Phase structures of strong coupling lattice QCD with overlap fermions at finite temperature and chemical potential

We perform the first study of lattice QCD with overlap fermions at finite temperature $T$ and chemical potential $\mu$. We start from the Taylor expanded overlap fermion action, and derive in the strong coupling limit the effective free energy by mean field approximation. On the ($\mu,T$) plane and in the chiral limit, there is a tricritical point, separating the second order chiral phase transition line at small $\mu$ and large $T$, and first order chiral phase transition line at large $\mu$ and small $T$

Angular-dependent Magnetoresistance Oscillations in Na0.48_{0.48}CoO2_{2} Single Crystal

We report measurements of the c-axis angular-dependent magnetoresistance (AMR) for a Na$_{0.48}$CoO$_{2}$ single crystal, with a magnetic field of 10 T rotating within Co-O planes. Below the metal-insulator transition temperature induced by the charge ordering, the oscillation of the AMR is dominated by a two-fold rotational symmetry. The amplitudes of the oscillation corresponding to the four- and six-fold rotational symmetries are distinctive in low temperatures, but they merge into the background simultaneously at about 25 K. The six-fold oscillation originates naturally from the lattice symmetry. The observation of the four-fold rotational symmetry is consistent with the picture proposed by Choy, et al., that the Co lattice in the charge ordered state will split into two orthorhombic sublattice with one occupied by Co$^{3+}$ ions and the other by Co$^{4+}$ ions. We have also measured the c-axis AMR for Na$_{0.35}$CoO$_{2}$ and Na$_{0.85}$CoO$_{2}$ single crystals, and found no evidence for the existence of two- and four-fold symmetries.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures. Submitted to PR

Hysteresis and Anisotropic Magnetoresistance in Antiferromagnetic Nd2−xCexCuO4Nd_{2-x}Ce_xCuO_{4}

The out-of-plane resistivity ($\rho_c$) and magnetoresistivity (MR) are studied in antiferromangetic (AF) $Nd_{2-x}Ce_xCuO_{4}$ single crystals, which have three types of noncollinear antiferromangetic spin structures. The apparent signatures are observed in $\rho_c(T)$ measured at the zero-field and 14 T at the spin structure transitions, giving a definite evidence for the itinerant electrons directly coupled to the localized spins. One of striking feature is an anisotropy of the MR with a fourfold symmetry upon rotating the external field (B) within ab plane in the different phases, while twofold symmetry at spin reorientation transition temperatures. The intriguing thermal hysteresis in $\rho_c(T,B)$ and magnetic hysteresis in MR are observed at spin reorientation transition temperatures.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Direct shock wave loading of Stishovite to 235 GPa: Implications for perovskite stability relative to an oxide assemblage at lower mantle conditions

Pure stishovite and coesite samples with zero porosity and dimensions appropriate for planar shock wave experiments have been synthesized with multi-anvil high-pressure techniques. The equation of state of stishovite is obtained by direct shock wave loading up to 235 GPa: K_(0T) = 306 ± 5 GPa and K'_(0T) = 5.0 ± 0.2 where K_(0T) and K'_(0T) are ambient bulk modulus and its pressure derivative, respectively. The Hugoniots (shock equations of state) for stishovite, coesite and quartz achieve widely differing internal energy states at equal volume and therefore allow us to determine the Gruneisen parameter of stishovite. On the basis of the resulting P-V-T equation of state for stishovite and previous studies on other phases on the MgO-SiO_2 binary, the breakdown reaction of MgSiO_3-perovskite to MgO and SiO_2 was calculated. Our calculations show that perovskite is thermodynamically stable relative to the stishovite and periclase assemblage at lower mantle conditions. We obtain similar results for a range of models, despite the appreciable differences among these experiment-based thermodynamic parameters

Tracers of chromospheric structure. I. CaII H&\&K emission distribution of 13000 F, G and K stars in SDSS DR7 spectroscopic sample

We present chromospheric activity index $S\rm_{HK}$ measurements for over 13,000 F, G and K disk stars with high signal-to-noise ratio ($>$ 60) spectra in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 7 (DR7) spectroscopic sample. A parameter $\delta$S is defined as the difference between $S\rm_{HK}$ and a `zero' emission line fitted by several of the most inactive stars. The $S\rm_{HK}$ indices of subgiant stars tend to be much lower than dwarfs, which provide a way to distinguish dwarfs and giants with relatively low resolution spectra. Cooler stars are generally more active and display a larger scatter than hotter stars. Stars associated with the thick disk are in general less active than those of the thin disk. The fraction of K dwarfs that are active drops with vertical distance from the Galactic plane. Metallicity affects $S\rm_{HK}$ measurements differently among F, G and K dwarfs in this sample. Using the open clusters NGC 2420, M67 and NGC6791 as calibrations, ages of most field stars in this SDSS sample range from 3-8 Gyr.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, AJ, 2013, 145, 14

Integer quantum Hall effect and topological phase transitions in silicene

We numerically investigate the effects of disorder on the quantum Hall effect (QHE) and the quantum phase transitions in silicene based on a lattice model. It is shown that for a clean sample, silicene exhibits an unconventional QHE near the band center, with plateaus developing at $\nu=0,\pm2,\pm6,\ldots,$ and a conventional QHE near the band edges. In the presence of disorder, the Hall plateaus can be destroyed through the float-up of extended levels toward the band center, in which higher plateaus disappear first. However, the center $\nu=0$ Hall plateau is more sensitive to disorder and disappears at a relatively weak disorder strength. Moreover, the combination of an electric field and the intrinsic spin-orbit interaction (SOI) can lead to quantum phase transitions from a topological insulator to a band insulator at the charge neutrality point (CNP), accompanied by additional quantum Hall conductivity plateaus.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Quasiparticle coherence and the nature of the metal-insulator phase transition in Nax_xCoO2_2

Layered cobaltates embody novel realizations of correlated quantum matter on a spin-1/2 triangular lattice. We report a high-resolution systematic photoemission study of the insulating cobaltates (Na1/2CoO2 and K1/2CoO2). Observation of single-particle gap opening and band-folding provides direct evidence of anisotropic particle-hole instability on the Fermi surface due to its unique topology. Kinematic overlap of the measured Fermi surface is observed with the $\sqrt{3}$x$\sqrt{3}$ cobalt charge-order Brillouin zone near x=1/3 but not at x=1/2 where insulating transition is actually observed. Unlike conventional density-waves, charge-stripes or band insulators, the on-set of the gap depends on the quasiparticle's quantum coherence which is found to occur well below the disorder-order symmetry breaking temperature of the crystal (the first known example of its kind).Comment: 4+ pages, 5 figure