The MSR-investigation of antiferromagnetic phase transitions in erbium

The muon spin relaxation rate (T) in an orientated polycrystalline sample of erbium constructed of large monocrystals has been measured for temperatures 20 <T<300 K. It has been shown that the (T) for erbium is bounded from above asT T_N, whereT _N=84.4 K is the Néel temperature. This fact may be explained by assuming that atT=T_N erbium undergoes a weak phase-transition of the first order.     

Λ-d Scattering

A three-particle variational calculation of the cross sections and phases of elastic -d scattering in the doublet and quartet states with zero orbital angular momentum is carried out in the energy range from 0 to 20 MeV (laboratory system of coordinates). The calculation is carried out with semirealistic N-N Afnan-Tang potentials and -N potent: —N, which describe -p scattering correctly, as well as the binding energy of the hyperfragments ⁵ He, ¹³ C (within the scope of the + core model), and ³ H (considered as a three-body system).Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 114–118, 1981.     

Bound on the mass gap for finite volume stochastic ising models at low temperature

We consider a sequence of finite volume Z ^d ,d2, reversible stochastic Ising models in the low temperature regime and having invariant measures satisfying free boundary conditions. We show that associated with the models are random hitting times whose expectations, regarded as a function of , grow exponentially in ||( ^d-1)/d ; moreover, the mass gaps for the models shrink exponentially fast in ||( ^d-1)/d . A geometrical lemma is employed in the analysis which states that if a Peierls' contour is sufficiently small relative to the faces of , then the fraction of the contour tangent to the faces is less than a constant smaller than one.     

New inequalities from local realism

The probabilistic formulation of local realism is shown to imply the existence of physically meaningful limits for arbitrary linear combinations of joint probabilities. The set of the so generated inequalities (setA) is wider than the previously known set of inequalities for linear combinations of correlation functions (setB). One particular inequality of the setA is shown to be violated by the probabilities of the Garg-Mermin model. The same model satisfies instead all the inequalities of the setB. As a consequence, the Garg-Mermin model is nonlocal and the setA provides physical restrictions not contained in the setB. 1. In the adopted formalism it is implicitly assumed that physical properties of the type are not created in the act of measurement. IfB(b) is measured on the systems, the setT is split into two parts,T(b _±), corresponding to the resultsB(b) = ±1, respectively. AlsoS is split intoS(b _±) from the existing correlation between and systems. If it is possible to predict that a measurement ofA(a) on the's of, say,S(b ₊) will give the results ±1 with respective probabilitiesP _±, then, on the basis of the probabilistic criterion of reality, we can attribute a physical property ₊ toS(b ₊) such that p(a ₊, ₊) is the probability ofA(a) = +1 inS(b ₊), p(a _–, ₊) is the probability ofA(a) = –1 inS(b ₊).It is natural to assume that ₊ belongs toS(b ₊) also ifA(a) isnot measured. In so doing, we exclude that future measurements create, with a retroaction in time, the physical properties of the statistical ensembles on which these measurements are performed.     

Uniqueness of gibbs fields via cluster expansions

For the unbounded spin systems one cannot get cluster expansion if there exist large enough boundary values. A simple idea to avoid these difficulties is to prove that with probabilityp 1 when ^v there is a large subvolume of such that on all spin values do not exceed some fixed number. This gives a new method to prove uniqueness results for the unbounded spin systems generalizing some results of Refs. 1 and 2. The formulations of these results are in Section 1; the proofs are in Section 2.     

A mean spherical model with coulomb interactions

We consider simple cubic lattice systems ind dimensions with a continuous real charge variableq(n) at each lattice siten. These variables are subject t'o a mean spherical constraint forcing _n q ²(n)=Q ², where is the number of lattice sites in andQ is an elementary charge. The energy of the charges comes from interactions with an electrostatic potential, which is the solution of a symmetric second-difference Poisson equation on the lattice. Two cases are considered, both of which allow the inclusion of the effects of a fixed, constant, external electric field. On the lattice ₁=[1,N]^d , a Neumann condition is imposed at the surface of the lattice. The lattice ₂=[1,N] [–M,M]^(d–1) is periodic in each direction ranging over [–M, M] and has a Dirichlet condition imposed at the other two surfaces. On ₂ a finite electric field may be applied, while on ₂ a finite potential difference may be applied across the lattice. The models are exactly solvable. We study the distribution functions on each system and show that they satisfy appropriate forms of the first two Stillinger-Lovett moment conditions. The two charge distribution functions show screening behavior at high temperature and extreme short range at an intermediate temperatureT ₀(d), and oscillate as they decay to zero forT<T ₀(d). Because of the continuous nature of the charge variables, there is no Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in two dimensions. In three dimensions the change in the decay behavior of the distribution functions atT<T ₀(d) is precursor to a phase transition to a charge ordered state.     

A critical density cosmological model with varying gravitational and cosmological “constants”

A cosmological model in which the universe has its critical density and the gravitational and cosmological constantsG and are time-dependent is presented. The model may possibly solve the horizon and monopole problems. It predicts a perpetually expanding universe in whichG increases and decreases with time in a manner consistent with conservation of the energy-momentum tensor. The model also allows the calculation of various cosmological parameters.     

The λN interaction and structures of the16–18O hypernuclei

The shell model without the nuclear centre-of-mass spuriosity is applied to ^16,17,18O isotopes, predicting the bunched and dense hypernuclear energy levels. The (K^–, ^–) reaction cross sections are calculated at several angles with the =0° ones being in good agreement with the experimental data on ¹⁶O and ¹⁸O. The realistic N effective interaction derived on the basis of the Nijmegen Model-D is employed and the N J=0⁺ pairing correlation is found to be repulsive, which is reflected in the¹⁸O(K^–,^–) ¹⁸O excitation function.Presented at the symposium Mesons and Light Nuclei, Bechyn, Czechoslovakia, May 27–June 1, 1985.The author is thankful to Professor H. Bando. Professor Y. Yamamoto and Professor H. Ikeda for collaboration and useful discussion.     

LETTER: On the Minimal Angular Size in Open, ΛCDM, and Scalar Field Cosmologies

We propose a simple method for determining the redshift z _m at which the angular size of an extragalactic source with fixed proper diameter takes its minimal value. A closed analytical expression, which is often convenient for numerical evaluation is derived. The method is exemplified with the following FRW type expanding universes: the open matter dominated models ( = 0), a critical density model with cosmological constant ( 0), and the class of scalar field cosmologies proposed by Ratra and Peebles. The influence of systematic evolutionary effects is briefly discussed.     

Flat FRW models with variableG and Λ

We consider Einstein's equations with variable gravitational couplingG and cosmological term . For a power-law time-dependence ofG, the cosmological term varies in proportion to the inverse square of the time, provided the equation of state is not that of vacuum. There is then no dimensional constant associated with . For a vacuum equation of state the model is compatible with classical inflation for a wide class of functionsG(t) and (t). For non-power-law behaviour ofG(t), it is possible to have a scale factor that increases exponentially without a vacuum equation of state. For this case the energy density associated with decreases exponentially, while at time zero it is equal with opposite sign to the regular energy density, so there is zero total energy initially.     

On kaonic deuterium. Quantum field-theoretic and relativistic covariant approach

We study kaonic deuterium, the bound K^-d state A_{K d}. Within a quantum field-theoretic and relativistic covariant approach we derive the energy level displacement of the ground state of kaonic deuterium in terms of the amplitude of K^-d scattering for arbitrary relative momenta. Near threshold our formula reduces to the well-known DGBT formula. The S-wave amplitude of K^-d scattering near threshold is defined by the resonances (1405), (1750) and a smooth elastic background, and the inelastic channels K^-d NY and K^-d NY, where Y = ^±,^{0} and ^{0}, where the final-state interactions play an important role. The Ericson-Weise formula for the S-wave scattering length of K^-d scattering is derived. The total width of the energy level of the ground state of kaonic deuterium is estimated using the theoretical predictions of the partial widths of the two-body decays A_Kd NY and experimental data on the rates of the NY pair production in the reactions K^-d NY. We obtain _{1s} = (630±100)eV. For the shift of the energy level of the ground state of kaonic deuterium we predict _{1s} = (325±60)eV.     

Isotope dependence of particle-decay rates of muonic molecular ions (d3,4Heμ) J=1 below (dμ)1s-3,4He threshold

Rates of particle-emitting decay of the resonant state of the muonic molecular ion (dHe) _J=1 lying below the (d)_1s-He threshold can decay to the d-He scattering state. The resonant state is estimated by scattering calculations with the non-adiabatic coupled-rearrangement-channel method. Strong isotope dependence of the decay rates of (d³He) _J=1 and (d⁴He) _J=1 is predicted, though the calculated radiative decay rates of the states are almost the same. In (d³He) _J=1, the particle decay width is three times larger than the radiative decay width, while the two types of decay widths are almost the same in (d⁴He) _J=1. This results in a strong hindrance of the branching ratio of the radiative decay of (d³He) _J=1 compared with the case of (d⁴He) _J=1. This is consistent with a recent observation of the radiative decay of the two molecular states.     

A characterization of Robertson-Walker spaces by null sectional curvature

ForN a null vector andA a vector perpendicular toN, define the null sectional curvature, with respect to TV, of the planeN A ask _N(N A) = R(N,A)A,N<A,A.Then Robertson-Walker metrics can be locally characterized as those for whichk _n at each point is a constant for all the null plans at that point (in each null direction,N must be appropriately chosen). A global characterization of Robertson-Walker spaces is achieved by adding completeness and causality hypotheses.     

Dimensions of invariant sets of expanding maps

We consider a compact invariant set of an expanding map of a manifoldM and give upper and lowerbounds for the Hausdorff Dimension dim _H (), and box dimensionsdim _B () and dim _B (). These bounds are given in terms of the topological entropy, topological pressure, and uniform Lyapunov exponents of the map.A measure-theoretic version of these results is also included.Part of this work was done when I was in the Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona.     

Quantum groupSU(1, 1) ⋊ Z2 and “super-tensor” products

A quantum analogue of the groupSU(1,1)Z ₂—the normalizer ofSU(1, 1) inSL ₂(C)—is introduced and studied. Although there isno correctly defined tensor product in the category of *-representations of the quantum algebraC[SU(1, 1)] _q of regular functions, some categories of *-representations ofC[SU(1, 1)Z ₂] _q turn out to be endowed with a certainZ ₂-graded structure which can be considered as a super-generalization of the monoidal category structure. This quantum effect may be considered as a step to understanding the concept of quantum topological locally compact group.In fact, there seems to be afamily of quantum groupsSU(1, 1)Z ₂ parameterized by unitary characters T ¹ of the fundamental group of the two-dimensional symplectic leaf ofSU(1, 1)/T, whereT is the subgroup of diagonal matrices.It is shown that thequasi-classical analogues of the results of the paper are connected with the decomposition of Schubert cells of the flag manifoldSL ₂(C)_R/B (whereB is the Borel subgroup of upper-triangular matrices) into symplectic leaves.Supported by the Rosenbaum Fellowship.     

Charge Fluctuations in the Two-Dimensional One-Component Plasma

We study, via computer simulations, the fluctuations in the net electric charge in a two-dimensional, one component plasma (OCP) with uniform background charge density –e in a region inside a much larger overall neutral system. Setting e=1, this is the same as the fluctuations in N , the number of mobile particles of charge e. As expected, the distribution of N has, for large , a Gaussian form with a variance which grows only as ^||, where || is the length of the perimeter of . The properties of this system depend only on the coupling parameter =kT, which is the same as the reciprocal temperature in our units. Our simulations show that when the coupling parameter increases, ^() decreases to an asymptotic value ^()^(2)/2 which is equal (or very close) to that obtained for the corresponding variance of particles on a rigid triangular lattice. Thus, for large , the characteristic length _L=2^/ associated with charge fluctuations behaves very differently from that of the Debye length, _D1/ , which it approaches as 0. The pair correlation function of the OCP is also studied.     

On the equivalence of boundary conditions

We show that ifb andb are two boundary conditions (b.c.) for general spin systems on ^d such that the difference in the energies of a spin configuration in ^d is uniformly bounded, |H _,b ()–H _,b()|C < , then any infinite-volume Gibbs states and obtained with these b.c. have the same measure-zero sets. This implies that the decompositions of and into extremal Gibbs states are equivalent (mutually absolutely continuous). In particular, if is extremal,=. Application of this observation yields in an easy way (among other things) (a) the uniqueness of the Gibbs states for one-dimensional systems with forces that are not too long-range; (b) the fact that various b.c. that are natural candidates for producing non-translation-invariant Gibbs states cannot lead to such an extremal Gibbs state in two dimensions.Supported in part by NSF Grant PHY 78–15920 and by the Swiss National Foundation For Scientific Research.     

Superstability estimates for anharmonic systems

We consider an anharmonic crystal described by variablesS _x ,x ^d ,S _x , with one-body interaction ¦S _x ¦ and nearest neighbor (n.n.) two body interaction ¦S _x –S _y ¦. We prove that, for ^d bounded, , where is the correlation function for the free boundary condition Gibbs state in ,>0 and are suitable constants independent of and . This generalizes previous results obtained in the case.Research partially supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.     

Statistical mechanics of the isothermal lane-emden equation

For classical point particles in a box with potential energy H^(N)=N ^–1(1/2) _ij=1 ^N V(x _i,x _j) we investigate the canonical ensemble for largeN. We prove that asN the correlation functions are determined by the global minima of a certain free energy functional. Locally the distribution of particles is given by a superposition of Poisson fields. We study the particular case =[–L, L] andV(x, y)=}- cos(x–y),L}>0, }>0.References     

Results from the First Year of Observations with the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) has produced all-sky maps in five frequency bands between 23 and 94 GHz that can be used to study the CMB. We present an overview of the results from an analysis of maps made with one year of data. The highlights are that a) the flat CDM model fits the data remarkably well, an Einstein-deSitter model (_tot = 1, =0) does not; b) from the polarization of the CMB there is evidence of the birth of the first generation of stars at z _r 20; c) when the WMAP data are combined and compared with other cosmological probes a cosmic consistency emerges: multiple different lines of inquiry lead to the same results. The best-fit flat cosmological model to just the WMAP CMB data shows that the matter density is _m h ² = 0.14 _–0.02 ^+0.02, the baryon density is _b h ² = 0.024 ± 0.001, and n _s = 0.99 ± 0.04. WMAP continues to operate, and so results will improve.