Zn(O, S) layers for chalcoyprite solar cells sputtered from a single target

A simplified Cu(In, Ga)(S, Se)2/Zn(O, S)/ZnO:Al stack for chalcopyrite thin- film solar cells is proposed. In this stack the Zn(O, S) layer combines the roles of the traditional CdS buffer and undoped ZnO layers. It will be shown that Zn(O, S) films can be sputtered in argon atmosphere from a single mixed target without substrate heating. The photovoltaic performance of the simplified stack matches that of the conventional approach. Replacing the ZnO target with a ZnO/ZnS target may therefore be sufficient to omit the CdS buffer layer and avoid the associated complexity, safety and recycling issues, and to lower production cost

Stabilization of d-Band Ferromagnetism by Hybridization with Uncorrelated Bands

We investigate the influence of s-d or p-d hybridization to d-band ferromagnetism to estimate the importance of hybridization for the magnetic properties of transition metals. To focus our attention to the interplay between hybridization and correlation we investigate a simple model system consisting of two non-degenerated hybridized bands, one strongly correlated, the other one quasi-free. To solve this extended Hubbard model, we apply simple approximations, namely SDA and MAA, that, concerning ferromagnetism in the single-band model, are known to give qualitatively satisfactory results. This approach allows us to discuss the underlying mechanism, by which d-band ferromagnetism is influenced by the hybridization on the basis of analytical expressions. The latter clearly display the order and the functional dependencies of the important effects. It is found, that spin-dependent inter-band particle fluctuations cause a spin-dependent band shift and a spin-dependent band broadening of the Hubbard bands. The shift stabilizes, the broadening tends to destabilize ferromagnetism. Stabilization requires relatively high band distances and small hybridization matrix elements. Super-exchange and RKKY coupling are of minor importance.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted for PR

Lepton Flavor Violation: Constraints from exotic muon to electron conversion

The exotic neutrinoless $\mu^- - e^-$ nuclear conversion is studied within the conventional extensions of the standard model as well as in the minimal supersymmetric (SUSY) models with and without R-parity conservation. The dependence of the $\mu^- - e^-$ conversion rates on the nucleon and nuclear structure is consistently taken into account. Using our calculated transition matrix elements and the available experimental data on the branching ratio $R_{\mu e^-}$ for $^{48}$Ti and $^{208}$Pb as well as the expected experimental sensitivity for $^{27}$Al employed as a target in the planned at Brookhaven $\mu^--e^-$ conversion (MECO) experiment, we extract very severe constraints for the flavor violation parameters. We especially emphasize on the constraints resulting for SUSY R-parity violating parameters.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures. Based on the Invited talk given by T.S. Kosmas at the International Conference on Non-Accelerator New Physics(NANP'99), Dubna, Russia, 199

Measurement of double beta decay of 100Mo to excited states in the NEMO 3 experiment

The double beta decay of 100Mo to the 0^+_1 and 2^+_1 excited states of 100Ru is studied using the NEMO 3 data. After the analysis of 8024 h of data the half-life for the two-neutrino double beta decay of 100Mo to the excited 0^+_1 state is measured to be T^(2nu)_1/2 = [5.7^{+1.3}_{-0.9}(stat)+/-0.8(syst)]x 10^20 y. The signal-to-background ratio is equal to 3. Information about energy and angular distributions of emitted electrons is also obtained. No evidence for neutrinoless double beta decay to the excited 0^+_1 state has been found. The corresponding half-life limit is T^(0nu)_1/2(0^+ --> 0^+_1) > 8.9 x 10^22 y (at 90% C.L.). The search for the double beta decay to the 2^+_1 excited state has allowed the determination of limits on the half-life for the two neutrino mode T^(2nu)_1/2(0^+ --> 2^+_1) > 1.1 x 10^21 y (at 90% C.L.) and for the neutrinoless mode T^(0nu)_1/2(0^+ --> 2^+_1) > 1.6 x 10^23 y (at 90% C.L.).Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables, submitted to Nucl. Phy

Recent advances in neutrinoless double beta decay search

Even after the discovery of neutrino flavour oscillations, based on data from atmospheric, solar, reactor, and accelerator experiments, many characteristics of the neutrino remain unknown. Only the neutrino square-mass differences and the mixing angle values have been estimated, while the value of each mass eigenstate still hasn't. Its nature (massive Majorana or Dirac particle) is still escaping. Neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu$-DBD) experimental discovery could be the ultimate answer to some delicate questions of elementary particle and nuclear physics. The Majorana description of neutrinos allows the $0\nu$-DBD process, and consequently either a mass value could be measured or the existence of physics beyond the standard should be confirmed without any doubt. As expected, the $0\nu$-DBD measurement is a very difficult field of application for experimentalists. In this paper, after a short summary of the latest results in neutrino physics, the experimental status, the R&D projects, and perspectives in $0\nu$-DBD sector are reviewed.Comment: 36 pages, 7 figures, To be publish in Czech Journal of Physic

Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay in Gauge Theories

Neutrinoless double beta decay is a very important process both from the particle and nuclear physics point of view. Its observation will severely constrain the existing models and signal that the neutrinos are massive Majorana particles. From the elementary particle point of view it pops up in almost every model. In addition to the traditional mechanisms, like the neutrino mass, the admixture of right handed currents etc, it may occur due to the R-parity violating supersymmetric (SUSY) interactions. From the nuclear physics point of view it is challenging, because: 1) The relevant nuclei have complicated nuclear structure. 2) The energetically allowed transitions are exhaust a small part of all the strength. 3) One must cope with the short distance behavior of the transition operators, especially when the intermediate particles are heavy (eg in SUSY models). Thus novel effects, like the double beta decay of pions in flight between nucleons, have to be considered. 4) The intermediate momenta involved are about 100 MeV. Thus one has to take into account possible momentum dependent terms in the nucleon current. We find that, for the mass mechanism, such modifications of the nucleon current for light neutrinos reduce the nuclear matrix elements by about 25 per cent, almost regardless of the nuclear model. In the case of heavy neutrinos the effect is much larger and model dependent. Taking the above effects into account, the available nuclear matrix elements for the experimentally interesting nuclei A = 76, 82, 96, 100, 116, 128, 130, 136 and 150 and the experimental limits on the life times we have extracted new stringent limits on the average neutrino mass and on the R-parity violating coupling for various SUSY models.Comment: Latex, 24 pages, 1 postscript figure, uses iopconf.st

Treatment of distal humeral fractures using conventional implants. Biomechanical evaluation of a new implant configuration

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the face of costly fixation hardware with varying performance for treatment of distal humeral fractures, a novel technique (U-Frame) is proposed using conventional implants in a 180° plate arrangement. In this in-vitro study the biomechanical stability of this method was compared with the established technique which utilizes angular stable locking compression plates (LCP) in a 90° configuration.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An unstable distal 3-part fracture (AO 13-C2.3) was created in eight pairs of human cadaveric humeri. All bone pairs were operated with either the "Frame" technique, where two parallel plates are distally interconnected, or with the LCP technique. The specimens were cyclically loaded in simulated flexion and extension of the arm until failure of the construct occurred. Motion of all fragments was tracked by means of optical motion capturing. Construct stiffness and cycles to failure were identified for all specimens.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to the LCP constructs, the "Frame" technique revealed significant higher construct stiffness in extension of the arm (P = 0.01). The stiffness in flexion was not significantly different (P = 0.16). Number of cycles to failure was found significantly larger for the "Frame" technique (P = 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In an in-vitro context the proposed method offers enhanced biomechanical stability and at the same time significantly reduces implant costs.</p

Pions in Nuclei and Manifestations of Supersymmetry in Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

We examine the pion realization of the short ranged supersymmetric (SUSY) mechanism of neutrinoless double beta decay. It originates from the R-parity violating quark-lepton interactions of the SUSY extensions of the standard model of the electroweak interactions. We argue that pions are dominant SUSY mediators in neutrinoless double beta decay. The corresponding nuclear matrix elements for various isotopes are calculated within the proton-neutron renormalized quasiparticle random phase approximation. We define those isotopes which are most sensitive to the SUSY signal and outlook the present experimental situation with the double beta decay searches for the SUSY. Upper limits on the R-parity violating 1st generation Yukawa coupling are derived from various double beta decay experiments.Comment: 15 pages, Latex, 3 Postscript figure

Contribution of an Aged Microenvironment to Aging-Associated Myeloproliferative Disease

The molecular and cellular mechanisms of the age-associated increase in the incidence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain poorly understood. Multiple studies support that the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment has an important influence on leukemia progression. Given that the BM niche itself undergoes extensive functional changes during lifetime, we hypothesized that one mechanism for the age-associated increase in leukemia incidence might be that an aged niche promotes leukemia progression. The most frequent genetic alteration in AML is the t(8;21) translocation, resulting in the expression of the AML1-ETO fusion protein. Expression of the fusion protein in hematopoietic cells results in mice in a myeloproliferative disorder. Testing the role of the age of the niche on leukemia progression, we performed both transplantation and in vitro co-culture experiments. Aged animals transplanted with AML1-ETO positive HSCs presented with a significant increase in the frequency of AML-ETO positive early progenitor cells in BM as well as an increased immature myeloid cell load in blood compared to young recipients. These findings suggest that an aged BM microenvironment allows a relative better expansion of pre-leukemic stem and immature myeloid cells and thus imply that the aged microenvironment plays a role in the elevated incidence of age-associated leukemia

Bilinear R-parity Violation in Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

We discuss some phenomenological issues of the effective quark-lepton operators emerging from the bilinear lepton-Higgs couplings in the superpotential and in the soft supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking sector of the supersymmetric models without R-parity. The contribution of these operators to the neutrinoless double beta decay is derived. The corresponding nuclear matrix elements are calculated within the renormalized quasiparticle random phase approximation, which includes the Pauli effect of fermion pairs and does not collapse for the physical values of the nuclear force strength. On this basis we extract from the experimental data new stringent limits on the 1st generation mass parameter characterized the lepton-Higgs bilinear coupling and on the electron sneutrino vacuum expectation value.Comment: 26 pages, Latex, 1 Postscript figur