1,185 research outputs found
Correlations of electromagnetic fields in chaotic cavities
We consider the fluctuations of electromagnetic fields in chaotic microwave
cavities. We calculate the transversal and longitudinal correlation function
based on a random wave assumption and compare the predictions with measurements
on two- and three-dimensional microwave cavities.Comment: Europhys style, 8 pages, 3 figures (included
Two Component Heat Diffusion Observed in CMR Manganites
We investigate the low-temperature electron, lattice, and spin dynamics of
LaMnO_3 (LMO) and La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO_3 (LCMO) by resonant pump-probe reflectance
spectroscopy. Probing the high-spin d-d transition as a function of time delay
and probe energy, we compare the responses of the Mott insulator and the
double-exchange metal to the photoexcitation. Attempts have previously been
made to describe the sub-picosecond dynamics of CMR manganites in terms of a
phenomenological three temperature model describing the energy transfer between
the electron, lattice and spin subsystems followed by a comparatively slow
exponential decay back to the ground state. However, conflicting results have
been reported. Here we first show clear evidence of an additional component in
the long term relaxation due to film-to-substrate heat diffusion and then
develop a modified three temperature model that gives a consistent account for
this feature. We confirm our interpretation by using it to deduce the bandgap
in LMO. In addition we also model the non-thermal sub-picosecond dynamics,
giving a full account of all observed transient features both in the insulating
LMO and the metallic LCMO.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.81.064434
v2: Abstract correcte
Reversible strain effect on the magnetization of LaCoO3 films
The magnetization of ferromagnetic LaCoO3 films grown epitaxially on
piezoelectric substrates has been found to systematically decrease with the
reduction of tensile strain. The magnetization change induced by the reversible
strain variation reveals an increase of the Co magnetic moment with tensile
strain. The biaxial strain dependence of the Curie temperature is estimated to
be below 4K/% in the as-grown tensile strain state of our films. This is in
agreement with results from statically strained films on various substrates
Influence of strain on magnetization and magnetoelectric effect in La0.7A0.3MnO3 / PMN-PT(001) (A = Sr; Ca)
We investigate the influence of a well-defined reversible biaxial strain
<=0.12 % on the magnetization (M) of epitaxial ferromagnetic manganite films. M
has been recorded depending on temperature, strain and magnetic field in 20 -
50 nm thick films. This is accomplished by reversibly compressing the isotropic
in-plane lattice parameter of the rhombohedral piezoelectric 0.72PMN-0.28PT
(001) substrates by application of an electric field E <= 12 kV cm-1. The
magnitude of the total variable in-plane strain has been derived.
Strain-induced shifts of the ferromagnetic Curie temperature (Tc) of up to 19 K
were found in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) and La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 films and are
quantitatively analysed for LSMO within a cubic model. The observed large
magnetoelectric coupling coefficient alpha=mu0 dM/dE <= 6 10-8 s m-1 at ambient
temperature results from the strain-induced M change in the
magnetic-film-ferroelectric-substrate system. It corresponds to an enhancement
of mu0 DeltaM <= 19 mT upon biaxial compression of 0.1 %. The extraordinary
large alpha originates from the combination of three crucial properties: (i)
the strong strain dependence of M in the ferromagnetic manganites, (ii) large
piezo-strain of the PMN-PT substrates and (iii) effective elastic coupling at
the film-substrate interface.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl
Relations of low contrast visual acuity, quality of life and multiple sclerosis functional composite: a cross-sectional analysis
Background: Although common and often disabling in multiple sclerosis (MS), visual dysfunction is currently not adequately accounted for in both clinical routine and MS trials. Sloan low contrast letter acuity (SLCLA) is a standardised chart-based measure of visual function particular at low contrast and has been suggested as additional visual component to the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC). Here, we evaluate the relations between SLCLA, retinal integrity, MSFC, and quality of life (QoL) in MS patients. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, MSFC, SLCLA (2.5% and 1.25% contrast levels), visual evoked potentials, and QoL (Short Form (SF) 36, National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEIVFQ)) using baseline data of 92 MS patients from an ongoing prospective longitudinal trial. Relations between RNFL thickness or P100 latency and SLCLA were analysed using generalised estimating equations (GEE) accounting for intra-individual inter-eye dependencies and corrected for age, gender, and history of optic neuritis. Pearson’s correlations were used to assess relations between SLCLA, MSFC, and QoL. Results: SLCLA reflected RNFL thickness (p = 0.021) and P100 latency (p = 0.004) and predicted vision-related QoL, reflected by the NEIVFQ39 subscores “general vision” and “near activities” (p < 0.008 for both). SLCLA did not predict general QoL reflected by SF36. Implementing SLCLA into MSFC, thus creating a four-dimensional MSFC4, captured aspects of disability reflected by the NEIVFQ39 subscores “general vision” (r = 0.42, p < 0.0001) and “near activity” (r = 0.3, p = 0.014) which were not captured by standard MSFC3. Conclusions: SLCLA at 2.5% and 1.25% contrast levels correlates with retinal morphology and P100 latency and predicts some aspects of vision-related QoL in MS. More importantly, using a prospective cross-sectional approach we provide evidence that extending the MSFC by SLCLA as an additional visual component increases the performance of MSFC to capture MS-related disability. Longitudinal data on the relation between SLCLA, MSFC, and QoL will be available in the near future
Gadopentetate but not gadobutrol accumulates in the dentate nucleus of multiple sclerosis patients
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have postulated an association between dentate nucleus T1 hyperintensity and multiple sclerosis (MS)-related progressive neurodegeneration. Therefore, MS patients have been excluded from most studies investigating brain deposition of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). OBJECTIVE: To study the hypothesis that dentate nucleus T1 hyperintensity in MS patients is associated with GBCA administration. METHODS: In a cohort of 97 MS patients, the dentate-to-pons signal intensity ratio (DPSIR) was calculated for 265 consecutive T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) scans (including sessions with and without the administration of GBCA). Patients exclusively received either gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA, linear) or gadobutrol (Gd-BT-DO3A, macrocyclic). RESULTS: In patients receiving Gd-DTPA, DPSIR increased significantly between the first and the last scan (+0.009, p < 0.001), and following magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with Gd-DTPA administration as compared to following an MRI without Gd-DTPA administration (+0.005 vs -0.001; p = 0.022). Additionally, there was a positive linear relationship between the number of Gd-DTPA administrations and the increase in DPSIR (p = 0.017). No DPSIR increase was observed after Gd-BT-DO3A administration. CONCLUSION: Dentate nucleus T1 hyperintensity in MS patients is associated with Gd-DTPA (but not Gd-BT-DO3A) administration, suggesting an alternative explanation for the association of T1 hyperintensity with disease duration and severity
Monitoring of tritium purity during long-term circulation in the KATRIN test experiment LOOPINO using laser Raman spectroscopy
The gas circulation loop LOOPINO has been set up and commissioned at Tritium
Laboratory Karlsruhe (TLK) to perform Raman measurements of circulating tritium
mixtures under conditions similar to the inner loop system of the neutrino-mass
experiment KATRIN, which is currently under construction. A custom-made
interface is used to connect the tritium containing measurement cell, located
inside a glove box, with the Raman setup standing on the outside. A tritium
sample (purity > 95%, 20 kPa total pressure) was circulated in LOOPINO for more
than three weeks with a total throughput of 770 g of tritium. Compositional
changes in the sample and the formation of tritiated and deuterated methanes
CT_(4-n)X_n (X=H,D; n=0,1) were observed. Both effects are caused by hydrogen
isotope exchange reactions and gas-wall interactions, due to tritium {\beta}
decay. A precision of 0.1% was achieved for the monitoring of the T_2
Q_1-branch, which fulfills the requirements for the KATRIN experiment and
demonstrates the feasibility of high-precision Raman measurements with tritium
inside a glove box
- …