1,550 research outputs found
Earth observational research using multistage EOS-like data
This grant is funded as a part of a program in which both research and educational impact are intended. Research work under this grant is directed at the understanding and use of future hyperspectral data such as that from imaging spectrometers. Specifically, the objectives of the work are (1) to prepare suitable means for analyzing data from sensors which have large numbers of spectral bands, (2) to advance the fundamental understanding of the manner in which soils and vegetative materials reflect high spectral resolution optical wavelength radiation, and (3) to maximize the impact of the results on the educational community. Over the life of the grant, the work has thus involved basic Earth science research and information system technique understanding and development in a mutually supportive way, however, more recently it has become necessary to focus the work primarily on areas (1) and (3). During the last year, the level of effort on this grant has been reduced to half its previous value. We have also been advised that this grant will end with the current year, thus this will be the penultimate semiannual progress summary
Evidence of reduced surface electron-phonon scattering in the conduction band of Bi_{2}Se_{3} by non-equilibrium ARPES
The nature of the Dirac quasiparticles in topological insulators calls for a
direct investigation of the electron-phonon scattering at the \emph{surface}.
By comparing time-resolved ARPES measurements of the TI Bi_{2}Se_{3} with
different probing depths we show that the relaxation dynamics of the electronic
temperature of the conduction band is much slower at the surface than in the
bulk. This observation suggests that surface phonons are less effective in
cooling the electron gas in the conduction band.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
The momentum and photon energy dependence of the circular dichroic photoemission in the bulk Rashba semiconductors BiTeX (X = I, Br, Cl)
Bulk Rashba systems BiTeX (X = I, Br, Cl) are emerging as important
candidates for developing spintronics devices, because of the coexistence of
spin-split bulk and surface states, along with the ambipolar character of the
surface charge carriers. The need of studying the spin texture of strongly
spin-orbit coupled materials has recently promoted circular dichroic Angular
Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy (cd-ARPES) as an indirect tool to measure
the spin and the angular degrees of freedom. Here we report a detailed photon
energy dependent study of the cd-ARPES spectra in BiTeX (X = I, Br and Cl). Our
work reveals a large variation of the magnitude and sign of the dichroism.
Interestingly, we find that the dichroic signal modulates differently for the
three compounds and for the different spin-split states. These findings show a
momentum and photon energy dependence for the cd-ARPES signals in the bulk
Rashba semiconductor BiTeX (X = I, Br, Cl). Finally, the outcome of our
experiment indicates the important relation between the modulation of the
dichroism and the phase differences between the wave-functions involved in the
photoemission process. This phase difference can be due to initial or final
state effects. In the former case the phase difference results in possible
interference effects among the photo-electrons emitted from different atomic
layers and characterized by entangled spin-orbital polarized bands. In the
latter case the phase difference results from the relative phases of the
expansion of the final state in different outgoing partial waves.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Dispersion enhancement and damping by buoyancy driven flows in 2D networks of capillaries
The influence of a small relative density difference on the displacement of
two miscible liquids is studied experimentally in transparent 2D networks of
micro channels. Both stable displacements in which the denser fluid enters at
the bottom of the cell and displaces the lighter one and unstable displacements
in which the lighter fluid is injected at the bottom and displaces the denser
one are realized. Except at the lowest mean flow velocity U, the average
of the relative concentration satisfies a convection-dispersion
equation. The dispersion coefficient is studied as function of the relative
magnitude of fluid velocity and of the velocity of buoyancy driven fluid
motion. A model is suggested and its applicability to previous results obtained
in 3D media is discussed
Ramifications of Optical Pumping on the Interpretation of Time-Resolved Photoemission Experiments on Graphene
In pump-probe time and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (TR-ARPES)
experiments the presence of the pump pulse adds a new level of complexity to
the photoemission process in comparison to conventional ARPES. This is
evidenced by pump-induced vacuum space-charge effects and surface
photovoltages, as well as multiple pump excitations due to internal reflections
in the sample-substrate system. These processes can severely affect a correct
interpretation of the data by masking the out-of-equilibrium electron dynamics
intrinsic to the sample. In this study, we show that such effects indeed
influence TR-ARPES data of graphene on a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate. In
particular, we find a time- and laser fluence-dependent spectral shift and
broadening of the acquired spectra, and unambiguously show the presence of a
double pump excitation. The dynamics of these effects is slower than the
electron dynamics in the graphene sample, thereby permitting us to deconvolve
the signals in the time domain. Our results demonstrate that complex
pump-related processes should always be considered in the experimental setup
and data analysis.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
Ultrafast Dynamics of Massive Dirac Fermions in Bilayer Graphene
Bilayer graphene is a highly promising material for electronic and
optoelectronic applications since it is supporting massive Dirac fermions with
a tuneable band gap. However, no consistent picture of the gap's effect on the
optical and transport behavior has emerged so far, and it has been proposed
that the insulating nature of the gap could be compromised by unavoidable
structural defects, by topological in-gap states, or that the electronic
structure could be altogether changed by many-body effects. Here we directly
follow the excited carriers in bilayer graphene on a femtosecond time scale,
using ultrafast time- and angle-resolved photoemission. We find a behavior
consistent with a single-particle band gap. Compared to monolayer graphene, the
existence of this band gap leads to an increased carrier lifetime in the
minimum of the lowest conduction band. This is in sharp contrast to the second
sub-state of the conduction band, in which the excited electrons decay through
fast, phonon-assisted inter-band transitions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Two approaches to testing general relativity in the strong-field regime
Observations of compact objects in the electromagnetic spectrum and the
detection of gravitational waves from them can lead to quantitative tests of
the theory of general relativity in the strong-field regime following two very
different approaches. In the first approach, the general relativistic field
equations are modified at a fundamental level and the magnitudes of the
potential deviations are constrained by comparison with observations. In the
second approach, the exterior spacetimes of compact objects are parametrized in
a phenomenological way, the various parameters are measured observationally,
and the results are finally compared against the general relativistic
predictions. In this article, I discuss the current status of both approaches,
focusing on the lessons learned from a large number of recent investigations.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the conference New Developments in
Gravit
Competing Ultrafast Energy Relaxation Pathways in Photoexcited Graphene
For most optoelectronic applications of graphene a thorough understanding of
the processes that govern energy relaxation of photoexcited carriers is
essential. The ultrafast energy relaxation in graphene occurs through two
competing pathways: carrier-carrier scattering -- creating an elevated carrier
temperature -- and optical phonon emission. At present, it is not clear what
determines the dominating relaxation pathway. Here we reach a unifying picture
of the ultrafast energy relaxation by investigating the terahertz
photoconductivity, while varying the Fermi energy, photon energy, and fluence
over a wide range. We find that sufficiently low fluence ( 4
J/cm) in conjunction with sufficiently high Fermi energy (
0.1 eV) gives rise to energy relaxation that is dominated by carrier-carrier
scattering, which leads to efficient carrier heating. Upon increasing the
fluence or decreasing the Fermi energy, the carrier heating efficiency
decreases, presumably due to energy relaxation that becomes increasingly
dominated by phonon emission. Carrier heating through carrier-carrier
scattering accounts for the negative photoconductivity for doped graphene
observed at terahertz frequencies. We present a simple model that reproduces
the data for a wide range of Fermi levels and excitation energies, and allows
us to qualitatively assess how the branching ratio between the two distinct
relaxation pathways depends on excitation fluence and Fermi energy.Comment: Nano Letters 201
Advances in surface EMG signal simulation with analytical and numerical descriptions of the volume conductor
Surface electromyographic (EMG) signal modeling is important for signal interpretation, testing of processing algorithms, detection system design, and didactic purposes. Various surface EMG signal models have been proposed in the literature. In this study we focus on 1) the proposal of a method for modeling surface EMG signals by either analytical or numerical descriptions of the volume conductor for space-invariant systems, and 2) the development of advanced models of the volume conductor by numerical approaches, accurately describing not only the volume conductor geometry, as mainly done in the past, but also the conductivity tensor of the muscle tissue. For volume conductors that are space-invariant in the direction of source propagation, the surface potentials generated by any source can be computed by one-dimensional convolutions, once the volume conductor transfer function is derived (analytically or numerically). Conversely, more complex volume conductors require a complete numerical approach. In a numerical approach, the conductivity tensor of the muscle tissue should be matched with the fiber orientation. In some cases (e.g., multi-pinnate muscles) accurate description of the conductivity tensor may be very complex. A method for relating the conductivity tensor of the muscle tissue, to be used in a numerical approach, to the curve describing the muscle fibers is presented and applied to representatively investigate a bi-pinnate muscle with rectilinear and curvilinear fibers. The study thus propose an approach for surface EMG signal simulation in space invariant systems as well as new models of the volume conductor using numerical methods
Strong Gravitational Lensing of Quasi-Kerr Compact Object with Arbitrary Quadrupole Moments
We study the strong gravitational lensing on the equatorial plane of a
quasi-Kerr compact object with arbitrary quadrupole moments which can be used
to model the super-massive central object of the galaxy. We find that, when the
quadrupolar correction parameter takes the positive (negative) value, the
photon-sphere radius , the minimum impact parameter , the
coefficient , the relative magnitudes and the angular position
of the relativistic images are larger (smaller) than the
results obtained in the Kerr black hole, but the coefficient , the
deflection angle and the angular separation are smaller
(larger) than that in the Kerr black hole. These features may offer a way to
probe special properties for some rotating compact objects by the astronomical
instruments in the future.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in JHE
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