Nematic liquid crystal dynamics under applied electric fields

In this paper we investigate the dynamics of liquid crystal textures in a two-dimensional nematic under applied electric fields, using numerical simulations performed using a publicly available LIquid CRystal Algorithm (LICRA) developed by the authors. We consider both positive and negative dielectric anisotropies and two different possibilities for the orientation of the electric field (parallel and perpendicular to the two-dimensional lattice). We determine the effect of an applied electric field pulse on the evolution of the characteristic length scale and other properties of the liquid crystal texture network. In particular, we show that different types of defects are produced after the electric field is switched on, depending on the orientation of the electric field and the sign of the dielectric anisotropy.Comment: 7 pages, 12 figure

Spatial patterns and biodiversity in off-lattice simulations of a cyclic three-species Lotka-Volterra model

Stochastic simulations of cyclic three-species spatial predator-prey models are usually performed in square lattices with nearest neighbor interactions starting from random initial conditions. In this Letter we describe the results of off-lattice Lotka-Volterra stochastic simulations, showing that the emergence of spiral patterns does occur for sufficiently high values of the (conserved) total density of individuals. We also investigate the dynamics in our simulations, finding an empirical relation characterizing the dependence of the characteristic peak frequency and amplitude on the total density. Finally, we study the impact of the total density on the extinction probability, showing how a low population density may jeopardize biodiversity.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures; new version, with new title and figure

The Cosmological Evolution of Domain Wall Networks

We have studied the cosmological evolution of domain wall networks in two, three and four spatial dimensions using high-resolution field theory simulations. The dynamical range and number of our simulations is larger than in previous works, but does not allow us to exclude previous hints of deviations to the naively expected scale-invariant evolution. These results therefore suggest that the approach of domain wall networks to linear scaling is a much slower process than that of cosmic strings, which has been previously characterized in detail.Comment: 7 pages, submitted to Phys Rev

Magentically-Induced Lattice Distortions and Ferroelectricity in Magnetoelectric GdMnO3

In this work we investigate the magnetic field dependence of Ag octahedra rotation (tilt) and B2g symmetric stretching modes frequency at different temperatures. Our field-dependent Raman investigation at 10K is interpreted by an ionic displacive nature of the magnetically induced ferroelectric phase transition. The frequency change of the Ag tilt is in agreement with the stabilization of the Mn-Gd spin arrangement, yielding the necessary conditions for the onset of ferroelectricity on the basis of the inverse Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. The role of the Jahn-Teller cooperative interaction is also evidenced by the change of the B2g mode frequency at the ferroelectric phase transition. This frequency change allows estimating the shift of the oxygen position at the ferroelectric phase transition and the corresponding spontaneous polarization of 480 {\mu}C/m2, which agrees with earlier reported values in single crystals. Our study also confirms the existence of a large magnetic hysteresis at the lowest temperatures, which is a manifestation of magnetrostiction.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Self-Similar Collapse of Scalar Field in Higher Dimensions

This paper constructs continuously self-similar solution of a spherically symmetric gravitational collapse of a scalar field in n dimensions. The qualitative behavior of these solutions is explained, and closed-form answers are provided where possible. Equivalence of scalar field couplings is used to show a way to generalize minimally coupled scalar field solutions to the model with general coupling.Comment: RevTex 3.1, 15 pages, 3 figures; references adde

The Virgo Alignment Puzzle in Propagation of Radiation on Cosmological Scales

We reconsider analysis of data on the cosmic microwave background on the largest angular scales. Temperature multipoles of any order factor naturally into a direct product of axial quantities and cosets. Striking coincidences exist among the axes associated with the dipole, quadrupole, and octupole CMB moments. These axes also coincide well with two other axes independently determined from polarizations at radio and optical frequencies propagating on cosmological scales. The five coincident axes indicate physical correlation and anisotropic properties of the cosmic medium not predicted by the conventional Big Bang scenario. We consider various mechanisms, including foreground corrections, as candidates for the observed correlations. We also consider whether the propagation anomalies may be a signal of ``dark energy'' in the form of a condensed background field. Perhaps {\it light propagation} will prove to be an effective way to look for the effects of {\it dark energy}.Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures, minor changes, no change in result or conclusions. to appear in IJMP

Study of the Fully Frustrated Clock Model using the Wang-Landau Algorithm

Monte Carlo simulations using the newly proposed Wang-Landau algorithm together with the broad histogram relation are performed to study the antiferromagnetic six-state clock model on the triangular lattice, which is fully frustrated. We confirm the existence of the magnetic ordering belonging to the Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) type phase transition followed by the chiral ordering which occurs at slightly higher temperature. We also observe the lower temperature phase transition of KT type due to the discrete symmetry of the clock model. By using finite-size scaling analysis, the higher KT temperature $T_2$ and the chiral critical temperature $T_c$ are respectively estimated as $T_2=0.5154(8)$ and $T_c=0.5194(4)$. The results are in favor of the double transition scenario. The lower KT temperature is estimated as $T_1=0.496(2)$. Two decay exponents of KT transitions corresponding to higher and lower temperatures are respectively estimated as $\eta_2=0.25(1)$ and $\eta_1=0.13(1)$, which suggests that the exponents associated with the KT transitions are universal even for the frustrated model.Comment: 7 pages including 9 eps figures, RevTeX, to appear in J. Phys.

Structural and insulator-to-metal phase transition at 50 GPa in GdMnO3

We present a study of the effect of very high pressure on the orthorhombic perovskite GdMnO3 by Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron x-ray diffraction up to 53.2 GPa. The experimental results yield a structural and insulator-to-metal phase transition close to 50 GPa, from an orthorhombic to a metrically cubic structure. The phase transition is of first order with a pressure hysteresis of about 6 GPa. The observed behavior under very high pressure might well be a general feature in rare-earth manganites.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures and 2 table