3 research outputs found
Instrumentation for Millimeter-wave Magnetoelectrodynamic Investigations of Low-Dimensional Conductors and Superconductors
We describe instrumentation for conducting high sensitivity millimeter-wave
cavity perturbation measurements over a broad frequency range (40-200 GHz) and
in the presence of strong magnetic fields (up to 33 tesla). A Millimeter-wave
Vector Network Analyzer (MVNA) acts as a continuously tunable microwave source
and phase sensitive detector (8-350 GHz), enabling simultaneous measurements of
the complex cavity parameters (resonance frequency and Q-value) at a rapid
repetition rate (approx. 10 kHz). We discuss the principal of operation of the
MVNA and the construction of a probe for coupling the MVNA to various
cylindrical resonator configurations which can easily be inserted into a high
field magnet cryostat. We also present several experimental results which
demonstrate the potential of the instrument for studies of low-dimensional
conducting systems.Comment: 20 pages including fig
Detailed single crystal EPR lineshape measurements for the single molecule magnets Fe8Br and Mn12-ac
It is shown that our multi-high-frequency (40-200 GHz) resonant cavity
technique yields distortion-free high field EPR spectra for single crystal
samples of the uniaxial and biaxial spin S = 10 single molecule magnets (SMMs)
[Mn12O12(CH3COO)16(H2O)4].2CH3COOH.4H2O and [Fe8O2(OH)12(tacn)6]Br8.9H2O. The
observed lineshapes exhibit a pronounced dependence on temperature, magnetic
field, and the spin quantum numbers (Ms values) associated with the levels
involved in the transitions. Measurements at many frequencies allow us to
separate various contributions to the EPR linewidths, including significant
D-strain, g-strain and broadening due to the random dipolar fields of
neighboring molecules. We also identify asymmetry in some of the EPR lineshapes
for Fe8, and a previously unobserved fine structure to some of the EPR lines
for both the Fe8 and Mn12 systems. These findings prove relevant to the
mechanism of quantum tunneling of magnetization in these SMMs.Comment: Phys. Rev. B, accepted with minor revision
Place-Based Learning Communities on a Rural Campus: Turning Challenges into Assets
At Humboldt State University (HSU), location is everything. Students are as drawn to our spectacular natural setting as they are to the unique majors in the natural resource sciences that the university has to offer. However, the isolation that nurtures the pristine natural beauty of the area presents a difficult reality for students who are accustomed to more densely populated environments. With the large majority of our incoming students coming from distant cities, we set out to cultivate a “home away from home” by connecting first-year students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to the communities and local environment of Humboldt County. To achieve this, we designed first-year place-based learning communities (PBLCs) that integrate unique aspects and interdisciplinary themes of our location throughout multiple high impact practices, including a summer experience, blocked-enrolled courses, and a first-year experience course entitled Science 100: Becoming a STEM Professional in the 21st Century. Native American culture, traditional ways of knowing, and contemporary issues faced by tribal communities are central features of our place-based curriculum because HSU is located on the ancestral land of the Wiyot people and the university services nine federally recognized American Indian tribes. Our intention is that by providing a cross-cultural, validating environment, students will: feel and be better supported in their academic pursuits; cultivate values of personal, professional and social responsibility; and increase the likelihood that they will complete their HSU degree. As we complete the fourth year of implementation, we aim to harness our experience and reflection to improve our programming and enable promising early results to be sustained