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Realistic synthetic observations of theoretical source models are essential for our understanding of real observational data. In using synthetic data, one can verify the extent to which source parameters can be recovered and evaluate how various data corruption effects can be calibrated. These studies are important when proposing observations of new sources, in the characterization of the capabilities of new or upgraded instruments, and when verifying model-based theoretical predictions in a comparison with observational data. We present the SYnthetic Measurement creator for long Baseline Arrays (SYMBA), a novel synthetic data generation pipeline for Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations. SYMBA takes into account several realistic atmospheric, instrumental, and calibration effects. We used SYMBA to create synthetic observations for the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a mm VLBI array, which has recently captured the first image of a black hole shadow. After testing SYMBA with simple source and corruption models, we study the importance of including all corruption and calibration effects. Based on two example general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) model images of M87, we performed case studies to assess the attainable image quality with the current and future EHT array for different weather conditions. The results show that the effects of atmospheric and instrumental corruptions on the measured visibilities are significant. Despite these effects, we demonstrate how the overall structure of the input models can be recovered robustly after performing calibration steps. With the planned addition of new stations to the EHT array, images could be reconstructed with higher angular resolution and dynamic range. In our case study, these improvements allowed for a distinction between a thermal and a non-thermal GRMHD model based on salient features in reconstructed images., Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

New phases of matter emerge at the edge of magnetic instabilities. In local moment systems, such as heavy fermions, the magnetism can be destabilized by pressure, chemical doping, and, rarely, by magnetic field, towards a zero-temperature transition at a quantum critical point (QCP). Even more rare are instances of QCPs induced by pressure or doping in itinerant moment systems, with no known examples of analogous field-induced \textit{T} = 0 transitions. Here we report the discovery of a new itinerant antiferromagnet with no magnetic constituents, in single crystals of Ti$_3$Cu$_4$ with $T_N$ = 11.3 K. Band structure calculations point to an orbital-selective, spin density wave ground state, a consequence of the square net structural motif in Ti$_3$Cu$_4$. A small magnetic field, $H_C$ = 4.87 T, suppresses the long-range order via a continuous second-order transition, resulting in a field-induced QCP. The magnetic Gr\"uneisen ratio diverges as $H \rightarrow H_C$ and $T\rightarrow0$, with a sign change at $H_C$ and $T^{-1}$ scaling at $H~=~H_C$, providing evidence from thermodynamic measurements for quantum criticality for $H \parallel c$. Non-Fermi liquid (NFL) to Fermi liquid (FL) crossover is observed close to the QCP, as revealed by the power law behavior of the electrical resistivity.

We report the discovery of Ce$_3$Ir$_4$Ge$_{13}$, a new Remeika phase compound with a complex array of structural, electronic, and magnetic properties. Our single crystal x-ray diffraction measurements show that Ce$_3$Ir$_4$Ge$_{13}$ forms in the tetragonally distorted $I4_1/amd$ space group. The electrical resistivity is almost temperature independent over three decades in temperature, from 0.4 K to 400 K, while the Hall coefficient measurements are consistent with a low-carrier semimetal. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal an effective moment of $\mu^{\text{exp}}_{\text{eff}} = 1.87 \mu_B$/Ce, suggesting that this material has a mixture of magnetic Ce$^{3+}$ and non-magnetic Ce$^{4+}$. Upon cooling, Ce$_3$Ir$_4$Ge$_{13}$ first enters a short range magnetically ordered state below $T_{\text{SRO}}=10$ K, marked by a deviation from Curie-Weiss behavior in susceptibility and a broad field-independent heat capacity anomaly. At lower temperatures, we observe a second, sharper peak in the heat capacity at $T^* = 1.7$ K, concurrent with a splitting of the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled susceptibilities. A small resistivity drop at $T^*$ suggests a loss of spin disorder scattering consistent with a magnetic ordering or spin freezing transition. Ce$_3$Ir$_4$Ge$_{13}$ is therefore a rare example of an inhomogeneous mixed valence compound with a complex array of thermodynamic and transport properties., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Materials

The interplay of Kondo screening and magnetic ordering in strongly correlated materials containing local moments is a subtle problem.[1] Usually the number of conduction electrons matches or exceeds the number of moments, and a Kondo-screened heavy Fermi liquid develops at low temperatures.[2] Changing the pressure, magnetic field, or chemical doping can displace this heavy Fermi liquid in favor of a magnetically ordered state.[3,4] Here we report the discovery of a version of such a `Kondo lattice' material, YbIr$_3$Si$_7$, in which the number of free charge carriers is much less than the number of local moments. This leads to `Kondo exhaustion':[5] the electrical conductivity tends to zero at low temperatures as all the free carriers are consumed in the formation of Kondo singlets. This effect coexists with antiferromagnetic long-range order, with a N\'eel temperature $T\rm_N = 4.1\,{\rm K}$. Furthermore, the material shows conductive surface states with potential topological nature, and thus presents an exciting topic for future investigations.

CeIr$_3$Ge$_7$ is an antiferromagnetic metal with a remarkably low ordering temperature $T_{\rm N}$ = 0.63 K, while most Ce-based magnets order between 2 and 15 K. Thermodynamic and transport properties as a function of magnetic field or pressure do not show signatures of Kondo correlations, interaction competition, or frustration, as had been observed in a few antiferromagnets with comparably low or lower $T_{\rm N}$. The averaged Weiss temperature measured below 10 K is comparable to $T_{\rm N}$ suggesting that the RKKY exchange coupling is very weak in this material. The unusually low $T_{\rm N}$ in CeIr$_3$Ge$_7$ can therefore be attributed to the large Ce-Ce bond length of about 5.7 {\AA}, which is about 1.5 {\AA} larger than in the most Ce-based intermetallic systems., Comment: 4 figures

Inelastic neutron scattering experiments have been conducted to investigate the semimetal system Yb$_3$Ir$_4$Ge$_{13}$. No clear crystal-field-split levels were observed up to an excitation energy of 60 meV, while a magnetic excitation appears at low energy below approximately 3 meV. This excitation shows a short spatial correlation, and an energy spectrum is reproduced by an imaginary part of generalized magnetic susceptibility on the basis of a damped harmonic oscillator model. The magnetic excitation emerges simultaneously with an anomalous electrical-resistivity enhancement below 20 K. The close relationship between the magnetic and transport behaviors evidences that the semimetal carriers are scattered by magnetic fluctuation dominated by the Yb $4f$ state., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

Sharp magnetization switching and large magnetoresistance were previously discovered in single crystals of 2H-Fe$_x$TaS$_2$ and attributed to the Fe superstructure and its defects. We report similar sharp switching in 1T-Fe$_x$TiS$_2$ ($0.086\;{\leq}\;x\;{\leq}0.703$) and the discovery of large magnetoresistance. The switching field $H_s$ and magnetoresistance are similar to 2H-Fe$_x$TaS$_2$, with a larger than expected bowtie magnetoresistance and a sharp hysteresis loop. Despite previous reports, electron diffraction shows only the $\sqrt{3}{\times}\sqrt{3}$ superstructure in 1T-Fe$_x$TiS$_2$. The Curie and Weiss temperatures remain roughly constant below $x~\sim~1/3$ before monotonically increasing for higher x. By contrast, the switching field and magnetoresistance reach a maximum where defects in the superstructure exist, approach a minimum near perfect superstructures, and remain constant above $x~\sim~ 0.4$. Additionally, an increase in $H_s$ with annealing time is reported. Glassy behavior is shown to coexist within the ferromagnetic state in 1T-Fe$_x$TiS$_2$ for compositions between $0.1$ and $0.703$. A simple model captures the essential phenomenology and explains most similarities and differences between 1T-Fe$_x$TiS$_2$ and 2H-Fe$_x$TaS$_2$, and provides insights into other magnetically intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides.

The magnetic field dependence of low temperature specific heat in YNi2B2C was measured and analyzed using various pairing order parameters. At zero magnetic field, the two-gap model which has been successfully applied to MgB2 and the point-node model, appear to describe the superconducting gap function of YNi2B2C better than other models based on the isotropic s-wave, the d-wave line nodes, or the s+g wave. The two energy gaps, delta_L=2.67 meV and delta_S=1.19 meV are obtained. The observed nonlinear field dependence of electronic specific heat coefficient, gamma(H)~H0.47, is quantitatively close to gamma(H)~H0.5 expected for nodal superconductivity or can be qualitatively explained using two-gap scenario. Furthermore, the positive curvature in Hc2(T) near Tc is qualitatively similar to that in the other two-gap superconductor MgB2., Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Physical Review B

The following two models were combined to simultaneously predict CO2 and H2O gas exchange at the leaf scale of Populus euphratica: a Farquhar et al. type biochemical sub-model of photosynthesis (Farquhar et al., 1980) and a Ball et al. type stomatal conductance sub-model (Ball et al., 1987). The photosynthesis parameters [including maximum carboxylation rate allowed by ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) carboxylation rate (Vcmax), potential light-saturated electron transport rate (Jmax), triose phosphate utilization (TPU) and day respiration (Rd)] were determined by using the genetic algorithm (GA) method based on A/Ci data. Values of Vcmax and Jmax standardized at 25 °C were 75.09±1.36 (mean ± standard error), 117.27±2.47, respectively. The stomatal conductance sub-model was calibrated independently. Prediction of net photosynthesis by the coupled model agreed well with the validation data, but the model tended to underestimate transpiration rates. Overall, the combined model generally captured the diurnal patterns of CO2 and H2O exchange resulting from variation in temperature and irradiation.

dc and ac magnetization measurements were performed on single-crystal Cu2OSeO3 under magnetic field (H) and hydrostatic pressure (P) conditions. Increasing H shifts the ferrimagnetic transition observed at T-C similar to 60 K to a higher-temperature region. Moreover, the T-C increases linearly and magnetization is enhanced with P. Features of the ladder in the M-vs-H curve or the peak in the dM/dH-vs-H curve are observed at H-SF similar to 0.5 kOe, suggesting a competing ordered state under magnetic fields below T-C. Remarkably, a second shoulder is observed at similar to 1 kOe in the dM/dH-vs-H curve, revealing another metastable spin-ordered state in Cu2OSeO3. This state is retained and enhanced by applying pressure. As H rises to 55 T, no further slope changes in the M-H curve are observed. These magnetic properties indicate a complex spin orientation in the geometrically spin-frustrated system Cu2OSeO3.

To resolve the discrepancies of the superconducting order parameter in quasi-two-dimensional NbSe2, comprehensive specific-heat measurements have been carried out. By analyzing both the zero-field and mixed-state data with magnetic fields perpendicular (H perpendicular to c) to and parallel (H parallel to c) to the c axis of the crystal and using the two-gap model, we conclude that (1) more than one energy scale of the order parameter is required for superconducting NbSe2 due to the thermodynamic consistency; (2) Delta(L)=1.26 meV and Delta(S)=0.73 meV are obtained; (3) N-S(0)/N(0)=11%-20%; (4) the observation of the kink in gamma(H) curve suggests that the two-gap scenario is more favorable than the anisotropic s-wave model to describe the gap structure of NbSe2; and (5) Delta(S) is more isotropic and has a three-dimensional-like feature and is located either on the Se or the bonding Nb Fermi sheets.