553 research outputs found
ARXPS-studies ofcˆ-axis textured YBa2Cu3Ox-films
YBa2Cu3Ox sputter deposited cold on MgO grows in O2 annealing epitaxially to a transparent, superconducting film with Tc 80K. The unscraped surfaces of these films are smooth showing XPS lines changing with photoelectron take-off angle. This enhanced data base allows to separate the different chemical compounds (hydroxide, peroxide, carbonate, carboxyle, cuprate, graphite ...) and to obtain their spatial distribution. This yields the compounds, their amount and distribution making up the cinder growing with O2-anneal at internal and external surfaces. The cinder stoichiometry gives insights in the chemistry going on in O2 annealing. Below the cinder the signature ofcˆ-axis oriented YBa2Cu3Ox is identified, showing that a Ba-oxide layer forms the stable surface. This coats insulating CuO2 and Y-oxide layers yielding so an intrinsic dead layer
Unusual features in the nonlinear microwave surface impedance of Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films
Striking features have been found in the nonlinear microwave (8 GHz) surface
impedance of high-quality YBaCuO thin films with comparable
low power characteristics [ and ]. The surface resistance is found to increase,
decrease, or remain independent of the microwave field (up to 60 mT)
at different temperatures and for different samples. However, the surface
reactance always follows the same functional form. Mechanisms which may
be responsible for the observed variations in and are briefly
discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Nanoscale spin-polarization in dilute magnetic semiconductor (In,Mn)Sb
Results of point contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) experiments on (In,Mn)Sb
are presented and analyzed in terms of current models of charge conversion at a
superconductor-ferromagnet interface. We investigate the influence of surface
transparency, and study the crossover from ballistic to diffusive transport
regime as contact size is varied. Application of a Nb tip to a (In,Mn)Sb sample
with Curie temperature Tc of 5.4 K allowed the determination of
spin-polarization when the ferromagnetic phase transition temperature is
crossed. We find a striking difference between the temperature dependence of
the local spin polarization and of the macroscopic magnetization, and
demonstrate that nanoscale clusters with magnetization close to the saturated
value are present even well above the magnetic phase transition temperature.Comment: 4 page
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies of non-stoichiometric superconducting NbB2+x
Polycrystalline samples of NbB2+x with nominal composition (B/Nb) = 2.0, 2.1,
2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
The spectra revealed Nb and B oxides on the surface of the samples, mainly B2O3
and Nb2O5. After Ar ion etching the intensity of Nb and B oxides decreased. The
Nb 3d5/2 and B 1s core levels associated with the chemical states (B/Nb) were
identified and they do not change with etching time. The Binding Energy of the
Nb 3d5/2 and B 1s core levels increase as boron content increases, suggesting a
positive chemical shift in the core levels. On the other hand, analysis of
Valence Band spectra showed that the contribution of the Nb 4d states slightly
decreased while the contribution of the B 2p(pi) states increased as the boron
content increased. As a consequence, the electronic and superconducting
properties were substantially modified, in good agreement with band-structure
calculations.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, 1 tabl
Heat Resistance of Human Pathogens in Sous-Vide Products Studied in Model Nutrition Media
Sous-vide (French for ʽunder vacuum’) is a professional cooking method, by which, under oxygen-free conditions and precise temperature control, not only cooking but preservation is achieved. During the process the food matrix is vacuum-packed and undergoes a mild heat treatment, thus achieving an enhanced nutrition value and a better organoleptic character. Due to the mild heat treatment (55 to 90 °C), the high water activity, and the slight acidity of raw materials, the microbial quality assurance is a great challenge even for professionals. The heat treatment does not assure the inactivation of pathogen spores. In our experiments we used Clostridium perfringens representing the spore-forming pathogens, and Salmonella Enteritidis as a the food-borne infection bacterium. Effects of various temperatures were measured in normal and sous-vide type vacuum packaging. Higher thermal death rate in vacuum packaging was demonstrated for Salmonella Enteritidis and Clostridium perfringens
Direct observation of non-local effects in a superconductor
We have used the technique of low energy muon spin rotation to measure the
local magnetic field profile B(z) beneath the surface of a lead film maintained
in the Meissner state (z depth from the surface, z <= 200 nm). The data
unambiguously show that B(z) clearly deviates from an exponential law and
represent the first direct, model independent proof for a non-local response in
a superconductor.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
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