934 research outputs found
Electron and hole transmission through superconductor - normal metal interfaces
We have investigated the transmission of electrons and holes through
interfaces between superconducting aluminum (Tc = 1.2 K) and various normal
non-magnetic metals (copper, gold, palladium, platinum, and silver) using
Andreev-reflection spectroscopy at T = 0.1 K. We analyzed the point contacts
with the modified BTK theory that includes Dynes' lifetime as a fitting
parameter G in addition to superconducting energy gap 2D and normal reflection
described by Z. For contact areas from 1 nm^2 to 10000 nm^2 the BTK Z parameter
was 0.5, corresponding to transmission coefficients of about 80 %, independent
of the normal metal. The very small variation of Z indicates that the
interfaces have a negligible dielectric tunneling barrier. Fermi surface
mismatch does not account for the observed transmission coefficient.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Proceedings of the 19th
International Conference on Magnetism ICM2012 (Busan 2012
Suppression of Giant Magnetoresistance by a superconducting contact
We predict that current perpendicular to the plane (CPP) giant
magnetoresistance (GMR) in a phase-coherent magnetic multilayer is suppressed
when one of the contacts is superconducting. This is a consequence of a
superconductivity-induced magneto-resistive (SMR) effect, whereby the
conductance of the ferromagnetically aligned state is drastically reduced by
superconductivity. To demonstrate this effect, we compute the GMR ratio of
clean (Cu/Co)_nCu and (Cu/Co)_nPb multilayers, described by an ab-initio spd
tight binding Hamiltonian. By analyzing a simpler model with two orbitals per
site, we also show that the suppression survives in the presence of elastic
scattering by impurities.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to PR
Giant magnetothermopower of magnon-assisted transport in ferromagnetic tunnel junctions
We present a theoretical description of the thermopower due to
magnon-assisted tunneling in a mesoscopic tunnel junction between two
ferromagnetic metals. The thermopower is generated in the course of thermal
equilibration between two baths of magnons, mediated by electrons. For a
junction between two ferromagnets with antiparallel polarizations, the ability
of magnon-assisted tunneling to create thermopower depends on the
difference between the size of the majority and
minority band Fermi surfaces and it is proportional to a temperature dependent
factor where is the magnon Debye
energy. The latter factor reflects the fractional change in the net
magnetization of the reservoirs due to thermal magnons at temperature
(Bloch's law). In contrast, the contribution of magnon-assisted
tunneling to the thermopower of a junction with parallel polarizations is
negligible. As the relative polarizations of ferromagnetic layers can be
manipulated by an external magnetic field, a large difference results in a magnetothermopower effect. This
magnetothermopower effect becomes giant in the extreme case of a junction
between two half-metallic ferromagnets, .Comment: 9 pages, 4 eps figure
Spin injection and spin accumulation in all-metal mesoscopic spin valves
We study the electrical injection and detection of spin accumulation in
lateral ferromagnetic metal-nonmagnetic metal-ferromagnetic metal (F/N/F) spin
valve devices with transparent interfaces. Different ferromagnetic metals,
permalloy (Py), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni), are used as electrical spin
injectors and detectors. For the nonmagnetic metal both aluminium (Al) and
copper (Cu) are used. Our multi-terminal geometry allows us to experimentally
separate the spin valve effect from other magneto resistance signals such as
the anomalous magneto resistance (AMR) and Hall effects. We find that the AMR
contribution of the ferromagnetic contacts can dominate the amplitude of the
spin valve effect, making it impossible to observe the spin valve effect in a
'conventional' measurement geometry. In a 'non local' spin valve measurement we
are able to completely isolate the spin valve signal and observe clear spin
accumulation signals at T=4.2 K as well as at room temperature (RT). For
aluminum we obtain spin relaxation lengths (lambda_{sf}) of 1.2 mu m and 600 nm
at T=4.2 K and RT respectively, whereas for copper we obtain 1.0 mu m and 350
nm. The spin relaxation times tau_{sf} in Al and Cu are compared with theory
and results obtained from giant magneto resistance (GMR), conduction electron
spin resonance (CESR), anti-weak localization and superconducting tunneling
experiments. The spin valve signals generated by the Py electrodes (alpha_F
lambda_F=0.5 [1.2] nm at RT [T=4.2 K]) are larger than the Co electrodes
(alpha_F lambda_F=0.3 [0.7] nm at RT [T=4.2 K]), whereas for Ni (alpha_F
lambda_F<0.3 nm at RT and T=4.2 K) no spin signal is observed. These values are
compared to the results obtained from GMR experiments.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, submitted to PR
Design of a series visco-elastic actuator for multi-purpose rehabilitation haptic device
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Variable structure parallel mechanisms, actuated with low-cost motors with serially added elasticity (series elastic actuator - SEA), has considerable potential in rehabilitation robotics. However, reflected masses of a SEA and variable structure parallel mechanism linked with a compliant actuator result in a potentially unstable coupled mechanical oscillator, which has not been addressed in previous studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The aim of this paper was to investigate through simulation, experimentation and theoretical analysis the necessary conditions that guarantee stability and passivity of a haptic device (based on a variable structure parallel mechanism driven by SEA actuators) when in contact with a human. We have analyzed an equivalent mechanical system where a dissipative element, a mechanical damper was placed in parallel to a spring in SEA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The theoretical analysis yielded necessary conditions relating the damping coefficient, spring stiffness, both reflected masses, controller's gain and desired virtual impedance that needs to be fulfilled in order to obtain stable and passive behavior of the device when in contact with a human. The validity of the derived passivity conditions were confirmed in simulations and experimentally.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results show that by properly designing variable structure parallel mechanisms actuated with SEA, versatile and affordable rehabilitation robotic devices can be conceived, which may facilitate their wide spread use in clinical and home environments.</p
Ligand-Receptor Interactions
The formation and dissociation of specific noncovalent interactions between a
variety of macromolecules play a crucial role in the function of biological
systems. During the last few years, three main lines of research led to a
dramatic improvement of our understanding of these important phenomena. First,
combination of genetic engineering and X ray cristallography made available a
simultaneous knowledg of the precise structure and affinity of series or
related ligand-receptor systems differing by a few well-defined atoms. Second,
improvement of computer power and simulation techniques allowed extended
exploration of the interaction of realistic macromolecules. Third, simultaneous
development of a variety of techniques based on atomic force microscopy,
hydrodynamic flow, biomembrane probes, optical tweezers, magnetic fields or
flexible transducers yielded direct experimental information of the behavior of
single ligand receptor bonds. At the same time, investigation of well defined
cellular models raised the interest of biologists to the kinetic and mechanical
properties of cell membrane receptors. The aim of this review is to give a
description of these advances that benefitted from a largely multidisciplinar
approach
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