Thermoelectric effects in graphene with local spin-orbit interaction

We investigate the transport properties of a graphene layer in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction. Quite generally, spin-orbit interactions induce spin splittings and modifications of the graphene bandstructure. We calculate within the scattering approach the linear electric and thermoelectric responses of a clean sample when the Rashba coupling is localized around a finite region. We find that the thermoelectric conductance, unlike its electric counterpart, is quite sensitive to external modulations of the Fermi energy. Therefore, our results suggest that thermocurrent measurements may serve as a useful tool to detect nonhomogeneous spin-orbit interactions present in a graphene-based device. Furthermore, we find that the junction thermopower is largely dominated by an intrinsic term independently of the spin-orbit potential scattering. We discuss the possibility of cancelling the intrinsic thermopower by resolving the Seebeck coefficient in the subband space. This causes unbalanced populations of electronic modes which can be tuned with external gate voltages or applied temperature biases.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures. The Eq.(27) and the definition of charge thermopower have been correcte

Coulomb-blockade effect in nonlinear mesoscopic capacitors

We consider an interacting quantum dot working as a coherent source of single electrons. The dot is tunnel coupled to a reservoir and capacitively coupled to a gate terminal with an applied ac potential. At low frequencies, this is the quantum analog of the RC circuit with a purely dynamical response. We investigate the quantized dynamics as a consequence of ac pulses with large amplitude. Within a Keldysh-Green function formalism we derive the time-dependent current in the Coulomb blockade regime. Our theory thus extends previous models that considered either noninteracting electrons in nonlinear response or interacting electrons in the linear regime. We prove that the electron emission and absorption resonances undergo a splitting when the charging energy is larger than the tunnel broadening. For very large charging energies, the additional peaks collapse and the original resonances are recovered, though with a reduced amplitude. Quantization of the charge emitted by the capacitor is reduced due to Coulomb repulsion and additional plateaus arise. Additionally, we discuss the differential capacitance and resistance as a function of time. We find that to leading order in driving frequency the current can be expressed as a weighted sum of noninteracting currents shifted by the charging energy.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures. Minor changes. Published versio

Seebeck effects in two-dimensional spin transistors

We consider a spin-orbit-coupled two-dimensional electron system under the influence of a thermal gradient externally applied to two attached reservoirs. We discuss the generated voltage bias (charge Seebeck effect), spin bias (spin Seebeck effect) and magnetization-dependent thermopower (magneto-Seebeck effect) in the ballistic regime of transport at linear response. We find that the charge thermopower is an oscillating function of both the spin-orbit strength and the quantum well width. We also observe that it is always negative for normal leads. We carefully compare the exact results for the linear response coefficients and a Sommerfeld approximation. When the contacts are ferromagnetic, we calculate the spin-resolved Seebeck coefficient for parallel and antiparallel magnetization configuration. Remarkably, the thermopower can change its sign by tuning the Fermi energy. This effect disappears when the Rashba coupling is absent. Additionally, we determine the magneto-Seebeck ratio, which shows dramatic changes in the presence of a the Rashba potential.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures. Minor changes. Published versio

Synthesis, crystal structure and characterization of 3-thiophene aldehyde thiosemicarbazone and its complexes with cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II)

The reaction of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) chlorides and bromides with 3-thiophene aldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3TTSCH) leads to the formation of a series of new complexes: [Co(3TTSC)2], [Ni(3TTSC)2], [CuCl(3TTSC)]2, [CuBr(3TTSC)]2 and [CuBr2(3TTSCH)]. The crystal structures of the free ligand and of the compound [Ni(3TTSC)2] have been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. For all these complexes, the central ion is coordinated through the sulfur and the azomethine nitrogen atom of the thiosemicarbazone. [Co(3TTSC)2], [Ni(3TTSC)2] and [CuBr2(3TTSCH)] are mononuclear species, while [CuCl(3TTSC)]2 and [CuBr(3TTSC)]2 are binuclear complexes

Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient with erythroblastopenia and thymoma: Reactivation after topical corticosteroids

We report a 69-year-old female with erythroblastopenia and thymoma who developed lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) after thymectomy, 2 months after the initiation of therapy with methylprednisolone. Control of mucocutaneous KS lesions was obtained with radiotherapy, interferon alfa-2b and withdrawal of systemic immunosuppressive therapy. Erosive oral lichen planus appeared later, and after therapy with topical corticosteroids a new lesion of KS developed that regressed after withdrawal of topical corticosteroids. The detection of HHV-8 only in lesional skin supports the hypothesis that this virus can trigger the development of KS lesions

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Isotopic tissue fractionation at bivalve Pinna nobilis, a non-invasive approach

Carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of muscle and mantle in Mediterranean endemic bivalve Pinna nobilis individuals have been analyzed to study tissue fractionation. Muscle tissue is enriched in both δ13C and δ15N compared to mantle on average 1.11 ‰ and 0.71 ‰, respectively. Analyses of mantle tissue do not involve sacrifice of individuals and are therefore proposed as a conservation tool in the study of P. nobilis

Annual cycle of 13C and 15N stable isotope signatures of adductor muscle at the bivalve Pinna nobilis

Pinna nobilis are efficient filter feeders bivalves and provide evidence of surrounding conditions. Individuals of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) have been sampled and isotopic values of δ13C and δ15N have been analyzed to study the annual cycle of the fan mussel in non-eutrophic waters. Values obtained in summer months are higher indicating the need to consider temporal shifts in stable isotope linked with trophic resources availabilit