Superconductivity at the Border of Electron Localization and Itinerancy

The superconducting state of iron pnictides and chalcogenides exists at the border of antiferromagnetic order. Consequently, these materials could provide clues about the relationship between magnetism and unconventional superconductivity. One explanation, motivated by the so-called bad-metal behaviour of these materials, proposes that magnetism and superconductivity develop out of quasi-localized magnetic moments which are generated by strong electron-electron correlations. Another suggests that these phenomena are the result of weakly interacting electron states that lie on nested Fermi surfaces. Here we address the issue by comparing the newly discovered alkaline iron selenide superconductors, which exhibit no Fermi-surface nesting, to their iron pnictide counterparts. We show that the strong-coupling approach leads to similar pairing amplitudes in these materials, despite their different Fermi surfaces. We also find that the pairing amplitudes are largest at the boundary between electronic localization and itinerancy, suggesting that new superconductors might be found in materials with similar characteristics.Comment: Version of the published manuscript prior to final journal-editting. Main text (23 pages, 4 figures) + Supplementary Information (14 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables). Calculation on the single-layer FeSe is added. Enhancement of the pairing amplitude in the vicinity of the Mott transition is highlighted. Published version is at http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2013/131115/ncomms3783/full/ncomms3783.htm

Cloning and Characterization of a Putative TAC1 Ortholog Associated with Leaf Angle in Maize (Zea mays L.)

BACKGROUND: Modifying plant architecture to increase photosynthesis efficiency and reduce shade avoidance response is very important for further yield improvement when crops are grown in high density. Identification of alleles controlling leaf angle in maize is needed to provide insight into molecular mechanism of leaf development and achieving ideal plant architecture to improve grain yield. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The gene cloning was done by using comparative genomics, and then performing real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis to assay gene expression. The gene function was validated by sequence dissimilarity analysis and QTL mapping using a functional cleaved amplified polymorphism (CAP). CONCLUSIONS: The leaf angle is controlled by a major quantitative trait locus, ZmTAC1 (Zea mays L. Leaf Angle Control 1). ZmTAC1 has 4 exons encoding a protein with 263 amino acids, and its domains are the same as those of the rice OsTAC1 protein. ZmTAC1 was found to be located in the region of qLA2 by using the CAP marker and the F(2:3) families from the cross between Yu82 and Shen137. Real-time PCR analysis revealed ZmTAC1 expression was the highest in the leaf-sheath pulvinus, less in the leaf and shoot apical meristem, and the lowest in the root. A nucleotide difference in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) between the compact inbred line Yu82 ("CTCC") and the expanded inbred line Shen137 ("CCCC") influences the expression level of ZmTAC1, further controlling the size of the leaf angle. Sequence verification of the change in the 5'-UTR revealed ZmTAC1 with "CTCC" was present in 13 compact inbred lines and ZmTAC1 with "CCCC" was present in 18 expanded inbred lines, indicating ZmTAC1 had been extensively utilized in breeding with regard to the improvement of the maize plant architecture

Partial Wave Analysis of χc0→π+π−K+K−\chi_{c0}\to\pi^+\pi^-K^+K^-

A partial wave analysis of $\chi_{c0}\to\pi^+\pi^-K^+K^-$ in $\psi(2S)\to\gamma\chi_{c0}$ decay is presented using a sample of 14 million $\psi(2S)$ events accumulated by the BES II detector. The data are fitted to the sum of relativistic covariant tensor amplitudes for intermediate resonant decay modes. From the fit, significant contributions to $\chi_{c0}$ decays from the channels $f_0(980)f_0(980)$, $f_0(980)f_0(2200)$, $f_0(1370)f_0(1710)$, $K^*(892)^0\bar K^*(892)^0$, $K^*_0(1430)\bar K^*_0(1430)$, $K^*_0(1430)\bar K^*_2(1430) + c.c.$, and $K_1(1270)K$ are found. Flavor-SU(3)-violating $K_1(1270)-K_1(1400)$ asymmetry is observed. Values obtained for the masses and widths of the resonances $f_0(1710)$, $f_0(2200)$, $f_0(1370)$, and $K^*_0(1430)$ are presented.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, and 4 table

Experimental study of ψ(2S)\psi(2S) decays to \K^+ K^- \pi^+ \pi^- \pi^0 final states

$K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ final states are studied using a sample of $14\times10^6$ $\psi(2S)$ decays collected with the Beijing Spectrometer (BESII) at the Beijing Electron-Position Collider. The branching fractions of $\psi(2S)$ decays to $K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$, $\omega K^+ K^-$, $\omega f_0(1710)$, $K^{\ast}(892)^0 K^- \pi^+\pi^0+c.c.$, $K^{\ast}(892)^{+} K^- \pi^+\pi^- +c.c.$, $K^{\ast}(892)^{+} K^- \rho^0+c.c.$ and $K^{\ast}(892)^0 K^-\rho^+ + c.c.$ are determined. The first two agree with previous measurements, and the last five are first measurements.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figure

Search for psi(3770)\ra\rho\pi at the BESII detector at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider

Non-$D\bar{D}$ decay \psppto \rhopi is searched for using a data sample of $(17.3\pm 0.5) pb^{-1}$ taken at the center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV by the BESII detector at the BEPC. No \rhopi signal is observed, and the upper limit of the cross section is measured to be \sigma(\EETO \rhopi)<6.0 pb at 90% C. L. Considering the interference between the continuum amplitude and the \pspp resonance amplitude, the branching fraction of \pspp decays to $\rho\pi$ is determined to be \BR(\pspp\ra\rho\pi)\in(6.0\times10^{-6}, 2.4\times10^{-3}) at 90% C. L. This is in agreement with the prediction of the $S$- and $D$-wave mixing scheme of the charmonium states for solving the ``\rhopi puzzle'' between \jpsi and \psp decays.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Measurement of the cross section for e^+e^- -> ppbar at center-of-mass energies from 2.0 to 3.07 GeV

Cross sections for e^+e^- -> ppbar have been measured at 10 center-of-mass energies from 2.0 to 3.07 GeV by the BESII experiment at the BEPC, and proton electromagnetic form factors in the time-like region have been determined.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

First observation of ψ(2S)→pnˉπ−+c.c.\psi(2S) \to p \bar{n} \pi^- +c.c.

Using 14 million $\psi(2S)$ events collected with the Beijing Spectrometer (BESII) at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider, the branching fractions of $\psi(2S)$ decays to $p \bar{n} \pi^-$ and $\bar{p} n \pi^+$ and the branching fractions of the main background channels $\psi(2S) \to p \bar{n} \pi^-\pi^0$, $\psi(2S) \to \gamma\chi_{c0} \to \gamma p \bar{n} \pi^-$, $\psi(2S) \to \gamma\chi_{c2} \to \gamma p \bar{n} \pi^-$, and $\psi(2S) \to \gamma \chi_{cJ} \to \gamma p \bar{n} \pi^- \pi^0$ are determined. The contributions of the $N^{\ast}$ resonances in $\psi(2S) \to p \bar{n} \pi^- +c.c.$ are also discussed.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, add vertex requirement systematic erro

Observation of a resonance X(1835) in J/\psi --> \gamma \pi^+ \pi^- \eta^{\prime}

The decay channel J/\psi --> \gamma \pi^+ \pi^- \eta^{\prime} is analyzed using a sample of 5.8\times 10^7 J\psi events collected with the BESII detector. A resonance, the X(1835), is observed in the \pi^+ \pi^- \eta^{\prime} invariant mass spectrum with a statistical significance of 7.7 \sigma. A fit with a Breit-Wigner function yields a mass M = 1833.7 \pm 6.1(stat) \pm 2.7(syst) MeV/c^2, a width \Gamma = 67.7 \pm 20.3(stat) \pm 7.7(syst) MeV/c^2 and a product branching fraction B(J/\psi --> \gamma X) B(X --> \pi^+ \pi^- \eta^{\prime}) = (2.2 \pm 0.4(stat) \pm 0.4(syst)) \times 10^{-4}. The mass and width of the X(1835) are not compatible with any known meson resonance. Its properties are consistent with expectations for the state that produces the strong p\bar{p} mass threshold enhancement observed in the J\psi -->\gamma p \bar{p} process at BESII.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, RevTex4, Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Measurements of the continuum RudsR_{\rm uds} and RR values in e+e−e^+e^- annihilation in the energy region between 3.650 and 3.872 GeV

We report measurents of the continuum $R_{\rm uds}$ near the center-of-mass energy of 3.70 GeV, the $R_{{\rm uds(c)}+\psi(3770)}(s)$ and the $R_{\rm had}(s)$ values in $e^+e^-$ annihilation at 68 energy points in the energy region between 3.650 and 3.872 GeV with the BES-II detector at the BEPC Collodier. We obtain the $R_{\rm uds}$ for the continuum light hadron (containing u, d and s quarks) production near the $D\bar D$ threshold to be $R_{\rm uds}=2.141 \pm 0.025 \pm 0.085$.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure