1,141 research outputs found
Principles and Early Historical Development of Silicon Avalanche and Geiger-Mode Photodiodes
The historical development of technology can inform future innovation, and while theses and review articles attempt to set technologies and methods in context, few can discuss the historical background of a scientific paradigm. In this chapter, the nature of the photon is discussed along with what physical mechanisms allow detection of single-photons using solid-state semiconductor-based technologies. By restricting the scope of this chapter to near-infrared, visible and near-ultraviolet detection we can focus upon the internal photoelectric effect. Likewise, by concentrating on single-photon semiconductor detectors, we can focus upon the carrier-multiplication gain that has allowed sensitivity to approach the single-photon level. This chapter and the references herein aim to provide a historical account and full literature review of key, early developments in the history of photodiodes (PDs), avalanche photodiodes (APDs), single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), other Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GM-APDs) and silicon photo-multipliers (Si-PMs). As there are overlaps with the historical development of the transistor (1940s), we find that development of the p-n junction and the observation of noise from distinct crystal lattice or doping imperfections â called âmicroplasmasâ â were catalysts for innovation. The study of microplasmas, and later dedicated structures acting as known-area, uniform-breakdown artificial microplasmas, allowed the avalanche gain mechanism to be observed, studied and utilised
From Fantasy to Reality: Managing Biomedical Risk Emotions in and through Fictional Media
In this article, we explore the role that fictional media (film and television) play in evoking and managing collective and individual anxieties towards biomedical research. We draw on two data sets: fictional media depictions of human research subjects and interviews with Phase I clinical trial participants conducted in the USA in 2013. We show how fictional media provide an outlet for collective uncertainties surrounding biomedical research through depictions that mock and dehumanise research participants, using such emotions of shock, disgust, pity, amusement and humour. We analyse how themes from fictional media are also used to manage actual clinical trial participantsâ own anxiety concerning the unknown risks of research participation. By contrasting the reality of their research experience with fantasy derived from entertainment media, clinical trial participants minimise the seriousness of the side effects they have or may experience in actual Phase I clinical trials. We conclude that fictional media serve an important role in the collective and individual management of risk emotion
The Influence of Solar Flares on the Lower Solar Atmosphere: Evidence from the Na D Absorption Line Measured by GOLF/SOHO
Solar flares presumably have an impact on the deepest layers of the solar
atmosphere and yet the observational evidence for such an impact is scarce.
Using ten years of measurements of the Na D and Na D Fraunhofer
lines, measured by GOLF onboard SOHO, we show that this photospheric line is
indeed affected by flares. The effect of individual flares is hidden by solar
oscillations, but a statistical analysis based on conditional averaging reveals
a clear signature. Although GOLF can only probe one single wavelength at a
time, we show that both wings of the Na line can nevertheless be compared. The
varying line asymmetry can be interpreted as an upward plasma motion from the
lower solar atmosphere during the peak of the flare, followed by a downward
motion.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure
Aging dynamics of heterogeneous spin models
We investigate numerically the dynamics of three different spin models in the
aging regime. Each of these models is meant to be representative of a distinct
class of aging behavior: coarsening systems, discontinuous spin glasses, and
continuous spin glasses. In order to study dynamic heterogeneities induced by
quenched disorder, we consider single-spin observables for a given disorder
realization. In some simple cases we are able to provide analytical predictions
for single-spin response and correlation functions.
The results strongly depend upon the model considered. It turns out that, by
comparing the slow evolution of a few different degrees of freedom, one can
distinguish between different dynamic classes. As a conclusion we present the
general properties which can be induced from our results, and discuss their
relation with thermometric arguments.Comment: 39 pages, 36 figure
Quantized Thermal Transport in the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect
We analyze thermal transport in the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE),
employing a Luttinger liquid model of edge states. Impurity mediated
inter-channel scattering events are incorporated in a hydrodynamic description
of heat and charge transport. The thermal Hall conductance, , is shown to
provide a new and universal characterization of the FQHE state, and reveals
non-trivial information about the edge structure. The Lorenz ratio between
thermal and electrical Hall conductances {\it violates} the free-electron
Wiedemann-Franz law, and for some fractional states is predicted to be {\it
negative}. We argue that thermal transport may provide a unique way to detect
the presence of the elusive upstream propagating modes, predicted for fractions
such as and .Comment: 6 pages REVTeX, 2 postscript figures (uuencoded and compressed
Study of heterogeneous nucleation of eutectic Si in high-purity Al-Si alloys with Sr addition
The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2010 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM InternationalAl-5 wt pct Si master-alloys with controlled Sr and/or P addition/s were produced using super purity Al 99.99 wt pct and Si 99.999 wt pct materials in an arc melter. The master-alloy was melt-spun resulting in the production of thin ribbons. The Al matrix of the ribbons contained entrained Al-Si eutectic droplets that were subsequently investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermodynamic calculations, and transmission electron microscopy techniques were employed to examine the effect of the Sr and P additions on eutectic undercoolings and nucleation phenomenon. Results indicate that, unlike P, Sr does not promote nucleation. Increasing Sr additions depressed the eutectic nucleation temperature. This may be a result of the formation of a Sr phase that could consume or detrimentally affect potent AlP nucleation sites.This work is financially supported by the
Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and managerially supported from the OAD
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