1,160 research outputs found
Optical control of competing exchange interactions and coherent spin-charge coupling in two-orbital Mott insulators
In order to have a better understanding of ultrafast electrical control of
exchange interactions in multi-orbital systems, we study a two-orbital Hubbard
model at half filling under the action of a time-periodic electric field. Using
suitable projection operators and a generalized time-dependent canonical
transformation, we derive an effective Hamiltonian which describes two
different regimes. First, for a wide range of non-resonant frequencies, we find
a change of the bilinear Heisenberg exchange that is
analogous to the single-orbital case. Moreover we demonstrate that also the
additional biquadratic exchange interaction can be enhanced,
reduced and even change sign depending on the electric field. Second, for
special driving frequencies, we demonstrate a novel spin-charge coupling
phenomenon enabling coherent transfer between spin and charge degrees of
freedom of doubly ionized states. These results are confirmed by an exact
time-evolution of the full two-orbital Mott-Hubbard Hamiltonian.Comment: 3 pages, 6 figure
New Long-term Historical Data Recording and Failure Analysis System for the CERN Cryoplants
CERN uses several liquid helium cryoplants (total of 21) for cooling large variety of superconducting devices namely: accelerating cavities, magnets for accelerators and particle detectors. The cryoplants are remotely operated from several control rooms using industrial standard supervision systems, which allows the instant display of all plant data and the trends, over several days, for the most important signals. The monitoring of the cryoplant performance during transient conditions and normal operation over several months asks for a long-term recording of all plant parameters. An historical data recording system has been developed, which collects data from all cryoplants, stores them in a centralized database over a period of one year and allows an user-friendly graphical visualization. In particular, a novel tool was developed for debugging causes of plant failures by comparing selected reference data with the simultaneous evolution of all plant data. The paper describes the new system, already in operation with 11 cryoplants
Prospects of cold dark matter searches with an ultra-low-energy germanium detector
The report describes the research program on the development of
ultra-low-energy germanium detectors, with emphasis on WIMP dark matter
searches. A threshold of 100 eV is achieved with a 20 g detector array,
providing a unique probe to the low-mas WIMP. Present data at a surface
laboratory is expected to give rise to comparable sensitivities with the
existing limits at the WIMP-mass range. The projected
parameter space to be probed with a full-scale, kilogram mass-range experiment
is presented. Such a detector would also allow the studies of neutrino-nucleus
coherent scattering and neutrino magnetic moments.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of TAUP-2007 Conferenc
Visualization of a DNA-PK/PARP1 complex
The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) and Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) are critical enzymes that reduce genomic damage caused by DNA lesions. They are both activated by DNA strand breaks generated by physiological and environmental factors, and they have been shown to interact. Here, we report in vivo evidence that DNA-PK and PARP1 are equally necessary for rapid repair. We purified a DNA-PK/PARP1 complex loaded on DNA and performed electron microscopy and single particle analysis on its tetrameric and dimer-of-tetramers forms. By comparison with the DNA-PK holoenzyme and fitting crystallographic structures, we see that the PARP1 density is in close contact with the Ku subunit. Crucially, PARP1 binding elicits substantial conformational changes in the DNA-PK synaptic dimer assembly. Taken together, our data support a functional, in-pathway role for DNA-PK and PARP1 in double-strand break (DSB) repair. We also propose a NHEJ model where proteināprotein interactions alter substantially the architecture of DNA-PK dimers at DSBs, to trigger subsequent interactions or enzymatic reactions
Large-Mass Ultra-Low Noise Germanium Detectors: Performance and Applications in Neutrino and Astroparticle Physics
A new type of radiation detector, a p-type modified electrode germanium
diode, is presented. The prototype displays, for the first time, a combination
of features (mass, energy threshold and background expectation) required for a
measurement of coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering in a nuclear reactor
experiment. The device hybridizes the mass and energy resolution of a
conventional HPGe coaxial gamma spectrometer with the low electronic noise and
threshold of a small x-ray semiconductor detector, also displaying an intrinsic
ability to distinguish multiple from single-site particle interactions. The
present performance of the prototype and possible further improvements are
discussed, as well as other applications for this new type of device in
neutrino and astroparticle physics (double-beta decay, neutrino magnetic moment
and WIMP searches).Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.
Experimental constraints on a dark matter origin for the DAMA annual modulation effect
A claim for evidence of dark matter interactions in the DAMA experiment has
been recently reinforced. We employ a new type of germanium detector to
conclusively rule out a standard isothermal galactic halo of Weakly Interacting
Massive Particles (WIMPs) as the explanation for the annual modulation effect
leading to the claim. Bounds are similarly imposed on a suggestion that dark
pseudoscalars mightlead to the effect. We describe the sensitivity to light
dark matter particles achievable with our device, in particular to
Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Model candidates.Comment: v4: introduces recent results from arXiv:0807.3279 and
arXiv:0807.2926. Sensitivity to pseudoscalars is revised in light of the
first. Discussion on the subject adde
Risk assessment for the spread of Serratia marcescens within dental-unit waterline systems using Vermamoeba vermiformis
Vermamoeba vermiformis is associated with the biofilm ecology of dental-unit waterlines (DUWLs). This study investigated whether V. vermiformis is able to act as a vector for potentially pathogenic bacteria and so aid their dispersal within DUWL systems. Clinical dental water was initially examined for Legionella species by inoculating it onto Legionella selective-medium plates. The molecular identity/profile of the glassy colonies obtained indicated none of these isolates were Legionella species. During this work bacterial colonies were identified as a non-pigmented Serratia marcescens. As the water was from a clinical DUWL which had been treated with Alpronā¢ this prompted the question as to whether S. marcescens had developed resistance to the biocide. Exposure to Alpronā¢ indicated that this dental biocide was effective, under laboratory conditions, against S. marcescens at up to 1x108 colony forming units/millilitre (cfu/ml). V. vermiformis was cultured for eight weeks on cells of S. marcescens and Escherichia coli. Subsequent electron microscopy showed that V. vermiformis grew equally well on S. marcescens and E. coli (p = 0.0001). Failure to detect the presence of S. marcescens within the encysted amoebae suggests that V. vermiformis is unlikely to act as a vector supporting the growth of this newly isolated, nosocomial bacterium
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