Relativistic diffusion

We discuss a relativistic diffusion in the proper time in an approach of Schay and Dudley. We derive (Langevin) stochastic differential equations in various coordinates.We show that in some coordinates the stochastic differential equations become linear. We obtain momentum probability distribution in an explicit form.We discuss a relativistic particle diffusing in an external electromagnetic field. We solve the Langevin equations in the case of parallel electric and magnetic fields. We derive a kinetic equation for the evolution of the probability distribution.We discuss drag terms leading to an equilibrium distribution.The relativistic analog of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process is not unique. We show that if the drag comes from a diffusion approximation to the master equation then its form is strongly restricted. The drag leading to the Tsallis equilibrium distribution satisfies this restriction whereas the one of the Juettner distribution does not. We show that any function of the relativistic energy can be the equilibrium distribution for a particle in a static electric field. A preliminary study of the time evolution with friction is presented. It is shown that the problem is equivalent to quantum mechanics of a particle moving on a hyperboloid with a potential determined by the drag. A relation to diffusions appearing in heavy ion collisions is briefly discussed.Comment: 9 pages,some numerical factors correcte

Optimized stray-field-induced enhancement of the electron spin precession by buried Fe gates

The magnetic stray field from Fe gates is used to modify the spin precession frequency of InGaAs/GaAs quantum-well electrons in an external magnetic field. By using an etching process to position the gates directly in the plane of the quantum well, the stray-field influence on the spin precession increases significantly compared with results from previous studies with top-gated structures. In line with numerical simulations, the stray-field-induced precession frequency increases as the gap between the ferromagnetic gates is reduced. The inhomogeneous stray field leads to additional spin dephasing.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Single hole transistor in a p-Si/SiGe quantum well

A single hole transistor is patterned in a p-Si/SiGe quantum well by applying voltages to nanostructured top gate electrodes. Gating is achieved by oxidizing the etched semiconductor surface and the mesa walls before evaporation of the top gates. Pronounced Coulomb blockade effects are observed at small coupling of the transistor island to source and drain.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Nonthermal Bremsstrahlung and Hard X-ray Emission from Clusters of Galaxies

We have calculated nonthermal bremsstrahlung (NTB) models for the hard X-ray (HXR) tails recently observed by BeppoSAX in clusters of galaxies. In these models, the HXR emission is due to suprathermal electrons with energies of about 10-200 keV. Under the assumption that the suprathermal electrons form part of a continuous spectrum of electrons including highly relativistic particles, we have calculated the inverse Compton (IC) extreme ultraviolet (EUV), HXR, and radio synchrotron emission by the extensions of the same populations. For accelerating electron models with power-law momentum spectra (N[p] propto p^{- mu}) with mu <~ 2.7, which are those expected from strong shock acceleration, the IC HXR emission exceeds that due to NTB. Thus, these models are only of interest if the electron population is cut-off at some upper energy <~1 GeV. Similarly, flat spectrum accelerating electron models produce more radio synchrotron emission than is observed from clusters if the ICM magnetic field is B >~ 1 muG. The cooling electron model produces vastly too much EUV emission as compared to the observations of clusters. We have compared these NTB models to the observed HXR tails in Coma and Abell 2199. The NTB models require a nonthermal electron population which contains about 3% of the number of electrons in the thermal ICM. If the suprathermal electron population is cut-off at some energy above 100 keV, then the models can easily fit the observed HXR fluxes and spectral indices in both clusters. For accelerating electron models without a cutoff, the electron spectrum must be rather steep >~ 2.9.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 10 pages with 5 embedded Postscript figures in emulateapj.sty. An abbreviated abstract follow

Modelling background charge rearrangements near single-electron transistors as a Poisson process

Background charge rearrangements in metallic single-electron transistors are modelled in two-level tunnelling systems as a Poisson process with a scale parameter as only variable. The model explains the recent observation of asymmetric Coulomb blockade peak spacing distributions in metallic single-electron transistors. From the scale parameter we estimate the average size of the tunnelling systems, their density of states, and the height of their energy barrier. We conclude that the observed background charge rearrangements predominantly take place in the substrate of the single-electron transistor.Comment: 7 pages, 2 eps figures, used epl.cls macro include

A repulsive trap for two electrons in a magnetic field

We study numerically and analytically the dynamics of two classical electrons with Coulomb interaction in a two dimensional antidot superlattice potential in the presence of crossed electric and magnetic fields. It is found that near one antidot the electron pair can be trapped for a long time and the escape rate from such a trap is proportional to the square of a weak electric field. This is qualitatively different from the case of noninteracting electrons which are trapped forever by the antidot. For the pair propagation in the antidot superlattice we found a broad parameter regime for which the pair is stable and where two repulsive electrons propagate together on an enormously large distance.Comment: revtex, 5 pages, 6 figure

3C 129 at 90cm: Evidence for a Radio Relic?

We present a new wide-field map of the radio galaxy 3C 129 and its companion galaxy 3C 129.1 at lambda=90 cm. We see a distinct steep-spectrum feature near the head of 3C 129, extending in a direction perpendicular to the radio tails. We propose that this Crosspiece might consist of fossil radio plasma, which has been re-energized by the compression of the bow shock of the supersonically moving galaxy 3C 129. One possible origin of the fossil radio plasma could be the tail of a nearby head-tail radio galaxy. We discuss the implications of, and give testable predictions for this scenario.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in A