23,741 research outputs found
Electronic nematicity and its relation to quantum criticality in Sr_3Ru_2O_7 studied by thermal expansion
We report high-resolution measurements of the in-plane thermal expansion
anisotropy in the vicinity of the electronic nematic phase in SrRuO
down to very low temperatures and in varying magnetic field orientation. For
fields applied along the c-direction, a clear second-order phase transition is
found at the nematic phase, with critical behavior compatible with the
two-dimensional Ising universality class (although this is not fully
conclusive). Measurements in a slightly tilted magnetic field reveal a broken
four-fold in-plane rotational symmetry, not only within the nematic phase, but
extending towards slightly larger fields. We also analyze the universal scaling
behavior expected for a metamagnetic quantum critical point, which is realized
outside the nematic region. The contours of the magnetostriction suggest a
relation between quantum criticality and the nematic phase.Comment: 8 pages, 12 Figures, invited paper at QCNP 2012 conferenc
Symmetry-breaking lattice distortion in Sr_3Ru_2O_7
The electronic nematic phase of SrRuO is investigated by
high-resolution in-plane thermal expansion measurements in magnetic fields
close to 8 T applied at various angles off the c-axis. At
we observe a very small () lattice distortion which
breaks the four-fold in-plane symmetry, resulting in nematic domains with
interchanged - and b-axis. At the domains are
almost fully aligned and thermal expansion indicates an area-preserving lattice
distortion of order which is likely related to orbital
ordering. Since the system is located in the immediate vicinity to a
metamagnetic quantum critical end point, the results represent the first
observation of a structural relaxation driven by quantum criticality.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, PRL accepte
Anisotropy of the low-temperature magnetostriction of Sr3Ru2O7
We use high-resolution capacitive dilatometry to study the low-temperature
linear magnetostriction of the bilayer ruthenate SrRuO as a
function of magnetic field applied perpendicular to the ruthenium-oxide planes
(). The relative length change is detected either
parallel or perpendicular to the c-axis close to the metamagnetic region near
B=8 T. In both cases, clear peaks in the coefficient at three subsequent metamagnetic transitions are observed. For , the third transition at 8.1 T bifurcates at temperatures below 0.5
K. This is ascribed to the effect of an in-plane uniaxial pressure of about 15
bar, unavoidable in the dilatometer, which breaks the original fourfold
in-plane symmetry.Comment: 3 pages, 3 Figures, Manuscript for Proceedings of the International
Conference on Quantum Criticality and Novel Phases (QCNP09, Dresden
Multiple metamagnetic quantum criticality in SrRuO
Bilayer strontium ruthenate SrRuO displays pronounced non-Fermi
liquid behavior at magnetic fields around 8 T, applied perpendicular to the
ruthenate planes, which previously has been associated with an itinerant
metamagnetic quantum critical end point (QCEP). We focus on the magnetic
Gr\"uneisen parameter , which is the most direct probe to
characterize field-induced quantum criticality. We confirm quantum critical
scaling due to a putative two-dimensional QCEP near 7.845(5) T, which is masked
by two ordered phases A and B, identified previously by neutron scattering. In
addition we find evidence for a QCEP at 7.53(2) T and determine the quantum
critical regimes of both instabilities and the effect of their superposition
Pressure study of nematicity and quantum criticality in SrRuO for an in-plane field
We study the relationship between the nematic phases of SrRuO and
quantum criticality. At ambient pressure, one nematic phase is associated with
a metamagnetic quantum critical end point (QCEP) when the applied magnetic
field is near the \textit{c}-axis. We show, however, that this metamagnetic
transition does not produce the same nematic signatures when the QCEP is
reached by hydrostatic pressure with the field applied in the
\textit{ab}-plane. Moreover, a second nematic phase, that is seen for field
applied in the \textit{ab}-plane close to, but not right at, a second
metamagnetic anomaly, persists with minimal change to the highest applied
pressure, 16.55 kbar. Taken together our results suggest that metamagnetic
quantum criticality may not be necessary for the formation of a nematic phase
in SrRuO
Context Dependence, MOPs,WHIMs and procedures Recanati and Kaplan on Cognitive Aspects in Semantics
After presenting Kripke’s criticism to Frege’s ideas on context dependence of thoughts, I present two recent attempts of considering cognitive aspects of context dependent expressions inside a truth conditional pragmatics or semantics: Recanati’s non-descriptive modes of presentation (MOPs) and Kaplan’s ways of having in mind (WHIMs). After analysing the two attempts and verifying which answers they should give to the problem discussed by Kripke, I suggest a possible interpretation of these attempts: to insert a procedural or algorithmic level in semantic representations of indexicals. That a function may be computed by different procedures might suggest new possibilities of integrating contextual cognitive aspects in model theoretic semanti
The NMR of High Temperature Superconductors without Anti-Ferromagnetic Spin Fluctuations
A microscopic theory for the NMR anomalies of the planar Cu and O sites in
superconducting La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO_4 is presented that quantitatively explains
the observations without the need to invoke anit-ferromagnetic spin
fluctuations on the planar Cu sites and its significant discrepancy with the
observed incommensurate neutron spin fluctuations. The theory is derived from
the recently published ab-initio band structure calculations that correct LDA
computations tendency to overestimate the self-coulomb repulsion for the
half-filled Cu d_x2-y2 orbital for these ionic systems. The new band structure
leads to two bands at the Fermi level with holes in the Cu d_z2 and apical O
p_z orbitals in addition to the standard Cu d_x2-y2 and planar O p_sigma
orbitals. This band structure is part of a new theory for the cuprates that
explains a broad range of experiments and is based upon the formation of Cooper
pairs comprised of a k up spin electron from one band and a -k down spin
electron from another band (Interband Pairing Model).Comment: In Press, Journal of Physical Chemistry. See also
http://www.firstprinciples.com. Minor changes to references and figure
readabilit
Payout Policy in the 21st Century
We survey 384 CFOs and Treasurers, and conduct in-depth interviews with an additional two dozen, to determine the key factors that drive dividend and share repurchase policies. We find that managers are very reluctant to cut dividends, that dividends are smoothed through time, and that dividend increases are tied to long-run sustainable earnings but much less so than in the past. Rather than increasing dividends, many firms now use repurchases as an alternative. Paying out with repurchases is viewed by managers as being more flexible than using dividends, permitting a better opportunity to optimize investment. Managers like to repurchase shares when they feel their stock is undervalued and in an effort to affect EPS. Dividend increases and the level of share repurchases are generally paid out of residual cash flow, after investment and liquidity needs are met. Financial executives believe that retail investors have a strong preference for dividends, in spite of the tax disadvantage relative to repurchases. In contrast, executives believe that institutional investors as a class have no strong preference between dividends and repurchases. In general, management views provide at most moderate support for agency, signaling, and clientele hypotheses of payout policy. Tax considerations play only a secondary role. By highlighting where the theory and practice of corporate payout policy are consistent and where they are not, we attempt to shed new light on important unresolved issues related to payout policy in the 21st century.
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