Effects of the cosmological constant on cold dark matter clusters

Context. Cold dark matter inhomogeneities are considered in a homogeneous background of matter, radiation, and the cosmological constant in a flat universe. Aims. We investigate the influence of the cosmological constant on the non-linear collapse of cold dark matter clusters. Methods. For simplicity, a spherical infall model has been used to describe the collapse of non-relativistic mass shells; besides, an average distribution of density around a cluster of galaxies has been taken. Boundary conditions are imposed by the solution of the linearized equation for the growth of matter perturbations and by the cold dark matter power spectrum. Results. For an average cluster, the radii of shells and masses enclosed by them have been obtained at their zero proper accelera- tion (ZA) redshifts, at their turn-around (TA) redshifts and at their virialization (VIR) redshifts. According to our results at present, the shell that reaches its turn-around point shows [rTA]0 = 6.85 Mpc and [MTA]0 = 6.76 × 1014 M¿. The virializing shell fulfills [rTA]0 = 4.57[rVIR]0 and [MTA]0 = 1.95[MVIR]0. These results differ appreciably from those derived from a model with cosmolog- ical constant equal to zero in a flat universe: [rTA(¿ = 0)]0 = 6.62[rVIR(¿ = 0)]0 and [MTA(¿ = 0)]0 = 5.26[MVIR(¿ = 0)]0; this discrepancy could be considered as a new independent proof of the existence of dark energy. The shell with zero proper acceleration presents [rZA ]0 = 1.59 [rTA ]0 and [MZA ]0 = 1.63 [MTA ]0 . We have found that there is a limit to the mass of the average cluster, which is able to virialize; its value is {MVIR}MAX = 8.1 × 1014 M¿. As expected, we found that shells present null proper acceleration at redshift values that are smaller than 0.755. Conclusions. We have noticed that the cosmological constant imposes an upper limit for the mass enclosed by shells, which are able to reach zero proper velocity. Hence, this mass is the maximum mass of the virialized core, {MVIR}MAX. For the average cluster addressed in this work, the value is 2.34 times the mass of the virialized core at present. Shells enclosing masses M > {MVIR}MAX achieve zero proper acceleration and speed up, moving away from the virialized core, and never reach a turn-around point. Shells with M » {MVIR}MAX show zero proper aceleration at redshifts close to that at which the universe background acceleration is null. Finally, we have found that the relation between shell proper velocities and their radii can be adjusted by a straight line at z = 0 and from approximately 20 up to 40 Mpc; however, this line does not intercept the origin as velocities due to the Hubble flux do

Laumontita y Prehnita en la formación submarina del Complejo Basal de La Palma, Islas Canarias

Una zeolita perteneciente a la formación volcánica submarina del Complejo Basal de la isla de La Palma se ha caracterizado tanto por microsonda electrónica como por microscopía óptica, difracción de Rayos X, análisis térmico diferencial, termogravimetría y espectroscopía de infrarrojos. Los datos analíticos obtenidos confirman la identidad de esta zeolita como laumontita, que hasta el presente no se había citado en la formación antes citada. Asociada a la laumontita se encuentra también el mineral prehnita. Se ha construido un diagrama de actividad para los tres componentes: aSiO4H4, aCA++ y aH+ en el intervalo de temperatura de los 25 a los 300ºC. En él se representan los campos de estabilidad de heulandita, prehnita, laumontita, calcita y cuarzo. Este diagrama, junto con los diagramas de solubilidad de prehnita y laumontita nos ha permitido estimar las condiciones de formación de la paragénesis laumontita-prehnita-calcita existente en las muestras estudiadas

Vertical shift register using dipolar interaction in magnetic multilayers

A vertical shift register consisting of multi-layered ferromagnetic bars with in-plane magnetization is investigated numerically using macrospin simulations. These layers are anti-ferromagnetically coupled via dipolar interactions and their in-plane aspect ratio determines their anisotropy. A single data bit is represented by a magnetic kink soliton, which forms at the boundary of two anti-parallel domains with opposite phases. It can be propagated bi-directionally using an externally applied rotating magnetic field. The soliton propagation is dependent on the applied field strength, the magnetic anisotropy of the ferromagnetic layers, and the dipolar coupling energies. For the device investigated here, the largest field range for soliton propagation is found to be from 35 Oe to 235 Oe at a lateral aspect ratio of 1.33. The soliton is also subjected to edge effects where it can be either pinned or reflected rather than being expelled from the stack. It is found that by reducing the thickness of the edge layer, these effects can be reduced substantially. By reducing the thickness of the edge layer by 20%, the field range in which the soliton is expelled increases by more than a factor of two.This project has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 309589 (M3d), as well as the Seventh Framework Programme ERC Contract No. 247368 (3SPIN). AFP acknowledges funding from an EPSRC Early Career Fellowship, EP/M008517/1 and from the Winton Foundation.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from AIP via http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.493791

Sputter grown Fe and Fe/Cr multilayers with fourfold magnetic anisotropy on GaAs

Thin films of Fe have been epitaxially sputtered on GaAs substrates with native oxide removal prior to the deposition carried out by an Ar ion milling. Films grown at substrate temperatures above 100 °C show well-defined fourfold anisotropies. The onset of epitaxial growth is accompanied by an increase in the surface roughness with growth occurring in a distinct island-like pattern. The Fe layers show significantly reduced moments, which decrease with increasing temperature. Antiferromagnetic coupling between Fe layers with Cr spacers was measured in a multilayer with a Cr thickness of 2.7 nm, around the second antiferromagnetic peak. The magnetic properties of the films are discussed in the context of multilayer storage applications

Superconducting density of states at the border of an amorphous thin film grown by focused-ion-beam

We present very low temperature Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy (STM/S) measurements of a W based amorphous thin film grown with focused-ion-beam. In particular, we address the superconducting properties close to the border, where the thickness of the superconducting film decreases, and the Au substrate emerges. When approaching the Au substrate, the superconducting tunneling conductance strongly increases around the Fermi level, and the quasiparticle peaks do not significantly change its position. Under magnetic fields, the vortex lattice is observed, with vortices positioned very close to the Au substrate.Comment: To appear in Journal of Physics: Conference serie

Dynamic selective switching in antiferromagnetically-coupled bilayers close to the spin reorientation transition

We have designed a bilayer synthetic antiferromagnet where the order of layer reversal can be selected by varying the sweep rate of the applied magnetic field. The system is formed by two ultra-thin ferromagnetic layers with different proximities to the spin reorientation transition, coupled antiferromagnetically using Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interactions. The different dynamic magnetic reversal behavior of both layers produces a crossover in their switching fields for field rates in the kOe/s range. This effect is due to the different effective anisotropy of both layers, added to an appropriate asymmetric antiferromagnetic coupling between them. Field-rate controlled selective switching of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy layers as shown here can be exploited in sensing and memory applications.Copyright (2014) American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. The following article appeared in Applied Physics Letters (volume 105: 092408) and may be found at http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/apl/105/9/10.1063/1.4895032

Review of magnetic nanostructures grown by focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID)

We review the current status of the use of focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) for the growth of magnetic nanostructures. This technique relies on the local dissociation of a precursor gas by means of an electron beam. The most promising results have been obtained using the Co₂(CO)₈ precursor, where the Co content in the grown nanodeposited material can be tailored up to more than 95%. Functional behaviour of these Co nanodeposits has been observed in applications such as arrays of magnetic dots for information storage and catalytic growth, magnetic tips for scanning probe microscopes, nano-Hall sensors for bead detection, nano-actuated magnetomechanical systems and nanowires for domain-wall manipulation. The review also covers interesting results observed in Fe-based and alloyed nanodeposits. Advantages and disadvantages of FEBID for the growth of magnetic nanostructures are discussed in the article as well as possible future directions in this field.Financial support by several projects is acknowledged: MAT2014-51982-C2-1-R, MAT2014-51982-C2-2-R and MAT2015-69725-REDT from MINECO (including FEDER funding), CELINA COST Action CM1301, Aragón Regional Government through project E26, FP7 Marie Curie Fellowship 3DMAGNANOW, EPSRC Early Career Fellowship EP/M008517/1 and Winton Fellowship

Estrogen Receptor-Alpha (ESR1) Governs the Lower Female Reproductive Tract Vulnerability to Candida albicans

Estradiol-based therapies predispose women to vaginal infections. Moreover, it has long been known that neutrophils are absent from the vaginal lumen during the ovulatory phase (high estradiol). However, the mechanisms that regulate neutrophil influx to the vagina remain unknown. We investigated the neutrophil transepithelial migration (TEM) into the vaginal lumen. We revealed that estradiol reduces the CD44 and CD47 epithelial expression in the vaginal ectocervix and fornix, which retain neutrophils at the apical epithelium through the estradiol receptor-alpha. In contrast, luteal progesterone increases epithelial expression of CD44 and CD47 to promote neutrophil migration into the vaginal lumen and Candida albicans destruction. Distinctive to vaginal mucosa, neutrophil infiltration is contingent to sex hormones to prevent sperm from neutrophil attack; although it may compromise immunity during ovulation. Thus, sex hormones orchestrate tolerance and immunity in the vaginal lumen by regulating neutrophil TEM.The authors thank the units of flow cytometry, cell culture and statistical analysis. We are grateful to J. Villarejo, M. Fernandez-Garcia, and F. Sanchez-Cobos, for expert help and support. This work was partially supported by Fundacion Mutua Madrilena and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness ISCIII-FIS grants PI13/00269, PI16/00050, and PI17/01324, co-financed by ERDF (FEDER) Funds from the European Commission, ``A way of making Europe.´´ MR holds a Miguel Servet II contract (CPII14/00009). LS-M holds a IiSGM intramural contract.S

Nanoscale chemical and structural study of Co-based FEBID structures by STEM-EELS and HRTEM

Nanolithography techniques in a scanning electron microscope/focused ion beam are very attractive tools for a number of synthetic processes, including the fabrication of ferromagnetic nano-objects, with potential applications in magnetic storage or magnetic sensing. One of the most versatile techniques is the focused electron beam induced deposition, an efficient method for the production of magnetic structures highly resolved at the nanometric scale. In this work, this method has been applied to the controlled growth of magnetic nanostructures using Co₂(CO)₈. The chemical and structural properties of these deposits have been studied by electron energy loss spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy at the nanometric scale. The obtained results allow us to correlate the chemical and structural properties with the functionality of these magnetic nanostructures.The authors acknowledge the Spanish Ministry of Science for the financial support through Project No. MAT2008-06567-C02, including FEDER funding, the Aragon Regional Government Grant No. E26. RFP acknowledges F. De la Peña, K. March, and R. Arenal for the scientific discussions. RFP also acknowledges the Spanish Ministry of Science for the funding through a postdoctoral contract