Broadband enhancement of the magneto-optical activity of hybrid Au loaded Bi:YIG

We unravel the underlying near-field mechanism of the enhancement of the magneto-optical activity of bismuth-substituted yttrium iron garnet films (Bi:YIG) loaded with gold nanoparticles. The experimental results show that the embedded gold nanoparticles lead to a broadband enhancement of the magneto-optical activity with respect to the activity of the bare Bi:YIG films. Full vectorial near- and far-field simulations demonstrate that this broadband enhancement is the result of a magneto-optically enabled cross-talking of orthogonal localized plasmon resonances. Our results pave the way to the on-demand design of the magneto-optical properties of hybrid magneto-plasmonic circuitry.Comment: 6 Pages, 3 Figure

THz emission from Fe/Pt spintronic emitters with L10_{0}-FePt alloyed interface

Recent developments in nanomagnetism and spintronics have enabled the use of ultrafast spin physics for terahertz (THz) emission. Spintronic THz emitters, consisting of ferromagnetic FM / non-magnetic (NM) thin film heterostructures, have demonstrated impressive properties for the use in THz spectroscopy and have great potential in scientific and industrial applications. In this work, we focus on the impact of the FM/NM interface on the THz emission by investigating Fe/Pt bilayers with engineered interfaces. In particular, we intentionally modify the Fe/Pt interface by inserting an ordered L1$_{0}$-FePt alloy interlayer. Subsequently, we establish that a Fe/L1$_{0}$-FePt (2\,nm)/Pt configuration is significantly superior to a Fe/Pt bilayer structure, regarding THz emission amplitude. The latter depends on the extent of alloying on either side of the interface. The unique trilayer structure opens new perspectives in terms of material choices for the next generation of spintronic THz emitters

Spin current shot noise as a probe of interactions in mesoscopic systems

It is shown that the spin resolved current shot noise can probe attractive or repulsive interactions in mesoscopic systems. This is illustrated in two physical situations : i) a normal-superconducting junction where the spin current noise is found to be zero, and ii) a single electron transistor (SET), where the spin current noise is found to be Poissonian. Repulsive interactions may also lead to weak attractive correlations (bunching of opposite spins) in conditions far from equilibrium. Spin current shot noise can be used to measure the spin relaxation time $T_1$, and a set-up is proposed in a quantum dot geometry.Comment: 5 pages, 4 Figures, revised version, added reference

Spintronics: Fundamentals and applications

Spintronics, or spin electronics, involves the study of active control and manipulation of spin degrees of freedom in solid-state systems. This article reviews the current status of this subject, including both recent advances and well-established results. The primary focus is on the basic physical principles underlying the generation of carrier spin polarization, spin dynamics, and spin-polarized transport in semiconductors and metals. Spin transport differs from charge transport in that spin is a nonconserved quantity in solids due to spin-orbit and hyperfine coupling. The authors discuss in detail spin decoherence mechanisms in metals and semiconductors. Various theories of spin injection and spin-polarized transport are applied to hybrid structures relevant to spin-based devices and fundamental studies of materials properties. Experimental work is reviewed with the emphasis on projected applications, in which external electric and magnetic fields and illumination by light will be used to control spin and charge dynamics to create new functionalities not feasible or ineffective with conventional electronics.Comment: invited review, 36 figures, 900+ references; minor stylistic changes from the published versio

Aberrant Herpesvirus-Induced Polyadenylation Correlates With Cellular Messenger RNA Destruction

Inhibition of host cell gene expression by the human herpesvirus KSHV occurs via a novel mechanism involving polyadenylation-linked RNA turnover

Livestock 2.0 – genome editing for fitter, healthier, and more productive farmed animals

Abstract The human population is growing, and as a result we need to produce more food whilst reducing the impact of farming on the environment. Selective breeding and genomic selection have had a transformational impact on livestock productivity, and now transgenic and genome-editing technologies offer exciting opportunities for the production of fitter, healthier and more-productive livestock. Here, we review recent progress in the application of genome editing to farmed animal species and discuss the potential impact on our ability to produce food