Hairy black holes in cubic quasi-topological gravity

We construct a class of five dimensional black hole solutions to cubic quasi-topological gravity with conformal scalar hair and study their thermodynamics. We find these black holes provide the second example of black hole $\lambda$-lines: a line of second order (continuous) phase transitions, akin to the fluid/superfluid transition of $^4$He. Examples of isolated critical points are found for spherical black holes, marking the first in the literature to date. We also find various novel and interesting phase structures, including an isolated critical point occurring in conjunction with a double reentrant phase transition. The AdS vacua of the theory are studied, finding ghost-free configurations where the scalar field takes on a non-zero constant value, in notable contrast to the five dimensional Lovelock case.Comment: 29 pages, 12 figure

Self-similar Approximants of the Permeability in Heterogeneous Porous Media from Moment Equation Expansions

We use a mathematical technique, the self-similar functional renormalization, to construct formulas for the average conductivity that apply for large heterogeneity, based on perturbative expansions in powers of a small parameter, usually the log-variance $\sigma_Y^2$ of the local conductivity. Using perturbation expansions up to third order and fourth order in $\sigma_Y^2$ obtained from the moment equation approach, we construct the general functional dependence of the transport variables in the regime where $\sigma_Y^2$ is of order 1 and larger than 1. Comparison with available numerical simulations give encouraging results and show that the proposed method provides significant improvements over available expansions.Comment: Latex, 14 pages + 5 ps figure

Ultrafast-ultrafine probing of high-speed electrical waveforms using a scanning force microscope with photoconductive gating

Picosecond photoconductivity in low-temperature-grown GaAs (LT GaAs) has been used to provide temporal resolution both in rigid probes and in scanning force microscope probes. This article reviews the fabrication and use of such probes. 2.5 ps temporal resolution and few microvolts sensitivity are obtained at arbitrary points on circuits with a spatial definition of 100 nm. Rigid probes are tested in application to analogue and digital circuits. As an alternative to electron beam testing, scanning force probes are applied to in situ imaging and waveform measurement. Finally, the use of time-resolved waveform analysis with scanning-force microscopy probes with semiconductor laser sources is demonstrated.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43337/1/11082_2004_Article_BF00820152.pd

Floodplain Formation and Cottonwood Colonization Patterns on the Willamette River, Oregon, USA

3 p. Review produced for HC 441: Science Colloquium: Willamette River Environmental Health, Robert D. Clark Honors College, University of Oregon, Spring term, 2004

THz spectroscopy and source characterization by optoelectronic interferometry

We demonstrate a new type of THz optoelectronic interferometer, by fully characterizing a recently developed THz source to beyond 6 THz, and by measuring the absorption coefficient of high-resistivity GaAs from 1 to 5 THz. The two source THz interferometer is driven with two 4 mW beams of 60 fs dye-laser pulses and produces interferograms with exceptional signal-to-noise ratios.Peer reviewedElectrical and Computer Engineerin

Interferometric characterization of 160 fs far‐infrared light pulses

We report the first interferometric characterization of freely propagating, subpicosecond, far‐infrared (FIR) light pulses. FIR light was generated via short pulse photoexcitation of a semi‐insulating InP wafer. The half width of the intensity interferogram was 230 fs. The FIR light contained frequency components from 3 to 150 cm−1.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70362/2/APPLAB-59-8-893-1.pd