10,435 research outputs found
Directed paths on hierarchical lattices with random sign weights
We study sums of directed paths on a hierarchical lattice where each bond has
either a positive or negative sign with a probability . Such path sums
have been used to model interference effects by hopping electrons in the
strongly localized regime. The advantage of hierarchical lattices is that they
include path crossings, ignored by mean field approaches, while still
permitting analytical treatment. Here, we perform a scaling analysis of the
controversial ``sign transition'' using Monte Carlo sampling, and conclude that
the transition exists and is second order. Furthermore, we make use of exact
moment recursion relations to find that the moments always determine,
uniquely, the probability distribution $P(J)$. We also derive, exactly, the
moment behavior as a function of $p$ in the thermodynamic limit. Extrapolations
($n\to 0$) to obtain for odd and even moments yield a new signal for
the transition that coincides with Monte Carlo simulations. Analysis of high
moments yield interesting ``solitonic'' structures that propagate as a function
of . Finally, we derive the exact probability distribution for path sums
up to length L=64 for all sign probabilities.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figure
Magneto-Conductance Anisotropy and Interference Effects in Variable Range Hopping
We investigate the magneto-conductance (MC) anisotropy in the variable range
hopping regime, caused by quantum interference effects in three dimensions.
When no spin-orbit scattering is included, there is an increase in the
localization length (as in two dimensions), producing a large positive MC. By
contrast, with spin-orbit scattering present, there is no change in the
localization length, and only a small increase in the overall tunneling
amplitude. The numerical data for small magnetic fields , and hopping
lengths , can be collapsed by using scaling variables , and
in the perpendicular and parallel field orientations
respectively. This is in agreement with the flux through a `cigar'--shaped
region with a diffusive transverse dimension proportional to . If a
single hop dominates the conductivity of the sample, this leads to a
characteristic orientational `finger print' for the MC anisotropy. However, we
estimate that many hops contribute to conductivity of typical samples, and thus
averaging over critical hop orientations renders the bulk sample isotropic, as
seen experimentally. Anisotropy appears for thin films, when the length of the
hop is comparable to the thickness. The hops are then restricted to align with
the sample plane, leading to different MC behaviors parallel and perpendicular
to it, even after averaging over many hops. We predict the variations of such
anisotropy with both the hop size and the magnetic field strength. An
orientational bias produced by strong electric fields will also lead to MC
anisotropy.Comment: 24 pages, RevTex, 9 postscript figures uuencoded Submitted to PR
Intrinsic switching field distribution of arrays of Ni80Fe20 nanowires probed by magnetic force microscopy
The progress of magnetization reversal of weakly packed ferromagnetic
Ni80Fe20 nanowire arrays of different diameters (40, 50, 70 and 100 nm)
electrodeposited in polycarbonate membranes was studied by magnetic force
microscopy (MFM). For such a low packing density of nanomagnets, the dipolar
interactions between neighbouring wires can be neglected. The intrinsic
switching field distribution has been extracted from in situ MFM images and its
width was found to be considerably smaller than for densely packed nanowire
arrays.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. To appear in Journal of Superconductivity and
Novel Magnetis
U.S. CONSUMER ATTITUDES TOWARD FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY
This study examines consumer attitudes in the U.S. toward genetically modified food over time. Five surveys conducted by the International Food Information Council (1999 - 2001) are used to determine what factors significantly influence consumers' willingness to try food products genetically modified to reduce pesticide usage or improve taste.Consumer/Household Economics,
Bose-Einstein Condensate Driven by a Kicked Rotor in a Finite Box
We study the effect of different heating rates of a dilute Bose gas confined
in a quasi-1D finite, leaky box. An optical kicked-rotor is used to transfer
energy to the atoms while two repulsive optical beams are used to confine the
atoms. The average energy of the atoms is localized after a large number of
kicks and the system reaches a nonequilibrium steady state. A numerical
simulation of the experimental data suggests that the localization is due to
energetic atoms leaking over the barrier. Our data also indicates a correlation
between collisions and the destruction of the Bose-Einstein condensate
fraction.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure
Magnetic force microscopy investigation of arrays of nickel nanowires and nanotubes
The magnetic properties of arrays of nanowires (NWs) and nanotubes (NTs), 150
nm in diameter, electrodeposited inside nanoporous polycarbonate membranes are
investigated. The comparison of the nanoscopic magnetic force microscopy (MFM)
imaging and the macroscopic behavior as measured by alternating gradient force
magnetometry (AGFM) is made. It is shown that MFM is a complementary technique
that provides an understanding of the magnetization reversal characteristics at
the microscopic scale of individual nanostructures. The local hysteresis loops
have been extracted by MFM measurements. The influence of the shape of such
elongated nanostructures on the dipolar coupling and consequently on the
squareness of the hysteresis curves is demonstrated. It is shown that the
nanowires exhibit stronger magnetic interactions than nanotubes. The
non-uniformity of the magnetization states is also revealed by combining the
MFM and AGFM measurements.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
- …