842 research outputs found
Radiolysis of NaCl at high and low temperatures: development of size distribution of bubbles and colloids
New experimental results are presented on low temperature irradiation (18 °C) of rock-salt samples which had been exposed to initial doses up to 320 GRad at 100 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) shows that the latent heat of melting (LHM) of sodium colloids decreases during subsequent low-temperature irradiation, whereas the stored energy (SE) increases slowly, indicating that the process of radiolysis continues. The decrease of the LHM is due to dissolution of large colloids, because the intensities of the melting peaks decrease during the second stage irradiation at low temperature. The model is formulated to describe the nucleation kinetics and the evolution of the size distribution of chlorine precipitates and sodium colloids in NaCl under high dose irradiation. It is shown that the mechanism of dissolution of large Na colloids during low temperature irradiation can be related to melting of sodium colloids.
Magnetic field influence on the proximity effect in semiconductor - superconductor hybrid structures and their thermal conductance
We show that a magnetic field can influnce the proximity effect in NS
junctions via diamagnetic screening current flowing in the superconductor.
Using ballistic quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) electron channels as an example, we
show that the supercurrent flow shifts the proximity-induced minigap in the
excitation spectrum of a Q1D system from the Fermi level to higher
quasiparticle energies. Thermal conductance of a Q1D channel (normalized by
that of a normal Q1D ballistic system) is predicted to manifest such a spectral
feature as a nonmonotonic behavior at temperatures corresponding to the energy
of excitation into the gapful part of the spectrum.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, revised version with a new titl
A new mechanism for radiation damage processes in alkali halides
We present a theory of radiation damage formation in alkali halides based on a new mechanism of dislocation climb, which involves the production of VF centers (self-trapped hole neighboring a cation vacancy) as a result of the absorption of H centers of dislocation lines. We consider the evolution of all experimentally observed extended defects: metal colloids, gas bubbles, and vacancy voids. Voids are shown to arise and grow large due to the reaction between F and VF centers at the surface of halogen bubbles. Voids can ignite a back reaction between the radiolytic products resulting in decomposition of the irradiated material
A Redshift Survey of Nearby Galaxy Groups: the Shape of the Mass Density Profile
We constrain the mass profile and orbital structure of nearby groups and
clusters of galaxies. Our method yields the joint probability distribution of
the density slope n, the velocity anisotropy beta, and the turnover radius r0
for these systems. The measurement technique does not use results from N-body
simulations as priors. We incorporate 2419 new redshifts in the fields of 41
systems of galaxies with z < 0.04. The new groups have median velocity
dispersion sigma=360 km/s. We also use 851 archived redshifts in the fields of
8 nearly relaxed clusters with z < 0.1. Within R < 2 r200, the data are
consistent with a single power law matter density distribution with slope n =
1.8-2.2 for systems with sigma < 470 km/s, and n = 1.6-2.0 for those with sigma
> 470 km/s (95% confidence). We show that a simple, scale-free phase space
distribution function f(E,L^2) ~ (-E)^(alpha-1/2) L^(-2 \beta) is consistent
with the data as long as the matter density has a cusp. Using this DF, matter
density profiles with constant density cores (n=0) are ruled out with better
than 99.7% confidence.Comment: 22 pages; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Dynamical response of the "GGG" rotor to test the Equivalence Principle: theory, simulation and experiment. Part I: the normal modes
Recent theoretical work suggests that violation of the Equivalence Principle
might be revealed in a measurement of the fractional differential acceleration
between two test bodies -of different composition, falling in the
gravitational field of a source mass- if the measurement is made to the level
of or better. This being within the reach of ground based
experiments, gives them a new impetus. However, while slowly rotating torsion
balances in ground laboratories are close to reaching this level, only an
experiment performed in low orbit around the Earth is likely to provide a much
better accuracy.
We report on the progress made with the "Galileo Galilei on the Ground" (GGG)
experiment, which aims to compete with torsion balances using an instrument
design also capable of being converted into a much higher sensitivity space
test.
In the present and following paper (Part I and Part II), we demonstrate that
the dynamical response of the GGG differential accelerometer set into
supercritical rotation -in particular its normal modes (Part I) and rejection
of common mode effects (Part II)- can be predicted by means of a simple but
effective model that embodies all the relevant physics. Analytical solutions
are obtained under special limits, which provide the theoretical understanding.
A simulation environment is set up, obtaining quantitative agreement with the
available experimental data on the frequencies of the normal modes, and on the
whirling behavior. This is a needed and reliable tool for controlling and
separating perturbative effects from the expected signal, as well as for
planning the optimization of the apparatus.Comment: Accepted for publication by "Review of Scientific Instruments" on Jan
16, 2006. 16 2-column pages, 9 figure
Superconducting Proximity Effect and Universal Conductance Fluctuations
We examine universal conductance fluctuations (UCFs) in mesoscopic
normal-superconducting-normal (N-S-N) structures using a numerical solution of
the Bogoliubov - de Gennes equation. We discuss two cases depending on the
presence (``open'' structure) or absence (``closed'' structure) of
quasiparticle transmission. In contrast to N-S structures, where the onset of
superconductivity increases fluctuations, we find that UCFs are suppressed by
superconductivity for N-S-N structures. We demonstrate that the fluctuations in
``open'' and ``closed'' structures exhibit distinct responses to an applied
magnetic field and to an imposed phase variation of the superconducting order
parameter.Comment: (4 pages, 5 figures). Corrected typos in equations, added references,
changed Fig. 5 and its discussions. Phys. Rev. B, accepted for publicatio
Isokinetic strength of the trunk flexor muscles after surgical repair for incisional hernia
Purpose The repair of incisional hernias can be accomplished by open or laparoscopic techniques. The Biodex® dynamometer measures muscle strength during isokinetic movement. The objectives of this study are to compare the strength of the trunk Xexors between patients who underwent repair for incisional hernia and a control group, and to compare trunk Xexion after two kinds of operative techniques for incisional hernias with and without approximation of the rectus abdominis muscles. Methods The trunk Xexion of 30 patients after different operative techniques for midline incisional hernias and of 12 healthy subjects was studied with the Biodex® isokinetic dynamometer. Results The mean torque/weight (N m/kg) for trunk Xexion was significantly higher in the control group compared to the patient group after incisional hernia repair. A significantly higher peak torque/weight [coefficient 24.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.05; 48.94, P = 0.05] was found in the two-layered suture technique without mesh compared to the laparoscopic technique after adjusting for gender. Conclusions The isokinetic strength of the trunk Xexor muscles is reduced after an operation for incisional hernia. There is some evidence that a two-layered suture repair with approximation of the rectus abdominis muscles results in higher isokinetic strength of the trunk Xexor muscles compared to the laparoscopic technique
Conductance fluctuations in mesoscopic normal-metal/superconductor samples
We study the magnetoconductance fluctuations of mesoscopic
normal-metal/superconductor (NS) samples consisting of a gold-wire in contact
with a niobium film. The magnetic field strength is varied over a wide range,
including values that are larger than the upper critical field B_c2 of niobium.
In agreement with recent theoretical predictions we find that in the NS sample
the rms of the conductance fluctuations (CF) is by a factor of 2.8 +/- 0.4
larger than in the high field regime where the entire system is driven normal
conducting. Further characteristics of the CF are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, REVTEX, 3 eps-figures included. To be published in Phys.
Rev. Lett.. Changes: one misplaced figure correcte
Experimental determination of the quasi-particle decay length in a superconducting quantum well
We have investigated experimentally the electronic transport properties of a
two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) present in an AlSb/InAs/AlSb quantum well,
where part of the toplayer has been replaced by a superconducting Nb strip,
with an energy gap . By measuring the lateral electronic transport
underneath the superconductor, and comparing the experimental results with a
model based on the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation and the Landauer-B\"uttiker
formalism, we obtain a decay length for
electrons. This decay length corresponds to an interface transparency
between the Nb and InAs. Using this value, we infer an
energy gap in the excitation spectrum of the SQW of .Comment: Revtex, 3 PostScript figure
Magnetoresistance of proximity coupled Au wires
We report measurements of the magnetoresistance (MR) of narrow Au wires
coupled to a superconducting Al contact on one end, and a normal Au contact on
the other. The MR at low magnetic field is quadratic in , with a
characteristic field scale determined by phase coherent paths which
encompass not only the wire, but also the two contacts. is essentially
temperature independent at low temperatures, indicating that the area of the
phase coherent paths is not determined by the superconducting coherence length
in the normal metal, which is strongly temperature dependent at low
temperatures. We identify the relevant length scale as a combination of the
electron phase coherence length in the normal metal and the coherence
length in the superconductor
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