Rana okaloosae

Number of Pages: 3Integrative BiologyGeological Science

A fast-neutron spectrometer of advanced design

Fast neutron spectrometer combines helium filled proportional counters with solid-state detectors to achieve the properties of high efficiency, good resolution, rapid response, and effective gamma ray rejection

Influence of Resonances on the Noise Performance of SQUID Susceptometers

Scanning Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) Susceptometry simultaneously images the local magnetic fields and susceptibilities above a sample with sub-micron spatial resolution. Further development of this technique requires a thorough understanding of the current, voltage, and flux ( IVΦ ) characteristics of scanning SQUID susceptometers. These sensors often have striking anomalies in their current–voltage characteristics, which we believe to be due to electromagnetic resonances. The effect of these resonances on the performance of these SQUIDs is unknown. To explore the origin and impact of the resonances, we develop a model that qualitatively reproduces the experimentally-determined IVΦ characteristics of our scanning SQUID susceptometers. We use this model to calculate the noise characteristics of SQUIDs of different designs. We find that the calculated ultimate flux noise is better in susceptometers with damping resistors that diminish the resonances than in susceptometers without damping resistors. Such calculations will enable the optimization of the signal-to-noise characteristics of scanning SQUID susceptometers

Fast-neutron spectrometer developments

Li6 sandwich-type neutron spectrometer is equipped with proportional counter for particle identification. System uses current-sensitive preamplifiers to minimize pile-up of gamma-ray and particle pulses

Application of the Moessbauer technique to the study of probable lunar and planetary surface material and to the study of returned lunar surface samples Final report

Preliminary results from Mossbauer instrumental analysis of Apollo 12 lunar rock and soil sample

Meissner response of a bulk superconductor with an embedded sheet of reduced penetration depth

We calculate the change in susceptibility resulting from a thin sheet with reduced penetration depth embedded perpendicular to the surface of an isotropic superconductor, in a geometry applicable to scanning Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) microscopy, by numerically solving Maxwell's and London's equations using the finite element method. The predicted stripes in susceptibility agree well in shape with the observations of Kalisky et al. of enhanced susceptibility above twin planes in the underdoped pnictide superconductor Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 (Ba-122). By comparing the predicted stripe amplitudes with experiment and using the London relation between penetration depth and superfluid density, we estimate the enhanced Cooper pair density on the twin planes, and the barrier force for a vortex to cross a twin plane. Fits to the observed temperature dependence of the stripe amplitude suggest that the twin planes have a higher critical temperature than the bulk, although stripes are not observed above the bulk critical temperature.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figure

Enhanced current flow through meandering and tilted grain boundaries in YBCO films

Grain boundaries (GBs) have been shown to limit critical current density, Jc, in YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) coated conductors. Here we use transport measurements and scanning Hall probe microscopy coupled with current reconstruction to demonstrate that GB geometry, such as the in-plane meandering observed in films grown by metalorganic deposition (MOD) on rolling assisted biaxially textured substrate (RABiTS), can lead to higher GB Jc. We observe current-induced flux entry into such a coated conductor, then model its behavior by imaging films with single, straight GBs tilted at various angles to the applied current.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures. For submission to Applied Physics Letters. Movies and higher resolution figures at http://www.stanford.edu/group/moler/rdinner

Finite Density of States in a Mixed State of d_x^2-y^2+id_xy Superconductor

We have calculated the density of states of quasiparticles in a d_x^2-y^2+id_xy superconductor, and show that in the mixed state the quasiparticle spectrum remains gapless because of the Doppler shift by superflow. It was found that if the d_{xy} order gap $\Delta_1\propto \sqrt{H}$ as suggested by experiments, then thermal conductivity $\kappa \propto \sqrt{H}$ in accord with experimental data at lowest temperatures. This is an appended version of the paper published in Phys. Rev. {\bf B 59}, 6024, (1999). We now also discuss the disorder effects and analyze the H log H crossover at small fields. We argue that H log H regime is present and disorder effect is dominant as the field-induced seconary gap is small at small fields.Comment: This is an appended version of the paper published in Phys. Rev. {\bf B 59}, 6024, (1999). We now also discuss the disorder effects and analyze the H log H crossover at small fields. 3 pages, Latex file with 2 eps figure file