149 research outputs found
Impeded Growth of Magnetic Flux Bubbles in the Intermediate State Pattern of Type I Superconductors
Normal state bubble patterns in Type I superconducting Indium and Lead slabs
are studied by the high resolution magneto-optical imaging technique. The size
of bubbles is found to be almost independent of the long-range interaction
between the normal state domains. Under bubble diameter and slab thickness
proper scaling, the results gather onto a single master curve. On this basis,
in the framework of the "current-loop" model [R.E. Goldstein, D.P. Jackson and
A.T. Dorsey, Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 3818 (1996)], we calculate the equilibrium
diameter of an isolated bubble resulting from the competition between the
Biot-and-Savart interaction of the Meissner current encircling the bubble and
the superconductor-normal interface energy. A good quantitative agreement with
the master curve is found over two decades of the magnetic Bond number. The
isolation of each bubble in the superconducting matrix and the existence of a
positive interface energy are shown to preclude any continuous size variation
of the bubbles after their formation, contrary to the prediction of mean-field
models.Comment: \'{e}quipe Nanostructures Quantique
An optimal linear solver for the Jacobian system of the extreme type-II Ginzburg--Landau problem
This paper considers the extreme type-II Ginzburg--Landau equations, a
nonlinear PDE model for describing the states of a wide range of
superconductors. Based on properties of the Jacobian operator and an AMG
strategy, a preconditioned Newton--Krylov method is constructed. After a
finite-volume-type discretization, numerical experiments are done for
representative two- and three-dimensional domains. Strong numerical evidence is
provided that the number of Krylov iterations is independent of the dimension
of the solution space, yielding an overall solver complexity of O(n)
Critical currents in Josephson junctions with macroscopic defects
The critical currents in Josephson junctions of conventional superconductors
with macroscopic defects are calculated for different defect critical current
densities as a function of the magnetic field. We also study the evolution of
the different modes with the defect position, at zero external field. We study
the stability of the solutions and derive simple arguments, that could help the
defect characterization. In most cases a reentrant behavior is seen, where both
a maximum and a minimum current exist.Comment: 17 pages with 16 figures, submitted to Supercond. Sci. Techno
Type-1.5 Superconductors
We demonstrate the existence of a novel superconducting state in high quality
two-component MgB2 single crystalline superconductors where a unique
combination of both type-1 (kappa_1 0.707)
superconductor conditions is realized for the two components of the order
parameter. This condition leads to a vortex-vortex interaction attractive at
long distances and repulsive at short distances, which stabilizes
unconventional stripe- and gossamer-like vortex patterns that we have
visualized in this type-1.5 superconductor using Bitter decoration and also
reproduced in numerical simulations.Comment: accepted in Phys. Rev. Let
Model independent approach to studies of the confining dual Abrikosov vortex in SU(2) lattice gauge theory
We address the problem of determining the type I, type II or borderline dual
superconductor behavior in maximal Abelian gauge SU(2) through the study of the
dual Abrikosov vortex. We find that significant electric currents in the
simulation data call into question the use of the dual Ginzburg Landau Higgs
model in interpreting the data. Further, two definitions of the penetration
depth parameter take two different values. The splitting of this parameter into
two is intricately connected to the existence of electric currents. It is
important in our approach that we employ definitions of flux and electric and
magnetic currents that respect Maxwell equations exactly for lattice averages
independent of lattice spacings. Applied to specific Wilson loop sizes, our
conclusions differ from those that use the dual GLH model.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, change title, new anaylysis with more figure
Vortex Pull by an External Current
In the context of a dynamical Ginzburg-Landau model it is shown numerically
that under the influence of a homogeneous external current J the vortex drifts
against the current with velocity in agreement to earlier analytical
predictions. In the presence of dissipation the vortex undergoes skew
deflection at an angle with respect to the
external current. It is shown analytically and verified numerically that the
angle and the speed of the vortex are linked through a simple
mathematical relation.Comment: 19 pages, LATEX, 6 Postscript figures included in separate compressed
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Patient outcomes and characteristics in a contemporary quaternary Canadian cardiac intensive care unit
BACKGROUND: The modern-day cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) has evolved to care for patients with acute critical cardiac illness. We describe the current population of cardiac patients in a quaternary CICU. METHODS: Consecutive CICU patients admitted to the CICU at the Toronto General Hospital from 2014 to 2020 were studied. Patient demographics, admission diagnosis, critical care resources, complications, in-hospital mortality, and CICU and hospital length of stay were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 8865 consecutive admissions occurred, with a median age of 64.9 years. The most common primary cardiac diagnoses were acute decompensated heart failure (17.8%), non ST-elevation myocardial infarction (16.8%), ST-elevation myocardial infarction (15.5%), and arrhythmias (14.7%). Cardiogenic shock was seen in 13.2%, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in 4.1%. A noncardiovascular admission diagnosis accounted for 13.9% of the cases. Over the period studied, rates of admission were higher for cardiogenic shock (P < 0.001 for trend), with a higher use of critical care resources. Additionally, rates of admission were higher in female patients and those who had chronic kidney disease and diabetes. The in-hospital mortality rate of all CICU admissions was 13.2%, and it was highest in those with noncardiac conditions, compared to the rate in those with cardiac diagnoses (29.4% vs 10.6%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Given the trends of higher acuity of patients with cardiac critical illness, with higher use of critical care resources, education streams for critical care within cardiology, and alternative pathways of care for patients who have lower-acuity cardiac disease remain imperative to manage this evolving population
The Suprafroth (Superconducting Froth)
The structure and dynamics of froths have been subjects of intense interest
due to the desire to understand the behaviour of complex systems where
topological intricacy prohibits exact evaluation of the ground state. The
dynamics of a traditional froth involves drainage and drying in the cell
boundaries, thus it is irreversible. We report a new member to the froths
family: suprafroth, in which the cell boundaries are superconducting and the
cell interior is normal phase. Despite very different microscopic origin,
topological analysis of the structure of the suprafroth shows that statistical
von Neumann and Lewis laws apply. Furthermore, for the first time in the
analysis of froths there is a global measurable property, the magnetic moment,
which can be directly related to the suprafroth structure. We propose that this
suprafroth is a new, model system for the analysis of the complex physics of
two-dimensional froths
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