943 research outputs found
Modification of the Bloch law in ferromagnetic nanostructures
The temperature dependence of magnetization in ferromagnetic nanostructures
(e.g., nanoparticles or nanoclusters) is usually analyzed by means of an
empirical extension of the Bloch law sufficiently flexible for a good fitting
to the observed data and indicates a strong softening of magnetic coupling
compared to the bulk material. We analytically derive a microscopic
generalization of the Bloch law for the Heisenberg spin model which takes into
account the effects of size, shape and various surface boundary conditions. The
result establishes explicit connection to the microscopic parameters and
differs significantly from the existing description. In particular, we show
with a specific example that the latter may be misleading and grossly
overestimates magnetic softening in nanoparticles. It becomes clear why the
usual dependence appears to be valid in some nanostructures, while
large deviations are a general rule. We demonstrate that combination of
geometrical characteristics and coupling to environment can be used to
efficiently control magnetization and, in particular, to reach a magnetization
higher than in the bulk material.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Revisiting the luminosity function of single halo white dwarfs
White dwarfs are the fossils left by the evolution of low-and
intermediate-mass stars, and have very long evolutionary timescales. This
allows us to use them to explore the properties of old populations, like the
Galactic halo. We present a population synthesis study of the luminosity
function of halo white dwarfs, aimed at investigating which information can be
derived from the currently available observed data. We employ an up-to-date
population synthesis code based on Monte Carlo techniques, that incorporates
the most recent and reliable cooling sequences for metal poor progenitors as
well as an accurate modeling of the observational biases. We find that because
the observed sample of halo white dwarfs is restricted to the brightest stars
only the hot branch of the white dwarf luminosity function can be used for such
purposes, and that its shape function is almost insensitive to the most
relevant inputs, like the adopted cooling sequences, the initial mass function,
the density profile of the stellar spheroid, or the adopted fraction of
unresolved binaries. Moreover, since the cut-off of the observed luminosity has
not been yet determined only lower limits to the age of the halo population can
be placed. We conclude that the current observed sample of the halo white dwarf
population is still too small to obtain definite conclusions about the
properties of the stellar halo, and the recently computed white dwarf cooling
sequences which incorporate residual hydrogen burning should be assessed using
metal-poor globular clusters.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Anomalous bond stretching phonons as a probe of charge fluctuations in perovskites
Important information on momentum resolved low energy charge response can be
extracted from anomalous properties of bond stretching in plane phonons
observed in inelastic neutron and X-ray scattering in cuprates and some other
perovskites. We discuss a semiphenomenological model based on coupling of
phonons to a single charge mode. The phonon dispersion and linewidth allow to
locate the energy of the charge excitation in the mid infrared part of the
spectrum and to determine some of its characteristics. New experiments on
oxygen isotope substitution could allow to achieve a more detailed description.
Corresponding relations following from the model can be used for the
interpretation of experiments and as test of the model.Comment: presented at the M2S-HTSC-VIII conference in Dresde
A simulation study on the effect of sodium on grain boundary passivation in CIGS thin-film solar cells
3D numerical simulations of CIGS thin-film solar cells with different grain-boundary (GB) characteristics have been carried out in order to investigate the effect of defect properties and band edge shifts at GBs on the cell performance. Simulation results are compared with experimental data taken on cells with and without NaF post deposition treatment. GBs with different energy gaps and defect properties have been analyzed. Simulations support the idea that the detrimental effect of defective GBs on the cell performance might be reduced by a treatment with Na. The results of this study can help with the interpretation of experimental findings
Kuwait: Fostering Sustainable Investment through Modern Commercial Law Systems
The Government of Kuwait (GOK) is now moving decisively to reform its insolvency and creditor/debtor regime (ICR). Stakeholders recognize that Kuwait's ICR system had fallen behind that required for a modern economy. The GOK's effort to establish a modern insolvency and creditor rights system is driven by several considerations: first, consistent with its traditional strengths, Kuwait is seeking to transform itself into a regional financial and trading center, as expressed in the Amiri vision 2030 and the GOK's most-recent five-year development plan. Second, many of the difficulties afflicting the country's investment company sector, which started surfacing in 2008, still await fundamental resolution. Third, development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is essential to help the GOK meet its goals of diversifying the sources of income and encouraging young people to work in the private sector, in order to reduce the burden of the public sector. The GOK's reform agenda aspires to world-class standards, balancing international norms with solutions rooted in Kuwait's unique local customs. The consensus among stakeholders is that an effective insolvency regime would benefit the Kuwait economy
Field Localization and Enhancement of Phase Locked Second and Third Harmonic Generation in Absorbing Semiconductor Cavities
We predict and experimentally observe the enhancement by three orders of
magnitude of phase mismatched second and third harmonic generation in a GaAs
cavity at 650nm and 433nm, respectively, well above the absorption edge. Phase
locking between the pump and the harmonics changes the effective dispersion of
the medium and inhibits absorption. Despite hostile conditions the harmonics
become localized inside the cavity leading to relatively large conversion
efficiencies. Field localization plays a pivotal role and ushers in a new class
of semiconductor-based devices in the visible and UV ranges
Green's function of a finite chain and the discrete Fourier transform
A new expression for the Green's function of a finite one-dimensional lattice
with nearest neighbor interaction is derived via discrete Fourier transform.
Solution of the Heisenberg spin chain with periodic and open boundary
conditions is considered as an example. Comparison to Bethe ansatz clarifies
the relation between the two approaches.Comment: preprint of the paper published in Int. J. Modern Physics B Vol. 20,
No. 5 (2006) 593-60
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