Laboratoire de Physique Théorique
Toulouse - UMR 5152

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Computing fidelity at magnetic quantum phase transitions

Quantum phase transitions (QPT) play an important role in condensed matter systems. Traditional investigations of those QPT usually need the definition of an order parameter, which itself already requires a deeper understanding of the physical system. When a system undergoes a quantum phase transition, the ground-state wave-function shows a change of nature, which can be monitored using the fidelity concept.

Why DNA chains are "kinked" when observed on surfaces

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is widely used to observe double-stranded DNA adsorbed on surfaces. In recent experiments by Wiggins et al., « anomalies » have been detected in the distribution of bending angles along DNA (which measures its flexibility) : an over-abundance of large angles were found which are not predicted by the traditional statistical model of DNA chains, the Worm-Like Chain model (see figure). N. Destainville, M. Manghi and J. Palmeri of the statistical group of the (...)

Effective Theory of Magnetization Plateaux in the Shastry-Sutherland Lattice

The Shastry-Sutherland lattice and its realization in the material SrCu2(BO3)2 have been attracting a lot of attention due to its fascinating behavior in a magnetic field, namely that magnetization plateaux have experimentally been observed for values of 1/8, 1/4 and 1/3 of the saturation value.
Because of the lack of powerful numerical techniques or unbiased analytical tools to tackle 2D frustrated systems, a promising approach consists in deriving an effective hardcore bosonic model. (...)

Actualités

Nominations 2009 à l’IUF

Le LPT est ravi d’apprendre la nomination de Sylvain Capponi en tant que membre junior de l’Institut Universitaire de France, au titre de la promotion 2009. Après Éric Suraud (en 1994), Jean Bellissard (en 1995 ; à Georgia Tech depuis 2002) et David Dean (en 2006), Sylvain Capponi est donc le quatrième enseignant-chercheur du LPT à être distingué par l’IUF.
Le LPT tient aussi à féliciter les quatre autres lauréats IUF 2009 de l’Université Paul Sabatier : David Guéry-Odelin (LCAR ; laboratoire (...)