371 research outputs found
Physicians' database searches as a tool for early detection of epidemics.
We analyzed retrospectively the use of Physician Desk Reference Database searches to identify epidemics of tularemia, nephropathy, Pogosta disease, and Lyme disease and compared the searches with mandatory laboratory reports to the National Infectious Diseases Register in Finland during 1995. Continuous recording of such searches may be a tool for early detection of epidemics
Wetting of Superfluid 4He by Liquid 3He
We have investigated optically the spreading of He3 on top of the He4-rich solution in phase-separated helium-mixture films, 20-50 ÎŒm thick. In equilibrium, the He3 layer wets the He4-rich phase completely, but nearly circular or stripelike pools of He3-rich phase are stabilized instead when He4 atoms are condensed to the liquid sample at the rate 10 exp 15-5 Ă 10 exp 15 atoms/cm2s. For the contact angle we obtain about 10 mrad, which suggests a fractional change of the He3 surface tension by a factor of 10 exp â5 from the equilibrium value.Peer reviewe
``Cosmological'' scenario for A-B phase transition in superfluid 3He
At a very rapid superfluid transition in He, follows after a reaction
with single neutron, the creation of topological defects (vortices) has
recently been demonstrated in accordance with the Kibble-Zurek scenario for the
cosmological analogue. We discuss here the extension of the Kibble-Zurek
scenario to the case when alternative symmetries may be broken and different
states nucleated independently. We have calculated the nucleation probability
of the various states of superfluid He during a superfluid transition. Our
results can explain the transition from supercooled phase to the phase,
triggered by nuclear reaction. The new scenario is an alternative to the
well-known ``baked Alaska'' scenario.Comment: RevTex file, 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Evidence of 4He Crystallization via Quantum Tunneling at mK Temperatures
We have investigated creation of 4He crystals from the superfluid phase at the temperature range 2 mKâ1.0 K. Statistical nucleation-event distributions in overpressure were found to be broad, asymmetric, and temperature independent below 100 mK. Our statistical analysis agrees with a theoretical model suggesting that solid formation is driven by macroscopical quantum-mechanical fluctuations from a seed preexisting in a cavity on the wall.Peer reviewe
Cooled video camera for optical investigations below 1 mK
An optical imaging system for milliKelvin temperatures has been developed based on a regular B/W surveillance camera (25 frames/s), with its CCD sensor inside the 4âK vacuum can of our nuclear demagnetization cryostat. The heat leak to the nuclear stage, caused by the operation of the video camera, was reduced below 1 nW by careful rf shielding. The construction of the system and its limits of operation are discussed.Peer reviewe
Observation of a New Surface State on 4He Crystal Interfaces
The equilibrium shape of hcp 4He crystals has been studied at temperatures 0.05â€Tâ€0.7 K by means of a high-precision optical interferometer. We find that the profile of the interfacial boundary, close to an almost horizontal c-facet, has a well-defined slope discontinuity separating two angular regions with different behavior of the surface stiffness αÌ. For surfaces tilted by an angle ÏâČ100 ÎŒrad with respect to the c-facet, we obtain αÌ=Îș/Ï, contrary to the linear angular dependence predicted by current theories. Our results on four large crystals yield Îș=(11±3)Ă10 exp â4T erg/ cm exp 2 K.Peer reviewe
Critical Velocity of Vortex Nucleation in Rotating Superfluid 3He-A
We have measured the critical velocity v_c at which 3He-A in a rotating
cylinder becomes unstable against the formation of quantized vortex lines with
continuous (singularity-free) core structure. We find that v_c is distributed
between a maximum and minimum limit, which we ascribe to a dependence on the
texture of the orbital angular momentum l(r) in the cylinder. Slow cool down
through T_c in rotation yields l(r) textures for which the measured v_c's are
in good agreement with the calculated instability of the expected l texture.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Vortex Multiplication in Applied Flow: the Precursor to Superfluid Turbulence
The dynamics of quantized vortices in rotating He-B is investigated in
the low density (single-vortex) regime as a function of temperature. An abrupt
transition is observed at . Above this temperature the number of
vortex lines remains constant, as they evolve to their equilibrium positions.
Below this temperature the number of vortices increases linearly in time until
the vortex density has grown sufficiently for turbulence to switch on. On the
basis of numerical calculations we suggest a mechanism responsible for vortex
formation at low temperatures and identify the mutual friction parameter which
governs its abrupt temperature dependence.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; version submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Facet Growth of 4He Crystals at mK Temperatures
We have investigated growth of c facets in good quality helium crystals with screw dislocation densities 0â20 cm exp â2 along the c axis. Three distinct regimes of growth were observed. One of them can be explained by spiral growth provided that kinetic energy of moving steps and their tendency to localization at large driving forces are taken into account. In the absence of screw dislocations we find burstlike growth unless the speed is less than 0.5 nm/s, in which case anomalous, intrinsic growth of facets is detected.Peer reviewe
Superconducting Nb-film LC resonator
Sputtered Nb thin-film LC resonators for low frequencies at 0.5 MHz have been
fabricated and tested in the temperature range 0.05--1 K in magnetic fields up
to 30 mT. Their Q value increases towards decreasing temperature as sqrt(T) and
reaches 10^3 at 0.05 K. As a function of magnetic field Q is unstable and
displays variations up to 50%, which are reproducible from one field sweep to
the next. These instabilities are attributed to dielectric losses in the plasma
deposited SiO_2 insulation layer, since the thin-film coil alone reaches a Q >
10^5 at 0.05 K.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Review of Scientific Instrument
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