Scaling Relations in the Vortex State of Nodal Superconductors

In contrast to multigap superconductors (e.g. MgB$_{2}$), the low-temperature properties of nodal superconductors are dominated by nodal excitations. Here we extend for a variety of nodal superocnductors the earlier work by Simon and Lee and K\"ubert and Hirschfeld. The scaling relations seen in the thermodynamics and the thermal conductivity will provide an unequivocal test of nodal superconductivity.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Gap Symmetry of Superconductivity in UPd2Al3

The angle dependent thermal conductivity of the heavy-fermion superconductor UPd$_2$Al$_3$ in the vortex state was recently measured by Watanabe et al. Here we analyze this data from two perspectives: universal heat conduction and the angle-dependence. We conclude that the superconducting gap function $\Delta({\bf k})$ in UPd$_2$Al$_3$ has horizontal nodes and is given by $\Delta({\bf k}) =\Delta\cos(2\chi)$, with $\chi = ck_{z}$.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, improved figures in replacemen

Design studies of continuously variable transmissions for electric vehicles

Preliminary design studies were performed on four continuously variable transmission (CVT) concepts for use with a flywheel equipped electric vehicle of 1700 kg gross weight. Requirements of the CVT's were a maximum torque of 450 N-m (330 lb-ft), a maximum output power of 75 kW (100 hp), and a flywheel speed range of 28,000 to 14,000 rpm. Efficiency, size, weight, cost, reliability, maintainability, and controls were evaluated for each of the four concepts which included a steel V-belt type, a flat rubber belt type, a toroidal traction type, and a cone roller traction type. All CVT's exhibited relatively high calculated efficiencies (68 percent to 97 percent) over a broad range of vehicle operating conditions. Estimated weight and size of these transmissions were comparable to or less than equivalent automatic transmission. The design of each concept was carried through the design layout stage

BCS theory of nodal superconductors

This course has a dual purpose. First we review the successes of the weak-coupling BCS theory in describing new classes of superconductors discovered since 1979. They include the heavy-fermion superconductors, high-Tc cuprate superconductors, organic superconductors, Sr2RuO4, etc. Second, we present the quasiclassical approximation introduced by Volovik, which we extend to describe the thermodynamics and the thermal conductivity of the vortex state in nodal superconductors. This approach provides the most powerful tool to identify the symmetry of the energy gap function Delta(k) in these new superconductors.Comment: 31 pages, 33 figure

Spatial curvature effects on molecular transport by diffusion

For a substance diffusing on a curved surface, we obtain an explicit relation valid for very small values of the time, between the local concentration, the diffusion coefficient, the intrinsic spatial curvature and the time. We recover the known solution of Fick's law of diffusion in the flat space limit. In the biological context, this result would be useful in understanding the variations in the diffusion rates of integral proteins and other molecules on membranes.Comment: 10 page

New World of Gossamer Superconductivity

Since the discovery of the high-T$_{c}$ cuprate superconductor La$_{2-x}$BaCuO$_{4}$ in 1986 by Bednorz and M\"{u}ller, controversy regarding the nature or origin of this remarkable superconductivity has continued. However, d-wave superconductivity in the hole-doped cuprates, arising due to the anti-paramagnon exchange, was established around 1994. More recently we have shown that the mean field theory, like the BCS theory of superconductivity and Landau's Fermi liquid theory are adequate to describe the cuprates. The keys for this development are the facts that a)the pseudogap phase is d-wave density wave (dDW) and that the high-T$_{c}$ cuprate superconductivity is gossamer (i.e. it exists in the presence of dDW).Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure