Bloch-like oscillations in a one-dimensional lattice with long-range correlated disorder

We study the dynamics of an electron subjected to a uniform electric field within a tight-binding model with long-range-correlated diagonal disorder. The random distribution of site energies is assumed to have a power spectrum $S(k) \sim 1/k^{\alpha}$ with $\alpha > 0$. Moura and Lyra [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 81}, 3735 (1998)] predicted that this model supports a phase of delocalized states at the band center, separated from localized states by two mobility edges, provided $\alpha > 2$. We find clear signatures of Bloch-like oscillations of an initial Gaussian wave packet between the two mobility edges and determine the bandwidth of extended states, in perfect agreement with the zero-field prediction.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

On topological spin excitations on a rigid torus

We study Heisenberg model of classical spins lying on the toroidal support, whose internal and external radii are $r$ and $R$, respectively. The isotropic regime is characterized by a fractional soliton solution. Whenever the torus size is very large, $R\to\infty$, its charge equals unity and the soliton effectively lies on an infinite cylinder. However, for R=0 the spherical geometry is recovered and we obtain that configuration and energy of a soliton lying on a sphere. Vortex-like configurations are also supported: in a ring torus ($R>r$) such excitations present no core where energy could blow up. At the limit $R\to\infty$ we are effectively describing it on an infinite cylinder, where the spins appear to be practically parallel to each other, yielding no net energy. On the other hand, in a horn torus ($R=r$) a singular core takes place, while for $R<r$ (spindle torus) two such singularities appear. If $R$ is further diminished until vanish we recover vortex configuration on a sphere.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Topological insulator particles as optically induced oscillators: towards dynamical force measurements and optical rheology

We report the first experimental study upon the optical trapping and manipulation of topological insulator (TI) particles. By virtue of the unique TI properties, which have a conducting surface and an insulating bulk, the particles present a peculiar behaviour in the presence of a single laser beam optical tweezers: they oscillate in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the laser propagation, as a result of the competition between radiation pressure and gradient forces. In other words, TI particles behave as optically induced oscillators, allowing dynamical measurements with unprecedented simplicity and purely optical control. Actually, optical rheology of soft matter interfaces and biological membranes, as well as dynamical force measurements in macromolecules and biopolymers, may be quoted as feasible possibilities for the near future.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Correspondence and requests for Supplementary Material should be addressed to [email protected]

On multigraded generalizations of Kirillov-Reshetikhin modules

We study the category of Z^l-graded modules with finite-dimensional graded pieces for certain Z+^l-graded Lie algebras. We also consider certain Serre subcategories with finitely many isomorphism classes of simple objects. We construct projective resolutions for the simple modules in these categories and compute the Ext groups between simple modules. We show that the projective covers of the simple modules in these Serre subcategories can be regarded as multigraded generalizations of Kirillov-Reshetikhin modules and give a recursive formula for computing their graded characters

Magnetic monopole and string excitations in a two-dimensional spin ice

We study the magnetic excitations of a square lattice spin-ice recently produced in an artificial form, as an array of nanoscale magnets. Our analysis, based upon the dipolar interaction between the nanomagnetic islands, correctly reproduces the ground-state observed experimentally. In addition, we find magnetic monopole-like excitations effectively interacting by means of the usual Coulombic plus a linear confining potential, the latter being related to a string-like excitation binding the monopoles pairs, what indicates that the fractionalization of magnetic dipoles may not be so easy in two dimensions. These findings contrast this material with the three-dimensional analogue, where such monopoles experience only the Coulombic interaction. We discuss, however, two entropic effects that affect the monopole interactions: firstly, the string configurational entropy may loose the string tension and then, free magnetic monopoles should also be found in lower dimensional spin ices; secondly, in contrast to the string configurational entropy, an entropically driven Coulomb force, which increases with temperature, has the opposite effect of confining the magnetic defects.Comment: 8 pages. Accepted by Journal of Applied Physics (2009

Bloch oscillations in an aperiodic one-dimensional potential

We study the dynamics of an electron subjected to a static uniform electric field within a one-dimensional tight-binding model with a slowly varying aperiodic potential. The unbiased model is known to support phases of localized and extended one-electron states separated by two mobility edges. We show that the electric field promotes sustained Bloch oscillations of an initial Gaussian wave packet whose amplitude reflects the band width of extended states. The frequency of these oscillations exhibit unique features, such as a sensitivity to the initial wave packet position and a multimode structure for weak fields, originating from the characteristics of the underlying aperiodic potential.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Brazilian Patients Wearing Three Types of Lower Dentures: Psychosocial and Clinical Aspects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral health-related Quality of Life (QoL) of patients with edentulous lower jaws rehabilitated with conventional or implant-supported dentures. In the quest for greater QoL, especially among the elderly, it is important to evaluate how the use of dentures impacts physical and emotional well-being. Brazilian health care policy makers should be informed of the advantages of rehabilitation with implant-supported dentures. A cohort of 78 edentulous seniors was divided into three groups of 26 according to denture type: Conventional (CD), Implant-Supported Overdenture (IOD) and Fixed-Implant Prosthesis (FIP). To evaluate QoL, clinical and sociodemographic information was collected and the OHIP-20 questionnaire was administered, using a 5-point frequency scale, including a “don’t know” option. Chewing and pronunciation were less impacted in FIP and IOD than in CD (p=0.013 and p=0.027, respectively), while patients in the CD group reported more adaptation difficulties (p=0.006) and more frequent avoidance of hard-to-chew foods (p=0.032). The majority reported no interference of dentures with appearance and social life, regardless of denture type. Depending on the patient’s biological and financial circumstances, implant-supported dentures is the form of rehabilitation of edentulism providing the greatest improvement in QoL. The reported limitations and difficulties had no significant impact on satisfaction and QoL

Comfusy: A Tool for Complete Functional Synthesis

Synthesis of program fragments from specifications can make programs easier to write and easier to reason about. We present Comfusy, a tool that extends the compiler for the general-purpose programming language Scala with (non-reactive) functional synthesis over unbounded domains. Comfusy accepts expressions with input and output variables specifying relations on integers and sets. Comfusy symbolically computes the precise domain for the given relation and generates the function from inputs to outputs. The outputs are guaranteed to satisfy the relation whenever the inputs belong to the relation domain. The core of our synthesis algorithm is an extension of quantifier elimination that generates programs to compute witnesses for eliminated variables. We present examples that demonstrate software synthesis using Comfusy and illustrate how synthesis simplifies software development

Proposta de metodologia para análise de produtos biológicos à base de Trichoderma.

Diversos produtos à base de Trichoderma são comercializados no Brasil. As empresas produtoras estão legalizando a sua comercialização no MAPA. Com isso, surgiu a necessidade de desenvolver métodos padronizados para avaliar a qualidade destes produtos. Assim, foi criado o Projeto Qualibio, em que um dos objetivos é desenvolver metodologia para avaliação da qualidade de produtos à base de Trichoderma. Para isso, foram desenvolvidas e validadas as metodologias para avaliar o número de conídios, a porcentagem de conídios viáveis e a UFC, determinando-se a qualidade dos produtos nas formulações pó-molhável, pó-de-esporo, grânulos dispersíveis em água e óle