Radiation induced zero-resistance states: a dressed electronic structure effect

Recent results on magnetoresistance in a two dimensional electron gas under crossed magnetic and microwave fields show a new class of oscillations, suggesting a new kind of zero-resistance states. A complete understanding of the effect is still lacking. We consider the problem from the point of view of the electronic structure dressed by photons due to a in plane linearly polarized ac field. The dramatic changes in the dressed electronic structure lead to a interpretation of the new magnetoresistance oscillations as a persistent-current like effect, induced by the radiation field.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, revtex4, changes in introduction and added reference

Inner and outer edge states in graphene rings: A numerical investigation

We numerically investigate quantum rings in graphene and find that their electronic properties may be strongly influenced by the geometry, the edge symmetries and the structure of the corners. Energy spectra are calculated for different geometries (triangular, hexagonal and rhombus-shaped graphene rings) and edge terminations (zigzag, armchair, as well as the disordered edge of a round geometry). The states localized at the inner edges of the graphene rings describe different evolution as a function of magnetic field when compared to those localized at the outer edges. We show that these different evolutions are the reason for the formation of sub-bands of edge states energy levels, separated by gaps (anticrossings). It is evident from mapping the charge densities that the anticrossings occur due to the coupling between inner and outer edge states.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. Figures in low resolution due to size requirements - higher quality figures on reques

Columnar Fluctuations as a Source of Non-Fermi-Liquid Behavior in Weak Metallic Magnets

It is shown that columnar fluctuations, in conjunction with weak quenched disorder, lead to a T^{3/2} temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity. This is proposed as an explanation of the observed non-Fermi-liquid behavior in the helimagnet MnSi, with one possible realization of the columnar fluctuations provided by skyrmion lines that have independently been proposed to be present in this material.Comment: 4pp, 4 figure

Weak disorder expansion for localization lengths of quasi-1D systems

A perturbative formula for the lowest Lyapunov exponent of an Anderson model on a strip is presented. It is expressed in terms of an energy-dependent doubly stochastic matrix, the size of which is proportional to the strip width. This matrix and the resulting perturbative expression for the Lyapunov exponent are evaluated numerically. Dependence on energy, strip width and disorder strength are thoroughly compared with the results obtained by the standard transfer matrix method. Good agreement is found for all energies in the band of the free operator and this even for quite large values of the disorder strength

Resonant tunneling through protected quantum dots at phosphorene edges

We theoretically investigate phosphorene zigzag nanorribons as a platform for constriction engineering. In the presence of a constriction at the upper edge, quantum confinement of edge protected states reveals resonant tunnelling Breit-Wigner transmission peaks, if the upper edge is uncoupled to the lower edge. Coupling between edges in thin constrictions gives rise to Fano-like and anti-resonances in the transmission spectrum of the system.Comment: 8 pages,7 figure

Far Infrared Variability of Sagittarius A*: 25.5 Hours of Monitoring with HerschelHerschel

Variable emission from Sgr~A*, the luminous counterpart to the super-massive black hole at the center of our Galaxy, arises from the innermost portions of the accretion flow. Better characterization of the variability is important for constraining models of the low-luminosity accretion mode powering Sgr~A*, and could further our ability to use variable emission as a probe of the strong gravitational potential in the vicinity of the $4\times10^{6}\mathrm{M}_{\odot}$ black hole. We use the \textit{Herschel} Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) to monitor Sgr~A* at wavelengths that are difficult or impossible to observe from the ground. We find highly significant variations at 0.25, 0.35, and 0.5 mm, with temporal structure that is highly correlated across these wavelengths. While the variations correspond to $<$1% changes in the total intensity in the \textit{Herschel} beam containing Sgr~A*, comparison to independent, simultaneous observations at 0.85 mm strongly supports the reality of the variations. The lowest point in the light curves, $\sim$0.5 Jy below the time-averaged flux density, places a lower bound on the emission of Sgr~A* at 0.25 mm, the first such constraint on the THz portion of the SED. The variability on few hour timescales in the SPIRE light curves is similar to that seen in historical 1.3 mm data, where the longest time series is available, but the distribution of variations in the sub-mm do not show a tail of large-amplitude variations seen at 1.3 mm. Simultaneous X-ray photometry from XMM-Newton shows no significant variation within our observing period, which may explain the lack of very large variations if X-ray and submillimeter flares are correlated.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Growth of Oxide Compounds under Dynamic Atmosphere Composition

Commercially available gases contain residual impurities leading to a background oxygen partial pressure of typically several 10^{-6} bar, independent of temperature. This oxygen partial pressure is inappropriate for the growth of some single crystals where the desired oxidation state possesses a narrow stability field. Equilibrium thermodynamic calculations allow the determination of dynamic atmosphere compositions yielding such self adjusting and temperature dependent oxygen partial pressures, that crystals like ZnO, Ga2O3, or Fe{1-x}O can be grown from the melt.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, talk on CGCT-4 Sendai, May 21-24, 200