1,259 research outputs found
Melting of a 2D Quantum Electron Solid in High Magnetic Field
The melting temperature () of a solid is generally determined by the
pressure applied to it, or indirectly by its density () through the equation
of state. This remains true even for helium solids\cite{wilk:67}, where quantum
effects often lead to unusual properties\cite{ekim:04}. In this letter we
present experimental evidence to show that for a two dimensional (2D) solid
formed by electrons in a semiconductor sample under a strong perpendicular
magnetic field\cite{shay:97} (), the is not controlled by , but
effectively by the \textit{quantum correlation} between the electrons through
the Landau level filling factor =. Such melting behavior, different
from that of all other known solids (including a classical 2D electron solid at
zero magnetic field\cite{grim:79}), attests to the quantum nature of the
magnetic field induced electron solid. Moreover, we found the to increase
with the strength of the sample-dependent disorder that pins the electron
solid.Comment: Some typos corrected and 2 references added. Final version with minor
editoriol revisions published in Nature Physic
Testing in the incremental design and development of complex products
Testing is an important aspect of design and development which consumes significant time and resource in many companies. However, it has received less research attention than many other activities in product development, and especially, very few publications report empirical studies of engineering testing. Such studies are needed to establish the importance of testing and inform the development of pragmatic support methods. This paper combines insights from literature study with findings from three empirical studies of testing. The case studies concern incrementally developed complex products in the automotive domain. A description of testing practice as observed in these studies is provided, confirming that testing activities are used for multiple purposes depending on the context, and are intertwined with design from start to finish of the development process, not done after it as many models depict. Descriptive process models are developed to indicate some of the key insights, and opportunities for further research are suggested
Wigner Crystallization in a Quasi-3D Electronic System
When a strong magnetic field is applied perpendicularly (along z) to a sheet
confining electrons to two dimensions (x-y), highly correlated states emerge as
a result of the interplay between electron-electron interactions, confinement
and disorder. These so-called fractional quantum Hall (FQH) liquids form a
series of states which ultimately give way to a periodic electron solid that
crystallizes at high magnetic fields. This quantum phase of electrons has been
identified previously as a disorder-pinned two-dimensional Wigner crystal with
broken translational symmetry in the x-y plane. Here, we report our discovery
of a new insulating quantum phase of electrons when a very high magnetic field,
up to 45T, is applied in a geometry parallel (y-direction) to the
two-dimensional electron sheet. Our data point towards this new quantum phase
being an electron solid in a "quasi-3D" configuration induced by orbital
coupling with the parallel field
Geochemistry, faunal composition and trophic structure in reducing sediments on the southwest South Georgia margin
Despite a number of studies in areas of focused methane seepage, the extent of transitional sediments of more diffuse methane seepage, and their influence upon biological communities is poorly understood. We investigated an area of reducing sediments with elevated levels of methane on the South Georgia margin around 250 m depth and report data from a series of geochemical and biological analyses. Here, the geochemical signatures were consistent with weak methane seepage and the role of sub-surface methane consumption was clearly very important, preventing gas emissions into bottom waters. As a result, the contribution of methane-derived carbon to the microbial and metazoan food webs was very limited, although sulfur isotopic signatures indicated a wider range of dietary contributions than was apparent from carbon isotope ratios. Macrofaunal assemblages had high dominance and were indicative of reducing sediments, with many taxa common to other similar environments and no seep-endemic fauna, indicating transitional assemblages. Also similar to other cold seep areas, there were samples of authigenic carbonate, but rather than occurring as pavements or sedimentary concretions, these carbonates were restricted to patches on the shells of Axinulus antarcticus (Bivalvia, Thyasiridae), which is suggestive of microbe–metazoan interactions
Modeling inflation rates and exchange rates in Ghana: application of multivariate GARCH models
Graphene plasmonics
Two rich and vibrant fields of investigation, graphene physics and
plasmonics, strongly overlap. Not only does graphene possess intrinsic plasmons
that are tunable and adjustable, but a combination of graphene with noble-metal
nanostructures promises a variety of exciting applications for conventional
plasmonics. The versatility of graphene means that graphene-based plasmonics
may enable the manufacture of novel optical devices working in different
frequency ranges, from terahertz to the visible, with extremely high speed, low
driving voltage, low power consumption and compact sizes. Here we review the
field emerging at the intersection of graphene physics and plasmonics.Comment: Review article; 12 pages, 6 figures, 99 references (final version
available only at publisher's web site
Análise da composição dos gastos com alimentação no MunicĂpio de SĂŁo Paulo (Brasil) na dĂ©cada de 1990
The rapid assembly of an elliptical galaxy of 400 billion solar masses at a redshift of 2.3
Stellar archeology shows that massive elliptical galaxies today formed
rapidly about ten billion years ago with star formation rates above several
hundreds solar masses per year (M_sun/yr). Their progenitors are likely the
sub-millimeter-bright galaxies (SMGs) at redshifts (z) greater than 2. While
SMGs' mean molecular gas mass of 5x10^10 M_sun can explain the formation of
typical elliptical galaxies, it is inadequate to form ellipticals that already
have stellar masses above 2x10^11 M_sun at z ~ 2. Here we report
multi-wavelength high-resolution observations of a rare merger of two massive
SMGs at z = 2.3. The system is currently forming stars at a tremendous rate of
2,000 M_sun/yr. With a star formation efficiency an order-of-magnitude greater
than that of normal galaxies, it will quench the star formation by exhausting
the gas reservoir in only ~200 million years. At a projected separation of 19
kiloparsecs, the two massive starbursts are about to merge and form a passive
elliptical galaxy with a stellar mass of ~4x10^11 M_sun. Our observations show
that gas-rich major galaxy mergers, concurrent with intense star formation, can
form the most massive elliptical galaxies by z ~ 1.5.Comment: Appearing in Nature online on May 22 and in print on May 30.
Submitted here is the accepted version (including the Supplementary
Information), see nature.com for the final versio
The mitochondrial DNA T16189C polymorphism and HIV-associated cardiomyopathy: a genotype-phenotype association study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) T16189C polymorphism, with a homopolymeric C-tract of 10–12 cytosines, is a putative genetic risk factor for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in the African and British populations. We hypothesized that this variant may predispose to dilated cardiomyopathy in people who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A case-control study of 30 HIV-positive cases with dilated cardiomyopathy and 37 HIV-positive controls without dilated cardiomyopathy was conducted. The study was confined to persons of black African ancestry to minimize confounding of results by population admixture. HIV-positive patients with an echocardiographically confirmed diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy and HIV-positive controls with echocardiographically normal hearts were studied. Patients with secondary causes of cardiomyopathy (such as hypertension, diabetes, pregnancy, alcoholism, valvular heart disease, and opportunistic infection) were excluded from the study. DNA samples were sequenced for the mtDNA T16189C polymorphism with a homopolymeric C-tract in the forward and reverse directions on an ABI3100 sequencer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The cases and controls were well matched for age (median 35 years versus 34 years, P = 0.93), gender (males 60% vs 53%, P = 0.54), and stage of HIV disease (mean CD4 T cell count 260.7/μL vs. 176/μL, P = 0.21). The mtDNA T16189C variant with a homopolymeric C-tract was detected at a frequency of 26.7% (8/30) in the HIV-associated cardiomyopathy cases and 13.5% (5/37) in the HIV-positive controls. There was no significant difference between cases and controls (Odds Ratio 2.33, 95% Confidence Interval 0.67–8.06, p = 0.11).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The mtDNA T16189C variant with a homopolymeric C-tract is not associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in black African people infected with HIV.</p
Instruments for evaluating financial management capacity among the elderly: an integrative literature review
- …