Measurement of the ratio h/e with a photomultiplier tube and a set of LEDs

We propose a laboratory experience aimed at undergraduate physics students to understand the main features of the photoelectric effect and to perform a measurement of the ratio h/e, where h is the Planck's constant and e is the electron charge. The experience is based on the method developed by Millikan for his measurements on the photoelectric effect in the years from 1912 to 1915. The experimental setup consists of a photomultiplier tube (PMT) equipped with a voltage divider properly modified to set variable retarding potentials between the photocathode and the first dynode, and a set of LEDs emitting at different wavelengths. The photocathode is illuminated with the various LEDs and, for each wavelength of the incident light, the output anode current is measured as a function of the retarding potential applied between the cathode and the first dynode. From each measurement, a value of the stopping potential for the anode current is derived. Finally, the stopping potentials are plotted as a function of the frequency of the incident light, and a linear fit is performed. The slope and the intercept of the line allow respectively to evaluate the ratio h/e and the ratio W/e, where W is the work function of the photocathode.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Exploring the bulk of the BL Lac object population. II. Gamma-ray properties

AIMS. We are studying an unbiased sample of 42 nearby (z < 0.2) BL Lacertae objects with a multi-wavelength approach. The results of VLBI observations were presented in the first paper of this series. In this paper, we study the $\gamma$-ray properties of the sample. METHODS. We analyse data collected by the Fermi LAT during its first 8.5 years of operation in the energy range 0.1-300 GeV. RESULTS. We reveal 23 sources with a test statistic greater than 25 (corresponding to $\sim$ 4.6-$\sigma$) out of 42, with 3 sources not detected in the 3LAC catalogue, and fluxes between $3.5\times 10^{-10}$ and $7.4\times10^{-8}$ ph cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. The majority of the sources have hard spectra ($\Gamma \leq 2$), with only four having values in the range 2.1-2.4. The three newly detected sources have fluxes in the range between $0.54\times10^{-9}$ and $1.35\times10^{-9}$ ph cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, and photon index 1.7-1.9. Among the 23 LAT-detected sources, 19 are included in the 3FHL, with a spectrum that connects relatively smoothly from 0.1 GeV to 2 TeV. LAT-detected BL Lacs are more luminous on parsec scales with respect to non-LAT-detected sources and have larger core dominance according to the unified models. CONCLUSIONS. The LAT-detected BL Lacs seem to be composed of a bulk of "classical" sources dominated by Doppler boosting and characterised by compact and bright radio emission as well as hard $\gamma$-ray spectra. Moreover, we have identified a possible population of low-luminosity BL Lacs not detected by LAT, lacking a VLBI core, and with a small Doppler factor. Furthermore, three LAT-detected sources show non-classical properties for $\gamma$-ray emitting BL Lacs (no evidence of relativistic jet, low Doppler factor in radio images, relatively low core dominance) and three other sources, while showing radio emission on parsec scales, are not detected in $\gamma$ rays so far.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 618A.17

DNA damage by a single intense shot of soft X-rays emitted by a laser-produced plasma

EnA suitable plane transmission line was developed and its behaviour analysed at 900 MHz radiofrequency fields to study the DNA mutability and repair of microorganisms. In this work, utilizing such a device, we investigated the behaviour of the DNA mutability and repair of Escherichia coli strains. The transmission line was very simple and versatile in changing its characteristic resistance and field intensity by varying its sizes. In absence of cell samples inside the transmission line, the relative modulation of the electric and/or magnetic field was ±31% with respect to the mean values, allowing the processing of more samples at different exposure fields in a single run. Slight decrease in spontaneous mutability to rifampicin-resistance of the E. Coli JC411 strain, was demonstrated in mismatch-repair proficient samples exposed to the radio-frequency fields during their growth on solid medium

Applicability of the kp method to modeling of InAs/GaSb short-period superlattices

We investigate the long-standing controversy surrounding modeling of the electronic spectra of InAs/GaSb short-period superlattices (SPSLs). Most commonly, such modeling for semiconductor heterostructures is based on the kp method. However, this method has so far failed to predict the band structure for type-II InAs/GaSb SPSLs. Instead, it has systematically overestimated the energy gap between the electron and heavy-hole minibands, which led to the suggestion that the kp method is inadequate for these heterostructures. Our results show that the physical origin of the discrepancy between modeling and experimental results may be the graded and asymmetric InAs/GaSb interface profile. We have performed band-structure modeling within the kp method using a realistic interface profile based on experimental observations. Our calculations show good agreement with experimental data, both from our own measurements and from the published literature. © 2009 The American Physical Society

Optical filter based on a coupled bilayer photonic crystal

We report on the fabrication of an ultra-compact optical filter based on photonic crystal free-standing membranes in bi-layer configuration. The basic heterostructure consists of two 376nm-thick GaAs-membranes sandwiched between air on a GaAs substrate. The air gap between the two membranes is 520nm thick. The normal-incidence reflectance measurements and the numerical simulation of reflection spectra show a high sensitivity to the holes diameter

The Influence of a Continuum Background on Carrier Relaxation in InAs/InGaAs Quantum Dot

We have investigated the ultra-fast carrier dynamics in Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE)-grown InAs/InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) emitting at 1.3 μm by time resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) upconversion measurements with a time resolution of about 200 fs. Changing the detection energies in the spectral region from the energy of the quantum dots excitonic transition up to the barrier layer absorption edge, we have found that, under high excitation intensity, the intrinsic electronic states are populated mainly by carriers directly captured from the barrier

Observation of the Shadowing of Cosmic Rays by the Moon using a Deep Underground Detector

Using data collected by the MACRO experiment during the years 1989-1996, we show evidence for the shadow of the moon in the underground cosmic ray flux with a significance of 3.6 sigma. This detection of the shadowing effect is the first by an underground detector. A maximum-likelihood analysis is used to determine that the angular resolution of the apparatus is 0.9+/-0.3 degrees. These results demonstrate MACRO's capabilities as a muon telescope by confirming its absolute pointing ability and quantifying its angular resolution.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Final results of magnetic monopole searches with the MACRO experiment

We present the final results obtained by the MACRO experiment in the search for GUT magnetic monopoles in the penetrating cosmic radiation, for the range $4\times 10^{-5}< \beta < 1$. Several searches with all the MACRO sub-detectors (i.e. scintillation counters, limited streamer tubes and nuclear track detectors) were performed, both in stand alone and combined ways. No candidates were detected and a 90% Confidence Level (C.L.) upper limit to the local magnetic monopole flux was set at the level of $1.4\times 10^{-16}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ sr$^{-1}$. This result is the first experimental limit obtained in direct searches which is well below the Parker bound in the whole $\beta$ range in which GUT magnetic monopoles are expected.Comment: 12 pages, Latex, 9 figures and 2 Table

Measurement of the residual energy of muons in the Gran Sasso underground Laboratories

The MACRO detector was located in the Hall B of the Gran Sasso underground Laboratories under an average rock overburden of 3700 hg/cm^2. A transition radiation detector composed of three identical modules, covering a total horizontal area of 36 m^2, was installed inside the empty upper part of the detector in order to measure the residual energy of muons. This paper presents the measurement of the residual energy of single and double muons crossing the apparatus. Our data show that double muons are more energetic than single ones. This measurement is performed over a standard rock depth range from 3000 to 6500 hg/cm^2.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figure

Search for Nucleon Decays induced by GUT Magnetic Monopoles with the MACRO Experiment

The interaction of a Grand Unification Magnetic Monopole with a nucleon can lead to a barion-number violating process in which the nucleon decays into a lepton and one or more mesons (catalysis of nucleon decay). In this paper we report an experimental study of the effects of a catalysis process in the MACRO detector. Using a dedicated analysis we obtain new magnetic monopole (MM) flux upper limits at the level of $\sim 3\cdot 10^{-16} cm^{-2} s^{-1} sr^{-1}$ for $1.1\cdot 10^{-4} \le |\beta| \le 5\cdot 10^{-3}$, based on the search for catalysis events in the MACRO data. We also analyze the dependence of the MM flux limit on the catalysis cross section.Comment: 12 pages, Latex, 10 figures and 2 Table