44 research outputs found
Direct current superconducting quantum interferometers with asymmetric shunt resistors
We have investigated asymmetrically shunted Nb/Al-AlO/Nb direct current
(dc) superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). While keeping the
total resistance identical to a comparable symmetric SQUID with , we shunted only one of the two Josephson junctions with
. Simulations predict that the optimum energy resolution
and thus also the noise performance of such an asymmetric SQUID can
be 3--4 times better than that of its symmetric counterpart. Experiments at a
temperature of 4.2\,K yielded for an asymmetric
SQUID with an inductance of . For a comparable symmetric device
was achieved, confirming our simulation results.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Spectroscopy of a fractional Josephson vortex molecule
In long Josephson junctions with multiple discontinuities of the Josephson
phase, fractional vortex molecules are spontaneously formed. At each
discontinuity point a fractional Josephson vortex carrying a magnetic flux
, Wb being the magnetic flux
quantum, is pinned. Each vortex has an oscillatory eigenmode with a frequency
that depends on and lies inside the plasma gap.
We experimentally investigate the dependence of the eigenfrequencies of a
two-vortex molecule on the distance between the vortices, on their topological
charge and on the bias current applied to the
Josephson junction. We find that with decreasing distance between vortices, a
splitting of the eigenfrequencies occurs, that corresponds to the emergence of
collective oscillatory modes of both vortices. We use a resonant microwave
spectroscopy technique and find good agreement between experimental results and
theoretical predictions.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.
Aluminum Hard Mask Technique for the Fabrication of High-Quality Submicron Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb Josephson Junctions
We have developed a combined photolithography and electron-beam lithography
fabrication process for sub-\mum to \mum-size Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb Josephson
junctions. In order to define the junction size and protect its top electrode
during anodic oxidation, we developed and used the new concept of an aluminum
hard mask. Josephson junctions of sizes down to 0.5 \mum2 have been fabricated
and thoroughly characterized. We found that they have a very high quality,
which is witnessed by the IV curves with quality parameters Vm > 50 mV and Vgap
= 2.8 mV at 4.2 K, as well as IcRN products of 1.75-1.93 mV obtained at lower
temperatures. In order to test the usability of our fabrication process for
superconducting quantum bits, we have also designed, fabricated and
experimentally investigated phase qubits made of these junctions. We found a
relaxation time of T1 = 26 ns and a dephasing time of T2 = 21 ns
Geometry-induced reduction of the critical current in superconducting nanowires
Reduction of the critical current in narrow superconducting NbN lines with
sharp and rounded bends with respect to the critical current in straight lines
was studied at different temperatures. We compare our experimental results with
the reduction expected in the framework of the London model and the
Ginsburg-Landau model. We have experimentally found that the reduction is
significantly less than either model predicts. We also show that in our NbN
lines the bends mostly contribute to the reduction of the critical current at
temperatures well below the superconducting transition temperature
Energy of dendritic avalanches in thin-film superconductors
A method for calculating stored magnetic energy in a thin superconducting film based on quantitative magneto-optical imaging is developed. Energy and magnetic moment are determined with these calculations for full hysteresis loops in a thin film of the superconductor NbN. Huge losses in energy are observed when dendritic avalanches occur. Magnetic energy, magnetic moment, sheet current and magnetic flux distributions, all extracted from the same calibrated magneto-optical images, are analyzed and discussed. Dissipated energy and the loss in moment when dendritic avalanches occur are related to each other. Calculating these losses for specific spatially-resolved flux avalanches is a great advantage, because of their unpredictable and non-reproducible nature. The relative losses in energy are much higher than the relative losses in moment
Energy of dendritic avalanches in thin-film superconductors
A method for calculating stored magnetic energy in a thin superconducting film based on quantitative magneto-optical imaging is developed. Energy and magnetic moment are determined with these calculations for full hysteresis loops in a thin film of the superconductor NbN. Huge losses in energy are observed when dendritic avalanches occur. Magnetic energy, magnetic moment, sheet current and magnetic flux distributions, all extracted from the same calibrated magneto-optical images, are analyzed and discussed. Dissipated energy and the loss in moment when dendritic avalanches occur are related to each other. Calculating these losses for specific spatially-resolved flux avalanches is a great advantage, because of their unpredictable and non-reproducible nature. The relative losses in energy are much higher than the relative losses in moment
Correlation of histopathologic characteristics to protein expression and function in malignant melanoma
BACKGROUND: Metastatic melanoma is still one of the most prevalent skin cancers, which upon progression has neither a prognostic marker nor a specific and lasting treatment. Proteomic analysis is a versatile approach with high throughput data and results that can be used for characterizing tissue samples. However, such analysis is hampered by the complexity of the disease, heterogeneity of patients, tumors, and samples themselves. With the long term aim of quest for better diagnostics biomarkers, as well as predictive and prognostic markers, we focused on relating high resolution proteomics data to careful histopathological evaluation of the tumor samples and patient survival information. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Regional lymph node metastases obtained from ten patients with metastatic melanoma (stage III) were analyzed by histopathology and proteomics using mass spectrometry. Out of the ten patients, six had clinical follow-up data. The protein deep mining mass spectrometry data was related to the histopathology tumor tissue sections adjacent to the area used for deep-mining. Clinical follow-up data provided information on disease progression which could be linked to protein expression aiming to identify tissue-based specific protein markers for metastatic melanoma and prognostic factors for prediction of progression of stage III disease. RESULTS: In this feasibility study, several proteins were identified that positively correlated to tumor tissue content including IF6, ARF4, MUC18, UBC12, CSPG4, PCNA, PMEL and MAGD2. The study also identified MYC, HNF4A and TGFB1 as top upstream regulators correlating to tumor tissue content. Other proteins were inversely correlated to tumor tissue content, the most significant being; TENX, EHD2, ZA2G, AOC3, FETUA and THRB. A number of proteins were significantly related to clinical outcome, among these, HEXB, PKM and GPNMB stood out, as hallmarks of processes involved in progression from stage III to stage IV disease and poor survival. CONCLUSION: In this feasibility study, promising results show the feasibility of relating proteomics to histopathology and clinical outcome, and insight thus can be gained into the molecular processes driving the disease. The combined analysis of histological features including the sample cellular composition with protein expression of each metastasis enabled the identification of novel, differentially expressed proteins. Further studies are necessary to determine whether these putative biomarkers can be utilized in diagnostics and prognostic prediction of metastatic melanoma