A Nomographic Methodology for Use in Performance Trade-Off Studies of Parabolic Dish Solar Power Modules

A simple graphical method was developed to undertake technical design trade-off studies for individual parabolic dish models comprising a two-axis tracking parabolic dish with a cavity receiver and power conversion assembly at the focal point. The results of these technical studies are then used in performing the techno-economic analyses required for determining appropriate subsystem sizing. Selected graphs that characterize the performance of subsystems within the module were arranged in the form of a nomogram that would enable an investigator to carry out several design trade-off studies. Key performance parameters encompassed in the nomogram include receiver losses, intercept factor, engine rating, and engine efficiency. Design and operation parameters such as concentrator size, receiver type (open or windowed aperture), receiver aperture size, operating temperature of the receiver and engine, engine partial load characteristics, concentrator slope error, and the type of reflector surface, are also included in the graphical solution. Cost considerations are not included

Formation and structure of equatorial anticyclones caused by large scale cross equatorial flows determined by ATS-1 photographs

Atmospheric models for cross equatorial air mass flow and anticyclone formatio

Direct Observation of Non-Monotonic dx2-y2-Wave Superconducting Gap in Electron-Doped High-Tc Superconductor Pr0.89LaCe0.11CuO4

We performed high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on electron-doped high-Tc superconductor Pr0.89LaCe0.11CuO4 to study the anisotropy of the superconducting gap. The observed momentum dependence is basically consistent with the dx2-y2-wave symmetry, but obviously deviates from the monotonic dx2-y2 gap function. The maximum gap is observed not at the zone boundary, but at the hot spot where the antiferromagnetic spin fluctuation strongly couples to the electrons on the Fermi surface. The present experimental results unambiguously indicate the spin-mediated pairing mechanism in electron-doped high-Tc superconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

The X-ray Structure of A399 and A401: A Pre-Merging Cluster Pair

We present {\em ASCA} results of the pair clusters A399 and A401. The region between the two clusters exhibits excess X-rays over the value expected with a simple superposition of the two clusters. We see, however, no temperature rise at the merging front; the temperature is near the average of those in the inner regions of the two clusters. These indicate that the two clusters are really interacting but it is not strong at present. The inner regions of the two clusters show no radial variations of temperature, abundance and absorption values. We set upper-limits of mass deposition rate of cooling flow to be $\dot{M}<35\;\rm M_{\odot}yr^{-1}$ and $\dot{M}<59\;\rm M_{\odot}yr^{-1}$ for A399 and A401, respectively. A hint of azimuthal variation of the temperature is also found.Comment: 17 pages, 13 postscript figures, 2 external tables, accepted for publication in PAS

Effect of disorder outside the CuO2_{2} planes on TcT_{c} of copper oxide superconductors

The effect of disorder on the superconducting transition temperature $T_{c}$ of cuprate superconductors is examined. Disorder is introduced into the cation sites in the plane adjacent to the CuO$_{2}$ planes of two single-layer systems, Bi$_{2.0}$Sr$_{1.6}$Ln$_{0.4}$CuO$_{6+\delta}$ and La$_{1.85-y}$Nd$_{y}$Sr$_{0.15}$CuO$_{4}$. Disorder is controlled by changing rare earth (Ln) ions with different ionic radius in the former, and by varying the Nd content in the latter with the doped carrier density kept constant. We show that this type of disorder works as weak scatterers in contrast to the in-plane disorder produced by Zn, but remarkably reduces $T_{c}$ suggesting novel effects of disorder on high-$T_{c}$ superconductivity.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Let

Reasoning-and-proving in geometry in school mathematics textbooks in Japan

In Japan it is in Grades 7–9, and primarily in geometry, that school students are introduced to the significance and methodology of proof in mathematics. As textbooks play a central role in everyday lessons in Japan, this paper presents an analysis of the geometry chapters of a selected mathematics textbook currently in common use with students aged 13–14 in Grade 8. We show that the emphasis in the textbook is on ‘direct’ proofs of geometrical statements, accompanied by activities which encourage students to form conjectures. Based on our analysis, we raise critical issues related both to the strengths and weaknesses of such a textbook design on students’ understanding of reasoning-and-proving. The strengths, as evidenced by Japanese national data, are that most Grade 8 students in Japan are able to construct suitable proofs – usually based on congruent triangles. The weaknesses, as verified by other research, are that the same students may not fully appreciate the necessity or generality of mathematical proof

Single-crystal growth of underdoped Bi-2223

To investigate the origin of the enhanced Tc ({\approx} 110 K) of the trilayer cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+{\delta} (Bi-2223), its underdoped single crystals are a critical requirement. Here, we demonstrate the first successful in-plane resistivity measurements of heavily underdoped Bi-2223 (zero-resistivity temperatures {\approx} 20~35 K). Detailed crystal growth methods, the annealing process, as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and magnetic susceptibility measurement results are also reported.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 27th International Symposium on Superconductivity, ISS 2014, to appear in Physics Procedi

Coherent shuttle of electron-spin states

We demonstrate a coherent spin shuttle through a GaAs/AlGaAs quadruple-quantum-dot array. Starting with two electrons in a spin-singlet state in the first dot, we shuttle one electron over to either the second, third or fourth dot. We observe that the separated spin-singlet evolves periodically into the $m=0$ spin-triplet and back before it dephases due to nuclear spin noise. We attribute the time evolution to differences in the local Zeeman splitting between the respective dots. With the help of numerical simulations, we analyse and discuss the visibility of the singlet-triplet oscillations and connect it to the requirements for coherent spin shuttling in terms of the inter-dot tunnel coupling strength and rise time of the pulses. The distribution of entangled spin pairs through tunnel coupled structures may be of great utility for connecting distant qubit registers on a chip.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figure

Hyperfine Structure Constants for Eu Isotopes: Is The Empirical Formula of HFS Anomaly Universal ?

We calculate the hyperfine structure constant for the Eu isotopes with shell model wave functions. The calculated results are compared with those predicted by the Moskowitz-Lombardi (M-L) empirical formula. It turns out that the two approaches give the very different behaviors of the hfs constants in the isotope dependence. This should be easily measured by experiment, which may lead to the universality check of the M-L formula.Comment: 18 pages, Latex, two figure