1,996 research outputs found
Spontaneous and Superfluid Chiral Edge States in Exciton-Polariton Condensates
We present a scheme of interaction-induced topological bandstructures based
on the spin anisotropy of exciton-polaritons in semiconductor microcavities. We
predict theoretically that this scheme allows the engineering of topological
gaps, without requiring a magnetic field or strong spin-orbit interaction
(transverse electric-transverse magnetic splitting). Under non-resonant
pumping, we find that an initially topologically trivial system undergoes a
topological transition upon the spontaneous breaking of phase symmetry
associated with polariton condensation. Under resonant coherent pumping, we
find that it is also possible to engineer a topological dispersion that is
linear in wavevector -- a property associated with polariton superfluidity.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
All-to-all connected networks by multi-frequency excitation of polaritons
We analyze theoretically a network of all-to-all coupled polariton modes,
realized by a trapped polariton condensate excited by a comb of different
frequencies. In the low-density regime the system dynamically finds a state
with maximal gain defined by the average intensities (weights) of the
excitation beams, analogous to active mode locking in lasers, and thus solves a
maximum eigenvalue problem set by the matrix of weights. The method opens the
possibility to tailor a superposition of populated bosonic modes in the trapped
condensate by appropriate choice of drive
Vortices in spinor cold exciton condensates with spin-orbit interaction
We study theoretically the ground states of topological defects in a spinor
four-component condensate of cold indirect excitons. We analyze possible ground
state solutions for different configurations of vortices and half-vortices. We
show that if only Rashba or Dreselhaus spin-orbit interaction (SOI) for
electrons is present the stable states of topological defects can represent a
cylindrically symmetric half-vortex or half vortex-antivortex pairs, or a
non-trivial pattern with warped vortices. In the presence of both of Rashba and
Dresselhaus SOI the ground state of a condensate represents a stripe phase and
vortex type solutions become unstable
Information processing with topologically protected vortex memories in exciton-polariton condensates
We show that in a non-equilibrium system of an exciton-polariton condensate,
where polaritons are generated from incoherent pumping, a ring-shaped pump
allows for stationary vortex memory elements of topological charge or
. Using simple potential guides we can choose whether to copy the same
charge or invert it onto another spatially separate ring pump. Such
manipulation of binary information opens the possibility of a new type
processing using vortices as topologically protected memory components
Cool Customers in the Stellar Graveyard IV: Spitzer Search for Mid-IR excesses Around Five DAs
Hydrogen atmosphere white dwarfs with metal lines, so-called DAZs, require
external accretion of material to explain the presence of weak metal line
absorption in their photospheres. The source of this material is currently
unknown, but could come from the interstellar medium, unseen companions, or
relic planetesimals from asteroid belt or Kuiper belt analogues. Accurate
mid-infrared photometry of these white dwarfs provide additional information to
solve the mystery of this accretion and to look for evidence of planetary
systems that have survived post main sequence evolution. We present {\em
Spitzer} IRAC photometry accurate to 3% for four DAZs and one DA with
circumstellar absorption lines in the UV. We search for excesses due to unseen
companions or circumstellar dust disks. We use {\em Hubble Space Telescope}
NICMOS imaging of these white dwarfs to gauge the level of background
contamination to our targets as well as rule out common proper motion
companions to WD 1620-391. All of our targets show no excesses due to
companions 20 M, ruling out all but very low mass companions to these
white dwarfs at all separations. No excesses due to circumstellar disks are
observed, and we place limits on what types of disks may still be present.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, Accepted to A
Models of Cuspy Triaxial Galaxies
We construct numerical models of mildly triaxial elliptical galaxies with
central density cusps. Using a technique we call ``adiabatic squeezing'', we
begin with a spherical gamma=1 Hernquist model and apply a drag to the
velocities of the particles along each principle axis. The final models are
stable in isolation, preserving their density structure and figure shape over
many dynamical timescales. The density profile and axial ratios compare well to
the observed properties of elliptical galaxies. The orbital structure of these
models show a mixture of tubes, boxes, and boxlets, as expected for triaxial
systems, with very few chaotic orbits. These N-body realizations of cuspy
triaxial galaxies provide a basis for the study of the dynamical evolution of
elliptical galaxies.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures. Accepted by Ap
Stellar Dynamics of Extreme-Mass-Ratio Inspirals
Inspiral of compact stellar remnants into massive black holes (MBHs) is
accompanied by the emission of gravitational waves at frequencies that are
potentially detectable by space-based interferometers. Event rates computed
from statistical (Fokker-Planck, Monte-Carlo) approaches span a wide range due
to uncertaintities about the rate coefficients. Here we present results from
direct integration of the post-Newtonian N-body equations of motion descrbing
dense clusters of compact stars around Schwarzschild MBHs. These simulations
embody an essentially exact (at the post-Newtonian level) treatment of the
interplay between stellar dynamical relaxation, relativistic precession, and
gravitational-wave energy loss. The rate of capture of stars by the MBH is
found to be greatly reduced by relativistic precession, which limits the
ability of torques from the stellar potential to change orbital angular
momenta. Penetration of this "Schwarzschild barrier" does occasionally occur,
resulting in capture of stars onto orbits that gradually inspiral due to
gravitational wave emission; we discuss two mechanisms for barrier penetration
and find evidence for both in the simulations. We derive an approximate formula
for the capture rate, which predicts that captures would be strongly disfavored
from orbits with semi-major axes below a certain value; this prediction, as
well as the predicted rate, are verified in the N-body integrations. We discuss
the implications of our results for the detection of extreme-mass-ratio
inspirals from galactic nuclei with a range of physical properties.Comment: 28 pages, 16 figures. Version 2 is significantly revised to reflect
new insights into J and Q effects, to be published late
A Panchromatic Study of the Globular Cluster NGC 1904. I: The Blue Straggler Population
By combining high-resolution (HST-WFPC2) and wide-field ground based (2.2m
ESO-WFI) and space (GALEX) observations, we have collected a multi-wavelength
photometric data base (ranging from the far UV to the near infrared) of the
galactic globular cluster NGC1904 (M79). The sample covers the entire cluster
extension, from the very central regions up to the tidal radius. In the present
paper such a data set is used to study the BSS population and its radial
distribution. A total number of 39 bright () BSS has been
detected, and they have been found to be highly segregated in the cluster core.
No significant upturn in the BSS frequency has been observed in the outskirts
of NGC 1904, in contrast to other clusters (M 3, 47 Tuc, NGC 6752, M 5) studied
with the same technique. Such evidences, coupled with the large radius of
avoidance estimated for NGC 1904 ( core radii), indicate that
the vast majority of the cluster heavy stars (binaries) has already sunk to the
core. Accordingly, extensive dynamical simulations suggest that BSS formed by
mass transfer activity in primordial binaries evolving in isolation in the
cluster outskirts represent only a negligible (0--10%) fraction of the overall
population.Comment: ApJ accepte
The Transition from Inspiral to Plunge for a Compact Body in a Circular Equatorial Orbit Around a Massive, Spinning Black Hole
There are three regimes of gravitational-radiation-reaction-induced inspiral
for a compact body with mass mu, in a circular, equatorial orbit around a Kerr
black hole with mass M>>mu: (i) The "adiabatic inspiral regime", in which the
body gradually descends through a sequence of circular, geodesic orbits. (ii) A
"transition regime", near the innermost stable circular orbit (isco). (iii) The
"plunge regime", in which the body travels on a geodesic from slightly below
the isco into the hole's horizon. This paper gives an analytic treatment of the
transition regime and shows that, with some luck, gravitational waves from the
transition might be measurable by the space-based LISA mission.Comment: 8 Pages and 3 Figures; RevTeX; submitted to Physical Review
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