Optical and transport properties of quantum impurity models - an NRG study of generic models and real physical systems

This thesis contributes to the understanding of impurity models. It is divided into two main parts, with a general introduction given in Part I and the research related to it presented in Part II, with the second part being subdivided into two main projects. In the first project, the influence of two many-body effects, the Kondo effect and the Fermi edge singularity, on the absorption and emission spectra of self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) is examined. Whereas the Kondo effect so far was always examined with transport experiments, we show that it has been observed with optical methods for the first time, by comparing experimental data for the absorption line shapes of QDs to calculations with the numerical renormalization group. We continue by examining a QD with strong optical coupling of the energy levels. The resulting interplay of Rabi-oscillations and Kondo effect leads to a new many-body state, a secondary, outer Kondo effect, with Kondo-like correlations between the spin-Kondo and the trion state. The last work regarding optics at QDs addresses the Fermi edge singularity. We show that for QDs this phenomenon can be described numerically on a quantitative level. The second project concerns transport properties of impurity models. First, we present a comprehensive study of the Kondo effect for an InAs-nanowire QD, a system for which the Kondo effect was observed only a few years ago. The second study regarding transport concerns the Kondo effect in bulk metals with magnetic impurities. Although nowadays the Kondo effect is often studied with QDs, it was discovered for iron impurities in noble metals like gold and silver. However, it was unknown for a long time which exact realization of Kondo model describes these systems. We identify the model by comparing numerical calculations for the magnetoresistivity and the dephasing rate for different models to experimental results. The third work about transport concerns the phenomenon that for a fixed type of Kondo model quantities like the magnetoresistivity or the conductivity, respectively, can be scaled onto a universal curve for different parameters, when energies are rescaled with the the Kondo temperature $T_K$, since it is the only relevant low energy scale of the problem. For finite bandwidth, however, different definitions of $T_K$ (which coincide in the limit of infinite bandwidth) lead to different $T_K$-values. We show that with a very common definition of $T_K$, finite bandwidth, which is always present at numerical calculations, can deteriorate the universality of rescaled curves, and we offer an alternative definition of $T_K$ which ensures proper scaling. In the last study presented in this thesis we calculate the Fermi-liquid coefficients for fully screened multi-channel Kondo models. For temperatures below $T_K$, these models show Fermi-liquid behavior, and the impurity density of states and certain quantities which depend on it, like resistivity, show quadratic dependencies on parameters like temperature or magnetic field, described by the Fermi-liquid coefficients. We calculate these coefficients both analytically and numerically

Spin-1/2 Kondo effect in an InAs nanowire quantum dot: the Unitary limit, conductance scaling and Zeeman splitting

We report on a comprehensive study of spin-1/2 Kondo effect in a strongly-coupled quantum dot realized in a high-quality InAs nanowire. The nanowire quantum dot is relatively symmetrically coupled to its two leads, so the Kondo effect reaches the Unitary limit. The measured Kondo conductance demonstrates scaling with temperature, Zeeman magnetic field, and out-of-equilibrium bias. The suppression of the Kondo conductance with magnetic field is much stronger than would be expected based on a g-factor extracted from Zeeman splitting of the Kondo peak. This may be related to strong spin-orbit coupling in InAs.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. Revised version accepted for publicatio

Exploring the Potential Risk of Heavy Metal Pollution of Edible Cultivated Plants in Urban Gardening Contexts Using a Citizen Science Approach in the Project “Heavy Metal City-Zen”

Urban gardening has become increasingly popular, creating green oases in cities; however, many of these activities are undertaken in areas of high traffic density or on ex-brown field sites. As a consequence, there are still some barriers to the adoption of these urban gardening practices for food production. One of the public concerns is the transfer of urban pollutants such as heavy metals into the consumer’s food chain, however, city-wide data is often difficult and expensive to collect. In the citizen science project described herein, we conducted simple citizen-led common collaborative experiments in urban community gardens. These data provided information on the potential risk of heavy metal contaminants and ways in which to mitigate those risks in an urban gardening context. Generally, values were below guideline thresholds, however, at a few garden sites, soil trace metal concentrations (Pb, Cd, Zn) exceeded Austrian recommended limits. Moreover, only at two sites were plant trace metal concentrations shown to be above European food standards limits. Given the citizen’s positive response to the project, we suggest expanding this study to the whole of Vienna, giving newly established gardens a chance to predetermine the risks posed by their local soils

Solid-Phase Parallel Synthesis of Dual Histone Deacetylase-Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors

Multi-target drugs (MTDs) are emerging alternatives to combination therapies. Since both histone deacetylases (HDACs) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are known to be overexpressed in several cancer types, we herein report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a library of dual HDAC-COX inhibitors. The designed compounds were synthesized via an efficient parallel synthesis approach using preloaded solid-phase resins. Biological in vitro assays demonstrated that several of the synthesized compounds possess pronounced inhibitory activities against HDAC and COX isoforms. The membrane permeability and inhibition of cellular HDAC activity of selected compounds were confirmed by whole-cell HDAC inhibition assays and immunoblot experiments. The most promising dual inhibitors, C3 and C4, evoked antiproliferative effects in the low micromolar concentration range and caused a significant increase in apoptotic cells. In contrast to previous reports, the simultaneous inhibition of HDAC and COX activity by dual HDAC-COX inhibitors or combination treatments with vorinostat and celecoxib did not result in additive or synergistic anticancer activities

How to manage plant biomass originated from phytotechnologies ? Gathering perceptions from end-users

A questionnaire survey was carried out in 4 European countries to gather end-user's perceptions of using plants from phytotechnologies in combustion and anaerobic digestion (AD). 9 actors of the wood energy sector from France, Germany and Sweden, and 11 AD platform operators from France, Germany and Austria were interviewed. Questions related to installation, input materials, performed analyses, phytostabilization and phytoextraction. Although the majority of respondents did not know phytotechnologies, results suggested that plant biomass from phytomanaged areas could be used in AD and combustion, under certain conditions. As a potential advantage, these plants would not compete with plants grown on agricultural lands, contaminated lands being not suitable for agriculture production. Main limitations would be related to additional controls in process’ inputs and end-products and installations that might generate additional costs. In most cases, price of phytotechnologies biomass was mentioned as a driver to potentially use plants from metal-contaminated soils. Plants used in phytostabilisation or phytoexclusion were thought to be less risky and, consequently, benefited from a better theoretical acceptance than those issued from phytoextraction. Results were discussed according to national regulations. One issue related to the regulatory gap concerning the status of the plant biomass produced on contaminated land

SUMATECS - SUstainable MAnagement of Trace Element Contaminated Soils : a SNOWMAN-ERANET funded project

Godkänd; 2008; 20081015 (juku)</p

Developing effective decision support for the application of “Gentle” remediation options : The GREENLAND Project

Gentle remediation options (GRO) are risk management strategies/technologies that result in a net gain (or at least no gross reduction) in soil function as well as risk management. They encompass a number of technologies, including the use of plant (phyto-), fungi (myco-), and/or bacteria-based methods, with or without chemical soil additives or amendments, for reducing contaminant transfer to local receptors by in situ stabilization, or extraction, transformation, or degradation of contaminants. Despite offering strong benefits in terms of risk management, deployment costs, and sustainability for a range of site problems, the application of GRO as practical on-site remedial solutions is still in its relative infancy, particularly for metal(loid)-contaminated sites. A key barrier to wider adoption of GRO relates to general uncertainties and lack of stakeholder confidence in (and indeed knowledge of) the feasibility or reliability of GRO as practical risk management solutions. The GREENLAND project has therefore developed a simple and transparent decision support framework for promoting the appropriate use of gentle remediation options and encouraging participation of stakeholders, supplemented by a set of specific design aids for use when GRO appear to be a viable option. The framework is presented as a three phased model or Decision Support Tool (DST), in the form of a Microsoft Excel-based workbook, designed to inform decision-making and options appraisal during the selection of remedial approaches for contaminated sites. The DST acts as a simple decision support and stakeholder engagement tool for the application of GRO, providing a context for GRO application (particularly where soft end-use of remediated land is envisaged), quick reference tables (including an economic cost calculator), and supporting information and technical guidance drawing on practical examples of effective GRO application at trace metal(loid) contaminated sites across Europe. This article introduces the decision support framework