Thermal behavior of Quantum Cellular Automaton wires

We investigate the effect of a finite temperature on the behavior of logic circuits based on the principle of Quantum Cellular Automata (QCA) and of ground state computation. In particular, we focus on the error probability for a wire of QCA cells that propagates a logic state. A numerical model and an analytical, more approximate, model are presented for the evaluation of the partition function of such a system and, consequently, of the desired probabilities. We compare the results of the two models, assessing the limits of validity of the analytical approach, and provide estimates for the maximum operating temperature.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, uses revte

Virtual integration platform for computational fluid dynamics

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools used in shipbuilding industry involve multiple disciplines, such as resistance, manoeuvring, and cavitation. Traditionally, the analysis was performed separately and sequentially in each discipline, which often resulted in conflict and inconsistency of hydrodynamic prediction. In an effort to solve such problems for future CFD computations, a Virtual Integration Platform (VIP) has been developed in the University of Strathclyde within two EU FP6 projects - VIRTUE and SAFEDOR1. The VIP provides a holistic collaborative environment for designers with features such as Project/Process Management, Distributed Tools Integration, Global Optimisation, Version Management, and Knowledge Management. These features enhance collaboration among customers, ship design companies, shipyards, and consultancies not least because they bring together the best expertise and resources around the world. The platform has been tested in seven European ship design companies including consultancies. Its main functionalities along with advances are presented in this paper with two industrial applications

How matters:End-of-life communication with family members of critically ill neonates, children, and adults

End-of-life decisions, more specifically decisions about whether to continue or discontinue the patient’s life-sustaining treatment, are among the most difficult decisions to make. Decision-making is emotionally overwhelming and complex for all involved in the communication- and decision-making process, especially when it concerns life and death decisions for another human being. These situations confront healthcare providers and family members of critically ill patients with the limitations of medical possibilities and human knowledge. In these situations, there is no way out but rather only a way through. As such, how matters.How physicians and family members of critically ill patients together make end-of-life decisions, how they communicate about these decisions, and how physicians learn to conduct such complex end-of-life conversations, can significantly impact the experiences and outcomes for patients, family members, and healthcare providers. In this thesis, we therefore obtained in-depth insights into end-of-life communication- and decision-making practices in intensive care units. We aimed to increase knowledge and awareness of how physicians actually communicate with the family members of critically ill neonates, children, and adults during real-life end-of-life conversations. Additionally, we explored how physicians perceive their own communication and how they (wish to) learn to communicate with family members of critically ill patients in end-of-life conversations. Based on our overall conclusions, we propose three ‘shifts’ in communication. We also propose corresponding learning methods, to not only move toward effective end-of-life communication with families but also to move toward a valuing communication culture in intensive care medicine

Precise Measurements of the Kilohertz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in 4U 1728-34

We have analyzed seventeen observations of the low-mass X-ray binary and atoll source 4U 1728-34, carried out by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer in 1996 and 1997. We obtain precise measurements of the frequencies of the two simultaneous kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) in this source. We show that the frequency separation between the two QPO, $\Delta \nu$, is always significantly smaller than the frequency of the nearly-coherent oscillations seen in this source during X-ray bursts, even at the lowest inferred mass accretion rate, when $\Delta \nu$ seems to reach its maximum value. We also find that $\Delta \nu$ decreases significantly, from $349.3 \pm 1.7$ Hz to $278.7 \pm 11.6$ Hz, as the frequency of the lower frequency kHz QPO increases from 615 to 895 Hz. This is the first time that variations of the kHz QPO peak separation are measured in a source which shows nearly-coherent oscillations during bursts.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Uses AAS LaTex v4.0 (5 pages plus 4 postscript figures

Correlated X-ray spectral and fast-timing behaviour of 4U 1636-53

We present a study of the persistent X-ray emission from the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636-53 based ont he entire archival EXOSAT ME data set. We per- formed a homogeneous analysis of all five EXOSAT observations in terms of the correlated rapid X-ray variability and X-ray spectral properties by means of power spectra, and colour-colour and hardness-intensity diagrams, respectively. Over the years we find similar patterns in the colour-colour and hardness-intensity diagrams, but small shifts in their postions occur. We find one case of an island-banana transition. On all but one occasion the differences in colour are smaller than 5%. Between the two 'island state' data sets, we find a shift of 8 % in the soft colour, which must be at least partly intrinsic. Clear correlations are present between the X-ray colours (which are governed by the mass accretion rate) and the power spectrum. With increasing mass accretion rate the fractional rms amplitude of the power-law shaped power spectral component that dominates the power spectra below ~1 Hz rises, while the band-limited noise component at higher frequencies drops. The cut-off frequency of the band-limited component increases whn its amplitude decreases. This is reminiscent of the behaviour of black hole candidates in the low state.Comment: Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics, 10 pages, Latex, uses l-aa, full version (including 8 figures) available at http://www.astro.uva.nl/preprints/preprints.html, AIAP preprint nr 6

Spin-dependent transport in metal/semiconductor tunnel junctions

This paper describes a model as well as experiments on spin-polarized tunnelling with the aid of optical spin orientation. This involves tunnel junctions between a magnetic material and gallium arsenide (GaAs), where the latter is optically excited with circularly polarized light in order to generate spin-polarized carriers. A transport model is presented that takes account of carrier capture in the semiconductor surface states, and describes the semiconductor surface in terms of a spin-dependent energy distribution function. The so-called surface spin-splitting can be calculated from the balance of the polarized electron and hole flow in the semiconductor subsurface region, the polarized tunnelling current across the tunnel barrier between the magnetic material and the semiconductor surface, and the spin relaxation at the semiconductor surface. Measurements are presented of the circular-polarization-dependent photocurrent (the so-called helicity asymmetry) in thin-film tunnel junctions of Co/Al2O3/GaAs. In the absence of a tunnel barrier, the helicity asymmetry is caused by magneto-optical effects (magnetic circular dichroism). In the case where a tunnel barrier is present, the data cannot be explained by magneto-optical effects alone; the deviations provide evidence that spin-polarized tunnelling due to optical spin orientation occurs. In Co/τ-MnAl/AlAs/GaAs junctions no deviations from the magneto-optical effects are observed, most probably due to the weak spin polarization of τ-MnAl along the tunnelling direction; the latter is corroborated by bandstructure calculations. Finally, the application of photoexcited GaAs for spin-polarized tunnelling in a scanning tunnelling microscope is discussed.

An automated thermal-relaxation calorimeter for operation at low temperature (0.5 K <T <10 K)

The authors describe an automated calorimeter for measurement of the sp. heats at 10 > T > 0.5 K. It uses sample of moderate size (100-1000 mg), has a moderate precision and accuracy (2%-5%), is easy to operate and the measurements can be done quickly with He4. The accuracy of this calorimeter was checked by measurement of sp. heat of copper and that of aluminum near its superconducting transition temp. [on SciFinder (R)