Surface core excitons in III-V semiconductors

Recent experiments have shown that the cation core excitons on the (110) surface of many III-V semiconductors have very large binding energies.(^1) They are sometimes reported to be bound by as much as ≳0.8 eV, tightly bound compared to bulk binding energies of ≾0.1 eV. To explore this phenomenon, we have calculated the binding energies and oscillator strengths of core excitons on the (110) surface of GaAs, GaSb, GaP, and InP

Scanning apertureless microscopy below the diffraction limit: Comparisons between theory and experiment

The exact nature of the signal in scanning apertureless microscopy techniques is the subject of much debate. We have sought to resolve this controversy by carrying out simulations and experiments on the same structures. Simulations of a model of tip–sample coupling are shown to exhibit features that are in agreement with experimental observations at dimensions below the diffraction limit. The simulation of the optical imaging process is carried out using atomic force microscope data as a topographical template and a tip–sample dipole coupling model as the source of optical signal. The simulations show a number of key fingerprints including a dependence on the polarization of the external laser source, the size of the tip, and index of refraction of the sample being imaged. The experimental results are found to be in agreement with many of the features of the simulations. We conclude that the results of the dipole coupling theory agree qualitatively with experimental data and that apertureless microscopy measures optical properties, not just topography

Investigation of Polymer–Plasticizer Blends as SH-SAW Sensor Coatings for Detection of Benzene in Water with High Sensitivity and Long-Term Stability

We report the first-ever direct detection of benzene in water at concentrations below 100 ppb (parts per billion) using acoustic wave (specifically, shear-horizontal surface acoustic wave, SH-SAW) sensors with plasticized polymer coatings. Two polymers and two plasticizers were studied as materials for sensor coatings. For each polymer–plasticizer combination, the influence of the mixing ratio of the blend on the sensitivity to benzene was measured and compared to commercially available polymers that were used for BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) detection in previous work. After optimizing the coating parameters, the highest sensitivity and lowest detection limit for benzene were found for a 1.25 μm thick sensor coating of 17.5%-by-weight diisooctyl azelate-polystyrene on the tested acoustic wave device. The calculated detection limit was 45 ppb, with actual sensor responses to concentrations down to 65 ppb measured directly. Among the sensor coatings that showed good sensitivity to benzene, the best long-term stability was found for a 1.0 μm thick coating of 23% diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate-polystyrene, which was studied here because it is known to show no detectable leaching in water. The present work demonstrates that, by varying type of plasticizer, mixing ratio, and coating thickness, the mechanical and chemical properties of the coatings can be conveniently tailored to maximize analyte sorption and partial chemical selectivity for a given class of analytes as well as to minimize acoustic-wave attenuation in contact with an aqueous phase at the operating frequency of the sensor device

Mandatory Continuing Education: Considerations of Dewey and Ohliger’s Work

This paper explores discrepancies between Mandatory Continuing Education and Dewey’s ideas on authentic learning. Dewey believed education must serve the goals of the person and the society in which s/he lives

History of screening by BreastScreen New South Wales of women with invasive breast cancer

© 2019 The Author(s) Background: The principal target age for Australian BreastScreen services was 50–69 years in 1991–2013 and 50–74 years from 2014. History of BreastScreen NSW screening participation of NSW women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005–2014 was examined using linked BreastScreen and Cancer Registry data. Methods: Differences in BreastScreen participation were investigated by sociodemographic and tumour characteristics, and diagnostic period, using the Pearson Chi-square test, or Fisher's Exact test when numbers were small, and by multivariate logistic regression. Results: At breast cancer diagnosis, a history of BreastScreen participation varied by age from 23 % for 40−49 years to 68 % for 50–59 years, 72 % for 70–74 years and 78 % for 60–69 years. Among women experiencing breast cancer at age 50–69 years, 60 % had participated in BreastScreen <24 months of diagnosis. Higher odds of BreastScreen participation applied to residents of inner regional and remote compared with major city areas and for women with localized compared with more distant cancer spread. BreastScreen participation was lower in Indigenous than non-Indigenous women. Differences in participation existed by country of birth and residential location, but they were not pronounced. Conclusion: The history of BreastScreen NSW participation of 60 % <24 months for women aged 50–69 years at breast-cancer diagnosis is less than the 70 % target for biennial screening coverage at a population level, but this target has never been reached by an Australian jurisdiction. Qualitative research of screening barriers and opportunities may provide a useful guide for reducing barriers across the population

Dynamic Kerr Effect and Spectral Weight Transfer in the Manganites

We perform pump-probe Kerr spectroscopy in the colossally magnetoresistive manganite Pr0.67Ca0.33MnO3. Kerr effects uncover surface magnetic dynamics undetected by established methods based on reflectivity and optical spectral weight transfer. Our findings indicate the connection between spin and charge dynamics in the manganites may be weaker than previously thought. Additionally, important differences between this system and conventional ferromagnetic metals manifest as long-lived, magneto-optical coupling transients, which may be generic to all manganites.Comment: 12 text pages, 4 figure

Radial Redshift Space Distortions

The radial component of the peculiar velocities of galaxies cause displacements in their positions in redshift space. We study the effect of the peculiar velocities on the linear redshift space two point correlation function. Our analysis takes into account the radial nature of the redshift space distortions and it highlights the limitations of the plane parallel approximation. We consider the problem of determining the value of \beta and the real space two point correlation function from the linear redshift space two point correlation function. The inversion method proposed here takes into account the radial nature of the redshift space distortions and can be applied to magnitude limited redshift surveys that have only partial sky coverage.Comment: 26 pages including 11 figures, to appear in Ap

Charge order, dynamics, and magneto-structural transition in multiferroic LuFe2_2O4_4

We investigated the series of temperature and field-driven transitions in LuFe$_2$O$_4$ by optical and M\"{o}ssbauer spectroscopies, magnetization, and x-ray scattering in order to understand the interplay between charge, structure, and magnetism in this multiferroic material. We demonstrate that charge fluctuation has an onset well below the charge ordering transition, supporting the "order by fluctuation" mechanism for the development of charge order superstructure. Bragg splitting and large magneto optical contrast suggest a low temperature monoclinic distortion that can be driven by both temperature and magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, PRL in prin

To Act and Learn: A Bakhtinian Exploration of Action Learning

This paper considers the work of the Russian social philosopher and cultural theorist, Mikhail Mikhailovich Bakhtin as a source of understanding for those involved in action learning. Drawing upon data gathered over two years during the evaluation of 20 action learning sets in the north of England, we will seek to work with the ideas of Bakhtin to consider their value for those involved in action learning. We consider key Bakhtin features such as Making Meaning, Participative Thinking, Theoreticism and Presence, Others and Outsideness, Voices and Carnival to highlight how Bakhtin's can enhance our understanding of the nature of action and learning