1,245 research outputs found
A mesoscopic ring as a XNOR gate: An exact result
We describe XNOR gate response in a mesoscopic ring threaded by a magnetic
flux . The ring is attached symmetrically to two semi-infinite
one-dimensional metallic electrodes and two gate voltages, viz, and
, are applied in one arm of the ring which are treated as the inputs of
the XNOR gate. The calculations are based on the tight-binding model and the
Green's function method, which numerically compute the conductance-energy and
current-voltage characteristics as functions of the ring-to-electrode coupling
strength, magnetic flux and gate voltages. Our theoretical study shows that,
for a particular value of () (, the elementary
flux-quantum), a high output current (1) (in the logical sense) appears if both
the two inputs to the gate are the same, while if one but not both inputs are
high (1), a low output current (0) results. It clearly exhibits the XNOR gate
behavior and this aspect may be utilized in designing an electronic logic gate.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure
Constraining the long-term evolution of the slip rate for a major extensional fault system in the central Aegean, Greece, using thermochronology
The brittle/ductile transition is a major rheologic boundary in the crust yet little is known about how or if rates of tectonic processes are influenced by this boundary. In this study we examine the slip history of the large-scale Naxos/Paros extensional fault system (NPEFS), Cyclades, Greece, by comparing published slip rates for the ductile crust with new thermochronological constraints on slip rates in the brittle regime. Based on apatite and zircon fission-track (AFT and ZFT) and (U–Th)/He dating we observe variable slip rates across the brittle/ductile transition on Naxos. ZFT and AFT ages range from 11.8 ± 0.8 to 9.7 ± 0.8 Ma and 11.2 ± 1.6 to 8.2 ± 1.2 Ma and (U–Th)/He zircon and apatite ages are between 10.4 ± 0.4 to 9.2 ± 0.3 Ma and 10.7 ± 1.0 to 8.9 ± 0.6 Ma, respectively. On Paros, ZFT and AFT ages range from 13.1 ± 1.4 Ma to 11.1 ± 1.0 Ma and 12.7 ± 2.8 Ma to 10.5 ± 2.0 Ma while the (U–Th)/He zircon ages are slightly younger between 8.3 ± 0.4 Ma and 9.8 ± 0.3 Ma. All ages consistently decrease northwards in the direction of hanging wall transport. Most of our new thermochronological results and associated thermal modeling more strongly support the scenario of an identical fault dip and a constant or slightly accelerating slip rate of 6–8 km Myr− 1 on the NPEFS across the brittle/ductile transition. Even the intrusion of a large granodiorite body into the narrowing fault zone at 12 Ma on Naxos does not seem to have affected the thermal structure of the area in a way that would significantly disturb the slip rate. The data also show that the NPEFS accomplished a minimum total offset of 50 km between 16 and 8 Ma
Possible Jurassic age for part of Rakaia Terrane: implications for tectonic development of the Torlesse accretionary prism
Greywacke sandstone and argillite beds comprising Rakaia Terrane (Torlesse Complex) in mid Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, are widely regarded as Late Triassic (Norian) in age based on the occurrence of Torlessia trace fossils, Monotis, and other taxa. This paleontological age assignment is tested using published 40Ar/39Ar mica and U-Pb zircon ages for these rocks and published and new zircon fission track (FT) ages. The youngest U-Pb zircon ages in the Rakaia Terrane rocks in mid Canterbury are Norian, whereas 10-20% of the 40Ar/39Ar muscovite ages are younger than Norian. Numerical modelling of these mica ages shows that they cannot have originated from partial thermal overprinting in the Torlesse prism if the thermal maximum was short-lived and early in the prism history (210-190 Ma), as commonly inferred for these rocks. The young component of mica ages could, however, be explained by extended residence (200-100 Ma) at 265-290deg.C in the prism. Early Jurassic (c. 189 Ma) zircon FT ages for sandstone beds from Arthur's Pass, the Rakaia valley, and the Hermitage (Mt Cook) are interpreted not to have experienced maximum temperatures above 210deg.C, and therefore cannot have been reduced as a result of partial annealing in the Torlesse prism. This is based on identification of a fossil Cretaceous, zircon FT, partial annealing zone in low-grade schists to the west, and the characteristics of the age data. The Early Jurassic zircon FT ages and the young component of 40Ar/39Ar mica ages are regarded therefore as detrital ages reflecting cooling in the source area, and constrain the maximum depositional age of parts of the Rakaia Terrane in mid Canterbury. The zircon FT data also show the initiation (c. 100 Ma) of marked and widespread Late Cretaceous cooling of Rakaia Terrane throughout Canterbury, which is attributed to uplift and erosion of inboard parts of the Torlesse prism due to continuing subduction accretion at its toe.
The critical wedge concept is proposed as a new framework for investigating the development of the Torlesse Complex. The Rakaia Terrane may have formed the core of an accretionary wedge imbricated against the New Zealand margin during the Middle or Late Jurassic. Late Jurassic nonmarine sediments (e.g., Clent Hills Formation) accumulated upon the inner parts of the prism as it enlarged, emerged, and continued to be imbricated. Exhumation of Otago Schist from c. 135 Ma may mark the development of a balance (steady state) between sediments entering the prism at the toe and material exiting at the inboard margin. The enlargement of the area of exhumation to all of Canterbury from c. 100 Ma may reflect a dynamic response to widening of the prism through the accretion of Cretaceous sediments. The model of a dynamic critical wedge may help to explain the various expressions of the Rangitata Orogeny
New Universality Class of Quantum Criticality in Ce- and Yb-based Heavy Fermions
A new universality class of quantum criticality emerging in itinerant
electron systems with strong local electron correlations is discussed. The
quantum criticality of a Ce- or Yb-valence transition gives us a unified
explanation for unconventional criticality commonly observed in heavy fermion
metals such as YbRh2Si2 and \beta-YbAlB4, YbCu5-xAlx, and CeIrIn5. The key
origin is due to the locality of the critical valence fluctuation mode emerging
near the quantum critical end point of the first-order valence transition,
which is caused by strong electron correlations for f electrons. Wider
relevance of this new criticality and important future measurements to uncover
its origin are also discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure
Angle-resolved photoemission study of untwinned PrBaCuO: undoped CuO plane and doped CuO chain
We have performed an angle-resolved photoemission study on untwinned
PrBaCuO, which has low resistivity but does not show
superconductivity. We have observed a dispersive feature with a band maximum
around (/2,/2), indicating that this band is derived from the undoped
CuO plane. We have observed another dispersive band exhibiting
one-dimensional character, which we attribute to signals from the doped CuO
chain. The overall band dispersion of the one-dimensional band agrees with the
prediction of model calculation with parameters relevant to cuprates
except that the intensity near the Fermi level is considerably suppressed in
the experiment.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figure
Angle-resolved photoemission study of insulating and metallic Cu-O chains in PrBaCuO and PrBaCuO
We compare the angle-resolved photoemission spectra of the hole-doped Cu-O
chains in PrBaCuO (Pr123) and in PrBaCuO (Pr124).
While, in Pr123, a dispersive feature from the chain takes a band maximum at
(momentum along the chain) and loses its spectral weight
around the Fermi level, it reaches the Fermi level at in
Pr124. Although the chains in Pr123 and Pr124 are approximately 1/4-filled,
they show contrasting behaviors: While the chains in Pr123 have an instability
to charge ordering, those in Pr124 avoid it and show an interesting spectral
feature of a metallic coupled-chain system.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to be published in PR
Radionuclide biological half-life values for terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
The equilibrium concentration ratio is typically the parameter used to estimate organism activity concentrations within wildlife dose assessment tools. Whilst this is assumed to be fit for purpose, there are scenarios such as accidental or irregular, fluctuating, releases from licensed facilities when this might not be the case. In such circumstances, the concentration ratio approach may under- or over-estimate radiation exposure depending upon the time since the release. To carrying out assessments for such releases, a dynamic approach is needed. The simplest and most practical option is representing the uptake and turnover processes by first-order kinetics, for which organism- and element-specific biological half-life data are required. In this paper we describe the development of a freely available international database of radionuclide biological half-life values. The database includes 1907 entries for terrestrial, freshwater, riparian and marine organisms. Biological half-life values are reported for 52 elements across a range of wildlife groups (marine = 9, freshwater = 10, terrestrial = 7 and riparian = 3 groups). Potential applications and limitations of the database are discussed
Systematic study of trace radioactive impurities in candidate construction materials for EXO-200
The Enriched Xenon Observatory (EXO) will search for double beta decays of
136Xe. We report the results of a systematic study of trace concentrations of
radioactive impurities in a wide range of raw materials and finished parts
considered for use in the construction of EXO-200, the first stage of the EXO
experimental program. Analysis techniques employed, and described here, include
direct gamma counting, alpha counting, neutron activation analysis, and
high-sensitivity mass spectrometry.Comment: 32 pages, 6 figures. Expanded introduction, added missing table
entry. Accepted for publication in Nucl. Instrum. Meth.
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