Thermal boundary resistance at Si/Ge interfaces determined by approach-to-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations

The thermal boundary resistance of Si/Ge interfaces as been determined using approach-to-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. Assuming a reciprocal linear dependence of the thermal boundary resistance, a length-independent bulk thermal boundary resistance could be extracted from the calculation resulting in a value of 3.76x10$^{-9}$ m$^2$ K/W for a sharp Si/Ge interface and thermal transport from Si to Ge. Introducing an interface with finite thickness of 0.5 nm consisting of a SiGe alloy, the bulk thermal resistance slightly decreases compared to the sharp Si/Ge interface. Further growth of the boundary leads to an increase in the bulk thermal boundary resistance. When the heat flow is inverted (Ge to Si), the thermal boundary resistance is found to be higher. From the differences in the thermal boundary resistance for different heat flow direction, the rectification factor of the Si/Ge has been determined and is found to significantly decrease when the sharp interface is moderated by introduction of a SiGe alloy in the boundary layer.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Quantum harmonic oscillator with superoscillating initial datum

In this paper we study the evolution of superoscillating initial data for the quantum driven harmonic oscillator. Our main result shows that superoscillations are amplified by the harmonic potential and that the analytic solution develops a singularity in finite time. We also show that for a large class of solutions of the Schr\"odinger equation, superoscillating behavior at any given time implies superoscillating behavior at any other time.Comment: 12 page

Late Palaeozoic lithostratigraphy of the Andean Precordillera revisited (San Juan Province, Argentina)

New data on some neopalaeozoic lithostratigraphic units of the central sector of the Argentinean Precordillera are presented. The western Precordillera displays occasional outcrops of siliciclastic rocks of the Late Palaeozoic. These rocks are separated by two main unconformi­ties related to the development of the Chanic (Upper Devonian-early Carboniferous) and Gondwanan (late Carboniferous-early Permian) orogens. A major unconformity marks the beginning of the Andean cycle in middle Permian times. The Del Ratón Formation (800 m) in the studied area is made up of conglomerates and can be divided into two units. The basal part (Lower Member) was deposited in a fjord environment. The Upper Member was generated by an alluvial system that was mainly dominated by upper flow-regime plane beds, whereas its uppermost part accumulated in a fan delta setting. The clast provenance and the main palaeocurrents suggest the existence of a significant topographic high to the W and NW of the present outcrops. The El Planchón Formation (1400 m) is mainly composed of shales and sandstones as a result of sedimentation in a deep-sea fan environment. These lutite-dominated materials graded laterally north­wards into conglomerates in a glacial setting. The Del Ratón and El Planchón formations of the Lower Carboniferous correspond to the synorogenic Chanic sedimentation (Chanic foreland basin). Thereafter, the stratigraphic succession underwent deformation which led to its prolonged subaerial exposure and rubefaction. In Permian times, a marine transgression gave rise to the Del Salto Formation (600 m), which is constituted by beach deposits with some aeolian reworking and which lies unconformably over the Lower Carboniferous rocks. Conglomerates (Quebrada del Alumbre Formation, 100 m) produced by an alluvial system prograded episodically into coastal areas. The Escombrera Formation (350 m) is composed of beach deposits prograding seawards. This formation probably represents the end of the Palaeozoic sedimentary record. Thereafter, a playa-lake and an alluvial fan system were generated (Quebrada de la Arena Formation). This unit (750 m) was the last infill of the Gondwanan retroarc foreland, the total thickness of which was about 4000 m.Se presentan nuevos datos sobre las unidades neopaleozoicas aflorantes en la parte occidental de la Precordillera andina. Esas unidades litoestratigráficas estan separadas por dos discordancias angulares principales asociadas al desarrollo de las orogenias Chánica (Devónico tardío-Carbonífero temprano) y Gondwánica (Carbonífero tardío-Pérmico temprano) respectivamente. Otra nueva discordancia sugiere el inicio del ciclo andino durante el Pérmico medio. La Formación Del Ratón (800 m) está constituida principalmente por conglomerados y puede dividirse en dos unidades de rango menor: la parte basal y la parte superior respectivamente. La parte basal (Miembro inferior) fue acumulada en un fiordo. La parte superior (Miembro superior) fue generada en un sistema alluvial dominado predominantemente por la acumulación de capas planas de alto régimen de flujo, mientras que la parte más alta fue depositada en un entorno de abanico deltaico (fandelta). La procedencia de los clastos y las paleocorrientes principales indican la presencia de un relieve topográfico alto y significativo, situado al O y NO de los afloramientos actuales.La Formación El Planchón (1400 m) constituida principalmente por lutitas y areniscas fue acumulada en un contexto de abanico submarino (deep-sea fan). Estos materiales predominantemente lutíticos pasan lateralmente hacia el norte a conglomerados acumulados en un ambiente sedimentario glacial. Las Formaciones Del Ratón y El Planchón corresponden a la sedimentación sinorogénica Chánica (cuenca de antepaís chánica). Posteriormente, la sucesión estratigráfica sufrió una deformación que dió lugar a una prolongada exposición subaérea y su consiguiente rubefacción. Durante el Pérmico, una transgresión marina produjo la acumulación de la Formación Del Salto (600 m), que está constituída por depósitos de playa con algún retrabajamiento eólico y que recubre discordantemente los materiales del Carbonífero inferior. Un sistema aluvial conglomerático (Formación Quebrada del Alumbre 100 m) pogradó episódicamente sobre las zonas costeras. La Formación Escombrera (350 m), que está constituída por materiales arenosos coste-ros progradantes hacia el mar, representa, muy probablemente, el final del registro sedimentario paleozoico en esta zona. Posteriormente se generó otra discordancia sobre la que se acumularon materiales arenosos en un contexto de cursos fluviales trenzados sobre los que se disponen materiales lutíticos acumulados en una ciénaga (playa-lake) que gradan, primero a cursos trenzados, luego a cursos sinousos y finalmente a abanicos aluviales (Formación Quebrada de la Arena). Esta unidad (750 m) corresponde al último relleno sedimentario de la cuenca Gondwánica de retroarco, cuya potencia es del orden de unos 4000 m.Fil: Colombo, F.. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Limarino, Carlos Oscar. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: Spalletti, Luis Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: Busquets, P. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Cardo, R.. Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Mendez Bedia, I. Universidad de Oviedo; EspañaFil: Heredia, N.. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España; Españ

Shimura varieties in the Torelli locus via Galois coverings of elliptic curves

We study Shimura subvarieties of $\mathsf{A}_g$ obtained from families of Galois coverings $f: C \rightarrow C'$ where $C'$ is a smooth complex projective curve of genus $g' \geq 1$ and $g= g(C)$. We give the complete list of all such families that satisfy a simple sufficient condition that ensures that the closure of the image of the family via the Torelli map yields a Shimura subvariety of $\mathsf{A}_g$ for $g' =1,2$ and for all $g \geq 2,4$ and for $g' > 2$ and $g \leq 9$. In a previous work of the first and second author together with A. Ghigi [FGP] similar computations were done in the case $g'=0$. Here we find 6 families of Galois coverings, all with $g' = 1$ and $g=2,3,4$ and we show that these are the only families with $g'=1$ satisfying this sufficient condition. We show that among these examples two families yield new Shimura subvarieties of $\mathsf{A}_g$, while the other examples arise from certain Shimura subvarieties of $\mathsf{A}_g$ already obtained as families of Galois coverings of $\mathbb{P}^1$ in [FGP]. Finally we prove that if a family satisfies this sufficient condition with $g'\geq 1$, then $g \leq 6g'+1$.Comment: 18 pages, to appear in Geometriae Dedicat

Electrochromic orbit control for smart-dust devices

Recent advances in MEMS (micro electromechanical systems) technology are leading to spacecraft which are the shape and size of computer chips, so-called SpaceChips, or ‘smart dust devices’. These devices can offer highly distributed sensing when used in future swarm applications. However, they currently lack a feasible strategy for active orbit control. This paper proposes an orbit control methodology for future SpaceChip devices which is based on exploiting the effects of solar radiation pressure using electrochromic coatings. The concept presented makes use of the high area-to-mass ratio of these devices, and consequently the large force exerted upon them by solar radiation pressure, to control their orbit evolution by altering their surface optical properties. The orbital evolution of Space Chips due to solar radiation pressure can be represented by a Hamiltonian system, allowing an analytic development of the control methodology. The motion in the orbital element phase space resembles that of a linear oscillator, which is used to formulate a switching control law. Additional perturbations and the effect of eclipses are accounted for by modifying the linearized equations of the secular change in orbital elements around an equilibrium point in the phase space of the problem. Finally, the effectiveness of the method is demonstrated in a test case scenario

Evidence of non-thermal X-ray emission from HH 80

Protostellar jets appear at all stages of star formation when the accretion process is still at work. Jets travel at velocities of hundreds of km/s, creating strong shocks when interacting with interstellar medium. Several cases of jets have been detected in X-rays, typically showing soft emission. For the first time, we report evidence of hard X-ray emission possibly related to non-thermal processes not explained by previous models of the post-shock emission predicted in the jet/ambient interaction scenario. HH 80 is located at the south head of the jet associated to the massive protostar IRAS 18162-2048. It shows soft and hard X-ray emission in regions that are spatially separated, with the soft X-ray emission region situated behind the region of hard X-ray emission. We propose a scenario for HH 80 where soft X-ray emission is associated to thermal processes from the interaction of the jet with denser ambient matter and the hard X-ray emission is produced by synchrotron radiation at the front shock.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ