Finite size scaling in Ising-like systems with quenched random fields: Evidence of hyperscaling violation

In systems belonging to the universality class of the random field Ising model, the standard hyperscaling relation between critical exponents does not hold, but is replaced by a modified hyperscaling relation. As a result, standard formulations of finite size scaling near critical points break down. In this work, the consequences of modified hyperscaling are analyzed in detail. The most striking outcome is that the free energy cost \Delta F of interface formation at the critical point is no longer a universal constant, but instead increases as a power law with system size, \Delta F proportional to $L^\theta$, with $\theta$ the violation of hyperscaling critical exponent, and L the linear extension of the system. This modified behavior facilitates a number of new numerical approaches that can be used to locate critical points in random field systems from finite size simulation data. We test and confirm the new approaches on two random field systems in three dimensions, namely the random field Ising model, and the demixing transition in the Widom-Rowlinson fluid with quenched obstacles

Depletion induced isotropic-isotropic phase separation in suspensions of rod-like colloids

When non-adsorbing polymers are added to an isotropic suspension of rod-like colloids, the colloids effectively attract each other via depletion forces. We performed Monte Carlo simulations to study the phase diagram of such rod-polymer mixture. The colloidal rods were modelled as hard spherocylinders; the polymers were described as spheres of the same diameter as the rods. The polymers may overlap with no energy cost, while overlap of polymers and rods is forbidden. Large amounts of depletant cause phase separation of the mixture. We estimated the phase boundaries of isotropic-isotropic coexistence both, in the bulk and in confinement. To determine the phase boundaries we applied the grand canonical ensemble using successive umbrella sampling [J. Chem. Phys. 120, 10925 (2004)], and we performed a finite-size scaling analysis to estimate the location of the critical point. The results are compared with predictions of the free volume theory developed by Lekkerkerker and Stroobants [Nuovo Cimento D 16, 949 (1994)]. We also give estimates for the interfacial tension between the coexisting isotropic phases and analyse its power-law behaviour on approach of the critical point

Sequelae of early trauma from a neurobiological perspective

Childhood trauma is one of the most well-established risk factors for the development of mental disorders. Due to the availability of new technologies, we are now beginning to understand how early trauma gets under the skin and exerts a sustained influence on various domains of psychological functioning and health. In the present review we will first briefly summarize what is currently known about the neurobiological effects of childhood trauma. We will then consider genetic and epigenetic factors as possible mechanisms mediating the biological embedding of childhood trauma.Der Zusammenhang zwischen frühen Traumatisierungen in der Kindheit und einem erhöhten psychischen Erkrankungsrisiko ist in der Fachliteratur seit Langem gut belegt. Erst in den letzten Jahren beginnen wir aufgrund technologischer Fortschritte zu verstehen, wie frühe Traumatisierungen körperlich niedergeschrieben werden und sich so ein Leben lang auf verschiedene Aspekte unseres Verhaltens und Erlebens auswirken können. In der vorliegenden Übersicht wird zunächst der aktuelle Erkenntnisstand zu den neurobiologischen Auswirkungen von Kindheitstraumata kurz zusammengefasst. Danach werden genetische und epigenetische Faktoren als mögliche Mechanismen der biologischen Einbettung betrachtet

Chaotic transients in the switching of roto-breathers

By integrating a set of model equations for Josephson ladder subjected to a uniform transverse bias current we have found almost all of the kinds of breathers described in recent experiments, and closely reproduced their voltage-current characteristics and switching behaviour. Our main result is that a chaotic transient occurs in the switching process. The growth of tiny perturbations during the chaotic transient causes the new breather configuration to be extremely sensitive to the precise history of the initial breather and can also cause the new breather to have a new centre of symmetry.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Spin transport in magnetic multilayers

We study by extensive Monte Carlo simulations the transport of itinerant spins travelling inside a multilayer composed of three ferromagnetic films antiferromagnetically coupled to each other in a sandwich structure. The two exterior films interact with the middle one through non magnetic spacers. The spin model is the Ising one and the in-plane transport is considered. Various interactions are taken into account. We show that the current of the itinerant spins going through this system depends strongly on the magnetic ordering of the multilayer: at temperatures $T$ below (above) the transition temperature $T_c$, a strong (weak) current is observed. This results in a strong jump of the resistance across $T_c$. Moreover, we observe an anomalous variation, namely a peak, of the spin current in the critical region just above $T_c$. We show that this peak is due to the formation of domains in the temperature region between the low-$T$ ordered phase and the true paramagnetic disordered phase. The existence of such domains is known in the theory of critical phenomena. The behavior of the resistance obtained here is compared to a recent experiment. An excellent agreement with our physical interpretation is observed. We also show and discuss effects of various physical parameters entering our model such as interaction range, strength of electric and magnetic fields and magnetic film and non magnetic spacer thicknesses.Comment: 8 pages, 17 figures, submitted to J. Phys.: Cond Matte

Critical behavior of colloid-polymer mixtures in random porous media

We show that the critical behavior of a colloid-polymer mixture inside a random porous matrix of quenched hard spheres belongs to the universality class of the random-field Ising model. We also demonstrate that random-field effects in colloid-polymer mixtures are surprisingly strong. This makes these systems attractive candidates to study random-field behavior experimentally.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Monte Carlo Simulation of Long Chain Polymer Melts: Crossover from Rouse to Reptation Dynamics

We present data of Monte Carlo simulations for monodisperse linear polymer chains in dense melts with degrees of polymerization between N=16 and N=512. The aim of this study is to investigate the crossover from Rouse-like dynamics for short chains to reptation-like dynamics for long chains. To address this problem we calculate a variety of different quantities: standard mean-square displacements of inner monomers and of the chain's center of mass, the recently proposed cubic invariant, persistence of bond-vector orientation with time, and the auto-correlation functions of the bond vector, the end-to-end vector and the Rouse modes. This analysis reveals that the crossover from non- to entangled dynamics is very protracted. Only the largest chain length N=512, which is about 13 times larger than the entanglement length, shows evidence for reptation.Comment: 38 pages of REVTeX, 14 PostScript figure

Pion-less effective field theory for atomic nuclei and lattice nuclei

We compute the medium-mass nuclei $^{16}$O and $^{40}$Ca using pionless effective field theory (EFT) at next-to-leading order (NLO). The low-energy coefficients of the EFT Hamiltonian are adjusted to experimantal data for nuclei with mass numbers $A=2$ and $3$, or alternatively to results from lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at an unphysical pion mass of 806 MeV. The EFT is implemented through a discrete variable representation in the harmonic oscillator basis. This approach ensures rapid convergence with respect to the size of the model space and facilitates the computation of medium-mass nuclei. At NLO the nuclei $^{16}$O and $^{40}$Ca are bound with respect to decay into alpha particles. Binding energies per nucleon are 9-10 MeV and 30-40 MeV at pion masses of 140 MeV and 806 MeV, respectively.Comment: 26 page

Snapshot Observation for 2D Classical Lattice Models by Corner Transfer Matrix Renormalization Group

We report a way of obtaining a spin configuration snapshot, which is one of the representative spin configurations in canonical ensemble, in a finite area of infinite size two-dimensional (2D) classical lattice models. The corner transfer matrix renormalization group (CTMRG), a variant of the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG), is used for the numerical calculation. The matrix product structure of the variational state in CTMRG makes it possible to stochastically fix spins each by each according to the conditional probability with respect to its environment.Comment: 4 pages, 8figure