776 research outputs found
Growth in systems of vesicles and membranes
We present a theoretical study for the intermediate stages of the growth of
membranes and vesicles in supersaturated solutions of amphiphilic molecules.
The problem presents important differences with the growth of droplets in the
classical theory of Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner, because the aggregates are
extensive only in two dimensions, but still grow in a three dimensional bath.
The balance between curvature and edge energy favours the nucleation of small
planar membranes, but as they grow beyond a critical size they close themselves
to form vesicles. We obtain a system of coupled equations describing the growth
of planar membranes and vesicles, which is solved numerically for different
initial conditions. Finally, the range of parameters relevant in experimental
situations is discussed.Comment: 13 pages and 5 postscript figures. To appear in Phys. Rev
Emergent Symmetry at the N\'eel to Valence-Bond-Solid Transition
We show numerically that the `deconfined' quantum critical point between the
N\'eel antiferromagnet and the columnar valence-bond-solid, for a square
lattice of spin-1/2s, has an emergent symmetry. This symmetry allows
the N\'eel vector and the valence-bond-solid order parameter to be rotated into
each other. It is a remarkable 2+1-dimensional analogue of the symmetry that appears in the scaling limit for the
spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain. The emergent is strong evidence that the
phase transition in the 2+1D system is truly continuous, despite the violations
of finite-size scaling observed previously in this problem. It also implies
surprising relations between correlation functions at the transition. The
symmetry enhancement is expected to apply generally to the critical
two-component Abelian Higgs model (non-compact model). The result
indicates that in three dimensions there is an -symmetric conformal
field theory which has no relevant singlet operators, so is radically different
to conventional Wilson-Fisher-type conformal field theories.Comment: 4+epsilon pages, 6 figure
Length Distributions in Loop Soups
Statistical lattice ensembles of loops in three or more dimensions typically
have phases in which the longest loops fill a finite fraction of the system. In
such phases it is natural to ask about the distribution of loop lengths. We
show how to calculate moments of these distributions using or
and O(n) models together with replica techniques. The
resulting joint length distribution for macroscopic loops is Poisson-Dirichlet
with a parameter fixed by the loop fugacity and by symmetries of the
ensemble. We also discuss features of the length distribution for shorter
loops, and use numerical simulations to test and illustrate our conclusions.Comment: 4.5 page
Deconfined Quantum Criticality, Scaling Violations, and Classical Loop Models
Numerical studies of the N\'eel to valence-bond solid phase transition in 2D
quantum antiferromagnets give strong evidence for the remarkable scenario of
deconfined criticality, but display strong violations of finite-size scaling
that are not yet understood. We show how to realise the universal physics of
the Neel-VBS transition in a 3D classical loop model (this includes the
interference effect that suppresses N\'eel hedgehogs). We use this model to
simulate unprecedentedly large systems (of size ). Our results are
compatible with a direct continuous transition at which both order parameters
are critical, and we do not see conventional signs of first-order behaviour.
However, we find that the scaling violations are stronger than previously
realised and are incompatible with conventional finite-size scaling over the
size range studied, even if allowance is made for a weakly/marginally
irrelevant scaling variable. In particular, different determinations of the
anomalous dimensions and yield very
different results. The assumption of conventional finite-size scaling gives
estimates which drift to negative values at large , in violation of
unitarity bounds. In contrast, the behaviour of correlators on scales much
smaller than is consistent with large positive anomalous dimensions.
Barring an unexpected reversal in behaviour at still larger sizes, this implies
that the transition, if continuous, must show unconventional finite-size
scaling, e.g. from a dangerously irrelevant scaling variable. Another
possibility is an anomalously weak first-order transition. By analysing the
renormalisation group flows for the non-compact model (-component
Abelian Higgs model) between two and four dimensions, we give the simplest
scenario by which an anomalously weak first-order transition can arise without
fine-tuning of the Hamiltonian.Comment: 20 pages, 19 figure
Effects of many-electron jumps in relaxation and conductivity of Coulomb glasses
A numerical study of the energy relaxation and conductivity of the Coulomb
glass is presented. The role of many-electron transitions is studied by two
complementary methods: a kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm and a master equation in
configuration space method. A calculation of the transition rate for
two-electron transitions is presented, and the proper extension of this to
multi-electron transitions is discussed. It is shown that two-electron
transitions are important in bypassing energy barriers which effectively block
sequential one-electron transitions. The effect of two-electron transitions is
also discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
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