636 research outputs found
Nonlinear current-voltage characteristics due to quantum tunneling of phase slips in superconducting Nb nanowire networks
We report on the transport properties of an array of N about 30
interconnected Nb nanowires, grown by sputtering on robust porous Si
substrates. The analyzed system exhibits a broad resistive transition in zero
magnetic field, H, and highly nonlinear V(I) characteristics as a function of H
which can be both consistently described by quantum tunneling of phase slips.Comment: accepted for publication on Appl. Phys. Let
Experimental investigation of flux motion in exponentially shaped Josephson junctions
We report experimental and numerical analysis of expontentially shaped long
Josephson junctions with lateral current injection. Quasi-linear flux flow
branches are observed in the current-voltage characteristic of the junctions in
the absence of magnetic field. A strongly asymmetric response to an applied
magnetic field is also exhibited by the junctions. Experimental data are found
in agreement with numerical predictions and demonstrate the existence of a
geometry-induced potential experienced by the flux quanta in nonuniform width
junctions.Comment: 16 pg, 8 figures, Submitted in PRB March
Evidence of double-gap superconductivity in noncentrosymmetric Nb0.18Re0.82 single crystals
We combine point contact spectroscopy with specific heat measurements to probe the superconducting state in noncentrosymmetric Nb0.18Re0.82 single crystals. The conductance spectra clearly exhibit a two-peak structure that is well reproduced within a two-band model with isotropic gaps in the spectrum. Such an observation is confirmed by distinct features of the specific heat both at low temperatures and in the range approaching the transition to the normal state. The analyses provide convincing evidence that the two-gap superconducting pairing is a robust feature of Nb0.18Re0.82
Automatic quality control of cardiac MRI segmentation in large-scale population imaging
The trend towards large-scale studies including population imaging poses new challenges in terms of quality control (QC). This is a particular issue when automatic processing tools such as image segmentation methods are employed to derive quantitative measures or biomarkers for further analyses. Manual inspection and visual QC of each segmentation result is not feasible at large scale. However, it is important to be able to detect when an automatic method fails to avoid inclusion of wrong measurements into subsequent analyses which could otherwise lead to incorrect conclusions. To overcome this challenge, we explore an approach for predicting segmentation quality based on reverse classification accuracy, which enables us to discriminate between successful and failed cases. We validate this approach on a large cohort of cardiac MRI for which manual QC scores were available. Our results on 7,425 cases demonstrate the potential for fully automatic QC in the context of large-scale population imaging such as the UK Biobank Imaging Study
Relativistic graphene ratchet on semidisk Galton board
Using extensive Monte Carlo simulations we study numerically and analytically
a photogalvanic effect, or ratchet, of directed electron transport induced by a
microwave radiation on a semidisk Galton board of antidots in graphene. A
comparison between usual two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) and electrons in
graphene shows that ratchet currents are comparable at very low temperatures.
However, a large mean free path in graphene should allow to have a strong
ratchet transport at room temperatures. Also in graphene the ratchet transport
emerges even for unpolarized radiation. These properties open promising
possibilities for room temperature graphene based sensitive photogalvanic
detectors of microwave and terahertz radiation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Research done at Quantware
http://www.quantware.ups-tlse.fr/. More detailed analysis is give
Rectification and Phase Locking for Particles on Two Dimensional Periodic Substrates
We show that a novel rectification phenomena is possible for overdamped
particles interacting with a 2D periodic substrate and driven with a
longitudinal DC drive and a circular AC drive. As a function of DC amplitude,
the longitudinal velocity increases in a series of quantized steps with
transverse rectification occuring near these transitions. We present a simple
model that captures the quantization and rectification behaviors.Comment: 4 pages, 4 postscript figure
Right ventricular shape and function: cardiovascular magnetic resonance reference morphology and biventricular risk factor morphometrics in UK Biobank
Background
The associations between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and the biventricular geometry of the right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) have been difficult to assess, due to subtle and complex shape changes. We sought to quantify reference RV morphology as well as biventricular variations associated with common cardiovascular risk factors.
Methods
A biventricular shape atlas was automatically constructed using contours and landmarks from 4329 UK Biobank cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) studies. A subdivision surface geometric mesh was customized to the contours using a diffeomorphic registration algorithm, with automatic correction of slice shifts due to differences in breath-hold position. A reference sub-cohort was identified consisting of 630 participants with no CVD risk factors. Morphometric scores were computed using linear regression to quantify shape variations associated with four risk factors (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity and smoking) and three disease factors (diabetes, previous myocardial infarction and angina).
Results
The atlas construction led to an accurate representation of 3D shapes at end-diastole and end-systole, with acceptable fitting errors between surfaces and contours (average error less than 1.5 mm). Atlas shape features had stronger associations than traditional mass and volume measures for all factors (p < 0.005 for each). High blood pressure was associated with outward displacement of the LV free walls, but inward displacement of the RV free wall and thickening of the septum. Smoking was associated with a rounder RV with inward displacement of the RV free wall and increased relative wall thickness.
Conclusion
Morphometric relationships between biventricular shape and cardiovascular risk factors in a large cohort show complex interactions between RV and LV morphology. These can be quantified by z-scores, which can be used to study the morphological correlates of disease
Ternary Quarter Wavelength Coatings for Gravitational Wave Detector Mirrors: Design Optimization via Exhaustive Search
Multimaterial optical coatings are a promising viable option to meet the
challenging requirements (in terms of transmittance, absorbance and thermal
noise) of next generation gravitational wave detector mirrors. In this paper we
focus on ternary coatings consisting of quarter-wavelength thick layers, where
a third material (H') is added to the two presently in use, namely Silica (L)
and Titania-doped Tantala (H), featuring higher dielectric contrast (against
Silica), and lower thermal noise (compared to Titania-doped Tantala), but
higher optical losses. We seek the optimal material sequences, featuring
minimal thermal (Brownian) noise under prescribed transmittance and absorbance
constraints, by exhaustive simulation over all possible configurations, for
different values (in a meaningful range) of the optical density and extinction
coefficient of the third material. In all cases studied, the optimal designs
consist of a stack of (H'|L) doublets topped by a stack of (H|L) doublets,
confirming previous heuristic assumptions, and the achievable coating noise
power spectral density reduction factor is \sim 0.5. The robustness of the
found optimal designs against layer thickness deposition errors and
uncertainties and/or fluctuations in the optical losses of the third material
is also investigated. Possible margins for further thermal noise reduction by
layer thickness optimization, and strategies to implement it, are discussed.Comment: (twocolum style) 13 pages, 8 figures, 4 table (updated version 5)
Appearing on Physical Review Researc
- …