3,214 research outputs found
Singe ferroelectric and chiral magnetic domain of single-crystalline BiFeO in an electric field
We report polarized neutron scattering and piezoresponse force microscopy
studies of millimeter-sized single crystals of multiferroic BiFeO. The
crystals, grown below the Curie temperature, consist of a single ferroelectric
domain. Two unique electric polarization directions, as well as the populations
of equivalent spiral magnetic domains, can be switched reversibly by an
electric field. A ferroelectric monodomain with a single- single-helicity
spin spiral can be obtained. This level of control, so far unachievable in thin
films, makes single-crystal BiFeO a promising object for multiferroics
research.Comment: 4 figures in separate jpg file
Optimization of a high work function solution processed vanadium oxide hole-extracting layer for small molecule and polymer organic photovoltaic cells
We report a method of fabricating a high work function, solution processable vanadium oxide (V2Ox(sol)) hole-extracting layer. The atmospheric processing conditions of film preparation have a critical influence on the electronic structure and stoichiometry of the V2Ox(sol), with a direct impact on organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell performance. Combined Kelvin probe (KP) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) measurements reveal a high work function, n-type character for the thin films, analogous to previously reported thermally evaporated transition metal oxides. Additional states within the band gap of V2Ox(sol) are observed in the UPS spectra and are demonstrated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to be due to the substoichiometric nature of V2Ox(sol). The optimized V2Ox(sol) layer performance is compared directly to bare indium–tin oxide (ITO), poly(ethyleneoxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and thermally evaporated molybdenum oxide (MoOx) interfaces in both small molecule/fullerene and polymer/fullerene structures. OPV cells incorporating V2Ox(sol) are reported to achieve favorable initial cell performance and cell stability attributes
Theoretical study of the absorption spectra of the lithium dimer
For the lithium dimer we calculate cross sections for absorption of radiation
from the vibrational-rotational levels of the ground X [singlet Sigma g +]
electronic state to the vibrational levels and continua of the excited A
[singlet Sigma u +] and B [singlet Pi u] electronic states. Theoretical and
experimental data are used to characterize the molecular properties taking
advantage of knowledge recently obtained from photoassociation spectroscopy and
ultra-cold atom collision studies. The quantum-mechanical calculations are
carried out for temperatures in the range from 1000 to 2000 K and are compared
with previous calculations and measurements.Comment: 20 pages, revtex, epsf, 6 fig
De novo origins of multicellularity in response to predation
The transition from unicellular to multicellular life was one of a few major events in the history of life that created new opportunities for more complex biological systems to evolve. Predation is hypothesized as one selective pressure that may have driven the evolution of multicellularity. Here we show that de novo origins of simple multicellularity can evolve in response to predation. We subjected outcrossed populations of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to selection by the filter-feeding predator Paramecium tetraurelia. Two of five experimental populations evolved multicellular structures not observed in unselected control populations within ~750 asexual generations. Considerable variation exists in the evolved multicellular life cycles, with both cell number and propagule size varying among isolates. Survival assays show that evolved multicellular traits provide effective protection against predation. These results support the hypothesis that selection imposed by predators may have played a role in some origins of multicellularity
Is automatic imitation a specialized form of stimulus–response compatibility? Dissociating imitative and spatial compatibilities
In recent years research on automatic imitation has received considerable attention because it represents an experimental platform for investigating a number of inter-related theories suggesting that the perception of action automatically activates corresponding motor programs. A key debate within this research centers on whether automatic imitation is any different than other long-term S-R associations, such as spatial stimulus-response compatibility. One approach to resolving this issue is to examine whether automatic imitation shows similar response characteristics as other classes of stimulus-response compatibility. This hypothesis was tested by comparing imitative and spatial compatibility effects with a two alternative forced-choice stimulus-response compatibility paradigm and two tasks: one that involved selecting a response to the stimulus (S-R) and one that involved selecting a response to the opposite stimulus (OS-R), i.e., the one not presented. The stimulus for both tasks was a left or right hand with either the index or middle finger tapping down. Speeded responses were performed with the index or middle finger of the right hand in response to the finger identity or the left-right spatial position of the fingers. Based on previous research and a connectionist model, we predicted standard compatibility effects for both spatial and imitative compatibility in the S-R task, and a reverse compatibility effect for spatial compatibility but not for imitative compatibility in the OS-R task. The results from the mean response times, mean percentage of errors, and response time distributions all converged to support these predictions. A second noteworthy result was that the recoding of the finger identity in the OS-R task required significantly more time than the recoding of the left-right spatial position, but the encoding time for the two stimuli in the S-R task was equivalent. In sum, this evidence suggests that the processing of spatial and imitative compatibility is dissociable with regard to two different processes in dual processing models of stimulus-response compatibility
MADNESS: A Multiresolution, Adaptive Numerical Environment for Scientific Simulation
MADNESS (multiresolution adaptive numerical environment for scientific
simulation) is a high-level software environment for solving integral and
differential equations in many dimensions that uses adaptive and fast harmonic
analysis methods with guaranteed precision based on multiresolution analysis
and separated representations. Underpinning the numerical capabilities is a
powerful petascale parallel programming environment that aims to increase both
programmer productivity and code scalability. This paper describes the features
and capabilities of MADNESS and briefly discusses some current applications in
chemistry and several areas of physics
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