3,067 research outputs found
Measurement of Magnetization Dynamics in Single-Molecule Magnets Induced by Pulsed Millimeter-Wave Radiation
We describe an experiment aimed at measuring the spin dynamics of the Fe8
single-molecule magnet in the presence of pulsed microwave radiation. In
earlier work, heating was observed after a 0.2-ms pulse of intense radiation,
indicating that the spin system and the lattice were out of thermal equilibrium
at millisecond time scale [Bal et al., Europhys. Lett. 71, 110 (2005)]. In the
current work, an inductive pick-up loop is used to probe the photon-induced
magnetization dynamics between only two levels of the spin system at much
shorter time scales (from ns to us). The relaxation time for the magnetization,
induced by a pulse of radiation, is found to be on the order of 10 us.Comment: 3 RevTeX pages, including 3 eps figures. The paper will appear in the
Journal of Applied Physics as MMM'05 conference proceeding
Inflatable holding fixture permits X-rays to be taken of inner weld areas
Inflatable rubber gland positions and holds X ray film in positive contact with inner weld areas of mainfold torus assemblies for verifying the weld quality. The gland is constructed to conform to the inside diameter of the manifold torus
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: common molecular substrates of nicotine and alcohol dependence
Alcohol and nicotine are often co-abused. As many as 80-95% of alcoholics are also smokers, suggesting that ethanol and nicotine, the primary addictive component of tobacco smoke, may functionally interact in the central nervous system and/or share a common mechanism of action. While nicotine initiates dependence by binding to and activating neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), ligand-gated cation channels normally activated by endogenous acetylcholine (ACh), ethanol is much less specific with the ability to modulate multiple gene products including those encoding voltage-gated ion channels, and excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors.
However, emerging data indicate that ethanol interacts with nAChRs, both directly and indirectly, in the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic (DAergic) reward circuitry to affect brain reward systems. Like nicotine, ethanol activates DAergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) which project to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Blockade of VTA nAChRs reduces ethanol-mediated activation of DAergic neurons, NAc DA release, consumption, and operant responding for ethanol in rodents. Thus, ethanol may increase ACh release into the VTA driving activation of DAergic neurons through nAChRs. In addition, ethanol potentiates distinct nAChR subtype responses to ACh and nicotine in vitro and in DAergic neurons. The smoking cessation therapeutic and nAChR partial agonist, varenicline, reduces alcohol consumption in heavy drinking smokers and rodent models of alcohol consumption.
Finally, single nucleotide polymorphisms in nAChR subunit genes are associated with alcohol dependence phenotypes and smoking behaviors in human populations. Together, results from pre-clinical, clinical, and genetic studies indicate that nAChRs may have an inherent role in the abusive properties of ethanol, as well as in nicotine and alcohol co-dependence
Load Duration and Probability Based Design of Wood Structural Members
Methods are presented for calculating limit state probabilities of engineered wood structural members, considering load duration effects due to stochastic dead and snow load. These methods are used to conduct reliability studies of existing wood design criteria. When realistic load processes are considered, it is found that the importance of load duration and gradual damage accumulation has been somewhat overstated. One possible probability-based design method that should be useful in future code development work also is presented
Non-equilibrium Magnetization Dynamics in the Fe_8 Single-Molecule Magnet Induced by High-Intensity Microwave Radiation
Resonant microwave radiation applied to a single crystal of the molecular
magnet Fe_8 induces dramatic changes in the sample's magnetization. Transitions
between excited states are found even though at the nominal system temperature
these levels have negligible population. We find evidence that the sample heats
significantly when the resonance condition is met. In addition, heating is
observed after a short pulse of intense radiation has been turned off,
indicating that the spin system is out of equilibrium with the lattice.Comment: Version to appear in Europhysics Letters. Minor changes and updated
reference
Radiation- and Phonon-Bottleneck-Induced Tunneling in the Fe8 Single-Molecule Magnet
We measure magnetization changes in a single crystal of the single-molecule
magnet Fe8 when exposed to intense, short (<20 s) pulses of microwave
radiation resonant with the m = 10 to 9 transition. We find that radiation
induces a phonon bottleneck in the system with a time scale of ~5 s. The
phonon bottleneck, in turn, drives the spin dynamics, allowing observation of
thermally assisted resonant tunneling between spin states at the 100-ns time
scale. Detailed numerical simulations quantitatively reproduce the data and
yield a spin-phonon relaxation time of T1 ~ 40 ns.Comment: 6 RevTeX pages, including 4 EPS figures, version accepted for
publicatio
Experimental Upper Bound on Superradiance Emission from Mn12 Acetate
We used a Josephson junction as a radiation detector to look for evidence of
the emission of electromagnetic radiation during magnetization avalanches in a
crystal assembly of Mn_12-Acetate. The crystal assembly exhibits avalanches at
several magnetic fields in the temperature range from 1.8 to 2.6 K with
durations of the order of 1 ms. Although a recent study shows evidence of
electromagnetic radiation bursts during these avalanches [J. Tejada, et al.,
Appl. Phys. Lett. {\bf 84}, 2373 (2004)], we were unable to detect any
significant radiation at well-defined frequencies. A control experiment with
external radiation pulses allows us to determine that the energy released as
radiation during an avalanche is less than 1 part in 10^4 of the total energy
released. In addition, our avalanche data indicates that the magnetization
reversal process does not occur uniformly throughout the sample.Comment: 4 RevTeX pages, 3 eps figure
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An examination of computer-use ethics in Hong Kong and the United States
This study examines differences in individual ethical evaluations of computer-use scenarios between subjects in Hong Kong and the United States in an effort to better understand value differences that may be associated with differences in attitudes toward computer use expectations. Analysis indicates that although Hong Kong subjects generally take a more permissive view of ethical responsibility regarding computer use, they do not necessarily condone violations of ethical behavior. Results are discussed and implications for future research are addressed
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