Introduction to Graphene Electronics -- A New Era of Digital Transistors and Devices

The speed of silicon-based transistors has reached an impasse in the recent decade, primarily due to scaling techniques and the short-channel effect. Conversely, graphene (a revolutionary new material possessing an atomic thickness) has been shown to exhibit a promising value for electrical conductivity. Graphene would thus appear to alleviate some of the drawbacks associated with silicon-based transistors. It is for this reason why such a material is considered one of the most prominent candidates to replace silicon within nano-scale transistors. The major crux here, is that graphene is intrinsically gapless, and yet, transistors require a band-gap pertaining to a well-defined ON/OFF logical state. Therefore, exactly as to how one would create this band-gap in graphene allotropes is an intensive area of growing research. Existing methods include nano-ribbons, bilayer and multi-layer structures, carbon nanotubes, as well as the usage of the graphene substrates. Graphene transistors can generally be classified according to two working principles. The first is that a single graphene layer, nanoribbon or carbon nanotube can act as a transistor channel, with current being transported along the horizontal axis. The second mechanism is regarded as tunneling, whether this be band-to-band on a single graphene layer, or vertically between adjacent graphene layers. The high-frequency graphene amplifier is another talking point in recent research, since it does not require a clear ON/OFF state, as with logical electronics. This paper reviews both the physical properties and manufacturing methodologies of graphene, as well as graphene-based electronic devices, transistors, and high-frequency amplifiers from past to present studies. Finally, we provide possible perspectives with regards to future developments.Comment: This is an updated version of our review article, due to be published in Contemporary Physics (Sept 2013). Included are updated references, along with a few minor corrections. (45 pages, 19 figures

Spin Star as Switch for Quantum Networks

Quantum state transfer is an important task in quantum information processing. It is known that one can engineer the couplings of a one-dimensional spin chain to achieve the goal of perfect state transfer. To leverage the value of these spin chains, a spin star is potentially useful for connecting different parts of a quantum network. In this work, we extend the spin-chain engineering problem to the problems with a topology of a star network. We show that a permanently coupled spin star can function as a network switch for transferring quantum states selectively from one node to another by varying the local potentials only. Together with one-dimensional chains, this result allows applications of quantum state transfer be applied to more general quantum networks.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figur

Kinetics of ADP-induced Human Platelet Shape Change: Apparent Positive Cooperativity

The kinetics of ADP-induced human platelet shape change have been examined. Initial velocities of platelet shape change were estimated by two methods: 1) the slope of the initial decrease in light transmission through stirred, citrated platelet-rich plasma, and 2) direct examination of platelet morphologies by phase-contrast microscopy. In both cases, a value of the Hill coefficient, n, significantly greater than 1 is obtained (2.0 +/- 0.2 and 1.8 +/- 0.2, respectively). The observed elevated value of n is not due to a substantial fraction of the ADP being platelet bound, the presence of factors in the plasma, platelet heterogeneity, of the influence of the rate of platelet shape change reversion. Our observations suggest that ADP-induced platelet shape change may be a positive cooperative or threshold type response

Multi-Qubit Gates in Arrays Coupled by 'Always On' Interactions

Recently there has been interest in the idea of quantum computing without control of the physical interactions between component qubits. This is highly appealing since the 'switching' of such interactions is a principal difficulty in creating real devices. It has been established that one can employ 'always on' interactions in a one-dimensional Heisenberg chain, provided that one can tune the Zeeman energies of the individual (pseudo-)spins. It is important to generalize this scheme to higher dimensional networks, since a real device would probably be of that kind. Such generalisations have been proposed, but only at the severe cost that the efficiency of qubit storage must *fall*. Here we propose the use of multi-qubit gates within such higher-dimensional arrays, finding a novel three-qubit gate that can in fact increase the efficiency beyond the linear model. Thus we are able to propose higher dimensional networks that can constitute a better embodiment of the 'always on' concept - a substantial step toward bringing this novel concept to full fruition.Comment: 20 pages in preprint format, inc. 3 figures. This version has fixed typos and printer-friendly figures, and is to appear in NJ

Time-dependent density-functional theory for open systems

By introducing the self-energy density functionals for the dissipative interactions between the reduced system and its environment, we develop a time-dependent density-functional theory formalism based on an equation of motion for the Kohn-Sham reduced single-electron density matrix of the reduced system. Two approximate schemes are proposed for the self-energy density functionals, the complete second order approximation and the wide-band limit approximation. A numerical method based on the wide-band limit approximation is subsequently developed and implemented to simulate the steady and transient current through various realistic molecular devices. Simulation results are presented and discussed.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figure

Acute Neurological Toxicity (NT) and Long-Term Outcomes in High-grade Glioma RTOG Trials

Background: Treatment of high-grade glioma consists of fractionated radiation therapy (RT) ± chemotherapy. The incidence/significance of neurological toxicity (NT) in this disease is not known. We evaluated the relationship between acute and chronic NT, and ultimate outcome, as well as risk factors for NT from the RTOG database. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 46th Annual Meeting June 4-8, Chicago, IL

Bulk Fermi surface and momentum density in heavily doped La2−x_{2-x}Srx_xCuO4_4 using high resolution Compton scattering and positron annihilation spectroscopies

We have observed the bulk Fermi surface (FS) in an overdoped ($x$=0.3) single crystal of La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ by using Compton scattering. A two-dimensional (2D) momentum density reconstruction from measured Compton profiles yields a clear FS signature in the third Brillouin zone along [100]. The quantitative agreement between density functional theory (DFT) calculations and momentum density experiment suggests that Fermi-liquid physics is restored in the overdoped regime. In particular the predicted FS topology is found to be in good accord with the corresponding experimental data. We find similar quantitative agreement between the measured 2D angular correlation of positron annihilation radiation (2D-ACAR) spectra and the DFT based computations. However, 2D-ACAR does not give such a clear signature of the FS in the extended momentum space in either the theory or the experiment.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Managing organizational DSS development in small manufacturing enterprise

A number of Hong Kong manufacturing companies have moved their production to the People's Republic of China while retaining their supporting functions (such as marketing, distribution, etc.) in Hong Kong. As a consequence, their mode of operation has become more complex and demands better production planning and control (PPC). One solution is to use an information system in which all factory resources are integrated within a single framework for PPC. The main instrument of this strategy is an Organizational DSS (ODSS). This paper presents a case study of development and adoption of an ODSS in a small manufacturing enterprise. Analysis of the findings highlights the cultural as well as organizational underpinnings and the need for effective intervention before and throughout the computerization. The implementation strategies are described, with emphasis on prerequisite infrastructural developments, showing how they provide opportunities and constraints

Temperley-Lieb Words as Valence-Bond Ground States

Based on the Temperley--Lieb algebra we define a class of one-dimensional Hamiltonians with nearest and next-nearest neighbour interactions. Using the regular representation we give ground states of this model as words of the algebra. Two point correlation functions can be computed employing the Temperley--Lieb relations. Choosing a spin-1/2 representation of the algebra we obtain a generalization of the (q-deformed) Majumdar--Ghosh model. The ground states become valence-bond states.Comment: 9 Pages, LaTeX (with included style files