Spectroscopic scanning tunneling microscopy insights into Fe-based superconductors

In the first three years since the discovery of Fe-based high Tc superconductors, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy have shed light on three important questions. First, STM has demonstrated the complexity of the pairing symmetry in Fe-based materials. Phase-sensitive quasiparticle interference (QPI) imaging and low temperature spectroscopy have shown that the pairing order parameter varies from nodal to nodeless s\pm within a single family, FeTe1-xSex. Second, STM has imaged C4 -> C2 symmetry breaking in the electronic states of both parent and superconducting materials. As a local probe, STM is in a strong position to understand the interactions between these broken symmetry states and superconductivity. Finally, STM has been used to image the vortex state, giving insights into the technical problem of vortex pinning, and the fundamental problem of the competing states introduced when superconductivity is locally quenched by a magnetic field. Here we give a pedagogical introduction to STM and QPI imaging, discuss the specific challenges associated with extracting bulk properties from the study of surfaces, and report on progress made in understanding Fe-based superconductors using STM techniques.Comment: 36 pages, 23 figures, 229 reference

HEMODYNAMIC AND STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS IN CONTINUOUS INFUSION WITH ANGIOTENSIN. II. AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a hormonal system which contributes to the regulation of both arterial pressure and extra cellular fluids volume. The increase of RAAS, especially at angiotensin II (Ang II) level, affects the target organs and increases the risk of cardio-vascular issues, by increasing arterial pressure and through the direct effect of Ang II upon the vascular endothelium and the renal and cardiac tissue. Ang II reduces the renal capacity of sodium excretion and initiates a set of events which increase arterial pressure. Increase of arterial pressure is necessary for re-establishing sodium excretion, being realized by the pressure-natriuresis relationship. Arterial hypertension affects the target organs (heart, kidneys) and leads to a vicious circle which contributes to maintaining a high arterial pressure. Materials and Method: Male Wistar rats subjected on a normal diet, received either a sham operation (n=9) or continuous angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion (300ng/kgc/ min) subcutaneously, via mini pumps. Water ingestion and systolic blood pressure were measured for 14 days, after which the animals were sacrificed under anesthesia with ketamin, and the xylasin body weight, water ingestion, heart mass, right and left ventricular mass, right and left kidney mass were measured. Results: After 14 days of Ang II infusion, bodily weight decreased, systolic blood pressure increased, heart and left ventricular mass indexed to body weight were significantly enhanced compared with the sham group, and kidneys mass indexed to body weight was similar in the two groups

Supplement 1. SEM micrographs of the scent gland channel of Dysodius lunatus’ cuticle under the wing. In the left column of the figure, several images are stitched together showing the whole channel length with the three liquid secreting pores (indicated by white arrows). The middle and the right column show magnified details with oriented pointed microstructures. from Bioinspired polymer microstructures for directional transport of oily liquids

Nature has always served as an inspiration for scientists, helping them to solve a large diversity of technical problems. In our case, we are interested in the directional transport of oily liquids and as a role model for this application we used the flat bug <i>Dysodius lunatus</i>. In this report, we present arrays of drops looking like polymer microstructures produced by the two-photon polymerization technique that mimic the micro-ornamentation from the bug's cuticle. A good directionality of oil transport was achieved, directly controlled by the direction of the pointed microstructures at the surface. If the tips of the drop-like microstructures are pointing towards the left side, the liquid front moves to the right and vice versa. Similar effects could be expected for the transport of oily lubricants. These results could, therefore, be interesting for applications in friction and wear reduction

Supplement 3. Video of oily liquid dynamics on the polymer microstructures array (tips oriented to the right) enclosed in between the glass slide and the cover slip. The video is speeded up 10 times. from Bioinspired polymer microstructures for directional transport of oily liquids

Nature has always served as an inspiration for scientists, helping them to solve a large diversity of technical problems. In our case, we are interested in the directional transport of oily liquids and as a role model for this application we used the flat bug <i>Dysodius lunatus</i>. In this report, we present arrays of drops looking like polymer microstructures produced by the two-photon polymerization technique that mimic the micro-ornamentation from the bug's cuticle. A good directionality of oil transport was achieved, directly controlled by the direction of the pointed microstructures at the surface. If the tips of the drop-like microstructures are pointing towards the left side, the liquid front moves to the right and vice versa. Similar effects could be expected for the transport of oily lubricants. These results could, therefore, be interesting for applications in friction and wear reduction