99 research outputs found
Entropy-driven phase transition in a polydisperse hard-rods lattice system
We study a system of rods on the 2d square lattice, with hard-core exclusion.
Each rod has a length between 2 and N. We show that, when N is sufficiently
large, and for suitable fugacity, there are several distinct Gibbs states, with
orientational long-range order. This is in sharp contrast with the case N=2
(the monomer-dimer model), for which Heilmann and Lieb proved absence of phase
transition at any fugacity. This is the first example of a pure hard-core
system with phases displaying orientational order, but not translational order;
this is a fundamental characteristic feature of liquid crystals
General Theory of Lee-Yang Zeros in Models with First-Order Phase Transitions
We present a general, rigorous theory of Lee-Yang zeros for models with
first-order phase transitions that admit convergent contour expansions. We
derive formulas for the positions and the density of the zeros. In particular,
we show that for models without symmetry, the curves on which the zeros lie are
generically not circles, and can have topologically nontrivial features, such
as bifurcation. Our results are illustrated in three models in a complex field:
the low-temperature Ising and Blume-Capel models, and the -state Potts model
for large enough.Comment: 4 pgs, 2 figs, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
Mean-field driven first-order phase transitions in systems with long-range interactions
We consider a class of spin systems on with vector valued spins
(\bS_x) that interact via the pair-potentials J_{x,y} \bS_x\cdot\bS_y. The
interactions are generally spread-out in the sense that the 's exhibit
either exponential or power-law fall-off. Under the technical condition of
reflection positivity and for sufficiently spread out interactions, we prove
that the model exhibits a first-order phase transition whenever the associated
mean-field theory signals such a transition. As a consequence, e.g., in
dimensions , we can finally provide examples of the 3-state Potts model
with spread-out, exponentially decaying interactions, which undergoes a
first-order phase transition as the temperature varies. Similar transitions are
established in dimensions for power-law decaying interactions and in
high dimensions for next-nearest neighbor couplings. In addition, we also
investigate the limit of infinitely spread-out interactions. Specifically, we
show that once the mean-field theory is in a unique ``state,'' then in any
sequence of translation-invariant Gibbs states various observables converge to
their mean-field values and the states themselves converge to a product
measure.Comment: 57 pages; uses a (modified) jstatphys class fil
Band structure of CuMnAs probed by optical and photoemission spectroscopy
The tetragonal phase of CuMnAs progressively appears as one of the key materials for antiferromagnetic spintronics due to efficient current-induced spin-torques whose existence can be directly inferred from crystal symmetry. Theoretical understanding of spintronic phenomena in this material, however, relies on the detailed knowledge of electronic structure (band structure and corresponding wave functions) which has so far been tested only to a limited extent. We show that AC permittivity (obtained from ellipsometry) and UV photoelectron spectra agree with density functional calculations. Together with the x-ray diffraction and precession electron diffraction tomography, our analysis confirms recent theoretical claim [Phys. Rev. B 96, 094406 (2017)] that copper atoms occupy lattice positions in the basal plane of the tetragonal unit cell
On the Gibbs states of the noncritical Potts model on Z^2
We prove that all Gibbs states of the q-state nearest neighbor Potts model on
Z^2 below the critical temperature are convex combinations of the q pure
phases; in particular, they are all translation invariant. To achieve this
goal, we consider such models in large finite boxes with arbitrary boundary
condition, and prove that the center of the box lies deeply inside a pure phase
with high probability. Our estimate of the finite-volume error term is of
essentially optimal order, which stems from the Brownian scaling of fluctuating
interfaces. The results hold at any supercritical value of the inverse
temperature.Comment: Minor typos corrected after proofreading. Final version, to appear in
Probab. Theory Relat. Field
SARS-CoV-2 variants, spike mutations and immune escape.
Although most mutations in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome are expected to be either deleterious and swiftly purged or relatively neutral, a small proportion will affect functional properties and may alter infectivity, disease severity or interactions with host immunity. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 was followed by a period of relative evolutionary stasis lasting about 11 months. Since late 2020, however, SARS-CoV-2 evolution has been characterized by the emergence of sets of mutations, in the context of 'variants of concern', that impact virus characteristics, including transmissibility and antigenicity, probably in response to the changing immune profile of the human population. There is emerging evidence of reduced neutralization of some SARS-CoV-2 variants by postvaccination serum; however, a greater understanding of correlates of protection is required to evaluate how this may impact vaccine effectiveness. Nonetheless, manufacturers are preparing platforms for a possible update of vaccine sequences, and it is crucial that surveillance of genetic and antigenic changes in the global virus population is done alongside experiments to elucidate the phenotypic impacts of mutations. In this Review, we summarize the literature on mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, the primary antigen, focusing on their impacts on antigenicity and contextualizing them in the protein structure, and discuss them in the context of observed mutation frequencies in global sequence datasets
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-B.1.1.529 leads to widespread escape from neutralizing antibody responses
On 24th November 2021, the sequence of a new SARS-CoV-2 viral isolate Omicron-B.1.1.529 was announced, containing far more mutations in Spike (S) than previously reported variants. Neutralization titers of Omicron by sera from vaccinees and convalescent subjects infected with early pandemic Alpha, Beta, Gamma, or Delta are substantially reduced, or the sera failed to neutralize. Titers against Omicron are boosted by third vaccine doses and are high in both vaccinated individuals and those infected by Delta. Mutations in Omicron knock out or substantially reduce neutralization by most of the large panel of potent monoclonal antibodies and antibodies under commercial development. Omicron S has structural changes from earlier viruses and uses mutations that confer tight binding to ACE2 to unleash evolution driven by immune escape. This leads to a large number of mutations in the ACE2 binding site and rebalances receptor affinity to that of earlier pandemic viruses
- …