7,406 research outputs found
Non-equilibrium fixed points of coupled Ising models
Driven-dissipative systems are expected to give rise to non-equilibrium
phenomena that are absent in their equilibrium counterparts. However, phase
transitions in these systems generically exhibit an effectively classical
equilibrium behavior in spite of their non-equilibrium origin. In this paper,
we show that multicritical points in such systems lead to a rich and genuinely
non-equilibrium behavior. Specifically, we investigate a driven-dissipative
model of interacting bosons that possesses two distinct phase transitions: one
from a high- to a low-density phase---reminiscent of a liquid-gas
transition---and another to an antiferromagnetic phase. Each phase transition
is described by the Ising universality class characterized by an (emergent or
microscopic) symmetry. They, however, coalesce at a
multicritical point, giving rise to a non-equilibrium model of coupled
Ising-like order parameters described by a
symmetry. Using a dynamical renormalization-group approach, we show that a pair
of non-equilibrium fixed points (NEFPs) emerge that govern the long-distance
critical behavior of the system. We elucidate various exotic features of these
NEFPs. In particular, we show that a generic continuous scale invariance at
criticality is reduced to a discrete scale invariance. This further results in
complex-valued critical exponents and spiraling phase boundaries, and it is
also accompanied by a complex Liouvillian gap even close to the phase
transition. As direct evidence of the non-equilibrium nature of the NEFPs, we
show that the fluctuation-dissipation relation is violated at all scales,
leading to an effective temperature that becomes "hotter" and "hotter" at
longer and longer wavelengths. Finally, we argue that this non-equilibrium
behavior can be observed in cavity arrays with cross-Kerr nonlinearities.Comment: 19+11 pages, 7+9 figure
Fractional Chern insulator edges and layer-resolved lattice contacts
Fractional Chern insulators (FCIs) realized in fractional quantum Hall
systems subject to a periodic potential are topological phases of matter for
which space group symmetries play an important role. In particular, lattice
dislocations in an FCI can host topology-altering non-Abelian topological
defects, known as genons. Genons are of particular interest for their potential
application to topological quantum computing. In this work, we study FCI edges
and how they can be used to detect genons. We find that translation symmetry
can impose a quantized momentum difference between the edge electrons of a
partially-filled Chern band. We propose {\it layer-resolved lattice contacts},
which utilize this momentum difference to selectively contact a particular FCI
edge electron. The relative current between FCI edge electrons can then be used
to detect the presence of genons in the bulk FCI. Recent experiments have
demonstrated graphene is a viable platform to study FCI physics. We describe
how the lattice contacts proposed here could be implemented in graphene subject
to an artificial lattice, thereby outlining a path forward for experimental
dectection of non-Abelian topological defects.Comment: 5+7 pages, 10 figures, v2: modified figure
An Efficient Targeting Strategy for Multiobject Spectrograph Surveys: the Sloan Digital Sky Survey "Tiling" Algorithm
Large surveys using multiobject spectrographs require automated methods for deciding how to efficiently point observations and how to assign targets to each pointing. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) will observe around 10 6 spectra from targets distributed over an area of about 10,000 deg2, using a multiobject fiber spectrograph that can simultaneously observe 640 objects in a circular field of view (referred to as a "tile") 1°.49 in radius. No two fibers can be placed closer than 55Prime; during the same observation; multiple targets closer than this distance are said to "collide." We present here a method of allocating fibers to desired targets given a set of tile centers that includes the effects of collisions and that is nearly optimally efficient and uniform. Because of large-scale structure in the galaxy distribution (which form the bulk of the SDSS targets), a naive covering of the sky with equally spaced tiles does not yield uniform sampling. Thus, we present a heuristic for perturbing the centers of the tiles from the equally spaced distribution that provides more uniform completeness. For the SDSS sample, we can attain a sampling rate of greater than 92% for all targets, and greater than 99% for the set of targets that do not collide with each other, with an efficiency greater than 90% (defined as the fraction of available fibers assigned to targets). The methods used here may prove useful to those planning other large surveys
Criterion validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: Investigation in a non-clinical sample
The objective of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in a non-clinical sample consisting of younger and older adults. There has been little research validating the PSQI with respect to multinight recording as with actigraphy, and more validation is needed in samples not specifically selected for clinical disturbance. Also, the degree to which the PSQI scores may reflect depressive symptoms versus actual sleep disturbance remains unclear. One-hundred and twelve volunteers (53 younger and 59 older) were screened for their ability to perform treadmill exercises; inclusion was not based on sleep disturbance or depression. Internal homogeneity was evaluated by correlating PSQI component scores with the global score. Global and component scores were correlated with a sleep diary, actigraphy, and centers for epidemiological studies – depression scale scores to investigate criterion validity. Results showed high internal homogeneity. PSQI global score correlated appreciably with sleep diary variables and the depression scale, but not with any actigraphic sleep variables. These results suggest that the PSQI has good internal homogeneity, but may be less reflective of actual sleep parameters than a negative cognitive viewpoint or pessimistic thinking. The sleep complaints measured may often be more indicative of general dissatisfaction than of any specifically sleep-related disturbance
How does iron interact with sporopollenin exine capsules? An X-ray absorption study including microfocus XANES and XRF imaging
Sporopollenin exine capsules (SECs) derived from plant spores and pollen grains have been proposed as adsorption, remediation and drug delivery agents. Despite many studies there is scant structural data available. This X-ray absorption investigation represents the first direct structural data on the interaction of metals with SECs and allows elucidation of their structure–property relationships. Fe K-edge XANES and EXAFS data have shown that the iron local environment in SECs (derived from Lycopodium clavatum) reacted with aqueous ferric chloride solutions is similar to that of ferrihydrite (FeOOH) and by implication ferritin. Fe Kα XRF micro-focus experiments show that there is a poor correlation between the iron distribution and the underlying SEC structure indicating that the SEC is coated in the FeOOH material. In contrast, the Fe Kα XRF micro-focus experiments on SECs reacted with aqueous ferrous chloride solutions show that there is a very high correlation between the iron distribution and the SEC structure, indicating a much more specific form of interaction of the iron with the SEC surface functional groups. Fe K-edge XANES and EXAFS data show that the FeII can be easily oxidised to give a structure similar to, but not identical to that in the FeIII case, and that even if anaerobic conditions are used there is still partial oxidation to FeIII
An Efficient Targeting Strategy for Multiobject Spectrograph Surveys: the Sloan Digital Sky Survey “Tiling” Algorithm
Large surveys using multiobject spectrographs require automated methods for deciding how to efficiently point observations and how to assign targets to each pointing. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) will observe around 106 spectra from targets distributed over an area of about 10,000 deg2 , using a multiobject fiber spectrograph that can simultaneously observe 640 objects in a circular field of view (referred to as a ‘‘ tile ’’) 1= 49 in radius. No two fibers can be placed closer than 5500 during the same observation; multiple targets closer than this distance are said to ‘‘ collide.’’ We present here a method of allocating fibers to desired targets given a set of tile centers that includes the effects of collisions and that is nearly optimally efficient and uniform. Because of large-scale structure in the galaxy distribution (which form the bulk of the SDSS targets), a naive covering of the sky with equally spaced tiles does not yield uniform sampling. Thus, we present a heuristic for perturbing the centers of the tiles from the equally spaced distribution that provides more uniform completeness. For the SDSS sample, we can attain a sampling rate of greater than 92% for all targets, and greater than 99% for the set of targets that do not collide with each other, with an efficiency greater than 90% (defined as the fraction of available fibers assigned to targets). The methods used here may prove useful to those planning other large surveys
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