Wavefunctional approach to the bilayer \nu =1 system and a possibility for a double non-chiral pseudospin liquid

We systematically discuss candidate wave functions for the ground state of the bilayer \nu = 1 as the distance between the layers is varied. Those that describe increased intralayer correlations at finite distance show a departure from the superflid description for smaller distances. They may support finite energy meron excitations and a dissipative collective mode in the place of the Goldstone mode of the ordered phase i.e. describe a vortex metal phase, or imply even an incompressible, pseudospin liquid, behavior. Therefore they describe possible outcomes of quantum disordering at finite distance between the layers. The vortex metal phase may show up in experiments in the presence of disorder at lower temperatures and explain the observed "imperfect superfluidity", and the pseudospin liquid phase may be the cause of the thermally activated (gapped) behavior of the longitudinal and Hall resistances at higher temperatures in counterflow experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Relativistic Effects in Extrasolar Planetary Systems

This paper considers general relativistic (GR) effects in currently observed extrasolar planetary systems. Although GR corrections are small, they can compete with secular interactions in these systems and thereby play an important role. Specifically, some of the observed multiple planet systems are close to secular resonance, where the dynamics is extremely sensitive to GR corrections, and these systems can be used as laboratories to test general relativity. For the three-planet solar system Upsilon Andromedae, secular interaction theory implies an 80% probability of finding the system with its observed orbital elements if GR is correct, compared with only a 2% probability in the absence of GR. In the future, tighter constraints can be obtained with increased temporal coverage.Comment: Accepted for publication in International Journal of Modern Physics D; this paper received ``Honorable Mention'' in the 2006 Essay Competition of the Gravity Research Foundation; 9 pages including 1 figur

Pairing via Index theorem

This work is motivated by a specific point of view: at short distances and high energies the undoped and underdoped cuprates resemble the $\pi$-flux phase of the t-J model. The purpose of this paper is to present a mechanism by which pairing grows out of the doped $\pi$-flux phase. According to this mechanism pairing symmetry is determined by a parameter controlling the quantum tunneling of gauge flux quanta. For zero tunneling the symmetry is $d_{x^2-y^2}+id_{xy}$, while for large tunneling it is $d_{x^2-y^2}$. A zero-temperature critical point separates these two limits

Ground state, quasi-hole, a pair of quasihole wavefunctions and instability in bilayer quantum Hall systems

Bilayer quantum Hall system (BLQH) differ from its single layer counterparts (SLQH) by its symmetry breaking ground state and associated neutral gapless mode in the pseudo-spin sector. Due to the gapless mode, qualitatively good groundstate and low energy excited state wavefunctions at any finite distance is still unknown. We investigate this important open problem by the Composite Boson (CB) theory developed by one of the authors to study BLQH systematically. We derive the ground state, quasi-hole and a pair of quasihole wavefunctions from the CB theory and its dual action. We find that the ground state wavefunction differs from the well known $(111)$ wavefunction at any finite $d$. In addition to commonly known multiplicative factors, the quasi-hole and a pair of quasi-holes wavefunctions also contain non-trivial normalization factors multiplying the correct ground state wavefunction. All the distance dependencies in all the wavefunctions are encoded in the spin part of the ground state wavefunction. The instability encoded in the spin part of the groundstate wavefunction leads to the pseudo-spin density wave formation proposed by one of the authors previously. Some subtleties related to the Lowest Landau Level (LLL) projection of the wavefunctions are briefly discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure, REVTEX, Final version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Hierarchy wave functions--from conformal correlators to Tao-Thouless states

Laughlin's wave functions, describing the fractional quantum Hall effect at filling factors $\nu=1/(2k+1)$, can be obtained as correlation functions in conformal field theory, and recently this construction was extended to Jain's composite fermion wave functions at filling factors $\nu=n/(2kn+1)$. Here we generalize this latter construction and present ground state wave functions for all quantum Hall hierarchy states that are obtained by successive condensation of quasielectrons (as opposed to quasiholes) in the original hierarchy construction. By considering these wave functions on a cylinder, we show that they approach the exact ground states, the Tao-Thouless states, when the cylinder becomes thin. We also present wave functions for the multi-hole states, make the connection to Wen's general classification of abelian quantum Hall fluids, and discuss whether the fractional statistics of the quasiparticles can be analytically determined. Finally we discuss to what extent our wave functions can be described in the language of composite fermions.Comment: 9 page

Meron excitations in the nu =1 quantum Hall bilayer and the plasma analogy

We study meron quasiparticle excitations in the \nu = 1 quantum Hall bilayer. Considering the well known single meron state, we introduce its effective form, valid in the longdistance limit. That enables us to propose two (and more) meron states in the same limit. Further, establishing a plasma analogy of the (111) ground state, we find the impurities that play the role of merons and derive meron charge distributions. Using the introduced meron constructions in generalized (mixed) ground states and corresponding plasmas for arbitrary distance between the layers, we calculate the interaction between the construction implied impurities. We also find a correspondence between the impurity interactions and meron interactions. This suggests a possible explanation of the deconfinement of the merons recently observed in the experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure