Exciton Mott transition in Si Revealed by Terahertz Spectroscopy

Exciton Mott transition in Si is investigated by using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The excitonic correlation as manifested by the 1s-2p resonance is observed above the Mott density. The scattering rate of charge carriers is prominently enhanced at the proximity of Mott density, which is attributed to the non-vanishing exciton correlation in the metallic electron-hole plasma. Concomitantly, the signature of plasmon-exciton coupling is observed in the loss function spectra.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Electromagnons in the multiferroic state of perovskite manganites with symmetric-exchange striction

We have investigated electrically-active magnetic excitations (electromagnons) in perovskite manganites with the $E$-type (up-up-down-down) spin structure by terahertz spectroscopy. Eu$_{1-x}$Y$_x$MnO$_3$ (0.1$\le x\le$1) and Y$_{1-y}$Lu$_y$MnO$_3$ (0$\le y\le$1) without magnetic $f$-moments, which host collinear sinusoidal, $A$-type, cycloidal, and $E$-type spin orders, are used to examine the systematics of possible electromagnons. Three-peak structures (23, 35, 45 cm$^{-1}$) of magnetic origin show up in the $E$-type phase with little composition ($y$) dependence of frequencies, making a contrast with the electromagnons observed in the cycloidal-spin ($x\le0.8$) phases. One of these electromagnon is ascribed to the zone-edge magnon mode based on the calculated magnon dispersions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Optical Hall Effect in the Integer Quantum Hall Regime

Optical Hall conductivity $\sigma_{xy}(\omega)$ is measured from the Faraday rotation for a GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction quantum Hall system in the terahertz frequency regime. The Faraday rotation angle ($\sim$ fine structure constant $\sim$ mrad) is found to significantly deviate from the Drude-like behavior to exhibit a plateau-like structure around the Landau-level filling $\nu=2$. The result, which fits with the behavior expected from the carrier localization effect in the ac regime, indicates that the plateau structure, although not quantized, still exists in the terahertz regime.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Electromagnons in the multiferroic state of perovskite manganites with symmetric-exchange striction

We have investigated electrically-active magnetic excitations (electromagnons) in perovskite manganites with the $E$-type (up-up-down-down) spin structure by terahertz spectroscopy. Eu$_{1-x}$Y$_x$MnO$_3$ (0.1$\le x\le$1) and Y$_{1-y}$Lu$_y$MnO$_3$ (0$\le y\le$1) without magnetic $f$-moments, which host collinear sinusoidal, $A$-type, cycloidal, and $E$-type spin orders, are used to examine the systematics of possible electromagnons. Three-peak structures (23, 35, 45 cm$^{-1}$) of magnetic origin show up in the $E$-type phase with little composition ($y$) dependence of frequencies, making a contrast with the electromagnons observed in the cycloidal-spin ($x\le0.8$) phases. One of these electromagnon is ascribed to the zone-edge magnon mode based on the calculated magnon dispersions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Similarity and contrasts between thermodynamic properties at the critical point of liquid alkali metals and of electron-hole droplets

The recent experimental study by means of time-resolved luminescence measurements of an electron-hole liquid (EHL) in diamond by Shimano et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 (2002) 057404] prompts us to compare and contrast critical temperature T_c and critical density n_c relations in liquid alkali metals with those in electron-hole liquids. The conclusion drawn is that these systems have similarities with regard to critical properties. In both cases the critical temperature is related to the cube root of the critical density. The existence of this relation is traced to Coulomb interactions and to systematic trends in the dielectric constant of the electron-hole systems. Finally a brief comparison between the alkalis and EHLs of the critical values for the compressibility ratio Z_c is also given

Effects of high-impact exercise on the physical properties of bones of ovariectomized rats fed to a high-protein diet

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of high-impact physical exercise as a prophylactic and therapeutic means in osteopenic bones of rats submitted to ovariectomy and protein diet intake. A total of 64 Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (n=8 each), being: OVX, ovx, standard diet and sedentary; OVXE, ovx, standard diet and jump; OVXP, ovx, high-protein diet and sedentary; and OVXEP, ovx, high-protein diet and jump; SH, sham, standard diet and sedentary; SHE, sham, standard diet and jump; SHP, sham, high-protein diet and sedentary; and SHEP, sham, high-protein diet and jump. OVX surgery consists of ovariectomy, and sham was the control surgery. The jumping protocol consisted of 20 jumps/day, 5days/week. The bone structure was evaluated by densitometry, mechanical tests, histomorphometric, and immunohistochemical analyses. A high-protein diet resulted in increased bone mineral density (P=.049), but decreased maximal load (P=.026) and bone volume fraction (P=.023). The benefits of physical exercise were demonstrated by higher values of the maximal load in the trained groups compared to the sedentary groups (P<.001). The sham groups had decreased immunostaining of osteocalcin (P=.004) and osteopontin (P=.010) compared to ovx groups. However, the high-protein diet (P=.005) and jump exercise (P=.017) resulted in lower immunostaining of osteopontin compared to the standard diet and sedentary groups, respectively. In this experimental model, it was concluded that ovariectomy and a high-fat diet can negatively affect bone tissue and the high-impact exercise was not enough to suppress the deleterious effects caused by the protein diet and ovariectomy