Electro-acoustic transducers on the basis of thin PZT-films

In the present work PZT-type thin films have been obtained by RF sputtering and electroacoustic transducers characterized by high sensitivity (t), wide range of measured relative deformations (q) and high working frequencies (w) were built. Polycrystalline ferroelectric thin films with the perovskite type structure and chemical composition Pb(Zro.33Tio.4sWo.oiCdo.oi)03 have been fabricated by RF sputtering. The films exhibited slightly lower values of dielectric constant, residual polarization and piezoelectric coefficient </33 = 80 x 10“12 C/N, as compared with the ceramics of the same chemical composition. The thin films keep such a value of du up to the Curie point. On the basis of the PZT-type thin films the isotropic and anisotropic piezoelectric sensors were built and investigated. The electrical signal of the isotropic sensors is proportional to the sum of the main components of the relative deformation tensor whereas the signal of the anisotropic sensors depends on the angle between the sensor axis and the main axis of the deformation tensor of the sample under investigation. The sensors are characterized by high stability of the generated signal

Structure and magnetic properties of Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics prepared by sintering, mechanical activation and EDAMM process. A comparative study

Three different methods were used to obtain Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics, i.e. solid-state sintering, mechanical activation (MA) with subsequent thermal treatment, and electrical discharge assisted mechanical milling (EDAMM). The structure and magnetic properties of produced Bi5Ti3FeO15 samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The purest Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics was obtained by standard solid-state sintering method. Mechanical milling methods are attractive because the Bi5Ti3FeO15 compound may be formed at lower temperature or without subsequent thermal treatment. In the case of EDAMM process also the time of processing is significantly shorter in comparison with solid-state sintering method. As revealed by Mössbauer spectroscopy, at room temperature the Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramics produced by various methods is in paramagnetic state

On structural physical approximations and entanglement breaking maps

Very recently a conjecture saying that the so-called structural physical approximations (SPAa) to optimal positive maps (optimal entanglement witnesses) give entanglement breaking (EB) maps (separable states) has been posed [J. K. Korbicz {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. A {\bf 78}, 062105 (2008)]. The main purpose of this contribution is to explore this subject. First, we extend the set of entanglement witnesses (EWs) supporting the conjecture. Then, we ask if SPAs constructed from other than the depolarizing channel maps also lead to EB maps and show that in general this is not the case. On the other hand, we prove an interesting fact that for any positive map $\Lambda$ there exists an EB channel $\Phi$ such that the SPA of $\Lambda$ constructed with the aid of $\Phi$ is again an EB channel. Finally, we ask similar questions in the case of continuous variable systems. We provide a simple way of construction of SPA and prove that in the case of the transposition map it gives EB channel.Comment: 22 pages, improved version, accepted by Journal of Physics

Wpływ warunków otrzymywania na fizyczne właściwości ceramiki PLZT:Nd3+

The aim of this work was to study the effect of fabrication conditions and neodymium co-doping on the physical properties of (Pb0:98La0:02)(Zr0:65Ti0:35)0:98O3, known as PLZT:Nd3+ ceramics. All ceramic powders of these materials were synthesized by the conventional mixed oxide method, from the high purity raw materials (>99.9%). The bulk ceramic samples were sintered by the pressure less sintering and the hot-uniaxial pressing techniques. The study gives a detailed account of the relationships between doping and preparing conditions on the dielectric and optical properties of obtained ceramic materials. Optimal conditions of PLZT:Nd3+ preparation as well as Nd3+ activator concentration were determined in relation to the potential opto-electronic applications

Ethical aspect of quality of life of palliative care patients

In the paper, we attempt a semantic analysis of patient quality of life, which plays an important role in evaluating the patient’s condition and health. The issue seems to be the most important in palliative-hospice care, where doctors work with seriously or terminally ill patients. One of the aims of this branch of medicine is to improve quality of life. This may be achieved, among others, by recognizing the current problems the patient is facing pertaining to family and social relations, beliefs, views or religion. Moreover, by monitoring the behavior of patients and symptoms of their illnesses, the best therapy methods may be selected. Patient quality of life assessment may also enable comparing health care units of the same specialization and be used for the selection of the best standards of care. When discussing the broader meaning of "quality of life", we caution against equating quality of life with the value of life. The main arguments are as follows: subjective character of evaluation of quality of life and, in the future, the possibility of postulates for shortening life of poor quality of life patients when funds for their treatment are insufficient. When accepting quality of life as equal to the value of life, it may result in eliminating unprotected and helpless patients and allowing only the strong to live. Later, this may result in the discrimination of seriously and terminally ill people, even those who do not wish to shorten their lives despite experiencing burdensome symptoms and being aware of the incurable nature of their illness

Optimal entanglement witnesses from generalized reduction and Robertson maps

We provide a generalization of the reduction and Robertson positive maps in matrix algebras. They give rise to a new class of optimal entanglement witnesses. Their structural physical approximation is analyzed. As a byproduct we provide a new examples of PPT (Positive Partial Transpose) entangled states.Comment: 14 page

Nonadditivity effects in classical capacities of quantum multiple-access channels

We study classical capacities of quantum multi-access channels in geometric terms revealing breaking of additivity of Holevo-like capacity. This effect is purely quantum since, as one points out, any classical multi-access channels have their regions additive. The observed non-additivity in quantum version presented here seems to be the first effect of this type with no additional resources like side classical or quantum information (or entanglement) involved. The simplicity of quantum channels involved resembles butterfly effect in case of classical channel with two senders and two receivers.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure