Quantum transport in carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are a versatile material in which many aspects of condensed matter physics come together. Recent discoveries, enabled by sophisticated fabrication, have uncovered new phenomena that completely change our understanding of transport in these devices, especially the role of the spin and valley degrees of freedom. This review describes the modern understanding of transport through nanotube devices. Unlike conventional semiconductors, electrons in nanotubes have two angular momentum quantum numbers, arising from spin and from valley freedom. We focus on the interplay between the two. In single quantum dots defined in short lengths of nanotube, the energy levels associated with each degree of freedom, and the spin-orbit coupling between them, are revealed by Coulomb blockade spectroscopy. In double quantum dots, the combination of quantum numbers modifies the selection rules of Pauli blockade. This can be exploited to read out spin and valley qubits, and to measure the decay of these states through coupling to nuclear spins and phonons. A second unique property of carbon nanotubes is that the combination of valley freedom and electron-electron interactions in one dimension strongly modifies their transport behaviour. Interaction between electrons inside and outside a quantum dot is manifested in SU(4) Kondo behavior and level renormalization. Interaction within a dot leads to Wigner molecules and more complex correlated states. This review takes an experimental perspective informed by recent advances in theory. As well as the well-understood overall picture, we also state clearly open questions for the field. These advances position nanotubes as a leading system for the study of spin and valley physics in one dimension where electronic disorder and hyperfine interaction can both be reduced to a very low level.Comment: In press at Reviews of Modern Physics. 68 pages, 55 figure

Extended Water Quality Monitoring of the Lincoln Lake Watershed

For seven years, the Lincoln Lake (Moores Creek and Beatty Branch) watershed was monitored for improvements in water quality resulting from agricultural best management practices (BMP) implemented to reduce nutrient transport. During the first three years of monitoring (1991 to 1994), nitrogen transport declined significantly (Edwards et al., 1994, 1996, and 1997) under both base and storm flow conditions. This decline in nitrogen transport was again observed in the three-year period following 1994 (Vendrell et al. 1998). This monitoring effort has demonstrated that water quality bas improved in the Lincoln Lake watershed. However, since the nitrogen transport continued to decline and there was some indication that phosphorus may begin to decline, monitoring was extended for another year (1998)

Imaging Transport Resonances in the Quantum Hall Effect

We use a scanning capacitance probe to image transport in the quantum Hall system. Applying a DC bias voltage to the tip induces a ring-shaped incompressible strip (IS) in the 2D electron system (2DES) that moves with the tip. At certain tip positions, short-range disorder in the 2DES creates a quantum dot island in the IS. These islands enable resonant tunneling across the IS, enhancing its conductance by more than four orders of magnitude. The images provide a quantitative measure of disorder and suggest resonant tunneling as the primary mechanism for transport across ISs.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PRL. For movies and additional infomation, see http://electron.mit.edu/scanning/; Added scale bars to images, revised discussion of figure 3, other minor change

Sarpa salpa herbivory on shallow reaches of Posidonia oceanica beds

El herbivorismo de Sarpa salpa en los tramos someros de los lechos de Posidonia oceanica En el presente artículo analizamos la variabilidad temporal y espacial en pequeña escala de la actividad de alimentación del pez herbívoro Sarpa salpa en los lechos someros de la pradera submarina de clima templado Posidonia oceanica. La intensidad del herbivorismo expresada como el porcentaje de superficie foliar mordida por el pez fue superior en septiembre de 2006 que en febrero de 2007, y a una profundidad de 0,5 m que de 1,5 m durante los dos períodos de muestreo. Todos los individuos de S. salpa que se alimentaban en las zonas someras estudiadas eran juveniles y el tamaño de mordedura se situaba entre 0,03 y 0,62 cm2. Los juveniles que se alimentaban a 1,5 m de profundidad fueron más grandes en febrero de 2007 que en septiembre de 2006, tal como ponen de relieve las diferencias significativas existentes en el tamaño medio de mordedura por haz. No obstante, los juveniles más grandes que se alimentaban a 1,5 m de profundidad en febrero de 2007 no parecían alimentarse con tanta frecuencia como los juveniles comparativamente más pequeños, que lo hacían a la misma profundidad en septiembre de 2006, tal como sugieren las diferencias significativas halladas en el número de mordeduras por haz. Asimismo, el número de mordeduras por haz fue inferior a 1,5 m de profundidad que a 0,5 m en febrero de 2007, si bien el tamaño medio de las mordeduras no difería en medida significativa entre las dos profundidades en aquel período de muestreo. En general, los juveniles de S. salpa no elegían un intervalo de edad concreto de las hojas a la hora de alimentarse en los lugares del estudio, a pesar de que los juveniles que se alimentaban a 1,5 m de profundidad en septiembre de 2006 parecían elegir hojas de edad mediana. Los peces no mostraron preferencia por las hojas con mayor cobertura de epífitos. Estos resultados muestran que la actividad de alimentación de los juveniles de S. salpa en los tramos someros de las praderas de P. oceanica puede variar con el tiempo y con pequeños cambios de profundidad, lo que a su vez puede afectar a la intensidad general del herbivorismo sobre las praderas submarinas.Here, we examined the temporal and small–scale spatial variability of grazing by the herbivorous fish Sarpa salpa on shallow beds of the temperate seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Herbivory intensity expressed as the percent of leaf area taken by fish bites was higher in September 2006 than in February 2007, and at 0.5 m than at 1.5 m during both sampling times. All S. salpa feeding at the shallow locations studied were juveniles, with bite sizes ranging from 0.03 to 0.62 cm2. Juveniles feeding at 1.5 m were larger in February 2007 than in September 2006, as evidenced by significant differences in mean bite size per shoot. However, the larger juveniles feeding at 1.5 m in February 2007 did not appear to feed as frequently as the comparatively smaller juveniles feeding at the same depth in September 2006, as suggested by significant differences in number of bites per shoot. The number of bites per shoot was also lower at 1.5 m than at 0.5 m in February 2007, although mean bite size did not differ significantly between the two depths at that sampling time. In general S. salpa juveniles did not select a particular range of leaf ages when feeding in the study locations, although the juveniles feeding at 1.5 m in September 2006 appeared to select mid–aged leaves. Fish did not show a preference for more epiphytized leaves. These results show that grazing activity by S. salpa juveniles in shallow reaches of P. oceanica meadows may vary temporally and across small changes in depth, which in turn may affect the overall intensity of herbivory on the seagrass.El herbivorismo de Sarpa salpa en los tramos someros de los lechos de Posidonia oceanica En el presente artículo analizamos la variabilidad temporal y espacial en pequeña escala de la actividad de alimentación del pez herbívoro Sarpa salpa en los lechos someros de la pradera submarina de clima templado Posidonia oceanica. La intensidad del herbivorismo expresada como el porcentaje de superficie foliar mordida por el pez fue superior en septiembre de 2006 que en febrero de 2007, y a una profundidad de 0,5 m que de 1,5 m durante los dos períodos de muestreo. Todos los individuos de S. salpa que se alimentaban en las zonas someras estudiadas eran juveniles y el tamaño de mordedura se situaba entre 0,03 y 0,62 cm2. Los juveniles que se alimentaban a 1,5 m de profundidad fueron más grandes en febrero de 2007 que en septiembre de 2006, tal como ponen de relieve las diferencias significativas existentes en el tamaño medio de mordedura por haz. No obstante, los juveniles más grandes que se alimentaban a 1,5 m de profundidad en febrero de 2007 no parecían alimentarse con tanta frecuencia como los juveniles comparativamente más pequeños, que lo hacían a la misma profundidad en septiembre de 2006, tal como sugieren las diferencias significativas halladas en el número de mordeduras por haz. Asimismo, el número de mordeduras por haz fue inferior a 1,5 m de profundidad que a 0,5 m en febrero de 2007, si bien el tamaño medio de las mordeduras no difería en medida significativa entre las dos profundidades en aquel período de muestreo. En general, los juveniles de S. salpa no elegían un intervalo de edad concreto de las hojas a la hora de alimentarse en los lugares del estudio, a pesar de que los juveniles que se alimentaban a 1,5 m de profundidad en septiembre de 2006 parecían elegir hojas de edad mediana. Los peces no mostraron preferencia por las hojas con mayor cobertura de epífitos. Estos resultados muestran que la actividad de alimentación de los juveniles de S. salpa en los tramos someros de las praderas de P. oceanica puede variar con el tiempo y con pequeños cambios de profundidad, lo que a su vez puede afectar a la intensidad general del herbivorismo sobre las praderas submarinas

Buffalo National River Ecosystems - Part II

The priorities were established for the Buffalo National River Ecosystem Studies through meetings and correspondence with Mr. Roland Wauer and other personnel of the Office of Natural Sciences, Southwest Region of the National Park Service. These priorities were set forth in the appendix of contract no. CX 700050443 dated May 21, 1975

Stiffness and Damping Properties of a Low Aspect Ratio Shear Wall Building Based on Recorded Earthquake Responses

An investigation into the structural properties and seismic responses of a low aspect ratio shear wall building, which has construction similarity to typical nuclear plant structures, has been performed using actual recorded earthquake motions. This effort used a combination of modal identification to obtain structure modal parameters directly from the recorded motions, and elastic structural analysis using methods and criteria frequently employed by the nuclear industry. Modal parameters determined by modal identification provide excellent fits to the building motions recorded during the 1984 Morgan Hill earthquake. Modal parameters identified for the 1989 Lorna Prieta earthquake are more uncertain. Investigation of building stiffnesses generally confirms the adequacy of bounding estimates currently recommended for nuclear plant structure seismic analysis. Damping values identified for this building supplement the database being compiled to investigate current nuclear plant structure damping criteria

Measuring the equation of state of a hard-disc fluid

We use video microscopy to study a two-dimensional (2D) model fluid of charged colloidal particles suspended in water and compute the pressure from the measured particle configurations. Direct experimental control over the particle density by means of optical tweezers allows the precise measurement of pressure as a function of density. We compare our data with theoretical predictions for the equation of state, the pair-correlation function and the compressibility of a hard-disc fluid and find good agreement, both for the fluid and the solid phase. In particular the location of the transition point agrees well with results from Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: 7 pages, to appear in EPL, slightly corrected versio

A gauge invariant and string independent fermion correlator in the Schwinger model

We introduce a gauge invariant and string independent two-point fermion correlator which is analyzed in the context of the Schwinger model (QED_2). We also derive an effective infrared worldline action for this correlator, thus enabling the computation of its infrared behavior. Finally, we briefly discuss possible perspectives for the string independent correlator in the QED_3 effective models for the normal state of HTc superconductors.Comment: 14 pages, LaTe