compromised by the presence of the transgene
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