Parallels between the dynamics at the noise-perturbed onset of chaos in logistic maps and the dynamics of glass formation

We develop the characterization of the dynamics at the noise-perturbed edge of chaos in logistic maps in terms of the quantities normally used to describe glassy properties in structural glass formers. Following the recognition [Phys. Lett. \textbf{A 328}, 467 (2004)] that the dynamics at this critical attractor exhibits analogies with that observed in thermal systems close to vitrification, we determine the modifications that take place with decreasing noise amplitude in ensemble and time averaged correlations and in diffusivity. We corroborate explicitly the occurrence of two-step relaxation, aging with its characteristic scaling property, and subdiffusion and arrest for this system. We also discuss features that appear to be specific of the map.Comment: Revised version with substantial improvements. Revtex, 8 pages, 11 figure

Inducing topological order in a honeycomb lattice

We explore the possibility of inducing a topological insulator phase in a honeycomb lattice lacking spin-orbit interaction using a metallic (or Fermi gas) environment. The lattice and the metallic environment interact through a density-density interaction without particle tunneling, and integrating out the metallic environment produces a honeycomb sheet with in-plane oscillating long-ranged interactions. We find the ground state of the interacting system in a variational mean-field method and show that the Fermi wave vector, kF, of the metal determines which phase occurs in the honeycomb lattice sheet. This is analogous to the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) mechanism in which the metal's kF determines the interaction profile as a function of the distance. Tuning kF and the interaction strength may lead to a variety of ordered phases, including a topological insulator and anomalous quantum-hall states with complex next-nearest-neighbor hopping, as in the Haldane and the Kane-Mele model. We estimate the required range of parameters needed for the topological state and find that the Fermi vector of the metallic gate should be of the order of 3Pi/8a (with a being the graphene lattice constant). The net coupling between the layers, which includes screening in the metal, should be of the order of the honeycomb lattice bandwidth. This configuration should be most easily realized in a cold-atoms setting with two interacting Fermionic species.Comment: 7 pages; 2 figures; Version 2 - added references; added an appendix about screenin

Continuous thermal melting of a two-dimensional Abrikosov vortex solid

We examine the question of thermal melting of the triangular Abrikosov vortex solid in two-dimensional superconductors or neutral superfluids. We introduce a model, which combines lowest Landau level (LLL) projection with the magnetic Wannier basis to represent degenerate eigenstates in the LLL. Solving the model numerically via large-scale Monte Carlo simulations, we find clear evidence for a continuous melting transition, in perfect agreement with the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Halperin-Nelson-Young theory and with recent experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; published versio

Phase coherence and the Nernst effect at magic angles in organic conductors

A giant Nernst signal was recently observed for fields near crystallographic directions in (TMTSF)$_2$PF$_6$. Such large Nernst signals are most naturally associated with the motion of pancake vortices. We propose a model in which phase coherence is destroyed throughout the sample except in planes closely aligned with the applied field $\bf H$. A small tilt above or below the plane changes the direction and density of the penetrating vortices and leads to a Nernst signal that varies with the tilt angle of $\bf H$ as observed. The resistance notches at magic angles are understood in terms of flux-flow dissipation from field-induced vortices.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Topological defects in flat nanomagnets: the magnetostatic limit

We discuss elementary topological defects in soft magnetic nanoparticles in the thin-film geometry. In the limit dominated by magnetostatic forces the low-energy defects are vortices (winding number n = +1), cross ties (n = -1), and edge defects with n = -1/2. We obtain topological constraints on the possible composition of domain walls. The simplest domain wall in this regime is composed of two -1/2 edge defects and a vortex, in accordance with observations and numerics.Comment: 3 pages, eps figures. Proceedings of MMM 0

Lateral and normal forces between patterned substrates induced by nematic fluctuations

We consider a nematic liquid crystal confined by two parallel flat substrates whose anchoring conditions vary periodically in one lateral direction. Within the Gaussian approximation, we study the effective forces between the patterned substrates induced by the thermal fluctuations of the nematic director. The shear force oscillates as function of the lateral shift between the patterns on the lower and the upper substrates. We compare the strength of this fluctuation-induced lateral force with the lateral van der Waals force arising from chemically structured adsorbed monolayers. The fluctuation-induced force in normal direction is either repulsive or attractive, depending on the model parameters.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure

Quantum Phase Transition in Heisenberg-Kitaev Model

We explore the nature of the quantum phase transition between a magnetically ordered state with collinear spin pattern and a gapless $Z_2$ spin liquid in the Heisenberg-Kitaev model. We construct a slave particle mean field theory for the Heisenberg-Kitaev model in terms of complex fermionic spinons. It is shown that this theory, formulated in the appropriate basis, is capable of describing the Kitaev spin liquid as well as the transition between the gapless $Z_2$ spin liquid and the so-called stripy antiferromagnet. In particular, within a mean field theory, we have a discontinuous transition from the $Z_2$ spin liquid to the stripy antiferromagnet. We argue, however, that subtle spinon confinement effects, associated with the instability of gapped U(1) spin liquid in two spatial dimensions, are playing an important role at the transition. The possibility of an exotic continuous transition is briefly addressed.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Matrix Product State and mean field solutions for one-dimensional systems can be found efficiently

We consider the problem of approximating ground states of one-dimensional quantum systems within the two most common variational ansatzes, namely the mean field ansatz and Matrix Product States. We show that both for mean field and for Matrix Product States of fixed bond dimension, the optimal solutions can be found in a way which is provably efficient (i.e., scales polynomially). This implies that the corresponding variational methods can be in principle recast in a way which scales provably polynomially. Moreover, our findings imply that ground states of one-dimensional commuting Hamiltonians can be found efficiently.Comment: 5 pages; v2: accepted version, Journal-ref adde

Reentrance effect in the lane formation of driven colloids

Recently it has been shown that a strongly interacting colloidal mixture consisting of oppositely driven particles, undergoes a nonequilibrium transition towards lane formation provided the driving strength exceeds a threshold value. We predict here a reentrance effect in lane formation: for fixed high driving force and increasing particle densities, there is first a transition towards lane formation which is followed by another transition back to a state with no lanes. Our result is obtained both by Brownian dynamics computer simulations and by a phenomenological dynamical density functional theory.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Weakly versus highly nonlinear dynamics in 1D systems

We analyze the morphological transition of a one-dimensional system described by a scalar field, where a flat state looses its stability. This scalar field may for example account for the position of a crystal growth front, an order parameter, or a concentration profile. We show that two types of dynamics occur around the transition: weakly nonlinear dynamics, or highly nonlinear dynamics. The conditions under which highly nonlinear evolution equations appear are determined, and their generic form is derived. Finally, examples are discussed.Comment: to be published in Europhys. Let