Iterative Perturbation Theory for Strongly Correlated Electron Systems with Orbital Degeneracy

A new scheme of the iterative perturbation theory is proposed for the strongly correlated electron systems with orbital degeneracy. The method is based on the modified self-energy of Yeyati, et al. which interpolates between the weak and the strong correlation limits, but a much simpler scheme is proposed which is useful in the case of the strong correlation with orbital degeneracy. It will be also useful in the study of the electronic structures combined with the band calculations.Comment: 6 pages, 3 Postscript figures, to appear in J. Phys. Cond. Matte

Lanthanide(III) complexes are more active inhibitors of the Fenton reaction than pure ligands

OBJECTIVES: This study is an extension to our finding of direct anti-oxidant activities of lanthanide(III) complexes with the heterocyclic compound, 5-aminoorotic acid (AOA). In this experiment, we used AOA and coumarin-3-carboxylic acid as the two heterocyclic compounds with anti-oxidant potential, to produce the complexes with different lanthanides. METHODS: Lanthanide(III) complexes were tested on the iron-driven Fenton reaction. The product of this reaction, the hydroxyl radical, was detected by HPLC. RESULTS: All complexes as well as their ligands had positive or neutral effect on the Fenton reaction but their behavior was different. Both pure ligands in low concentration ratio to iron were inefficient in contrast to some of their complexes. Complexes of neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, and partly of cerium blocked the Fenton reaction at very low ratios (in relation to iron) but the effect disappeared at higher ratios. In contrast, lanthanum complexes appeared to be the most promising. Both blocked the Fenton reaction in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Lanthanide(III) complexes were proven to block the iron-driven production of the hydroxyl radical. Second, the lanthanide(III) element appears to be crucial for the anti-oxidant effect. Overall, lanthanum complexes may be promising direct anti-oxidants for future testing

Theory for Magnetic Anisotropy of Field-Induced Insulator-to-Metal Transition in Cubic Kondo Insulator YbB_{12}

Magnetization and energy gap of Kondo insulator YbB_{12} are calculated theoretically based on the previously proposed tight-binding model composed of Yb 5d$\epsilon$ and 4f $\Gamma_8$ orbitals. It is found that magnetization curves are almost isotropic, naturally expected from the cubic symmetry, but that the gap-closing field has an anisotropy: the gap closes faster for the field in (100) direction than in (110) and (111) directions, in accord with the experiments. This is qualitatively understood by considering the maximal eigenvalues of the total angular momentum operators projected on each direction of the magnetic field. But the numerical calculation based on the band model yields better agreement with the experiment.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Calculation of Optical Conductivity of YbB12_{12} using Realistic Tight-Binding Model

Based on the previously reported tight-binding model fitted to the LDA+U band calculation, optical conductivity of the prototypical Kondo insulator YbB$_{12}$ is calculated theoretically. Many-body effects are taken into account by the self-consistent second order perturbation theory. The gross shape of the optical conductivity observed in experiments are well described by the present calculation, including their temperature-dependences.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, use jpsj2.cls, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. Vol.73, No.10 (2004

Optical conductivity of filled skutterudites

A simple tight-binding model is constructed for the description of the electronic structure of some Ce-based filled skutterudite compounds showing an energy gap or pseudogap behavior. Assuming band-diagonal electron interactions on this tight-binding model, the optical conductivity spectrum is calculated by applying the second-order self-consistent perturbation theory to treat the electron correlation. The correlation effect is found to be of great importance on the description of the temperature dependence of the optical conductivity. The rapid disappearance of an optical gap with increasing temperature is obtained as observed in the optical experiment for Ce-based filled-skutterudite compounds.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, use jpsj2.cls, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. Vol.73, No.10 (2004

Kondo Effect in Fermi Systems with a Gap: A Renormalization Group Study

We present the results of a Wilson Renormalization Group study of the single-impurity Kondo and Anderson models in a system with a gap in the conduction electron spectrum. The behavior of the impurity susceptibility and the zero-frequency response function, $T>$ are discussed in the cases with and without particle-hole symmetry. In addition, for the asymmetric Anderson model the correlation functions, $<\vec S \cdot\vec \sigma (0)>$,$$, and$$ are computed.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Accelerated wound healing phenotype in Interleukin 12/23 deficient mice

Background: The concept that a strong inflammatory response involving the full complement of cytokines and other mediators is critical for unimpaired healing has been challenged by wound healing studies using transgenic and knockout (KO) mice. The present study explored the effect of abrogation of the p40 subunit, which is shared by the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, on wound closure of excisional oral mucosal wounds

Indirect and direct energy gaps in the Kondo semiconductor YbB12

Optical conductivity [$\sigma(\omega)$] of the Kondo semiconductor YbB$_{12}$ has been measured over wide ranges of temperature ($T$=8$-$690 K) and photon energy ($\hbar \omega \geq$ 1.3 meV). The $\sigma(\omega)$ data reveal the entire crossover of YbB$_{12}$ from a metallic electronic structure at high $T$ into a semiconducting one at low $T$. Associated with the gap development in $\sigma(\omega)$, a clear onset is newly found at $\hbar\omega$=15 meV for $T \leq$ 20 K. The onset energy is identified as the gap width of YbB$_{12}$ appearing in $\sigma(\omega)$. This gap in \sigma(\omega)$is interpreted as the indirect gap, which has been predicted in the band model of Kondo semiconductor. On the other hand, the strong mid-infrared (mIR) peak observed in$\sigma(\omega)$ is interpreted as arising from the direct gap. The absorption coefficient around the onset and the mIR peak indeed show characteristic energy dependences expected for indirect and direct optical transitions in conventional semiconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Absence of Hybridization Gap in Heavy Electron Systems and Analysis of YbAl3 in terms of Nearly Free Electron Conduction Band

In the analysis of the heavy electron systems, theoretical models with c-f hybridization gap are often used. We point out that such a gap does not exist and the simple picture with the hybridization gap is misleading in the metallic systems, and present a correct picture by explicitly constructing an effective band model of YbAl_3. Hamiltonian consists of a nearly free electron model for conduction bands which hybridize with localized f-electrons, and includes only a few parameters. Density of states, Sommerfeld coefficient, f-electron number and optical conductivity are calculated and compared with the band calculations and the experiments.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Formation Mechanism of Hybridization Gap in Kondo Insulators based on a Realistic Band Model and Application to YbB12_{12}

A new LDA+U band calculation is performed on the Kondo insulator material YbB$_{12}$ and an energy gap of about 0.001Ryd is obtained. Based on this, a simple tight-binding model with 5d$\epsilon$ and 4f $\Gamma_8$ orbitals on Yb atoms and the nearest neighbor $\sigma$-bonds between them is constructed with a good agreement to the above the LDA+U calculation near the gap. The density of states is also calculated and the shape is found to be very asymmetric with respect to the gap. A formation mechanism of the gap is clarified for the first time in a realistic situation with the orbital degeneracies in both conduction bands and the f states. This model can be a useful starting point for incorporating the strong correlation effect, and for understanding all the thermal, thermoelectric, transport and magnetic properties of YbB$_{12}$.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. Vol. 72 No. 5 (2003