139 research outputs found
Model independent tests of the Kerr bound with extreme mass ratio inspirals
An outstanding prediction of general relativity is the fact that the angular momentum S of an isolated black hole with mass μ is limited by the Kerr bound, S≤Gμ2/c. Testing this cornerstone is challenging due to the difficulty in modeling spinning compact objects that violate this bound. We argue that precise, model-independent tests can be achieved by measuring gravitational waves from an extreme mass ratio inspiral around a supermassive object, one of the main targets of the future LISA mission. In the extreme mass ratio limit, the dynamics of the small compact object depends only on its multipole moments, which are free parameters. At variance with the comparable-mass case, accurate waveforms are valid also when the spin of the small object greatly exceeds the Kerr bound. By computing the orbital dephasing and the gravitational-wave signal emitted by a spinning point particle in circular, nonprecessing, equatorial motion around a Kerr black hole, we estimate that LISA will be able to measure the spin of the small compact object at the level of 10%. Together with mass measurements, this will allow for theory-agnostic, unprecedented constraints on string-theory inspired objects such as “superspinars”, almost in their entire parameter space
One-Dimensional Dispersive Magnon Excitation in the Frustrated Spin-2 Chain System Ca3Co2O6
Using inelastic neutron scattering, we have observed a quasi-one-dimensional
dispersive magnetic excitation in the frustrated triangular-lattice spin-2
chain oxide Ca3Co2O6. At the lowest temperature (T = 1.5 K), this magnon is
characterized by a large zone-center spin gap of ~27 meV, which we attribute to
the large single-ion anisotropy, and disperses along the chain direction with a
bandwidth of ~3.5 meV. In the directions orthogonal to the chains, no
measurable dispersion was found. With increasing temperature, the magnon
dispersion shifts towards lower energies, yet persists up to at least 150 K,
indicating that the ferromagnetic intrachain correlations survive up to 6 times
higher temperatures than the long-range interchain antiferromagnetic order. The
magnon dispersion can be well described within the predictions of linear
spin-wave theory for a system of weakly coupled ferromagnetic chains with large
single-ion anisotropy, enabling the direct quantitative determination of the
magnetic exchange and anisotropy parameters.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures including one animatio
Spin pseudogap in Ni-doped SrCuO2
The S=1/2 spin chain material SrCuO2 doped with 1% S=1 Ni-impurities is
studied by inelastic neutron scattering. At low temperatures, the spectrum
shows a pseudogap \Delta ~ 8 meV, absent in the parent compound, and not
related to any structural phase transition. The pseudogap is shown to be a
generic feature of quantum spin chains with dilute defects. A simple model
based on this idea quantitatively accounts for the exprimental data measured in
the temperature range 2-300 K, and allows to represent the momentum-integrated
dynamic structure factor in a universal scaling form.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Magnon diffusion lengths in bulk and thin film Fe3O4 for spin Seebeck applications
The magnon diffusion length (MDL) is understood to play a major role in the thickness dependence of spin Seebeck effect (SSE) voltages in Fe3O4/Pt thin films. Here we extract the MDL in an Fe3O4 single crystal using inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and in Fe3O4/Pt thin films using accurate heat flux SSE and static magnetization measurements. The INS MDLs were 34 ± 8 nm at 300 K and 27 ± 6 nm at 50 K. The SSE MDLs decreased with temperature (19 ± 2 nm at 300 K and 13 ± 4 nm at 50 K), but were markedly smaller. Whilst the bulk MDL is expected to be an upper limit of the MDL in thin films, we show that the film magnetization must be considered to obtain MDLs from SSE measurements. This study highlights the importance of disentangling the role of various effects in SSE measurements which is crucial in increasing the efficiencies of thermomagnetic energy harvesting devices
Phonon distributions of a single bath mode coupled to a quantum dot
The properties of an unconventional, single mode phonon bath coupled to a
quantum dot, are investigated within the rotating wave approximation. The
electron current through the dot induces an out of equilibrium bath, with a
phonon distribution qualitatively different from the thermal one. In selected
transport regimes, such a distribution is characterized by a peculiar selective
population of few phonon modes and can exhibit a sub-Poissonian behavior. It is
shown that such a sub-Poissonian behavior is favored by a double occupancy of
the dot. The crossover from a unequilibrated to a conventional thermal bath is
explored, and the limitations of the rotating wave approximation are discussed.Comment: 21 Pages, 7 figures, to appear in New Journal of Physics - Focus on
Quantum Dissipation in Unconventional Environment
Similar zone-center gaps in the low-energy spin-wave spectra of NaFeAs and BaFe2As2
We report results of inelastic-neutron-scattering measurements of low-energy
spin-wave excitations in two structurally distinct families of iron-pnictide
parent compounds: Na(1-{\delta})FeAs and BaFe2As2. Despite their very different
values of the ordered magnetic moment and N\'eel temperatures, T_N, in the
antiferromagnetic state both compounds exhibit similar spin gaps of the order
of 10 meV at the magnetic Brillouin-zone center. The gap opens sharply below
T_N, with no signatures of a precursor gap at temperatures between the
orthorhombic and magnetic phase transitions in Na(1-{\delta})FeAs. We also find
a relatively weak dispersion of the spin-wave gap in BaFe2As2 along the
out-of-plane momentum component, q_z. At the magnetic zone boundary (q_z = 0),
spin excitations in the ordered state persist down to 20 meV, which implies a
much smaller value of the effective out-of-plane exchange interaction, J_c, as
compared to previous estimates based on fitting the high-energy spin-wave
dispersion to a Heisenberg-type model.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl
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