882 research outputs found
Spectroscopy and critical temperature of diffusive superconducting/ferromagnetic hybrid structures with spin-active interfaces
The description of the proximity effect in superconducting/ferromagnetic
heterostructures requires to use spin-dependent boundary conditions. Such
boundary conditions must take into account the spin dependence of the phase
shifts acquired by electrons upon scattering on the boundaries of ferromagnets.
The present article shows that this property can strongly affect the critical
temperature and the energy dependence of the density of states of diffusive
heterostructures. These effects should allow a better caracterisation of
diffusive superconductor/ferromagnet interfaces.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.
Superconducting proximity effect in a diffusive ferromagnet with spin-active interfaces
We reconsider the problem of the superconducting proximity effect in a
diffusive ferromagnet bounded by tunneling interfaces, using spin-dependent
boundary conditions. This introduces for each interface a phase-shifting
conductance Gphi which results from the spin dependence of the phase shifts
acquired by the electrons upon scattering on the interface. We show that Gphi
strongly affects the density of states and supercurrents predicted for
superconducting/ferromagnetic hybrid circuits. We show the relevance of this
effect by identifying clear signatures of Gphi in the data of T. Kontos et al
[Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 304 (2001), ibid. 89, 137007 (2002)].Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Photon mediated interaction between distant quantum dot circuits
Engineering the interaction between light and matter is an important goal in
the emerging field of quantum opto-electronics. Thanks to the use of cavity
quantum electrodynamics architectures, one can envision a fully hybrid
multiplexing of quantum conductors. Here, we use such an architecture to couple
two quantum dot circuits . Our quantum dots are separated by 200 times their
own size, with no direct tunnel and electrostatic couplings between them. We
demonstrate their interaction, mediated by the cavity photons. This could be
used to scale up quantum bit architectures based on quantum dot circuits or
simulate on-chip phonon-mediated interactions between strongly correlated
electrons
Modeling a Schottky-barrier carbon nanotube field-effect transistor with ferromagnetic contacts
In this study, a model of a Schottky-barrier carbon nanotube field- effect
transistor (CNT-FET), with ferromagnetic contacts, has been developed. The
emphasis is put on analysis of current-voltage characteristics as well as shot
(and thermal) noise. The method is based on the tight-binding model and the
non- equilibrium Green's function technique. The calculations show that, at
room temperature, the shot noise of the CNT FET is Poissonian in the
sub-threshold region, whereas in elevated gate and drain/source voltage regions
the Fano factor gets strongly reduced. Moreover, transport properties strongly
depend on relative magnetization orientations in the source and drain contacts.
In particular, one observes quite a large tunnel magnetoresistance, whose
absolute value may exceed 50%.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Chemical analysis and aqueous solution properties of Charged Amphiphilic Block Copolymers PBA-b-PAA synthesized by MADIX
We have linked the structural and dynamic properties in aqueous solution of
amphiphilic charged diblock copolymers poly(butyl acrylate)-b-poly(acrylic
acid), PBA-b-PAA, synthesized by controlled radical polymerization, with the
physico-chemical characteristics of the samples. Despite product imperfections,
the samples self-assemble in melt and aqueous solutions as predicted by
monodisperse microphase separation theory. However, the PBA core are abnormally
large; the swelling of PBA cores is not due to AA (the Flory parameter
chiPBA/PAA, determined at 0.25, means strong segregation), but to h-PBA
homopolymers (content determined by Liquid Chromatography at the Point of
Exclusion and Adsorption Transition LC-PEAT). Beside the dominant population of
micelles detected by scattering experiments, capillary electrophoresis CE
analysis permitted detection of two other populations, one of h-PAA, and the
other of free PBA-b-PAA chains, that have very short PBA blocks and never
self-assemble. Despite the presence of these free unimers, the self-assembly in
solution was found out of equilibrium: the aggregation state is history
dependant and no unimer exchange between micelles occurs over months
(time-evolution SANS). The high PBA/water interfacial tension, measured at 20
mN/m, prohibits unimer exchange between micelles. PBA-b-PAA solution systems
are neither at thermal equilibrium nor completely frozen systems: internal
fractionation of individual aggregates can occur.Comment: 32 pages, 16 figures and 4 tables submitted to Journal of Interface
and Colloidal Scienc
Manipulating the Quantum State of an Electrical Circuit
We have designed and operated a superconducting tunnel junction circuit that
behaves as a two-level atom: the ``quantronium''. An arbitrary evolution of its
quantum state can be programmed with a series of microwave pulses, and a
projective measurement of the state can be performed by a pulsed readout
sub-circuit. The measured quality factor of quantum coherence Qphi=25000 is
sufficiently high that a solid-state quantum processor based on this type of
circuit can be envisioned.Comment: 4 figures include
Effect of the attachment of ferromagnetic contacts on the conductivity and giant magnetoresistance of graphene nanoribbons
Carbon-based nanostructures and graphene, in particular, evoke a lot of
interest as new promising materials for nanoelectronics and spintronics. One of
the most important issue in this context is the impact of external electrodes
on electronic properties of graphene nanoribbons (GNR). The present theoretical
method is based on the tight-binding model and a modified recursive procedure
for Green's functions. The results show that within the ballistic transport
regime, the so called end-contacted geometry (of minimal GNR/electrode
interface area), is usually more advantageous for practical applications than
its side-contacted counterpart (with a larger coverage area), as far as the
electrical conductivity is concerned. As regards the giant magnetoresistance
coefficient, however, the situation is exactly opposite, since spin- splitting
effects are more pronounced in the lower conductive side-contacted setups.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Conserved spin and orbital phase along carbon nanotubes connected with multiple ferromagnetic contacts
We report on spin dependent transport measurements in carbon nanotubes based
multi-terminal circuits. We observe a gate-controlled spin signal in non-local
voltages and an anomalous conductance spin signal, which reveal that both the
spin and the orbital phase can be conserved along carbon nanotubes with
multiple ferromagnetic contacts. This paves the way for spintronics devices
exploiting both these quantum mechanical degrees of freedom on the same
footing.Comment: 8 pages - minor differences with published versio
Un protocolo de tinción mejorado para la visualización de micorrizas arbusculares en briofitas.
The most accepted method for staining arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in vascular plants has been one proposed by Phillips & Hayman in 1970. In particular, for the study of AM in bryophytes (s.l.) [Anthocerotophyta, Bryophyta (s.s.), Marchantiophyta] some authors have introduced modifications to this technique. Even though all these protocols stain AM, their main disadvantage is related to the result of material maceration (e.g. over-softening or completely destroying plant cells due to the high temperatures used, the high concentrations of reagents or the long-term exposure to aggressive chemicals). In order to optimise the results for the observation of AM in this group of plants, a modification is presented to the traditional staining technique. In the protocol here proposed, 70% ethanol is used as fixative and first clarifier, 1% potassium hydroxide (KOH) (80 °C, 20 min) as a second clarifier; 1% hydrochloric acid (HCl) (50 °C, 10 min) as an acidifier and 0.05% trypan blue (60 °C, 20 min) for dyeing. This improved protocol is not destructive, it is fast to perform and it is of wide application since it allows staining the AM in bryophytes.Un protocolo de tinción mejorado para la visualización de micorrizas arbusculares en briofitas. El método tradicional más aceptado para la tinción de micorrizas arbusculares (MA) en plantas vasculares es el propuesto por Phillips & Hayman en 1970. En particular, para el estudio de las MA en briofitas (s.l.) [Anthocerotophyta, Bryophyta (s.s.), Marchantiophyta] algunos autores introdujeron modificaciones a esta técnica. Aunque todos estos protocolos tiñen las MA, su principal desventaja está relacionada con el resultado de la maceración del material (e.g. reblandecimiento excesivo o destrucción de las células vegetales por altas temperaturas utilizadas, altas concentraciones de reactivos o exposición prolongada a sustancias químicas agresivas). Para optimizar la observación de las MA en briofitas (s.l.), se desarrolló una adaptación a la técnica de tinción tradicional y sus modificaciones. En el protocolo aquí propuesto, se usa etanol 70% para fijar y como primer clarificador, hidróxido de potasio (KOH) 1% (80 °C, 20 min) como segundo clarificador; ácido clorhídrico (HCl) 1% (50 °C, 10 min) como acidificante y azul de tripán 0,05% (60 °C, 20 min) para teñir. Este protocolo mejorado no es destructivo, es rápido de realizar y es de amplia aplicación ya que permite teñir las MA en briófitas (s.l.)
Description sensorielle de la carotte - recherche et mise au point d'une méthodologie
En évaluation sensorielle, la description des caractéristiques organoleptiques d\u27un produit par la méthode de profil sensoriel demande, dans un premier temps, de déterminer les descripteurs qui vont être pertinents dans la caractérisation du produit. Cet article présente les différentes étapes de mise en place d\u27une liste de descripteurs appliquée à la carotte. La carotte étant un produit consommé cru ou cuit et sous différentes formes, trois modes d\u27usage (carotte crue râpée, cuite entière, crue en rondelle...) vont être comparés, afin de déterminer quel est l\u27apport de chacune des méthodes dans la description du produit
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