Nonlinear acoustics in ultrasound metrology and other selected applications

AbstractA succinct background explaining why, initially, both the scientific community and industry were skeptical about the existence of the nonlinear (NL) wave propagation in tissue will be given and the design of an adequately wideband piezoelectric polymer hydrophone probe that was eventually used to verify that the 1–5 MHz probing wave then used in diagnostic ultrasound imaging was undergoing nonlinear distortion and generated harmonics in tissue will be discussed. The far-reaching implications of the advent of the piezoelectric PVDF polymer material will be reviewed and the advances in ultrasound metrology prompted by the regulatory agencies such as US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) will be presented. These advances include the development of absolute calibration techniques for hydrophones along with the methods of accounting for spatial averaging corrections up to 100 MHz and the development of “point-receiver” hydrophone probes utilizing acousto-optic sensors. Next, selected therapeutic applications of nonlinear ultrasonics (NLU), including lithotripters will be briefly discussed. Also, the use of shock waves as pain relief tool and in abating penicillin resistant bacteria that develop rock hard “biofilm” that can be shattered by the finite amplitude wave will also be mentioned. The growing applications of NLU in cosmetic industry where it is used for redistribution and reduction of fatty tissue within the body will be briefly reviewed, and, finally, selected examples of NLU applications in retail and entertainment industry will also be pointed out

Ground state of two electrons on concentric spheres

We extend our analysis of two electrons on a sphere [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 79}, 062517 (2009); Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 103}, 123008 (2009)] to electrons on concentric spheres with different radii. The strengths and weaknesses of several electronic structure models are analyzed, ranging from the mean-field approximation (restricted and unrestricted Hartree-Fock solutions) to configuration interaction expansion, leading to near-exact wave functions and energies. The M{\o}ller-Plesset energy corrections (up to third-order) and the asymptotic expansion for the large-spheres regime are also considered. We also study the position intracules derived from approximate and exact wave functions. We find evidence for the existence of a long-range Coulomb hole in the large-spheres regime, and infer that unrestricted Hartree-Fock theory over-localizes the electrons.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Quantum criticality of dipolar spin chains

We show that a chain of Heisenberg spins interacting with long-range dipolar forces in a magnetic field h perpendicular to the chain exhibits a quantum critical point belonging to the two-dimensional Ising universality class. Within linear spin-wave theory the magnon dispersion for small momenta k is [Delta^2 + v_k^2 k^2]^{1/2}, where Delta^2 \propto |h - h_c| and v_k^2 \propto |ln k|. For fields close to h_c linear spin-wave theory breaks down and we investigate the system using density-matrix and functional renormalization group methods. The Ginzburg regime where non-Gaussian fluctuations are important is found to be rather narrow on the ordered side of the transition, and very broad on the disordered side.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

RXTE observations of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary GX 17+2: correlated X-ray spectral and timing behavior

We have analyzed ~600 ks of Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer data of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary and Z source GX 17+2. A study was performed of the properties of the noise components and quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) as a function of the spectral properties, with the main goal to study the relation between the frequencies of the horizontal branch and upper kHz QPOs. It was found that when the upper kHz QPO frequency is below 1030 Hz these frequencies correlate, whereas above 1030 Hz they anti-correlate. GX 17+2 is the first source in which this is observed. We also found that the frequency difference of the high frequency QPOs was not constant and that the quality factors (Q values) of the HBO, its second harmonic, and the kHz QPOs are similar, and vary almost hand in hand by a factor of more than three. Observations of the normal branch oscillations during two type I X-ray bursts showed that their absolute amplitude decreased as the flux from the neutron star became stronger. We discuss these and other findings in terms of models that have been proposed for these phenomena. We also compare the behavior of GX 17+2 and other Z sources with that of black hole sources and consider the possibility that the mass accretion rate might not be driving force behind all spectral and variability changes.Comment: 35 pages, including 14 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ. Revised discussion, one new figure, and some minor figure changes with respect to old versio

Chandra Observations of the Faintest Low-Mass X-ray Binaries

There exists a group of persistently faint galactic X-ray sources that, based on their location in the galaxy, high L_x/L_opt, association with X-ray bursts, and absence of low frequency X-ray pulsations, are thought to be low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). We present results from Chandra observations for eight of these systems: 4U 1708-408, 2S 1711-339, KS 1739-304, SLX 1735-269, GRS 1736-297, SLX 1746-331, 1E 1746.7-3224, and 4U 1812-12. Locations for all sources, excluding GRS 1736-297, SLX 1746-331, and KS 1739-304 (which were not detected) were improved to 0.6" error circles (90% confidence). Our observations support earlier findings of transient behavior of GRS 1736-297, KS 1739-304, SLX 1746-331, and 2S 1711-339 (which we detect in one of two observations). Energy spectra for 4U 1708-408, 2S 1711-339, SLX 1735-269, 1E 1746.7-3224, and 4U 1812-12 are hard, with power law indices typically 1.4-2.1, which are consistent with typical faint LMXB spectra.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures. Accepted by Ap

A comparison of the illness beliefs of people with angina and their peers: a questionnaire study

BACKGROUND: What people believe about their illness may affect how they cope with it. It has been suggested that such beliefs stem from those commonly held within society . This study compared the beliefs held by people with angina, regarding causation and coping in angina, with the beliefs of their friends who do not suffer from angina. METHODS: Postal survey using the York Angina Beliefs Questionnaire (version 1), which elicits stress attributions and misconceived beliefs about causation and coping. This was administered to 164 people with angina and their non-cohabiting friends matched for age and sex. 132 people with angina and 94 friends completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Peers are more likely than people with angina to believe that angina is caused by a worn out heart (p <0.01), angina is a small heart attack (p = 0.02), and that it causes permanent damage to the heart (p <0.001). Peers were also more likely to believe that people with angina should take life easy (p <0.01) and avoid exercise (p = 0.04) and excitement (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The beliefs of the peer group about causation and coping in angina run counter to professional advice. Over time this may contribute to a reduction in patient concordance with risk factor reduction, and may help to create cardiac invalids