Fully-Balanced Heat Interferometer

A tunable and balanced heat interferometer is proposed and analyzed. The device consists of two superconductors linked together to form a double-loop interrupted by three Josephson junctions coupled in parallel. Both superconductors are held at different temperatures allowing the heat currents flowing through the structure to interfere. As we show here, thermal transport is coherently modulated through the application of a magnetic flux. Furthermore, such modulation can be tailored at will through the application of an extra control flux. In addition we show that, provided a proper choice of the system parameters, a fully balanced interferometer is obtained. The latter means that the phase-coherent part of heat current can be controlled to the extent of being fully suppressed. Such a device allows for a versatile operation appearing, therefore, as an attractive key to the onset of low-temperature coherent caloritronic circuits

Wetland restoration and nitrate reduction: the example of the periurban wetland of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country, North Spain)

Changes in land use and agricultural intensification caused wetlands on the quaternary aquifer of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country) to disappear some years ago and nitrate concentration in groundwaters increased very quickly. The Basque Government recently declared the East Sector of this aquifer a Vulnerable Zone according to the 91/676/CEE European Directive. Recently, the wetlands have been restored through the closure of the main drainage ditches, the consequent elevation of the water table and the abondonment of agricultural practices near the wetlands. This is the case of the Zurbano wetland. Restoration has allowed the recovery of its biogeochemical function, which has reduced nitrate concentrations in waters. Nitrate concentrations which exceed 50 mg l–1 in groundwaters entering into the wetland are less than 10 mg l–1 at the outlet. Conditions in the wetland are conducive to the loss of nitrates: organic matter rich wetted soils, clay presence allowing a local semiconfined flow and very low hydraulic gradient. Water quality monitoring at several points around the wetland showed the processes involved in nitrate loss, although some aspects still remain unresolved. However, during storm events, the wetland effectively reduces the nitrate concentration entering the Alegria River, the most important river on the quaternary aquifer