Determination of the optical constants of metals and semiconductors by combining ellipsometry with electron spectroscopy microscopy and X-ray specular reflection analysis

The optical constants n(λ) and k(λ) of metals and semiconductors can be determined by spectroellipsometry, however, their apparent values are considerably affected by the roughness and oxide overlayer thickness dof the sample. Aluminium thin film samples of high perfection and very low roughness (<1 nm) have been studied by cross-disciplinary experimental methods: X-ray specular reflection analysis for determining the structure and thickness of the natural (hydrated) oxide overlayer and roughness of the substrate; plasmon electron energy loss spectroscopy supplied d. For calibration of the d measurements a special thin film multilayer system was developed, suitable for preparing cross-sectional samples for resolution transmission electron microscopy. Knowing the roughness and d-data, the optical constants n(λ) and k(λ) of aluminium were determined by spectroellipsometry in the spectral range λ=365–633 nm. Experimental results and a nomogram are presented for evaluating n(λ) and k(λ). The dependence of the ellipsometric optical constants on roughness and d is discussed. Very good agreement of the optical constants with the corrected ellipsometric results of Blanco and the synchrotron spectroscopy data of Hagemann was found. The cross-disciplinary methods can be applied to metals and semiconductors covered with an overlayer.     

Final-state hyperon-nucleon interaction in the inclusive K photoproduction from the deuteron

We calculate d(γ, K⁺) inclusive cross sections with the full inclusion of the final ΛN - ΣN interaction. Modern hyperon-nucleon forces and a recently updated production operator for the γ + N → K⁺ + Y process are used. Significant effects of the hyperon-nucleon final-state interaction have been found especially around the K⁺ΣN threshold.     

Hyperscaling for polymer rings

The statistics of a long closed self-avoiding walk (SAW) or polymer ring on a d-dimensional lattice obeys hyperscaling. The combination p_NR²_N^d/2μ^−N (where p_N is the number of configurations of an oriented and rooted N-step ring, R²_N a typical average size squared, and μ the SAW effective connectivity constant of the lattice) is equal for N å ∞ to a lattice-dependent constant times a universal amplitude A(d). The latter amplitude is calculated directly from the minimal continous Edwards model to second order in 4 − d. The case of rings at the upper critical dimension d = 4 is also studied. The results are checked against field-theoretical calculations, and former simulations. As a consequence, we show that the universal constant λ appearing to second order in in all critical phenomena amplitude ratios is equal to .     

Solvent fluctuations and viscosity-dependent rates of solution reactions in a regime indescribable by the transition state theory

An organic molecule isomerizes in viscous solvents when appropriate cavities are formed around it in the course of slow diffusive thermal fluctuations of solvent molecules. The isomerization occurs when fast twisting (vibrational) fluctuations around a bond get to have large amplitudes in such cavities. This situation can be described by the two-reaction-coordinate model of Sumi and Marcus originally proposed for electron transfer reactions. In fact, the rate constant derived from this model fits nicely to that observed for thermal Z→E isomerization of substituted azobenzenes and N-benzylideneanilines. The rate constant is influenced by slow speeds of diffusive motions of solvent molecules, whose relaxation time τ is usually proportional to the solvent viscosity η. It has a form of k = 1/(k_TST⁻¹+k_f⁻¹), where k_TST, independent of τ, represents the rate constant expected from the transition state theory (TST), while k_f ∝ τ⁻ with 0 < ≤ 1 represents the part controlled by solvent fluctuations. An analytic expression of for the isomerization reactions is given in terms of physical parameters underlying the reaction mechanism with cavity formation.

This rate-constant formula is a general one applicable widely also to other solution reactions, covering from the TST-validated regime for a small τ to the TST-invalidated one for a large τ. In the former, k approaches k_TST since k_f k_TST, while in the latter, k approaches k_f since k_f k_TST, becoming decreasing with a decrease in the typical speed (∝ τ⁻¹) of solvent fluctuations. The dependence of k ≈ k_f ∝ η⁻ in the non-TST regime has often been observed also in biological reactions such as enzymatic ones. In this case, it is not appropriate to say that reactions are controlled by slow speeds of solvent fluctuations, but we should rather say that enzymes utilize this situation, which has been called conformational gating, in the course of solvent-fluctuation-driven conformational fluctuations of proteins. It has important meanings in protein functions.     

Replica treatment of the Calogero–Sutherland model

Employing Forrester–Ha method of Jack polynomials, we derive an integral identity connecting certain N-fold coordinate average of the Calogero–Sutherland model with the n-fold replica integral. Subsequent analytical continuation in n leads to asymptotic expressions for the (static and dynamic) density–density correlation function of the model as well as the Green's function for an arbitrary coupling constant λ.     

Critical dynamics of a stochastic n-vector model below Tc

The dynamic properties of a stochastic n-vector model are investigated for T < T_c in d=4−ε dimensions. Besides the non-conserved order parameter the model involves also the conserved densities of generators of the symmetry group O(n). We calculate the excitation spectra of those conserved densities and the transverse fluctuations of the order parameter to linear order in ε in the hydrodynamic region kξ1. The propagating modes have linear dispersion and quadratic damping in accordance with the phenomenological theory. The relaxing modes, however, exhibit non-hydrodynamic wavenumber dependence with a relaxation rate ω_k ∞ k^d/2.     

2D gravity+1D matter

We consider a formulation of nonperturbative two-dimensional quantum gravity coupled to a single bosonic field (d=1 matter). Starting from a matrix realization of the discretized model, we express the continuum theory as a double scaling limit in which the 2D cosmological constant g tends towards a critical value g_c, and the string coupling 1/N→0, with the scaling parameter ∝1n (g-g_c)/(g-g_c)N held fixed. We find that in this formulation logarithmic corrections already present at tree level persist to all higher genus, suggesting a behavior different from the previously considered cases of d<1 matter.     

Explicit counteraction algorithms in higher dimensions

Using the background field method we construct algorithms for the one-loop counterterms of a field theory in a space-time of dimension 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10. From the d = 6 algorithm we demonstrate the one-loop finiteness of N = 2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories and also N = 1 Yang-Mills theory. All other N = 1 Yang-Mills theories + N = 1 matter theories in d = 6 are shown to have a divergent one-loop S-matrix.

We also present partial results for two- and three-loop algorithms in d = 6 and d = 4 respectively.     

Solitary waves in a class of sine-Gordon-type equations

A new class of sine-Gordon-type Lagrangians is studied for solitary-wave solutions. The potential is a series with N terms, N varying from 1 to ∞, and N=1 corresponding to the usual sine-Gordon form. The large- and small-x limits of the solutions are obtained analytically for arbitrary N. The large-x behaviour is shown to be distinct for N even or odd. Also, the solutions for arbitrarily large but finite N are found to differ exponentially from the N=∞ solution, for asymptotically large x.     

Anisotropic percolation and the d-dimensional surface roughening problem

We review recent numerical simulations of several models of interface growth in d-dimensional media with quenched disorder. These models belong to the universality class of anisotropic diode-resistor percolation networks. The values of the roughness exponent δ=0.63±0.01 (d=1+1) and δ=0.48±0.02 (d=2+1) are in good agreement with our recent experiments. The values of δ in higher dimensions (δ=0.38±0.03 in d=4 and δ=0.27±0.05 in d=5) do not support a recent theoretical conjecture.     

Ionic conduction in dilute pseudo-binary systems CuBr–Cu2Se

Ionic conductivity, σ_i, of dilute pseudobinary alloys (CuBr)_1−x(Cu₂Se)_x (x≤0.1) in their γ-phase has been measured by an ac method. The increase of the ionic conductivity propertional to x has been observed, which is attributed to interstitial ions brought by Cu₂Se dissolved in CuBr. It is found that the temperature dependence of mobility of interstitial ions, μ, evaluated by the relation Δσ_i/x=kμ (k is a constant) is bent at the temperature corresponding to the extrinsic–intrinsic transition of the based material CuBr.     

Quantum superreplication of states and gates

Although the no-cloning theorem forbids perfect replication of quantum information, it is sometimes possible to produce large numbers of replicas with vanishingly small error. This phenomenon, known as quantum superreplication, can occur for both quantum states and quantum gates. The aim of this paper is to review the central features of quantum superreplication and provide a unified view of existing results. The paper also includes new results. In particular, we show that when quantum superreplication can be achieved, it can be achieved through estimation up to an error of size O(M/N²), where N and M are the number of input and output copies, respectively. Quantum strategies still offer an advantage for superreplication in that they allow for exponentially faster reduction of the error. Using the relation with estimation, we provide i) an alternative proof of the optimality of Heisenberg scaling in quantum metrology, ii) a strategy for estimating arbitrary unitary gates with a mean square error scaling as log N/N², and iii) a protocol that generates O(N²) nearly perfect copies of a generic pure state U|0>while using the corresponding gate U only N times. Finally, we point out that superreplication can be achieved using interactions among k systems, provided that k is large compared to M²/N².     

Spontaneous localization of bulk fields: the six-dimensional case

We study N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories with d=6 bulk and d=4 brane fields charged under a U(1) gauge symmetry. Radiatively induced Fayet–Iliopoulos terms lead to an instability of the bulk fields. We compute the profile of the bulk zero modes and observe the phenomenon of spontaneous localization towards the position of the branes. While this mechanism is quite similar to the d=5 case, the mass spectrum of the excited Kaluza–Klein modes shows a crucial difference.     

The construction of c-number fields and their nonlinear equations of motion for quantum many-body fermion systems

A k-dependent state has been constructed from two paris of mutually commuting Fermi-Dirac operators by replacing the Grassmann numbers in the conventional definition of a fermion coherent state. The Heisenberg time-dependent form of this state was then combined with a particular spin state to give a resultant state |G, the spin component containing a series of unknown k-dependent weights. A classical c-number field, φ(r,t), was then defined by an expectation value of the quantum field, ψ, using |G and an energy and time-dependent phase. It is demonstrated that the form of the equation of motion for φ_c(r,t) is identical to that for ψ.     

The angular intensity correlation functions C(1) and C(10) for the scattering of light from randomly rough dielectric and metal surfaces

We study the statistical properties of the scattering matrix S(q|k) for the problem of the scattering of light of frequency ω from a randomly rough one-dimensional surface, defined by the equation x₃=ζ(x₁), where the surface profile function ζ(x₁) constitutes a zero-mean, stationary, Gaussian random process. This is done by studying the effects of S(q|k) on the angular intensity correlation function C(q,k|q',k')=〈I(q|k)I(q'|k')〉-〈I(q|k)〉〈I(q'|k')〉, where the intensity I(q|k) is defined in terms of S(q|k) by I(q|k)=L^-1₁(ω/c)|S(q|k)|², with L₁ the length of the x₁ axis covered by the random surface. We focus our attention on the C⁽¹⁾ and C⁽¹⁰⁾ correlation functions, which are the contributions to C(q,k|q',k') proportional to δ(q-k-q'+k') and δ(q-k+q'-k'), respectively. The existence of both of these correlation functions is consistent with the amplitude of the scattered field obeying complex Gaussian statistics in the limit of a long surface and in the presence of weak surface roughness. We show that the deviation of the statistics of the scattering matrix from complex circular Gaussian statistics and the C⁽¹⁰⁾ correlation function are determined by exactly the same statistical moment of S(q|k). As the random surface becomes rougher, the amplitude of the scattered field no longer obeys complex Gaussian statistics but obeys complex circular Gaussian statistics instead. In this case the C⁽¹⁰⁾ correlation function should therefore vanish. This result is confirmed by numerical simulation calculations.     

Towards a field theory of the plateau transitions in the integer quantum Hall effect

We suggest a procedure for calculating correlation functions of the local densities of states (DOS) at the plateau transitions in the integer quantum Hall effect (IQHE). We argue that their correlation functions are appropriately described in terms of the SL( )/SU(2) WZNW model (at the usual Ka –Moody point and with the level 6≤k≤8 ). In this model we have identified the operators corresponding to the local DOS, and derived the partial differential equation determining their correlation functions. The OPEs for powers of the local DOS obtained from this equation are in agreement with available results.     

Multiple collisions and induced gluon bremsstrahlung in QCD

Induced soft gluon bremsstrahlung associated with multiple collisions is calculated via perturbative QCD. We derive the non-abelian analog of the Landau-Pomeranchuk effect that suppresses induced soft radiation with formation times exceeding the mean free path. The dependence of the suppression effect on the SU(N) representation of the jet parton as well as the kinematic variables is expressed through a radiation formation factor. The soft radiation with k < μ, where μ is the infrared screening scale in the medium, is shown to lead to an approximately constant radiative energy loss per unit length.     

Dynamics of O(N) chiral supersymmetry at finite energy density

We consider an O(N) version of a massive, interacting, chiral supersymmetry model solved exactly in the large N limit. We demonstrate that the system approaches a stable attractor at high energy densities, corresponding to a non-perturbative state for which the relevant field quanta are massless. The state is one of spontaneously broken O(N), which, due to the influence of supersymmetry, does not become restored at high energies. Introducing soft supersymmetry breaking to the Lagrangian results in scalar masses at the soft breaking scale m_s independent of the mass scale of supersymmetry μ, with even smaller masses for the fermions.     

Theta-terms in nonlinear sigma-models

We trace the origin of θ-terms in nonlinear σ-models as a nonperturbative anomaly of current algebras. The nonlinear σ-models emerge as a low energy limit of fermionic σ-models. The latter describe Dirac fermions coupled to chiral bosonic fields. We discuss the geometric phases in three hierarchies of fermionic σ-models in space-time dimension (d+1) with chiral bosonic fields taking values on d-, d+1-, and d+2-dimensional spheres. The geometric phases in the first two hierarchies are θ-terms. We emphasize a relation between θ-terms and quantum numbers of solitons.     

Branched polymers from a double-scaling limit of matrix models

Multicritical potentials and correlation functions are given for models of rectangular M × N matrices, in the limit that N goes to infinity. These models are soluble without using orthogonal polynomials, and describe filamentary random surfaces, or, equivalently, a phase of branched polymers. It is shown that the equations describing multicritical behaviour are obtained from the hierarchy of flows that preserve Burgers' equation. Instanton solutions are studied - they imply that only the k = 2 model is unitary, and that the coefficients (for arbitrary k) of g_st^l is the perturbative expansion of the specific heat grow as l!.