Effects of a quantum measurement on the electric conductivity : Application to graphene

We generalize the standard linear-response (Kubo) theory to obtain the conductivity of a system that is subject to a quantum measurement of the current. Our approach can be used to specifically elucidate how back-action inherent to quantum measurements affects electronic transport. To illustrate the utility of our general formalism, we calculate the frequency-dependent conductivity of graphene and discuss the effect of measurement-induced decoherence on its value in the dc limit. We are able to resolve an ambiguity related to the parametric dependence of the minimal conductivity.

AC Conductivity and Impedance Properties of 0.65Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-0.35PbTiO(3) Ceramics

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Abelian-Higgs and vortices from ABJM: towards a string realization of AdS/CMT

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Analog Model for Quantum Gravity Effects: Phonons in Random Fluids

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Percolation of Monte Carlo clusters

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estudo de percolação de clusters de Monte Carlo para o modelo de Ising bidimensional

Pós-graduação em Física - IFT

Conductivity in the gravity dual to massive ABJM and the membrane paradigm

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Caracterização de diodos tipo Schottky fabricados com poli-o-metoxianilina em diversas temperaturas

Technological advances achieved during the twentieth century strongly boosted the scientific research in the area of condensed matter physics, especially in the study and development of new semiconductor materials. In the segment, the development of semiconducting polymers for application in electronic devices promotes the field of organic electronics...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Robust isothermal electric control of exchange bias at room temperature

Voltage-controlled spin electronics is crucial for continued progress in information technology. It aims at reduced power consumption, increased integration density and enhanced functionality where non-volatile memory is combined with highspeed logical processing. Promising spintronic device concepts use the electric control of interface and surface magnetization. From the combination of magnetometry, spin-polarized photoemission spectroscopy, symmetry arguments and first-principles calculations, we show that the (0001) surface of magnetoelectric Cr2O3 has a roughness-insensitive, electrically switchable magnetization. Using a ferromagnetic Pd/Co multilayer deposited on the (0001) surface of a Cr2O3 single crystal, we achieve reversible, room-temperature isothermal switching of the exchange-bias field between positive and negative values by reversing the electric field while maintaining a permanent magnetic field. This effect reflects the switching of the bulk antiferromagnetic domain state and the interface magnetization coupled to it. The switchable exchange bias sets in exactly at the bulk Néel temperature.

Symmetry insights for design of supercomputer network topologies: roots and weights lattices

We present a family of networks whose local interconnection topologies are generated by the root vectors of a semi-simple complex Lie algebra. Cartan classification theorem of those algebras ensures those families of interconnection topologies to be exhaustive. The global arrangement of the network is defined in terms of integer or half-integer weight lattices. The mesh or torus topologies that network millions of processing cores, such as those in the IBM BlueGene series, are the simplest member of that category. The symmetries of the root systems of an algebra, manifested by their Weyl group, lends great convenience for the design and analysis of hardware architecture, algorithms and programs.

Color Dependence on Thickness in Topaz Crystal from Brazil

It is well known that crystals of topaz from the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province may turn blue by the irradiation with Co-60 gamma rays followed by heat treatment. Also, it is known that the sensation of color changes with the thickness of these crystals. The dependence of the color, given by 1931 CIE chromaticity coordinates, with the thickness of the crystal was analyzed. The absorbance used in the calculation of these coordinates was given by the sum of Gaussian lines. The parameters of these lines were determined through the decomposition of the optical absorption spectra in the ultraviolet and visible regions. The decomposition revealed several lines, whose assignment was made considering studies in spodumene and beryl crystals and highly accurate quantum mechanical calculations. The transmittance becomes very narrow with increasing thickness, and the CIE chromaticity coordinates converge to the borderline of the CIE Chromaticity Diagram at the wavelength of maximum transmittance. Furthermore, the purity of color increases with increasing thickness, and the dominant wavelength reaches the wavelength of maximum transmittance.

LONG TIME CORRELATIONS OF NONLINEAR LUTTINGER LIQUIDS

An overview is given of the limitations of Luttinger liquid theory in describing the real time equilibrium dynamics of critical one-dimensional systems with nonlinear dispersion relation. After exposing the singularities of perturbation theory in band curvature effects that break the Lorentz invariance of the Tomonaga-Luttinger model, the origin of high frequency oscillations in the long time behaviour of correlation functions is discussed. The notion that correlations decay exponentially at finite temperature is challenged by the effects of diffusion in the density-density correlation due to umklapp scattering in lattice models.

Ab-initio determination of x-ray absorption near edge structure (xanes) spectra in an ultrasoft and norm conserving pseudopotentials scheme

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful means of investigation of structural and electronic properties in condensed -matter physics. Analysis of the near edge part of the XAS spectrum, the so – called X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES), can typically provide the following information on the photoexcited atom: - Oxidation state and coordination environment. - Speciation of transition metal compounds. - Conduction band DOS projected on the excited atomic species (PDOS). Analysis of XANES spectra is greatly aided by simulations; in the most common scheme the multiple scattering framework is used with the muffin tin approximation for the scattering potential and the spectral simulation is based on a hypothetical, reference structure. This approach has the advantage of requiring relatively little computing power but in many cases the assumed structure is quite different from the actual system measured and the muffin tin approximation is not adequate for low symmetry structures or highly directional bonds. It is therefore very interesting and justified to develop alternative methods. In one approach, the spectral simulation is based on atomic coordinates obtained from a DFT (Density Functional Theory) optimized structure. In another approach, which is the object of this thesis, the XANES spectrum is calculated directly based on an ab – initio DFT calculation of the atomic and electronic structure. This method takes full advantage of the real many-electron final wavefunction that can be computed with DFT algorithms that include a core-hole in the absorbing atom to compute the final cross section. To calculate the many-electron final wavefunction the Projector Augmented Wave method (PAW) is used. In this scheme, the absorption cross section is written in function of several contributions as the many-electrons function of the finale state; it is calculated starting from pseudo-wavefunction and performing a reconstruction of the real-wavefunction by using a transform operator which contains some parameters, called partial waves and projector waves. The aim of my thesis is to apply and test the PAW methodology to the calculation of the XANES cross section. I have focused on iron and silicon structures and on some biological molecules target (myoglobin and cytochrome c). Finally other inorganic and biological systems could be taken into account for future applications of this methodology, which could become an important improvement with respect to the multiscattering approach.

Hypersonic phonon propagation in mesoscopic systems by Brillouin spectroscopy

Phononic crystals, capable to block or direct the propagation of elastic/acoustic waves, have attracted increasing interdisciplinary interest across condensed matter physics and materials science. As of today, no generalized full description of elastic wave propagation in phononic structures is available, mainly due to the large number of variables determining the band diagram. Therefore, this thesis aims for a deeper understanding of the fundamental concepts governing wave propagation in mesoscopic structures by investigation of appropriate model systems. The phononic dispersion relation at hypersonic frequencies is directly investigated by the non-destructive technique of high-resolution spontaneous Brillouin light scattering (BLS) combined with computational methods. Due to the vector nature of the elastic wave propagation, we first studied the hypersonic band structure of hybrid superlattices. These 1D phononic crystals composed of alternating layers of hard and soft materials feature large Bragg gaps. BLS spectra are sensitive probes of the moduli, photo-elastic constants and structural parameters of the constituent components. Engineering of the band structure can be realized by introduction of defects. Here, cavity layers are employed to launch additional modes that modify the dispersion of the undisturbed superlattice, with extraordinary implications to the band gap region. Density of states calculations in conjunction with the associated deformation allow for unambiguous identication of surface and cavity modes, as well as their interaction with adjacent defects. Next, the role of local resonances in phononic systems is explored in 3D structures based on colloidal particles. In turbid media BLS records the particle vibration spectrum comprising resonant modes due to the spatial confinement of elastic energy. Here, the frequency and lineshapes of the particle eigenmodes are discussed as function of increased interaction and departure from spherical symmetry. The latter is realized by uniaxial stretching of polystyrene spheres, that can be aligned in an alternating electric field. The resulting spheroidal crystals clearly exhibit anisotropic phononic properties. Establishing reliable predictions of acoustic wave propagation, necessary to advance, e.g., optomechanics and phononic devices is the ultimate aim of this thesis.

Exact quantum Monte Carlo methods for correlated electron systems

Thema dieser Arbeit ist die Entwicklung und Kombination verschiedener numerischer Methoden, sowie deren Anwendung auf Probleme stark korrelierter Elektronensysteme. Solche Materialien zeigen viele interessante physikalische Eigenschaften, wie z.B. Supraleitung und magnetische Ordnung und spielen eine bedeutende Rolle in technischen Anwendungen. Es werden zwei verschiedene Modelle behandelt: das Hubbard-Modell und das Kondo-Gitter-Modell (KLM). In den letzten Jahrzehnten konnten bereits viele Erkenntnisse durch die numerische Lösung dieser Modelle gewonnen werden. Dennoch bleibt der physikalische Ursprung vieler Effekte verborgen. Grund dafür ist die Beschränkung aktueller Methoden auf bestimmte Parameterbereiche. Eine der stärksten Einschränkungen ist das Fehlen effizienter Algorithmen für tiefe Temperaturen.rnrnBasierend auf dem Blankenbecler-Scalapino-Sugar Quanten-Monte-Carlo (BSS-QMC) Algorithmus präsentieren wir eine numerisch exakte Methode, die das Hubbard-Modell und das KLM effizient bei sehr tiefen Temperaturen löst. Diese Methode wird auf den Mott-Übergang im zweidimensionalen Hubbard-Modell angewendet. Im Gegensatz zu früheren Studien können wir einen Mott-Übergang bei endlichen Temperaturen und endlichen Wechselwirkungen klar ausschließen.rnrnAuf der Basis dieses exakten BSS-QMC Algorithmus, haben wir einen Störstellenlöser für die dynamische Molekularfeld Theorie (DMFT) sowie ihre Cluster Erweiterungen (CDMFT) entwickelt. Die DMFT ist die vorherrschende Theorie stark korrelierter Systeme, bei denen übliche Bandstrukturrechnungen versagen. Eine Hauptlimitation ist dabei die Verfügbarkeit effizienter Störstellenlöser für das intrinsische Quantenproblem. Der in dieser Arbeit entwickelte Algorithmus hat das gleiche überlegene Skalierungsverhalten mit der inversen Temperatur wie BSS-QMC. Wir untersuchen den Mott-Übergang im Rahmen der DMFT und analysieren den Einfluss von systematischen Fehlern auf diesen Übergang.rnrnEin weiteres prominentes Thema ist die Vernachlässigung von nicht-lokalen Wechselwirkungen in der DMFT. Hierzu kombinieren wir direkte BSS-QMC Gitterrechnungen mit CDMFT für das halb gefüllte zweidimensionale anisotrope Hubbard Modell, das dotierte Hubbard Modell und das KLM. Die Ergebnisse für die verschiedenen Modelle unterscheiden sich stark: während nicht-lokale Korrelationen eine wichtige Rolle im zweidimensionalen (anisotropen) Modell spielen, ist in der paramagnetischen Phase die Impulsabhängigkeit der Selbstenergie für stark dotierte Systeme und für das KLM deutlich schwächer. Eine bemerkenswerte Erkenntnis ist, dass die Selbstenergie sich durch die nicht-wechselwirkende Dispersion parametrisieren lässt. Die spezielle Struktur der Selbstenergie im Impulsraum kann sehr nützlich für die Klassifizierung von elektronischen Korrelationseffekten sein und öffnet den Weg für die Entwicklung neuer Schemata über die Grenzen der DMFT hinaus.