Quantum fluctuations in the spiral phase of the Hubbard model

We study the magnetic excitations in the spiral phase of the two--dimensional Hubbard model using a functional integral method. Spin waves are strongly renormalized and a line of near--zeros is observed in the spectrum around the spiral pitch $\pm{\bf Q}$. The possibility of disordered spiral states is examined by studying the one--loop corrections to the spiral order parameter. We also show that the spiral phase presents an intrinsic instability towards an inhomogeneous state (phase separation, CDW, ...) at weak doping. Though phase separation is suppressed by weak long--range Coulomb interactions, the CDW instability only disappears for sufficiently strong Coulomb interaction.Comment: Figures are NOW appended via uuencoded postscript fil

UREA/ammonium ion removal system for the orbiting frog otolith experiment

The feasibility of using free urease enzyme and ANGC-101 ion exchange resin to remove urea and ammonium ion for space system waste water applications was studied. Specifically examined is the prevention of urea and ammonia toxicity in a 30-day Orbiting Frog Otolith (OFO) flight experiment. It is shown that free urease enzyme used in conjunction with ANGC-101 ion-exchange resin and pH control can control urea and amonium ion concentration in unbuffered recirculating water. In addition, the resin does not adversely effect the bullfrogs by lowering the concentration of cations below critical minimum levels. Further investigations on bioburden control, frog waste excretion on an OFO diet, a trade-off analysis of methods of automating the urea/ammonium ion removal system and fabrication and test of a semiautomated breadboard were recommended as continuing efforts. Photographs of test equipment and test animals are shown

Auroral magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling: A brief topical review

Auroral arcs result from the acceleration and precipitation of magnetospheric plasma in narrow regions characterized by strong electric fields both perpendicular and parallel to the earth's magnetic field. The various mechanisms that were proposed for the origin of such strong electric fields are often complementary Such mechanisms include: (1) electrostatic double layers; (2) double reverse shock; (3) anomalous resistivity; (4) magnetic mirroring of hot plasma; and (5) mapping of the magnetospheric-convection electric field through an auroral discontinuity

On the metal-insulator transition in the two-chain model of correlated fermions

The doping-induced metal-insulator transition in two-chain systems of correlated fermions is studied using a solvable limit of the t-J model and the fact that various strong- and weak-coupling limits of the two-chain model are in the same phase, i.e. have the same low-energy properties. It is shown that the Luttinger-liquid parameter K_\rho takes the universal value unity as the insulating state (half-filling) is approached, implying dominant d-type superconducting fluctuations, independently of the interaction strength. The crossover to insulating behavior of correlations as the transition is approached is discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur

Renormalization of impurity scattering in one-dimensional interacting electron systems in magnetic field

We study the renormalization of a single impurity potential in one-dimensional interacting electron systems in the presence of magnetic field. Using the bosonization technique and Bethe ansatz solutions, we determine the renormalization group flow diagram for the amplitudes of scattering of up- and down-spin electrons by the impurity in a quantum wire at low electron density and in the Hubbard model at less than half filling. In the absence of magnetic field the repulsive interactions are known to enhance backscattering and make the impurity potential impenetrable in the low-energy limit. On the contrary, we show that in a strong magnetic field the interaction may suppress the backscattering of majority-spin electrons by the impurity potential in the vicinity of the weak-potential fixed point. This implies that in a certain temperature range the impurity becomes almost transparent for the majority-spin electrons while it is impenetrable for the minority-spin ones. The impurity potential can thus have a strong spin-filtering effect.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures; v2: a typo corrected and a reference added; v3: published version, Sec.II revised with an additional explanatory subsection, comments on the case of more than half-filling added, typos corrected, a reference update

Phase diagram of the one dimensional Hubbard-Holstein Model at 1/2 and 1/4 filling

The Hubbard-Holstein model is one of the simplest to incorporate both electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions. In one dimension at half filling the Holstein electron-phonon coupling promotes onsite pairs of electrons and a Peierls charge density wave while the Hubbard onsite Coulomb repulsion U promotes antiferromagnetic correlations and a Mott insulating state. Recent numerical studies have found a possible third intermediate phase between Peierls and Mott states. From direct calculations of charge and spin susceptibilities, we show that (i) As the electron-phonon coupling is increased, first a spin gap opens, followed by the Peierls transition. Between these two transitions the metallic intermediate phase has a spin gap, no charge gap, and properties similar to the negative-U Hubbard model. (ii) The transitions between Mott/intermediate and intermediate/Peierls states are of the Kosterlitz-Thouless form. (iii) For larger U the two transitions merge at a tritical point into a single first order Mott/Peierls transition. In addition we show that an intermediate phase also occurs in the quarter-filled model.Comment: 10 pages, 10 eps figure

Current reversal and exclusion processes with history-dependent random walks

A class of exclusion processes in which particles perform history-dependent random walks is introduced, stimulated by dynamic phenomena in some biological and artificial systems. The particles locally interact with the underlying substrate by breaking and reforming lattice bonds. We determine the steady-state current on a ring, and find current-reversal as a function of particle density. This phenomenon is attributed to the non-local interaction between the walkers through their trails, which originates from strong correlations between the dynamics of the particles and the lattice. We rationalize our findings within an effective description in terms of quasi-particles which we call front barriers. Our analytical results are complemented by stochastic simulations.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Effect of edge transmission and elastic scattering on the resistance of magnetic barriers

Strong magnetic barriers are defined in two-dimensional electron gases by magnetizing dysprosium ferromagnetic platelets on top of a Ga[Al]As heterostructure. A small resistance across the barrier is observed even deep inside the closed regime. We have used semiclassical simulations to explain this behavior quantitatively in terms of a combined effect of elastic electron scattering inside the barrier region and E x B drift at the intersection of the magnetic barrier with the edge of the Hall bar.Comment: 7 pages 4 figure

Finite-Temperature Charge-Ordering Transition and Fluctuation Effects in Quasi-One-Dimensional Electron Systems at Quarter Filling

Finite-temperature charge-ordering phase transition in quasi one-dimensional (1D) molecular conductors is investigated theoretically, based on a quasi 1D extended Hubbard model at quarter filling with interchain Coulomb repulsion $V_\perp$. The interchain term is treated within mean-field approximation whereas the 1D fluctuations in the chains are fully taken into account by the bosonization theory. Three regions are found depending on how the charge ordered state appears at finite temperature when $V_\perp$ is introduced: (i) weak-coupling region where the system transforms from a metal to a charge ordered insulator with finite transition temperature at a finite critical value of $V_\perp$, (ii) an intermediate region where this transition occurs by infinitesimal $V_\perp$ due to the stability of inherent 1D fluctuation, and (iii) strong-coupling region where the charge ordered state is realized already in the purely 1D case, of which the transition temperature becomes finite with infinitesimal $V_\perp$. Analytical formula for the $V_\perp$ dependence of the transition temperature is derived for each region.Comment: 4 pages, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp