11,928 research outputs found
Semiflexible polymers under external fields confined to two dimensions
The non-equilibrium structural and dynamical properties of semiflexible
polymers confined to two dimensions are investigated by molecular dynamics
simulations. Three different scenarios are considered: The force-extension
relation of tethered polymers, the relaxation of an initially stretched
semiflexible polymer, and semiflexible polymers under shear flow. We find
quantitative agreement with theoretical predictions for the force-extension
relation and the time dependence of the entropically contracting polymer. The
semiflexible polymers under shear flow exhibit significant conformational
changes at large shear rates, where less stiff polymers are extended by the
flow, whereas rather stiff polymers are contracted. In addition, the polymers
are aligned by the flow, thereby the two-dimensional semiflexible polymers
behave similarly to flexible polymers in three dimensions. The tumbling times
display a power-law dependence at high shear rate rates with an exponent
comparable to the one of flexible polymers in three-dimensional systems.Comment: Accepted for publication in J. Chem. Phy
Radiation environment along the INTEGRAL orbit measured with the IREM monitor
The INTEGRAL Radiation Environment Monitor (IREM) is a payload supporting
instrument on board the INTEGRAL satellite. The monitor continually measures
electron and proton fluxes along the orbit and provides this information to the
spacecraft on board data handler. The mission alert system broadcasts it to the
payload instruments enabling them to react accordingly to the current radiation
level. Additionally, the IREM conducts its autonomous research mapping the
Earth radiation environment for the space weather program. Its scientific data
are available for further analysis almost without delay.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A+A letter
Ultrafast Magnetization Dynamics in Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors
We present a dynamical model that successfully explains the observed time
evolution of the magnetization in diluted magnetic semiconductor quantum wells
after weak laser excitation. Based on the pseudo-fermion formalism and a second
order many-particle expansion of the exact p-d exchange interaction, our
approach goes beyond the usual mean-field approximation. It includes both the
sub-picosecond demagnetization dynamics and the slower relaxation processes
which restore the initial ferromagnetic order in a nanosecond time scale. In
agreement with experimental results, our numerical simulations show that,
depending on the value of the initial lattice temperature, a subsequent
enhancement of the total magnetization may be observed within a time scale of
few hundreds of picoseconds.Comment: Submitted to PR
Optical orientation of electron spins in GaAs quantum wells
We present a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of the optical
orientation of electron spins in GaAs/AlAs quantum wells. Using time and
polarization resolved photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy, the initial
degree of electron spin polarization is measured as a function of excitation
energy for a sequence of quantum wells with well widths between 63 Ang and 198
Ang. The experimental results are compared with an accurate theory of excitonic
absorption taking fully into account electron-hole Coulomb correlations and
heavy-hole light-hole coupling. We find in wide quantum wells that the measured
initial degree of polarization of the luminescence follows closely the spin
polarization of the optically excited electrons calculated as a function of
energy. This implies that the orientation of the electron spins is essentially
preserved when the electrons relax from the optically excited high-energy
states to quasi-thermal equilibrium of their momenta. Due to initial spin
relaxation, the measured polarization in narrow quantum wells is reduced by a
constant factor that does not depend on the excitation energy.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure
Helical edge states in multiple topological mass domains
The two-dimensional topological insulating phase has been experimentally
discovered in HgTe quantum wells (QWs). The low-energy physics of
two-dimensional topological insulators (TIs) is described by the
Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang (BHZ) model, where the realization of a topological or a
normal insulating phase depends on the Dirac mass being negative or positive,
respectively. We solve the BHZ model for a mass domain configuration, analyzing
the effects on the edge modes of a finite Dirac mass in the normal insulating
region (soft-wall boundary condition). We show that at a boundary between a TI
and a normal insulator (NI), the Dirac point of the edge states appearing at
the interface strongly depends on the ratio between the Dirac masses in the two
regions. We also consider the case of multiple boundaries such as NI/TI/NI,
TI/NI/TI and NI/TI/NI/TI.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figure
Helical edge states in multiple topological mass domains
The two-dimensional topological insulating phase has been experimentally
discovered in HgTe quantum wells (QWs). The low-energy physics of
two-dimensional topological insulators (TIs) is described by the
Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang (BHZ) model, where the realization of a topological or a
normal insulating phase depends on the Dirac mass being negative or positive,
respectively. We solve the BHZ model for a mass domain configuration, analyzing
the effects on the edge modes of a finite Dirac mass in the normal insulating
region (soft-wall boundary condition). We show that at a boundary between a TI
and a normal insulator (NI), the Dirac point of the edge states appearing at
the interface strongly depends on the ratio between the Dirac masses in the two
regions. We also consider the case of multiple boundaries such as NI/TI/NI,
TI/NI/TI and NI/TI/NI/TI.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figure
INTEGRAL spectral variability study of the atoll 4U 1820-30: first detection of hard X-ray emission
We study the 4-200 keV spectral and temporal behaviour of the low mass X-ray
binary 4U 1820-30 with INTEGRAL during 2003-2005. This source as been observed
in both the soft (banana) and hard (island) spectral states. A high energy
tail, above 50 keV, in the hard state has been observed for the first time.
This places the source in the category of X-ray bursters showing high-energy
emission. The tail can be modeled as a soft power law component, with the
photon index of ~2.4, on top of thermal Comptonization emission from a plasma
with the electron temperature of kT_e~6 keV and optical depth of \tau~4.
Alternatively, but at a lower goodness of the fit, the hard-state broad band
spectrum can be accounted for by emission from a hybrid, thermal-nonthermal,
plasma. During this monitoring the source spent most of the time in the soft
state, usual for this source, and the >~4 keV spectra are represented by
thermal Comptonization with kT_e~3 keV and \tau~6-7.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication by Ap
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