New Properties and Applications of Polyvinylidene-Based Ferroelectric Polymer

There are different kinds of novel properties and applications of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF)-based ferroelectric polymer films. Several issues associated with the structure, properties, and applications of PVDF-based ferroelectric polymer films are discussed. The main achievements of the research include high electric tunability of relaxor ferroelectric Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) terpolymer films, the creep process of the domain switching in poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) ferroelectric thin films, transition from relaxor to ferroelectric-like phase in poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene -chlorofluoroethylene) terpolymer ultrathin films, abnormal polarization switching of relaxor terpolymer films at low temperatures, huge electrocaloric effect in LB ferroelectric polymer thin films, self-polarization in ultrathin LB polymer films, enhanced dielectric and ferroelectric properties in artificial polymer multilayers, and transition of polarization switching from extrinsic to intrinsic in ultrathin PVDF homopolymer films

WD + MS systems as the progenitor of SNe Ia

We show the initial and final parameter space for SNe Ia in a ($\log P^{\rm i}, M_{\rm 2}^{\rm i}$) plane and find that the positions of some famous recurrent novae, as well as a supersoft X-ray source (SSS), RX J0513.9-6951, are well explained by our model. The model can also explain the space velocity and mass of Tycho G, which is now suggested to be the companion star of Tycho's supernova. Our study indicates that the SSS, V Sge, might be the potential progenitor of supernovae like SN 2002ic if the delayed dynamical-instability model due to Han & Podsiadlowski (2006) is appropriate. Following the work of Meng, Chen & Han (2009), we found that the SD model (WD + MS) with an optically thick wind can explain the birth rate of supernovae like SN 2006X and reproduce the distribution of the color excess of SNe Ia. The model also predicts that at least 75% of all SNe Ia may show a polarization signal in their spectra.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Science (Proceeding of the 4th Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related Objects, edited by Zhanwen Han, Simon Jeffery & Philipp Podsiadlowski

Bulk experimental evidence of half-metallic ferromagnetism in doped manganites

We report precise measurements and quantitative data analysis on the low-temperature resistivity of several ferromagnetic manganite films. We clearly show that there exists a T^{4.5} term in low-temperature resistivity, and that this term is in quantitative agreement with the quantum theory of two-magnon scattering for half metallic ferromagnets. Our present results provide the first bulk experimental evidence of half-metallic ferromagnetism in doped manganites.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Colossal magnetooptical conductivity in doped manganites

We show that the current carrier density collapse in doped manganites, which results from bipolaron formation in the paramagnetic phase, leads to a colossal change of the optical conductivity in an external magnetic field at temperatures close to the ferromagnetic transition. As with the colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) itself, the corresponding magnetooptical effect is explained by the dissociation of localized bipolarons into mobile polarons owing to the exchange interaction with the localized Mn spins in the ferromagnetic phase. The effect is positive at low frequencies and negative in the high-frequency region. The present results agree with available experimental observations.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX 3.0, two eps-figures included in the tex

Outstanding Questions in Flower Metabolism

The great diversity of flowers, their color, odor, taste, and shape, is mostly a result of the metabolic processes that occur in this reproductive organ when the flower and its tissues develop, grow, and finally die. Some of these metabolites serve to advertise flowers to animal pollinators, other confer protection towards abiotic stresses, and a large proportion of the molecules of the central metabolic pathways have bioenergetic and signaling functions that support growth and the transition to fruits and seeds. Although recent studies have advanced our general understanding of flower metabolism, several questions still await an answer. Here, we have compiled a list of open questions on flower metabolism encompassing molecular aspects, as well as topics of relevance for agriculture and the ecosystem. These questions include the study of flower metabolism through development, the biochemistry of nectar and its relevance to promoting plant‐pollinator interaction, recycling of metabolic resources after flowers whiter and die, as well as the manipulation of flower metabolism by pathogens. We hope with this review to stimulate discussion on the topic of flower metabolism and set a reference point to return to in the future when assessing progress in the field

BPS R-balls in N=4 SYM on R X S^3, Quantum Hall Analogy and AdS/CFT Holography

In this paper, we propose a new approach to study the BPS dynamics in N=4 supersymmetric U(N) Yang-Mills theory on R X S^3, in order to better understand the emergence of gravity in the gauge theory. Our approach is based on supersymmetric, space-filling Q-balls with R-charge, which we call R-balls. The usual collective coordinate method for non-topological scalar solitons is applied to quantize the half and quarter BPS R-balls. In each case, a different quantization method is also applied to confirm the results from the collective coordinate quantization. For finite N, the half BPS R-balls with a U(1) R-charge have a moduli space which, upon quantization, results in the states of a quantum Hall droplet with filling factor one. These states are known to correspond to the ``sources'' in the Lin-Lunin-Maldacena geometries in IIB supergravity. For large N, we find a new class of quarter BPS R-balls with a non-commutativity parameter. Quantization on the moduli space of such R-balls gives rise to a non-commutative Chern-Simons matrix mechanics, which is known to describe a fractional quantum Hall system. In view of AdS/CFT holography, this demonstrates a profound connection of emergent quantum gravity with non-commutative geometry, of which the quantum Hall effect is a special case.Comment: 42 pages, 2 figures; v3: a new paragraph on counting unbroken susy of NC R-balls and references adde

Al0.52In0.48P avalanche photodiodes for soft X-ray spectroscopy

The performance of Al0.52In0.48P avalanche photodiodes was assessed as soft X-ray detectors at room temperature. The effect of the avalanche gain improved the energy resolution and an energy resolution (FWHM) of 682 eV is reported for 5.9 keV X-rays

The Vacuum System of HIRFL

AbstractThe vacuum system of Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL) is a large and complex system. HIRFL consists of two ECR ion sources, a sector focus cyclotron (SFC), a separate sector cyclotron (SSC) and a multi-purpose cooling storage ring system which has a main ring (CSRm) and an experiment ring (CSRe). Several beam lines connect these accelerators together and transfer various heavy ion beams to more than 10 experiment terminals. According to the requirements of the ion acceleration and ion lifetime, the working pressure in each accelerator is different. SFC is nearly 50 years old. After upgrade, the working pressure in SFC is improved from 10-6mbar to 10-8mbar. The pressure in SSC which was built in the 1980s reaches the same level. The cooling storage ring system with a length of 500m came into operation in 2007. The average pressures in CSRm and CSRe are 5×10-12mbar and 8×10-12mbar respectively. Different designs were adopt for vacuum system of a dozen beam lines to meet specific requirement of each experiment terminal. Along with the extensive development of the heavy ion researches and applications, new accelerators of HIRFL are under construction. The vacuum system of the new machines will be designed and constructed followed the overall schedule

Partial Wave Analysis of J/ψ→γ(K+K−π+π−)J/\psi \to \gamma (K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-)

BES data on $J/\psi \to \gamma (K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-)$ are presented. The $K^*\bar K^*$ contribution peaks strongly near threshold. It is fitted with a broad $0^{-+}$ resonance with mass $M = 1800 \pm 100$ MeV, width $\Gamma = 500 \pm 200$ MeV. A broad $2^{++}$ resonance peaking at 2020 MeV is also required with width $\sim 500$ MeV. There is further evidence for a $2^{-+}$ component peaking at 2.55 GeV. The non-$K^*\bar K^*$ contribution is close to phase space; it peaks at 2.6 GeV and is very different from $K^{*}\bar{K^{*}}$.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, Submitted to PL

Measurement of the Atmospheric Muon Spectrum from 20 to 3000 GeV

The absolute muon flux between 20 GeV and 3000 GeV is measured with the L3 magnetic muon spectrometer for zenith angles ranging from 0 degree to 58 degree. Due to the large exposure of about 150 m2 sr d, and the excellent momentum resolution of the L3 muon chambers, a precision of 2.3 % at 150 GeV in the vertical direction is achieved. The ratio of positive to negative muons is studied between 20 GeV and 500 GeV, and the average vertical muon charge ratio is found to be 1.285 +- 0.003 (stat.) +- 0.019 (syst.).Comment: Total 32 pages, 9Figure