A Framework for Local Mechanical Characterization of Atherosclerotic Plaques: Combination of Ultrasound Displacement Imaging and Inverse Finite Element Analysis

Biomechanical models have the potential to predict plaque rupture. For reliable models, correct material properties of plaque components are a prerequisite. This study presents a new technique, where high resolution ultrasound displacement imaging and inverse finite element (FE) modeling is combined, to estimate material properties of plaque components. Iliac arteries with plaques were excised from 6 atherosclerotic pigs and subjected to an inflation test with pressures ranging from 10 to 120 mmHg. The arteries were imaged with high frequ

Current induced switching of magnetic domains to a perpendicular configuration

In a ferromagnet--normal-metal--ferromagnet trilayer, a current flowing perpendicularly to the layers creates a torque on the magnetic moments of the ferromagnets. When one of the contacts is superconducting, the torque not only favors parallel or antiparallel alignment of the magnetic moments, as is the case for two normal contacts, but can also favor a configuration where the two moments are perpendicular. In addition, whereas the conductance for parallel and antiparallel magnetic moments is the same, signalling the absence of giant magnetoresistance in the usual sense, the conductance is greater in the perpendicular configuration. Thus, a negative magnetoconductance is predicted, in contrast with the usual giant magnetoresistance.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, major rewriting of the technical par

Spontaneous Spin Polarized Currents in Superconductor-Ferromagnetic Metal Heterostructures

We study a simple microscopic model for thin, ferromagnetic, metallic layers on semi-infinite bulk superconductor. We find that for certain values of the exchange spliting, on the ferromagnetic side, the ground states of such structures feature spontaneously induced spin polarized currents. Using a mean-field theory, which is selfconsistent with respect to the pairing amplitude $\chi$, spin polarization $\vec{m}$ and the spontaneous current $\vec{j}_s$, we show that not only there are Andreev bound states in the ferromagnet but when their energies $E_n$ are near zero they support spontaneous currents parallel to the ferromagnetic-superconducting interface. Moreover, we demonstrate that the spin-polarization of these currents depends sensitively on the band filling.Comment: 4 pages, 5 Postscript figures (included

Tachyonic Inflation in a Warped String Background

We analyze observational constraints on the parameter space of tachyonic inflation with a Gaussian potential and discuss some predictions of this scenario. As was shown by Kofman and Linde, it is extremely problematic to achieve the required range of parameters in conventional string compactifications. We investigate if the situation can be improved in more general compactifications with a warped metric and varying dilaton. The simplest examples are the warped throat geometries that arise in the vicinity of of a large number of space-filling D-branes. We find that the parameter range for inflation can be accommodated in the background of D6-branes wrapping a three-cycle in type IIA. We comment on the requirements that have to be met in order to realize this scenario in an explicit string compactification.Comment: Latex, JHEP class, 20 pages, 4 figures. v2: references added, small error in section 7 corrected, published versio

Quasiclassical description of transport through superconducting contacts

We present a theoretical study of transport properties through superconducting contacts based on a new formulation of boundary conditions that mimics interfaces for the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity. These boundary conditions are based on a description of an interface in terms of a simple Hamiltonian. We show how this Hamiltonian description is incorporated into quasiclassical theory via a T-matrix equation by integrating out irrelevant energy scales right at the onset. The resulting boundary conditions reproduce results obtained by conventional quasiclassical boundary conditions, or by boundary conditions based on the scattering approach. This formalism is well suited for the analysis of magnetically active interfaces as well as for calculating time-dependent properties such as the current-voltage characteristics or as current fluctuations in junctions with arbitrary transmission and bias voltage. This approach is illustrated with the calculation of Josephson currents through a variety of superconducting junctions ranging from conventional to d-wave superconductors, and to the analysis of supercurrent through a ferromagnetic nanoparticle. The calculation of the current-voltage characteristics and of noise is applied to the case of a contact between two d-wave superconductors. In particular, we discuss the use of shot noise for the measurement of charge transferred in a multiple Andreev reflection in d-wave superconductors

Applications of Thirring Model to Inhomogenous Rolling Tachyon and Dissipative Quantum Mechanics

We study the rolling tachyon and the dissipative quantum mechanics using the Thirring model with a boundary mass. We construct a boundary state for the dissipative quantum system in one dimension, which describes the system at the off-critical points as well as at the critical point. Then we extend the Thirring model with a boundary mass in order to depict the time evolution of an unstable D-branes with one direction wrapped on a circle of radius $R$, which is termed the inhomogeneous rolling tachyon. The analysis based on the Thirring model shows that the time dependent evolution of the inhomogeneous tachyon is possible only when $\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}< R < 2$.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figures, This work supersedes the previous one, arXiv:0705.3930 [hep-th

Cosmological implications of interacting polytropic gas dark energy model in non-flat universe

The polytropic gas model is investigated as an interacting dark energy scenario. The cosmological implications of the model including the evolution of EoS parameter $w_{\Lambda}$, energy density $\Omega_{\Lambda}$ and deceleration parameter $q$ are investigated. We show that, depending on the parameter of model, the interacting polytropic gas can behave as a quintessence or phantom dark energy. In this model, the phantom divide is crossed from below to up. The evolution of $q$ in the context of polytropic gas dark energy model represents the decelerated phase at the early time and accelerated phase later. The singularity of this model is also discussed. Eventually, we establish the correspondence between interacting polytropic gas model with tachyon, K-essence and dilaton scalar fields. The potential and the dynamics of these scalar field models are reconstructed according to the evolution of interacting polytropic gas.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, accepted by ijt

Polytropic gas scalar field models of dark energy

In this work we investigate the polytropic gas dark energy model in the non flat universe. We first calculate the evolution of EoS parameter of the model as well as the cosmological evolution of Hubble parameter in the context of polytropic gas dark energy model. Then we reconstruct the dynamics and the potential of the tachyon and K-essence scalar field models according to the evolutionary behavior of polytropic gas model.Comment: 18 pages, 6 Figure