15,906 research outputs found
Quantum criticality in a generalized Dicke model
We employ a generalized Dicke model to study theoretically the quantum
criticality of an extended two-level atomic ensemble interacting with a
single-mode quantized light field. Effective Hamiltonians are derived and
diagonalized to investigate numerically their eigenfrequencies for different
quantum phases in the system. Based on the analysis of the eigenfrequencies, an
intriguing quantum-phase transition from a normal phase to a superradiant phase
is revealed clearly, which is quite different from that observed with a
standard Dicke model.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
The Big Bang as a Phase Transition
We study a five-dimensional cosmological model, which suggests that the
universe bagan as a discontinuity in a (Higgs-type) scalar field, or
alternatively as a conventional four-dimensional phase transition.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures; typo corrected in equation (18); 1 reference
added; version to appear in International Journal of Modern Physics
Biodegradation of the Alkaline Cellulose Degradation Products Generated during Radioactive Waste Disposal.
The anoxic, alkaline hydrolysis of cellulosic materials generates a range of cellulose degradation products (CDP) including α and β forms of isosaccharinic acid (ISA) and is expected to occur in radioactive waste disposal sites receiving intermediate level radioactive wastes. The generation of ISA's is of particular relevance to the disposal of these wastes since they are able to form complexes with radioelements such as Pu enhancing their migration. This study demonstrates that microbial communities present in near-surface anoxic sediments are able to degrade CDP including both forms of ISA via iron reduction, sulphate reduction and methanogenesis, without any prior exposure to these substrates. No significant difference (n = 6, p = 0.118) in α and β ISA degradation rates were seen under either iron reducing, sulphate reducing or methanogenic conditions, giving an overall mean degradation rate of 4.7×10−2 hr−1 (SE±2.9×10−3). These results suggest that a radioactive waste disposal site is likely to be colonised by organisms able to degrade CDP and associated ISA's during the construction and operational phase of the facility
SMA Imaging of CO(3-2) Line and 860 micron Continuum of Arp 220 : Tracing the Spatial Distribution of Luminosity
We used the Submillimeter Array (SMA) to image 860 micron continuum and
CO(3-2) line emission in the ultraluminous merging galaxy Arp 220, achieving a
resolution of 0.23" (80 pc) for the continuum and 0.33" (120 pc) for the line.
The CO emission peaks around the two merger nuclei with a velocity signature of
gas rotation around each nucleus, and is also detected in a kpc-size disk
encompassing the binary nucleus. The dust continuum, in contrast, is mostly
from the two nuclei. The beam-averaged brightness temperature of both line and
continuum emission exceeds 50 K at and around the nuclei, revealing the
presence of warm molecular gas and dust. The dust emission morphologically
agrees with the distribution of radio supernova features in the east nucleus,
as expected when a starburst heats the nucleus. In the brighter west nucleus,
however, the submillimeter dust emission is more compact than the supernova
distribution. The 860 micron core, after deconvolution, has a size of 50-80 pc,
consistent with recent 1.3 mm observations, and a peak brightness temperature
of (0.9-1.6)x10^2 K. Its bolometric luminosity is at least 2x10^{11} Lsun and
could be ~10^{12} Lsun depending on source structure and 860 micron opacity,
which we estimate to be of the order of tau_{860} ~ 1 (i.e., N_{H_2} ~ 10^{25}
cm^{-2}). The starbursting west nuclear disk must have in its center a dust
enshrouded AGN or a very young starburst equivalent to hundreds of super star
clusters. Further spatial mapping of bolometric luminosity through
submillimeter imaging is a promising way to identify the heavily obscured
heating sources in Arp 220 and other luminous infrared galaxies.Comment: ApJ. in press. 26 pages, 10 figure
Collisions of cold magnesium atoms in a weak laser field
We use quantum scattering methods to calculate the light-induced collisional
loss of laser-cooled and trapped magnesium atoms for detunings up to 30 atomic
linewidths to the red of the 1S_0-1P_1 cooling transition. Magnesium has no
hyperfine structure to complicate the theoretical studies. We evaluate both the
radiative and nonradiative mechanisms of trap loss. The radiative escape
mechanism via allowed 1Sigma_u excitation is dominant for more than about one
atomic linewidth detuning. Molecular vibrational structure due to
photoassociative transitions to bound states begins to appear beyond about ten
linewidths detuning.Comment: 4 pages with 3 embedded figure
An Infinite Swapping Approach to the Rare-Event Sampling Problem
We describe a new approach to the rare-event Monte Carlo sampling problem.
This technique utilizes a symmetrization strategy to create probability
distributions that are more highly connected and thus more easily sampled than
their original, potentially sparse counterparts. After discussing the formal
outline of the approach and devising techniques for its practical
implementation, we illustrate the utility of the technique with a series of
numerical applications to Lennard-Jones clusters of varying complexity and
rare-event character.Comment: 24 pages, 16 figure
Differences Between The Optical/Uv Spectra Of X-Ray Bright And X-Ray Faint QSOs
We contrast measurements of composite optical and ultraviolet (UV) spectra
constructed from samples of QSOs defined by their soft X-ray brightness. X-ray
bright (XB) composites show stronger emission lines in general, but
particularly from the narrow line region. The difference in the [OIII]/Hbeta
ratio is particularly striking, and even more so when blended FeII emission is
properly subtracted. The correlation of this ratio with X-ray brightness were
principal components of QSO spectral diversity found by Boroson & Green (1992).
We find here that other, much weaker narrow optical forbidden lines ([OII] and
NeV) are enhanced by factors of 2 to 3 in our XB composites, and that narrow
line emission is also strongly enhanced in the XB UV composite. Broad permitted
line fluxes are slightly larger for all XB spectra, but the narrow/broad line
ratio stays similar or increases strongly with X-ray brightness for all strong
permitted lines except Hbeta.
Spectral differences between samples divided by their relative X-ray
brightness (as measured by alpha_{ox}) exceed those seen between complementary
samples divided by luminosity or radio loudness. We propose that the Baldwin
effect may be a secondary correlation to the primary relationship between
alpha_{ox} and emission line equivalent width. We conclude that either 1)
equivalent width depends strongly on the SHAPE of the ionizing continuum, as
crudely characterized here by alpha_{ox} or 2) both equivalent width and
alpha_{ox} are related to some third parameter characterizing the QSO physics.
One such possibility is intrinsic warm absorption; a soft X-ray absorber
situated between the broad and narrow line regions can successfully account for
many of the properties observed.Comment: 16 pages including 3 figures, AAS latex, plus 4 tables totaling 5
pages, to appear in ApJ Vol. 498, May 1, 199
Spin dynamics near a putative antiferromagnetic quantum critical point in Cu substituted BaFeAs and its relation to high-temperature superconductivity
We present the results of elastic and inelastic neutron scattering
measurements on non-superconducting
Ba(FeCu)As, a composition close to a
quantum critical point between AFM ordered and paramagnetic phases. By
comparing these results with the spin fluctuations in the low Cu composition as
well as the parent compound BaFeAs and superconducting
Ba(FeNi)As compounds, we demonstrate that paramagnon-like
spin fluctuations are evident in the antiferromagnetically ordered state of
Ba(FeCu)As, which is distinct from the AFM-like
spin fluctuations in the superconducting compounds. Our observations suggest
that Cu substitution decouples the interaction between quasiparticles and the
spin fluctuations. We also show that the spin-spin correlation length,
, increases rapidly as the temperature is lowered and find
scaling behavior, the hallmark of quantum criticality, at an
antiferromagnetic quantum critical point.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure
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