Superconducting magnesium diboride films on Silicon with Tc0 about 24K grown via vacuum annealing from stoichiometric precursors

Superconducting magnesium diboride films with Tc0 ~ 24 K and sharp transition \~ 1 K were successfully prepared on silicon substrates by pulsed laser deposition from a stoichiometric MgB2 target. Contrary to previous reports, anneals at 630 degree and a background of 2x10^(-4) torr Ar/4%H2 were performed without the requirement of Mg vapor or an Mg cap layer. This integration of superconducting MgB2 films on silicon may thus prove enabling in superconductor-semiconductor device applications. Images of surface morphology and cross-section profiles by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the films have a uniform surface morphology and thickness. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) reveals these films were contaminated with oxygen, originating either from the growth environment or from sample exposure to air. The oxygen contamination may account for the low Tc for those in-situ annealed films, while the use of Si as the substrate does not result in a decrease in Tc as compared to other substrates.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 15 references; due to file size limit, images were blure

An Anti-Interference Scheme for UAV Data Links in Air–Ground Integrated Vehicular Networks

As one of the main applications of the Internet of things (IoT), the vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) is the core of the intelligent transportation system (ITS). Air–ground integrated vehicular networks (AGIVNs) assisted by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have the advantages of wide coverage and flexible configuration, which outperform the ground-based VANET in terms of communication quality. However, the complex electromagnetic interference (EMI) severely degrades the communication performance of UAV sensors. Therefore, it is meaningful and challenging to design an efficient anti-interference scheme for UAV data links in AGIVNs. In this paper, we propose an anti-interference scheme, named as Mary-MCM, for UAV data links in AGIVNs based on multi-ary (M-ary) spread spectrum and multi-carrier modulation (MCM). Specifically, the Mary-MCM disperses the interference power by expanding the signal spectrum, such that the anti-interference ability of AGIVNs is enhanced. Besides, by using MCM and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technologies, the Mary-MCM improves the spectrum utilization effectively while ensuring system performance. The simulation results verify that the Mary-MCM achieves excellent anti-interference performance under different EMI combinationsFunding: This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grants 61571370, 61601365, 61901381, 61801388, 61901378, and 61901379; in part by the Science and Technology Research Program of Shaanxi Province under Grants 2018ZDCXL-GY-03-04, 2019ZDLGY07-10, 2019JQ-253, 2019JQ-631, and 2019JM-345; in part by the Advance Research Program on Common Information System Technologies under Grant 315075702; in part by the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China under Grants BX20180262, BX20190287, 2018M641020, and 2018M641019; and in part by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grants G2019KY05302, 31020180QD095, and 3102017OQD091.Scopu

Robust Quantum State Transfer in Random Unpolarized Spin Chains

We propose and analyze a new approach for quantum state transfer between remote spin qubits. Specifically, we demonstrate that coherent quantum coupling between remote qubits can be achieved via certain classes of random, unpolarized (infinite temperature) spin chains. Our method is robust to coupling strength disorder and does not require manipulation or control over individual spins. In principle, it can be used to attain perfect state transfer over arbitrarily long range via purely Hamiltonian evolution and may be particularly applicable in a solid-state quantum information processor. As an example, we demonstrate that it can be used to attain strong coherent coupling between Nitrogen-Vacancy centers separated by micrometer distances at room temperature. Realistic imperfections and decoherence effects are analyzed.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. V2: Modified discussion of disorder, added references - final version as published in Phys. Rev. Let

Pairing in the iron arsenides: a functional RG treatment

We study the phase diagram of a microscopic model for the superconducting iron arsenides by means of a functional renormalization group. Our treatment establishes a connection between a strongly simplified two-patch model by Chubukov et al. and a five-band- analysis by Wang et al.. For a wide parameter range, the dominant pairing instability occurs in the extended s-wave channel. The results clearly show the relevance of pair scattering between electron and hole pockets. We also give arguments that the phase transition between the antiferromagnetic phase for the undoped system and the superconducting phase may be first order

Effective Vortex Pinning in MgB2 thin films

We discuss pinning properties of MgB2 thin films grown by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) and by electron-beam (EB) evaporation. Two mechanisms are identified that contribute most effectively to the pinning of vortices in randomly oriented films. The EB process produces low defected crystallites with small grain size providing enhanced pinning at grain boundaries without degradation of Tc. The PLD process produces films with structural disorder on a scale less that the coherence length that further improves pinning, but also depresses Tc

On the error term in Weyl's law for the Heisenberg manifolds (II)

In this paper we study the mean square of the error term in the Weyl's law of an irrational $(2l+1)$-dimensional Heisenberg manifold . An asymptotic formula is established

An improved continuous compositional-spread technique based on pulsed-laser deposition and applicable to large substrate areas

A new method for continuous compositional-spread (CCS) thin-film fabrication based on pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) is introduced. This approach is based on a translation of the substrate heater and the synchronized firing of the excimer laser, with the deposition occurring through a slit-shaped aperture. Alloying is achieved during film growth (possible at elevated temperature) by the repeated sequential deposition of sub-monolayer amounts. Our approach overcomes serious shortcomings in previous in-situ implementations of CCS based on sputtering or PLD, in particular the variations of thickness across the compositional spread and the differing deposition energetics as function of position. While moving-shutter techniques are appropriate for PLD-approaches yielding complete spreads on small substrates (i.e. small as compared to distances over which the deposition parameters in PLD vary, typically about 1 cm), our method can be used to fabricate samples that are large enough for individual compositions to be analyzed by conventional techniques, including temperature-dependent measurements of resistivity and dielectric and magnetic and properties (i.e. SQUID magnetometry). Initial results are shown for spreads of (Sr,Ca)RuO$_3$.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Rev. Sci. Instru

Lack of Evidence for a Harmful Effect of Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors on Fracture Risk among Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Network and Cumulative Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Aim To evaluate the comparative effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on risk of bone fracture in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched from inception to 27 January 2016 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the outcome of fracture in patients with T2DM treated with SGLT2 inhibitors. Pairwise and network meta-analyses, as well as a cumulative meta-analysis, were performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results A total of 38 eligible RCTs (10 canagliflozin, 15 dapagliflozin and 13 empagliflozin) involving 30 384 patients, with follow-ups ranging from 24 to 160 weeks, were included. The fracture event rates were 1.59% in the SGLT2 inhibitor groups and 1.56% in the control groups. The incidence of fracture events was similar among these three SGLT2 inhibitor groups. Compared with placebo, canagliflozin (OR 1.15; 95% CI 0.71-1.88), dapagliflozin (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.37-1.25) and empagliflozin (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.74-1.18) were not significantly associated with an increased risk of fracture. Our cumulative meta-analysis indicated the robustness of the null findings with regard to SGLT2 inhibitors. Conclusions Our meta-analysis based on available RCT data does not support the harmful effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on fractures, although future safety monitoring from RCTs and real-world data with detailed information on bone health is warranted