Coherent caloritronics in Josephson-based nanocircuits

We describe here the first experimental realization of a heat interferometer, thermal counterpart of the well-known superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). These findings demonstrate, on the first place, the existence of phase-dependent heat transport in Josephson-based superconducting circuits and, on the second place, open the way to novel ways of mastering heat at the nanoscale. Combining the use of external magnetic fields for phase biasing and different Josephson junction architectures we show here that a number of heat interference patterns can be obtained. The experimental realization of these architectures, besides being relevant from a fundamental physics point of view, might find important technological application as building blocks of phase-coherent quantum thermal circuits. In particular, the performance of two different heat rectifying devices is analyzed.Comment: 34 pages, 15 figures, review article for Ultra-low temperatures and nanophysics ULTN2013. Microkelvin Proceeding

A non-linear degenerate equation for direct aggregation and traveling wave dynamics

The gregarious behavior of individuals of populations is an important factor in avoiding predators or for reproduction. Here, by using a random biased walk approach, we build a model which, after a transformation, takes the general form [u_{t}=[D(u)u_{x}]_{x}+g(u)] . The model involves a density-dependent non-linear diffusion coefficient [D] whose sign changes as the population density [u] increases. For negative values of [D] aggregation occurs, while dispersion occurs for positive values of [D] . We deal with a family of degenerate negative diffusion equations with logistic-like growth rate [g] . We study the one-dimensional traveling wave dynamics for these equations and illustrate our results with a couple of examples. A discussion of the ill-posedness of the partial differential equation problem is included

Monitoring the impact of desert dust outbreaks for air quality for health studies

We review the major features of desert dust outbreaks that are relevant to the assessment of dust impacts upon human health. Our ultimate goal is to provide scientific guidance for the acquisition of relevant population exposure information for epidemiological studies tackling the short and long term health effects of desert dust. We first describe the source regions and the typical levels of dust particles in regions close and far away from the source areas, along with their size, composition, and bio-aerosol load. We then describe the processes by which dust may become mixed with anthropogenic particulate matter (PM) and/or alter its load in receptor areas. Short term health effects are found during desert dust episodes in different regions of the world, but in a number of cases the results differ when it comes to associate the effects to the bulk PM, the desert dust-PM, or non-desert dust-PM. These differences are likely due to the different monitoring strategies applied in the epidemiological studies, and to the differences on atmospheric and emission (natural and anthropogenic) patterns of desert dust around the world. We finally propose methods to allow the discrimination of health effects by PM fraction during dust outbreaks, and a strategy to implement desert dust alert and monitoring systems for health studies and air quality management.The systematic review was funded by WHO with as part of a Grant Agreement with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway. Thanks are also given to the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition for long term support in the last 2 decades to our projects on African dust effects on air quality over Spain; to the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and FEDER Funds for the HOUSE project (CGL2016-78594-R), and to the Generalitat de Catalunya (AGAUR 2017 SGR41). Carlos Pérez García-Pando acknowledges long-term support from the AXA Research Fund, as well as the support received through the Ramón y Cajal program (grant RYC-2015-18690) of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Impact of extra particles on indirect Z' limits

We study the possibility of relaxing the indirect limits on extra neutral vector bosons by their interplay with additional new particles. They can be systematically weakened, even below present direct bounds at colliders, by the addition of more vector bosons and/or scalars designed for this purpose. Otherwise, they appear to be robust.Comment: Latex 23 pages, 8 eps figures. Minor changes, version published in Phys. Rev.

Nitrogen dynamics in the shallow groundwater of a riparian wetland zone of the Garonne, SW France: nitrate inputs, bacterial densities, organic matter supply and denitrification measurements

This study highlights the role of interactions between surface and sub-surface water of the riparian zone of a large river (the Garonne, SW France). Information is given about the role of surface water in supplying Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC ) to the riparian zone for nitrate removal processes. The densities of bacteria (up to 3.3106 cell m L-1) in groundwater are strongly conditioned by the water moving during flood events. Total bacterial densities in groundwater were related to surface water bacterial densities. In sediment, total bacteria are attached mainly to fine particles (90 % in the fraction < 1 mm). Spatial variations in organic carbon and nitrate content in groundwater at the site studied are correlated with exchanges between the groundwater and the river, from the upstream to the downstream part of the meander. Total bacterial densities, nitrate and decressing organic carbon concentrations follow the same pattern. These results suggest that, in this kind of riparian wetland, nitrate from alluvial groundwater influenced by agricultural practices may be denitrified by bacteria in the presence of organic carbon from river surface water