Zurek-Kibble Mechanism for the Spontaneous Vortex Formation in Nb−Al/Alox/NbNb-Al/Al_{ox}/Nb Josephson Tunnel Junctions: New Theory and Experiment

New scaling behavior has been both predicted and observed in the spontaneous production of fluxons in quenched $Nb-Al/Al_{ox}/Nb$ annular Josephson tunnel junctions as a function of the quench time, $\tau_{Q}$. The probability $f_{1}$ to trap a single defect during the N-S phase transition clearly follows an allometric dependence on $\tau_{Q}$ with a scaling exponent $\sigma = 0.5$, as predicted from the Zurek-Kibble mechanism for {\it realistic} JTJs formed by strongly coupled superconductors. This definitive experiment replaces one reported by us earlier, in which an idealised model was used that predicted $\sigma = 0.25$, commensurate with the then much poorer data. Our experiment remains the only condensed matter experiment to date to have measured a scaling exponent with any reliability.Comment: Four pages, one figur

Synchrotron Radiation Induced X-Ray Microanalysis: A Realistic Alternative for Electron- and Ion-Beam Microscopy?

Synchrotron radiation induced X-ray micro fluorescence analysis (μ-SRXRF) is compared with more conventional microanalytical techniques such as secondary ion microscopy (SIMS) and electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPXMA) for two typical microanalytical applications. μ-SRXRF and EPXMA are employed for the analysis of individual particles, showing the complementary character of both techniques. By means of element mapping of trace constituents in a heterogeneous feldspar material, the strong and weak points of μ-SRXRF in comparison to EPXMA and SIMS are illustrated. The most striking difference between μ-SRXRF and the other two microanalytical methods is the ability of SRXRF to probe deep into the investigated material, whereas SIMS and EPXMA only investigate the upper surface of the material. The possibilities of μ-SRXRF using radiation from bending magnets of third generation synchrotron rings are briefly discussed. μ-SRXRF is considered to be a valuable method for the analysis of major, minor and trace elements which can be used profitably m parallel with electron-and ion-beam methods

More on Gribov copies and propagators in Landau-gauge Yang-Mills theory

Fixing a gauge in the non-perturbative domain of Yang-Mills theory is a non-trivial problem due to the presence of Gribov copies. In particular, there are different gauges in the non-perturbative regime which all correspond to the same definition of a gauge in the perturbative domain. Gauge-dependent correlation functions may differ in these gauges. Two such gauges are the minimal and absolute Landau gauge, both corresponding to the perturbative Landau gauge. These, and their numerical implementation, are described and presented in detail. Other choices will also be discussed. This investigation is performed, using numerical lattice gauge theory calculations, by comparing the propagators of gluons and ghosts for the minimal Landau gauge and the absolute Landau gauge in SU(2) Yang-Mills theory. It is found that the propagators are different in the far infrared and even at energy scales of the order of half a GeV. In particular, also the finite-volume effects are modified. This is observed in two and three dimensions. Some remarks on the four-dimensional case are provided as well.Comment: 23 pages, 16 figures, 6 tables; various changes throughout most of the paper; extended discussion on different possibilities to define the Landau gauge and connection to existing scenarios; in v3: Minor changes, error in eq. (3) & (4) corrected, version to appear in PR

New Experiments for Spontaneous Vortex Formation in Josephson Tunnel Junctions

It has been argued by Zurek and Kibble that the likelihood of producing defects in a continuous phase transition depends in a characteristic way on the quench rate. In this paper we discuss an improved experiment for measuring the Zurek-Kibble scaling exponent $\sigma$ for the production of fluxons in annular symmetric Josephson Tunnel Junctions. We find $\sigma \simeq 0.5$. Further, we report accurate measurements of the junction gap voltage temperature dependence which allow for precise monitoring of the fast temperature variations during the quench.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Zurek-Kibble domain structures: The Dynamics of Spontaneous Vortex formation in Annular Josephson Tunnel Junctions

Phase transitions executed in a finite time show a domain structure with defects, that has been argued by Zurek and Kibble to depend in a characteristic way on the quench rate. In this letter we present an experiment to measure the Zurek-Kibble scaling exponent sigma. Using symmetric and long Josephson Tunnel Junctions, for which the predicted index is sigma = 0.25, we find sigma = 0.27 +/- 0.05. Further, there is agreement with the ZK prediction for the overall normalisation.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev. Lett

Extremely Correlated Quantum Liquids

We formulate the theory of an extremely correlated electron liquid, generalizing the standard Fermi liquid. This quantum liquid has specific signatures in various physical properties, such as the Fermi surface volume and the narrowing of electronic bands by spin and density correlation functions. We use Schwinger's source field idea to generate equations for the Greens function for the Hubbard operators. A local (matrix) scale transformation in the time domain to a quasiparticle Greens function, is found to be optimal. This transformation allows us to generate vertex functions that are guaranteed to reduce to the bare values for high frequencies, i.e. are ``asymptotically free''. The quasiparticles are fractionally charged objects, and we find an exact Schwinger Dyson equation for their Greens function. We find a hierarchy of equations for the vertex functions, and further we obtain Ward identities so that systematic approximations are feasible. An expansion in terms of the density of holes measured from the Mott Hubbard insulating state follows from the nature of the theory. A systematic presentation of the formalism is followed by some preliminary explicit calculations.Comment: 40 pages, typos remove

Winding Number Correlation Functions and Cosmic String Formation

We develop winding number correlation functions that allow us to assess the role of field fluctuations on vortex formation in an Abelian gauge theory. We compute the behavior of these correlation functions in simple circumstances and show how fluctuations are important in the vicinity of the phase transition. We further show that, in our approximation, the emerging population of long/infinite string is produced by the classical dynamics of the fields alone, being essentially unaffected by field fluctuations.Comment: Latex file, 27 pages. 8 figures, available in compressed form by anonymous ftp from ftp://euclid.tp.ph.ic.ac.uk/papers/94-5_39.fig Latex and postscript versions also available at http://euclid.tp.ph.ic.ac.uk/Papers/index.htm

N-Terminal Pro–B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in the Emergency Department: The ICON-RELOADED Study

Background Contemporary reconsideration of diagnostic N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) cutoffs for diagnosis of heart failure (HF) is needed. Objectives This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of NT-proBNP for acute HF in patients with dyspnea in the emergency department (ED) setting. Methods Dyspneic patients presenting to 19 EDs in North America were enrolled and had blood drawn for subsequent NT-proBNP measurement. Primary endpoints were positive predictive values of age-stratified cutoffs (450, 900, and 1,800 pg/ml) for diagnosis of acute HF and negative predictive value of the rule-out cutoff to exclude acute HF. Secondary endpoints included sensitivity, specificity, and positive (+) and negative (−) likelihood ratios (LRs) for acute HF. Results Of 1,461 subjects, 277 (19%) were adjudicated as having acute HF. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for diagnosis of acute HF was 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90 to 0.93; p < 0.001). Sensitivity for age stratified cutoffs of 450, 900, and 1,800 pg/ml was 85.7%, 79.3%, and 75.9%, respectively; specificity was 93.9%, 84.0%, and 75.0%, respectively. Positive predictive values were 53.6%, 58.4%, and 62.0%, respectively. Overall LR+ across age-dependent cutoffs was 5.99 (95% CI: 5.05 to 6.93); individual LR+ for age-dependent cutoffs was 14.08, 4.95, and 3.03, respectively. The sensitivity and negative predictive value for the rule-out cutoff of 300 pg/ml were 93.9% and 98.0%, respectively; LR− was 0.09 (95% CI: 0.05 to 0.13). Conclusions In acutely dyspneic patients seen in the ED setting, age-stratified NT-proBNP cutpoints may aid in the diagnosis of acute HF. An NT-proBNP <300 pg/ml strongly excludes the presence of acute HF

Defect formation in superconducting rings: external fields and finite-size effects

Consistent with the predictions of Kibble and Zurek, scaling behaviour has been seen in the production of fluxoids during temperature quenches of superconducting rings. However, deviations from the canonical behaviour arise because of finite-size effects and stray external fields. Technical developments, including laser heating and the use of long Josephson tunnel junctions, have improved the quality of data that can be obtained. With new experiments in mind we perform large-scale 3D simulations of quenches of small, thin rings of various geometries with fully dynamical electromagnetic fields, at nonzero externally applied magnetic flux. We find that the outcomes are, in practice, indistinguishable from those of much simpler Gaussian analytical approximations in which the rings are treated as one-dimensional systems and the magnetic field fluctuation-free.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, presentation at QFS2012, to appear in JLT

“I h 8 u”: Findings from a five-year study of text and e-mail bullying

Copyright @ 2010 British Educational Research Association. The final version of this article is available at the link below.This study charts reports of nasty or threatening text and e-mail messages received by students in academic years 7 and 8 (11-13 years of age) attending 13 secondary schools in the North of England between 2002-2006. Annual surveys were undertaken on behalf of the local education authority (LEA) to monitor bullying. Results indicated that, over five years, the number of pupils receiving one or more nasty or threatening text messages or e-mails increased significantly, particularly among girls. However, receipt of frequent nasty or threatening text and e-mail messages remained relatively stable. For boys, being a victim of direct-physical bullying was associated with receiving nasty or threatening text and e-mail messages; for girls it was being unpopular among peers. Boys received more hate-related messages and girls were primarily the victims of name-calling, Findings are discussed with respect to theoretical and policy developments, and recommendations for future research are offered