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1. X-ray polarimetry of X-ray pulsar X Persei: another orthogonal rotator?

   https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad1961  

   Mushtukov, A A ; Tsygankov, S S ; Poutanen, J ; Doroshenko, V ; Salganik, A ; Costa, E ; Marco, A Di ; Heyl, J ; Monaca, F La ; Lutovinov, A A ; et al ( July 2023 , Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society)

   ABSTRACT X Persei is a persistent low-luminosity X-ray pulsar of period of ≈ 835 s in a Be binary system. The field strength at the neutron star surface is not known precisely, but indirect signs indicate a magnetic field above 1013 G, which makes the object one of the most magnetized known X-ray pulsars. Here we present the results of observations X Persei performed with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). The X-ray polarization signal was found to be strongly dependent on the spin phase of the pulsar. The energy-averaged polarization degree in 3–8 keV band varied from several to ∼20 per cent over the pulse with a phase dependence resembling the pulse profile. The polarization angle shows significant variation and makes two complete revolutions during the pulse period, resulting in nearly nil pulse-phase averaged polarization. Applying the rotating vector model to the IXPE data we obtain the estimates for the rotation axis inclination and its position angle on the sky, as well as for the magnetic obliquity. The derived inclination is close to the orbital inclination, reported earlier for X Persei. The polarimetric data imply a large angle between the rotation and magnetic dipole axes, which is similar to the result reported recently for the X-ray pulsar GRO J1008−57. After eliminating the effect of polarization angle rotation over the pulsar phase using the best-fitting rotating vector model, the strong dependence of the polarization degree with energy was discovered, with its value increasing from 0 at ∼2 keV to 30per cent at 8 keV. 

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2. On the Interpretation of d o ( x )do(x)

   https://doi.org/10.1515/jci-2019-2002  

   Pearl, Judea ( April 2019 , Journal of Causal Inference)

   Abstract This paper provides empirical interpretation of the do(x) operator when applied to non-manipulable variables such as race, obesity, or cholesterol level. We view do(x) as an ideal intervention that provides valuable information on the effects of manipulable variables and is thus empirically testable. We draw parallels between this interpretation and ways of enabling machines to learn effects of untried actions from those tried. We end with the conclusion that researchers need not distinguish manipulable from non-manipulable variables; both types are equally eligible to receive the do(x) operator and to produce useful information for decision makers. 

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3. High Curie temperature ferromagnetic structures of (Sb2Te3)1−x(MnSb2Te4)x with x = 0.7–0.8

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34585-y  

   Levy, Ido ; Forrester, Candice ; Ding, Xiaxin ; Testelin, Christophe ; Krusin-Elbaum, Lia ; Tamargo, Maria C. ( December 2023 , Scientific Reports)

   Abstract Magnetic topological materials are promising for realizing novel quantum physical phenomena. Among these, bulk Mn-rich MnSb 2 Te 4 is ferromagnetic due to Mn Sb antisites and has relatively high Curie temperatures (T C ), which is attractive for technological applications. We have previously reported the growth of materials with the formula (Sb 2 Te 3 ) 1−x (MnSb 2 Te 4 ) x , where x varies between 0 and 1. Here we report on their magnetic and transport properties. We show that the samples are divided into three groups based on the value of x (or the percent septuple layers within the crystals) and their corresponding T C values. Samples that contain x < 0.7 or x > 0.9 have a single T C value of 15–20 K and 20–30 K, respectively, while samples with 0.7 < x < 0.8 exhibit two T C values, one (T C1 ) at ~ 25 K and the second (T C2 ) reaching values above 80 K, almost twice as high as any reported value to date for these types of materials. Structural analysis shows that samples with 0.7 < x < 0.8 have large regions of only SLs, while other regions have isolated QLs embedded within the SL lattice. We propose that the SL regions give rise to a T C1 of ~ 20 to 30 K, and regions with isolated QLs are responsible for the higher T C2 values. Our results have important implications for the design of magnetic topological materials having enhanced properties. 

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4. Synthesis, crystal and electronic structure of BaLixCd13–x (x ≈ 2)

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2022.991625  

   Peng, Wanyue ; Baranets, Sviatoslav ; Bobev, Svilen ( September 2022 , Frontiers in Chemistry)

   A new ternary phase has been synthesized and structurally characterized. BaLi x Cd 13– x ( x ≈ 2) adopts the cubic NaZn 13 structure type (space group Fm 3 ¯ c , Pearson symbol cF 112) with unit cell parameter a = 13.5548 (10) Å. Structure refinements from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data demonstrate that the Li atoms are exclusively found at the centers of the Cd 12 -icosahedra. Since a cubic BaCd 13 phase does not exist, and the tetragonal BaCd 11 is the most Cd-rich phase in the Ba–Cd system, BaLi x Cd 13– x ( x ≈ 2) has to be considered as a true ternary compound. As opposed to the typical electron count of ca. 27 e -per formula unit for many known compounds with the NaZn 13 structure type, BaLi x Cd 13– x ( x ≈ 2) only has ca. 26 e -, suggesting that both electronic and geometric factors are at play. Finally, the bonding characteristics of the cubic BaLi x Cd 13– x ( x ≈ 2) and tetragonal BaCd 11 are investigated using the TB-LMTO-ASA method, showing metallic-like behavior. 

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5. Subresultants of (x−α) and (x−β) , Jacobi polynomials and complexity

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsc.2019.10.003  

   Bostan, A. ; Krick, T. ; Szanto, A. ; Valdettaro, M. ( November 2020 , Journal of Symbolic Computation)