Spin-polarized STM spectra of Dirac electrons on the surface of a topological insulator

We provide a theory for the tunneling conductance G(V) of Dirac electrons on the surface of a topological insulator as measured by a spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscope tip for low-bias voltages V. We show that if the in-plane rotational symmetry on the surface of the topological insulator is broken by an external field that does not couple to spin directly (such as an in-plane electric field), G(V) exhibits an unconventional dependence on the direction of the magnetization of the tip, i.e., it acquires a dependence on the azimuthal angle of the magnetization of the tip. We also show that G(V) can be used to measure the magnitude of the local out-of-plane spin orientation of the Dirac electrons on the surface. We explain the role of the Dirac electrons in this unconventional behavior and suggest experiments to test our theory.

Anomalous temperature dependence of phonons and photoluminescence bands in pyrochlore Er(2)Ti(2)O(7): signatures of structural deformation at 130 K

We report a Raman study of single crystal pyrochlore Er(2)Ti(2)O(7) as a function of temperature from 12 to 300 K. In addition to the phonons, various photoluminescence (PL) lines of Er(3+) in the visible range are also observed. Our Raman data show an anomalous red-shift of two phonons (one at similar to 200 cm(-1) and another at similar to 520 cm(-1)) upon cooling from room temperature which is attributed to phonon-phonon anharmonic interactions. However, the phonons at similar to 310, 330, and 690 cm(-1) initially show a blue-shift upon cooling from room temperature down to about 130 K, followed by a red-shift, indicating a structural deformation at similar to 130 K. The intensities of the PL bands associated with the transitions between the various levels of the ground state manifold ((4)I(15/2)) and the (2)H(11/2) as well as (4)S(3/2) excited state manifolds of Er(3+) show a change at similar to 130 K. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the peak position of the two PL bands shows a change in their slope (d(omega)/d(T)) at similar to 130 K, thus further strengthening the proposal of a structural deformation. The temperature dependence of the peak positions of the PL bands has been analyzed using the theory of optical dephasing in crystals.

Charge Density Analysis of a Pentaborate Ion in an Ammonium Borate: Toward the Understanding of Topological Features in Borate Minerals

Structural and charge density distribution studies have been carried out on a single crystal data of an ammonium borate, [C(10)H(26)N(4)][B(5)O(6)(OH)(4)](2), synthesized by solvothermal method. Further, the experimentally observed geometry is used for the theoretical charge density calculations using the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory, and the results are compared with the experimental values. Topological analysis of charge density based on the Atoms in Molecules approach for B-O bonds exhibit mixed covalent/ionic character. Detailed analysis of the hydrogen bonds in the crystal structure in the ammonium borate provides insights into the understanding of the reaction pathways that net atomic charges and electrostatic potential isosurfaces also give additional such systems. could result in the formation of borate minerals. The input to evaluate chemical and physical properties in such systems.

Topological analysis of general linear networks

A new method of network analysis, a generalization in several different senses of existing methods and applicable to all networks for which a branch-admittance (or impedance) matrix can be formed, is presented. The treatment of network determinants is very general and essentially four terminal rather than three terminal, and leads to simple expressions based on trees of a simple graph associated with the network and matrix, and involving products of low-order, usually(2 times 2)determinants of tree-branch admittances, in addition to tree-branch products as in existing methods. By comparison with existing methods, the total number of trees and of tree pairs is usually considerably reduced, and this fact, together with an easy method of tree-pair sign determination which is also presented, makes the new method simpler in general. The method can be very easily adapted, by the use of infinite parameters, to accommodate ideal transformers, operational amplifiers, and other forms of network constraint; in fact, is thought to be applicable to all linear networks.

Incremental Cycle Detection, Topological Ordering, and Strong Component Maintenance

We present two online algorithms for maintaining a topological order of a directed n-vertex acyclic graph as arcs are added, and detecting a cycle when one is created. Our first algorithm handles m arc additions in O(m(3/2)) time. For sparse graphs (m/n = O(1)), this bound improves the best previous bound by a logarithmic factor, and is tight to within a constant factor among algorithms satisfying a natural locality property. Our second algorithm handles an arbitrary sequence of arc additions in O(n(5/2)) time. For sufficiently dense graphs, this bound improves the best previous bound by a polynomial factor. Our bound may be far from tight: we show that the algorithm can take Omega(n(2)2 root(2lgn)) time by relating its performance to a generalization of the k-levels problem of combinatorial geometry. A completely different algorithm running in Theta (n(2) log n) time was given recently by Bender, Fineman, and Gilbert. We extend both of our algorithms to the maintenance of strong components, without affecting the asymptotic time bounds.

Junction between surfaces of two topological insulators

We study the properties of a line junction which separates the surfaces of two three-dimensional topological insulators. The velocities of the Dirac electrons on the two surfaces may be unequal and may even have opposite signs. For a time-reversal invariant system, we show that the line junction is characterized by an arbitrary parameter alpha which determines the scattering from the junction. If the surface velocities have the same sign, we show that there can be edge states which propagate along the line junction with a velocity and spin orientation which depend on alpha and the ratio of the velocities. Next, we study what happens if the two surfaces are at an angle phi with respect to each other. We study the scattering and differential conductance through the line junction as functions of phi and alpha. We also find that there are edge states which propagate along the line junction with a velocity and spin orientation which depend on phi. Finally, if the surface velocities have opposite signs, we find that the electrons must transmit into the two-dimensional interface separating the two topological insulators.

Synchronous and asynchronous Mott transitions in topological insulator ribbons

We address how the nature of linearly dispersing edge states of two-dimensional (2D) topological insulators evolves with increasing electron-electron correlation engendered by a Hubbard-like on-site repulsion U in finite ribbons of two models of topological band insulators. Using an inhomogeneous cluster slave-rotor mean-field method developed here, we show that electronic correlations drive the topologically nontrivial phase into a Mott insulating phase via two different routes. In a synchronous transition, the entire ribbon attains a Mott insulating state at one critical U that depends weakly on the width of the ribbon. In the second, asynchronous route, Mott localization first occurs on the edge layers at a smaller critical value of electronic interaction, which then propagates into the bulk as U is further increased until all layers of the ribbon become Mott localized. We show that the kind of Mott transition that takes place is determined by certain properties of the linearly dispersing edge states which characterize the topological resilience to Mott localization.

Continuum theory of edge states of topological insulators: variational principle and boundary conditions

We develop a continuum theory to model low energy excitations of a generic four-band time reversal invariant electronic system with boundaries. We propose a variational energy functional for the wavefunctions which allows us to derive natural boundary conditions valid for such systems. Our formulation is particularly suited for developing a continuum theory of the protected edge/surface excitations of topological insulators both in two and three dimensions. By a detailed comparison of our analytical formulation with tight binding calculations of ribbons of topological insulators modelled by the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang (BHZ) Hamiltonian, we show that the continuum theory with a natural boundary condition provides an appropriate description of the low energy physics.

SIGNATURES OF NEW PHYSICS FROM HBT CORRELATIONS IN UHECRS

Quantum fields written on noncommutative spacetime (Groenewold-Moyal plane) obey twisted commutation relations. In this paper we show that these twisted commutation relations result in Hanbury-Brown Twiss (HBT) correlations that are distinct from that for ordinary bosonic or fermionic fields, and hence can provide useful information about underlying noncommutative nature of spacetime. The deviation from usual bosonic/fermionic statistics becomes pronounced at high energies, suggesting that a natural place is to look at Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs). Since the HBT correlations are sensitive only to the statistics of the particles, observations done with UHECRs are capable of providing unambiguous signatures of noncommutativity, with-out any detailed knowledge of the mechanism and source of origin of UHECRs.

Signatures of Indian ocean Dipole and El Nino-Southern Oscillation events in sea level variations in the Bay of Bengal

We investigate the impact of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Nino and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on sea level variations in the North Indian Ocean during 1957-2008. Using tide-gauge and altimeter data, we show that IOD and ENSO leave characteristic signatures in the sea level anomalies (SLAs) in the Bay of Bengal. During a positive IOD event, negative SLAs are observed during April-December, with the SLAs decreasing continuously to a peak during September-November. During El Nino, negative SLAs are observed twice (April-December and November-July), with a relaxation between the two peaks. SLA signatures during negative IOD and La Nina events are much weaker. We use a linear, continuously stratified model of the Indian Ocean to simulate their sea level patterns of IOD and ENSO events. We then separate solutions into parts that correspond to specific processes: coastal alongshore winds, remote forcing from the equator via reflected Rossby waves, and direct forcing by interior winds within the bay. During pure IOD events, the SLAs are forced both from the equator and by direct wind forcing. During ENSO events, they are primarily equatorially forced, with only a minor contribution from direct wind forcing. Using a lead/lag covariance analysis between the Nino-3.4 SST index and Indian Ocean wind stress, we derive a composite wind field for a typical El Nino event: the resulting solution has two negative SLA peaks. The IOD and ENSO signatures are not evident off the west coast of India.

Signatures of Ge2Sb2Te5 film at structural transitions

Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) films, one of the most suitable Chalcogenide alloys for Phase change Random Access Memory applications are studied for changes in sheet resistance, optical transmission, morphology and surface science by annealing at various transition temperatures. The crystallization leads to an increase of grain size and roughness in the films and the resistance changes to three orders of magnitude. Optical studies on GST films show distinct changes during phase transitions and the optical parameters are calculated. An increase of Tauc parameters B-1/2 indicates a reduction in disorder during phase transition. It is confirmed from XPS studies that Ge-Te, Sb-Te bonds are present in both amorphous and crystalline phases whereas Sb-Ge, Te-Te, Sb-Sb bonds are absent. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topological electron density analysis and electrostatic properties of aspirin: an experimental and theoretical study

The topological and the electrostatic properties of the aspirin drug molecule were determined from high-resolution X-ray diffraction data at 90 K, and the corresponding results are compared with the theoretical calculations. The electron density at the bond critical point of all chemical bonds induding the intermolecular interactions of aspirin has been quantitatively described using Bader's quantum theory of ``Atoms in Molecules''. The electrostatic potential of the molecule emphasizes the preferable binding sites of the drug and the interaction features of the molecule, which are crucial for drug-receptor recognition. The topological analysis of hydrogen bonds reveals the strength of intermolecular interactions.

Spin injection into a metal from a topological insulator

We study a junction of a topological insulator with a thin two-dimensional nonmagnetic or partially polarized ferromagnetic metallic film deposited on a three-dimensional insulator. We show, by deriving generic boundary conditions applicable to electrons traversing the junction, that there is a finite spin-current injection into the film whose magnitude can be controlled by tuning a voltage V applied across the junction. For ferromagnetic films, the direction of the component of the spin current along the film magnetization can also be tuned by tuning the barrier potential V-0 at the junction. We point out the role of the chiral spin-momentum locking of the Dirac electrons behind this phenomenon and suggest experiments to test our theory.

Primary Microcephaly Gene MCPH1 Shows Signatures of Tumor Suppressors and Is Regulated by miR-27a in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Mutations in the MCPH1 (microcephalin 1) gene, located at chromosome 8p23.1, result in two autosomal recessive disorders: primary microcephaly and premature chromosome condensation syndrome. MCPH1 has also been shown to be downregulated in breast, prostate and ovarian cancers, and mutated in 1/10 breast and 5/41 endometrial tumors, suggesting that it could also function as a tumor suppressor (TS) gene. To test the possibility of MCPH1 as a TS gene, we first performed LOH study in a panel of 81 matched normal oral tissues and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) samples, and observed that 14/71 (19.72%) informative samples showed LOH, a hallmark of TS genes. Three protein truncating mutations were identified in 1/15 OSCC samples and 2/5 cancer cell lines. MCPH1 was downregulated at both the transcript and protein levels in 21/41 (51.22%) and 19/25 (76%) OSCC samples respectively. A low level of MCPH1 promoter methylation was also observed in 4/40 (10%) tumor samples. We further observed that overexpression of MCPH1 decreased cellular proliferation, anchorage-independent growth in soft agar, cell invasion and tumor size in nude mice, indicating its tumor suppressive function. Using bioinformatic approaches and luciferase assay, we showed that the 3'-UTR of MCPH1 harbors two non-overlapping functional seed regions for miR-27a which negatively regulated its level. The expression level of miR-27a negatively correlated with the MCPH1 protein level in OSCC. Our study indicates for the first time that, in addition to its role in brain development, MCPH1 also functions as a tumor suppressor gene and is regulated by miR-27a.