576 research outputs found

    Giant magnetic enhancement in Fe/Pd films and its influence on the magnetic interlayer coupling

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    The magnetic properties of thin Pd fcc(001) films with embedded monolayers of Fe are investigated by means of first principles density functional theory. The induced spin polarization in Pd is calculated and analyzed in terms of quantum interference within the Fe/Pd/Fe bilayer system. An investigation of the magnetic enhancement effects on the spin polarization is carried out and its consequences for the magnetic interlayer coupling are discussed. In contrast to {\it e.g.} the Co/Cu fcc(001) system we find a large effect on the magnetic interlayer coupling due to magnetic enhancement in the spacer material. In the case of a single embedded Fe monolayer we find aninduced Pd magnetization decaying with distance nn from the magnetic layer as ~nαn^{-\alpha} with α2.4\alpha \approx 2.4. For the bilayer system we find a giant magnetic enhancement (GME) that oscillates strongly due to interference effects. This results in a strongly modified magnetic interlayer coupling, both in phase and magnitude, which may not be described in the pure Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yoshida (RKKY) picture. No anti-ferromagnetic coupling was found and by comparison with magnetically constrained calculations we show that the overall ferromagnetic coupling can be understood from the strong polarization of the Pd spacer

    Students’ perceptions of assessment: a comparative analysis between Portugal and Sweden

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    This paper aims at investigating students’ perceptions about assessment, especially the ways in which it is put into practice. Data were collected through questionnaires in different programmes in Portugal and Sweden. In total, 173 students from Portugal and 72 from Sweden participated in the study. Findings showed that students had similar ideas about assessment, such as verification of knowledge and learning, tests and grades. Their experiences of assessment methods used varied in the two countries, which can partly be explained by differences in national education systems. A learner-oriented perspective is prominent in the use of assessment methods, but at the same time student influence on assessment is perceived as low in both countries. Implications of the findings are analysed, namely issues regarding a learner-oriented perspective and the effectiveness, influence, trust, times and methods of assessment.Understanding the assessment process, including the concepts and methods used, is essential to educational practice. In recent years new trends on assessment have emerged from an integrated perspective of the teaching, learning and assessment process (Rust 2007). In contrast to summative assessment, which can be perceived as mainly using assessment to certify student achievement (Boud and Falchikov 2006; Hernández 2012), formative assessment supports and monitors the students’ learning, providing continuous feedback during the process (Yorke 2003; Weurlander et al. 2012), and informing them about their performance (Boud 1990; Brown and Knight 1994; Brew et al. 2009). These trends have introduced new methods of assessment (Brew et al. 2009) and more participatory practices, such as self, peer, and co-assessment (Dochy, Segers and Sluijsmans 1999).National Funds through the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) and co-financed by European Regional Development Funds (FEDER) through the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program (POCI) through CIEC (Research Centre on Child Studies, of the University of Minho) with the reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007562Strategic Project UID/CED/00317/2013CIEC – Research Centre on Child Studies, IE, UMinho (FCT R&D unit 317), Portugalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Correlation effects and the high-frequency spin susceptibility of an electron liquid: Exact limits

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    Spin correlations in an interacting electron liquid are studied in the high-frequency limit and in both two and three dimensions. The third-moment sum rule is evaluated and used to derive exact limiting forms (at both long- and short-wavelengths) for the spin-antisymmetric local-field factor, limωG(q,ω)\lim_{\omega \to \infty}G_-({\bf q, \omega}). In two dimensions limωG(q,ω)\lim_{\omega \to \infty}G_-({\bf q, \omega}) is found to diverge as 1/q1/q at long wavelengths, and the spin-antisymmetric exchange-correlation kernel of time-dependent spin density functional theory diverges as 1/q21/q^2 in both two and three dimensions. These signal a failure of the local-density approximation, one that can be redressed by alternative approaches.Comment: 5 page

    Pair distribution function in a two-dimensional electron gas

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    We calculate the pair distribution function, g(r)g(r), in a two-dimensional electron gas and derive a simple analytical expression for its value at the origin as a function of rsr_s. Our approach is based on solving the Schr\"{o}dinger equation for the two-electron wave function in an appropriate effective potential, leading to results that are in good agreement with Quantum Monte Carlo data and with the most recent numerical calculations of g(0)g(0). [C. Bulutay and B. Tanatar, Phys. Rev. B {\bf 65}, 195116 (2002)] We also show that the spin-up spin-down correlation function at the origin, g(0)g_{\uparrow \downarrow}(0), is mainly independent of the degree of spin polarization of the electronic system.Comment: 5 figures, pair distribution dependence with distance is calculate

    Path Integral Approach to Strongly Nonlinear Composite

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    We study strongly nonlinear disordered media using a functional method. We solve exactly the problem of a nonlinear impurity in a linear host and we obtain a Bruggeman-like formula for the effective nonlinear susceptibility. This formula reduces to the usual Bruggeman effective medium approximation in the linear case and has the following features: (i) It reproduces the weak contrast expansion to the second order and (ii) the effective medium exponent near the percolation threshold are s=1s=1, t=1+κt=1+\kappa, where κ\kappa is the nonlinearity exponent. Finally, we give analytical expressions for previously numerically calculated quantities.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to appear in Phys. Rev.

    Optomagnetic composite medium with conducting nanoelements

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    A new type of metal-dielectric composites has been proposed that is characterised by a resonance-like behaviour of the effective permeability in the infrared and visible spectral ranges. This material can be referred to as optomagnetic medium. The analytical formalism developed is based on solving the scattering problem for considered inclusions with impedance boundary condition, which yields the current and charge distributions within the inclusions. The presence of the effective magnetic permeability and its resonant properties lead to novel optical effects and open new possible applications.Comment: 48 pages, 13 figures. accepted to Phys. Rev. B; to appear vol. 66, 200
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