1,123 research outputs found
Exciton spectroscopy of hexagonal boron nitride using non-resonant x-ray Raman scattering
We report non-resonant x-ray Raman scattering (XRS) measurements from
hexagonal boron nitride for transferred momentum from 2 to 9
along directions both in and out of the basal plane. A
symmetry-based argument, together with real-space full multiple scattering
calculations of the projected density of states in the spherical harmonics
basis, reveals that a strong pre-edge feature is a dominantly -type
Frenkel exciton with no other \textit{s}-, \textit{p}-, or \textit{d}-
components. This conclusion is supported by a second, independent calculation
of the \textbf{q}-dependent XRS cross-section based on the Bethe-Salpeter
equation
Anisotropic excitonic effects in the energy loss function of hexagonal boron nitride
We demonstrate that the valence energy-loss function of hexagonal boron
nitride (hBN) displays a strong anisotropy in shape, excitation energy and
dispersion for momentum transfer q parallel or perpendicular to the hBN layers.
This is manifested by e.g. an energy shift of 0.7 eV that cannot be captured by
single-particle approaches and is a demonstration of a strong anisotropy in the
two-body electron-hole interaction. Furthermore, for in-plane directions of q
we observe a splitting of the -plasmon in the M direction that is absent in the
K direction and this can be traced back to band-structure effects.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Inelastic Scattering from Core-electrons: a Multiple Scattering Approach
The real-space multiple-scattering (RSMS) approach is applied to model
non-resonant inelastic scattering from deep core electron levels over a broad
energy spectrum. This approach is applicable to aperiodic or periodic systems
alike and incorporates ab initio, self-consistent electronic structure and
final state effects. The approach generalizes to finite momentum transfer a
method used extensively to model x-ray absorption spectra (XAS), and includes
both near edge spectra and extended fine structure. The calculations can be
used to analyze experimental results of inelastic scattering from
core-electrons using either x-ray photons (NRIXS) or electrons (EELS). In the
low momentum transfer region (the dipole limit), these inelastic loss spectra
are proportional to those from XAS. Thus their analysis can provide similar
information about the electronic and structural properties of a system. Results
for finite momentum transfer yield additional information concerning monopole,
quadrupole, and higher couplings. Our results are compared both with experiment
and with other theoretical calculations.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY OF VORTICES IN -WAVE SUPERCONDUCTORS
Ginzburg-Landau theory is used to study the properties of single vortices and
of the Abrikosov vortex lattice in a superconductor. For a single
vortex, the -wave order parameter has the expected four-lobe structure in a
ring around the core and falls off like at large distances. The
topological structure of the -wave order parameter consists of one
counter-rotating unit vortex, centered at the core, surrounded by four
symmetrically placed positive unit vortices. The Abrikosov lattice is shown to
have a triangular structure close to and an oblique structure at lower
temperatures. Comparison is made to recent neutron scattering data.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, 3 figures available upon reques
Antibody responses to nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in adults: A longitudinal household study
Background. Natural immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae is thought to be induced by exposure to S. pneumoniae or cross-reactive antigens. No longitudinal studies of carriage of and immune responses to S. pneumoniae have been conducted using sophisticated immunological laboratory techniques.Methods. We enrolled 121 families with young children into this study. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs were collected monthly for 10 months from all family members and were cultured in a standard fashion. Cultured S. pneumoniae isolates were serotyped. At the beginning (month 0) and end (month 10) of the study, venous blood was collected from family members 118 years old. Serotype-specific antipolysaccharide immunoglobulin G (IgG) and functional antibody and antibodies to pneumolysin, pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), and pneumococcal surface antigen A (PsaA) were measured in paired serum samples.Results. Levels of anticapsular IgG increased significantly after carriage of serotypes 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F by an individual or family member. For serotype 14, a higher level of anticapsular IgG at the beginning of the study was associated with reduced odds of carriage (P = .0006). There was a small (similar to 20%) but significant increase in titers of antibodies to PsaA and pneumolysin but no change in titers of antibody to PspA.Conclusions. Adults respond to NP carriage by mounting anticapsular and weak antiprotein antibody responses, and naturally induced anticapsular IgG can prevent carriage
Biochem Soc Trans
Abnormal protein aggregation and intracellular or extracellular accumulation of misfolded and aggregated proteins are key events in the pathogenesis of different neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, endoplasmic reticulum stress and impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome system probably contribute to neurodegeneration in these diseases. A characteristic feature of AD (Alzheimer's disease) is the abnormal accumulation of Abeta (amyloid beta-peptide) in the brain. Evidence shows that the AD-associated PS (presenilin) also forms aggregates under certain conditions and that another AD-associated protein, ubiquilin-1, controls protein aggregation and deposition of aggregated proteins. Here, we review the current knowledge of ubiquilin-1 and PS in protein aggregation and related events that potentially influence neurodegeneration
The Effects of Phase Separation in the Cuprate Superconductors
Phase separation has been observed by several different experiments and it is
believed to be closely related with the physics of cuprates but its exactly
role is not yet well known. We propose that the onset of pseudogap phenomenon
or the upper pseudogap temperature has its origin in a spontaneous phase
separation transition at the temperature . In order to perform
quantitative calculations, we use a Cahn-Hilliard (CH) differential equation
originally proposed to the studies of alloys and on a spinodal decomposition
mechanism. Solving numerically the CH equation it is possible to follow the
time evolution of a coarse-grained order parameter which satisfies a
Ginzburg-Landau free-energy functional commonly used to model superconductors.
In this approach, we follow the process of charge segregation into two main
equilibrium hole density branches and the energy gap normally attributed to the
upper pseudogap arises as the free-energy potential barrier between these two
equilibrium densities below . This simulation provides quantitative
results %on the hole doping and temperature %dependence of the degree of the
charge inhomogeneity in agreement with %some experiments and the simulations
reproduce the observed stripe and granular pattern of segregation. Furthermore,
with a Bogoliubov-deGennes (BdG) local superconducting critical temperature
calculation for the lower pseudogap or the onset of local superconductivity, it
yields novel interpretation of several non-conventional measurements on
cuprates.Comment: Published versio
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