117 research outputs found
Intrinsic conduction through topological surface states of insulating BiTe epitaxial thin films
Topological insulators represent a novel state of matter with surface charge
carriers having a massless Dirac dispersion and locked helical spin
polarization. Many exciting experiments have been proposed by theory, yet,
their execution have been hampered by the extrinsic conductivity associated
with the unavoidable presence of defects in BiTe and BiSe bulk
single crystals as well as impurities on their surfaces. Here we present the
preparation of BiTe thin films that are insulating in the bulk and the
four-point probe measurement of the conductivity of the Dirac states on
surfaces that are intrinsically clean. The total amount of charge carriers in
the experiment is of order 10 cm only and mobilities up to 4,600
cm/Vs have been observed. These values are achieved by carrying out the
preparation, structural characterization, angle-resolved and x-ray
photoemission analysis, and the temperature dependent four-point probe
conductivity measurement all in-situ under ultra-high-vacuum conditions. This
experimental approach opens the way to prepare devices that can exploit the
intrinsic topological properties of the Dirac surface states.Comment: accepted for publication in Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS
A GPU-based Correlator X-engine Implemented on the CHIME Pathfinder
We present the design and implementation of a custom GPU-based compute
cluster that provides the correlation X-engine of the CHIME Pathfinder radio
telescope. It is among the largest such systems in operation, correlating
32,896 baselines (256 inputs) over 400MHz of radio bandwidth. Making heavy use
of consumer-grade parts and a custom software stack, the system was developed
at a small fraction of the cost of comparable installations. Unlike existing
GPU backends, this system is built around OpenCL kernels running on
consumer-level AMD GPUs, taking advantage of low-cost hardware and leveraging
packed integer operations to double algorithmic efficiency. The system achieves
the required 105TOPS in a 10kW power envelope, making it among the most
power-efficient X-engines in use today.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Accepted by IEEE ASAP 201
Optically induced dynamic nuclear spin polarisation in diamond
The sensitivity of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) depends strongly on
nuclear spin polarisation and, motivated by this observation, dynamical nuclear
spin polarisation has recently been applied to enhance MRI protocols
(Kurhanewicz, J., et al., Neoplasia 13, 81 (2011)). Nuclear spins associated
with the 13 C carbon isotope (nuclear spin I = 1/2) in diamond possess uniquely
long spin lattice relaxation times (Reynhardt, E.C. and G.L. High, Prog. in
Nuc. Mag. Res. Sp. 38, 37 (2011)) If they are present in diamond nanocrystals,
especially when strongly polarised, they form a promising contrast agent for
MRI. Current schemes for achieving nuclear polarisation, however, require
cryogenic temperatures. Here we demonstrate an efficient scheme that realises
optically induced 13 C nuclear spin hyperpolarisation in diamond at room
temperature and low ambient magnetic field. Optical pumping of a
Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centre creates a continuously renewable electron spin
polarisation which can be transferred to surrounding 13 C nuclear spins.
Importantly for future applications we also realise polarisation protocols that
are robust against an unknown misalignment between magnetic field and crystal
axis.Comment: This is the revision submitted to NJ
Recommended from our members
Quantum dot-based broadband optical antenna for efficient extraction of single photons in the telecom O-band
Long-distance fiber-based quantum communication relies on efficient non-classical light sources operating at telecommunication wavelengths. Semiconductor quantum dots are promising candidates for on-demand generation of single photons and entangled photon pairs for such applications. However, their brightness is strongly limited due to total internal reflection at the semiconductor/vacuum interface. Here we overcome this limitation using a dielectric antenna structure. The non-classical light source consists of a gallium phosphide solid immersion lens in combination with a quantum dot nanomembrane emitting single photons in the telecom O-band. With this device, the photon extraction is strongly increased in a broad spectral range. A brightness of 17% (numerical aperture of 0.6) is obtained experimentally, with a single photon purity of (2)(0)=0.049±0.02 at saturation power. This brings the practical implementation of quantum communication networks one step closer
Calibrating CHIME, A New Radio Interferometer to Probe Dark Energy
The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) is a transit
interferometer currently being built at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical
Observatory (DRAO) in Penticton, BC, Canada. We will use CHIME to map neutral
hydrogen in the frequency range 400 -- 800\,MHz over half of the sky, producing
a measurement of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) at redshifts between 0.8 --
2.5 to probe dark energy. We have deployed a pathfinder version of CHIME that
will yield constraints on the BAO power spectrum and provide a test-bed for our
calibration scheme. I will discuss the CHIME calibration requirements and
describe instrumentation we are developing to meet these requirements
- …