650 research outputs found
Origin of strange metallic phase in cuprate superconductors
The origin of strange metallic phase is shown to exist due to these two
conditions---(i) the electrons are strongly interacting such that there are no
band and Mott-Hubbard gaps, and (ii) the electronic energy levels are crossed
in such a way that there is an electronic energy gap between two energy levels
associated to two different wave functions. The theory is also exploited to
explain (i) the upward- and downward-shifts in the -linear resistivity
curves, and (ii) the spectral weight transfer observed in the soft X-ray
absorption spectroscopic measurements of the La-Sr-Cu-O Mott insulator.Comment: To be published in J. Supercond. Nov. Mag
Diversity and impact of rare variants in genes encoding the platelet G protein-coupled receptors
Platelet responses to activating agonists are influenced by common
population variants within or near G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)
genes that affect receptor activity. However, the impact of rare GPCR
gene variants is unknown. We describe the rare single nucleotide variants
(SNVs) in the coding and splice regions of 18 GPCR genes in
7,595 exomes from the 1,000-genomes and Exome Sequencing
Project databases and in 31 cases with inherited platelet function disorders
(IPFDs). In the population databases, the GPCR gene target
regions contained 740 SNVs (318 synonymous, 410 missense, 7 stop
gain and 6 splice region) of which 70 % had global minor allele frequency
(MAF) < 0.05 %. Functional annotation using six computational
algorithms, experimental evidence and structural data identified
156/740 (21 %) SNVs as potentially damaging to GPCR function, most
commonly in regions encoding the transmembrane and C-terminal intracellular
receptor domains. In 31 index cases with IPFDs (Gi-pathway
defect n=15; secretion defect n=11; thromboxane pathway defect
n=3 and complex defect n=2) there were 256 SNVs in the target
regions of 15 stimulatory platelet GPCRs (34 unique; 12 with
MAF< 1 % and 22 with MAF≥ 1 %). These included rare variants predicting
R122H, P258T and V207A substitutions in the P2Y12 receptor
that were annotated as potentially damaging, but only partially explained
the platelet function defects in each case. Our data highlight
that potentially damaging variants in platelet GPCR genes have low
individual frequencies, but are collectively abundant in the population.
Potentially damaging variants are also present in pedigrees with IPFDs
and may contribute to complex laboratory phenotypes
Possible Competing Order-Induced Fermi Arcs in Cuprate Superconductors
We investigate the scenario of competing order (CO) induced Fermi arcs and
pseudogap in cuprate superconductors. For hole-type cuprates, both phenomena as
a function of temperature and doping level can be accounted for if the CO
vanishes at above the superconducting transition and the CO
wave-vector Q is parallel to the antinodal direction. In contrast, the absence
of these phenomena and the non-monotonic d-wave gap in electron-type cuprates
may be attributed to and a CO wave-vector Q parallel to the
nodal direction.Comment: 6 pages and 5 figures, with one figure added in the updated version.
Accepted for publication in Solid State Communications, Fast Communications.
Corresponding author: Nai-Chang Yeh ([email protected]
Sensitive detection of HO 2 radicals produced in an atmospheric pressure plasma using Faraday rotation cavity ring-down spectroscopy
Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) is a well-established, highly sensitive absorption technique whose sensitivity and selectivity for trace radical sensing can be further enhanced by measuring the polarization rotation of the intracavity light by the paramagnetic samples in the presence of a magnetic field. In this paper, we highlight the use of this Faraday rotation cavity ring-down spectroscopy (FR-CRDS) for the detection of HO2 radicals. In particular, we use a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet as a highly efficient source of HO2 radicals and show that FR-CRDS in the near-infrared spectral region (1506 nm) has the potential to be a useful tool for studying radical chemistry. By simultaneously measuring ring-down times of orthogonal linearly polarized light, measurements of Faraday effect-induced rotation angles (θ) and absorption coefficients (α) are retrieved from the same data set. The Faraday rotation measurement exhibits better long-term stability and enhanced sensitivity due to its differential nature, whereby highly correlated noise between the two channels and slow drifts cancel out. The bandwidth-normalized sensitivities are αmin=2.2×10-11 cm-1 Hz-1/2 and θmin=0.62 nrad Hz-1/2. The latter corresponds to a minimum detectable (circular) birefringence of Δnmin=5×10-16 Hz-1/2. Using the overlapping qQ3(N = 4-9) transitions of HO2, we estimate limits of detection of 3.1 × 108 cm-3 based on traditional (absorption) CRDS methods and 6.7 × 107 cm-3 using FR-CRDS detection, where each point of the spectrum was acquired during 2 s. In addition, Verdet constants for pertinent carrier (He, Ar) and bulk (N2, O2) gases were recorded in this spectral region for the first time. These show good agreement with recent measurements of air and values extrapolated from reported Verdet constants at shorter wavelengths, demonstrating the potential of FR-CRDS for measurements of very weak Faraday effects and providing a quantitative validation to the computed rotation angles
Use of the Generalized Gradient Approximation in Pseudopotential Calculations of Solids
We present a study of the equilibrium properties of -bonded solids within
the pseudopotential approach, employing recently proposed generalized gradient
approximation (GGA) exchange correlation functionals. We analyze the effects of
the gradient corrections on the behavior of the pseudopotentials and discuss
possible approaches for constructing pseudopotentials self-consistently in the
context of gradient corrected functionals. The calculated equilibrium
properties of solids using the GGA functionals are compared to the ones
obtained through the local density approximation (LDA) and to experimental
data. A significant improvement over the LDA results is achieved with the use
of the GGA functionals for cohesive energies. For the lattice constant, the
same accuracy as in LDA can be obtained when the nonlinear coupling between
core and valence electrons introduced by the exchange correlation functionals
is properly taken into account. However, GGA functionals give bulk moduli that
are too small compared to experiment.Comment: 15 pages, latex, no figure
Material screening and selection for XENON100
Results of the extensive radioactivity screening campaign to identify
materials for the construction of XENON100 are reported. This Dark Matter
search experiment is operated underground at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran
Sasso (LNGS), Italy. Several ultra sensitive High Purity Germanium detectors
(HPGe) have been used for gamma ray spectrometry. Mass spectrometry has been
applied for a few low mass plastic samples. Detailed tables with the
radioactive contaminations of all screened samples are presented, together with
the implications for XENON100.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur
Competing Orders and Quantum Phase Fluctuations on the Low-Energy Excitations and Pseudogap Phenomena of Cuprate Superconductors
We investigate the low-energy quasiparticle excitation spectra of cuprate
superconductors by incorporating both superconductivity (SC) and competing
orders (CO) in the bare Green's function and quantum phase fluctuations in the
proper self-energy. Our approach provides consistent explanations for various
empirical observations, including the excess subgap quasiparticle density of
states, ``dichotomy'' in the momentum-dependent quasiparticle coherence and the
temperature-dependent gap evolution, and the presence (absence) of the
low-energy pseudogap in hole- (electron-) type cuprates depending on the
relative scale of the CO and SC energy gaps.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Corresponding author: Nai-Chang Yeh
([email protected]
An ARPES view on the high-Tc problem: phonons vs spin-fluctuations
We review the search for a mediator of high-Tc superconductivity focusing on
ARPES experiment. In case of HTSC cuprates, we summarize and discuss a
consistent view of electronic interactions that provides natural explanation of
both the origin of the pseudogap state and the mechanism for high temperature
superconductivity. Within this scenario, the spin-fluctuations play a decisive
role in formation of the fermionic excitation spectrum in the normal state and
are sufficient to explain the high transition temperatures to the
superconducting state while the pseudogap phenomenon is a consequence of a
Peierls-type intrinsic instability of electronic system to formation of an
incommensurate density wave. On the other hand, a similar analysis being
applied to the iron pnictides reveals especially strong electron-phonon
coupling that suggests important role of phonons for high-Tc superconductivity
in pnictides.Comment: A summary of the ARPES part of the Research Unit FOR538,
http://for538.wmi.badw.d
Neutrino masses: From fantasy to facts
Theory suggests the existence of neutrino masses, but little more. Facts are
coming close to reveal our fantasy: solar and atmospheric neutrino data
strongly indicate the need for neutrino conversions, while LSND provides an
intriguing hint. The simplest ways to reconcile these data in terms of neutrino
oscillations invoke a light sterile neutrino in addition to the three active
ones. Out of the four neutrinos, two are maximally-mixed and lie at the LSND
scale, while the others are at the solar mass scale. These schemes can be
distinguished at neutral-current-sensitive solar & atmospheric neutrino
experiments. I discuss the simplest theoretical scenarios, where the lightness
of the sterile neutrino, the nearly maximal atmospheric neutrino mixing, and
the generation of & all follow
naturally from the assumed lepton-number symmetry and its breaking. Although
the most likely interpretation of the present data is in terms of
neutrino-mass-induced oscillations, one still has room for alternative
explanations, such as flavour changing neutrino interactions, with no need for
neutrino mass or mixing. Such flavour violating transitions arise in theories
with strictly massless neutrinos, and may lead to other sizeable flavour
non-conservation effects, such as , conversion in
nuclei, unaccompanied by neutrino-less double beta decay.Comment: 33 pages, latex, 16 figures. Invited Talk at Ioannina Conference,
Symmetries in Intermediate High Energy Physics and its Applications, Oct.
1998, to be published by Springer Tracts in Modern Physics. Festschrift in
Honour of John Vergados' 60th Birthda
Quantum Measurement of a Coupled Nanomechanical Resonator -- Cooper-Pair Box System
We show two effects as a result of considering the second-order correction to
the spectrum of a nanomechanical resonator electrostatically coupled to a
Cooper-pair box. The spectrum of the Cooper-pair box is modified in a way which
depends on the Fock state of the resonator. Similarly, the frequency of the
resonator becomes dependent on the state of the Cooper-pair box. We consider
whether these frequency shifts could be utilized to prepare the nanomechanical
resonator in a Fock state, to perform a quantum non-demolition measurement of
the resonator Fock state, and to distinguish the phase states of the
Cooper-pair box
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