141 research outputs found
Strongly reduced bias dependence in spin-tunnel junctions obtained by ultraviolet light assisted oxidation
For future implementation of ferromagnetic tunnel junctions, we need a better understanding of the influence of the insulating barrier preparation method on the junction resistance, tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR), and its voltage bias dependence. In this letter, we focus on the bias dependence of junctions (Co-Al2O3-Ni80Fe20) prepared by ultraviolet light assisted in situ oxidation in an O-2 ambient. For an initial Al thickness of 1.3 nm, the resistance times area product of the junctions is 60 k Omega mu m(2), while showing up to 20% TMR at 5 mV bias. The decrease of TMR with bias voltage up to 1 V is remarkably small leading to V-1/2, for which half of the low-bias TMR remains, well over 0.6 V. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)02908-9]
Position determination in scintillation detectors
Three different methods are described to determine the 'true' positions of a scintillation event in one- and two-dimensional position-sensitive scintillation detectors from experimental calibration data. Under certain assumptions the methods are shown to yield mathematically exact results. Computer-simulated results are presented to demonstrate the validity of the methods, to estimate the consequences of approximations to be made, and to provide figures for the required accuracy of experimental data. Results concerning spatial resolution and linearity of the response are discussed for the case that scintillation events are stored according to the precalculated and tabulated 'true' positions
Status of Acropora palmata Populations off the Coast of South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands
This study is the first detailed assessment of A. palmata populations of the Turks and Caicos Islands. A total of 203 individual colonies and 62 thickets were tagged on five shallow reefs. Depth, percentages of living tissue, recent mortality and old skeleton were estimated. Presence of disease and predatory snails was noted, and disease spread and grazing rates of the snails estimated. Colonies were found in depths of 0.2 - 4 m. Living tissue for individual colonies (75.9% ± 2.2 SE) was significantly greater than for thickets (58.6% ± 3.6) and in both cases exceeded old skeleton (individuals: 22.7% ± 2.1 SE, thickets: 38.0% ± 3.4 SE). Percentage of recent mortality was very low (individuals: 1.3% ± 0.3 SE, thickets: 3.4% ± 0.7%). We found WBD (n = 2), white pox disease a (WPDa) (n = 7) and white pox disease b (WPDb) (n = 14) with greatly varying spreading rates. The WBD infected colonies showed an atypical spread from the top of the branch towards the base. Coralliophila abbreviata and C. caribaea affected 3 .7 54.7% of the populations (grazing rate: 4.29 cm 2 /day/snail ± 1.16 SE). South Caicos’ A. palmata populations are still in good condition, though increasing human disturbances combined with disease and predatory snails may threaten these populations
The Phase Transition to a Square Vortex Lattice in Type-II Superconductors with Fourfold Anisotropy
We investigate the stability of the square vortex lattice which has been
recently observed in experiments on the borocarbide family of superconductors.
Taking into account the tetragonal symmetry of these systems, we add fourfold
symmetric fourth-derivative terms to the Ginzburg-Landau(GL) free energy. At
these terms may be treated perturbatively to lowest order to locate
the transition from a distorted hexagonal to a square vortex lattice. We also
solve for this phase boundary numerically in the strongly type-II limit,
finding large corrections to the lowest-order perturbative results. We
calculate the relative fourfold anisotropy for field in the plane
to be 4.5% at the temperature, , where the transition occurs at
for field along the axis. This is to be compared to the 3.6%
obtained in the perturbative calculation. Furthermore, we find that the phase
boundary in the phase diagram has positive slope near .Comment: 15 pages including 2 figures, LaTe
SPHERES, J\"ulich's High-Flux Neutron Backscattering Spectrometer at FRM II
SPHERES (SPectrometer with High Energy RESolution) is a third-generation
neutron backscattering spectrometer, located at the 20 MW German neutron source
FRM II and operated by the Juelich Centre for Neutron Science. It offers an
energy resolution (fwhm) better than 0.65 micro-eV, a dynamic range of +-31
micro-eV, and a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 1750:1.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. Supplemental material consists of 3
pages, 2 figures, 2 table
Why pinning by surface irregularities can explain the peak effect in transport properties and neutron diffraction results in NbSe2 and Bi-2212 crystals?
The existence of a peak effect in transport properties (a maximum of the
critical current as function of magnetic field) is a well-known but still
intriguing feature of type II superconductors such as NbSe2 and Bi-2212. Using
a model of pinning by surface irregularities in anisotropic superconductors, we
have developed a calculation of the critical current which allows estimating
quantitatively the critical current in both the high critical current phase and
in the low critical current phase. The only adjustable parameter of this model
is the angle of the vortices at the surface. The agreement between the
measurements and the model is really very impressive. In this framework, the
anomalous dynamical properties close to the peak effect is due to co-existence
of two different vortex states with different critical currents. Recent neutron
diffraction data in NbSe2 crystals in presence of transport current support
this point of view
Impact and amelioration of sediment pollution on coral reefs of St. Lucia, West Indies
Includes Policy and Management Brief 1: Annex A2.#
Appendix 1 of the Final Technical Report of project R766
Elasticity-driven interaction between vortices in type-II superconductors
The contribution to the vortex lattice energy which is due to the
vortex-induced strains is calculated covering all the magnetic field range
which defines the vortex state. This contribution is compared with previously
reported ones what shows that, in the most part of the vortex state, it has
been notably underestimated until now. The reason of such underestimation is
the assumption that only the vortex cores induce strains. In contrast to what
is generally assumed, both core and non-core regions are important sources of
strains in high- superconductors.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, revtex
Temperature Dependence of the Flux Line Lattice Transition into Square Symmetry in Superconducting LuNiBC
We have investigated the temperature dependence of the H || c flux line
lattice structural phase transition from square to hexagonal symmetry, in the
tetragonal superconductor LuNi_2B_2C (T_c = 16.6 K). At temperatures below 10 K
the transition onset field, H_2(T), is only weakly temperature dependent. Above
10 K, H_2(T) rises sharply, bending away from the upper critical field. This
contradicts theoretical predictions of H_2(T) merging with the upper critical
field, and suggests that just below the H_c2(T)-curve the flux line lattice
might be hexagonal.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
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