418 research outputs found
Charge dynamics in two-electron quantum dots
We investigate charge dynamics in a two-electron double quantum dot. The
quantum dot is manipulated by using a time-dependent external voltage that
induces charge oscillations between the dots. We study the dependence of the
charge dynamics on the external magnetic field and on the periodicity of the
external potential. We find that for suitable parameter values, it is possible
to induce both one-electron and two-electron oscillations between the dots.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures, proceedings of the Quantum Dot 2010 conferenc
The Effect of a Magnetic Field on the Acoustoelectric current in a Narrow Channel
The effect of a perpendicular magnetic field on the quantized current induced
by a surface acoustic wave in a quasi-1D channel is studied. The channel has
been produced experimentally in a GaAs heterostructure by shallow etching
techniques and by the application of a negative gate voltage to Schottky split
gates. Commensurability oscillations of the quantized current in this
constriction have been observed in the interval of current between quantized
plateaus. The results can be understood in terms of a moving quantum dot with
the electron in the dot tunneling into the adjacent two-dimensional region. The
goal is to explain qualitatively the mechanism for the steplike nature of the
acoustoelectric current as a function of gate voltage and the oscillations when
a magnetic field is applied. A transfer Hamiltonian formalism is employed.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure
Acoustoelectric effects in quantum constrictions
A dc current induced in a quantum constriction by a traveling acoustic wave
(or by non-equilibrium ballistic phonons) is considered. We show that in many
important situations the effect is originated from acoustically-induced
scattering between the propagating and reflecting states in the constriction.
Two particular regimes corresponding to relatively high and low acoustic
frequencies are discussed. In the first regime, the acoustoelectric effect in a
smooth constriction can be understood by semi-classical considerations based on
local conservation laws. For the low frequency regime, we show that the
acousto-conductance is closely related to the zero field conductance. The
qualitative considerations are confirmed by numerical calculations both for
smooth and abrupt channels.Comment: 10 pages, RevTeX, 9 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Giant Oscillations of Acoustoelectric Current in a Quantum Channel
A theory of d.c. electric current induced in a quantum channel by a
propagating surface acoustic wave (acoustoelectric current) is worked out. The
first observation of the acoustoelectric current in such a situation was
reported by J. M. Shilton et al., Journ. Phys. C (to be published). The authors
observed a very specific behavior of the acoustoelectric current in a
quasi-one-dimensional channel defined in a GaAs-AlGaAs heterostructure by a
split-gate depletion -- giant oscillations as a function of the gate voltage.
Such a behavior was qualitatively explained by an interplay between the
energy-momentum conservation law for the electrons in the upper transverse mode
with a finite temperature splitting of the Fermi level. In the present paper, a
more detailed theory is developed, and important limiting cases are considered.Comment: 7 pages, 2 Postscript figures, RevTeX 3.
Non-adiabaticity and single-electron transport driven by surface acoustic waves
Single-electron transport driven by surface acoustic waves (SAW) through a
narrow constriction, formed in two-dimensional electron gas, is studied
theoretically. Due to long-range Coulomb interaction, the tunneling coupling
between the electron gas and the moving minimum of the SAW-induced potential
rapidly decays with time. As a result, nonadiabaticiy sets a limit for the
accuracy of the quantization of acoustoelectric current
Quantum Transport in Molecular Rings and Chains
We study charge transport driven by deformations in molecular rings and
chains. Level crossings and the associated Longuet-Higgins phase play a central
role in this theory. In molecular rings a vanishing cycle of shears pinching a
gap closure leads, generically, to diverging charge transport around the ring.
We call such behavior homeopathic. In an infinite chain such a cycle leads to
integral charge transport which is independent of the strength of deformation.
In the Jahn-Teller model of a planar molecular ring there is a distinguished
cycle in the space of uniform shears which keeps the molecule in its manifold
of ground states and pinches level crossing. The charge transport in this cycle
gives information on the derivative of the hopping amplitudes.Comment: Final version. 26 pages, 8 fig
Acoustoelectric effect in a finite-length ballistic quantum channel
The dc current induced by a coherent surface acoustic wave (SAW) of wave
vector q in a ballistic channel of length L is calculated. The current contains
two contributions, even and odd in q. The even current exists only in a
asymmetric channel, when the electron reflection coefficients r_1 and r_2 at
both channel ends are different. The direction of the even current does not
depend on the direction of the SAW propagation, but is reversed upon
interchanging r_1 and r_2. The direction of the odd current is correlated with
the direction of the SAW propagation, but is insensitive to the interchange of
r_1 and r_2. It is shown that both contributions to the current are non zero
only when the electron reflection coefficients at the channel ends are energy
dependent. The current exhibits geometric oscillations as function of qL. These
oscillations are the hallmark of the coherence of the SAW and are completely
washed out when the current is induced by a flux of non-coherent phonons. The
results are compared with those obtained previously by different methods and
under different assumptions.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure
Loss of the Ecdysteroid-Inducible E75A Orphan Nuclear Receptor Uncouples Molting from Metamorphosis in Drosophila
AbstractIsoform-specific null mutations were used to define the functions of three orphan members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, E75A, E75B, and E75C, encoded by the E75 early ecdysteroid-inducible gene. E75B mutants are viable and fertile, while E75C mutants die as adults. In contrast, E75A mutants have a reduced ecdysteroid titer during larval development, resulting in developmental delays, developmental arrests, and molting defects. Remarkably, some E75A mutant second instar larvae display a heterochronic phenotype in which they induce genes specific to the third instar and pupariate without undergoing a molt. We propose that ecdysteroid-induced E75A expression defines a feed-forward pathway that amplifies or maintains the ecdysteroid titer during larval development, ensuring proper temporal progression through the life cycle
Values and preferences for hepatitis C self-testing among people who inject drugs in Kyrgyzstan
Background: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who inject drugs (PWID) continues to be a major public-health burden in this highly stigmatised population. To halt transmission of HCV, rapid HCV self-testing kits represent an innovative approach that could enable PWID to know their HCV status and seek treatment. As no HCV test has yet been licenced for self-administration, it is crucial to obtain knowledge around the factors that may deter or foster delivery of HCV self-testing among PWID in resource-constrained countries. Methods: A qualitative study to assess values and preferences relating to HCV self-testing was conducted in mid-2020 among PWID in the Bishkek and Chui regions of Kyrgyzstan. Forty-seven PWID participated in 15 individual interviews, two group interviews (n = 12) and one participatory action-research session (n = 20). Responses were analysed using a thematic analysis approach with 4 predefined themes: awareness of HCV and current HCV testing experiences, and acceptability and service delivery preferences for HCV self-testing. Informants’ insights were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. This research received local ethics approval. Results: Awareness of HCV is low and currently PWID prefer community-based HCV testing due to stigma encountered in other healthcare settings. HCV self-testing would be accepted and appreciated by PWID. Acceptability may increase if HCV self-testing: was delivered in pharmacies or by harm reduction associations; was free of charge; was oral rather than blood-based; included instructions with images and clear information on the test’s accuracy; and was distributed alongside pre- and post-testing counselling with linkage to confirmatory testing support. Conclusions: HCV self-testing could increase awareness of and more frequent testing for HCV infection among PWID in Kyrgyzstan. It is recommended that peer-driven associations are involved in the delivery of any HCV self-testing. Furthermore, efforts should be maximised to end discrimination against PWID at the healthcare institutions responsible for confirmatory HCV testing and treatment provision. © 2021, The Author(s)
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