1/d corrections for interacting spinless fermions: One-particle properties

One-particle properties of the spinless fermion model with repulsion at half filling are calculated within an approach correct to first order in the inverse of the lattice dimensiond. Continuity of the limitd requires a scaling of the nearest-neighbour hopping proportional to and of the nearest-neighbour interaction proportional to 1/d. Due to this scaling the Hartree approximation becomes exact in infinite dimensions. We show that 1/d corrections comprise the Fock diagram and the local correlation diagram in the self-consistent Dyson equation. This approach is applied to simple-cubic systems in dimensiond=1, 2 and 3. Ground state properties and the charge-density wave phase diagram are calculated. AtT=0 the inclusion of 1/d terms gives only small corrections to the leading Hartree contribution ind=2, 3. ForT>0, however, the 1/d corrections are important. They lead to a non-negligible reduction of the critical temperature. Ind=1 the 1/d corrections are very large, but they do not succeed in removing the spurious phase transition atT>0. The 1/d approach provides a good and tractable approximation ind=3 and probably ind=2, which allows also further systematic improvement.     

Linear and nonlinear optical studies of CdS1−x Se x quantum dots

In this contribution we present and discuss our measurements on CdS_1?x Se _x quantum dots in a glass matrix. In linear absorption measurements we find the typical blue shift of the transitions with decreasing crystallite radius due to quantization. The luminescence shows a significant Stokes shift with respect to absorption, which is interpreted in terms of strong exciton-phonon coupling and allows to deduce the Huang-Rhys factor S. Under high excitation we find an additional emission band on the high energy side, which can be attributed to the recombination of an excited two electron-hole pair state to a one electron-hole pair state in agreement with theory. Pump and probe beam experiments give a bleaching but no hole burning. Finally we discuss some open questions especially concerning the high energy structures in the absorption spectrum.     

Quantitative determination of selected compounds in a Kentucky 1R4F reference cigarette smoke by multidimensional gas chromatography and selected ion monitoring-mass spectrometry

Eight compounds from a Kentucky 1R4F reference cigarette smoke condensate have been determined by selected ion monitoring-mass spectrometry (SIM-MS) to confirm the validity of multidimensional gas chromatography (MDGC) as a quantitative tool in complex mixture analyses. Four electrostatically precipitated smoke condensate samples of 100 cigarettes each are dissolved individually in 25 mL of 2-propanol. The 2-propanol contains two methyl esters (C8 and C14) and seven deuterium-labeled compounds used as internal standards (IS). Analysis of the compounds of interest, pyridine; acetamide; acrylamide; phenol; o-, m-, and p-cresol; and quinoline, is accomplished by using two heartcuts. Heartcut times of the MDGC analysis are selected such that at least one IS is transferred with each group of compounds being analyzed. This study shows that the MDGC technique previously developed and described can be used for quantitative analyses. A comparison is made between the two types of internal standards. The results obtained for both types of internal standards agree within 20% of each other, on the average, with higher standard deviations for approximately 60% of the compounds where methyl esters are used as internal standards.     

Approaches to the Synthesis of Perfluoroalkyl-Modified Carbohydrates and Derivatives: Thiosugars,Iminosugars, and Tetrahydro(thio)pyrans

Fluoroalkyl-substituted carbohydrates play relevant roles in diverse areas such as supramolecular chemistry, glycoconjugation, liquid crystals, and surfactants, with direct applications as wetting, antifreeze, and coating agents. In light of these promising applications, new methodologies for the late-stage incorporation of fluoroalkyl R_F groups into carbohydrates and derivatives are herein presented as they are relevant to the synthetic carbohydrate community. Previously reviewed protocols for the installation of R_F groups onto carbohydrates and derivatives will be succinctly summarized in the light of the new achievements. Fluoroalkyl-substituted iminosugars, on the other hand, are also interesting glycomimetic derivatives with prominent roles as glycosidases and glycosyltransferases inhibitors, as has recently been demonstrated. Also, they positively contribute to the study of sugar–protein interactions and enzyme mechanisms. New advances in the syntheses of fluoroalkyl-substituted iminosugars will also be presented here.     

Multigraft copolymer superelastomers: Synthesis morphology, and properties

The synthesis of well-defined multigraft copolymers having a polydiene backbone with polystyrene side chains is briefly reviewed, with particular focus on controlling branch point spacing and branch point functionality. Use of living anionic polymerization and chlorosilane linking chemistry has led to the synthesis of series of materials having regularly spaced trifunctional (comb), tetrafunctional (centipede), and hexafunctional (barbwire) branch points. The morphologies of these materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering, and it was found that the morphologies were controlled by the local architectural asymmetry associated with each branch point. Mechanical properties studies revealed that such multigraft copolymers represent a new class of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) with superior elongation at break and low residual strains as compared to conventional TPEs.     

Impact of chain architecture (branching) on the thermal and mechanical behavior of polystyrene thin films

The modulus and glass transition temperature (T_g) of ultrathin films of polystyrene (PS) with different branching architectures are examined via surface wrinkling and the discontinuity in the thermal expansion as determined from spectroscopic ellipsometry, respectively. Branching of the PS is systematically varied using multifunctional monomers to create comb, centipede, and star architectures with similar molecular masses. The bulk‐like (thick film) T_g for these polymers is 103 ± 2 °C and independent of branching and all films thinner than 40 nm exhibit reductions in T_g. There are subtle differences between the architectures with reductions in T_g for linear (25 °C), centipede (40 °C), comb (9 °C), and 4 armed star (9 °C) PS for ≈ 5 nm films. Interestingly, the room temperature modulus of the thick films is dependent upon the chain architecture with the star and comb polymers being the most compliant (≈2 GPa) whereas the centipede PS is most rigid (≈4 GPa). The comb PS exhibits no thickness dependence in moduli, whereas all other PS architectures examined show a decrease in modulus as the film thickness is decreased below ～40 nm. We hypothesize that the chain conformation leads to the apparent susceptibility of the polymer to reductions in moduli in thin films. These results provide insight into potential origins for thickness dependent properties of polymer thin films. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Keeping a quantum bit alive by optimized pi-pulse sequences

A general strategy to maintain the coherence of a quantum bit is proposed. The analytical result is derived rigorously including all memory and backaction effects. It is based on an optimized pi-pulse sequence for dynamic decoupling extending the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill cycle. The optimized sequence is very efficient, in particular, for strong couplings to the environment.     

Zero and finite temperature phase diagram of the spinless fermion model in infinite dimensions

The phase diagram of the model of spinless fermions with repulsive nearest neighbour interaction is calculated analytically on a hypercubic lattice in infinite dimensions (d → ∞). In spite of its simplicity the model displays a rich phase diagram depending on the doping δ, the interaction U and the temperature T. The system can be in the homogeneous phase (HOM), the nonsegregated AB charge density wave (AB-CDW), the AB phase separation region (PS-AB/HOM; coexistence of AB-CDW and HOM), the incommensurate phase (IP) or the IP phase separation region (PS-AB/IP; coexistence of AB-CDW and IP). We identify three important values of the interaction U_IPL = 0.572 < U_IPH = 1.914 < U_IP/PS = 4.212 which distinguish four intervals of U. These imply four different types of phase diagrams. In all the three phase diagrams with U below U_IP/PS the IP appears. We propose a new general ansatz for the order parameter of this phase. A competition between the IP, the PS-AB/IP and the PS-AB/HOM is found. The relevance of our findings for the phase scenario of the Hubbard model is shown.     

Thermodynamics of adiabatically loaded cold bosons in the Mott insulating phase of one-dimensional optical lattices

In this work we give a consistent picture of the thermodynamic properties of bosons in the Mott insulating phase when loaded adiabatically into one-dimensional optical lattices. We find a crucial dependence of the temperature in the optical lattice on the doping level of the Mott insulator. In the undoped case, the temperature is of the order of the large onsite Hubbard interaction. In contrast, at a finite doping level the temperature jumps almost immediately to the order of the small hopping parameter. These two situations are investigated on the one hand by considering limiting cases like the atomic limit and the case of free fermions. On the other hand, they are examined using a quasi-particle conserving continuous unitary transformation extended by an approximate thermodynamics for hardcore particles.