133 research outputs found
Suppression of hidden order in URu2Si2 under pressure and restoration in magnetic field
We describe here recent inelastic neutron scattering experiments on the heavy
fermion compound URu2Si2 realized in order to clarify the nature of the hidden
order (HO) phase which occurs below T_0 = 17.5 K at ambient pressure. The
choice was to measure at a given pressure P where the system will go, by
lowering the temperature, successively from paramagnetic (PM) to HO and then to
antiferromagnetic phase (AF). Furthermore, in order to verify the selection of
the pressure, a macroscopic detection of the phase transitions was also
achieved in situ via its thermal expansion response detected by a strain gauge
glued on the crystal. Just above P_x = 0.5 GPa, where the ground state switches
from HO to AF, the Q_0 = (1, 0, 0) excitation disappears while the excitation
at the incommensurate wavevector Q_1 = (1.4, 0, 0) remains. Thus, the Q_0 = (1,
0, 0) excitation is intrinsic only in the HO phase. This result is reinforced
by studies where now pressure and magnetic field can be used as tuning
variable. Above P_x, the AF phase at low temperature is destroyed by a magnetic
field larger than H_AF (collapse of the AF Q_0 = (1, 0, 0) Bragg reflection).
The field reentrance of the HO phase is demonstrated by the reappearance of its
characteristic Q_0 = (1, 0, 0) excitation. The recovery of a PM phase will only
be achieved far above H_AF at H_M approx 35 T. To determine the P-H-T phase
diagram of URu2Si2, macroscopic measurements of the thermal expansion were
realized with a strain gauge. The reentrant magnetic field increases strongly
with pressure. Finally, to investigate the interplay between superconductivity
(SC) and spin dynamics, new inelastic neutron scattering experiments are
reported down to 0.4 K, far below the superconducting critical temperature T_SC
approx 1.3 K as measured on our crystal by diamagnetic shielding.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures, ICN 2009 conference proceeding
Field Reentrance of the Hidden Order State of URu2Si2 under Pressure
Combination of neutron scattering and thermal expansion measurements under
pressure shows that the so-called hidden order phase of URu2Si2 reenters in
magnetic field when antiferromagnetism (AF) collapses at H_AF (T). Macroscopic
pressure studies of the HO-AF boundaries were realized at different pressures
via thermal expansion measurements under magnetic field using a strain gauge.
Microscopic proof at a given pressure is the reappearance of the resonance at
Q_0=(1,0,0) under field which is correlated with the collapse of the AF Bragg
reflections at Q_0.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jp
Precise study of the resonance at Q0=(1,0,0) in URu2Si2
New inelastic neutron scattering experiments have been performed on URu2Si2
with special focus on the response at Q0=(1,0,0), which is a clear signature of
the hidden order (HO) phase of the compound. With polarized inelastic neutron
experiments, it is clearly shown that below the HO temperature (T0 = 17.8 K) a
collective excitation (the magnetic resonance at E0 \approx 1.7 meV) as well as
a magnetic continuum co-exist. Careful measurements of the temperature
dependence of the resonance lead to the observation that its position shifts
abruptly in temperature with an activation law governed by the partial gap
opening and that its integrated intensity has a BCS-type temperature
dependence. Discussion with respect to recent theoretical development is made
Magnetic Exciton Mediated Superconductivity in the Hidden-Order Phase of URu2Si2
We propose the magnetic exciton mediated superconductivity occurring in the
enigmatic hidden-order phase of URu2Si2. The characteristic of the massive
collective excitation observed only in the hidden-order phase is well
reproduced by the antiferro hexadecapole ordering model as the trace of the
dispersive crystalline-electric-field excitation. The disappearance of the
superconductivity in the high-pressure antiferro magnetic phase can naturally
be understood by the sudden suppression of the magnetic-exciton intensity. The
analysis of the momentum dependence of the magnetic-exciton mode leads to the
exotic chiral d-wave singlet pairing in the Eg symmetry. The Ising-like
magnetic-field response of the mode yields the strong anisotropy observed in
the upper critical field even for the rather isotropic 3-dimensional Fermi
surfaces of this compound.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Itinerant spin excitations near the hidden order transition in URu2Si2
By means of neutron scattering we show that the high-temperature precursor to
the hidden order state of the heavy fermion superconductor URuSi
exhibits heavily damped incommensurate paramagnons whose strong energy
dispersion is very similar to that of the long-lived longitudinal f-spin
excitations that appear below T. Since the underlying local f-exchange is
preserved we expect only the f-d interactions to change across the phase
transition and to cause the paramagnetic damping. The damping exhibits
single-ion behavior independent of wave vector and vanishes below the hidden
order transition. We suggest that this arises from a transition from valence
fluctuations to a hybridized f-d state below T. Here we present evidence
that the itinerant excitations, like those in chromium, are due to Fermi
surface nesting of hole and electron pockets so that the hidden order phase
likely originates from a Fermi-surface instability. We identify wave vectors
that span nested regions of a band calculation and that match the neutron spin
crossover from incommensurate to commensurate on approach to the hidden order
phase.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to be submitted to PR
Why the hidden order in URu2Si2 is still hidden - one simple answer
For more than two decades, the nonmagnetic anomaly observed around 17.5 K in
URu2Si2, has been investigated intensively. However, any kind of fingerprint
for the lattice anomaly has not been observed. Therefore, the order has been
called "the hidden order". One simple answer to why the hidden order is still
hidden is presented from the space group analysis. The second order phase
transition from I4/mmm (No. 139) to P4_2/mnm (No. 136) does not need any kind
of lattice distortion in this system, and allows the NQR frequency at Ru-site
unchanged. It is compatible with O_{xy}-type anti-ferro quadrupole ordering
with Q=(0, 0, 1). The characteristics of the hidden order are discussed based
on the local 5f^2 electron picture.Comment: Accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., 4 pages, 2 figure
An expression signature of the angiogenic response in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumours: correlation with tumour phenotype and survival outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs) are heterogeneous with respect to biological behaviour and prognosis. As angiogenesis is a renowned pathogenic hallmark as well as a therapeutic target, we aimed to investigate the prognostic and clinico-pathological role of tissue markers of hypoxia and angiogenesis in GEP-NETs. METHODS: Tissue microarray (TMA) blocks were constructed with 86 tumours diagnosed from 1988 to 2010. Tissue microarray sections were immunostained for hypoxia inducible factor 1α (Hif-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), carbonic anhydrase IX (Ca-IX) and somatostatin receptors (SSTR) 1–5, Ki-67 and CD31. Biomarker expression was correlated with clinico-pathological variables and tested for survival prediction using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression methods. RESULTS: Eighty-six consecutive cases were included: 51% male, median age 51 (range 16–82), 68% presenting with a pancreatic primary, 95% well differentiated, 51% metastatic. Higher grading (P=0.03), advanced stage (P<0.001), high Hif-1α and low SSTR-2 expression (P=0.03) predicted for shorter overall survival (OS) on univariate analyses. Stage, SSTR-2 and Hif-1α expression were confirmed as multivariate predictors of OS. Median OS for patients with SSTR-2+/Hif-1α-tumours was not reached after median follow up of 8.8 years, whereas SSTR-2-/Hif-1α+ GEP-NETs had a median survival of only 4.2 years (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: We have identified a coherent expression signature by immunohistochemistry that can be used for patient stratification and to optimise treatment decisions in GEP-NETs independently from stage and grading. Tumours with preserved SSTR-2 and low Hif-1α expression have an indolent phenotype and may be offered less aggressive management and less stringent follow up
A Study of Cosmic Ray Composition in the Knee Region using Multiple Muon Events in the Soudan 2 Detector
Deep underground muon events recorded by the Soudan 2 detector, located at a
depth of 2100 meters of water equivalent, have been used to infer the nuclear
composition of cosmic rays in the "knee" region of the cosmic ray energy
spectrum. The observed muon multiplicity distribution favors a composition
model with a substantial proton content in the energy region 800,000 -
13,000,000 GeV/nucleus.Comment: 38 pages including 11 figures, Latex, submitted to Physical Review
Superconductivity in Ce- and U-based "122" heavy-fermion compounds
This review discusses the heavy-fermion superconductivity in Ce- and U-based
compounds crystallizing in the body-centered tetragonal ThCr2Si2 structure.
Special attention will be paid to the theoretical background of these systems
which are located close to a magnetic instability.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures. Invited topical review (special issue on "Recent
Developments in Superconductivity") Metadata and references update
- …