Electronic mean free path in as-produced and purified single-wall carbon nanotubes

The effect of purification on room temperature electronic transport properties of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) was studied by submerging samples into liquid mercury. The conductance plots of purified SWNTs showed plateaus, indicating weak dependence of the electrical resistance on the length of the tube connecting the electrodes, providing evidence of quasi-ballistic conduction in SWNTs. The electronic mean free path of the purified SWNTs reached a few microns, which is longer than that of the as-produced SWNTs, and which is consistent with the calculation based on the scattering by acoustic phonons

Quantum Hall effect on odd spheres

We solve the Landau problem for charged particles on odd dimensional spheres S2k-1 in the background of constant SO(2k - 1) gauge fields carrying the irreducible representation (I/2,I/2, . . . , I/2). We determine the spectrum of the Hamiltonian, the degeneracy of the Landau levels and give the eigenstates in terms of the Wigner D-functions, and for odd values of I, the explicit local form of the wave functions in the lowest Landau level (LLL). The spectrum of the Dirac operator on S2k-1 in the same gauge field background together with its degeneracies is also determined, and in particular, its number of zero modes is found. We show how the essential differential geometric structure of the Landau problem on the equatorial S2k-2 is captured by constructing the relevant projective modules. For the Landau problem on S-5, we demonstrate an exact correspondence between the union of Hilbert spaces of LLLs, with I ranging from 0 to I-max = 2K or I-max = 2K or I-max = 2K + 1 to the Hilbert spaces of the fuzzy CP3 or that of winding number +/- 1 line bundles over CP3 at level K, respectively

Quantum Particles Constrained on Cylindrical Surfaces with Non-constant Diameter

We present a theoretical formulation of the one-electron problem constrained on the surface of a cylindrical tubule with varying diameter. Because of the cylindrical symmetry, we may reduce the problem to a one-dimensional equation for each angular momentum quantum number $m$ along the cylindrical axis. The geometrical properties of the surface determine the electronic structures through the geometry dependent term in the equation. Magnetic fields parallel to the axis can readily be incorporated. Our formulation is applied to simple examples such as the catenoid and the sinusoidal tubules. The existence of bound states as well as the band structures, which are induced geometrically, for these surfaces are shown. To show that the electronic structures can be altered significantly by applying a magnetic field, Aharonov-Bohm effects in these examples are demonstrated.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Phase diffusion in graphene-based Josephson junctions

We report on graphene-based Josephson junctions with contacts made from lead. The high transition temperature of this superconductor allows us to observe the supercurrent branch at temperatures up to $\sim 2$ K, at which point we can detect a small, but non-zero, resistance. We attribute this resistance to the phase diffusion mechanism, which has not been yet identified in graphene. By measuring the resistance as a function of temperature and gate voltage, we can further characterize the nature of electromagnetic environment and dissipation in our samples.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, PR

Anomalous Aharonov--Bohm gap oscillations in carbon nanotubes

The gap oscillations caused by a magnetic flux penetrating a carbon nanotube represent one of the most spectacular observation of the Aharonov-Bohm effect at the nano--scale. Our understanding of this effect is, however, based on the assumption that the electrons are strictly confined on the tube surface, on trajectories that are not modified by curvature effects. Using an ab-initio approach based on Density Functional Theory we show that this assumption fails at the nano-scale inducing important corrections to the physics of the Aharonov-Bohm effect. Curvature effects and electronic density spilled out of the nanotube surface are shown to break the periodicity of the gap oscillations. We predict the key phenomenological features of this anomalous Aharonov-Bohm effect in semi-conductive and metallic tubes and the existence of a large metallic phase in the low flux regime of Multi-walled nanotubes, also suggesting possible experiments to validate our results.Comment: 7 figure

Atherosclerotic plaque behind the stent changes after bare-metal and drug-eluting stent implantation in humans: Implications for late stent failure?

Background and aims The natural history and the role of atherosclerotic plaque located behind the stent (PBS) are still poorly understood. We evaluated the serial changes in PBS following bare-metal (BMS) compared to first-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation and the impact of these changes on in-stent neointimal hyperplasia (NIH). Methods Three-dimensional coronary reconstruction by angiography and intravascular ultrasound was performed after intervention and at 6–10-month follow-up in 157 patients with 188 lesions treated with BMS (n = 89) and DES (n = 99). Results There was a significant decrease in PBS area (−7.2%; p  <  0.001) and vessel area (−1.7%; p  <  0.001) after BMS and a respective increase in both areas after DES implantation (6.1%; p  <  0.001 and 4.1%; p  <  0.001, respectively). The decrease in PBS area significantly predicted neointimal area at follow-up after BMS (β: 0.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10–0.20, p  <  0.001) and DES (β: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.07–0.11; p  <  0.001) implantation. The decrease in PBS area was the most powerful predictor of significant NIH after BMS implantation (odds ratio: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02–1.26; p = 0.02). Conclusions The decrease in PBS area after stent implantation is significantly associated with the magnitude of NIH development at follow-up. This finding raises the possibility of a communication between the lesion within the stent and the underlying native atherosclerotic plaque, and may have important implications regarding the pathobiology of in-stent restenosis and late/very late stent thrombosis

Natural History of Experimental Coronary Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling in Relation to Endothelial Shear Stress

Author Manuscript: 2011 May 18.Background— The natural history of heterogeneous atherosclerotic plaques and the role of local hemodynamic factors throughout their development are unknown. We performed a serial study to assess the role of endothelial shear stress (ESS) and vascular remodeling in the natural history of coronary atherosclerosis. Methods and Results— Intravascular ultrasound-based 3-dimensional reconstruction of all major coronary arteries (n=15) was performed serially in vivo in 5 swine 4, 11, 16, 23, and 36 weeks after induction of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. The reconstructed arteries were divided into 3-mm-long segments (n=304). ESS was calculated in all segments at all time points through the use of computational fluid dynamics. Vascular remodeling was assessed at each time point in all segments containing significant plaque, defined as maximal intima-media thickness ≥0.5 mm, at week 36 (n=220). Plaque started to develop at week 11 and progressively advanced toward heterogeneous, multifocal lesions at all subsequent time points. Low ESS promoted the initiation and subsequent progression of plaques. The local remodeling response changed substantially over time and determined future plaque evolution. Excessive expansive remodeling developed in regions of very low ESS, further exacerbated the low ESS, and was associated with the most marked plaque progression. The combined assessment of ESS, remodeling, and plaque severity enabled the early identification of plaques that evolved to high-risk lesions at week 36. Conclusions— The synergistic effect of local ESS and the remodeling response to plaque formation determine the natural history of individual lesions. Combined in vivo assessment of ESS and remodeling may predict the focal formation of high-risk coronary plaque