2,381 research outputs found
The Current-Temperature Phase Diagram of Layered Superconductors
The behavior of clean layered superconductors in the presence of a finite
electric current and in zero-magnetic field behavior is addressed. The
structure of the current temperature phase diagram and the properties of each
of the four regions will be explained. We will discuss the expected current
voltage and resistance characteristics of each region as well as the effects of
finite size and weak disorder on the phase diagram. In addition, the reason for
which a weakly non-ohmic region exists above the transition temperature will be
explained.Comment: 8 pages (RevTeX), 4 encapsulated postscript figure
Flux Lattice Melting and Lowest Landau Level Fluctuations
We discuss the influence of lowest Landau level (LLL) fluctuations near
H_{c2}(T) on flux lattice melting in YBaCuO (YBCO). We
show that the specific heat step of the flux lattice melting transition in YBCO
single crystals can be attributed largely to the degrees of freedom associated
with LLL fluctuations. These degrees of freedom have already been shown to
account for most of the latent heat. We also show that these results are a
consequence of the correspondence between flux lattice melting and the onset of
LLL fluctuations.Comment: 4 pages, 2 embedded figure
NMR and NQR Fluctuation Effects in Layered Superconductors
We study the effect of thermal fluctuations of the s-wave order parameter of
a quasi two dimensional superconductor on the nuclear spin relaxation rate near
the transition temperature Tc. We consider both the effects of the amplitude
fluctuations and the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phase fluctuations
in weakly coupled layered superconductors. In the treatment of the amplitude
fluctuations we employ the Gaussian approximation and evaluate the longitudinal
relaxation rate 1/T1 for a clean s-wave superconductor, with and without pair
breaking effects, using the static pair fluctuation propagator D. The increase
in 1/T1 due to pair breaking in D is overcompensated by the decrease arising
from the single particle Green's functions. The result is a strong effect on
1/T1 for even a small amount of pair breaking. The phase fluctuations are
described in terms of dynamical BKT excitations in the form of pancake
vortex-antivortex (VA) pairs. We calculate the effect of the magnetic field
fluctuations caused by the translational motion of VA excitations on 1/T1 and
on the transverse relaxation rate 1/T2 on both sides of the BKT transitation
temperature T(BKT)<Tc. The results for the NQR relaxation rates depend strongly
on the diffusion constant that governs the motion of free and bound vortices as
well as the annihilation of VA pairs. We discuss the relaxation rates for real
multilayer systems where the diffusion constant can be small and thus increase
the lifetime of a VA pair, leading to an enhancement of the rates. We also
discuss in some detail the experimental feasibility of observing the effects of
amplitude fluctuations in layered s-wave superconductors such as the
dichalcogenides and the effects of phase fluctuations in s- or d-wave
superconductors such as the layered cuprates.Comment: 38 pages, 12 figure
Renormalization group approach to layered superconductors
A renormalization group theory for a system consisting of coupled
superconducting layers as a model for typical high-temperature superconducters
is developed. In a first step the electromagnetic interaction over infinitely
many layers is taken into account, but the Josephson coupling is neglected. In
this case the corrections to two-dimensional behavior due to the presence of
the other layers are very small. Next, renormalization group equations for a
layered system with very strong Josephson coupling are derived, taking into
account only the smallest possible Josephson vortex loops. The applicability of
these two limiting cases to typical high-temperature superconductors is
discussed. Finally, it is argued that the original renormalization group
approach by Kosterlitz is not applicable to a layered system with intermediate
Josephson coupling.Comment: RevTeX, 15 pages, 4 figures can be obtained from the author by
conventional mail; accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Microbiological Lessons Learned from the Space Shuttle
After 30 years of being the centerpiece of NASA s human spacecraft, the Space Shuttle will retire. This highly successful program provided many valuable lessons for the International Space Station (ISS) and future spacecraft. Major microbiological risks to crewmembers include food, water, air, surfaces, payloads, animals, other crewmembers, and ground support personnel. Adverse effects of microorganisms are varied and can jeopardize crew health and safety, spacecraft systems, and mission objectives. Engineering practices and operational procedures can minimize the negative effects of microorganisms. To minimize problems associated with microorganisms, appropriate steps must begin in the design phase of new spacecraft or space habitats. Spacecraft design must include requirements to control accumulation of water including humidity, leaks, and condensate on surfaces. Materials used in habitable volumes must not contribute to microbial growth. Use of appropriate materials and the implementation of robust housekeeping that utilizes periodic cleaning and disinfection will prevent high levels of microbial growth on surfaces. Air filtration can ensure low levels of bioaerosols and particulates in the breathing air. The use of physical and chemical steps to disinfect drinking water coupled with filtration can provide safe drinking water. Thorough preflight examination of flight crews, consumables, and the environment can greatly reduce pathogens in spacecraft. The advances in knowledge of living and working onboard the Space Shuttle formed the foundation for environmental microbiology requirements and operations for the International Space Station (ISS) and future spacecraft. Research conducted during the Space Shuttle Program resulted in an improved understanding of the effects of spaceflight on human physiology, microbial properties, and specifically the host-microbe interactions. Host-microbe interactions are substantially affected by spaceflight. Astronaut immune functions were found to be altered. Selected microorganisms were found to become more virulent during spaceflight. The increased knowledge gained on the Space Shuttle resulted in further studies of the host-microbe interactions on the ISS to determine if countermeasures were necessary. Lessons learned from the Space Shuttle Program were integrated into the ISS resulting in the safest space habitat to date
Precision calculation of magnetization and specific heat of vortex liquids and solids in type II superconductors
A new systematic calculation of magnetization and specific heat contributions
of vortex liquids and solids (not very close to the melting line) is presented.
We develop an optimized perturbation theory for the Ginzburg - Landau
description of thermal fluctuations effects in the vortex liquids. The
expansion is convergent in contrast to the conventional high temperature
expansion which is asymptotic. In the solid phase we calculate first two orders
which are already quite accurate. The results are in good agreement with
existing Monte Carlo simulations and experiments. Limitations of various
nonperturbative and phenomenological approaches are noted. In particular we
show that there is no exact intersection point of the magnetization curves both
in 2D and 3D.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Rectification in Graphene Nanoribbons: a Molecular Dynamics Study
We have used molecular dynamics to calculate the thermal conductivity of
symmetric and asymmetric graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) of several nanometers in
size (up to ~4 nm wide and ~10 nm long). For symmetric nanoribbons, the
calculated thermal conductivity (e.g. ~2000 W/m-K @400K for a 1.5 nm {\times}
5.7 nm zigzag GNR) is on the similar order of magnitude of the experimentally
measured value for graphene. We have investigated the effects of edge chirality
and found that nanoribbons with zigzag edges have appreciably larger thermal
conductivity than nanoribbons with armchair edges. For asymmetric nanoribbons,
we have found significant thermal rectification. Among various
triangularly-shaped GNRs we investigated, the GNR with armchair bottom edge and
a vertex angle of 30{\deg} gives the maximal thermal rectification. We also
studied the effect of defects and found that vacancies and edge roughness in
the nanoribbons can significantly decrease the thermal conductivity. However,
substantial thermal rectification is observed even in the presence of edge
roughness.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, slightly expanded from the published version on
Nano Lett. with some additional note
Re-imagining the Borders of US Security after 9/11: Securitisation, Risk, and the Creation of the Department of Homeland Security
The articulation of international and transnational terrorism as a key issue in US security policy, as a result of the 9/11 attacks, has not only led to a policy rethink, it has also included a bureaucratic shift within the US, showing a re-thinking of the role of borders within US security policy. Drawing substantively on the 'securitisation' approach to security studies, the article analyses the discourse of US security in order to examine the founding of the Department of Homeland Security, noting that its mission provides a new way of conceptualising 'borders' for US national security. The securitisation of terrorism is, therefore, not only represented by marking terrorism as a security issue, it is also solidified in the organisation of security policy-making within the US state. As such, the impact of a 'war on terror' provides an important moment for analysing the re-articulation of what security is in the US, and, in theoretical terms, for reaffirming the importance of a relationship between the production of threat and the institutionalisation of threat response. © 2007 Taylor & Francis
Dynamic scaling for 2D superconductors, Josephson junction arrays and superfluids
The value of the dynamic critical exponent is studied for two-dimensional
superconducting, superfluid, and Josephson Junction array systems in zero
magnetic field via the Fisher-Fisher-Huse dynamic scaling. We find
, a relatively large value indicative of non-diffusive
dynamics. Universality of the scaling function is tested and confirmed for the
thinnest samples. We discuss the validity of the dynamic scaling analysis as
well as the previous studies of the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Berezinskii transition
in these systems, the results of which seem to be consistent with simple
diffusion (). Further studies are discussed and encouraged.Comment: 19 pages in two-column RevTex, 8 embedded EPS figure
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