10,695 research outputs found
A heuristic approach to the weakly interacting Bose gas
Some thermodynamic properties of weakly interacting Bose systems are derived
from dimensional and heuristic arguments and thermodynamic relations, without
resorting to statistical mechanics
Causality-based criteria for a negative refractive index must be used with care
Using the principle of causality as expressed in the Kramers-Kronig
relations, we derive a generalized criterion for a negative refractive index
that admits imperfect transparency at an observation frequency . It
also allows us to relate the global properties of the loss (i.e. its frequency
response) to its local behaviour at . However, causality-based criteria
rely the on the group velocity, not the Poynting vector. Since the two are not
equivalent, we provide some simple examples to compare the two criteria.Comment: slightly longer version of published PR
Slow light in moving media
We review the theory of light propagation in moving media with extremely low
group velocity. We intend to clarify the most elementary features of
monochromatic slow light in a moving medium and, whenever possible, to give an
instructive simplified picture
Energy-momentum balance in quantum dielectrics
We calculate the energy-momentum balance in quantum dielectrics such as
Bose-Einstein condensates. In agreement with the experiment [G. K. Campbell et
al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 170403 (2005)] variations of the Minkowski momentum
are imprinted onto the phase, whereas the Abraham tensor drives the flow of the
dielectric. Our analysis indicates that the Abraham-Minkowski controversy has
its root in the Roentgen interaction of the electromagnetic field in dielectric
media
Fermi-liquid effects in the gapless state of marginally thin superconducting films
We present low temperature tunneling density-of-states measurements in Al
films in high parallel magnetic fields. The thickness range of the films, t=6-9
nm, was chosen so that the orbital and Zeeman contributions to their parallel
critical fields were comparable. In this quasi-spin paramagnetically limited
configuration, the field produces a significant suppression of the gap, and at
high fields the gapless state is reached. By comparing measured and calculated
tunneling spectra we are able to extract the value of the antisymmetric
Fermi-liquid parameter G^0 and thereby deduce the quasiparticle density
dependence of the effective parameter G^0_{eff} across the gapless state.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
A quantum violation of the second law?
An apparent violation of the second law of thermodynamics occurs when an atom
coupled to a zero-temperature bath, being necessarily in an excited state, is
used to extract work from the bath. Here the fallacy is that it takes work to
couple the atom to the bath and this work must exceed that obtained from the
atom. For the example of an oscillator coupled to a bath described by the
single relaxation time model, the mean oscillator energy and the minimum work
required to couple the oscillator to the bath are both calculated explicitly
and in closed form. It is shown that the minimum work always exceeds the mean
oscillator energy, so there is no violation of the second law
Zero Lattice Sound
We study the N_f-flavor Gross-Neveu model in 2+1 dimensions with a baryon
chemical potential mu, using both analytical and numerical methods. In
particular, we study the self-consistent Boltzmann equation in the Fermi liquid
framework using the quasiparticle interaction calculated to O(1/N_f), and find
solutions for zero sound propagation for almost all mu > mu_c, the critical
chemical potential for chiral symmetry restoration. Next we present results of
a numerical lattice simulation, examining temporal correlation functions of
mesons defined using a point-split interpolating operator, and finding evidence
for phonon-like behaviour characterised by a linear dispersion relation in the
long wavelength limit. We argue that our results provide the first evidence for
a collective excitation in a lattice simulation.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure
Effects of electrostatic fields and Casimir force on cantilever vibrations
The effect of an external bias voltage and fluctuating electromagnetic fields
on both the fundamental frequency and damping of cantilever vibrations is
considered. An external voltage induces surface charges causing
cantilever-sample electrostatic attraction. A similar effect arises from
charged defects in dielectrics that cause spatial fluctuations of electrostatic
fields. The cantilever motion results in charge displacements giving rise to
Joule losses and damping. It is shown that the dissipation increases with
decreasing conductivity and thickness of the substrate, a result that is
potentially useful for sample diagnostics. Fluctuating electromagnetic fields
between the two surfaces also induce attractive (Casimir) forces. It is shown
that the shift in the cantilever fundamental frequency due to the Casimir force
is close to the shift observed in recent experiments of Stipe et al. Both the
electrostatic and Casimir forces have a strong effect on the cantilever
eigenfrequencies, and both effects depend on the geometry of the cantilever
tip. We consider cylindrical, spherical, and ellipsoidal tips moving parallel
to a flat sample surface. The dependence of the cantilever effective mass and
vibrational frequencies on the geometry of the tip is studied both numerically
and analytically
A general maximum entropy principle for self-gravitating perfect fluid
We consider a self-gravitating system consisting of perfect fluid with
spherical symmetry. Using the general expression of entropy density, we
extremize the total entropy under the constraint that the total number of
particles is fixed. We show that extrema of coincides precisely with the
relativistic Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) equation of hydrostatic
equilibrium. Furthermore, we apply the maximum entropy principle to a charged
perfect fluid and derive the generalized TOV equation. Our work provides a
strong evidence for the fundamental relationship between general relativity and
ordinary thermodynamics.Comment: 13 pages, no figure. The arguments have been improved so that the
assumption p=p(\rho) is no longer neede
- …