Variational density matrix optimization using semidefinite programming

We discuss how semidefinite programming can be used to determine the second-order density matrix directly through a variational optimization. We show how the problem of characterizing a physical or N -representable density matrix leads to matrix-positivity constraints on the density matrix. We then formulate this in a standard semidefinite programming form, after which two interior point methods are discussed to solve the SDP. As an example we show the results of an application of the method on the isoelectronic series of Beryllium.Comment: corrected typos, added do

Barrier-controlled carrier transport in microcrystalline semiconducting materials: Description within a unified model

A recently developed model that unifies the ballistic and diffusive transport mechanisms is applied in a theoretical study of carrier transport across potential barriers at grain boundaries in microcrystalline semiconducting materials. In the unified model, the conductance depends on the detailed structure of the band edge profile and in a nonlinear way on the carrier mean free path. Equilibrium band edge profiles are calculated within the trapping model for samples made up of a linear chain of identical grains. Quantum corrections allowing for tunneling are included in the calculation of electron mobilities. The dependence of the mobilities on carrier mean free path, grain length, number of grains, and temperature is examined, and appreciable departures from the results of the thermionic-field-emission model are found. Specifically, the unified model is applied in an analysis of Hall mobility data for n-type microcrystalline Si thin films in the range of thermally activated transport. Owing mainly to the effect of tunneling, potential barrier heights derived from the data are substantially larger than the activation energies of the Hall mobilities. The specific features of the unified model, however, cannot be resolved within the rather large uncertainties of the analysis.Comment: REVTex, 19 pages, 9 figures; to appear in J. Appl. Phy

Prevention of hypermelanosis by rearing Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in net-lined tanks

In artificially reared flatfish, especially the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, pigmented skin (hypermelanosis) frequently appears on the fish’s blind side after normal metamorphosis. As no practical prevention method has yet been proposed, we examined the effectiveness of a loose net placed inside the rearing tank that covers the bottom and walls like a pouch. When juveniles (standard length [SL] 6 cm) were transferred to the net-lined tank (mesh size 4 mm) before the first appearance of hypermelanosis, the pigmented area after 2 months covered about 0.5% of the blind side; this is about 1/40th of the area covered by pigment in fish reared in an ordinary tank (20%). Although the initial appearance of pigmentation in the axilla area (the area covered by the pectoral fin) was not suppressed, utilization of a larger mesh size (12 mm) decreased the expansion of pigmentation in this area. Juveniles reared in the net-lined tank were about 5–15% smaller (SL) than those reared in the ordinary tank, but their body depth:SL ratio was closer to that of wild-caught juveniles. From the results of this study, we propose that net-lined rearing tanks with larger-sized mesh are a practical method of preventing hypermelanosis in Japanese flounder aquaculture systems

Avaliação de testes estatísticos em dados de Q-PCR.

A Q-PCR (Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) é uma técnica que permite quantificar de forma precisa, especifica e indireta a quantidade de RNA mensageiro presente em uma determinada amostra. A Q-PCR apresenta vantagens metodológicas para a quantificação do RNA mensageiro quando comparada às técnicas de Northern Blot e Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction, facilitando estudos de expressão gênica diferenciada. No entanto, experimentos de Q-PCR freqüentemente apresentam limitações amostrais (6= N =12) e são analisados por testes estatísticos tradicionais (paramétricos) sem a devida verificação da condição de normalidade da variável resposta e de homogeneidade das variâncias dos grupos experimentais, exigidas nesses testes. O presente trabalho avaliou quatro testes estatísticos de comparação de médias e/ou medianas, entre os grupos controle(C) e tratado (T), com objetivo de propor o teste mais adequado para estudar expressão gênica com dados de Q-PCR. O experimento foi realizado na Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste ? São Carlos, Brasil, utilizando 10 bezerros Nelore (Bos indicus), divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos de cinco animais: grupo tratado (T) infestado artificialmente com carrapatos Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus e grupo controle (C) livre de infestação. Os dados foram submetidos a quatro diferentes testes estatísticos, sendo o primeiro paramétrico (ANOVA com teste t) e os demais não-paramétricos (teste de mediana, boot strap, e Rest.). Quando o gene referência (gene de expressão constitutiva) apresentou pequena variação entre os tratamentos (0,6 = P = 1) os testes estatísticos, com exceção do teste de mediana, apresentaram valores de probabilidade confiáveis e semelhantes. Porém, quando o gene referência apresentou variação entre os tratamentos (P = 0,6) todos os testes apresentaram resultados distintos, e o teste Rest©, não-paramétrico, de comparações das médias e com ajustes para eficiência de amplificação do primer e valores de probabilidade do gene referência, foi o mais adequado para analisar dados de Q-PCR

Quantum spin pumping mediated by magnon

We theoretically propose quantum spin pumping mediated by magnons, under a time-dependent transverse magnetic field, at the interface between a ferromagnetic insulator and a non-magnetic metal. The generation of a spin current under a thermal equilibrium condition is discussed by calculating the spin transfer torque, which breaks the spin conservation law for conduction electrons and operates the coherent magnon state. Localized spins lose spin angular momentum by emitting magnons and conduction electrons flip from down to up by absorbing the momentum. The spin transfer torque has a resonance structure as a function of the angular frequency of the applied transverse field. This fact is useful to enhance the spin pumping effect induced by quantum fluctuations. We also discuss the distinction between our quantum spin pumping theory and the one proposed by Tserkovnyak et al.Comment: 27 pages, 2 figures. v2; the detail of the calculation has been added in Appendix. The distinction from the spin pumping theory proposed by Tserkovnyak et al. has been clarified in section 5. v3; typos correcte