41 research outputs found
Two-step stabilization of orbital order and the dynamical frustration of spin in the model charge-transfer insulator KCuF3
We report a combined experimental and theoretical study of KCuF3, which
offers - because of this material's relatively simple lattice structure and
valence configuration (d9, i.e., one hole in the d-shell) - a particularly
clear view of the essential role of the orbital degree of freedom in governing
the dynamical coupling between the spin and lattice degrees of freedom. We
present Raman and x-ray scattering evidence that the phase behaviour of KCuF3
is dominated above the Neel temperature (T_N = 40 K) by coupled orbital/lattice
fluctuations that are likely associated with rotations of the CuF6 octahedra,
and we show that these orbital fluctuations are interrupted by a static
structural distortion that occurs just above T_N. A detailed model of the
orbital and magnetic phases of KCuF3 reveals that these orbital fluctuations -
and the related frustration of in-plane spin-order-are associated with the
presence of nearly degenerate low-energy spin-orbital states that are highly
susceptible to thermal fluctuations over a wide range of temperatures. A
striking implication of these results is that the ground state of KCuF3 at
ambient pressure lies near a quantum critical point associated with an
orbital/spin liquid phase that is obscured by emergent Neel ordering of the
spins; this exotic liquid phase might be accessible via pressure studies.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure
Wearable high-performance pressure sensors based on three-dimensional electrospun conductive nanofibers
Polymer-based pressure sensors play a key role in realizing lightweight and inexpensive wearable devices for healthcare and environmental monitoring systems. Here, conductive core/shell polymer nanofibers composed of poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (PVDF-HFP)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) are fabricated using three-dimensional (3D) electrospinning and vapor deposition polymerization methods, and the resulting sponge-like 3D membranes are used to create piezoresistive-type pressure sensors. Interestingly, the PEDOT shell consists of well-dispersed spherical bumps, leading to the formation of a hierarchical conductive surface that enhances the sensitivity to external pressure. The sponge-like 3D mats exhibit a much higher pressure sensitivity than the conventional electrospun 2D mats due to their enhanced porosity and pressure-tunable contact area. Furthermore, large-area, wireless, 16 x 10 multiarray pressure sensors for the spatiotemporal mapping of multiple pressure points and wearable bands for monitoring blood pressure have been fabricated from these 3D mats. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the fabrication of electrospun 3D membranes with nanoscopically engineered fibers that can detect changes in external pressure with high sensitivity. The developed method opens a new route to the mass production of polymer-based pressure sensors with high mechanical durability, which creates additional possibilities for the development of human-machine interfaces.11Ysciescopu
Augmenting virtual spaces: affective feedback in computer games
Computer games can be considered a form of art insomuch as they are critiqued, revered and collected for their aesthetics in addition to their ludic qualities. Perhaps most significantly, computer games incite a plethora of emotional responses in their players as a deliberate and defining mechanism. However, unlike other forms of traditional media and art, another key feature of games is their intrinsic interactivity, reliance upon technology and non-linearity. These traits make them particularly noteworthy if one wishes to consider how art forms might respond and adapt to their audience’s emotions. The field of affective computing has been developing for several decades and many of its applications have been in the analysis and modelling of emotional responses to forms of media, such as music and film. In gaming, recent developments have led to an increasing number of consumer-grade biofeedback devices which are available on the market, some of which are explicitly sold as ‘gaming controllers’, giving rise to greater opportunity for affective feedback to be incorporated. In this chapter, a review is provided of the affective gaming field. Specifically, it is proposed that these developments give rise to interesting opportunities whereby virtual environments can be augmented with player affective and contextual information. An overview is provided of affective computing fundamentals and their manifestation in developments relating specifically to games. The chapter considers the impact this biometric information has upon games players, in terms of their experience of the game and the social connections between competitors. A number of associated practical and technological challenges are highlighted along with areas for future research and development activities. It is hoped that by exploring these developments in gaming that the longer established forms of art and media might be inspired to further embrace the possibilities offered by utilising affective feedback
The Hubbard model within the equations of motion approach
The Hubbard model has a special role in Condensed Matter Theory as it is
considered as the simplest Hamiltonian model one can write in order to describe
anomalous physical properties of some class of real materials. Unfortunately,
this model is not exactly solved except for some limits and therefore one
should resort to analytical methods, like the Equations of Motion Approach, or
to numerical techniques in order to attain a description of its relevant
features in the whole range of physical parameters (interaction, filling and
temperature). In this manuscript, the Composite Operator Method, which exploits
the above mentioned analytical technique, is presented and systematically
applied in order to get information about the behavior of all relevant
properties of the model (local, thermodynamic, single- and two- particle ones)
in comparison with many other analytical techniques, the above cited known
limits and numerical simulations. Within this approach, the Hubbard model is
shown to be also capable to describe some anomalous behaviors of the cuprate
superconductors.Comment: 232 pages, more than 300 figures, more than 500 reference
A workflow analysis for implementing AR-based maintenance procedures
The widespread adoption of mobile devices is giving everyone access to augmented reality systems, possibly involving a huge number of people in AR-based apps, with a pervasive social impact that cannot be neglected. AR systems are becoming affordable to everyone and especially useful in the maintenance field. This report aims to describe in a clear and accessible way the workflow to design and develop an augmented reality (AR) application for supporting maintenance procedures. The main focus of this paper is the evaluation of markerless tracking systems, as they could provide environment-independent solutions. The tests performed on a real use case outline the robustness of 3D CAD tracking with respect to other solution
The Interrelation Between Magnetism and Superconductivity in RNi2B2C: The Mössbauer Effect
Combining Alternatives in the Multimedia Presentation of Decision Support Information for Real-Time Control
Multimedia technology is emerging as a key element in the area of Decision Support Systems (DSS) since well-designed multimedia presentations help the human decision maker to assimilate relevant information more easily. The use of multiple media, however, increases the complexity of the presentation design task. Especially when complex information structures have to be presented under time pressure `ad hoc ' solutions to presentation generation are getting more and more impractical, if not impossible to use. In this paper we report on our approach to enhance a DSS for real-time traffic management with an advanced component for the automated generation of multimedia presentations. A common problem in this application class is the presentation of alternatives such as different explanations or predictions for a current traffic situation, or different sequences of control actions which may be initiated to resolve a problem. We describe a novel approach to provide aggregated information presentations rather than presenting alternatives just one after the other