Physics Commons^™

Deconfined Quantum Criticality In 2d Su(N) Magnets With Anisotropy, Jonathan D'Emidio

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

In this thesis I will outline various quantum phase transitions in 2D models of magnets that are amenable to simulation with quantum Monte Carlo techniques. The key player in this work is the theory of deconfined criticality, which generically allows for zero temperature quantum phase transitions between phases that break distinct global symmetries. I will describe models with different symmetries including SU(N), SO(N), and "easy-plane" SU(N) and I will demonstrate how the presence or absence of continuous transitions in these models fits together with the theory of deconfined criticality.

A First Experimental Limit On The Relative Rates Of Muon Capture On Deuterium From The Quartet And Doublet Hyperfine Spin States Of The Μd Atom, Ray Kreswell Neely

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The MuSun experiment will determine the muon capture rate on deuterium (µ− + d → n + n + ν_µ) from the doublet hyperfine spin state, Λ_d, of muonic deuterium to a precision of 1.5%. Muon capture can occur from either the quartet or doublet state of the 1S orbital of the µd atom; however, the V-A nature of the process strongly suppresses the rate of capture from the quartet state, Λ_q. Muons in ultrapure deuterium gas may also catalyze d+d → ³He+n fusion through the formation …

Disconnected-Sea Quarks Contribution To Nucleon Electromagnetic Form Factors, Raza Sabbir Sufian

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

We present comprehensive analysis of the light and strange disconnected-sea quarks contribution to the nucleon electric and magnetic form factors. The lattice QCD estimates of strange quark magnetic moment G^s_M (0) = −0.064(14)(09) μ_N and the mean squared charge radius ⟨r²_s⟩_E = −0.0043(16)(14) fm² are more precise than any existing experimental measurements and other lattice calculations. The lattice QCD calculation includes ensembles across several lattice volumes and lattice spacings with one of the ensembles at the physical pion mass. We have performed a simultaneous chiral, infinite volume, and continuum extrapolation in …

A Physics-Based Approach To Modeling Wildland Fire Spread Through Porous Fuel Beds, Tingting Tang

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical Engineering

Wildfires are becoming increasingly erratic nowadays at least in part because of climate change. CFD (computational fluid dynamics)-based models with the potential of simulating extreme behaviors are gaining increasing attention as a means to predict such behavior in order to aid firefighting efforts. This dissertation describes a wildfire model based on the current understanding of wildfire physics. The model includes physics of turbulence, inhomogeneous porous fuel beds, heat release, ignition, and firebrands. A discrete dynamical system for flow in porous media is derived and incorporated into the subgrid-scale model for synthetic-velocity large-eddy simulation (LES), and a general porosity-permeability model is …

Studying Transverse Momentum Dependent Distributions In Polarized Proton Collisions Via Azimuthal Single Spin Asymmetries Of Charged Pions In Jets, James Kevin Adkins

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

A complete, fundamental understanding of the proton must include knowledge of the underlying spin structure. The transversity distribution, h₁(x), which describes the transverse spin structure of quarks inside of a transversely polarized proton, is only accessible through channels that couple h₁(x) to another chiral odd distribution, such as the Collins fragmentation function (Δ^N D_π/q^↑(z,j_T)). Significant Collins asymmetries of charged pions have been observed in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS) data. These SIDIS asymmetries combined with e⁺e^- process asymmetries have allowed for …

A Measurement Of The Parity Violating Asymmetry In The Neutron Capture On 3He At Sns, Md Latiful Kabir

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Weak nucleon nucleon couplings are largely unknown because of the involved theoretical and experimental challenges. Theoretically the topic is difficult due to the non-perturbative nature of the strong interaction, which makes calculations of the couplings challenging. Experimentally, the topic is difficult given that 1) the observables are determined by ratios between strong couplings and weak couplings which differ in size by seven orders of magnitude, and 2) theoretically clean and predictable measurements are almost always restricted to simple systems that do not allow for effects that enhance the size of the asymmetry. However parity violation (PV) can be used to …

Orbital Stability Results For Soliton Solutions To Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations With External Potentials, Joseph B. Lindgren

Theses and Dissertations--Mathematics

For certain nonlinear Schroedinger equations there exist solutions which are called solitary waves. Addition of a potential $V$ changes the dynamics, but for small enough $||V||_{L^\infty}$ we can still obtain stability (and approximately Newtonian motion of the solitary wave's center of mass) for soliton-like solutions up to a finite time that depends on the size and scale of the potential $V$. Our method is an adaptation of the well-known Lyapunov method.

For the sake of completeness, we also prove long-time stability of traveling solitons in the case $V=0$.

Thermal Conductivities Of Organic Semiconductors, Yulong Yao

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Organic semiconductors have gained a lot of interest due to their ease of processing, low-cost and inherent mechanical flexibility. Although most of the research has been on their electronic and optical properties, knowledge of the thermal properties is important in the design of electronic devices as well. Our group has used ac-calorimetric techniques to measure both in-plane and transverse thermal conductivities of a variety of organic semiconductors including small-molecule crystals and polymer blends. For layered crystals composed of molecules with planar backbones and silylethynyl (or germylethynyl) sidegroups projecting between the layers, very high interplanar thermal conductivities have been observed, presumably …

Tuning The Effective Electron Correlation In Iridate Systems Featuring Strong Spin-Orbit Interaction, John H. Gruenewald

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The 5d transition metal oxides have drawn substantial interest for predictions of being suitable candidates for hosting exotic electronic and magnetic states, including unconventional superconductors, magnetic skyrmions, topological insulators, and Weyl semimetals. In addition to the electron-electron correlation notable in high-temperature 3d transition metal superconductors, the 5d oxides contain a large spin-orbit interaction term in their ground state, which is largely responsible for the intricate phase diagram of these materials. Iridates, or compounds containing 5d iridium bonded with oxygen, are of particular interest for their spin-orbit split J_eff = 1/2 state, which is partially filled without the presence …

Neutron-Antineutron Transitions: Exploring B – L Violation With Quarks, Xinshuai Yan

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

In the Standard Model (SM), the quantity baryon number (B) − lepton number (L), B − L, is perfectly conserved. Therefore, the observation of B − L violation would reveal the existence of physics beyond the SM. Traditionally, given the severe experimental constraints on |∆B| = 1 processes, B − L violation with baryons is probed via neutron-antineutron (n − n̄) oscillations, although this process suffers from quenching in the presence of external fields or matter.

In this dissertation, we discuss another possibility, n − n̄ conversion, in which the |∆ …