8,214 research outputs found
Fermionic functional renormalization group for first-order phase transitions: a mean-field model
First-order phase transitions in many-fermion systems are not detected in the
susceptibility analysis of common renormalization-group (RG) approaches. Here
we introduce a counterterm technique within the functional
renormalization-group (fRG) formalism which allows access to all stable and
metastable configurations. It becomes possible to study symmetry-broken states
which occur through first-order transitions as well as hysteresis phenomena.
For continuous transitions, the standard results are reproduced. As an example,
we study discrete-symmetry breaking in a mean-field model for a commensurate
charge-density wave. An additional benefit of the approach is that away from
the critical temperature for the breaking of discrete symmetries large
interactions can be avoided at all RG scales.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures. v2 corrects typos, adds references and a
discussion of the literatur
Magnetic properties of antiferromagnetically coupled CoFeB/Ru/CoFeB
This work reports on the thermal stability of two amorphous CoFeB layers
coupled antiferromagnetically via a thin Ru interlayer. The saturation field of
the artificial ferrimagnet which is determined by the coupling, J, is almost
independent on the annealing temperature up to more than 300 degree C. An
annealing at more than 325 degree C significantly increases the coercivity, Hc,
indicating the onset of crystallization.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Low frequency noise due to magnetic inhomogeneities in submicron FeCoB/MgO/FeCoB magnetic tunnel junctions
We report on room temperature low frequency noise due to magnetic
inhomogeneities/domain walls (MI/DWs) in elliptic submicron FeCoB/MgO/FeCoB
magnetic tunnel junctions with an area between 0.0245 and 0.0675{\mu}m2. In the
smaller area junctions we found an unexpected random telegraph noise (RTN1),
deeply in the parallel state, possibly due to stray field induced MI/DWs in the
hard layer. The second noise source (RTN2) is observed in the antiparallel
state for the largest junctions. Strong asymmetry of RTN2 and of related
resistance steps with current indicate spin torque acting on the MI/DWs in the
soft layer at current densities below 5x10^5 A/cm2.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure
Influence of chemical and magnetic interface properties of Co-Fe-B / MgO / Co-Fe-B tunnel junctions on the annealing temperature dependence of the magnetoresistance
The knowledge of chemical and magnetic conditions at the Co40Fe40B20 / MgO
interface is important to interpret the strong annealing temperature dependence
of tunnel magnetoresistance of Co-Fe-B / MgO / Co-Fe-B magnetic tunnel
junctions, which increases with annealing temperature from 20% after annealing
at 200C up to a maximum value of 112% after annealing at 350C. While the well
defined nearest neighbor ordering indicating crystallinity of the MgO barrier
does not change by the annealing, a small amount of interfacial Fe-O at the
lower Co-Fe-B / MgO interface is found in the as grown samples, which is
completely reduced after annealing at 275C. This is accompanied by a
simultaneous increase of the Fe magnetic moment and the tunnel
magnetoresistance. However, the TMR of the MgO based junctions increases
further for higher annealing temperature which can not be caused by Fe-O
reduction. The occurrence of an x-ray absorption near-edge structure above the
Fe and Co L-edges after annealing at 350C indicates the recrystallization of
the Co-Fe-B electrode. This is prerequisite for coherent tunneling and has been
suggested to be responsible for the further increase of the TMR above 275C.
Simultaneously, the B concentration in the Co-Fe-B decreases with increasing
annealing temperature, at least some of the B diffuses towards or into the MgO
barrier and forms a B2O3 oxide
Antiferromagnetically coupled CoFeB/Ru/CoFeB trilayers
This work reports on the magnetic interlayer coupling between two amorphous
CoFeB layers, separated by a thin Ru spacer. We observe an antiferromagnetic
coupling which oscillates as a function of the Ru thickness x, with the second
antiferromagnetic maximum found for x=1.0 to 1.1 nm. We have studied the
switching of a CoFeB/Ru/CoFeB trilayer for a Ru thickness of 1.1 nm and found
that the coercivity depends on the net magnetic moment, i.e. the thickness
difference of the two CoFeB layers. The antiferromagnetic coupling is almost
independent on the annealing temperatures up to 300 degree C while an annealing
at 350 degree C reduces the coupling and increases the coercivity, indicating
the onset of crystallization. Used as a soft electrode in a magnetic tunnel
junction, a high tunneling magnetoresistance of about 50%, a well defined
plateau and a rectangular switching behavior is achieved.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure
Slice Energy in Higher Order Gravity Theories and Conformal Transformations
We study the generic transport of slice energy between the scalar field
generated by the conformal transformation of higher-order gravity theories and
the matter component. We give precise relations for this exchange in the cases
of dust and perfect fluids. We show that, unless we are in a stationary
spacetime where slice energy is always conserved, in non-stationary situations
contributions to the total slice energy depend on whether or not test matter
follows geodesics in both frame representations of the dynamics, that is on
whether or not the two conformally related frames are physically
indistinguishable.Comment: 18 pages, references added, remark added in last Section related to
the choice of physical frame, various other improvements, final version to
appear in Gravitation and Cosmolog
Electronic and magnetic structure of epitaxial NiO/FeO(001) heterostructures grown on MgO(001) and Nb-doped SrTiO(001)
We study the underlying chemical, electronic and magnetic properties of a
number of magnetite based thin films. The main focus is placed onto
NiO/FeO(001) bilayers grown on MgO(001) and Nb-SrTiO(001)
substrates. We compare the results with those obtained on pure FeO(001)
thin films. It is found that the magnetite layers are oxidized and Fe
dominates at the surfaces due to maghemite (-FeO) formation,
which decreases with increasing magnetite layer thickness. From a layer
thickness of around 20 nm on the cationic distribution is close to that of
stoichiometric FeO. At the interface between NiO and FeO we
find the Ni to be in a divalent valence state, with unambiguous spectral
features in the Ni 2p core level x-ray photoelectron spectra typical for NiO.
The formation of a significant NiFeO interlayer can be excluded by
means of XMCD. Magneto optical Kerr effect measurements reveal significant
higher coercive fields compared to magnetite thin films grown on MgO(001), and
a 45 rotated magnetic easy axis. We discuss the spin magnetic moments
of the magnetite layers and find that the moment increases with increasing thin
film thickness. At low thickness the NiO/FeO films grown on
Nb-SrTiO exhibits a significantly decreased spin magnetic moments. A
thickness of 20 nm or above leads to spin magnetic moments close to that of
bulk magnetite
Can an evolutionary perspective shed light on maternal abuse of children?
Although the theory of evolution lies at the heart of contemporary biology, its influence on the study of child psychology and psychiatry has been limited. In earlier work we have argued that evolutionary thinking has much of value for clinicians. Here, we explore the possible significance of evolutionary theory for understanding child abuse by mothers, particularly neglect, emotional abuse and physical abuse. We draw on the research of anthropologists, primatologists and evolutionary theorists to make predictions about the environmental circumstances under which one would expect such abuse to be more prevalent. We discuss how in modern, Western cultures there is less understanding of the circumstances that may influence, even predispose, a mother to limit her emotional and material commitment to an infant or child. We use four short vignettes of clinical cases and one longer case description to illustrate the insights offered to clinicians by an evolutionary approach. We see our work both as contributing to greater understanding of these matters and as facilitating more compassionate models of care and intervention for women in such circumstances
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