75,495 research outputs found
Kosterlitz-Thouless and Potts transitions in a generalized XY model
We present extensive numerical simulations of a generalized XY model with
nematic-like terms recently proposed by Poderoso {\it et al} [PRL
106(2011)067202]. Using finite size scaling and focusing on the case, we
locate the transitions between the paramagnetic (P), the nematic-like (N) and
the ferromagnetic (F) phases. The results are compared with the recently
derived lower bounds for the P-N and P-F transitions. While the P-N transition
is found to be very close to the lower bound, the P-F transition occurs
significantly above the bound. Finally, the transition between the nematic-like
and the ferromagnetic phases is found to belong to the 3-states Potts
universality class.Comment: Extended and updated version of arXiv:1207.3447v
Competing nematic interactions in a generalized XY model in two and three dimensions
We study a generalization of the XY model with an additional nematic-like
term through extensive numerical simulations and finite-size techniques, both
in two and three dimensions. While the original model favors local alignment,
the extra term induces angles of between neighboring spins. We focus
here on the case (while presenting new results for other values of as
well) whose phase diagram is much richer than the well known case. In
particular, the model presents not only continuous, standard transitions
between Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phases as in , but also
infinite order transitions involving intermediate, competition driven phases
absent for and 3. Besides presenting multiple transitions, our results
show that having vortices decoupling at a transition is not a suficient
condition for it to be of BKT type.Comment: 13 pages, 16 figure
Significance of interface anisotropy in laser induced magnetization precession in ferromagnetic metal films
Laser induced ultrafast demagnetization in ferromagnetic metals was
discovered almost 20 years ago, but currently there is still lack of consensus
on the microscopic mechanism responsible for the corresponding transfer of
angular momentum and energy between electron, lattice and spin subsystems. A
distinct, but intrinsically correlated phenomenon occurring on a longer
timescale is the magnetization precession after the ultrafast demagnetization
process, if a magnetic field is applied to tilt the magnetization vector away
from its easy direction, which can be attributed to the change of anisotropy
after laser heating. In an in-plane magnetized Pt/Co/Pt thin film with
perpendicular interface anisotropy, we found excellent agreement between
theoretical prediction with plausible parameters and experimental data measured
using time resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. This agreement confirms that
the time evolution of the anisotropy field, which is driven by the interaction
between electrons and phonons, determines the magnetization precession
completely. A detailed analysis shows that, even though the whole sample is
magnetized in-plane, the dynamic interface anisotropy field dictates the
initial phase of the magnetization precession, highlighting the significance of
the interface anisotropy field in laser induced magnetization precession.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure
Poly(acrylic acid)-coated iron oxide nanoparticles : quantitative evaluation of the coating properties and applications for the removal of a pollutant dye
In this work, 6 to 12 nm iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized and coated
with poly(acrylic acid) chains of molecular weight 2100 g/mol. Based on a
quantitative evaluation of the dispersions, the bare and coated particles were
thoroughly characterized. The number densities of polymers adsorbed at the
particle surface and of available chargeable groups were found to be 1.9 +/-
0.3 nm-2 and 26 +/- 4 nm-2, respectively. Occurring via a multi-site binding
mechanism, the electrostatic coupling leads to a solid and resilient anchoring
of the chains. To assess the efficacy of the particles for pollutant
remediation, the adsorption isotherm of methylene blue molecules, a model of
pollutant, was determined. The excellent agreement between the predicted and
measured amounts of adsorbed dyes suggests that most carboxylates participate
to the complexation and adsorption mechanisms. An adsorption of 830 mg/g was
obtained. This quantity compares well with the highest values available for
this dye.Comment: 14 pages 5 figures, accepted 06-Dec-2012; Journal of Colloid and
Interface Science (2013
Block-Conditional Missing at Random Models for Missing Data
Two major ideas in the analysis of missing data are (a) the EM algorithm
[Dempster, Laird and Rubin, J. Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. B 39 (1977) 1--38] for
maximum likelihood (ML) estimation, and (b) the formulation of models for the
joint distribution of the data and missing data indicators , and
associated "missing at random"; (MAR) condition under which a model for
is unnecessary [Rubin, Biometrika 63 (1976) 581--592]. Most previous work has
treated and as single blocks, yielding selection or pattern-mixture
models depending on how their joint distribution is factorized. This paper
explores "block-sequential"; models that interleave subsets of the variables
and their missing data indicators, and then make parameter restrictions based
on assumptions in each block. These include models that are not MAR. We examine
a subclass of block-sequential models we call block-conditional MAR (BCMAR)
models, and an associated block-monotone reduced likelihood strategy that
typically yields consistent estimates by selectively discarding some data.
Alternatively, full ML estimation can often be achieved via the EM algorithm.
We examine in some detail BCMAR models for the case of two multinomially
distributed categorical variables, and a two block structure where the first
block is categorical and the second block arises from a (possibly multivariate)
exponential family distribution.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/10-STS344 the Statistical
Science (http://www.imstat.org/sts/) by the Institute of Mathematical
Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
- …