36,413 research outputs found
SN 1997bs in M66: Another Extragalactic Eta Carinae Analog?
We report on SN 1997bs in NGC 3627 (M66), the first supernova discovered by
the Lick Observatory Supernova Search using the 0.75-m Katzman Automatic
Imaging Telescope (KAIT). Based on its early-time optical spectrum, SN 1997bs
was classified as Type IIn. However, from the BVRI light curves obtained by
KAIT early in the supernova's evolution, and F555W and F814W light curves
obtained from Hubble Space Telescope archival WFPC2 images at late times, we
question the identification of SN 1997bs as a bona fide supernova. We believe
that it is more likely a super-outburst of a very massive luminous blue
variable star, analogous to Eta Carinae, and similar to SN 1961V in NGC 1058
(Filippenko et al. 1995 [AJ, 110, 2261]) and SN 1954J (``Variable 12'') in NGC
2403 (Humphreys & Davidson 1994 [PASP, 106, 1025]). The progenitor may have
survived the outburst, since the SN is seen in early 1998 at m_F555W=23.4,
about 0.5 mag fainter than the progenitor identified by Van Dyk et al. (1999,
[AJ, 118, 2331]) in a pre-discovery image. Based on analysis of its environment
in the Hubble Space Telescope images, the progenitor was not in an H II region
or association of massive stars. The recent discovery of additional objects
with properties similar to those of SN 1997bs suggests that the heterogeneous
class of Type IIn supernovae consists in part of ``impostors.''Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, to appear in the PASP (2000 Dec issue
Strain Modulated Electronic Properties of Ge Nanowires - A First Principles Study
We used density-functional theory based first principles simulations to study
the effects of uniaxial strain and quantum confinement on the electronic
properties of germanium nanowires along the [110] direction, such as the energy
gap and the effective masses of the electron and hole. The diameters of the
nanowires being studied are up to 50 {\AA}. As shown in our calculations, the
Ge [110] nanowires possess a direct band gap, in contrast to the nature of an
indirect band gap in bulk. We discovered that the band gap and the effective
masses of charge carries can be modulated by applying uniaxial strain to the
nanowires. These strain modulations are size-dependent. For a smaller wire (~
12 {\AA}), the band gap is almost a linear function of strain; compressive
strain increases the gap while tensile strain reduces the gap. For a larger
wire (20 {\AA} - 50 {\AA}), the variation of the band gap with respect to
strain shows nearly parabolic behavior: compressive strain beyond -1% also
reduces the gap. In addition, our studies showed that strain affects effective
masses of the electron and hole very differently. The effective mass of the
hole increases with a tensile strain while the effective mass of the electron
increases with a compressive strain. Our results suggested both strain and size
can be used to tune the band structures of nanowires, which may help in design
of future nano-electronic devices. We also discussed our results by applying
the tight-binding model.Comment: 1 table, 8 figure
Random solids and random solidification: What can be learned by exploring systems obeying permanent random constraints?
In many interesting physical settings, such as the vulcanization of rubber,
the introduction of permanent random constraints between the constituents of a
homogeneous fluid can cause a phase transition to a random solid state. In this
random solid state, particles are permanently but randomly localized in space,
and a rigidity to shear deformations emerges. Owing to the permanence of the
random constraints, this phase transition is an equilibrium transition, which
confers on it a simplicity (at least relative to the conventional glass
transition) in the sense that it is amenable to established techniques of
equilibrium statistical mechanics. In this Paper I shall review recent
developments in the theory of random solidification for systems obeying
permanent random constraints, with the aim of bringing to the fore the
similarities and differences between such systems and those exhibiting the
conventional glass transition. I shall also report new results, obtained in
collaboration with Weiqun Peng, on equilibrium correlations and
susceptibilities that signal the approach of the random solidification
transition, discussing the physical interpretation and values of these
quantities both at the Gaussian level of approximation and, via a
renormalization-group approach, beyond.Comment: Paper presented at the "Unifying Concepts in Glass Physics" workshop,
International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy (September
15-18, 1999
Low-velocity anisotropic Dirac fermions on the side surface of topological insulators
We report anisotropic Dirac-cone surface bands on a side-surface geometry of
the topological insulator BiSe revealed by first-principles
density-functional calculations. We find that the electron velocity in the
side-surface Dirac cone is anisotropically reduced from that in the
(111)-surface Dirac cone, and the velocity is not in parallel with the wave
vector {\bf k} except for {\bf k} in high-symmetry directions. The size of the
electron spin depends on the direction of {\bf k} due to anisotropic variation
of the noncollinearity of the electron state. Low-energy effective Hamiltonian
is proposed for side-surface Dirac fermions, and its implications are presented
including refractive transport phenomena occurring at the edges of tological
insulators where different surfaces meet.Comment: 4 pages, 2 columns, 4 figure
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The Gender Gap in Household Bargaining Power: A Portfolio-Choice Approach
We quantify how bargaining power is distributed when spouses make financial decisions together. We build a model in which each spouse has a risk preference and must bargain with each other to make asset decisions for the household. By structurally estimating the model with longitudinal data from Australian households, we show that the average household’s asset allocation reflects the husband’s risk preference 44% more than the wife’s. This gap in bargaining power is partially explained by gender differences in income and employment status, but is also due to gender effects. We provide further evidence that links the distribution of bargaining power to views on gender norms in the cross-section
Graphitic-BN Based Metal-free Molecular Magnets From A First Principle Study
We perform a first principle calculation on the electronic properties of
carbon doped graphitic boron nitride graphitic BN. It was found that carbon
substitution for either boron or nitrogen atom in graphitic BN can induce
spontaneous magnetization. Calculations based on density functional theory with
the local spin density approximation on the electronic band structure revealed
a spin polarized, dispersionless band near the Fermi energy. Spin density
contours showed that the magnetization density originates from the carbon atom.
The magnetization can be attributed to the carbon 2p electron. Charge density
distribution shows that the carbon atom forms covalent bonds with its three
nearest neighbourhood. The spontaneous magnetization survives the curvature
effect in BN nanotubes, suggesting the possibility of molecular magnets made
from BN. Compared to other theoretical models of light-element or metal-free
magnetic materials, the carbon-doped BN are more experimentally accessible and
can be potentially useful.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Charge oscillation-induced light transmission through subwavelength slits and holes
We present a concrete picture of spoof surface plasmons (SSPs) combined with
cavity resonance to clarify the basic mechanism underlying extraordinary light
transmission through metal films with subwavelength slits or holes. This
picture may indicate a general mechanism of metallic nanostructure optics: When
light is incident on a non-planar conducting surface, the free electrons cannot
move homogeneously in response to the incident electric field, i.e., their
movement can be impeded at the rough parts, forming inhomogeneous charge
distributions. The oscillating charges/dipoles then emit photons (similar to
Thomson scattering of x rays by oscillating electrons), and the interference
between the photons may give rise to anomalous transmission, reflection or
scattering.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, are "surface plasmons" true for conducting
structures? Answere is here. Also see the new arXiv:0903.3565v1, the
expansion of this pape
Ferromagnetism in 2p Light Element-Doped II-oxide and III-nitride Semiconductors
II-oxide and III-nitride semiconductors doped by nonmagnetic 2p light
elements are investigated as potential dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMS).
Based on our first-principle calculations, nitrogen doped ZnO, carbon doped
ZnO, and carbon doped AlN are predicted to be ferromagnetic. The ferromagnetism
of such DMS materials can be attributed to a p-d exchange-like p-p coupling
interaction which is derived from the similar symmetry and wave function
between the impurity (p-like t_2) and valence (p) states. We also propose a
co-doping mechanism, using beryllium and nitrogen as dopants in ZnO, to enhance
the ferromagnetic coupling and to increase the solubility and activity
Formation and kinetics of transient metastable states in mixtures under coupled phase ordering and chemical demixing
We present theory and simulation of simultaneous chemical demixing and phase
ordering in a polymer-liquid crystal mixture in conditions where isotropic-
isotropic phase separation is metastable with respect to isotropic-nematic
phase transition. It is found that mesophase formation proceeds by a transient
metastable phase that surround the ordered phase, and whose lifetime is a
function of the ratio of diffusional to orientational mobilities. It is shown
that kinetic phase ordering in polymer-mesogen mixtures is analogous to kinetic
crystallization in polymer solutions.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures accepted for publication in EP
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