Nematic transition and highly two-dimensional superconductivity in BaTi2_2Bi2_2O revealed by 209^{209}Bi-nuclear magnetic resonance/nuclear quadrupole resonance measurements

In this Rapid Communication, a set of $^{209}$Bi-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)/nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements has been performed to investigate the physical properties of superconducting (SC) BaTi$_2$Bi$_2$O from a microscopic point of view. The NMR and NQR spectra at 5~K can be reproduced with a non-zero in-plane anisotropic parameter $\eta$, indicating the breaking of the in-plane four-fold symmetry at the Bi site without any magnetic order, i.e., `the electronic nematic state'. In the SC state, the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate divided by temperature, $1/T_1T$, does not change even below $T_{\rm c}$, while a clear SC transition was observed with a diamagnetic signal. This observation can be attributed to the strong two-dimensionality in BaTi$_2$Bi$_2$O. Comparing the NMR/NQR results among BaTi$_2$$Pn$$_2$O ($Pn$ = As, Sb, and Bi), it was found that the normal and SC properties of BaTi$_2$Bi$_2$O were considerably different from those of BaTi$_2$Sb$_2$O and BaTi$_2$As$_2$O, which might explain the two-dome structure of $T_{\rm c}$ in this system.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Coupled channel approach to strangeness S = -2 baryon-bayron interactions in Lattice QCD

The baryon-baryon interactions with strangeness S = -2 with the flavor SU(3) breaking are calculated for the first time by using the HAL QCD method extended to coupled channel system in lattice QCD. The potential matrices are extracted from the Nambu-Bethe-Salpeter wave functions obtained by the 2+1 flavor gauge configurations of CP-PACS/JLQCD Collaborations with a physical volume of 1.93 fm cubed and with m_pi/m_K = 0.96, 0.90, 0.86. The spatial structure and the quark mass dependence of the potential matrix in the baryon basis and in the SU(3) basis are investigated.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figure

Low-energy excitations in a one-dimensional orthogonal dimer model with the Dzyaloshinski-Moriya interaction

Effects of the Dzyaloshinski-Moriya (DM) interaction on low-energy excitations in a one-dimensional orthogonal-dimer model are studied by using the perturbation expansions and the numerical diagonalization method. In the absence of the DM interaction, the triplet excitations show two flat spectra with three-fold degeneracy, which are labeled by magnetization $M=0,\pm{1}$. These spectra split into two branches with M=0 and with $M=\pm{1}$ by switching-on of the DM interaction and besides the curvature appears in the triplet excitations with $M=\pm 1$ more strongly than those of M=0.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Proceeding for The 9th ISSP International Symposium (ISSP-9) on Quantum Condensed System (Nov. 2004

On the Phononic Bandgap of Carbon Nanotubes

On the phononic bandgap of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), we show in what chirality CNTs have phononic bandgaps and its dependence on the diameters of CNTs. We find that, though the rule where CNTs have phononic bandgaps is the same as in the electronic structure case, the diameter dependence is different. The phononic bandgaps of the zigzag-CNTs reveal “three” kinds of diameter dependence due to the anisotropy of graphene phonon band around the K point in k-space. We also show the crossover from one- to two-dimensional characteristics in phononic bandgaps

How Cervical Reconstruction Surgery Affects Global Spinal Alignment.

BACKGROUND:There have been no reports describing how cervical reconstruction surgery affects global spinal alignment (GSA). OBJECTIVE:To elucidate the effects of cervical reconstruction for GSA through a retrospective multicenter study. METHODS:Seventy-eight patients who underwent cervical reconstruction surgery for cervical kyphosis were divided into a Head-balanced group (n = 42) and a Trunk-balanced group (n = 36) according to the values of the C7 plumb line (PL). We also divided the patients into a cervical sagittal balanced group (CSB group, n = 18) and a cervical sagittal imbalanced group (CSI group, n = 60) based on the C2 PL-C7 PL distance. Various sagittal Cobb angles and the sagittal vertical axes were measured before and after surgery. RESULTS:Cervical alignment was improved to achieve occiput-trunk concordance (the distance between the center of gravity [COG] PL, which is considered the virtual gravity line of the entire body, and C7 PL < 30 mm) despite the location of COG PL and C7PL. A subsequent significant change in thoracolumbar alignment was observed in Head-balanced and CSI groups. However, no such significant change was observed in Trunk-balanced and CSB groups. We observed 1 case of transient and 1 case of residual neurological worsening. CONCLUSION:The primary goal of cervical reconstruction surgery is to achieve occiput-trunk concordance. Once it is achieved, subsequent thoracolumbar alignment changes occur as needed to harmonize GSA. Cervical reconstruction can restore both cervical deformity and GSA. However, surgeons must consider the risks and benefits in such challenging cases