8,221 research outputs found
Atomic scale lattice distortions and domain wall profiles
We present an atomic scale theory of lattice distortions using strain related
variables and their constraint equations. Our approach connects constrained
{\it atomic length} scale variations to {\it continuum} elasticity and
describes elasticity at several length scales. We apply the approach to a
two-dimensional square lattice with a monatomic basis, and find the elastic
deformations and hierarchical atomic relaxations in the vicinity of a domain
wall between two different homogeneous strain states. We clarify the
microscopic origin of gradient terms, some of which are included
phenomenologically in Ginzburg-Landau theory, by showing that they are
anisotropic.Comment: 6 figure
Can a speed breeding approach accelerate genetic gain in pigeonpea?
Pure line breeding is a resource-intensive activity that takes 10 years or more to develop a new cultivar. In some crops, conducting off-season nurseries has significantly reduced the length of the breeding cycle. This approach could not be exploited in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], because traditionally it has been a photoperiod-sensitive crop that requires long periods of darkness to induce flowering. However, the recent success of breeding early maturing photoperiod-insensitive genotypes has opened up the possibility of adopting ‘speed breeding’ techniques to enable rapid generation turnover. This paper outlines a speed breeding approach that integrates the use of immature seed germination for rapid generation advancement and a "single pod descent" method of breeding. To accelerate line development, while conserving genetic variability, the approach permits four generations per year and can fast-track field evaluation of resulting homozygous lines. Therefore, the breeding strategy conserves resources and has potential to deliver new early maturing cultivars within a substantially reduced timeframe of 4–5 years
Electron-Phonon Driven Spin Frustration in Multi-Band Hubbard Models: MX Chains and Oxide Superconductors
We discuss the consequences of both electron-phonon and electron-electron
couplings in 1D and 2D multi-band (Peierls-Hubbard) models. After briefly
discussing various analytic limits, we focus on (Hartree-Fock and exact)
numerical studies in the intermediate regime for both couplings, where unusual
spin-Peierls as well as long-period, frustrated ground states are found. Doping
into such phases or near the phase boundaries can lead to further interesting
phenomena such as separation of spin and charge, a dopant-induced phase
transition of the global (parent) phase, or real-space (``bipolaronic'')
pairing. We discuss possible experimentally observable consequences of this
rich phase diagram for halogen-bridged, transition metal, linear chain
complexes (MX chains) in 1D and the oxide superconductors in 2D.Comment: 6 pages, four postscript figures (appended), in regular Te
Equilibrium magnetisation structures in ferromagnetic nanorings
The ground state of the ring-shape magnetic nanoparticle is studied.
Depending on the geometrical and magnetic parameters of the nanoring, there
exist different magnetisation configurations (magnetic phases): two phases with
homogeneous magnetisation (easy-axis and easy-plane phases) and two
inhomogeneous (planar vortex phase and out-of-plane one). The existence of a
new intermediate out-of-plane vortex phase, where the inner magnetisation is
not strongly parallel to the easy axis, is predicted. Possible transitions
between different phases are analysed using the combination of analytical
calculations and micromagnetic simulations.Comment: LaTeX, 19 pages, 11 figure
Scaled free energies, power-law potentials, strain pseudospins and quasi-universality for first-order structural transitions
We consider ferroelastic first-order phase transitions with
order-parameter strains entering Landau free energies as invariant polynomials,
that have structural-variant Landau minima. The total free energy
includes (seemingly innocuous) harmonic terms, in the {\it
non}-order-parameter strains. Four 3D transitions are considered,
tetragonal/orthorhombic, cubic/tetragonal, cubic/trigonal and
cubic/orthorhombic unit-cell distortions, with respectively, and 2; and and 6. Five 2D transitions are also considered, as
simpler examples. Following Barsch and Krumhansl, we scale the free energy to
absorb most material-dependent elastic coefficients into an overall prefactor,
by scaling in an overall elastic energy density; a dimensionless temperature
variable; and the spontaneous-strain magnitude at transition .
To leading order in the scaled Landau minima become
material-independent, in a kind of 'quasi-universality'. The scaled minima in
-dimensional order-parameter space, fall at the centre and at the
corners, of a transition-specific polyhedron inscribed in a sphere, whose
radius is unity at transition. The `polyhedra' for the four 3D transitions are
respectively, a line, a triangle, a tetrahedron, and a hexagon. We minimize the
terms harmonic in the non-order-parameter strains, by substituting
solutions of the 'no dislocation' St Venant compatibility constraints, and
explicitly obtain powerlaw anisotropic, order-parameter interactions, for all
transitions. In a reduced discrete-variable description, the competing minima
of the Landau free energies induce unit-magnitude pseudospin vectors, with values, pointing to the polyhedra corners and the (zero-value) center.Comment: submitted to PR
Atomic scale elastic textures coupled to electrons in superconductors
We present an atomic scale theory of lattice distortions using strain related
variables and their constraint equations. Our approach connects constrained
atomic length scale variations to continuum elasticity and describes elasticity
at all length scales. We apply the general approach to a two-dimensional square
lattice with a monatomic basis, and find the atomic scale elastic textures
around a structural domain wall and a single defect, as exemplary textures. We
clarify the microscopic origin of gradient terms, some of which are included
phenomenologically in Landau-Ginzburg theory. The obtained elastic textures are
used to investigate the effects of elasticity-driven lattice deformation on the
nanoscale electronic structure in superconductor by solving the Bogliubov-de
Gennes equations with the electronic degrees of freedom coupled to the lattice
ones. It is shown that the order parameter is depressed in the regions where
the lattice deformation takes place. The calculated local density of states
suggests the electronic structure is strongly modulated as a response to the
lattice deformation-- the elasticity propagates the electronic response over
long distances. In particular, it is possible for the trapping of low-lying
quasiparticle states around the defects. These predictions could be directly
tested by STM experiments in superconducting materials.Comment: Proceeding paper for "Conference on Dynamic Inhomogeneities in
Complex Oxides" (to appear in J. Superconductivity
Partial purification and characterization of a novel human factor that augments the expression of class I MHC antigens on tumour cells
A cytokine which augments the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I antigens on K562 and gastric carcinoma tumour (HR) cells, has been isolated from the culture supernatant of Concanavalin-A (Con-A) activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The factor, termed MHC augmenting factor (MHC- AF) has been partially purified by Sephadex G- 100 column chromatography, preparative isoelectric focusing and HPLC with ion- exchange as well as sizing columns. MHC-AF activity is associated with a 35 kDa molecule which has pI of 6.0. Interferon (IFN)-α, β, tumour necrosis factor (TNF), Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-7 had no significant effect in MHC- AF bioassay, but IFN-γ had significant MHC-AF activity. Antibodies to IFN-α , IFN-β and TNF-α did not block the activity of MHC-AF, but anti-IFN-y antibodies could partially neutralize the activity. However, unlike IFN-γ , MHC-AF activity was resistant to pH 2.0 treatment. Purified MHC-AF preparations did not have any activity in WISH cell/encephalo myocarditis virus (EMC) IFN bioassays. In addition, anti-IFN-y affinity column did not retain MHC-AF activity. These results indicate that a MHC-AF distinct from IFN-γ, is produced by activated human mononuclear cells
Double-Exchange Ferromagnetism and Orbital-Fluctuation-Induced Superconductivity in Cubic Uranium Compounds
A double-exchange mechanism for the emergence of ferromagnetism in cubic
uranium compounds is proposed on the basis of a - coupling scheme. The
idea is {\it orbital-dependent duality} of electrons concerning itinerant
and localized states in the cubic structure. Since
orbital degree of freedom is still active in the ferromagnetic phase,
orbital-related quantum critical phenomenon is expected to appear. In fact,
odd-parity p-wave pairing compatible with ferromagnetism is found in the
vicinity of an orbital ordered phase. Furthermore, even-parity d-wave pairing
with significant odd-frequency components is obtained. A possibility to observe
such exotic superconductivity in manganites is also discussed briefly.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. To appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jp
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