1,864 research outputs found
Spin-polarized Dirac-cone-like surface state with character at W(110)
The surface of W(110) exhibits a Dirac-cone-like surface state with
character within a spin-orbit-induced symmetry gap. As a function of wave
vector parallel to the surface, it shows nearly massless energy dispersion and
a pronounced spin polarization, which is antisymmetric with respect to the
Brillouin zone center. In addition, the observed constant energy contours are
strongly anisotropic for all energies. This discovery opens new pathways to the
study of surface spin-density waves arising from a strong Fermi surface nesting
as well as -electron-based topological properties.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
Magnetocaloric effect and magnetic cooling near a field-induced quantum-critical point
The presence of a quantum critical point (QCP) can significantly affect the
thermodynamic properties of a material at finite temperatures T. This is
reflected, e.g., in the entropy landscape S(T, r) in the vicinity of a QCP,
yielding particularly strong variations for varying the tuning parameter r such
as pressure or magnetic field B. Here we report on the determination of the
critical enhancement of near a B-induced QCP via
absolute measurements of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE), , and demonstrate that the accumulation of entropy around the QCP can be
used for efficient low-temperature magnetic cooling. Our proof of principle is
based on measurements and theoretical calculations of the MCE and the cooling
performance for a Cu-containing coordination polymer, which is a very
good realization of a spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain - one of the
simplest quantum-critical systems.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure
Valley spin polarization by using the extraordinary Rashba effect on silicon
The addition of the valley degree of freedom to a two-dimensional spin-polarized electronic system provides the opportunity to multiply the functionality of next-generation devices. So far, however, such devices have not been realized due to the difficulty to polarize the valleys, which is an indispensable step to activate this degree of freedom. Here we show the formation of 100% spin-polarized valleys by a simple and easy way using the Rashba effect on a system with C-3 symmetry. This polarization, which is much higher than those in ordinary Rashba systems, results in the valleys acting as filters that can suppress the backscattering of spin-charge. The present system is formed on a silicon substrate, and therefore opens a new avenue towards the realization of silicon spintronic devices with high efficiency.X114334Nsciescopu
Ferromagnetic Kondo-Lattice Model
We present a many-body approach to the electronic and magnetic properties of
the (multiband) Kondo-lattice model with ferromagnetic interband exchange. The
coupling between itinerant conduction electrons and localized magnetic moments
leads, on the one hand, to a distinct temperature-dependence of the electronic
quasiparticle spectrum and, on the other hand, to magnetic properties, as
e.~g.the Curie temperature T_C or the magnon dispersion, which are strongly
influenced by the band electron selfenergy and therewith in particular by the
carrier density. We present results for the single-band Kondo-lattice model in
terms of quasiparticle densities of states and quasiparticle band structures
and demonstrate the density-dependence of the self-consistently derived Curie
temperature. The transition from weak-coupling (RKKY) to strong-coupling
(double exchange) behaviour is worked out.
The multiband model is combined with a tight-binding-LMTO bandstructure
calculation to describe real magnetic materials. As an example we present
results for the archetypal ferromagnetic local-moment systems EuO and EuS. The
proposed method avoids the double counting of relevant interactions and takes
into account the correct symmetry of atomic orbitals.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figure
Effect of chemical disorder on NiMnSb investigated by Appearance Potential Spectroscopy: a theoretical study
The half-Heusler alloy NiMnSb is one of the local-moment ferromagnets with
unique properties for future applications. Band structure calculations predict
exclusively majority bands at the Fermi level, thus indicating {100%} spin
polarization there. As one thinks about applications and the design of
functional materials, the influence of chemical disorder in these materials
must be considered. The magnetization, spin polarization, and electronic
structure are expected to be sensitive to structural and stoichiometric
changes. In this contribution, we report on an investigation of the
spin-dependent electronic structure of NiMnSb. We studied the influence of
chemical disorder on the unoccupied electronic density of states by use of the
ab-initio Coherent Potential Approximation method. The theoretical analysis is
discussed along with corresponding spin-resolved Appearance Potential
Spectroscopy measurements. Our theoretical approach describes the spectra as
the fully-relativistic self-convolution of the matrix-element weighted,
orbitally resolved density of states.Comment: JPD submitte
Electron-correlation effects in appearance-potential spectra of Ni
Spin-resolved and temperature-dependent appearance-potential spectra of
ferromagnetic Nickel are measured and analyzed theoretically. The Lander
self-convolution model which relates the line shape to the unoccupied part of
the local density of states turns out to be insufficient. Electron correlations
and orbitally resolved transition-matrix elements are shown to be essential for
a quantitative agreement between experiment and theory.Comment: LaTeX, 6 pages, 2 eps figures included, Phys. Rev. B (in press
Family memories in the home: contrasting physical and digital mementos
We carried out fieldwork to characterise and compare physical and digital mementos in the home. Physical mementos are highly valued, heterogeneous and support different types of recollection. Contrary to expectations, we found physical mementos are not purely representational, and can involve appropriating common objects and more idiosyncratic forms. In contrast, digital mementos were initially perceived as less valuable, although participants later reconsidered this. Digital mementos were somewhat limited in function and expression, largely involving representational photos and videos, and infrequently accessed. We explain these digital limitations and conclude with design guidelines for digital mementos, including better techniques for accessing and integrating these into everyday life, allowing them to acquire the symbolic associations and lasting value that characterise their physical counterparts
Spin dynamics in the diluted ferromagnetic Kondo lattice model
The interplay of disorder and competing interactions is investigated in the
carrier-induced ferromagnetic state of the Kondo lattice model within a
numerical finite-size study in which disorder is treated exactly. Competition
between impurity spin couplings, stability of the ferromagnetic state, and
magnetic transition temperature are quantitatively investigated in terms of
magnon properties for different models including dilution, disorder, and
weakly-coupled spins. A strong optimization is obtained for T_c at hole doping
p << x, highlighting the importance of compensation in diluted magnetic
semiconductors. The estimated T_c is in good agreement with experimental
results for Ga_{1-x}Mn_x As for corresponding impurity concentration, hole
bandwidth, and compensation. Finite-temperature spin dynamics is quantitatively
studied within a locally self-consistent magnon renormalization scheme, which
yields a substantial enhancement in T_c due to spin clustering, and highlights
the nearly-paramagnetic spin dynamics of weakly-coupled spins. The large
enhancement in density of low-energy magnetic excitations due to disorder and
competing interactions results in a strong thermal decay of magnetization,
which fits well with the Bloch form M_0(1-BT^{3/2}) at low temperature, with B
of same order of magnitude as obtained in recent squid magnetization
measurements on Ga_{1-x}Mn_x As samples.Comment: 13 pages, 14 figure
Bimodal Effect on Pancreatic β-Cells of Secretory Products From Normal or Insulin-Resistant Human Skeletal Muscle
OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance with a relative deficiency in insulin secretion. This study explored the potential communication between insulin-resistant human skeletal muscle and primary (human and rat) beta-cells. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Human skeletal muscle cells were cultured for up to 24 h with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha to induce insulin resistance, and mRNA expression for cytokines was analyzed and compared with controls (without TNF-alpha). Conditioned media were collected and candidate cytokines were measured by antibody array. Human and rat primary beta-cells were used to explore the impact of exposure to conditioned media for 24 h on apoptosis, proliferation, short-term insulin secretion, and key signaling protein phosphorylation and expression. RESULTS: Human myotubes express and release a different panel of myokines depending on their insulin sensitivity, with each panel exerting differential effects on beta-cells. Conditioned medium from control myotubes increased proliferation and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from primary beta-cells, whereas conditioned medium from TNF-alpha-treated insulin-resistant myotubes (TMs) exerted detrimental effects that were either independent (increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation) or dependent on the presence of TNF-alpha in TM (blunted GSIS). Knockdown of beta-cell mitogen-activated protein 4 kinase 4 prevented these effects. Glucagon-like peptide 1 protected beta-cells against decreased proliferation and apoptosis evoked by TMs, while interleukin-1 receptor antagonist only prevented the latter. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these data suggest a possible new route of communication between skeletal muscle and beta-cells that is modulated by insulin resistance and could contribute to normal beta-cell functional mass in healthy subjects, as well as the decrease seen in type 2 diabetes
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