Fermi Surface of the 2D Hubbard Model at Weak Coupling

We calculate the interaction-induced deformation of the Fermi surface in the two-dimensional Hubbard model within second order perturbation theory. Close to half-filling, interactions enhance anisotropies of the Fermi surface, but they never modify the topology of the Fermi surface in the weak coupling regime.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX2e, 5 embedded EPS figures, accepted to be published in Z. Phys.

Strategies for continuous improvement and improved competitiveness for the sustainable bio-based industries

Cellulosic biomass is a highly variable feedstock. The large variation in key quality attributes (e.g., ash content, moisture content, and particle size) challenges the consistency of the feedstock supply from a technological and economical perspective. This affects the cost and the overall competitiveness of the sustainable bio-based industries. This research focuses on developing strategies to reduce variation and cost throughout the supply chain for the bio-based industries.The goal of this research is to provide practitioners with tools to quantify variation of the components of the supply chain and illustrate that variation accumulates throughout the supply chain which induces costs from higher than necessary operational targets. The objectives of this research are: 1) develop quality loss functions for the components of the biomass supply chain; 2) create a simulation model suitable to quantify feedstock variation; 3) characterize the impact of variation on the financial loss, and 4) develop a handbook of statistical and continuous improvement techniques to promote variation reduction.The Excel simulation model uses Statistical Process Control and Taguchi’s Loss Function combined with Galton’s theory of ‘components of variance’ to estimate the financial loss due to variation. Sensitivity analyses are used to characterize the impact of variation on loss for ash content, moisture content, and particle size. The handbook provides practitioners with a guide for improved application of universally accepted key continuous improvement techniques.The additional loss per unit on average for Switchgrass from ash content variation was estimated to be $17.33 per dry ton, while for particle size (woody residues) the loss was$10.32 per dry ton. The additional loss per unit on average for moisture content variation was estimated for an example supply chain. The loss per unit for harvest/collection was $2.02, transport was$4.93, drying was $3.19, and densification was$13.23 per dry ton. The results of this study suggest that Taguchi’s Loss Functions are suitable to estimate the loss for feedstock quality characteristics based on variation. The simulation tool and handbook will help practitioners of the sustainable bio-based industries improve the supply chain’s performance (available at www.spc4lean.com)

Incommensurate nematic fluctuations in the two-dimensional Hubbard model

We analyze effective d-wave interactions in the two-dimensional extended Hubbard model at weak coupling and small to moderate doping. The interactions are computed from a renormalization group flow. Attractive d-wave interactions are generated via antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations in the pairing and charge channels. Above Van Hove filling, the d-wave charge interaction is maximal at incommensurate diagonal wave vectors, corresponding to nematic fluctuations with a diagonal modulation. Below Van Hove filling a modulation along the crystal axes can be favored. The nematic fluctuations are enhanced by the nearest-neighbor interaction in the extended Hubbard model, but they always remain smaller than the dominant antiferromagnetic, pairing, or charge density wave fluctuations.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; figures improve

The beta component of gamma-band auditory steady-state responses in patients with schizophrenia

© The Author(s) 2021. Tis article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.Abstract: The mechanisms underlying circuit dysfunctions in schizophrenia (SCZ) remain poorly understood. Auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs), especially in the gamma and beta band, have been suggested as a potential biomarker for SCZ. While the reduction of 40 Hz power for 40 Hz drive has been well established and replicated in SCZ patients, studies are inconclusive when it comes to an increase in 20 Hz power during 40 Hz drive. There might be several factors explaining the inconsistencies, including differences in the sensitivity of the recording modality (EEG vs MEG), differences in stimuli (click-trains vs amplitude-modulated tones) and large differences in the amplitude of the stimuli. Here, we used a computational model of ASSR deficits in SCZ and explored the effect of three SCZ-associated microcircuit alterations: reduced GABA activity, increased GABA decay times and NMDA receptor hypofunction. We investigated the effect of input strength on gamma (40 Hz) and beta (20 Hz) band power during gamma ASSR stimulation and saw that the pronounced increase in beta power during gamma stimulation seen experimentally could only be reproduced in the model when GABA decay times were increased and only for a specific range of input strengths. More specifically, when the input was in this specific range, the rhythmic drive at 40 Hz produced a strong 40 Hz rhythm in the control network; however, in the ‘SCZ-like’ network, the prolonged inhibition led to a so-called ‘beat-skipping’, where the network would only strongly respond to every other input. This mechanism was responsible for the emergence of the pronounced 20 Hz beta peak in the power spectrum. The other two microcircuit alterations were not able to produce a substantial 20 Hz component but they further narrowed the input strength range for which the network produced a beta component when combined with increased GABAergic decay times. Our finding that the beta component only existed for a specific range of input strengths might explain the seemingly inconsistent reporting in experimental studies and suggests that future ASSR studies should systematically explore different amplitudes of their stimuli. Furthermore, we provide a mechanistic link between a microcircuit alteration and an electrophysiological marker in schizophrenia and argue that more complex ASSR stimuli are needed to disentangle the nonlinear interactions of microcircuit alterations. The computational modelling approach put forward here is ideally suited to facilitate the development of such stimuli in a theory-based fashion.Peer reviewe

Modelling impairment of evoked gamma range oscillations in schizophrenia

© 2015 Metzner et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.Abnormal oscillatory activity in schizophrenia has been found in a wide range of experimental paradigms [1]. For example, schizophrenic patients show reduced evoked gamma activity, which has been associated with negative symptoms, and increased spontaneous gamma activity, which has been associated with positive symptoms [2]. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here we investigated the impact of circuit abnormalities on oscillatory activity in the gamma range (> 30 Hz) by simulating auditory entrainment in an established computational model of the primary auditory cortex [3]. Auditory click entrainment experiments showed that for schizophrenic patients EEG/MEG power decreased at 40 Hz and increased at 20 Hz in response to 40 Hz drive but no differences between were visible in response to 30 Hz drive [4, 5]. Here we used the primary auditory cortex model from Beeman [3] and simulated click train stimulation at 40 Hz, to investigate gamma entrainment deficits, and at 30 Hz as a control condition. Without alterations the model entrained at the driving frequency of 30 and 40 Hz, respectively. Similar to previous approaches [6], however, focusing on evoked rather than spontaneous activity, we next explored the effects of (1) connectivity disturbances (reduced (a) recurrent excitation, (b) pyramidal cell input and (c) total connectivity), (2) prolonged GABAergic decay time constant, and (3) reduced inhibitory output. All three interventions in connectivity (1a-c) led to an increase in 40 Hz power for 40 Hz drive, contrary to human EEG/MEG experiments. A prolonged GABAergic decay time constant produced a reduction of power at 40 Hz and an increase in power at 20 Hz, for the 40 Hz drive, which concurs with [4, 5]. Furthermore, for the 30 Hz drive, no differences to the standard model were observed. Reduction of inhibitory output led to decreases in power at 40 Hz for 40 Hz drive but no increases at 20 Hz. In the 30 Hz drive condition, a decrease was visible, in contrast to experimental data [4, 5]. In conclusion, only prolonged GABAergic decay time constants (2), but not interventions (1) and (3) led to changes in entrainment comparable to experimental evidence in agreement with previous modeling approaches [5]. Our simulations suggest that prolonged time constants at GABAergic synapses might play a key role in abnormal evoked gamma rhythms in schizophrenia. However, since we only investigated one intervention at a time, further studies are needed to investigate the complex interactions of these circuit abnormalities. Furthermore, it remains unclear if the same mechanism also underlies increased spontaneous gamma activity in schizophrenia.Peer reviewe

Synchronization Through Uncorrelated Noise in Excitatory-Inhibitory Networks

© 2022 Rebscher, Obermayer and Metzner. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY)Gamma rhythms play a major role in many different processes in the brain, such as attention, working memory, and sensory processing. While typically considered detrimental, counterintuitively noise can sometimes have beneficial effects on communication and information transfer. Recently, Meng and Riecke showed that synchronization of interacting networks of inhibitory neurons in the gamma band (i.e., gamma generated through an ING mechanism) increases while synchronization within these networks decreases when neurons are subject to uncorrelated noise. However, experimental and modeling studies point towardz an important role of the pyramidal-interneuronal network gamma (PING) mechanism in the cortex. Therefore, we investigated the effect of uncorrelated noise on the communication between excitatory-inhibitory networks producing gamma oscillations via a PING mechanism. Our results suggest that, at least in a certain range of noise strengths and natural frequency differences between the regions, synaptic noise can have a supporting role in facilitating inter-regional communication, similar to the ING case for a slightly larger parameter range. Furthermore, the noise-induced synchronization between networks is generated via a different mechanism than when synchronization is mediated by strong synaptic coupling. Noise-induced synchronization is achieved by lowering synchronization within networks which allows the respective other network to impose its own gamma rhythm resulting in synchronization between networks.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Optical emission spectroscopy for rate and composition control of plasma-assisted EBPVD processes

Currently, EB-PVD of YSZ layers is the standard process for TBC on turbine components. Due to the similar vapor pressures of yttria and zirconia, processing is relatively uncomplicated, and the good performance of this material in various aspects is not easy to beat. However, the increasing need for enhanced turbine efficiency and reduced emissions requires new approaches and developments. This calls for improved TBC systems or ceramic-based turbine components coated with EBC systems, which go hand in hand with the use of new admixed materials and more complex coating compositions. Consequently, the corresponding PVD processes become more challenging as well and should be aided by enhanced monitoring and control means therefore. Plasma activation of various PVD processes has been shown to be key to success in order to combine high-rate film growth with the requested film properties. The vapor and the reactive gas species are excited, ionized, and dissociated. The energy of charged particles impinging the substrate surface can be tuned resulting in layers with desired density, composition, hardness, or microstructure. The effect of plasma activation by using a hollow cathode arc discharge onto the morphology of YSZ layers [1,2] and its potential for coating of dense EBC’s [3] have been discussed previously. In this paper, another aspect of utilizing a plasma discharge in the vapor cloud will be discussed. Due to excitation of neutrals and ions, element-specific light emission occurs which can be analyzed by optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The spectrum can be used to monitor and control the PVD process. As an example, YSZ has been evaporated by EB-PVD, and an emission line of excited zirconium neutrals has been used to maintain a constant deposition rate. Moreover, metallic zirconium and yttrium have been co-evaporated in oxygen atmosphere by spotless arc-assisted EB-PVD [4], and the vapor species have been monitored by OES. In another project, co-evaporation of several metallic ingots has been performed by the jumping beam method, and an OES-based control loop is being developed to automatically control the EB power input and feeding speed of the individual ingots. This plasma-based OES control method has a considerable potential for the development of reliable, well-defined deposition processes. In addition, the co-evaporation approach may be of increased interest to deposit new complex TBC and EBC systems. [1] G. Mattausch et al.: 55th SVC Annual Technical Conference Proceedings, 179-185 (2012) [2] B. Zimmermann et al.: Poster presentation at ECI Thermal Barrier Coatings IV, Irsee, Germany (2014) [3] B. Zimmermann et al.: Poster presentation at ECI Advanced Ceramic Matrix Composites, Santa Fe, USA (2017) [4] B. Scheffel et al.: Surface & Coatings Technology 316, 155–161 (2017