Pressure effects on the superconducting properties of YBa_2Cu_4O_8

Measurements of the magnetization under high hydrostatic pressure (up to 10.2 kbar) in YBa_2Cu_4O_8 were carried out. From the scaling analysis of the magnetization data the pressure induced shifts of the transition temperature T_c, the volume V and the anisotropy \gamma have been obtained. It was shown that the pressure induced relative shift of T_c mirrors essentially that of the anisotropy. This observation uncovers a novel generic property of anisotropic type II superconductors, that inexistent in the isotropic case.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Evidence for charged critical behavior in the pyrochlore superconductor RbOs2O6

We analyze magnetic penetration depth data of the recently discovered superconducting pyrochlore oxide RbOs2O6. Our results strongly suggest that in RbOs2O6 charged critical fuctuations dominate the temperature dependence of the magnetic penetration depth near Tc. This is in contrast to the mean-field behavior observed in conventional superconductors and the uncharged critical behavior found in nearly optimally doped cuprate superconductors. However, this finding agrees with the theoretical predictions for charged criticality and the charged criticality observed in underdoped YBa2Cu3O6.59.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Finite-size and pressure effects in YBa_2Cu_4O_8 probed by magnetic field penetration depth measurements

We explore the combined pressure and finite-size effects on the in-plane penetration depth \lambda_{ab} in YBa_2Cu_4O_8. Even though this cuprate is stoichiometric the finite-size scaling analysis of \lambda_{ab}^{-2}(T) uncovers the granular nature and reveals domains with nanoscale size L_{c} along the c-axis. L_{c} ranges from 33.2 Angstrom to 28.9 Angstrom at pressures from 0.5 to 11.5 kbar. These observations raise serious doubts on the existence of a phase coherent macroscopic superconducting state in cuprate superconductors.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Model for dilepton rates from a fireball

We calculate the dilepton emission rate from a fireball created in an ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collision. For the partonic phase, we complement the perturbative results by a phenomenological approach based on lattice QCD results, whereas in the hadronic phase temperature and finite baryon density effects on the spectral function are considered. The resulting rates are compared to data from CERES/NA45.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Talk given at 15th International Conference on Ultrarelativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (QM2001), Stony Brook, New York, 15-20 Jan 200

Modulation of a Chirp Gravitational Wave from a Compact Binary due to Gravitational Lensing

A possible wave effect in the gravitational lensing phenomenon is discussed. We consider the interference of two coherent gravitational waves of slightly different frequencies from a compact binary, due to the gravitational lensing by a galaxy halo. This system shows the modulation of the wave amplitude. The lensing probability of such the phenomenon is of order 10^{-5} for a high-z source, but it may be advantageous to the observation due to the magnification of the amplitude.Comment: 3 pages, PRD in pres