Properties of the Ising magnet confined in a corner geometry

The properties of Ising square lattices with nearest neighbor ferromagnetic exchange confined in a corner geometry, are studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations. Free boundary conditions at which boundary magnetic fields ±h are applied, i.e., at the two boundary rows ending at the lower left corner a field +h acts, while at the two boundary rows ending at the upper right corner a field −h acts. For temperatures T less than the critical temperature T_c of the bulk, this boundary condition leads to the formation of two domains with opposite orientation of the magnetization direction, separated by an interface which for T larger than the filling transition temperature T_f(h) runs from the upper left corner to the lower right corner, while for T<T_f(h) this interface is localized either close to the lower left corner or close to the upper right corner. It is shown that for T=T_f(h) the magnetization profile m(z) in the z-direction normal to the interface simply is linear and the interfacial width scales as w∝L, while for T>T_f(h) it scales as . The distribution P(?) of the interface position ? (measured along the z-direction from the corners) decays exponentially for T<T_f(h) from either corner, is essentially flat for T=T_f(h), and is a Gaussian centered at the middle of the diagonal for T>T_f(h). Unlike the findings for critical wetting in the thin film geometry of the Ising model, the Monte Carlo results for corner wetting are in very good agreement with the theoretical predictions.     

Nonlinear statistical coupling

By considering a nonlinear combination of the probabilities of a system, a physical interpretation of Tsallis statistics as representing the nonlinear coupling or decoupling of statistical states is proposed. The escort probability is interpreted as the coupled probability, with Q=1−q defined as the degree of nonlinear coupling between the statistical states. Positive values of Q have coupled statistical states, a larger entropy metric, and a maximum coupled-entropy distribution of compact-support coupled-Gaussians. Negative values of Q have decoupled statistical states and for −2<Q<0 a maximum coupled-entropy distribution of heavy-tail coupled-Gaussians. The conjugate transformation between the heavy-tail and compact-support domains is shown to be for coupled-Gaussian distributions. This conjugate relationship has been used to extend the generalized Fourier transform to the compact-support domain and to define a scale-invariant correlation structure with heavy-tail limit distribution. In the present paper, we show that the conjugate is a mapping between the source of nonlinearity in non-stationary stochastic processes and the nonlinear coupling which defines the coupled-Gaussian limit distribution. The effects of additive and multiplicative noise are shown to be separable into the coupled-variance and the coupling parameter Q, providing further evidence of the importance of the generalized moments.     

The non-perturbative renormalization group in the ordered phase

We study some analytical properties of the solutions of the non-perturbative renormalization group flow equations for a scalar field theory with Z₂ symmetry in the ordered phase, i.e. at temperatures below the critical temperature. The study is made in the framework of the local potential approximation. We show that the required physical discontinuity of the magnetic susceptibility χ(M) at M=±M₀ (M₀ spontaneous magnetization) is reproduced only if the cut-off function which separates high and low energy modes satisfies to some restrictive explicit mathematical conditions; we stress that these conditions are not satisfied by a sharp cut-off in dimensions of space d<4.By generalizing a method proposed earlier by Bonanno and Lacagnina [Nucl. Phys. B 693 (2004) 36] to any kind of cut-off we propose to solve numerically the renormalization group flow equations for the threshold functions rather than for the local potential. It yields an algorithm sufficiently robust and precise to extract universal as well as non-universal quantities from numerical experiments at any temperature, in particular at sub-critical temperatures in the ordered phase. Numerical results obtained for the φ⁴ potential with three different cut-off functions are reported and compared. The data confirm our theoretical predictions concerning the analytical behavior of χ(M) at M=±M₀.Fixed point solutions of the adimensioned renormalization group flow equations are also obtained in the same vein, that is by solving the fixed points equations and the associated eigenvalue problem for the threshold functions rather than for the potential. We report high precision data for the odd and even spectra of critical exponents for different cut-offs obtained in this way.     

Universality in bibliometrics

Many discussions have enlarged the literature in Bibliometrics since the Hirsch proposal, the so called h-index. Ranking papers according to their citations, this index quantifies a researcher only by its greatest possible number of papers that are cited at least h times. A closed formula for h-index distribution that can be applied for distinct databases is not yet known. In fact, to obtain such distribution, the knowledge of citation distribution of the authors and its specificities are required. Instead of dealing with researchers randomly chosen, here we address different groups based on distinct databases. The first group is composed of physicists and biologists, with data extracted from Institute of Scientific Information (ISI). The second group is composed of computer scientists, in which data were extracted from Google-Scholar system. In this paper, we obtain a general formula for the h-index probability density function (pdf) for groups of authors by using generalized exponentials in the context of escort probability. Our analysis includes the use of several statistical methods to estimate the necessary parameters. Also an exhaustive comparison among the possible candidate distributions are used to describe the way the citations are distributed among authors. The h-index pdf should be used to classify groups of researchers from a quantitative point of view, which is meaningfully interesting to eliminate obscure qualitative methods.     

Classical limit of the Casimir entropy for scalar massless field

We study the Casimir effect at finite temperature for a massless scalar field in the parallel plates geometry in N spatial dimensions, under various combinations of Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions on the plates. We show that in all these cases the entropy, in the limit where energy equipartitioning applies, is a geometrical factor whose sign determines the sign of the Casimir force.     

Quasi-relativistic treatment of the low-lying KCs states

The potential energy curves, permanent and transition dipole moments as well as spin-orbit and angular coupling matrix elements between the KCs electronic states converging to the lowest three dissociation limits were evaluated in the basis of the spin-averaged wavefunctions corresponding to pure Hund’s coupling case (a). The quasi-relativistic matrix elements have been obtained for a wide range of internuclear distance by using of small (9-electrons) effective core pseudopotentials of both atoms. The core-valence correlation has been accounted for a large scale multi-reference configuration interaction method combined with semi-empirical core polarization potentials. The static dipole polarizabilities of the ground X¹Σ⁺ and a³Σ⁺ states were extracted from the closed-shell coupled-cluster energies by the finite-field method. Among the singlet and triplet Σ⁺ states manifold the pronounced avoided crossing effect between repulsive walls of the (2,3)³Σ⁺ states has been discovered and analyzed by finite-difference calculation of radial coupling matrix elements. The resulting transition dipole moments and potentials were used to predict radiative lifetimes and emission branching ratios of excited vibronic states while the calculated angular coupling matrix elements were transformed to Λ-doubling constants of the (1,2)¹Π states and magnetic g-factor of the ground state. The accuracies of the present results are discussed by comparing with experimental data and preceding calculations.     

Electronic phase separation and the inhomogeneities in Bi2212

Recent works on scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) have shown how the measured local gaps vary in a Bi2212 family of samples with different hole doping levels and also, how they vary with the temperature. Here we use the Cahn-Hilliard (CH) equation of phase segregation in alloys to describe the phase separations of holes in HTS. This method allows us to determine how the local Landau free energy changes in a given sample as a function of temperature, assuming that the line of anomalies or signals related with the upper pseudogap is the phase separation temperature T_ps. The free energy and the hole density form regions of low and high values separated by a potential barrier, which we propose to be the origin of the superconducting attraction.     

Nanoscale observations of the operational failure for phase-change-type nonvolatile memory devices using Ge2Sb2Te5 chalcogenide thin films

In this study, a phase-change memory device was fabricated and the origin of device failure mode was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (GST) was used as the active phase-change material in the memory device and the active pore size was designed to be 0.5 m. After the programming signals of more than 2×10⁶ cycles were repeatedly applied to the device, the high-resistance memory state (reset) could not be rewritten and the cell resistance was fixed at the low-resistance state (set). Based on TEM and EDS studies, Sb excess and Ge deficiency in the device operating region had a strong effect on device reliability, especially under endurance-demanding conditions. An abnormal segregation and oxidation of Ge also was observed in the region between the device operating and inactive peripheral regions. To guarantee an data endurability of more than 1×10¹⁰ cycles of PRAM, it is very important to develop phase-change materials with more stable compositions and to reduce the current required for programming.     

Ultrafast laser-driven magnetic-switching scenario in NiO: Role of phonons

We present a fully ab initio ultrafast magnetooptical-switching mechanism in NiO. After obtaining all intragap d-character states of the bulk and the (001) surface with the use of highly correlational quantum chemistry we propagate in time under the influence of a static magnetic field and a laser pulse. We find that switching can be best achieved in a subpicosecond regime with linearly polarized light. The electric-dipole approximation suffices for the surface, however, for the centrosymmetric bulk the presence of an optical phonon is used as a symmetry-lowering mechanism. Lattice (contrary to electronic) temperature is found to enhance the process.     

Variational approach to strong correlation in the photoemission of electron-doped superconductors

We use a variational approach with strictly strong-correlated constraint to gain insight into low-energy states of t-t^′-t^″-J model in the electron-doped regime. Compared with the recent results on the electron-doped cuprates obtained by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we show that based on the long-range ordered antiferromagnetic metallic state prohibiting vacant sites, our results lead to qualitatively similar trends in ARPES spectra and Fermi surface topology. Additionally, the results about the evolution of the energy gap and spectral weight as a function of doping will be discussed.     

Transport of waves in disordered waveguides: A potential model

We study the statistical properties of wave transport in a disordered waveguide. We first derive the properties of a “building block” (BB) of length δL starting from a potential model consisting of thin potential slices. We then find a diffusion equation—in the space of transfer matrices that describe our system—which governs the evolution with the length L of the disordered waveguide of the transport properties of interest. The latter depend only on the mean free paths and on no other property of the slice distribution. The universality that arises demonstrates the existence of a generalized central-limit theorem. We have developed a numerical simulation in which the universal statistical properties of the BB found analytically are first implemented numerically, and then the various BBs are combined to construct the full waveguide. The reported results thus obtained are in good agreement with microscopic calculations, for both bulk and surface disorder.     

Single- and double-pion production in nucleon collisions on the nucleon and on nuclei—the ABC effect and its origin in a dibaryonic resonance

The ABC effect-an intriguing low-mass enhancement in the ππ invariant mass spectrum-is known from inclusive measurements of two-pion production in nuclear fusion reactions. First exclusive measurements carried out at CELSIUS-WASA for the fusion reactions leading to d or ³He reveal this effect to be a σ-channel phenomenon associated with the formation of a ΔΔ system in the intermediate state and combined with a resonance-like behavior in the total cross-section. Together with the observation that the differential distributions do not change in shape over the resonance region the features fulfill the criteria of an isoscalar s-channel resonance in pn and NNππ systems, if the two emitted nucleons are bound. It obviously is robust enough to survive in nuclei as a dibaryonic resonance configuration. In this context also the phenomenon of NΔ resonances is reexamined.     

Josephson effect in supercondutor/ferromagnetic semiconductor/superconductor junctions

Using a general expression for dc Josephson current, we study the Josephson effect in ballistic superconductor (SC)/ferromagnetic semiconductor (FS)/SC junctions, in which the mismatches of the effective mass and Fermi velocity between the FS and SC, spin polarization P in the FS, as well as strengths of potential scattering Z at the interfaces are included. It is shown that in the coherent regime, the oscillatory dependences of the maximum Josephson current on the FS layer thickness L and Josephson current on the macroscopic phase difference φ for the heavy and light holes, resulting from the spin splitting energy gained or lost by a quasiparticle Andreev-reflected at the FS/SC interface, are much different due to the different mismatches in the effective mass and Fermi velocity between the FS and the SC, which is related to the crossovers between positive (0) and negative (π) couplings or equivalently 0 and π junctions. Also, we find that, for the same reason, Z and P are required not to surpass different critical values for the Josephson currents of the heavy and light holes. Furthermore, it is found that, for the dependence of the Josephson current on φ, regardless of how L,Z, and P change, the Josephson junctions do not transit between 0 and π junctions for the light hole.     

The Kadomtsev-Petviashvili II equation on the half-plane

The KPII equation is an integrable nonlinear PDE in 2+1 dimensions (two spatial and one temporal), which arises in several physical circumstances, including fluid mechanics, where it describes waves in shallow water. It provides a multidimensional generalisation of the renowned KdV equation. In this work, we employ a novel approach recently introduced by one of the authors in connection with the Davey-Stewartson equation (Fokas (2009) [13]), in order to analyse the initial-boundary value problem for the KPII equation formulated on the half-plane. The analysis makes crucial use of the so-called d-bar formalism, as well as of the so-called global relation. A novel feature of boundary as opposed to initial value problems in 2+1 is that the d-bar formalism now involves a function in the complex plane which is discontinuous across the real axis.     

Kaleidoscope of life: A 24-neighbourhood outer-totalistic cellular automaton

One of the challenges of cellular automaton research is finding models with a low complexity and at the same time a rich dynamics. A measure of low complexity is the number of states in the model and the number of transition rules to switch between those states. In this paper, we propose a 2-dimensional 2-state cellular automaton that-though governed by a single simple transition rule-has a sufficiently rich dynamics to be computationally universal. According to the transition rule, a cell’s state is determined by the sum of the states of the cells at orthogonal or diagonal distances one or two from the cell (distance-2 Moore neighbourhood), but not by the previous state of the cell itself. Notwithstanding its simplicity, this model is able to generate a great variety of patterns, including several types of stable configurations, oscillators and patterns that move over cellular space (gliders). We prove the computational universality of the model by constructing a universal set of logic gates (NOT and AND) from these patterns. A key element in this proof is the shifting of phases and positions of signals such that they meet the input requirements of the logic gates. Similarities of the model with classical spin systems are also discussed.     

Effects of pressure ratio on population inversion in a DF chemical laser with concurrent lasing

A numerical simulation is presented for investigating the effects of pressure ratio of D₂ injector to supersonic nozzle on the population inversion in the DF chemical laser cavity, while a lasing concurrently takes place. The chemical laser is generally used for the industrial process and manufacturing as well as the military weapon system, which requires high power characteristic of laser system rather than the others. The population inversion is absolutely needed to generate the laser beam and is non-equilibrium process. The laser beam is generated between the mirrors in the cavity and it is important to obtain stronger population inversion and more uniform distribution of the excited molecules in the laser cavity in order to produce high-power laser beam with good quality. In this study, these phenomena are investigated by means of analyzing the distributions of the DF excited molecules and the F atom used as an oxidant, while simultaneously estimating the maximum small signal and saturated gains and power in the DF chemical laser cavity. For the numerical solution, a fully conservative implicit method and a second order total variation diminishing (TVD) scheme are used with the finite-volume method (FVM). An 11-species (including DF molecules in various excited states of energies), 32-step chemistry model is adopted for the chemical reaction of the DF chemical laser system. The results are discussed by comparison with two D₂ injector pressure cases; 192 and 388.64 torr. Major results reveal that in the resonator, stronger population inversions occur in the all transitions except DF(1)-DF(0), when the D₂ injection pressure is lower. But, the higher D₂ injection pressure provides a favorable condition for DF(1)-DF(0) transition to generate the higher power laser beam. In other words, as the pressure of D₂ injector increases, the maximum small signal gain in the v_1-0 transition, which is in charge of generating most of laser power, becomes higher. Therefore, the total laser beam power becomes higher.     

Phase transition in dually weighted colored tensor models

Tensor models are a generalization of matrix models (their graphs being dual to higher-dimensional triangulations) and, in their colored version, admit a 1/N expansion and a continuum limit. We introduce a new class of colored tensor models with a modified propagator which allows us to associate weight factors to the faces of the graphs, i.e. to the bones (or hinges) of the triangulation, where curvature is concentrated. They correspond to dynamical triangulations in three and higher dimensions with generalized amplitudes. We solve analytically the leading order in 1/N of the most general model in arbitrary dimensions. We then show that a particular model, corresponding to dynamical triangulations with a non-trivial measure factor, undergoes a third-order phase transition in the continuum characterized by a jump in the susceptibility exponent.     

Pricing European options with a log Student’s t-distribution: A Gosset formula

The distributions of returns for stocks are not well described by a normal probability density function (pdf). Student’s t-distributions, which have fat tails, are known to fit the distributions of the returns. We present pricing of European call or put options using a log Student’s t-distribution, which we call a Gosset approach in honour of W.S. Gosset, the author behind the nom de plume Student. The approach that we present can be used to price European options using other distributions and yields the Black-Scholes formula for returns described by a normal pdf.     

Probability density in the complex plane

The correspondence principle asserts that quantum mechanics resembles classical mechanics in the high-quantum-number limit. In the past few years, many papers have been published on the extension of both quantum mechanics and classical mechanics into the complex domain. However, the question of whether complex quantum mechanics resembles complex classical mechanics at high energy has not yet been studied. This paper introduces the concept of a local quantum probability density ρ(z) in the complex plane. It is shown that there exist infinitely many complex contours C of infinite length on which ρ(z) dz is real and positive. Furthermore, the probability integral is finite. Demonstrating the existence of such contours is the essential element in establishing the correspondence between complex quantum and classical mechanics. The mathematics needed to analyze these contours is subtle and involves the use of asymptotics beyond all orders.     

A psychophysical model of decision making

Herein we develop a psychophysical model of decision making based on the difference between objective clock time and the human brain’s perception of time. In this model the utility function is given by the survival probability, which is shown to be a generalized hyperbolic distribution. The parameters of the utility function are fit to intertemporal choice model experimental data and decision making is determined to be a 1/f-noise process.