289 research outputs found
Kinetics of indirect excitons in the optically-induced exciton trap
We report on the kinetics of a low-temperature gas of indirect excitons in
the optically-induced exciton trap. The excitons in the region of laser
excitation are found to rapidly -- within 4 ns -- cool to the lattice
temperature T = 1.4 K, while the excitons at the trap center are found to be
cold -- essentially at the lattice temperature -- even during the excitation
pulse. The loading time of excitons to the trap center is found to be about 40
ns, longer than the cooling time yet shorter than the lifetime of the indirect
excitons. The observed time hierarchy is favorable for creating a dense and
cold exciton gas in optically-induced traps and for in situ control of the gas
by varying the excitation profile in space and time before the excitons
recombine.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Modulational and Parametric Instabilities of the Discrete Nonlinear Schr\"odinger Equation
We examine the modulational and parametric instabilities arising in a
non-autonomous, discrete nonlinear Schr{\"o}dinger equation setting. The
principal motivation for our study stems from the dynamics of Bose-Einstein
condensates trapped in a deep optical lattice. We find that under periodic
variations of the heights of the interwell barriers (or equivalently of the
scattering length), additionally to the modulational instability, a window of
parametric instability becomes available to the system. We explore this
instability through multiple-scale analysis and identify it numerically. Its
principal dynamical characteristic is that, typically, it develops over much
larger times than the modulational instability, a feature that is qualitatively
justified by comparison of the corresponding instability growth rates
Reconciling social norms with personal interests: indigenous styles of identity formation among Pakistani youth
Research on identity formation has been conducted mostly in Western contexts. We extend and complement such research by exploring qualitatively the strategies and styles of identity formation employed by emerging adults in Pakistan. Whereas Western theories of identity formation often provide a negative view of normative orientation as “blind obedience” without exploring alternatives, our thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 12 Pakistani emerging adults suggests a much more complex interplay between personal interests and normative influences on identity formation. Participants described various ways of reconciling normative expectations (parental, religious, and cultural) with their personal interests, preferences, and explorations, when deciding about their careers, relationships, and values. In Pakistani culture, normative influences seem to play a more positive and flexible role in identity formation than is suggested by previous Western research
Consistency and diversity of spike dynamics in the neurons of bed nucleus of Stria Terminalis of the rat: a dynamic clamp study
Neurons display a high degree of variability and diversity in the expression and regulation of their voltage-dependent ionic channels. Under low level of synaptic background a number of physiologically distinct cell types can be identified in most brain areas that display different responses to standard forms of intracellular current stimulation. Nevertheless, it is not well understood how biophysically different neurons process synaptic inputs in natural conditions, i.e., when experiencing intense synaptic bombardment in vivo. While distinct cell types might process synaptic inputs into different patterns of action potentials representing specific "motifs'' of network activity, standard methods of electrophysiology are not well suited to resolve such questions. In the current paper we performed dynamic clamp experiments with simulated synaptic inputs that were presented to three types of neurons in the juxtacapsular bed nucleus of stria terminalis (jcBNST) of the rat. Our analysis on the temporal structure of firing showed that the three types of jcBNST neurons did not produce qualitatively different spike responses under identical patterns of input. However, we observed consistent, cell type dependent variations in the fine structure of firing, at the level of single spikes. At the millisecond resolution structure of firing we found high degree of diversity across the entire spectrum of neurons irrespective of their type. Additionally, we identified a new cell type with intrinsic oscillatory properties that produced a rhythmic and regular firing under synaptic stimulation that distinguishes it from the previously described jcBNST cell types. Our findings suggest a sophisticated, cell type dependent regulation of spike dynamics of neurons when experiencing a complex synaptic background. The high degree of their dynamical diversity has implications to their cooperative dynamics and synchronization
Parametric generation of second sound in superfluid helium: linear stability and nonlinear dynamics
We report the experimental studies of a parametric excitation of a second
sound (SS) by a first sound (FS) in a superfluid helium in a resonance cavity.
The results on several topics in this system are presented: (i) The linear
properties of the instability, namely, the threshold, its temperature and
geometrical dependencies, and the spectra of SS just above the onset were
measured. They were found to be in a good quantitative agreement with the
theory. (ii) It was shown that the mechanism of SS amplitude saturation is due
to the nonlinear attenuation of SS via three wave interactions between the SS
waves. Strong low frequency amplitude fluctuations of SS above the threshold
were observed. The spectra of these fluctuations had a universal shape with
exponentially decaying tails. Furthermore, the spectral width grew continuously
with the FS amplitude. The role of three and four wave interactions are
discussed with respect to the nonlinear SS behavior. The first evidence of
Gaussian statistics of the wave amplitudes for the parametrically generated
wave ensemble was obtained. (iii) The experiments on simultaneous pumping of
the FS and independent SS waves revealed new effects. Below the instability
threshold, the SS phase conjugation as a result of three-wave interactions
between the FS and SS waves was observed. Above the threshold two new effects
were found: a giant amplification of the SS wave intensity and strong resonance
oscillations of the SS wave amplitude as a function of the FS amplitude.
Qualitative explanations of these effects are suggested.Comment: 73 pages, 23 figures. to appear in Phys. Rev. B, July 1 st (2001
Pattern formation in 2-frequency forced parametric waves
We present an experimental investigation of superlattice patterns generated
on the surface of a fluid via parametric forcing with 2 commensurate
frequencies. The spatio-temporal behavior of 4 qualitatively different types of
superlattice patterns is described in detail. These states are generated via a
number of different 3--wave resonant interactions. They occur either as
symmetry--breaking bifurcations of hexagonal patterns composed of a single
unstable mode or via nonlinear interactions between the two primary unstable
modes generated by the two forcing frequencies. A coherent picture of these
states together with the phase space in which they appear is presented. In
addition, we describe a number of new superlattice states generated by 4--wave
interactions that arise when symmetry constraints rule out 3--wave resonances.Comment: The paper contains 34 pages and 53 figures and provides an extensive
review of both the theoretical and experimental work peformed in this syste
Determination of chloramphenicol residues in crustaceans: Preparation and evaluation of a proficiency test in Germany
Keldysh Green's function approach to coherence in a non-equilibrium steady state: connecting Bose-Einstein condensation and lasing
Solid state quantum condensates often differ from previous examples of
condensates (such as Helium, ultra-cold atomic gases, and superconductors) in
that the quasiparticles condensing have relatively short lifetimes, and so as
for lasers, external pumping is required to maintain a steady state. On the
other hand, compared to lasers, the quasiparticles are generally more strongly
interacting, and therefore better able to thermalise. This leads to questions
of how to describe such non-equilibrium condensates, and their relation to
equilibrium condensates and lasers. This chapter discusses in detail how the
non-equilibrium Green's function approach can be applied to the description of
such a non-equilibrium condensate, in particular, a system of microcavity
polaritons, driven out of equilibrium by coupling to multiple baths. By
considering the steady states, and fluctuations about them, it is possible to
provide a description that relates both to equilibrium condensation and to
lasing, while at the same time, making clear the differences from simple
lasers
Decreased SGK1 Expression and Function Contributes to Behavioral Deficits Induced by Traumatic Stress
Exposure to extreme stress can trigger the development of major depressive disorder (MDD) as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The molecular mechanisms underlying the structural and functional alterations within corticolimbic brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala of individuals subjected to traumatic stress, remain unknown. In this study, we show that serum and glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) expression is down-regulated in the postmortem PFC of PTSD subjects. Furthermore, we demonstrate that inhibition of SGK1 in the rat medial PFC results in helplessness- and anhedonic-like behaviors in rodent models. These behavioral changes are accompanied by abnormal dendritic spine morphology and synaptic dysfunction. Together, the results are consistent with the possibility that altered SGK1 signaling contributes to the behavioral and morphological phenotypes associated with traumatic stress pathophysiology
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