arXiv subjects

A. Hernando

Publications and source records attributed to A. Hernando.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Fisher-information and the thermodynamics of scale-invariant systems

We present a thermodynamic formulation for scale-invariant systems based on the minimization with constraints of Fisher's information measure. In such a way a clear analogy between these systems's thermal properties and those of gases and fluids is seen to emerge in natural fashion. We focus attention on the non-interacting scenario, speaking thus of scale-free ideal gases (SFIGs) and present some empirical evidences regarding such disparate systems as electoral results, city populations and total citations in Physics journals, that seem to indicate that SFIGs do exist. We also illustrate the way in which Zipf's law can be understood in a thermodynamical context as the surface of a finite system. Finally, we derive an equivalent microscopic description of our systems which totally agrees with previous numerical simulations found in the literature.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2009

Zipf's law from a Fisher variational-principle

Zipf's law is shown to arise as the variational solution of a problem formulated in Fisher's terms. An appropriate minimization process involving Fisher information and scale-invariance yields this universal rank distribution. As an example we show that the number of citations found in the most referenced physics journals follows this law.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2009

Fisher-based thermodynamics for scale-invariant systems: Zipf's Law as an equilibrium state of a scale-free ideal gas

We present a thermodynamic formulation for scale-invariant systems based on the principle of extreme information. We create an analogy between these systems and the well-known thermodynamics of gases and fluids, and study as a compelling case the non-interacting system -the scale-free ideal gas- presenting some empirical evidences of electoral results, city population and total cites of Physics journals that confirm its existence. The empirical class of universality known as Zipf's law is derived from first principles: we show that this special class of power law can be understood as the density distribution of an equilibrium state of the scale-free ideal gas, whereas power laws of different exponent arise from equilibrium and non-equilibrium states. We also predict the appearance of the log-normal distribution as the equilibrium density of a harmonically constrained system, and finally derive an equivalent microscopic description of these systems.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2007

The structure and energetics of $^3$He and $^4$He nanodroplets doped with alkaline earth atoms

We present systematic results, based on density functional calculations, for the structure and energetics of $^3$He and $^4$He nanodroplets doped with alkaline earth atoms. We predict that alkaline earth atoms from Mg to Ba go to the center of $^3$He drops, whereas Ca, Sr, and Ba reside in a deep dimple at the surface of $^4$He drops, and Mg is at their center. For Ca and Sr, the structure of the dimples is shown to be very sensitive to the He-alkaline earth pair potentials used in the calculations. The $5s5p\leftarrow5s^2$ transition of strontium atoms attached to helium nanodroplets of either isotope has been probed in absorption experiments. The spectra show that strontium is solvated inside $^3$He nanodroplets, supporting the calculations. In the light of our findings, we emphasize the relevance of the heavier alkaline earth atoms for analyzing mixed $^3$He-$^4$He nanodroplets, and in particular, we suggest their use to experimentally probe the $^3$He-$^4$He interface.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2006

Palladium: A localised paramagnetism

We report on the origin of ferromagnetic like behaviour observed for 2.4 nm size Pd nanoparticles. Localised magnetic moments on metallic surfaces have been recently shown to induce orbital motion of the itinerant electrons via spin-orbit coupling. As a result of this coupling the magnetic anisotropy is enhanced and the surface magnetic moments can be blocked up to above room temperature. Since Pd has been customary treated as a paradigmatic itinerant system, localisation of magnetic moments at its surfaces was not initially expected. However, it is shown, through the experimental thermal dependence of both magnetic susceptibility and Hall resistance, that magnetism of bulk Pd, is a localised paramagnetism and, consequently, can give rise to permanent magnetism at its surface. Such surface permanent magnetism is experimentally observed only when the percentage of surface moments is outstanding as is the case for nanoparticles.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2006

Giant magnetic anisotropy at nanoscale: overcoming the superparamagnetic limit

It has been recently observed for palladium and gold nanoparticles, that the magnetic moment at constant applied field does not change with temperature over the range comprised between 5 and 300 K. These samples with size smaller than 2.5 nm exhibit remanence up to room temperature. The permanent magnetism for so small samples up to so high temperatures has been explained as due to blocking of local magnetic moment by giant magnetic anisotropies. In this report we show, by analysing the anisotropy of thiol capped gold films, that the orbital momentum induced at the surface conduction electrons is crucial to understand the observed giant anisotropy. The orbital motion is driven by localised charge and/or spin through spin orbit interaction, that reaches extremely high values at the surfaces. The induced orbital moment gives rise to an effective field of the order of 103 T that is responsible of the giant anisotropy.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2001

Enhancement and deterioration of the critical current by defects in Josephson-junction arrays

We study how the addition of defects in an otherwise uniform Josehpson junction array modifies the critical current of the array, by numerically solving the system of coupled Josephson equations. Our results confirm the existence of two different regimes, depending on the normalized maximum Josephson current of each junction, $i_{\rm max}$: for large $i_{\rm max}$, the defects deteriorate partially the critical state of the uniform array and so decrease the critical current, while for low values of $i_{\rm max}$, the defects help the formation of the critical state, which leads to an enhancement of critical current. The results are discussed in comparison with the behavior of type-II superconductors, for which the inclusion of defects always results in an enhancement of the critical current.

cond-mat.supr-con↗