386 research outputs found
Electron vortex beams in a magnetic field: A new twist on Landau levels and Aharonov-Bohm states
We examine the propagation of the recently-discovered electron vortex beams
in a longitudinal magnetic field. We consider both the Aharonov-Bohm
configuration with a single flux line and the Landau case of a uniform magnetic
field. While stationary Aharonov-Bohm modes represent Bessel beams with flux-
and vortex-dependent probability distributions, stationary Landau states
manifest themselves as non-diffracting Laguerre-Gaussian beams. Furthermore,
the Landau-state beams possess field- and vortex-dependent phases: (i) the
Zeeman phase from coupling the quantized angular momentum to the magnetic field
and (ii) the Gouy phase, known from optical Laguerre-Gaussian beams.
Remarkably, together these phases determine the structure of Landau energy
levels. This unified Zeeman-Landau-Gouy phase manifests itself in a nontrivial
evolution of images formed by various superpositions of modes. We demonstrate
that, depending on the chosen superposition, the image can rotate in a magnetic
field with either (i) Larmor, (ii) cyclotron (double-Larmor), or (iii) zero
frequency. At the same time, its centroid always follows the classical
cyclotron trajectory, in agreement with the Ehrenfest theorem. Remarkably, the
non-rotating superpositions reproduce stable multi-vortex configurations that
appear in rotating superfluids. Our results open up an avenue for the direct
electron-microscopy observation of fundamental properties of free quantum
electron states in magnetic fields.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures, 1 table, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Deformation and Depinning of Superconducting Vortices from Artificial Defects: A Ginzburg-Landau Study
Using Ginzburg-Landau theory, we have performed detailed studies of vortices
in the presence of artificial defect arrays, for a thin film geometry. We show
that when a vortex approaches the vicinity of a defect, an abrupt transition
occurs in which the vortex core develops a ``string'' extending to the defect
boundary, while simultaneously the supercurrents and associated magnetic flux
spread out and engulf the defect. Current induced depinning of vortices is
shown to be dominated by the core string distortion in typical experimental
situations. Experimental consequences of this unusual depinning behavior are
discussed.Comment: 10 pages,9 figure
Domain walls in (Ga,Mn)As diluted magnetic semiconductor
We report experimental and theoretical studies of magnetic domain walls in an
in-plane magnetized (Ga,Mn)As dilute moment ferromagnetic semiconductor. Our
high-resolution electron holography technique provides direct images of domain
wall magnetization profiles. The experiments are interpreted based on
microscopic calculations of the micromagnetic parameters and
Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert simulations. We find that the competition of uniaxial
and biaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropies in the film is directly reflected
in orientation dependent wall widths, ranging from approximately 40 nm to 120
nm. The domain walls are of the N\'eel type and evolve from near-
walls at low-temperatures to large angle [10]-oriented walls and small
angle [110]-oriented walls at higher temperatures.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Darwin-Lagrangian Analysis for the Interaction of a Point Charge and a Magnet: Considerations Related to the Controversy Regarding the Aharonov-Bohm and Aharonov-Casher Phase Shifts
The classical electromagnetic interaction of a point charge and a magnet is
discussed by first calculating the interaction of point charge with a simple
model magnetic moment and then suggesting a multiparticle limit. The Darwin
Lagrangian is used to analyze the electromagnetic behavior of the model
magnetic moment (composed of two oppositely charged particles of different mass
in an initially circular orbit) interacting with a passing point charge. The
changing mangetic moment is found to put a force back on a passing charge; this
force is of order 1/c^2 and depends upon the magnitude of the magnetic moment.
It is suggested that in the limit of a multiparticle magnetic toroid, the
electric fields of the passing charge are screened out of the body of the
magnet while the magnetic fields penetrate into the magnet. This is consistent
with our understanding of the penetration of electromagnetic velocity fields
into ohmic conductors. Conservation laws are discussed. The work corresponds to
a classical electromagnetic analysis of the interaction which is basic to
understanding the controversy over the Aharonov-Bohm and Aharonov-Casher phase
shifts and represents a refutation of the suggestions of Aharonov, Pearle, and
Vaidman.Comment: 33 page
Effects of kinked linear defects on planar flux line arrays
In the hard core limit, interacting vortices in planar type II
superconductors can be modeled as non-interacting one dimensional fermions
propagating in imaginary time. We use this analogy to derive analytical
expressions for the probability density and imaginary current of vortex lines
interacting with an isolated bent line defect and to understand the pinning
properties of such systems. When there is an abrupt change of the direction of
the pinning defect, we find a sinusoidal modulation of the vortex density in
directions both parallel and perpendicular to the defect.Comment: 13 figure
Diffraction and quasiclassical limit of the Aharonov--Bohm effect
Since the Aharonov-Bohm effect is the purely quantum effect that has no
analogues in classical physics, its persistence in the quasiclassical limit
seems to be hardly possible. Nevertheless, we show that the scattering
Aharonov-Bohm effect does persist in the quasiclassical limit owing to the
diffraction, i.e. the Fraunhofer diffraction in the case when space outside the
enclosed magnetic flux is Euclidean, and the Fresnel diffraction in the case
when the outer space is conical. Hence, the enclosed magnetic flux can serve as
a gate for the propagation of short-wavelength, almost classical, particles. In
the case of conical space, this quasiclassical effect which is in principle
detectable depends on the particle spin.Comment: 12 pages, minor changes, references update
Effect of a Physical Phase Plate on Contrast Transfer in an Aberration-Corrected Transmission Electron Microscope
In this theoretical study we analyze contrast transfer of weak-phase objects
in a transmission electron microscope, which is equipped with an aberration
corrector (Cs-corrector) in the imaging lens system and a physical phase plate
in the back focal plane of the objective lens. For a phase shift of pi/2
between scattered and unscattered electrons induced by a physical phase plate,
the sine-type phase contrast transfer function is converted into a cosine-type
function. Optimal imaging conditions could theoretically be achieved if the
phase shifts caused by the objective lens defocus and lens aberrations would be
equal zero. In reality this situation is difficult to realize because of
residual aberrations and varying, non-zero local defocus values, which in
general result from an uneven sample surface topography. We explore the
conditions - i.e. range of Cs-values and defocus - for most favourable contrast
transfer as a function of the information limit, which is only limited by the
effect of partial coherence of the electron wave in Cs-corrected transmission
electron microscopes. Under high-resolution operation conditions we find that a
physical phase plate improves strongly low- and medium-resolution object
contrast, while improving tolerance to defocus and Cs-variations, compared to a
microscope without a phase plate
The Locality Problem in Quantum Measurements
The locality problem of quantum measurements is considered in the framework
of the algebraic approach. It is shown that contrary to the currently
widespread opinion one can reconcile the mathematical formalism of the quantum
theory with the assumption of the existence of a local physical reality
determining the results of local measurements. The key quantum experiments:
double-slit experiment on electron scattering, Wheeler's delayed-choice
experiment, the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, and quantum teleportation are
discussed from the locality-problem point of view. A clear physical
interpretation for these experiments, which does not contradict the classical
ideas, is given.Comment: Latex, 40 pages, 7 figure
Interrelations Between the Neutron's Magnetic Interactions and the Magnetic Aharonov-Bohm Effect
It is proved that the phase shift of a polarized neutron interacting with a
spatially uniform time-dependent magnetic field, demonstrates the same physical
principles as the magnetic Aharonov-Bohm effect. The crucial role of inert
objects is explained, thereby proving the quantum mechanical nature of the
effect. It is also proved that the nonsimply connectedness of the field-free
region is not a profound property of the system and that it cannot be regarded
as a sufficient condition for a nonzero phase shift.Comment: 18 pages, 1 postscript figure, Late
Quantum Interference in Superconducting Wire Networks and Josephson Junction Arrays: Analytical Approach based on Multiple-Loop Aharonov-Bohm Feynman Path-Integrals
We investigate analytically and numerically the mean-field
superconducting-normal phase boundaries of two-dimensional superconducting wire
networks and Josephson junction arrays immersed in a transverse magnetic field.
The geometries we consider include square, honeycomb, triangular, and kagome'
lattices. Our approach is based on an analytical study of multiple-loop
Aharonov-Bohm effects: the quantum interference between different electron
closed paths where each one of them encloses a net magnetic flux. Specifically,
we compute exactly the sums of magnetic phase factors, i.e., the lattice path
integrals, on all closed lattice paths of different lengths. A very large
number, e.g., up to for the square lattice, exact lattice path
integrals are obtained. Analytic results of these lattice path integrals then
enable us to obtain the resistive transition temperature as a continuous
function of the field. In particular, we can analyze measurable effects on the
superconducting transition temperature, , as a function of the magnetic
filed , originating from electron trajectories over loops of various
lengths. In addition to systematically deriving previously observed features,
and understanding the physical origin of the dips in as a result of
multiple-loop quantum interference effects, we also find novel results. In
particular, we explicitly derive the self-similarity in the phase diagram of
square networks. Our approach allows us to analyze the complex structure
present in the phase boundaries from the viewpoint of quantum interference
effects due to the electron motion on the underlying lattices.Comment: 18 PRB-type pages, plus 8 large figure
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