We report results of the calculation of the low-lying levels of neutral Si using a combination of the configuration interaction and many-body perturbation theory (CI+MBPT method). We treat Si I as an atom with four valence electrons and use two different starting approximations, namely $V^{N-2}$ and $V^{N-4}$. We conclude that both approximations provide comparable accuracy, on the level of 1%.

R. T. Imanbaeva M. G. Kozlov E. A. Konovalova

A complete and rigorous determination of the possible ground states for D-wave pairing Bose condensates is presented, using a geometrical invariant theory approach to the problem. The order parameter is argued to be a vector, transforming according to a ten dimensional real representation of the group $G=${\bf O}$_3\otimes${\bf U}$_1\times <{\cal T}>$. We determine the equalities and inequalities defining the orbit space of this linear group and its symmetry strata, which are in a one-to-one correspondence with the possible distinct phases of the system. We find 15 allowed phases (besides the unbroken one), with different symmetries, that we thoroughly determine. The group-subgroup relations between bordering phases are pointed out. The perturbative sixth degree corrections to the minimum of a fourth degree polynomial $G$-invariant free energy, calculated by Mermin, are also determined.

Yu. M. Gufan Al. V. Popov G. Sartori V. Talamini G. Valente E. B. Vinberg

Functions which are covariant or invariant under the transformations of a compact linear group $G$ acting in a euclidean space $\real^n$, can be profitably studied as functions defined in the orbit space of the group. The orbit space is the union of a finite set of strata, which are semialgebraic manifolds formed by the $G$-orbits with the same symmetry. In this paper we provide a simple recipe to obtain rational parametrizations of the strata. Our results can be easily exploited, in many physical contexts where the study of covariant or invariant functions is important, for instance in the determination of patterns of spontaneous symmetry breaking, in the analysis of phase spaces and structural phase transitions (Landau's theory), in covariant bifurcation theory, in crystal field theory and in most areas of solid state theory where use is made of symmetry adapted functions. An example of utilization of the recipe is also discussed at the end of the paper.

G. Sartori G. Valente

We demonstrate theoretically that the golden phase of SmS ($g$-SmS), a correlated mixed-valent system, exhibits nontrivial surface states with diverse topology. It turns out that this material is an ideal playground to investigate different band topologies in different surface terminations. We have explored surface states on three different (001), (111), and (110) surface terminations. Topological signature in the (001) surface is not apparent due to a hidden Dirac cone inside the bulk-projected bands. In contrast, the (111) surface shows a clear gapless Dirac cone in the gap region, demonstrating the unambiguous topological Kondo nature of $g$-SmS. Most interestingly, the (110) surface exhibits both topological-insulator-type and topological-crystalline-insulator (TCI)-type surface states simultaneously. Two different types of double Dirac cones, Rashba-type and TCI-type, realized on the (001) and (110) surfaces, respectively, are analyzed with the mirror eigenvalues and mirror Chern numbers obtained from the model-independent \emph{ab initio} band calculations.

Chang-Jong Kang Dong-Choon Ryu Junwon Kim Kyoo Kim J. -S. Kang J. D. Denlinger G. Kotliar B. I. Min

In Quantum Field Theory models of electro-weak interactions with spontaneously broken gauge invariance, renormalizability limits to four the degree of the Higgs potential, whose minima determine the possible vacuum states in tree approximation. Through the discussion of some simple variants of the Standard Model with two Higgs doublets, we show that, in some cases, the technical limit imposed by renormalizability can prevent the observability of some phases of the system, that would be otherwise allowed by the symmetry of the Higgs potential. An extension of the scalar sector through suitable SU$_2$ singlet particle fields can resolve this {\em unnatural} limitation.

G. Sartori G. Valente

In Quantum Field Theory models with spontaneously broken gauge invariance, renormalizability limits to four the degree of the Higgs potential, whose minima determine the vacuum state at tree-level. In many models, this bound has the intriguing consequence of preventing the observability, at tree-level, of some phases that would be allowed by symmetry. We show that, generally, the phenomenon persists also if one-loop radiative corrections are taken into account. The tree-level unobservability of some phases is characteristic in two-Higgs-doublet extensions of the Standard Model with additional discrete symmetries (to protect against neutral current flavor changing effects, for instance). We show that an extension of the scalar sector through suitable singlet fields can resolve the {\em unnatural} limitations on the observability of all the phases allowed by symmetry.

G. Sartori G. Valente

High degrees of intensity correlation between two independent lasers were observed after propagation through a rubidium vapor cell in which they generate Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT). As the optical field intensities are increased, the correlation changes sign (becoming anti-correlation). The experiment was performed in a room temperature rubidium cell, using two diode lasers tuned to the $^{85}$Rb $D_2$ line ($\lambda = 780$nm). The cross-correlation spectral function for the pump and probe fields is numerically obtained by modeling the temporal dynamics of both field phases as diffusing processes. We explored the dependence of the atomic response on the atom-field Rabi frequencies, optical detuning and Doppler width. The results show that resonant phase-noise to amplitude-noise conversion is at the origin of the observed signal and the change in sign for the correlation coefficient can be explained as a consequence of the competition between EIT and Raman resonance processes.

L. S. Cruz D. Felinto J. G. Aguirre Gómez M. Martinelli P. Valente A. Lezama P. Nussenzveig

Magnetite (Fe$_{3}$O$_{4}$) is a mixed valent system where electronic conductivity occurs on the B-site (octahedral) iron sublattice of the spinel structure. Below $T_{V}=122$ K, a metal-insulator transition occurs which is argued to arise from the charge ordering of 2+ and 3+ iron valences on the B-sites (Verwey transition). Inelastic neutron scattering measurements show that optical spin waves propagating on the B-site sublattice ($\sim$80 meV) are shifted upwards in energy above $T_{V}$ due to the occurrence of B-B ferromagnetic double exchange in the mixed valent metallic phase. The double exchange interaction affects only spin waves of $\Delta_{5}$ symmetry, not all modes, indicating that valence fluctuations are slow and the double exchange is constrained by electron correlations above $T_{V}$.

R. J. McQueeney M. Yethiraj S. Chang W. Montfrooij T. G. Perring J. Honig P. Metcalf

We theoretically investigate signatures of stimulated emission at the single photon level for a two-level atom interacting with a one-dimensional light field. We consider the transient regime where the atom is initially excited, and the steady state regime where the atom is continuously driven with an external pump. The influence of pure dephasing is studied, clearly showing that these effects can be evidenced with state of the art solid state devices. We finally propose a scheme to demonstrate the stimulation of one optical transition by monitoring another one, in three-level one-dimensional atoms.

D. Valente S. Portolan G. Nogues J. P. Poizat M. Richard J. M. Gérard M. F. Santos A. Auffèves

In this note we comment on two recently published papers by G. Valent: The 1st is the preprint "On a Class of Integrable Systems with a quartic First Integral, arXiv:1304.5859. April 22, (2013)". We show that the two integrable Hamiltonian systems introduced in this reprint as original results are not new. They are special cases of two systems introduced by the present author in 2006 in two papers [6] and [5]. The second paper is "On a Class of Integrable Systems with a Cubic First Integral, Commun. Math. Phys. 299, 631{649 (2010), In that paper two integrable Hamiltonian systems admitting a cubic integral were introduced. Those systems were referred to as original results by Tsiganov in [12], Vershilov and Tsiganov in [13], Bialy and Mironov in [15] and by Gibbons et al in [14]. We show that those systems are not new. Both can be obtained as special cases of one system introduced by us in [4] (2002) and one of them is a special case of a much earlier version [1] published 24 years earlier.

Hamad Yehia