380 research outputs found
Temperature-Dependent X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Colossal Magnetoresistive Perovskites
The temperature dependence of the O K-edge pre-edge structure in the x-ray
absorption spectra of the perovskites La(1-x)A(x)MnO(3), (A = Ca, Sr; x = 0.3,
0.4) reveals a correlation between the disappearance of the splitting in the
pre-edge region and the presence of Jahn-Teller distortions. The different
magnitudes of the distortions for different compounds is proposed to explain
some dissimilarity in the line shape of the spectra taken above the Curie
temperature.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. B, 5 pages, 3 figure
Detection of noise-corrupted sinusoidal signals with Josephson junctions
We investigate the possibility of exploiting the speed and low noise features
of Josephson junctions for detecting sinusoidal signals masked by Gaussian
noise. We show that the escape time from the static locked state of a Josephson
junction is very sensitive to a small periodic signal embedded in the noise,
and therefore the analysis of the escape times can be employed to reveal the
presence of the sinusoidal component. We propose and characterize two detection
strategies: in the first the initial phase is supposedly unknown (incoherent
strategy), while in the second the signal phase remains unknown but is fixed
(coherent strategy). Our proposals are both suboptimal, with the linear filter
being the optimal detection strategy, but they present some remarkable
features, such as resonant activation, that make detection through Josephson
junctions appealing in some special cases.Comment: 22 pages, 13 figure
Periplasm Organization in \u3ci\u3eTreponema denticola\u3c/i\u3e as Studied by Cryo-electron Tomography
As a spirochete, the genus Treponema is one of the few major bacterial groups whose natural phylogenic relationships are evident at the level of gross phenotypic characteristics such as their morphology. Treponema spp. are highly invasive due to their unique motility in dense media, and their ability to penetrate cell layers [1]. This feature is associated with the helical cell body and the presence of flagellar filaments in the periplasm [2]. Treponema denticola is an oral pathogen involved in endodontic infections and periodontal diseases. The presence and quantity of T. denticola in the subgingival biofilm is correlated with the severity of periodontal disease and tissue destruction [3,4]. The organism has also been detected in 75% of severe endodontic abscesses [5]. A better understanding of Treponema ultrastructure and motility will aid development of new strategies to control infection. Because of the similarity in ultrastructural organization among spirochetes, knowledge gained from T. denticola can be applied to other spirochetes causing diseases in human and animals (syphilis, digital dermatitis, Lyme disease, relapsing fever, leptospirosis, etc.)
Electron Tomographic Studies of Mitochondrial Crista Topology: “Swirl” Mitochondria of Drosophila Flight Muscle
Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2007 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA, August 5 – August 9, 2007
Direct Observation of High-Temperature Polaronic Behavior In Colossal Magnetoresistive Manganites
The temperature dependence of the electronic and atomic structure of the
colossal magnetoresistive oxides (x = 0.3, 0.4) has
been studied using core and valence level photoemission, x-ray absorption and
emission, and extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. A dramatic
and reversible change of the electronic structure is observed on crossing the
Curie temperature, including charge localization and spin moment increase of
Mn, together with Jahn-Teller distortions, both signatures of polaron
formation. Our data are also consistent with a phase-separation scenario.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, revte
Evidence for Strong Itinerant Spin Fluctuations in the Normal State of CeFeAsO(0.89)F(0.11) Iron-Oxypnictides
The electronic structure in the normal state of CeFeAsO0.89F0.11 oxypnictide
superconductors has been investigated with x-ray absorption and photoemission
spectroscopy. All the data exhibit signatures of Fe d-electron itinerancy.
Exchange multiplets appearing in the Fe 3s core level indicate the presence of
itinerant spin fluctuations. These findings suggest that the underlying physics
and the origin of superconductivity in these materials are likely to be quite
different from those of the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. These
materials provide opportunities for elucidating the role of magnetic
fluctuations in high-temperature superconductivity.Comment: Shorter version. Accepted in Phys. Rev. Let
A pseudo-spectral approach to inverse problems in interface dynamics
An improved scheme for computing coupling parameters of the
Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation from a collection of successive interface
profiles, is presented. The approach hinges on a spectral representation of
this equation. An appropriate discretization based on a Fourier representation,
is discussed as a by-product of the above scheme. Our method is first tested on
profiles generated by a one-dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation where it
is shown to reproduce the input parameters very accurately. When applied to
microscopic models of growth, it provides the values of the coupling parameters
associated with the corresponding continuum equations. This technique favorably
compares with previous methods based on real space schemes.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, revtex 3.0 with epsf style, to appear in Phys.
Rev.
Sustainable but not spontaneous: Co-operatives and the solidarity funds in Italy
This paper aims to highlight the role of solidarity funds in the development and support of national co-operative movements. Those are financial institutions specialized in supporting the start-up and growth of co-operatives. By adopting a case study approach, our analysis shows that solidarity funds emerged globally with similar objectives. Our international comparison focuses on Italy but includes France, the United Kingdom and Québec as a specific Canadian province with a French institutional environment. Despite their crucial importance, there is limited available research on this subject. To this end, our paper has policy implications; we need to consider establishing such institutions in countries where co-operatives are lagging behind as traditional financial institutions are often unable to finance co-operatives because of their property rights regime
Electronic Structure of CeFeAsO1-xFx (x=0, 0.11/x=0.12) compounds
We report an extensive study on the intrinsic bulk electronic structure of
the high-temperature superconductor CeFeAsO0.89F0.11 and its parent compound
CeFeAsO by soft and hard x-ray photoemission, x-ray absorption and soft-x-ray
emission spectroscopies. The complementary surface/bulk probing depth, and the
elemental and chemical sensitivity of these techniques allows resolving the
intrinsic electronic structure of each element and correlating it with the
local structure, which has been probed by extended-x-ray absorption fine
structure spectroscopy. The measurements indicate a predominant 4f1 (i.e. Ce3+)
initial state configuration for Cerium and an effective valence-band-to-4f
charge-transfer screening of the core hole. The spectra also reveal the
presence of a small Ce f0 initial state configuration, which we assign to the
occurrence of an intermediate valence state. The data reveal a reasonably good
agreement with the partial density of states as obtained in standard density
functional calculations over a large energy range. Implications for the
electronic structure of these materials are discussed.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Engineered quantum tunnelling in extended periodic potentials
Quantum tunnelling from a tilted, but otherwise periodic potential is
studied. Our theoretical and experimental results show that, by controlling the
system's parameters, we can engineer the escape rate of a Bose-Einstein
condensate to an exceptional degree. Possible applications of this atom-optics
realization of the open Wannier-Stark system are discussed.Comment: 6 pp, proceedings DICE 11-15 September 2006, Castello di Piombino,
Tuscany, Ital
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