314 research outputs found
Reentrant superconductivity in superconductor/ferromagnetic-alloy bilayers
We studied the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) like state
establishing due to the proximity effect in superconducting Nb/Cu41Ni59
bilayers. Using a special wedge-type deposition technique, series of 20-35
samples could be fabricated by magnetron sputtering during one run. The layer
thickness of only a few nanometers, the composition of the alloy, and the
quality of interfaces were controlled by Rutherford backscattering
spectrometry, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Auger
spectroscopy. The magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic alloy layer were
characterized with superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)
magnetometry. These studies yield precise information about the thickness, and
demonstrate the homogeneity of the alloy composition and magnetic properties
along the sample series. The dependencies of the critical temperature on the Nb
and Cu41Ni59 layer thickness, Tc(dS) and Tc(dF), were investigated for constant
thickness dF of the magnetic alloy layer and dS of the superconducting layer,
respectively. All types of non-monotonic behaviors of Tc versus dF predicted by
the theory could be realized experimentally: from reentrant superconducting
behavior with a broad extinction region to a slight suppression of
superconductivity with a shallow minimum. Even a double extinction of
superconductivity was observed, giving evidence for the multiple reentrant
behavior predicted by theory. All critical temperature curves were fitted with
suitable sets of parameters. Then, Tc(dF) diagrams of a hypothetical F/S/F
spin-switch core structure were calculated using these parameters. Finally,
superconducting spin-switch fabrication issues are discussed in detail in view
of the achieved results.Comment: 34 pages, 9 figure
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Optical signatures of silicon-vacancy spins in diamond
Colour centres in diamond have emerged as versatile tools for solid-state quantum technologies ranging from quantum information to metrology, where the nitrogen-vacancy centre is the most studied to date. Recently, this toolbox has expanded to include novel colour centres to realize more efficient spin-photon quantum interfaces. Of these, the silicon-vacancy centre stands out with highly desirable photonic properties. The challenge for utilizing this centre is to realize the hitherto elusive optical access to its electronic spin. Here we report spin-tagged resonance fluorescence from the negatively charged silicon-vacancy centre. Our measurements reveal a spin-state purity approaching unity in the excited state, highlighting the potential of the centre as an efficient spin-photon quantum interface
Influence of shear stress magnitude and direction on atherosclerotic plaque composition
British Heart Foundation (BHF) grants (no. RG/11/13/29055 and PG/15/49/31595), awarded to R.K. and E.P. who are employed by Bioengineering and the MRC Clinical Sciences
Centre at Imperial College London. The grants also supported R.M.P. and S.M.B. V.V.M. was supported by a BHF. PhD studentship
Towards a first-principles theory of surface thermodynamics and kinetics
Understanding of the complex behavior of particles at surfaces requires
detailed knowledge of both macroscopic and microscopic processes that take
place; also certain processes depend critically on temperature and gas
pressure. To link these processes we combine state-of-the-art microscopic, and
macroscopic phenomenological, theories. We apply our theory to the O/Ru(0001)
system and calculate thermal desorption spectra, heat of adsorption, and the
surface phase diagram. The agreement with experiment provides validity for our
approach which thus identifies the way for a predictive simulation of surface
thermodynamics and kinetics.Comment: 4 pages including 3 figures. Related publications can be found at
http://www.fhi-berlin.mpg.de/th/paper.htm
Ultra-bright and efficient single photon generation based on N-V centres in nanodiamonds on a solid immersion lens
Single photons are fundamental elements for quantum information technologies
such as quantum cryptography, quantum information storage and optical quantum
computing. Colour centres in diamond have proven to be stable single photon
sources and thus essential components for reliable and integrated quantum
information technology. A key requirement for such applications is a large
photon flux and a high efficiency. Paying tribute to various attempts to
maximise the single photon flux we show that collection efficiencies of photons
from colour centres can be increased with a rather simple experimental setup.
To do so we spin-coated nanodiamonds containing single nitrogen-vacancy colour
centres on the flat surface of a ZrO2 solid immersion lens. We found stable
single photon count rates of up to 853 kcts/s at saturation under continuous
wave excitation while having excess to more than 100 defect centres with count
rates from 400 kcts/s to 500 kcts/s. For a blinking defect centre we found
count rates up to 2.4 Mcts/s for time intervals of several ten seconds. It
seems to be a general feature that very high rates are accompanied by a
blinking behaviour. The overall collection efficiency of our setup of up to
4.2% is the highest yet reported for N-V defect centres in diamond. Under
pulsed excitation of a stable emitter of 10 MHz, 2.2% of all pulses caused a
click on the detector adding to 221 kcts/s thus opening the way towards diamond
based on-demand single photon sources for quantum applications
Single photon emission from silicon-vacancy centres in CVD-nano-diamonds on iridium
We introduce a process for the fabrication of high quality, spatially
isolated nano-diamonds on iridium via microwave plasma assisted CVD-growth. We
perform spectroscopy of single silicon-vacancy (SiV)-centres produced during
the growth of the nano-diamonds. The colour centres exhibit extraordinary
narrow zero-phonon-lines down to 0.7 nm at room temperature. Single photon
count rates up to 4.8 Mcps at saturation make these SiV-centres the brightest
diamond based single photon sources to date. We measure for the first time the
fine structure of a single SiV-centre thus confirming the atomic composition of
the investigated colour centres.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figures, accepted by New Journal of Physic
The human somatostatin receptor type 2 as an imaging and suicide reporter gene for pluripotent stem cell-derived therapy of myocardial infarction
Rationale: Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are being investigated as a cell source for regenerative medicine since they provide an infinitive pool of cells that are able to differentiate towards every cell type of the body. One possible therapeutic application involves the use of these cells to treat myocardial infarction (MI), a condition where billions of cardiomyocytes (CMs) are lost. Although several protocols have been developed to differentiate PSCs towards CMs, none of these provide a completely pure population, thereby still posing a risk for neoplastic teratoma formation. Therefore, we developed a strategy to (i) monitor cell behavior noninvasively via site-specific integration of firefly luciferase (Fluc) and the human positron emission tomography (PET) imaging reporter genes, sodium iodide symporter (hNIS) and somatostatin receptor type 2 (hSSTr2), and (ii) perform hSSTr2-mediated suicide gene therapy via the clinically used radiopharmacon 177Lu-DOTATATE. Methods: Human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were gene-edited via zinc finger nucleases to express Fluc and either hNIS or hSSTr2 in the safe harbor locus, adeno-associated virus integration site 1. Firstly, these cells were exposed to 4.8 MBq 177Lu-DOTATATE in vitro and cell survival was monitored via bioluminescence imaging (BLI). Afterwards, hNIS+ and hSSTr2+ ESCs were transplanted subcutaneously and teratomas were allowed to form. At day 59, baseline 124I and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET and BLI scans were performed. The day after, animals received either saline or 55 MBq 177Lu-DOTATATE. Weekly BLI scans were performed, accompanied by 124I and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET scans at days 87 and 88, respectively. Finally, hSSTr2+ ESCs were differentiated towards CMs and transplanted intramyocardially in the border zone of an infarct that was induced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. After transplantation, the animals were monitored via BLI and PET, while global cardiac function was evaluated using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Teratoma growth of both hNIS+ and hSSTr2+ ESCs could be followed noninvasively over time by both PET and BLI. After 177Lu-DOTATATE administration, successful cell killing of the hSSTr2+ ESCs was achieved both in vitro and in vivo, indicated by reductions in total tracer lesion uptake, BLI signal and teratoma volume. As undifferentiated hSSTr2+ ESCs are not therapeutically relevant, they were differentiated towards CMs and injected in immune-deficient mice with a MI. Long-term cell survival could be monitored without uncontrolled cell proliferation. However, no improvement in the left ventricular ejection fraction was observed.Conclusion: We developed isogenic hSSTr2-expressing ESCs that allow noninvasive cell monitoring in the context of PSC-derived regenerative therapy. Furthermore, we are the first to use the hSSTr2 not only as an imaging reporter gene, but also as a suicide mechanism for radionuclide therapy in the setting of PSC-derived cell treatment
Surface Core Level Shifts of Clean and Oxygen Covered Ru(0001)
We have performed high resolution XPS experiments of the Ru(0001) surface,
both clean and covered with well-defined amounts of oxygen up to 1 ML coverage.
For the clean surface we detected two distinct components in the Ru 3d_{5/2}
core level spectra, for which a definite assignment was made using the high
resolution Angle-Scan Photoelectron Diffraction approach. For the p(2x2),
p(2x1), (2x2)-3O and (1x1)-O oxygen structures we found Ru 3d_{5/2} core level
peaks which are shifted up to 1 eV to higher binding energies. Very good
agreement with density functional theory calculations of these Surface Core
Level Shifts (SCLS) is reported. The overriding parameter for the resulting Ru
SCLSs turns out to be the number of directly coordinated O atoms. Since the
calculations permit the separation of initial and final state effects, our
results give valuable information for the understanding of bonding and
screening at the surface, otherwise not accessible in the measurement of the
core level energies alone.Comment: 16 pages including 10 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. B. Related
publications can be found at http://www.fhi-berlin.mpg.de/th/paper.htm
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