2,928 research outputs found
Non-linear resistivity and heat dissipation in monolayer graphene
We have experimentally studied the nonlinear nature of electrical conduction
in monolayer graphene devices on silica substrates. This nonlinearity manifests
itself as a nonmonotonic dependence of the differential resistance on applied
DC voltage bias across the sample. At temperatures below ~70K, the differential
resistance exhibits a peak near zero bias that can be attributed to
self-heating of the charge carriers. We show that the shape of this peak arises
from a combination of different energy dissipation mechanisms of the carriers.
The energy dissipation at higher carrier temperatures depends critically on the
length of the sample. For samples longer than 10um the heat loss is shown to be
determined by optical phonons at the silica-graphene interface.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Hot phonon decay in supported and suspended exfoliated graphene
Near infrared pump-probe spectroscopy has been used to measure the ultrafast
dynamics of photoexcited charge carriers in monolayer and multilayer graphene.
We observe two decay processes occurring on 100 fs and 2 ps timescales. The
first is attributed to the rapid electron-phonon thermalisation in the system.
The second timescale is found to be due to the slow decay of hot phonons. Using
a simple theoretical model we calculate the hot phonon decay rate and show that
it is significantly faster in monolayer flakes than in multilayer ones. In
contrast to recent claims, we show that this enhanced decay rate is not due to
the coupling to substrate phonons, since we have also seen the same effect in
suspended flakes. Possible intrinsic decay mechanisms that could cause such an
effect are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Strong nonlinear optical response of graphene flakes measured by four-wave mixing
We present the first experimental investigation of nonlinear optical
properties of graphene flakes. We find that at near infrared frequencies a
graphene monolayer exhibits a remarkably high third-order optical nonlinearity
which is practically independent of the wavelengths of incident light. The
nonlinear optical response can be utilized for imaging purposes, with image
contrasts of graphene which are orders of magnitude higher than those obtained
using linear microscopy.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Finite element analysis applied to redesign of submerged entry nozzles for steelmaking
The production of steel by continuous casting is facilitated by the use of refractory hollow-ware components. A critical component in this process is the submerged entry nozzle (SEN). The normal operating conditions of the SEN are arduous, involving large temperature gradients and exposure to mechanical forces arising from the flow of molten steel; experimental development of the components is challenging in so hazardous an environment. The effects of the thermal stress conditions in relation to a well-tried design were therefore simulated using a finite element analysis approach. It was concluded from analyses that failures of the type being experienced are caused by the large temperature gradient within the nozzle. The analyses pointed towards a supported shoulder area of the nozzle being most vulnerable to failure and practical in-service experience confirmed this. As a direct consequence of the investigation, design modifications, incorporating changes to both the internal geometry and to the nature of the intermediate support material, were implemented, thereby substantially reducing the stresses within the Al2O3/graphite ceramic liner. Industrial trials of this modified design established that the component reliability would be significantly improved and the design has now been implemented in series production
Density of kinks just after a quench in an overdamped system
A quench in an overdamped one dimensional model is studied by
analytical and numerical methods. For an infinite system or a finite system
with free boundary conditions, the density of kinks after the transition is
proportional to the eighth root of the rate of the quench. For a system with
periodic boundary conditions, it is proportional to the fourth root of the
rate. The critical exponent predicted in Zurek scenario is put in question.Comment: 4 pages in RevTex + 1 .ps fil
Density of Bloch Waves after a Quench
Production of Bloch waves during a rapid quench is studied by analytical and
numerical methods. The density of Bloch waves decays exponentially with the
quench time. It also strongly depends on temperature. Very few textures are
produced for temperatures lower than a characteristic temperature proportional
to the square of the magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages in RevTex + 3 .ps files; improved presentation; version to
appear in PR
Formation of Topological Defects with Explicit Symmetry Breaking
We demonstrate a novel mechanism for the formation of topological defects in
a first order phase transition for theories in the presence of small explicit
symmetry breaking terms. We carry out numerical simulations of collisions of
two bubbles in 2+1 dimensions for a field theory where U(1) global symmetry is
spontaneously as well as explicitly broken. In the coalesced region of bubble
walls, field oscillations result in the decay of the coalesced portion in a
large number of defects (e.g. ten vortices and anti-vortices). We discuss the
implications of our results for axionic strings in the early Universe, for
baryon formation in quark-gluon plasma, and for electric or magnetic field.Comment: Latex file, 8 pages, 6 uuencoded postscript figure
An exploration of parents’ preferences for foot care in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a possible role for the discrete choice experiment
Background:
An increased awareness of patients’ and parents’ care preferences regarding foot care is desirable from a clinical perspective as such information may be utilised to optimise care delivery. The aim of this study was to examine parents’ preferences for, and valuations of foot care and foot-related outcomes in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).<p></p>
Methods:
A discrete choice experiment (DCE) incorporating willingness-to-pay (WTP) questions was conducted by surveying 42 parents of children with JIA who were enrolled in a randomised-controlled trial of multidisciplinary foot care at a single UK paediatric rheumatology outpatients department. Attributes explored were: levels of pain; mobility; ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL); waiting time; referral route; and footwear. The DCE was administered at trial baseline. DCE data were analysed using a multinomial-logit-regression model to estimate preferences and relative importance of attributes of foot care. A stated-preference WTP question was presented to estimate parents’ monetary valuation of health and service improvements.<p></p>
Results:
Every attribute in the DCE was statistically significant (p < 0.01) except that of cost (p = 0.118), suggesting that all attributes, except cost, have an impact on parents’ preferences for foot care for their child. The magnitudes of the coefficients indicate that the strength of preference for each attribute was (in descending order): improved ability to perform ADL, reductions in foot pain, improved mobility, improved ability to wear desired footwear, multidisciplinary foot care route, and reduced waiting time. Parents’ estimated mean annual WTP for a multidisciplinary foot care service was £1,119.05.<p></p>
Conclusions:
In terms of foot care service provision for children with JIA, parents appear to prefer improvements in health outcomes over non-health outcomes and service process attributes. Cost was relatively less important than other attributes suggesting that it does not appear to impact on parents’ preferences.<p></p>
Quench Induced Vortices in the Symmetry Broken Phase of Liquid He
Motivated by the study of cosmological phase transitions, our understanding
of the formation of topological defects during spontaneous symmetry-breaking
and the associated non-equilibrium field theory has recently changed.
Experiments have been performed in superfluid He to test the new ideas
involved. In particular, it has been observed that a vortex density is seen
immediately after pressure quenches from just below the transition.
We discuss possible interpretations of these vortices, conclude they are
consistent with our ideas of vortex formation and propose a modification of the
original experiments.Comment: 29 pages, RevTeX with one EPS figur
Tuneable Fabry–Perot etalon for terahertz radiation
Copyright © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. This is the published version of an article published in New Journal of Physics Vol. 10, article 033012. DOI:10.1088/1367-2630/10/3/033012An indium tin oxide-clad liquid crystal filled Fabry–Perot etalon structure has been shown to act as an effective narrow-band filter at terahertz frequencies. An applied voltage, which controls the alignment of the nematic liquid crystal allows the refractive index of the core to be tuned. Transmission spectra show well-defined resonant peaks which shift in position when the alignment is changed from planar to homeotropic. The measured transmission spectra agree well with the results of a multilayer optics model and the birefringence of the liquid crystals over this frequency range are determined as Δn = 0.15(± 0.01) and Δn = 0.08(± 0.01) for E7 and ZLI 2293, respectively
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