Self-organized-criticality model consistent with statistical properties of edge turbulence in a fusion plasma

The statistical properties of the intermittent signal generated by a recent model for self-organized criticality are examined. A successful comparison is made with previously published results of the equivalent quantities measured in the electrostatic turbulence at the edge of a fusion plasma. This result reestablishes self-organized criticality as a potential paradigm for transport in magnetic fusion devices, overriding shortcomings pointed out in earlier works [E. Spada, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 3032 (2001)10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.3032; V. Antoni, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 045001 (2001)10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.045001].     

Scaling in the fan of an unconventional quantum critical point

We present results of extensive finite-temperature quantum Monte Carlo simulations on a SU(2) symmetric S=1/2 quantum antiferromagnet with four-spin interaction [A. W. Sandvik, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 227202 (2007)10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.227202]. Our simulations, which are free of the sign problem and carried out on lattices containing in excess of 1.6 x 10(4) spins, indicate that the four-spin interaction destroys the Néel order at an unconventional z = 1 quantum critical point, producing a valence-bond solid paramagnet. Our results are consistent with the "deconfined quantum criticality" scenario.     

Geometrical dependence of decoherence by electronic interactions in a GaAs/GaAlAs square network

We investigate weak localization in metallic networks etched in a two-dimensional electron gas between 25 and 750 mK when electron-electron (e-e) interaction is the dominant phase breaking mechanism. We show that, at the highest temperatures, the contributions arising from trajectories that wind around the rings and trajectories that do not are governed by two different length scales. This is achieved by analyzing separately the envelope and the oscillating part of the magnetoconductance. For T > or approximately 0.3 K we find L phi env proportional T(-1/3) for the envelope and L phi osc proportional, T(-1/2) for the oscillations, in agreement with the prediction for a single ring [T. Ludwig and A. D. Mirlin, Phys. Rev. B 69, 193306 (2004); 10.1103/PhysRevB.69.193306C. Texier and G. Montambaux, Phys. Rev. B 72, 115327 (2005); 10.1103/PhysRevB.72.115327C. Texier, Phys. Rev. B76, 153312 (2007)10.1103/PhysRevB.76.153312]. This is the first experimental confirmation of the geometry dependence of decoherence due to e-e interaction.     

Electronic reconstruction at SrMnO3-LaMnO3 superlattice interfaces

We use resonant soft-x-ray scattering (RSXS) to study the electronic reconstruction at the interface between the Mott insulator LaMnO3 and the band insulator SrMnO3. Superlattices of these two insulators were shown previously to have both ferromagnetism and metallic tendencies [Koida, Phys. Rev. B 66, 144418 (2002)10.1103/PhysRevB.66.144418]. By studying a judiciously chosen superlattice reflection, we show that the interface density of states exhibits a pronounced peak at the Fermi level, similar to that predicted in related titanate superlattices by Okamoto et al. [Phys. Rev. B 70, 241104(R) (2004)10.1103/PhysRevB.70.241104]. The intensity of this peak correlates with the conductivity and magnetization, suggesting it is the driver of metallic behavior. Our study demonstrates a general strategy for using RSXS to probe the electronic properties of heterostructure interfaces.     

Two-dimensional foam rheology with viscous drag

We formulate and apply a continuum model that incorporates elasticity, yield stress, plasticity, and viscous drag. It is motivated by the two-dimensional foam rheology experiments of Debregeas et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 178305 (2001)10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.178305] and Wang et al. [Phys. Rev. E 73, 031401 (2006)10.1103/PhysRevE.73.031401], and is successful in exhibiting their principal features, which are an exponentially decaying velocity profile and strain localization. Transient effects are also identified.     

Nonclassical rotational inertia of a supersolid

As proposed by Leggett [Phys. Rev. Lett. 25, 1543 (1970)10.1103/PhysRevLett.25.1543], the supersolidity of a crystal is characterized by the nonclassicalical Rotational Inertia (NCRI) property. Using a model of quantum crystal introduced by Josserand, Pomeau, and Rica [Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 2426 (1994)10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.2426], we prove that NCRI occurs. This is done by analyzing the ground state of the aforementioned model, which is related to a sphere packing problem, and then deriving a theoretical formula for the moment of inertia. We infer a lower estimate for the NCRI fraction, which is a landmark of supersolidity.     

Hosing instability in the blow-out regime for plasma-wakefield acceleration

The electron hosing instability in the blow-out regime of plasma-wakefield acceleration is investigated using a linear perturbation theory about the electron blow-out trajectory in Lu et al. [in Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 165002 (2006)10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.165002]. The growth of the instability is found to be affected by the beam parameters unlike in the standard theory Whittum et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 67, 991 (1991)10.1103/PhysRevLett.67.991] which is strictly valid for preformed channels. Particle-in-cell simulations agree with this new theory, which predicts less hosing growth than found by the hosing theory of Whittum et al.     

Quasiperiodic events in an earthquake model

We introduce a modification of the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model [Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 1244 (1992)10.1103/PhysRevLett.68.1244] in order to improve the resemblence with the Burridge-Knopoff mechanical model and with possible laboratory experiments. A constant and finite force continually drives the system, resulting in instantaneous relaxations. Dynamical disorder is added to the thresholds following a narrow distribution. We find quasiperiodic behavior in the avalanche time series with a period proportional to the degree of dissipation of the system. Periodicity is not as robust as criticality when the threshold force distribution widens, or when an increasing noise is introduced in the values of the dissipation.     

Three-level systems as amplifiers and attenuators: a thermodynamic analysis

Thermodynamics of a three-level maser was studied in the pioneering work of Scovil-Schulz-DuBois [Phys. Rev. Lett. 2, 262 (1959)10.1103/PhysRevLett.2.262]. In this Letter we consider the same three-level model, but we give a full thermodynamic analysis based on Hamiltonian and dissipative Lindblad superoperators. The first law of thermodynamics is obtained using a recently developed alternative [Phys. Rev. A 74, 063823 (2006)10.1103/PhysRevA.74.063823] to Alicki's definitions for heat flux and power [J. Phys. A 12, L103 (1979)10.1088/0305-4470/12/5/007]. Using a novel variation on Spohn's entropy production function [J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.) 19, 1227 (1978)10.1063/1.523789], we obtain Carnot's efficiency inequality and the Scovil-Schulz-DuBois maser efficiency formula when the three-level system is operated as a heat engine (amplifier). Finally, we show that the three-level system has two other modes of operation--a refrigerator mode and a squanderer mode--both of which attenuate the electric field.     

Comment on "phase transitions in systems of self-propelled agents and related network models"

A Comment on the Letter by M. Aldana et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 095702 (2007)10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.095702.     

Pure-state quantum trajectories for general non-Markovian systems do not exist

Since the first derivation of non-Markovian stochastic Schr?dinger equations, their interpretation has been contentious. In a recent Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 080401 (2008)10.1103/Phys. Rev. Lett.100.080401], Diósi claimed to prove that they generate "true single system trajectories [conditioned on] continuous measurement." In this Letter, we show that his proof is fundamentally flawed: the solution to his non-Markovian stochastic Schr?dinger equation at any particular time can be interpreted as a conditioned state, but joining up these solutions as a trajectory creates a fiction.     

Divergence of Tolman's length for a droplet near the critical point

The application of "complete scaling" [Kim et al., Phys. Rev. E 67, 061506 (2003); Anisimov and Wang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 025703 (2006)] to the interfacial behavior of fluids shows that Tolman's length, a curvature correction to the surface tension, diverges at the critical point of fluids much more strongly than is commonly believed. The amplitude of the divergence depends on the degree of asymmetry in fluid phase coexistence. In highly asymmetric fluids and fluid mixtures the Tolman length may become large enough to significantly affect the interfacial behavior.     

Experimental entanglement distillation of two-qubit mixed states under local operations

We experimentally demonstrate optimal entanglement distillation from two forms of two-qubit mixed states under local filtering operations according to the constructive method introduced by [F. Verstraete, Phys. Rev. A 64, 010101(R) (2001)10.1103/PhysRevA.64.010101]. In principle, our setup can be easily applied to distilling entanglement from arbitrary two-qubit partially mixed states. We also test the violation of the Clauser-Horne-Shinmony-Holt inequality for the distilled state from the first form of mixed state to show its "hidden nonlocality."     

Experimental verification of epsilon-near-zero metamaterial coupling and energy squeezing using a microwave waveguide

Utilizing a microwave setup, we experimentally verify our recently developed theory of energy squeezing and tunneling [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 157403 (2006)10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.157403] through an ultranarrow waveguide channel that mimics zero-permittivity properties. Exploiting the infinite phase velocity supported by a waveguide transition section at cutoff, we test our theory of tunneling in this zero-permittivity region without use of resonant inclusions. This "supercoupling" is shown to have unique anomalous properties: an almost uniform phase along the narrow channel and weak dependence over its geometry.     

Spontaneous emission enhancement of quantum dots in a photonic crystal wire

Photonic wires are the simplest extended low-dimensional systems. Photonic crystal confinement confers them a divergent density of states at zero-group-velocity points, which leads to enhancement of spontaneous emission rates [D. Kleppner, Phys. Rev. Lett. 47, 233 (1981)10.1103/Phys. Rev. Lett. 47.233]. We experimentally evidence, for the first time, the spectral signature of these Purcell factor singularities, using the out-of-plane emission of InAs quantum dots buried in GaAs/AlGaAs based photonic crystal based wire. Additionally, in-plane collection at the wire exit shows large enhancements of the signal at some of the density of states singularities.     

Periodic electron structures in gases: a fluid model of the "window" phenomenon

Periodic electron spatial structures in gases occur within a window of voltages and pressures. Recent accurate solutions of Boltzmann's equation portray this effect, but offer little physical insight into the causes of windowing. Here we show for the first time how such insight can be obtained using the fluid model established by Robson, White, and Petrovi? [Rev. Mod. Phys. 77, 1303 (2005)10.1103/RevModPhys.77.1303], with an appropriate generalization of the heat flux ansatz. Conversely, the success in portraying windowing itself becomes a stringent test of the integrity of this fluid model, which can then be applied to a wider range of problems.     

Hyperviscosity, Galerkin truncation, and bottlenecks in turbulence

It is shown that the use of a high power alpha of the Laplacian in the dissipative term of hydrodynamical equations leads asymptotically to truncated inviscid conservative dynamics with a finite range of spatial Fourier modes. Those at large wave numbers thermalize, whereas modes at small wave numbers obey ordinary viscous dynamics [C. Cichowlas et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 264502 (2005)10.1103/Phys. Rev. Lett. 95.264502]. The energy bottleneck observed for finite alpha may be interpreted as incomplete thermalization. Artifacts arising from models with alpha>1 are discussed.     

Effect of confinement on the interaction between two like-charged rods

Monte Carlo simulations were employed to study two charged rods confined between two unlike charged plates, all immersed in a model electrolyte. Recently, it was shown that two rods immersed in a multivalent counterion solution may show attraction [Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 2477 (1997)10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.2477]. Here we show for a monovalent electrolyte that rod-rod attraction and repulsion can switch sign depending on confinement and ionic size. We also propose a simple self-assembling mechanism which may be helpful to understand the DNA-lipid bilayers complexation.