The Effect of Columnar Disorder on the Superconducting Transition of a Type-II Superconductor in Zero Applied Magnetic Field

We investigate the effect of random columnar disorder on the superconducting phase transition of a type-II superconductor in zero applied magnetic field using numerical simulations of three dimensional XY and vortex loop models. We consider both an unscreened model, in which the bare magnetic penetration length is approximated as infinite, and a strongly screened model, in which the magnetic penetration length is of order the vortex core radius. We consider both equilibrium and dynamic critical exponents. We show that, as in the disorder free case, the equilibrium transitions of the unscreened and strongly screened models lie in the same universality class, however scaling is now anisotropic. We find for the correlation length exponent $\nu=1.2\pm 0.1$, and for the anisotropy exponent $\zeta=1.3\pm 0.1$. We find different dynamic critical exponents for the unscreened and strongly screened models.Comment: 30 pages 12 ps figure

Resistance scaling at the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition

We study the linear resistance at the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition by Monte Carlo simulation of vortex dynamics. Finite size scaling analysis of our data show excellent agreement with scaling properties of the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. We also compare our results for the linear resistance with experiments. By adjusting the vortex chemical potential to an optimum value, the resistance at temperatures above the transition temperature agrees well with experiments over many decades.Comment: 7 pages, 4 postscript figures included, LATEX, KTH-CMT-94-00

Monte Carlo calculation of the current-voltage characteristics of a two dimensional lattice Coulomb gas

We have studied the nonlinear current-voltage characteristic of a two dimensional lattice Coulomb gas by Monte Carlo simulation. We present three different determinations of the power-law exponent $a(T)$ of the nonlinear current-voltage characteristic, $V \sim I^{a(T)+1}$. The determinations rely on both equilibrium and non-equilibrium simulations. We find good agreement between the different determinations, and our results also agree closely with experimental results for Hg-Xe thin film superconductors and for certain single crystal thin-film high temperature superconductors.Comment: late

Current--Voltage Characteristics of Two--Dimensional Vortex Glass Models

We have performed Monte Carlo simulations to determine current--voltage characteristics of two different vortex glass models in two dimensions. The results confirm the conclusions of earlier studies that there is a transition at $T=0$. In addition we find that, as $T\to 0$, the linear resistance vanishes exponentially, and the current scale, $J_{nl}$, where non-linearities appear in the $I$--$V$ characteristics varies roughly as $T^3$, quite different from the predictions of conventional flux creep theory, $J_{nl} \sim T$. The results for the two models agree quite well with each other, and also agree fairly well with recent experiments on very thin films of YBCO.Comment: 18 pages with 10 figures available upon request from R. A. Hyman at [email protected]. The only change in the new version is the deletion of an unimportant comment.IUCM94-01

Vortex matter in the charged Bose liquid at absolute zero

The Gross-Pitaevskii-type equation is solved for the charge Bose liquid in the external magnetic field at zero temperature. There is a vortex lattice with locally broken charge neutrality. The boson density is modulated in real space and each vortex is charged. Remarkably, there is no upper critical field at zero temperature, so the density of single flux-quantum vortices monotonously increases with the magnetic field up to B=infinity and no indication of a phase transition. The size of each vortex core decreases as about 1/sqrt(B) keeping the system globally charge neutral. If bosons are composed of two fermions, a phase transition to a spin-polarized Fermi liquid at some magnetic field larger than the pair-breaking field is predicted.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, references update

Vortex glass transition in a random pinning model

We study the vortex glass transition in disordered high temperature superconductors using Monte Carlo simulations. We use a random pinning model with strong point-correlated quenched disorder, a net applied magnetic field, longrange vortex interactions, and periodic boundary conditions. From a finite size scaling study of the helicity modulus, the RMS current, and the resistivity, we obtain critical exponents at the phase transition. The new exponents differ substantially from those of the gauge glass model, but are consistent with those of the pure three-dimensional XY model.Comment: 7 pages RevTeX, 4 eps figure

Spin Bose Glass Phase in Bilayer Quantum Hall Systems at ν=2\nu=2

We develop an effective spin theory to describe magnetic properties of the $\nu=2$ Quantum Hall bilayer systems. In the absence of disorder this theory gives quantitative agreement with the results of microscopic Hartree-Fock calculations, and for finite disorder it predicts the existence of a novel spin Bose glass phase. The Bose glass is characterized by the presence of domains of canted antiferromagnetic phase with zero average antiferromagnetic order and short range mean antiferromagnetic correlations. It has infinite antiferromagnetic transverse susceptibility, finite longitudinal spin susceptibility and specific heat linear in temperature. Transition from the canted antiferromagnet phase to the spin Bose glass phase is characterized by a universal value of the longitudinal spin conductance.Comment: 4 pages, 4 eps figure

Thirteen new BL Lacertae objects discovered by an efficient x ray/radio/optical technique

The discovery of 13 serendipitous BL Lac objects in the Einstein IPC Slew Survey by means of x ray/radio vs. x ray/optical color-color diagrams and confirmation by optical spectroscopy are reported. These 13 BL Lacs were discovered using a technique which exploits the characteristic broad band spectra of BL Lacs. New VLA detections provide accurate fluxes (f(6 cm) is approximately 0.5 mJy) and 2 in. positions, facilitating the determination of an optical counterpart. All 13 new BL Lacs show essentially featureless optical spectra. Nine of these lie within the range of colors of known x ray selected BL Lacs. Of the remaining four, one is apparently x ray louder (by a factor of 1.5) or optically quieter (by 0.8 mags); and three are optically louder (by 1-1.3 mags) than x ray selected BL Lacs. Approximately 50 new BL Lacs in total are expected from VLA work and upcoming Australia Telescope observations, yielding a complete Slew Survey sample of approximately 90 BL Lacs

Preliminary design study of a baseline MIUS

Results of a conceptual design study to establish a baseline design for a modular integrated utility system (MIUS) are presented. The system concept developed a basis for evaluating possible projects to demonstrate an MIUS. For the baseline study, climate conditions for the Washington, D.C., area were used. The baseline design is for a high density apartment complex of 496 dwelling units with a planned full occupancy of approximately 1200 residents. Environmental considerations and regulations for the MIUS installation are discussed. Detailed cost data for the baseline MIUS are given together with those for design and operating variations under climate conditions typified by Las Vegas, Nevada, Houston, Texas, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. In addition, results of an investigation of size variation effects, for 300 and 1000 unit apartment complexes, are presented. Only conceptual aspects of the design are discussed. Results regarding energy savings and costs are intended only as trend information and for use in relative comparisons. Alternate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning concepts are considered in the appendix