Finite frequency noise for edge states at filling factor ν=2/5\nu=2/5

We investigate the properties of the finite frequency noise in a quantum point contact geometry for the fractional quantum Hall state at filling factor $\nu=2/5$. The results are obtained in the framework of the Wen's hierarchical model. We show that the peak structure of the colored noise allows to discriminate among different possible excitations involved in the tunneling. In particular, optimal values of voltage and temperature are found in order to enhance the visibility of the peak associated with the tunneling of a 2-agglomerate, namely an excitation with charge double of the fundamental one associated to the single quasiparticle.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, to be published in the Proceedings of the Conference on the Frontiers of Quantum and Mesoscopic Thermodynamics (FQMT11

Anomalous charge tunneling in the fractional quantum Hall edge states at filling factor \nu = 5/2

We explain effective charge anomalies recently observed for fractional quantum Hall edge states at $\nu=5/2$ [M. Dolev, Y. Gross, Y. C. Chung, M. Heiblum, V. Umansky, and D. Mahalu, Phys.Rev. B. \textbf{81}, 161303(R) (2010)]. The experimental data of differential conductance and excess noise are fitted, using the anti-Pfaffian model, by properly take into account renormalizations of the Luttinger parameters induced by the coupling of the system with an intrinsic $1/f$ noise. We demonstrate that a peculiar agglomerate excitation with charge $e/2$, double of the expected $e/4$ charge, dominates the transport properties at low energies.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Charge tunneling in fractional edge channels

We explain recent experimental observations on effective charge of edge states tunneling through a quantum point contact in the weak backscattering regime. We focus on the behavior of the excess noise and on the effective tunneling charge as a function of temperature and voltage. By introducing a minimal hierarchical model different filling factors, \nu=p/(2p+1), in the Jain sequence are treated on equal footing, in presence also of non-universal interactions. The agreement found with the experiments for \nu=2/3 and \nu=2/5 reinforces the description of tunneling of bunching of quasiparticles at low energies and quantitatively defines the condition under which one expects to measure the fundamental quasiparticle charge. We propose high-order current cumulant measurement to cross-check the validity of the above scenario and to better clarify the peculiar temperature behavior of the effective charges measured in the experiments.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Relevance of multiple-quasiparticle tunneling between edge states at \nu =p/(2np+1)

We present an explanation for the anomalous behavior in tunneling conductance and noise through a point contact between edge states in the Jain series $\nu=p/(2np+1)$, for extremely weak-backscattering and low temperatures [Y.C. Chung, M. Heiblum, and V. Umansky, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf{91}}, 216804 (2003)]. We consider edge states with neutral modes propagating at finite velocity, and we show that the activation of their dynamics causes the unexpected change in the temperature power-law of the conductance. Even more importantly, we demonstrate that multiple-quasiparticles tunneling at low energies becomes the most relevant process. This result will be used to explain the experimental data on current noise where tunneling particles have a charge that can reach $p$ times the single quasiparticle charge. In this paper we analyze the conductance and the shot noise to substantiate quantitatively the proposed scenario.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Environmental induced renormalization effects in quantum Hall edge states

We propose a general mechanism for renormalization of the tunneling exponents in edge states of the fractional quantum Hall effect. Mutual effects of the coupling with out-of-equilibrium 1/f noise and dissipation are considered both for the Laughlin sequence and for composite co- and counter-propagating edge states with Abelian or non-Abelian statistics. For states with counter-propagating modes we demonstrate the robustness of the proposed mechanism in the so called disorder-dominated phase. Prototypes of these states, such as \nu=2/3 and \nu=5/2, are discussed in detail and the rich phenomenology induced by the presence of a noisy environment is presented. The proposed mechanism justifies the strong renormalizations reported in many experimental observations carried out at low temperatures. We show how environmental effects could affect the relevance of the tunneling excitations, leading to important implications in particular for the \nu=5/2 case.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Neutral modes edge state dynamics through quantum point contacts

Dynamics of neutral modes for fractional quantum Hall states is investigated for a quantum point contact geometry in the weak-backscattering regime. The effective field theory introduced by Fradkin-Lopez for edge states in the Jain sequence is generalized to the case of propagating neutral modes. The dominant tunnelling processes are identified also in the presence of non-universal phenomena induced by interactions. The crossover regime in the backscattering current between tunnelling of single-quasiparticles and of agglomerates of p-quasiparticles is analysed. We demonstrate that higher order cumulants of the backscattering current fluctuations are a unique resource to study quantitatively the competition between different carrier charges. We find that propagating neutral modes are a necessary ingredient in order to explain this crossover phenomena.Comment: 28 pages, 5 figure

Multiple-quasiparticle agglomerates at \nu=2/5

We investigate the dynamics of quasiparticle agglomerates in edge states of the Jain sequence for \nu=2/5. Comparison of the Fradkin-Lopez model with the Wen one is presented within a field theoretical construction, focusing on similarities and differences. We demonstrate that both models predict the same universal role for the multiple-quasiparticle agglomerates that dominate on single quasiparticles at low energy. This result is induced by the presence of neutral modes with finite velocity and is essential to explain the anomalous behavior of tunneling conductance and noise through a point contact.Comment: 6 pages, in press Physica E as proceedings of FQMT0

Nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria act as a global filter for plant establishment on islands

Island biogeography has classically focused on abiotic drivers of species distributions. However, recent work has highlighted the importance of mutualistic biotic interactions in structuring island floras. The limited occurrence of specialist pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi have been found to restrict plant colonization on oceanic islands. Another important mutualistic association occurs between nearly 15,000 plant species and nitrogen-fixing (N-fixing) bacteria. Here, we look for evidence that N-fixing bacteria limit establishment of plants that associate with them. Globally, we find that plants associating with N-fixing bacteria are disproportionately underrepresented on islands, with a 22% decline. Further, the probability of N-fixing plants occurring on islands decreases with island isolation and, where present, the proportion of N-fixing plant species decreases with distance for large, but not small islands. These findings suggest that N-fixing bacteria serve as a filter to plant establishment on islands, altering global plant biogeography, with implications for ecosystem development and introduction risks

Maxwell-Chern-Simons Theory With Boundary

The Maxwell-Chern-Simons (MCS) theory with planar boundary is considered. The boundary is introduced according to Symanzik's basic principles of locality and separability. A method of investigation is proposed, which, avoiding the straight computation of correlators, is appealing for situations where the computation of propagators, modified by the boundary, becomes quite complex. For MCS theory, the outcome is that a unique solution exists, in the form of chiral conserved currents, satisfying a Kac-Moody algebra, whose central charge does not depend on the Maxwell term.Comment: 30 page

On the question of universality in \RPn and \On Lattice Sigma Models

We argue that there is no essential violation of universality in the continuum limit of mixed \RPn and \On lattice sigma models in 2 dimensions, contrary to opposite claims in the literature.Comment: 16 pages (latex) + 3 figures (Postscript), uuencode