482 research outputs found
Coexistence of Paramagnetic-Charge-Ordered and Ferromagnetic-Metallic Phases in La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 evidenced by ESR
Throughout a complete Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and magnetization study
of La0.5Ca0.5MnO3, we discuss about the nature of the complex phase-segregated
state established in this compound below T~210 K. Between TN<T<TC, the ESR
spectra shows two lines characteristic of two different magnetic phases. From
the resonance field (Hr) derived for each line we argue that the
incommensurate-charge-ordering phase (ICO) which coexists with
ferromagnetic-metallic (FMM) clusters in this temperature interval, is mainly
paramagnetic and not antiferromagnetic. The FMM/ICO ratio can be tuned with a
relatively small field, which suggests that the internal energy associated with
those phases is very similar. Below TN, there is an appreciable FM contribution
to the magnetization and the ESR spectra indicates the presence of FM clusters
in an antiferromagnetic matrix (canted). Our results show that ESR could be a
very useful tool to investigate the nature of the phase-separated state now
believed to play a fundamental role in the physics of mixed valent manganites.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure
HfO2 based memory devices with rectifying capabilities
We report on the fabrication and characterization of metal/insulator/metal capacitor like devices, with both rectifying and hysteretic features. Devices are formed by two junctions, Ti/HfO2 and Co/HfO2. Each junction exhibits highly repetitive hysteretic I-V curves with a sharp transition from a high to a low resistance state (3–4 orders of magnitude jump). The opposite transition (from low to high) is induced by polarity reversal. The rectifying non-crossing characteristics of the I-V branches denote their potential use as a multifunctional device, acting as a built-in rectifier and memory cell in a single device. Based on the phenomenological model description by Zazpe et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 103, 073114 (2013)], we propose a circuital equivalent representation supported on switchable rectifying junctions. By exploring different electrode connections, we disentangle the role of the bulk transport in HfO2 devices.Fil: Quinteros, Cynthia Paula. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área Investigaciones y Aplicaciones no Nucleares; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Zaspe, R.. CIC nanoGUNE; EspañaFil: Marlasca, F. G.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área Investigaciones y Aplicaciones no Nucleares; ArgentinaFil: Golmar, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Casanova, F.. CIC nanoGUNE; España. Fundación Vasca para la Ciencia; EspañaFil: Stoliar, Pablo Alberto. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Universite de Nantes; FranciaFil: Hueso, L.. Fundación Vasca para la Ciencia; España. CIC nanoGUNE; EspañaFil: Levy, Pablo Eduardo. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área Investigaciones y Aplicaciones no Nucleares; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin
Stationary waves and slowly moving features in the night upper clouds of Venus
At the cloud top level of Venus (65-70 km altitude) the atmosphere rotates 60
times faster than the underlying surface, a phenomenon known as superrotation.
Whereas on Venus's dayside the cloud top motions are well determined and Venus
general circulation models predict a mean zonal flow at the upper clouds
similar on both day and nightside, the nightside circulation remains poorly
studied except for the polar region. Here we report global measurements of the
nightside circulation at the upper cloud level. We tracked individual features
in thermal emission images at 3.8 and 5.0 obtained between
2006 and 2008 by the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer
(VIRTIS-M) onboard Venus Express and in 2015 by ground-based measurements with
the Medium-Resolution 0.8-5.5 Micron Spectrograph and Imager (SpeX) at the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Infrared Telescope Facility
(NASA/IRTF). The zonal motions range from -110 to -60 m s, consistent
with those found for the dayside but with larger dispersion. Slow motions (-50
to -20 m s) were also found and remain unexplained. In addition,
abundant stationary wave patterns with zonal speeds from -10 to +10 m s
dominate the night upper clouds and concentrate over the regions of higher
surface elevation.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, 6 supplementary figure
Facile production of stable silicon nanoparticles: laser chemistry coupled to in situ stabilization via room temperature hydrosilylation
Stable, alkyl-terminated, light-emitting silicon nanoparticles have been synthesized in a continuous process by laser pyrolysis of a liquid trialkyl-silane precursor selected as a safer alternative to gas silane (SiH4). Stabilization was achieved by in situ reaction using a liquid collection system instead of the usual solid state filtration. The alkene contained in the collection liquid (1-dodecene) reacted with the newly formed silicon nanoparticles in an unusual room-temperature hydrosilylation process. It was achieved by the presence of fluoride species, also produced during laser pyrolysis from the decomposition of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) selected as a laser sensitizer. This process directly rendered alkyl-passivated silicon nanoparticles with consistent morphology and size (<3 nm), avoiding the use of costly post-synthetic treatments
A chaotic long-lived vortex at Venus southern pole
Polar vortices are common in the atmospheres of rapidly rotating planets
[1-4]. On Earth and Mars they are tied to the surface and their existence
follows the seasonal insolation cycle [1-3]. Venus is a slowly rotating planet
but it is also known to have vortices at both poles at the edge of a
superrotating atmosphere [5-8]. However, their nature and long-term properties
have not been constrained so far impeding precise modeling. Here we report
cloud motions at two altitude levels (about 42 km and 63 km above the surface)
using infrared images from the VIRTIS instrument onboard Venus Express that
show that the south polar vortex is a permanent but erratic and unpredictable
feature. We find that the centers of rotation of the vortex at these levels
rarely coincide and both wander erratically around the pole with speeds of up
to 16 m s-1. The cloud morphology and vorticity patches are uncorrelated and
change continuously developing transient areas of small vertical motions. Venus
south polar vortex is a continuously evolving structure immersed in a
baroclinic environment laying at altitude levels that have variable vertical
and meridional wind shears, extending at least 20 km in height through a
quasi-convective turbulent region
Computational assessment of non-axisymmetric separate-jet exhausts on test rig configurations
The next generation of civil turbofan engines are likely to have increased bypass ratios and lower fan pressure ratios to improve propulsive efficiency and to reduce specific fuel consumption. However, the larger size of these engines may result in increased overall aircraft drag partially that could offset the fuel consumption benefits. Non-axisymmetric exhaust configurations can contribute to the mitigation of these effects through an improved alignment of the thrust vector relative to the drag axis. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how to experimentally test non-axisymmetric exhaust designs. To address this, the study develops a non-axisymmetric configuration of the Dual Stream-Flow Reference Nozzle (DSFRN) and assesses it with computational fluid dynamics in various configurations and conditions. The objective is to establish a baseline approach for testing non-axisymmetric exhausts. Overall, it is recommended to test non-axisymmetric exhausts with the ambient wind-on effects included and to evaluate the three-dimensional exhaust characteristics using thrust vector angles, in addition to overall velocity and discharge coefficients. Moreover, the interaction between a swept wing and the non-axisymmetric exhaust was found not to have a notable impact on the exhaust characteristics.Innovate UK and Rolls-Royce plc
Laser-driven direct synthesis of carbon nanodots and application as sensitizers for visible-light photocatalysis
We present the first successful synthesis of monodisperse carbon nanodots (CNDs) with tunable photoluminescence (PL) carried out by laser pyrolysis of two common volatile organic precursors such as toluene and pyridine. Remarkably, the initial chemical composition of the precursor determines the formation of undoped or N-doped CNDs and their corresponding absorption response in the visible range (expanded for the latter). We demonstrate the control and versatility of this synthesis method to tune the final outcome and its potential to explore a great number of potential solvent candidates. Furthermore, we have successfully exploited these CNDs (both undoped and N-doped) as effective sensitizers of TiO2 nanoparticles in the visible-light driven photo-degradation of a cationic dye selected as model organic pollutant
The impact of a large object with Jupiter in July 2009
On 2009 July 19, we observed a single, large impact on Jupiter at a
planetocentric latitude of 55^{\circ}S. This and the Shoemaker-Levy 9 (SL9)
impacts on Jupiter in 1994 are the only planetary-scale impacts ever observed.
The 2009 impact had an entry trajectory opposite and with a lower incidence
angle than that of SL9. Comparison of the initial aerosol cloud debris
properties, spanning 4,800 km east-west and 2,500 km north-south, with those
produced by the SL9 fragments, and dynamical calculations of pre-impact orbit,
indicate that the impactor was most probably an icy body with a size of 0.5-1
km. The collision rate of events of this magnitude may be five to ten times
more frequent than previously thought. The search for unpredicted impacts, such
as the current one, could be best performed in 890-nm and K (2.03-2.36 {\mu}m)
filters in strong gaseous absorption, where the high-altitude aerosols are more
reflective than Jupiter's primary cloud.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure
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