Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of the antiferromagnetic superconductor Nd1.87Ce0.13CuO4: anisotropic spin-correlation gap, pseudogap, and the induced quasiparticle mass enhancement

We performed high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on Nd1.87Ce0.13CuO4, which is located at the boundary of the antiferromagnetic (AF) and the superconducting phase. We observed that the quasiparticle (QP) effective mass around (pi,0) is strongly enhanced due to the opening of the AF gap. The QP mass and the AF gap are found to be anisotropic, with the largest value near the intersecting point of the Fermi surface and the AF zone boundary. In addition, we observed that the QP peak disappears around the Néel temperature (TN) while the AF pseudogap is gradually filled up at much higher temperatures, possibly due to the short-range AF correlation.     

Model band structure of reconstructed (111) 2 × 1 surface of silicon

We have computed the electronic band structure for a model of the 2 × 1-reconstructed (111) surface of Si, based on 2 two-dimensional net of dangling bonds. A pairing of surface atoms is assumed, involving a displacement and a tilting of the dangling bonds towards each other. The energy gap that separates the two bands of surface states obtained increases with the degree of reconstruction, which is taken as a parameter. Experimental data, particularly surface optical absorption, find a satisfactory explanation in terms of this calculation, which indicates in Si (111) 2 × 1 a shift of the surface atoms by about 8% of their ideal distance.     

Spall Strength of Resistance Spot Weld for QP Steel

The spall tests under the plane tensile pulses for resistance spot weld(RSW) of QP980 steel are performed by using a gun system.The velocity histories of free surfaces of the RSW are measured with the laser velocity interferometer system for any reflector.The recovered specimens are investigated with an Olympus GX71 metallographic microscope and a scanning electron microscope(SEM).The measured velocity histories are explained and used to evaluate the tension stresses in the RSW applying the characteristic theory and the assumption of Gathers.The spall strength(1977-2784 MPa) of the RSW for QP980 steel is determined based on the measured and simulated velocity histories.The spall mechanism of the RSW is brittle fracture in view of the SEM investigation of the recovered specimen.The micrographs of the as-received QP980 steel,the initial and recovered RSW of this steel for the spall test are compared to reveal the microstructure evolution during the welding and spall process.It is indicated that during the welding thermal cycle,the local martensitic phase transformation is dependent on the location within the fusion zone and the heat affected zone.It is presented that the transformation at high strain rate may be cancelled by other phenomenon while the evolution of weld defects is obvious during the spall process.It may be the stress triaxiality and strain rate effect of the RSW strength or the dynamic load-carrying capacity of the RSW structure that the spall strength of the RSW for QP980 steel is much higher than the uniaxial compression yield strength(1200 MPa) of the martensite phase in QP980 steel.Due to the weld defects in the center of the RSW,the spall strength of the RSW should be less than the conventional spall strength or the dynamic load-carrying capacity of condensed structure.     

Semantic realism versus EPR-Like paradoxes: The Furry,Bohm-Aharonov,and Bell paradoxes

We prove that the general scheme for physical theories that we have called semantic realism(SR) in some previous papers copes successfully with a number of EPR-like paradoxes when applied to quantum physics (QP). In particular, we consider the old arguments by Furry and Bohm- Aharonov and show that they are not valid within a SR framework. Moreover, we consider the Bell-Kochen-Specker und the Bell theorems that should prove that QP is inherently contextual and nonlocal, respectively, and show that they can be invalidated in the SR approach. This removes the seeming contradiction between the basic assumptions of SR and QP, and proves that some problematic features that are usually attributed to QP, us contextuality and nonlocality, occur because of the adoption of a verificationist position, from one side, and from an insufficient adherence to the operational principles that have inspired QP itself, from the other side.     

Permanent recording of light helicity on optically inactive metal surfaces

We report on an unusual permanent recording of light helicity on optically achiral metals. Following a number of circularly polarized (CP) or elliptically polarized (EP) femtosecond laser pulses, well-defined periodic surface structures are found on metal surfaces. These surface structures show different orientation when formed by left CP/EP compared with right CP/EP light. The formation of these structures is attributed to the interference between the incident light and the excited surface plasmons. To our knowledge, this is the only phenomenon that can permanently record light helicity with an optically inactive material.     

Theory of vortex lattice effects on STM spectra in d-wave superconductors

The theory of scanning tunneling spectroscopy of low-energy quasiparticle (QP) states in vortex lattices of d-wave superconductors is developed taking account of the effects caused by an extremely large extension of QP wavefunctions in the nodal directions and the band structure in the QP spectrum. The oscillatory structures in STM spectra, which correspond to van Hove singularities, are analyzed. Theoretical calculations carried out for finite temperatures and scattering rates are compared with recent experimental data for high-T _c cuprates.     

Metallic behavior of lightly doped La2-xSrxCuO4 with a Fermi surface forming an arc

Lightly doped La2-xSrxCuO4 in the so-called "insulating" spin-glass phase has been studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We have observed that a "quasiparticle" (QP) peak crosses the Fermi level in the node direction of the d-wave superconducting gap, forming an "arc" of Fermi surface, which explains the metallic behavior at high temperatures of the lightly doped materials. The QP spectral weight of the arc smoothly increases with hole doping, which we attribute to the n approximately x behavior of the carrier number in the underdoped and lightly doped regions.     

Weak Value,Quasiprobability and Bohmian Mechanics

We clarify the significance of quasiprobability (QP) in quantum mechanics that is relevant in describing physical quantities associated with a transition process. Our basic quantity is Aharonov’s weak value, from which the QP can be defined up to a certain ambiguity parameterized by a complex number. Unlike the conventional probability, the QP allows us to treat two noncommuting observables consistently, and this is utilized to embed the QP in Bohmian mechanics such that its equivalence to quantum mechanics becomes more transparent. We also show that, with the help of the QP, Bohmian mechanics can be recognized as an ontological model with a certain type of contextuality.     

Modeling study of peak-dip-hump structure in tunneling spectra of high-temperature superconducting cuprates

We propose new specific model for quasiparticle (QP) tunneling across thesuperconductor-insulator-normal metal (SIN) junction based on two mechanisms. Origin ofthe many features of the tunneling spectra, such as peak-dip-hump (PDH) structure, U- andV-shapes, temperature dependence of differential tunneling conductance, asymmetricconductance peaks, zero-bias conductance, subgap feature and gap inhomogeneity have beenexplained by the proposed model. We show that the energy scales of the binding energies oflarge polarons and polaronic Cooper pairs are identified by pseudogap (PG) crossovertemperature on the cuprate phase diagram.     

Critical currents in quasiperiodic pinning arrays: chains and Penrose lattices

We study the critical depinning current Jc versus the applied magnetic flux Phi, for quasiperiodic (QP) chains and 2D arrays of pinning centers placed on the nodes of a fivefold Penrose lattice. In QP chains, the peaks in Jc(Phi) are determined by a sequence of harmonics of the long and short segments of the chain. The critical current Jc(Phi) has a remarkable self-similarity. In 2D QP pinning arrays, we predict analytically and numerically the main features of Jc(Phi), and demonstrate that the Penrose lattice of pinning sites provides an enormous enhancement of Jc(Phi), even compared to triangular and random pinning site arrays. This huge increase in Jc(Phi) could be useful for applications.     

Anomalous quasiparticle lifetime and strong electron-phonon coupling in graphite

We have performed ultrahigh-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on high-quality single crystals of graphite to elucidate the character of low-energy excitations. We found evidence for a well-defined quasiparticle (QP) peak in the close vicinity of the Fermi level comparable to the nodal QP in high-T(c) cuprates, together with the mass renormalization of the band at an extremely narrow momentum region around the K(H) point. Analysis of the QP lifetime demonstrates the presence of strong electron-phonon coupling and linear energy dependence of the QP scattering rate indicative of a marked deviation from the conventional Fermi-liquid theory.     

Semantic Realism: A New Philosophy for Quantum Physics

The epistemological position underlying thestandard interpretation of quantum physics (QP) can beclassified as a form of verificationism: to be precise,empirical verificationism (nontestable physical statements have no meaning). This position canbe criticized and maintained to be the deep root of manyquantum paradoxes. Semantic Realism proposes analternative viewpoint, according to which evennontestable statements made up of individually testablestatements have a meaning, but quantum laws are notnecessarily true in physical contexts that QP itselfclassifies as nonaccessible. This viewpoint produces a new interpretation of QP which preserves itsformal structure and observational interpretation, butinvalidates those theorems that aim to prove suchpuzzling features of this theory as nonlocality and contextuality (Bell and Bell-Kochen-Speckertheorems).     

Commensurability effects in superconducting Nb films with quasiperiodic pinning arrays

We study experimentally the critical depinning current I(c) versus applied magnetic field B in Nb thin films which contain 2D arrays of circular antidots placed on the nodes of quasiperiodic (QP) fivefold Penrose lattices. Close to the transition temperature T(c) we observe matching of the vortex lattice with the QP pinning array, confirming essential features in the I(c)(B) patterns as predicted by Misko et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 177007 (2005)]. We find a significant enhancement in I(c)(B) for QP pinning arrays in comparison to I(c) in samples with randomly distributed antidots or no antidots.     

Approaching Bounded Rationality: From Quantum Probability to Criticality

The bounded rationality mainstream is based on interesting experiments showing human behaviors violating classical probability (CP) laws. Quantum probability (QP) has been shown to successfully figure out such issues, supporting the hypothesis that quantum mechanics is the central fundamental pillar for brain function and cognition emergence. We discuss the decision-making model (DMM), a paradigmatic instance of criticality, which deals with bounded rationality issues in a similar way as QP, generating choices that cannot be accounted by CP. We define this approach as criticality-induced bounded rationality (CIBR). For some aspects, CIBR is even more satisfactory than QP. Our work may contribute to considering criticality as another possible fundamental pillar in order to improve the understanding of cognition and of quantum mechanics as well.     

Enlargement of the band gap in the metal-insulator-metal heterowaveguide

We present a new metal-insulator-metal (MIM) heterowaveguide to enlarge the band gap, which is formed by alternately stacking two kinds of metals, modulating the MIM waveguide slit, and inserting different dielectric materials with the effective refractive index periodically modulated. Based on this structure, we adopt two different methods to enlarge the band gap: changing the thickness of the unit layer and combining two MIM structures. Both of them widen the band gap when surface plasmon polaritons propagate through the structure. This metal heterostructure is expected to have applications in surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) based optical devices, such as filters, waveguides, especially for broad band gap elements.     

Anomalous quasiparticle renormalization in Na0.73CoO2: role of interorbital interactions and magnetic correlations

We report an angular resolved photoemission study of NaxCoO2 with x approximately 0.73 where it is found that the renormalization of the quasiparticle (QP) dispersion changes dramatically upon a rotation from GammaM to GammaK. The comparison of the experimental data to the calculated band structure reveals that the quasiparticle renormalization is most pronounced along the GammaK direction, while it is significantly weaker along the GammaM direction. We discuss the observed anisotropy in terms of multiorbital effects and point out the relevance of magnetic correlations for the band structure of NaxCoO2 with x approximately 0.75.     

The interaction between unique hyperbranched polyaniline and carbon nanotubes,and its influence on the dielectric behavior of hyperbranched polyaniline/carbon nanotube/epoxy resin composites

Novel hybridized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), consisting of a unique hyperbranched polyaniline (HSiPA) and CNTs, were prepared. The interaction between HSiPA and CNTs was investigated by many techniques, and results show that there are strong π–π and electrostatic interactions between HSiPA and CNTs, so HSiPA can stack firmly onto the surface of CNTs to form a coating. Based on this, a new kind of ternary composites made up of hybridized CNTs and epoxy (EP) resin was prepared, the influence of the ratio of HSiPA to CNTs on the structure and properties of the HSiPA/CNT/EP composites was intensively studied. The percolation threshold of HSiPA/CNT/EP composites is very low (1.26 wt%); besides, with a suitable ratio of HSiPA to CNTs, the HSiPA/CNT/EP composite has much higher dielectric constant and lower dielectric loss than the CNT/EP composite with the same loading of CNTs. When the ratio of HSiPA to CNTs is 0.5:1, the dielectric constant and loss at 100 Hz of the resultant HSiPA/CNT0.5/EP composite are 711 and 1.53, about 7.1 and 4.3 × 10^?3 times the corresponding value of CNT0.5/EP composite, respectively. In addition, compared with traditional CNT/EP composites, the HSiPA/CNT0.5/EP composites have different equivalent circuit models. These attractive results are attributed to unique structure of hybridized CNTs, and thus leading to greatly different structures between the CNT0.5/EP and HSiPA/CNT0.5/EP composites. This investigation reported herein suggests a new approach to prepare new CNTs and related composites with controllable dielectric properties.     

Thermalization of Isolated Bose‐Einstein Condensates by Dynamical Heat Bath Generation

If and how an isolated quantum system thermalizes despite its unitary time evolution is a long‐standing, open problem of many‐body physics. The eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) postulates that thermalization happens at the level of individual eigenstates of a system's Hamiltonian. However, the ETH requires stringent conditions to be validated, and it does not address how the thermal state is reached dynamically from an initial non‐equilibrium state. We consider a Bose‐Einstein condensate (BEC) trapped in a double‐well potential with an initial population imbalance. We find that the system thermalizes although the initial conditions violate the ETH requirements. We identify three dynamical regimes. After an initial regime of undamped Josephson oscillations, the subsystem of incoherent excitations or quasiparticles (QP) becomes strongly coupled to the BEC subsystem by means of a dynamically generated, parametric resonance. When the energy stored in the QP system reaches its maximum, the number of QPs becomes effectively constant, and the system enters a quasi‐hydrodynamic regime where the two subsystems are weakly coupled. In this final regime the BEC acts as a grand‐canonical heat reservoir for the QP system (and vice versa), resulting in thermalization. We term this mechanism dynamical bath generation (DBG).     

Photonic band structure of oxidized macroporous silicon

We investigated theoretically the effect of surface silicon oxide layer on the photonic band structure of a macroporous silicon photonic crystal. Using the plain wave method we have shown that the bandgap in oxidized structure is shifted to the higher frequencies relative to non-oxidized case. We also demonstrate that comparatively wide absolute bandgap can be obtained for low air filling fractions by using thick SiO₂ layer. As an example of possible application of such three-component systems, we have shown the concept of a selector of electromagnetic modes based on our calculations.     

Four quasi-particle band in the odd-odd158TM nucleus

The¹²⁵Te (³⁷CI,4n) reaction has been used to study the high spin states of¹⁵⁸Tm by means of in beam gamma ray spectroscopy using Compton suppressed germanium detectors of the “Château de Cristal” facility. Besides the Yrast band, the rotational character of which is clearly established up to the 23^? level only, a new rotational band developed up to spin 33⁺ is also observed. It is interpreted as a 4QP band.