Hollow Gaussian Schell-model beam and its propagation

In this paper, we present a new model, hollow Gaussian-Schell model beams (HGSMBs), to describe the practical dark hollow beams. An analytical propagation formula for HGSMBs passing through a paraxial first-order optical system is derived based on the theory of coherence. Based on the derived formula, an application example showing the influence of spatial coherence on the propagation of beams is illustrated. It is found that the beam propagating properties of HGSMBs will be greatly affected by their spatial coherence. Our model provides a very convenient way for analyzing the propagation properties of partially coherent dark hollow beams.Comment: 13pages, 2 figure

Spin-Phonon Coupling in Iron Pnictide Superconductors

The magnetic moment in the parent phase of the iron-pnictide superconductors varies with composition even when the nominal charge of iron is unchanged. We propose the spin-lattice coupling due to the magneto-volume effect as the primary origin of this effect, and formulate a Landau theory to describe the dependence of the moment to the Fe-As layer separation. We then compare the superconductive critical temperature of doped iron pnictides to the local moment predicted by the theory, and suggest that the spin-phonon coupling may play a role in the superconductivity of this compound

SYNTHESIS OF CYCLOBUTANE ANALOGUES

2-(3-Acetyl-2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)acetic acid (pinonic acid) was synthesized using α-pinene as raw material and potassium permanganate as oxidant. This compound reacted with substituted aniline to produce eight kinds of derivatives with cyclobutane moiety. The yields of the cyclobutane analogues ranged from 24.9 to 78.2 %. KEY WORDS: Cyclobutane analogues, Pinonic acid, Oxidation Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2009, 23(1), 135-139

Kinetic frustration and the nature of the magnetic and paramagnetic states in iron pnictides and iron chalcogenides

The iron pnictide and chalcogenide compounds are a subject of intensive investigations due to their high temperature superconductivity.\cite{a-LaFeAsO} They all share the same structure, but there is significant variation in their physical properties, such as magnetic ordered moments, effective masses, superconducting gaps and T$_c$. Many theoretical techniques have been applied to individual compounds but no consistent description of the trends is available \cite{np-review}. We carry out a comparative theoretical study of a large number of iron-based compounds in both their magnetic and paramagnetic states. We show that the nature of both states is well described by our method and the trends in all the calculated physical properties such as the ordered moments, effective masses and Fermi surfaces are in good agreement with experiments across the compounds. The variation of these properties can be traced to variations in the key structural parameters, rather than changes in the screening of the Coulomb interactions. Our results provide a natural explanation of the strongly Fermi surface dependent superconducting gaps observed in experiments\cite{Ding}. We propose a specific optimization of the crystal structure to look for higher T$_c$ superconductors.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures with a 5-page supplementary materia

Structural and magnetic phase diagram of CeFeAsO1-xFx and its relationship to high-temperature superconductivity

We use neutron scattering to study the structural and magnetic phase transitions in the iron pnictides CeFeAsO1-xFx as the system is tuned from a semimetal to a high-transition-temperature (high-Tc) superconductor through Fluorine (F) doping x. In the undoped state, CeFeAsO develops a structural lattice distortion followed by a stripe like commensurate antiferromagnetic order with decreasing temperature. With increasing Fluorine doping, the structural phase transition decreases gradually while the antiferromagnetic order is suppressed before the appearance of superconductivity, resulting an electronic phase diagram remarkably similar to that of the high-Tc copper oxides. Comparison of the structural evolution of CeFeAsO1-xFx with other Fe-based superconductors reveals that the effective electronic band width decreases systematically for materials with higher Tc. The results suggest that electron correlation effects are important for the mechanism of high-Tc superconductivity in these Fe pnictides.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure