Quantum relaxation in random magnets

We present a comprehensive study of the low-temperature magnetic relaxation in random magnets. The first part of the paper contains theoretical analysis of the expected features of the relaxation, based upon current theories of quantum tunneling of magnetization. Models of tunneling, dissipation, the crossover from the thermal to the quantum regime, and the effect of barrier distribution on the relaxation rate are discussed. It is argued that relaxation-type experiments are ideally suited for the observation of magnetic tunneling, since they automatically provide the condition of very low barriers. The second part of the paper contains experimental results on transition-metal¿rare-earth amorphous magnets. Structural and magnetic characterization of materials is presented. The temperature and field dependence of the magnetic relaxation is studied. Our key observation is a nonthermal character of the relaxation below a few kelvin. The observed features are in agreement with theoretical suggestions on quantum tunneling of magnetization.

Resonating-valence-bond theory for the square-planar lattice

The short-range resonating-valence-bond (RVB) wave function with nearest-neighbor (NN) spin pairings only is investigated as a possible description for the Heisenberg model on a square-planar lattice. A type of long-range order associated to this RVB Ansatz is identified along with some qualitative consequences involving lattice distortions, excitations, and their coupling.

Quantum tunneling of vortices in the Tl2CaBa2Cu2O8 superconductor

Magnetic-relaxation measurements of a Tl-based high-Tc superconductor show temperature-independent flux creep below 6 K. The effect is analyzed in terms of the overdamped quantum diffusion of two-dimensional vortices. Good agreement between theory and experiment is found.

Normalization factors for magnetic relaxation of small particle systems in non-zero magnetic field.

We critically discuss relaxation experiments in magnetic systems that can be characterized in terms of an energy barrier distribution, showing that proper normalization of the relaxation data is needed whenever curves corresponding to different temperatures are to be compared. We show how these normalization factors can be obtained from experimental data by using the Tln (t/t0) scaling method without making any assumptions about the nature of the energy barrier distribution. The validity of the procedure is tested using a ferrofluid of Fe3O4 particles.

Genetic basis and variable phenotypic expression of Kallmann syndrome: towards a unifying theory.

Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) is defined by absent or incomplete puberty and characterised biochemically by low levels of sex steroids, with low or inappropriately normal gonadotropin hormones. IHH is frequently accompanied by non-reproductive abnormalities, most commonly anosmia, which is present in 50-60% of cases and defines Kallmann syndrome. The understanding of IHH has undergone rapid evolution, both in respect of genetics and breadth of phenotype. Once considered in monogenic Mendelian terms, it is now more coherently understood as a complex genetic condition. Oligogenic and complex genetic-environmental interactions have now been identified, with physiological and environmental factors interacting in genetically susceptible individuals to alter the clinical course and phenotype. These potentially link IHH to ancient evolutionary pressures on the ancestral human genome.

Financial crisis: theory and practice

In the last 50 years, we have had approximately 40 events with characteristics related to financial crisis. The most severe crisis was in 1929, when the financial markets plummet and the US gross domestic product decline in more than 30 percent. Recently some years ago, a new crisis developed in the United States, but instantly caused consequences and effects in the rest of the world.This new economic and financial crisis has increased the interest and motivation for the academic community, professors and researchers, to understand the causes and effects of the crisis, to learn from it. This is the one of the main reasons for the compilation of this book, which begins with a meeting of a group of IAFI researchers from the University of Barcelona, where researchers form Mexico and Spain, explain causes and consequences of the crisis of 2007.For that reason, we believed this set of chapters related to methodologies, applications and theories, would conveniently explained the characteristics and events of the past and future financial crisisThis book consists in 3 main sections, the first one called "State of the Art and current situation", the second named "Econometric applications to estimate crisis time periods" , and the third one "Solutions to diminish the effects of the crisis". The first section explains the current point of view of many research papers related to financial crisis, it has 2 chapters. In the first one, it describe and analyzes the models that historically have been used to explain financial crisis, furthermore, it proposes to used alternative methodologies such as Fuzzy Cognitive Maps. On the other hand , Chapter 2 , explains the characteristics and details of the 2007 crisis from the US perspective and its comparison to 1929 crisis, presenting some effects in Mexico and Latin America.The second section presents two econometric applications to estimate possible crisis periods. For this matter, Chapter 3, studies 3 Latin-American countries: Argentina, Brazil and Peru in the 1994 crisis and estimates the multifractal characteristics to identify financial and economic distress.Chapter 4 explains the crisis situations in Argentina (2001), Mexico (1994) and the recent one in the United States (2007) and its effects in other countries through a financial series methodology related to the stock market.The last section shows an alternative to prevent the effects of the crisis. The first chapter explains the financial stability effects through the financial system regulation and some globalization standards. Chapter 6, study the benefits of the Investor activism and a way to protect personal and national wealth to face the financial crisis risks.

Extrapolation theory for the real interpolation method

We develop an abstract extrapolation theory for the real interpolation method that covers and improves the most recent versions of the celebrated theorems of Yano and Zygmund. As a consequence of our method, we give new endpoint estimates of the embedding Sobolev theorem for an arbitrary domain Omega

Breathers and thermal relaxation in Fermi-Pasta-Ulam arrays

Breather stability and longevity in thermally relaxing nonlinear arrays depend sensitively on their interactions with other excitations. We review numerical results for the relaxation of breathers in Fermi¿Pasta¿Ulam arrays, with a specific focus on the different relaxation channels and their dependence on the interparticle interactions, dimensionality, initial condition, and system parameters