Crystal growth and characterisation of new organic nonlinear optical materials: 6-cyano and 6-nitro-2,2-dimethyl-3,4-epoxychroman

Two chiral organic nonlinear optical materials, (3S,4S)-(−)-6-cyano-2,2-dimethyl-3,4-epoxychroman (1) and (3R,4R)-(+)-6-nitro-2,2-dimethyl-3,4-epoxychroman (2), have been grown into single crystals of cm³-size. Although both compounds crystallise in the orthorhombic P2₁2₁2₁ space group, they are not isomorphous and their crystal packings are quite different. Angle tuned type II phase-matched second harmonic generation between 0.8 and 1.064 μm has been evidenced, with effective nonlinear coefficients d_eff of 1 and 5 pm/V at 0.96 μm for 1 and 2, respectively. These values are in agreement with those estimated in the oriented gas model approximation using EFISH first order hyperpolarisability values (β₀=2.6 and 4.0×10⁻³⁰ esu for 1 and 2, respectively).     

“Gluelump” spectrum and adjoint source potential in lattice QCD3

We calculate the potential between “quarks” which are in the adjoint representation of SU(2) color in the three-dimensional lattice theory. We work in the scaling region of the theory and at large quark separations R. We also calculate the masses M_Qg of color-singlet bound states formed by coupling an adjoint quark to adjoint glue (“gluelumps”). Good scaling behavior is found for the masses of both magnetic (angular momentum J = 0) and electric (J = 1) gluelumps, and the magnetic gluelump is found to be the lowest-lying state. It is naively expected that the potential for adjoint quarks should saturate above a separation R_scr where it becomes energetically favorable to produce a pair of gluelumps. We obtain a good estimate of the naive screening distance R_scr. However we find little evidence of saturation in the potential out to separations R of about 1.5R_scr.     

Correlations in one-dimensional quantum impurity problems with an external field

We study response functions of integrable quantum impurity problems with an external field at T = 0 using non-perturbative techniques derived from the Bethe ansatz. We develop the first steps of the theory of excitations over the new, field-dependent ground state, leading to renormalized (or “dressed”) form factors. We obtain exactly the low-frequency behaviour of the dynamical susceptibility χ″ (ω) in the double-well problem of dissipative quantum mechanics (or equivalently the anisotropic Kondo problem), and the low-frequency behaviour of the AC noise S_t(ω) for tunnelling between edges in fractional quantum Hall devices. We also obtain exactly the structure of singularities in χ″ (ω) and S_t (ω). Our results differ significantly from previous perturbative approaches.     

Domain-wall supergravities from sphere reduction

Kaluza-Klein sphere reductions of supergravities that admit Ads × Sphere vacuum solutions are believed to be consistent. The examples include the S⁴ and S⁷ reductions of eleven-dimensional supergravity, and the S⁵ reduction of ten-dimensional type IIB supergravity . In this paper we provide evidence that sphere reductions of supergravities that admit instead Domain-wallxSphere vacuum solutions are also consistent, where the background can be viewed as the near-horizon structure of a dilatonic p-brane of the theory. The resulting lower-dimensional theory is a gauged supergravity that admits a domain wall, rather than AdS, as a vacuum solution. We illustrate this consistency by taking the singular limits of certain modulus parameters, for which the originalSⁿ compactifying spheres (n = 4, 5 or 7) becomes S^p × R^q, with p = n − q < n. The consistency of the S⁴, S⁷ reductions then implies the consistency of the ^Sp reductions of the lower-dimensional supergravities. In particular, we obtain explicit non-linear ansätze for the S³ reduction of type IIA and heterotic supergravities, restricting to the U(1)² subgroup of the SO(4) gauge group of S³. We also study the black-hole solutions in the lower-dimensional gauged supergravities with domain-wall backgrounds. We find new domain-wall black holes which are not the singular-modulus limits of the AdS black holes of the original theories, and we obtain their Killing spinors.     

Duality and quantum-algebra symmetry of the AN−1 open spin chain with diagonal boundary fields

We show that the transfer matrix of the A_N−1⁽¹⁾ open spin chair with diagonal boundary fields has the symmetry U_q(SU(l)) × U_q(SU(N−l)) × U(1), as well as a “duality” symmetry which maps l ↔ N − l. We exploit these symmetries to compute exact boundary S-matrices in the regime with q real.     

Nonlinear aspects of the Cahn-Hilliard equation

This paper treats phase separation within the context of the phenomenological Cahn-Hilliard equation, c_t = · [M(c)(∂f/∂c - K²c)], where c is the concentration, M(c) is the mobility, and f(c) is homogeneou s free energy, which is assumed here to be a fourth degree polynomial. Natural boundary conditions are introduced. The full set of equilibrium solutions is specified. A comparison theorem for stability criteria which was postulated by Langer is proved here within the framework of the natural boundary conditions. Energy methods are used to define and estimate the limit of monotonic global stability. It is pointed out that within the parameter region where the uniform homogeneous state is the only equilibrium solution, there may still exist some internal “excitable” region in which the homogeneous solution possesses growing fluctuations. Furthermore a periodic instability is shown to exist in the metastable region in addition to the well-known nucleation instability.     

Normal state magnetoresistance in stable magnetic fields up to 20 T in single crystalline La1.76Sr0.24CuO4

The in-plane normal state resistance R_n(T, H) in an overdoped La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ crystal (x = 0.24) has been measured in magnetic fields up to 20 T parallel to the c-axis. The R_n(T) curves in constant fields show a quadratic behavior in a wide range of temperature above T_c(H). Some characteristic features in R_n(H) are observed. In the low-field region R_n(H) increases with increasing H, reaches a maximum and then decreases with further increasing H. Possible origins for the observed unusual R_n(T, H) behavior are discussed.     

Spectral intensities in the ν1 band of NH3

Intensities have been measured for individual transitions in the Q and R branches of the ν₁ band of NH₃ using a difference-frequency laser spectrometer. The data yield an integrated band strength of S⁰_v=219.36±1.03 cm^-2/MPa at 297 K, corresponding to a transition moment of μ_v = 8.535(20) × 10^-32 C·m, and a Herman-Wallis correction factor, (1 + _jm)², where _j = 0.0209(20). The intensities of a few lines for K 7 were noticeably perturbed by a perpendicular Coriolis interaction with 2ν₄ (E, L = 2), so were excluded from the fit. A small sample of ν₃ band lines occurring in the ν₁ band scans also yields a rough estimate of the ν₃ band intensity with evident irregular perturbations.     

Stable heavy pentaquark states

If the Θ⁺(1540) is interpreted as a bound state of a quark and two (ud) diquarks in a relative P-wave, then it is very likely that there exist pentaquark states with a heavy antiquark, or , and two “light” diquarks in a relative S-wave which are stable against strong decays. We make a mass estimate for exotic states of this type and discuss their weak decays. Isospin relations are constructed which test their flavor quantum numbers.     

Discrete gauge symmetry anomalies

It has been recently argued that quantum gravity effects strongly violate all non-gauge symmetries. This would suggest that all low energy discrete symmetries should be gauge symmetries, either continuous or discrete. Acceptable continuous gauge symmetries are constrained by the condition they should be anomaly free. We show here that any discrete gauge symmetry should also obey certain “discrete anomaly cancellation” conditions. These conditions strongly constrains the massles fermion content of the theory and follow from the “parent” cancellation of the usual continuous gauge anomalies. They have interesting applications in model building. As an example we consider the constraints on the Z_N “generalized matter parities” of the supersymmetric standard model. We show that only a few (including the standard R-parity) are “discrete anomaly free” unless the fermion content of the minimal supersymmetric standard model is enlarged.     

Experimental observation of a copious yield of electrons with small transverse momenta in pp collisions at high energies

Inclusive electron and positron emission have been observed for θ_cm = 30° and S = 2800 GeV² at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR). Over the transverse momentum interval 0.2 GeV/c < p_T < 1.5 GeV/c, electrons and positrons, which are equal in number within the experimental accuracies, appear to grow with respect to other particles (pions) approximately like 1/p_T. We are unable to explain their number and p_T-dependence in terms of “conventional” mechanisms.     

A relation between the atomic charge of carbon and the C1s core electron binding energy estimated from a comparison of gas phase and solid state data and the molar polarizabilities of the investigated molecules

A method for internal calibration of ESCA (XPS ) spectra is described that permits the use of a simple relation between binding energy (E_b) and atomic charge (q) : E_b = kq + E_b0. This relation has been shown to hold for a large number of elements. So far the relation for carbon has, however, not been very well established. A method is now described that allows the use of carbon charges determined from E_b, vs. q correlations for other elements and has also made it possible to establish a linear relation for carbon. The method does not use carbon charges determined directly from quantum chemical calculations.

As an essential part of this procedure we investigated empirically the possible relation between the difference between the gas phase calibration standard and that for the same element in the solid state, “a”, and the molar polarizability of the substance, P. It was found that “a” decreases with increasing polarizability, tentatively as a=4.15+8.30 P^−1/3. Therefore, knowledge of the polarizability of carbon-containing molecules from the literature made it possible to determine “a” and then the charge of all other atoms in the molecule. In this way a set of E_b and qc date was obtained. These data were complemented by another set using theoretical q_c snd solid state E_b of phenyl compounds previously made.

The results of the investigation show a linear relation between E_b(Cls) and q_c valid for the solid state: E_b,(Cls) = 4.68 q_c + 286.2 eV with a correlation coefficient of 0.945. This brings the previously obtained k value for carbon, which seemed anomalously high, down to a value of similar magnitude as for other light elements.     

Z′ mediated flavor changing neutral currents in B meson decays

We study the effects of an extra U(1)′ gauge boson with flavor changing couplings with fermion mass eigenstates on certain B meson decays that are sensitive to such new physics contributions. In particular, we examine to what extent the current data on B_d→φK and B_d→η′K decays may be explained in such models, concentrating on the example in which the flavor changing couplings are left-chiral. We find that within reasonable ranges of parameters, the Z′ contribution can readily account for the anomaly in S_φKS but is not sufficient to explain large branching ratio of B_d→η′K with the same parameter value. S_φKS and S_η′KS are seen to be the dominant observables that constrain the extra weak phase in the model.     

Tracking the formation of 2223 BiSrCaCu oxygen compounds by resistivity and susceptibility measurements reaching Tc(0)=115 K

Unsubstituted and lead-antimony substituted 2223 BiSrCaCu Oxygen compounds have been synthesized and compared by resistivity R(T) and susceptibility χ(T) measurements and chemical analysis. The R(T) and χ(T) measurements show that interface effects occur which are reflected in the R(T) characteristics. The chemical analysis of samples with a resistance zero T_c(0)=114 K and a diamagnetic onset at 115 K yields a severe loss of lead from nominally 40 at% down to about 3 at%, whereas the T_c(0)=110 K samples contain up to about 30 at% of lead. It is assumed that for the formation of the 115 K phase lead oxide acts as a catalyst not being incorporated to a considerable amount into the lattice.     

Spectator fermion binding of bosons

We consider a two-component mixture of charged fermions on neutralizing background with all sign combinations and arbitrarily small mass ratios. In the two-impurity limit for the heavier component we show that the pair forms a bound state for all charge combinations. In the lowest order approximation we derive a closed-form expression for V_eff(r), the binding potential which has short-range repulsion followed by attraction. In the classical limit, when the mass of embedded particles is large, m₂ å m, we can calculate from V_eff(r) also the cohesive energy E and the bond length R of a metallic crystal such as lithium. For lithium metal the lowest-order result is R = 3.1 Å, E = −1.8 eV, while the corresponding experimental values are 3.4 Å and −1.6 eV. The same interaction for two holes on a parabolic band with m₂ > m gives the quantum mechanical bound state which one may interpret as a boson or local pair in the case of high-T_c and heavy-fermion superconductors.     

Scaling limit of deeply virtual compton scattering

I outline a perturbative QCD approach to the analysis of the deeply virtual Compton scattering process γ^*p → γp′ in the limit of vanishing momentum transfer t = (p′ − p)². The DVCS amplitude in this limit exhibits a scaling behavior described by two-argument distributions F(x,y) which specify the fractions of the initial momentum p and the momentum transfer r ≡ p′ − p carried by the constituents of the nucleon. The kernel R(x,y;ξ,η) governing the evolution of the non-forward distributions F(x,y) has a remarkable property: it produces the GLAPD evolution kernel P(x/ξ) when integrated over y and reduces to the Brodsky-Lepage evolution kernel V(y,η) after the x-integration. This property is used to construct the solution of the one-loop evolution equation for the flavor non-singlet part of the non-forward quark distribution.     

Charge susceptibility and charge correlation function in the d---p model

The properties of the charge fluctuation are investigated in the d---p model with the repulsion U_pd between holes on the nearest-neighbor Cu and O sites and the infinite on-site repulsion U_d at the Cu site. We calculate the charge susceptibility χ^c(q, iω_n) and the charge correlation function S^c(q) = TΣ_ωn χ^c(q, iω_n). It is found that S^c(q) has a peak at the Γ point and a maximum in a ring around the Γ point. The former is due to Tχ^c(q, 0). Its intensity is proportional to temperature T and strongly enhanced by U_pd. The latter is due to TΣ_{ωn ≠ 0} χ^c(q, iω_n) and shows a weak T and U_pd dependence. The intensity of the diffuse X-ray scattering on taking the charge fluctuation into account is also calculated. The result is consistent with the experiments in La_2−δSr_δCuO₄.     

Laser ablated bismuth cuprate thin films preparation and effect of oxygen nonstoichiometry upon superconductivity

Thin films of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ and (Bi, Pb)₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ have been prepared on monocrystalline (100) MgO substrates, using a laser ablation method with post annealing treatment. The influence of substrate temperature and oxygen pressure during deposition were investigated. SEM observations, EDS analysis, electric and magnetic measurements have been used to characterize the films. Superconducting “2212” films, with T_c(R = 0) at 80–83 K and J_c (50 K) up to 5 × 10⁵ A/cm², have been currently achieved, while Pb-doped “2223” films exhibit T_c as high as 110 K with J_c = 5 × 10⁴ A/cm² at 77 K. The effect of annealing at low temperature (350°C) in an argon flow has been studied for the 2212 phase, it shows the influence of the oxygen non-stoichiometry, i.e. of the hole carrier density upon T_c's which can be measured up to 89 K (zero resistance).     

From Planck to GUT via dimensional transmutation

Consider a gauge singlet superfield S coupled to a pair of adjoint fields in a SUSY-GUT. If the tree-level vacuum is flat in S, the vev S which defines the GUT scale will be determined via dimensional transmutation at a scale M where the soft-breaking (mass)² vanishes as a result of running from M_P = (8πG_N)^−1/2. Because of the large number of adjoint fields N_A coupled to S, one finds that M can be generically close to M_GUT = 2 × 10¹⁶GeV:

, where λ is a Yukawa 0.7. This work examines the symmetries and dynamical constraints required in a SUSY-GUT in order that the desired flatness in S is achieved, and that this flatness may survive in a supergravity framework.     

Thermal transport in the oxygenated magnetic superconductor, Eu1.5Ce0.5RuSr2Cu2O10+δ

The thermal conductivity and thermopower are reported for a hole doped Eu_1.5Ce_0.5RuSr₂Cu₂O_10+δ sample that has been annealed at 1100 K under an oxygen pressure of 54 atm. At T_c=45 K superconductivity and weak ferromagnetism coexist (T_m=180 K). Weak features in the thermopower, S(T), and thermal conductivity, κ(T), are observed both at T_m and at T^*=140 K. The thermopower begins to decrease sharply toward zero at T_c, and there is an extremely sharp increase of about 30% in the thermal conductivity at T_c. This “first order” transition may be related to the sudden appearance of a spontaneous vortex phase at T_c. A small shoulder is observed in κ(T) in the temperature range T=5–13 K.