1,595 research outputs found
Spin properties of dense near-surface ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond
We present a study of the spin properties of dense layers of near-surface
nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres in diamond created by nitrogen ion implantation.
The optically detected magnetic resonance contrast and linewidth, spin
coherence time, and spin relaxation time, are measured as a function of
implantation energy, dose, annealing temperature and surface treatment. To
track the presence of damage and surface-related spin defects, we perform in
situ electron spin resonance spectroscopy through both double electron-electron
resonance and cross-relaxation spectroscopy on the NV centres. We find that,
for the energy (~keV) and dose (~ions/cm)
ranges considered, the NV spin properties are mainly governed by the dose via
residual implantation-induced paramagnetic defects, but that the resulting
magnetic sensitivity is essentially independent of both dose and energy. We
then show that the magnetic sensitivity is significantly improved by
high-temperature annealing at C. Moreover, the spin properties
are not significantly affected by oxygen annealing, apart from the spin
relaxation time, which is dramatically decreased. Finally, the average NV depth
is determined by nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, giving
-17~nm at 4-6 keV implantation energy. This study sheds light on the
optimal conditions to create dense layers of near-surface NV centres for
high-sensitivity sensing and imaging applications.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure
Spatial mapping of band bending in semiconductor devices using in-situ quantum sensors
Band bending is a central concept in solid-state physics that arises from
local variations in charge distribution especially near semiconductor
interfaces and surfaces. Its precision measurement is vital in a variety of
contexts from the optimisation of field effect transistors to the engineering
of qubit devices with enhanced stability and coherence. Existing methods are
surface sensitive and are unable to probe band bending at depth from surface or
bulk charges related to crystal defects. Here we propose an in-situ method for
probing band bending in a semiconductor device by imaging an array of
atomic-sized quantum sensing defects to report on the local electric field. We
implement the concept using the nitrogen-vacancy centre in diamond, and map the
electric field at different depths under various surface terminations. We then
fabricate a two-terminal device based on the conductive two-dimensional hole
gas formed at a hydrogen-terminated diamond surface, and observe an unexpected
spatial modulation of the electric field attributed to a complex interplay
between charge injection and photo-ionisation effects. Our method opens the way
to three-dimensional mapping of band bending in diamond and other
semiconductors hosting suitable quantum sensors, combined with simultaneous
imaging of charge transport in complex operating devices.Comment: This is a pre-print of an article published in Nature Electronics.
The final authenticated version is available online at
https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41928-018-0130-
Treatment of a Giant Haemangioma of the Liver With Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome by Orthotopic Liver Transplant
We describe a case of giant cavernous haemangioma of the liver with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome) which was cured by orthotopic liver transplant
Observing Ultra High Energy Cosmic Particles from Space: SEUSO, the Super Extreme Universe Space Observatory Mission
The experimental search for ultra high energy cosmic messengers, from eV to beyond eV, at the very end of the known energy
spectrum, constitutes an extraordinary opportunity to explore a largely unknown
aspect of our universe. Key scientific goals are the identification of the
sources of ultra high energy particles, the measurement of their spectra and
the study of galactic and local intergalactic magnetic fields. Ultra high
energy particles might, also, carry evidence of unknown physics or of exotic
particles relics of the early universe. To meet this challenge a significant
increase in the integrated exposure is required. This implies a new class of
experiments with larger acceptances and good understanding of the systematic
uncertainties. Space based observatories can reach the instantaneous aperture
and the integrated exposure necessary to systematically explore the ultra high
energy universe. In this paper, after briefly summarising the science case of
the mission, we describe the scientific goals and requirements of the SEUSO
concept. We then introduce the SEUSO observational approach and describe the
main instrument and mission features. We conclude discussing the expected
performance of the mission
Early Evidence of Natal-Habitat Preference: Juvenile Loons Feed on Natal-Like Lakes After Fledging
Many species show natal habitat preference induction (NHPI), a behavior in which young adults select habitats similar to those in which they were raised. However, we know little about how NHPI develops in natural systems. Here, we tested for NHPI in juvenile common loons (Gavia immer) that foraged on lakes in the vicinity of their natal lake after fledging. Juveniles visited lakes similar in pH to their natal lakes, and this significant effect persisted after controlling for spatial autocorrelation. On the other hand, juveniles showed no preference for foraging lakes of similar size to their natal one. When lakes were assigned to discrete classes based on size, depth, visibility, and trophic complexity, both juveniles from large lakes and small lakes preferred to visit large, trophically diverse lakes, which contained abundant food. Our results contrast with earlier findings, which show strict preference for lakes similar in size to the natal lake among young adults seeking to settle on a breeding lake. We suggest that NHPI is relaxed for juveniles, presumably because they select lakes that optimize shortâterm survival and growth. By characterizing NHPI during a poorly studied life stage, this study illustrates that NHPI can take different forms at different life stages
Constraining Spin-One Color-Octet Resonances Using CDF and ATLAS Data
In this paper, we study the production of spin-one color-octet resonances
(colorons) at hadron colliders in a model independent way. We use dijets data
measured by CDF (at \sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV and L=1.13 TeV and L=315 1/nb) collaborations at the Tevatron and the LHC
respetively to impose limits on the coupling of colorons to fermions. We show
that CDF data still produce the more stringent limits on the coloron coupling
constant.Comment: Version accepted for publication in EPJC. Two paragraphs expanded and
new references adde
Lepton Number Violation from Colored States at the LHC
The possibility to search for lepton number violating signals at the Large
Hadron Collider (LHC) in the colored seesaw scenario is investigated. In this
context the fields that generate neutrino masses at the one-loop level are
scalar and Majorana fermionic color-octets of SU(3). Due to the QCD strong
interaction these states may be produced at the LHC with a favorable rate. We
study the production mechanisms and decays relevant to search for lepton number
violation signals in the channels with same-sign dileptons. In the simplest
case when the two fermionic color-octets are degenerate in mass, one could use
their decays to distinguish between the neutrino spectra. We find that for
fermionic octets with mass up to about 1 TeV the number of same-sign dilepton
events is larger than the standard model background indicating a promising
signal for new physics.Comment: minor corrections, added reference
TeV Mini Black Hole Decay at Future Colliders
It is generally believed that mini black holes decay by emitting elementary
particles with a black body energy spectrum. The original calculation lead to
the conclusion that about the 90% of the black hole mass is radiated away in
the form of photons, neutrinos and light leptons, mainly electrons and muons.
With the advent of String Theory, such a scenario must be updated by including
new effects coming from the stringy nature of particles and interactions.By
taking for granted that black holes can be produced in hadronic collisions,
then their decay must take into account that: (i) we live in a D3-Brane
embedded into an higher dimensional bulk spacetime; (ii) fundamental
interactions, including gravity, are unified at TeV energy scale. Thus, the
formal description of the Hawking radiation mechanism has to be extended to the
case of more than four spacetime dimensions and include the presence of
D-branes. Furthermore, unification of fundamental interactions at an energy
scale many order of magnitude lower than the Planck energy implies that any
kind of fundamental particle, not only leptons, is expected to be emitted. A
detailed understanding of the new scenario is instrumental for optimal tuning
of detectors at future colliders, where, hopefully, this exciting new physics
will be tested. In this article we review higher dimensional black hole decay,
considering not only the emission of particles according to Hawking mechanism,
but also their near horizon QED/QCD interactions. The ultimate motivation is to
build up a phenomenologically reliable scenario, allowing a clear experimental
signature of the event.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables; ``quick review'' for Class. and
Quantum Gra
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