Disorder effects in the quantum Heisenberg model: An Extended Dynamical mean-field theory analysis

We investigate a quantum Heisenberg model with both antiferromagnetic and disordered nearest-neighbor couplings. We use an extended dynamical mean-field approach, which reduces the lattice problem to a self-consistent local impurity problem that we solve by using a quantum Monte Carlo algorithm. We consider both two- and three-dimensional antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations and systematically analyze the effect of disorder. We find that in three dimensions for any small amount of disorder a spin-glass phase is realized. In two dimensions, while clean systems display the properties of a highly correlated spin-liquid (where the local spin susceptibility has a non-integer power-low frequency and/or temperature dependence), in the present case this behavior is more elusive unless disorder is very small. This is because the spin-glass transition temperature leaves only an intermediate temperature regime where the system can display the spin-liquid behavior, which turns out to be more apparent in the static than in the dynamical susceptibility.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure

Total knee arthroplasty in valgus knee

SummaryTotal knee arthroplasty (TKA) in valgus knee has the reputation of being more difficult than in well aligned or varus knee, and there is no management consensus. Results on a continuous series of 100 TKAs on valgus knee were compared to the literature data, to define surgical strategy adapted to the various types of valgus knee

Heavy-fermion and spin-liquid behavior in a Kondo lattice with magnetic frustration

We study the competition between the Kondo effect and frustrating exchange interactions in a Kondo-lattice model within a large-${\cal N}$ dynamical mean-field theory. We find a T=0 phase transition between a heavy Fermi-liquid and a spin-liquid for a critical value of the exchange $J_c = T_{K}^0$, the single-impurity Kondo temperature. Close to the critical point, the Fermi liquid coherence scale $T^\star$ is strongly reduced and the effective mass strongly enhanced. The regime $T>T^\star$ is characterized by spin-liquid magnetic correlations and non-Fermi-liquid properties. It is suggested that magnetic frustration is a general mechanism which is essential to explain the large effective mass of some metallic compounds such as LiV$_2$O$_4$.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure. Late

Electronic states and magnetic excitations in LiV2O4: Exact diagonalization study

Motivated by recent inelastic neutron scattering experiment we examine magnetic properties of LiV2O4. We consider a model which describes the half-filled localized A1g spins interacting via frustrated antiferromagnetic Heisenberg exchange and coupled by local Hund's interaction with the 1/8-filled itinerant Eg band, and study it within an exact diagonalization scheme. In the present study we limited the analysis to the case of the cluster of two isolated tetrahedrons. We obtained that both the ground state structure and low-lying excitations depend strongly on the value of the Hund's coupling which favors the triplet states. With increasing temperature the triplet states become more and more populated which results in the formation of non-zero residual magnetic moment. We present the temperature dependence of calculated magnetic moment and of the spin-spin correlation functions at different values of Hund's coupling and compare them with the experimental results.Comment: 7 pages. 6 eps figure

Accelerated Stress Tests for Solid Oxide Cells via Artificial Aging of the Fuel Electrode

Solid Oxide Cells (SOCs) are under intensive development due to their great potential to meet the 2030 targets for decarbonization. One of their advantages is that they can work in reversible mode. However, in respect to durability, there are still some technical challenges. Although the quick development of experimental and modeling approaches gives insight into degradation mechanisms, an obligatory step that cannot be avoided is the performance of long‐term tests. Taking into account the target for a commercial lifetime is 80,000 h, experiments lasting years are not acceptable for market needs. This work aims to develop accelerated stress tests (ASTs) for SOCs by the artificial aging of the fuel electrode via redox cycling, which follows the degradation processes of calendar aging (Ni coarsening and migration). However, it can cause irreversible damage by the formation of cracks at the interface anode/electrolyte. The advantages of the developed procedure are that it offers a mild level of oxidation, which can be governed and regulated by the direct impedance monitoring of the Ni network resistance changes during oxidation/reduction on a bare anode sample. Once the redox cycling conditions are fixed and the anode/electrolyte sample is checked for cracks, the procedure is introduced for the AST in full‐cell configuration. The developed methodology is evaluated by a comparative analysis of current voltage and impedance measurements of pristine, artificially aged, and calendar‐aged button cells, combined with microstructural characterization of their anodes. It can be applied in both fuel cell and electrolyzer mode. The results obtained in this study from the electrochemical tests show that the artificially aged experimental cell corresponds to at least 3500 h of nominal operation. The number of hours is much bigger in respect to the microstructural aging of the anode. Taking into consideration that the duration of the performed 20 redox cycles is about 50 to 60 working hours, the acceleration factor in respect to experimental timing is estimated to be higher than 60, without any damaging of the sample. This result shows that the selected approach is very promising for a large decrease in testing times for SOCs

Development of planar pixel modules for the ATLAS high luminosity LHC tracker upgrade

The high-luminosity LHC will present significant challenges for tracking systems. ATLAS is preparing to upgrade the entire tracking system, which will include a significantly larger pixel detector. This paper reports on the development of large area planar detectors for the outer pixel layers and the pixel endcaps. Large area sensors have been fabricated and mounted onto 4 FE-I4 readout ASICs, the so-called quad-modules, and their performance evaluated in the laboratory and testbeam. Results from characterisation of sensors prior to assembly, experience with module assembly, including bump-bonding and results from laboratory and testbeam studies are presented

Depleted Kondo Lattices

We consider a two dimensional Kondo lattice model with exchange J and hopping t in which three out of four impurity spins are removed in a regular way. At the particle-hole symmetric point the model may be studied with auxiliary field quantum Monte Carlo methods without sign problems. To achieve the relevant energy scales on finite clusters, we introduce a simple method to reduce size effects by up to an order of magnitude in temperature. In this model, a metallic phase survives up to arbitrarily low temperatures before being disrupted by magnetic fluctuations which open a gap in the charge sector. We study the formation of the heavy-electron state with emphasis on a crossover scale T* defined by the maximum in the resistivity versus temperature curve. The behavior of thermodynamic properties such as specific heat as well as spin and charge uniform susceptibilities are studied as the temperature varies in a wide range across T*. Within our accuracy T* compares well to the Kondo scale of the related single impurity problem. Finally our QMC resuls are compared with mean-field approximations.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Coherence scale of the Kondo lattice

It is shown that the large-N approach yields two energy scales for the Kondo lattice model. The single-impurity Kondo temperature, $T_K$, signals the onset of local singlet formation, while Fermi liquid coherence sets in only below a lower scale, $T^{\star}$. At low conduction electron density $n_c$ ("exhaustion" limit), the ratio $T^{\star}/T_K$ is much smaller than unity, and is shown to depend only on $n_c$ and not on the Kondo coupling. The physical meaning of these two scales is demonstrated by computing several quantities as a function of $n_c$ and temperature.Comment: 4 pages, 4 eps figures. Minor changes. To appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Electrochemical testing of an innovative dual membrane fuel cell design in reversible mode

Solid oxide fuel Cells (SOFC) are intrinsically reversible which makes them attractive for the development of reversible devices (rSOC). The main hurdles that have to be overcome are the higher degradation in electrolyzer (EL) mode and the slow and difficult switching form mode to mode. This work aims at the development and experimental validation of a concept for rSOC based on a new dual membrane fuel cell (dmFC) design which can overcome the existing problems of the classical SOFC. The kernel of the system is additional chamber - central membrane (CM) for water formation/evacuation in FC mode and injection in El mode. Its optimization in respect of microstructure and geometry in laboratory conditions is carried out on button cells. The electrochemical performance is evaluated based on volt-ampere characteristics (VACs) combined with impedance measurements in different working points. The influence of a catalyst in the water chamber is also examined. The VACs which give integral picture of the cell performance are in excellent agreement with the impedance studies which ensure deeper and quantitative information about the processes, including information about the rate limiting step. The results from the optimization of the water chamber show that the combination of design and material brings to important principle advantages in respect to the classical rSOC \u2013 better performance in electrolyzer mode combined with instantaneous switching

The efficiency of the pumping of the lasers based on self-terminating atomic transitions operating in the energy input cut-off mode

The analysis of the electro-physical processes in the discharge circuit of the lasers based on the self-terminating transitions of metal atoms (LSTM) and the electrodes placed in the cold buffer zones of the gas discharge tube (GDT) is occurred. That design of the GDT can provide the efficient lasing at the reduction of the current flowing through the switch to zero after the charging of the capacitive components of the circuit from the storage capacitor. Under the circumstances the pumping of the active medium is determined by the energy input from the peaking capacitor and, consequently, the efficiency of the pumping can be increased by an order of magnitude, if (using a managed switch) the energy input into the active medium from the storage capacitor is “cut-off” after charging the capacitive components of the circuit. It was shown that the efficiency values of ∼ 9-11 % and of ∼ 5-6 % for the copper and gold vapor, lasers could be achieved