1,398 research outputs found
On the Coble quartic
We review and extend the known constructions relating Kummer threefolds, G¨opel systems, theta constants and their derivatives, and the GIT quotient for 7 points in P^2 to obtain an explicit expression for the Coble quartic. The Coble quartic was recently determined completely in [RSSS12], where it was computed completely explicitly, as a polynomial with 372060 monomials of bidegree (28, 4) in theta constants of the second order and theta functions of the second order, respectively. Our expression is in terms of products of theta constants with characteristics corresponding to G¨opel systems, and is a polynomial with 134 terms. Our approach is based on the beautiful geometry studied by Coble and further investigated by Dolgachev and Ortland and highlights the geometry and combinatorics of syzygetic octets of characteristics, and the corresponding representations of Sp(6, F_2). One new ingredient is the relationship of G¨opel systems and Jacobian determinants of theta functions. In genus 2, we similarly obtain a short explicit equation for the universal Kummer surface, and relate modular forms of level two to binary invariants of six points on P^
Effect of nonmagnetic dilution in honeycomb lattice iridates NaIrO and LiIrO
We have synthesized single crystals of Na(IrTi)O and
polycrystals of Li(IrTi)O and studied the effect of
magnetic depletion on the magnetic properties by measurements of the magnetic
susceptibility, specific heat and magnetocaloric effect at temperatures down to
0.1~K. In both systems, the non-magnetic substitution rapidly changes the
magnetically ordered ground state into a spin glass, indicating strong
frustration. While for the Li system the Weiss temperature
remains unchanged up to , a strong decrease is found
for the Na system. This suggests that only for the former system magnetic
exchange beyond nearest neighbors is dominating. This is also corroborated by
the observation of a smeared quantum phase transition in
Li(IrTi)O near , i.e. much beyond the site
percolation threshold of the honeycomb lattice.Comment: 8 pages including supplemental, 12 figure
Investigation of unconventional reconstruction and electronic properties on the Na2IrO3 surface
Na2IrO3 is an intriguing material for which spin-orbit coupling plays a key
role. Theoretical predictions, so far unverified, have been made that the
surface of Na2IrO3 should exhibit a clear signature of the quantum spin Hall
effect. We studied the surface of Na2IrO3 using scanning tunneling microscopy
and density-functional theory calculations. We observed atomic level resolution
of the surface and two types of terminations with different surface periodicity
and Na content. By comparing bias-dependent experimental topographic images to
simulated images, we determined the detailed atomistic structure of both
observed surfaces. One of these reveals a strong relaxation to the surface of
Na atoms from the subsurface region two atomic layers below. Such dramatic
structural changes at the surface cast doubt on any prediction of surface
properties based on bulk electronic structure. Indeed, using spatially resolved
tunneling spectroscopy we found no indication of the predicted quantum spin
Hall behavior
Origin of the insulating state in honeycomb iridates and rhodates
A burning question in the emerging field of spin-orbit driven insulating
iridates, such as Na2IrO3 and Li2IrO3 is whether the observed insulating state
should be classified as a Mott-Hubbard insulator derived from a half-filled
relativistic j_eff=1/2 band or as a band insulator where the gap is assisted by
spin-orbit interaction, or Coulomb correlations, or both. The difference
between these two interpretations is that only for the former, strong
spin-orbit coupling (lambda >~ W, where W is the band width) is essential. We
have synthesized the isostructural and isoelectronic Li2RhO3 and report its
electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility. Remarkably it shows
insulating behavior together with fluctuating effective S=1/2 moments, similar
to Na2IrO3 and Li2IrO3, although in Rh4+ (4d5) the spin-orbit coupling is
greatly reduced. We show that this behavior has non-relativistic one-electron
origin (although Coulomb correlations assist in opening the gap), and can be
traced down to formation of quasi-molecular orbitals, similar to those in
Na2IrO3.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure
Relevance of the Heisenberg-Kitaev model for the honeycomb lattice iridates A_2IrO_3
Combining thermodynamic measurements with theoretical density functional and
thermodynamic calculations we demonstrate that the honeycomb lattice iridates
A2IrO3 (A = Na, Li) are magnetically ordered Mott insulators where the
magnetism of the effective spin-orbital S = 1/2 moments can be captured by a
Heisenberg-Kitaev (HK) model with Heisenberg interactions beyond
nearest-neighbor exchange. Experimentally, we observe an increase of the
Curie-Weiss temperature from \theta = -125 K for Na2IrO3 to \theta = -33 K for
Li2IrO3, while the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature remains roughly the
same T_N = 15 K for both materials. Using finite-temperature functional
renormalization group calculations we show that this evolution of \theta, T_N,
the frustration parameter f = \theta/T_N, and the zig-zag magnetic ordering
structure suggested for both materials by density functional theory can be
captured within this extended HK model. Combining our experimental and
theoretical results, we estimate that Na2IrO3 is deep in the magnetically
ordered regime of the HK model (\alpha \approx 0.25), while Li2IrO3 appears to
be close to a spin-liquid regime (0.6 < \alpha < 0.7).Comment: Version accepted for publication in PRL. Additional DFT and
thermodynamic calculations have been included. 6 pages of supplementary
material include
Classical theta constants vs. lattice theta series, and super string partition functions
Recently, various possible expressions for the vacuum-to-vacuum superstring
amplitudes has been proposed at genus . To compare the different
proposals, here we will present a careful analysis of the comparison between
the two main technical tools adopted to realize the proposals: the classical
theta constants and the lattice theta series. We compute the relevant Fourier
coefficients in order to relate the two spaces. We will prove the equivalence
up to genus 4. In genus five we will show that the solutions are equivalent
modulo the Schottky form and coincide if we impose the vanishing of the
cosmological constant.Comment: 21 page
The puzzling symbiotic X-ray system 4U1700+24
Symbiotic X-ray binaries form a subclass of low-mass X-ray binary systems
consisting of a neutron star accreting material from a red giant donor star via
stellar wind or Roche lobe overflow. Only a few confirmed members are currently
known; 4U 1700+24 is a good candidate as it is a relatively bright X-ray
object, possibly associated with the late-type star V934 Her. We analysed the
archive {\it XMM}-Newton and Swift/XRT observations of 4U 1700+24 in order to
have a uniform high-energy ( keV) view of the source. We confirmed the
existence of a red-shifted O VIII Ly- transition (already observed in
the 2002 {\it XMM}-Newton data) in the high-resolution spectra collected via
the RGS instruments. The red-shift of the line is found in all the analysed
observations and, on average, it was estimated to be . We also
observed a modulation of the centroid energy of the line on short time scales
(a few days) and discuss the observations in the framework of different
scenarios. If the modulation is due to the gravitational red-shift of the
neutron star, it might arise from a sudden re-organization of the emitting
-ray matter on the scale of a few hundreds of km. Alternatively, we are
witnessing a uni-polar jet of matter (with typical velocity of km
s) possibly emitted by the neutron star in an almost face-on system. The
second possibility seems to be required by the apparent lack of any modulation
in the observed -ray light curve. We also note also that the low-resolution
spectra (both {\it XMM}-Newton and Swift/XRT in the keV band) show the
existence of a black body radiation emitted by a region (possibly associated
with the neutron star polar cap) with typical size from a few tens to hundreds
of meters. The size of this spot-like region reduces as the overall luminosity
of 4U 1700+24 decreases.Comment: In press on A&
Effect of isoelectronic doping on honeycomb lattice iridate A_2IrO_3
We have investigated experimentally and theoretically the series
(NaLi)IrO. Contrary to what has been believed so far,
only for the system forms uniform solid solutions. For larger Li
content, as evidenced by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy
and density functional theory calculations, the system shows a miscibility gap
and a phase separation into an ordered NaLiIrO phase with
alternating Na and LiIrO planes, and a Li-rich phase close to pure
LiIrO. For we observe (1) an increase of with Li
doping up to , despite the fact that in pure LiIrO is
smaller than in NaIrO, and (2) a gradual reduction of the
antiferromagnetic ordering temperature and ordered moment. The
previously proposed magnetic quantum phase transition at may
occur in a multiphase region and its nature needs to be re-evaluated.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures including supplemental informatio
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