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A. Rodriguez

Publications and source records attributed to A. Rodriguez.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2009

The case for a directional dark matter detector and the status of current experimental efforts

We present the case for a dark matter detector with directional sensitivity. This document was developed at the 2009 CYGNUS workshop on directional dark matter detection, and contains contributions from theorists and experimental groups in the field. We describe the need for a dark matter detector with directional sensitivity; each directional dark matter experiment presents their project's status; and we close with a feasibility study for scaling up to a one ton directional detector, which would cost around $150M.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2009

NEXT, a HPGXe TPC for neutrinoless double beta decay searches

We propose a novel detection concept for neutrinoless double-beta decay searches. This concept is based on a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) filled with high-pressure gaseous xenon, and with separated-function capabilities for calorimetry and tracking. Thanks to its excellent energy resolution, together with its powerful background rejection provided by the distinct double-beta decay topological signature, the design discussed in this Letter Of Intent promises to be competitive and possibly out-perform existing proposals for next-generation neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments. We discuss the detection principles, design specifications, physics potential and R&D plans to construct a detector with 100 kg fiducial mass in the double-beta decay emitting isotope Xe(136), to be installed in the Canfranc Underground Laboratory.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2008

Measurement of single charged pion production in the charged-current interactions of neutrinos in a 1.3 GeV wide band beam

Single charged pion production in charged-current muon neutrino interactions with carbon is studied using data collected in the K2K long-baseline neutrino experiment. The mean energy of the incident muon neutrinos is 1.3 GeV. The data used in this analysis are mainly from a fully active scintillator detector, SciBar. The cross section for single $π^{+}$ production in the resonance region ($W<2$ GeV/$c^2$) relative to the charged-current quasi-elastic cross section is found to be 0.734 $^{+0.140}_{-0.153}$. The energy-dependent cross section ratio is also measured. The results are consistent with a previous experiment and the prediction of our model.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2007

Symmetry-Induced Tunnelling in One-Dimensional Disordered Potentials

A new mechanism of tunnelling at macroscopic distances is proposed for a wave packet localized in one-dimensional disordered potential with mirror symmetry, V(-x)=V(x). Unlike quantum tunnelling through a regular potential barrier, which occurs only at the energies lower then the barrier height, the proposed mechanism of tunnelling exists even for weak white-noise-like scattering potentials. It also exists in classical circuits of resonant contours with random resonant frequencies. The latter property may be used as a new method of secure communication, which does not require coding and decoding of the transmitting signal.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗
arXiv2007

Tight-binding modeling of charge migration in DNA devices

Long range charge transfer experiments in DNA oligomers and the subsequently measured -- and very diverse -- transport response of DNA wires in solid state experiments exemplifies the need for a thorough theoretical understanding of charge migration in DNA-based natural and artificial materials. Here we present a review of tight-binding models for DNA conduction which have the intrinsic merit of containing more structural information than plain rate-equation models while still retaining sufficient detail of the electronic properties. This allows for simulations of transport properties to be more manageable with respect to density functional theory methods or correlated first principle algorithms.

q-bio.GN↗
arXiv2007

The CAST Time Projection Chamber

One of the three X-ray detectors of the CAST experiment searching for solar axions is a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) with a multi-wire proportional counter (MWPC) as a readout structure. Its design has been optimized to provide high sensitivity to the detection of the low intensity X-ray signal expected in the CAST experiment. A low hardware threshold of 0.8 keV is safely set during normal data taking periods, and the overall efficiency for the detection of photons coming from conversion of solar axions is 62 %. Shielding has been installed around the detector, lowering the background level to 4.10 x 10^-5 counts/cm^2/s/keV between 1 and 10 keV. During phase I of the CAST experiment the TPC has provided robust and stable operation, thus contributing with a competitive result to the overall CAST limit on axion-photon coupling and mass.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2005

Anomalous optical absorption in a random system with scale-free disorder

We report on an anomalous behavior of the absorption spectrum in a one-dimensional lattice with long-range-correlated diagonal disorder with a power-like spectrum in the form S(k) ~ 1/k^A. These type of correlations give rise to a phase of extended states at the band center, provided A is larger than a critical value A_c. We show that for A < A_c the absorption spectrum is single-peaked, while an additional peak arises when A > A_c, signalling the occurrence of the Anderson transition. The peak is located slightly below the low-energy mobility edge, providing a unique spectroscopic tool to monitor the latter. We present qualitative arguments explaining this anomaly.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗
arXiv2004

Simple model for a quantum wire III. Transmission of finite samples with correlated disorder

The effect of a continuous model of correlations upon one-dimensional finite disordered quantum wires modeled by an array of delta-potentials, is analyzed. Although the model proposed is not able to include new truly extended states in the spectrum, the transport properties of a finite sample are noticeably improved due to the existence of states whose localization length is larger than the system size. This enhancement of transmission is maximized for relatively short chains.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2004

Absorption in atomic wires

The transfer matrix formalism is implemented in the form of the multiple collision technique to account for dissipative transmission processes by using complex potentials in several models of atomic chains. The absorption term is rigorously treated to recover unitarity for the non-hermitian hamiltonians. In contrast to other models of parametrized scatterers we assemble explicit potentials profiles in the form of delta arrays, Poschl-Teller holes and complex Scarf potentials. The techniques developed provide analytical expressions for the scattering and absorption probabilities of arbitrarily long wires. The approach presented is suitable for modelling molecular aggregate potentials and also supports new models of continuous disordered systems. The results obtained also suggest the possibility of using these complex potentials within disordered wires to study the loss of coherence in the electronic localization regime due to phase-breaking inelastic processes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2004

Stability of Terrestrial Planets in the Habitable Zone of Gl 777 A, HD 72659, Gl 614, 47 Uma and HD 4208

We have undertaken a thorough dynamical investigation of five extrasolar planetary systems using extensive numerical experiments. The systems Gl 777 A, HD 72659, Gl 614, 47 Uma and HD 4208 were examined concerning the question of whether they could host terrestrial like planets in their habitable zones (=HZ). First we investigated the mean motion resonances between fictitious terrestrial planets and the existing gas giants in these five extrasolar systems. Then a fine grid of initial conditions for a potential terrestrial planet within the HZ was chosen for each system, from which the stability of orbits was then assessed by direct integrations over a time interval of 1 million years. The computations were carried out using a Lie-series integration method with an adaptive step size control. This integration method achieves machine precision accuracy in a highly efficient and robust way, requiring no special adjustments when the orbits have large eccentricities. The stability of orbits was examined with a determination of the Renyi entropy, estimated from recurrence plots, and with a more straight forward method based on the maximum eccentricity achieved by the planet over the 1 million year integration. Additionally, the eccentricity is an indication of the habitability of a terrestrial planet in the HZ; any value of e>0.2 produces a significant temperature difference on a planet's surface between apoapse and periapse. The results for possible stable orbits for terrestrial planets in habitable zones for the five systems are summarized as follows: for Gl 777 A nearly the entire HZ is stable, for 47 Uma, HD 72659 and HD 4208 terrestrial planets can survive for a sufficiently long time, while for Gl 614 our results exclude terrestrial planets moving in stable orbits within the HZ.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2003

Collective vs local measurements in qubit mixed state estimation

We discuss the problem of estimating a general (mixed) qubit state. We give the optimal guess that can be inferred from any given set of measurements. For collective measurements and for a large number $N$ of copies, we show that the error in the estimation goes as 1/N. For local measurements we focus on the simpler case of states lying on the equatorial plane of the Bloch sphere. We show that standard tomographic techniques lead to an error proportional to $1/N^{1/4}$, while with our optimal data processing it is proportional to $1/N^{3/4}$.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2003

Free ion yield observed in liquid isooctane irradiated by gamma rays. Comparison with the Onsager theory

We have analyzed data on the free ion yield observed in liquid isooctane irradiated by Co60 gamma rays within the framework of the Onsager theory about initial recombination. Several distribution functions describing the electron thermalization distance have been used and compared with the experimental results: a delta function, a Gaussian type function and an exponential function. A linear dependence between free ion yield and external electric field has been found at low electric field values (E<1.2 MV/m) in excellent agreement with the Onsager theory. At higher electric field values we obtain a solution in power series of the external field using the Onsager theory.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2003

A two dimensional position sensitive gas chamber with scanned charge transfer readout

We have constructed and tested a 2d position sensitive parallel-plate gas ionization chamber with scanned charge transfer readout. The scan readout method described here is based on the development of a new position dependent charge transfer technique. It has been implemented by using gate strips perpendicularly oriented to the collector strips. This solution reduces considerably the number of electronic readout channels needed to cover large detector areas. The use of a 25 micron thick kapton etched circuit allows high charge transfer efficiency with a low gating voltage, consequently needing a very simple commutating circuit. The present prototype covers 8 x 8 cm^2 with a pixel size of 1.27 x 1.27 mm^2. Depending on the intended use and beam characteristics a smaller effective pixel is feasible and larger active areas are possible. This detector can be used for X-ray or other continuous beam intensity profile monitoring.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2002

Anderson transition in low-dimensional disordered systems driven by nonrandom long-range hopping

The single-parameter scaling hypothesis predicts the absence of delocalized states for noninteracting quasiparticles in low-dimensional disordered systems. We show analytically and numerically that extended states may occur in the one- and two-dimensional Anderson model with a nonrandom hopping falling off as some power of the distance between sites. The different size scaling of the bare level spacing and the renormalized magnitude of the disorder seen by the quasiparticles finally results in the delocalization of states at one of the band edges of the quasiparticle energy spectrum. The delocalized nature of those eigenstates is investigated by numerical diagonalization of the Hamiltonian and by the supersymmetric method for disorder averaging, combined with a renormalization group analysis.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗
arXiv2002

Absence of weak localization in two-dimensional disordered Frenkel lattices

The standard one-parameter scaling theory predicts that all eigenstates in two-dimensional random lattices are weakly localized. We show that this claim fails in two-dimensional dipolar Frenkel exciton systems. The linear energy dispersion at the top of the exciton band, originating from the long-range inter-site coupling of dipolar nature, yields the same size-scaling law for the level spacing and the effective disorder seen by the exciton. This finally results in the delocalization of those eigenstates in the thermodynamic limit. Large scale numerical simulations allow us to perform a detailed multifractal analysis and to elucidate the nature of the excitonic eigenstates.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗
arXiv1998

Zero-energy peak of the density of states and localization properties of a one-dimensional Frenkel exciton: Off-diagonal disorder

We study a one-dimensional Frenkel Hamiltonian with off-diagonal disorder, focusing our attention on the physical nature of the zero-energy peak of the density of states. The character of excitonic states (localized or delocalized) is also examined in the vicinity of this peak. It is shown that the state being responsible for the peak is localized. A detailed comparison of the nearest-neighbor approach with the long-range dipole-dipole coupling is performed.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗
arXiv1997

Optical absorption in Fibonacci lattices at finite temperature

We consider the dynamics of Frenkel excitons on quasiperiodic lattices, focusing our attention on the Fibonacci case as a typical example. We evaluate the absorption spectrum by solving numerically the equation of motion of the Frenkel-exciton problem on the lattice. Besides the main absorption line, satellite lines appear in the high-energy side of the spectra, which we have related to the underlying quasiperiodic order. The influence of lattice vibrations on the absorption line-shape is also considered. We find that the characteristic features of the absorption spectra should be observable even at room temperature. Consequently, we propose that excitons act as a probe of the topology of the lattice even when thermal vibrations reduce their quantum coherence.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗