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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2012

Dartmouth Scholarship

Condensed matter

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Nanomechanical Resonator Coupled Linearly Via Its Momentum To A Quantum Point Contact, Latchezar L. Benatov, Miles P. Blencowe Aug 2012

Nanomechanical Resonator Coupled Linearly Via Its Momentum To A Quantum Point Contact, Latchezar L. Benatov, Miles P. Blencowe

Dartmouth Scholarship

We use a Born-Markov approximated master equation approach to study the symmetrized-in-frequency current noise spectrum and the oscillator steady state of a nanoelectromechanical system where a nanoscale resonator is coupled linearly via its momentum to a quantum point contact (QPC). Our current noise spectra exhibit clear signatures of the quantum correlations between the QPC current and the back-action force on the oscillator at a value of the relative tunneling phase (η=−π/2) where such correlations are expected to be maximized. We also show that the steady state of the oscillator obeys a classical Fokker-Planck equation, but can experience thermomechanical noise squeezing …


Information Content Of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking, Marcelo Gleiser, Nikitas Stamatopoulos Aug 2012

Information Content Of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking, Marcelo Gleiser, Nikitas Stamatopoulos

Dartmouth Scholarship

We propose a measure of order in the context of nonequilibrium field theory and argue that this measure, which we call relative configurational entropy (RCE), may be used to quantify the emergence of coherent low-entropy configurations, such as time-dependent or time-independent topological and nontopological spatially extended structures. As an illustration, we investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics of spontaneous symmetry breaking in three spatial dimensions. In particular, we focus on a model where a real scalar field, prepared initially in a symmetric thermal state, is quenched to a broken-symmetric state. For a certain range of initial temperatures, spatially localized, long-lived structures known …


Majorana Modes In Time-Reversal Invariant S -Wave Topological Superconductors, Shusa Deng, Lorenza Viola, Gerardo Ortiz Jan 2012

Majorana Modes In Time-Reversal Invariant S -Wave Topological Superconductors, Shusa Deng, Lorenza Viola, Gerardo Ortiz

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present a time-reversal invariant s-wave superconductor supporting Majorana edge modes. The multiband character of the model together with spin-orbit coupling are key to realizing such a topological superconductor. We characterize the topological phase diagram by using a partial Chern number sum, and show that the latter is physically related to the parity of the fermion number of the time-reversal invariant modes. By taking the self-consistency constraint on the s-wave pairing gap into account, we also establish the possibility of a direct topological superconductor-to-topological insulator quantum phase transition.