Gap anisotropy and universal pairing scale in a spin fluctuation model for cuprates

We consider the evolution of d-wave pairing, mediated by nearly critical spin fluctuations, with the coupling strength. We show that the onset temperature for pairing, T*, smoothly evolves between weak and strong coupling, passing through a broad maximum at intermediate coupling. At strong coupling, T* is of order the magnetic exchange energy J. We argue that for all couplings, pairing is confined to the vicinity of the Fermi surface. We also find that thermal spin fluctuations only modestly reduce T*, even at criticality, but they substantially smooth the gap anisotropy. The latter evolves with coupling, being the largest at weak coupling.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Odd Parity and Line Nodes in Heavy Fermion Superconductors

Group theory arguments have demonstrated that a general odd parity order parameter cannot have line nodes in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. In this paper, it is shown that these arguments do not hold on the $k_z = \pi/c$ zone face of a hexagonal close packed lattice. In particular, three of the six odd parity representations vanish identically on this face. This has potential relevance to the heavy fermion superconductor $UPt_3$.Comment: 5 pages, revte

The Temperature Evolution of the Spectral Peak in High Temperature Superconductors

Recent photoemission data in the high temperature cuprate superconductor Bi2212 have been interpreted in terms of a sharp spectral peak with a temperature independent lifetime, whose weight strongly decreases upon heating. By a detailed analysis of the data, we are able to extract the temperature dependence of the electron self-energy, and demonstrate that this intepretation is misleading. Rather, the spectral peak loses its integrity above Tc due to a large reduction in the electron lifetime.Comment: 5 pages, revtex, 4 encapsulated postscript figure

Chain configurations in light nuclei

The model of nuclear matter built from alpha-particles is proposed. The strong deformed shape for doubly even N=Z nuclides from carbon to magnesium has been determined according to this model. In this paper we undertake very simple approach, which assumes the existence of low lying chain configurations.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Spin-memory loss at Co/Ru interfaces

We have determined the spin-memory-loss parameter, $\delta_{Co/Ru}$, by measuring the transmission of spin-triplet and spin-singlet Cooper pairs across Co/Ru interfaces in Josephson junctions and by Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane Giant Magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) techniques. The probability of spin-memory loss at the Co/Ru interface is $(1-exp(-\delta_{Co/Ru}))$. From the CPP-MR, we obtain $\delta_{Co/Ru} = 0.34^{+0.04}_{-0.02}$ that is in good agreement with $\delta_{Co/Ru} = 0.35 \pm 0.08$ obtained from spin-triplet transmission. For spin-singlet transmission, we have $\delta_{Co/Ru} = 0.64 \pm 0.05$ that is different from that obtained from CPP-GMR and spin-triplet transmission. The source of this difference is not understood.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure

Differential coupling of G protein alpha subunits to seven-helix receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Xenopus oocytes were used to examine the coupling of the serotonin 1c (5HT1c) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) receptors to both endogenous and heterologously expressed G protein alpha subunits. Expression of either G protein-coupled receptor resulted in agonist- induced, Ca(2+)-activated Cl- currents that were measured using a two- electrode voltage clamp. 5HT-induced Cl- currents were reduced 80% by incubating the injected oocytes with pertussis toxin (PTX) and inhibited 50-65% by injection of antisense oligonucleotides to the PTX- sensitive Go alpha subunit. TRH-induced Cl- currents were reduced only 20% by PTX treatment but were inhibited 60% by injection of antisense oligonucleotides to the PTX-insensitive Gq alpha subunit. Injection of antisense oligonucleotides to a novel Xenopus phospholipase C-beta inhibited the 5HT1c (and Go)-induced Cl- current with little effect on the TRH (and Gq)-induced current. These results suggest that receptor- activated Go and Gq interact with different effectors, most likely different isoforms of phospholipase C-beta. Co-expression of each receptor with seven different mammalian G protein alpha subunit cRNAs (Goa, Gob, Gq, G11, Gs, Golf, and Gt) was also examined. Co-expression of either receptor with the first four of these G alpha subunits resulted in a maximum 4-6-fold increase in Cl- currents; the increase depended on the amount of G alpha subunit cRNA injected. This increase was blocked by PTX for G alpha oa and G alpha ob co-expression but not for G alpha q or G alpha 11 co-expression. Co-expression of either receptor with Gs, Golf, or Gt had no effect on Ca(2+)-activated Cl- currents; furthermore, co-expression with Gs or Golf also failed to reveal 5HT- or TRH-induced changes in adenylyl cyclase as assessed by activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl- channel. These results indicate that in oocytes, the 5HT1c and TRH receptors do the following: 1) preferentially couple to PTX-sensitive (Go) and PTX-insensitive (Gq) G proteins and that these G proteins act on different effectors, 2) couple within the same cell type to several different heterologously expressed G protein alpha subunits to activate the oocyte's endogenous Cl- current, and 3) fail to couple to G protein alpha subunits that activate cAMP or phosphodiesterase

The modulated spin liquid: a new paradigm for URu2_2Si2_2

We argue that near a Kondo breakdown critical point, a spin liquid with spatial modulations can form. Unlike its uniform counterpart, we find that this occurs via a second order phase transition. The amount of entropy quenched when ordering is of the same magnitude as for an antiferromagnet. Moreover, the two states are competitive, and at low temperatures are separated by a first order phase transition. The modulated spin liquid we find breaks $Z_4$ symmetry, as recently seen in the hidden order phase of URu$_2$Si$_2$. Based on this, we suggest that the modulated spin liquid is a viable candidate for this unique phase of matter.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure