23,159 research outputs found
Improving light harvesting in polymer photodetector devices through nanoindented metal mask films
To enhance light harvesting in organic photovoltaic devices, we propose the incorporation of a metal (aluminum) mask film in the systemâs usual layout. We fabricate devices in a sandwich geometry, where the mask (nanoindented with a periodic array of holes of sizes d and spacing s) is added between the transparent electrode and the active layer formed by a blend of the semiconducting polymer P3HT and substituted fullerene. Its function is to promote trapping of the incident light into the deviceâs cavity (the region corresponding to the active layer). For d, we set a value that allows light diffraction through the holes in the relevant absorption range of the polymer. To optimize the mask structure, we consider a very simple model to determine the s leading to trapped fields that are relatively intense and homogeneous within the device. From measurements of the action spectra, we show that, indeed, such architecture can considerably improve the resulting photocurrent efficienciesâone order of magnitude in the best situation studied.
Varied Signature Splitting Phenomena in Odd Proton Nuclei
Varied signature splitting phenomena in odd proton rare earth nuclei are
investigated. Signature splitting as functions of and in the angular
momentum projection theory is explicitly shown and compared with those of the
particle rotor model. The observed deviations from these rules are due to the
band mixings. The recently measured Ta high spin data are taken as a
typical example where fruitful information about signature effects can be
extracted. Six bands, two of which have not yet been observed, were calculated
and discussed in detail in this paper. The experimentally unknown band head
energies are given
Symmetries and Lie algebra of the differential-difference Kadomstev-Petviashvili hierarchy
By introducing suitable non-isospectral flows we construct two sets of
symmetries for the isospectral differential-difference Kadomstev-Petviashvili
hierarchy. The symmetries form an infinite dimensional Lie algebra.Comment: 9 page
Optimising the linear electron transport rate measured by chlorophyll a fluorescence to empirically match the gross rate of oxygen evolution in white light: towards improved estimation of the cyclic electron flux around photosystem I in leaves
The cyclic electron flux (CEF) around photosystem I (PSI) was discovered in isolated chloroplasts more than six decades ago, but its quantification has been hampered by the absence of net formation of a product or net consumption of a substrate. We estimated in vivo CEF in leaves as the difference (ÎFlux) between the total electron flux through PSI (ETR1) measured by a near infrared signal, and the linear electron flux through both photosystems by optimised measurement of chlorophyll a fluorescence (LEFfl). Chlorophyll fluorescence was excited by modulated green light from a light-emitting diode at an optimal average irradiance, and the fluorescence was detected at wavelengths >710ânm. In this way, LEFfl matched the gross rate of oxygen evolution multiplied by 4 (LEFO2) in broad-spectrum white actinic irradiance up to half (spinach, poplar and rice) or one third (cotton) of full sunlight irradiance. This technique of estimating CEF can be applied to leaves attached to a plant.This work was supported by a China Scholarship Council Fellowship
(to M-M. Z.), and a grant from the Australian Research Council (to WSC,
DP1093827)
Seyfert's Sextet: where is the gas?
Seyfert's Sextet (a.k.a HCG 79) is one of the most compact and isolated
galaxy groups in the local Universe. It shows a prominent diffuse light
component that accounts for ~50% of the total observed light. This likely
indicates that the group is in an advanced evolutionary phase, which would
predict a significant hot gaseous component. Previous X-ray observations had
suggested a low luminosity for this system, but with large uncertainties and
poor resolution. We present the results from a deep (70 ks), high resolution
Chandra observation of Seyfert's Sextet, requested with the aim of separating
the X-ray emission associated with the individual galaxies from that of a more
extended inter-galactic component. We discuss the spatial and spectral
characteristics of this group we derive with those of a few similar systems
also studied in the X-ray band. The high resolution X-ray image indicates that
the majority of the detected emission does not arise in the compact group but
is concentrated towards the NW and corresponds to what appears to be a
background galaxy cluster. The emission from the group alone has a total
luminosity of ~1x10^40 erg/s in the (0.5-5) keV band. Most of the luminosity
can be attributed to the individual sources in the galaxies, and only ~2x10^39
erg/s is due to a gaseous component. However, we find that this component is
also mostly associated with the individual galaxies of the Sextet, leaving
little or no residual in a truly IGM component. The extremely low luminosity of
the diffuse emission in Seyfert's Sextet might be related to its small total
mass.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. Accepted on A&
A Holstein-Primakoff and a Dyson realization for the quantum algebra
The known Holstein-Primakoff and Dyson realizations of the Lie algebra
in terms of Bose operators (Okubo S 1975 J. Math. Phys. 16
528) are generalized to the class of the quantum algebras for
any . It is shown how the elements of can be expressed via
pairs of Bose creation and annihilation operators.Comment: 5 pages, Te
Using Performance Forecasting to Accelerate Elasticity
Cloud computing facilitates dynamic resource provisioning. The automation of resource management, known as elasticity, has been subject to much research. In this context, monitoring of a running service plays a crucial role, and adjustments are made when certain thresholds are crossed. On such occasions, it is common practice to simply add or remove resources. In this paper we investigate how we can predict the performance of a service to dynamically adjust allocated resources based on predictions. In other words, instead of ârepairingâ because a threshold has been crossed, we attempt to stay ahead and allocate an optimized amount of resources in advance. To do so, we need to have accurate predictive models that are based on workloads. We present our approach, based on the Universal Scalability Law, and discuss initial experiments
The long-term impact of the MEMA kwa Vijana adolescent sexual and reproductive health intervention: effect of dose and time since intervention exposure.
BACKGROUND: Despite recent decreases in HIV incidence in many sub-Saharan African countries, there is little evidence that specific behavioural interventions have led to a reduction in HIV among young people. Further and wider-scale decreases in HIV require better understanding of when behaviour change occurs and why. The MEMA kwa Vijana adolescent sexual and reproductive health intervention has been implemented in rural Mwanza, Tanzania since 1999. A long-term evaluation in 2007/8 found that the intervention improved knowledge, attitudes to sex and some reported risk behaviours, but not HIV or HSV2 prevalence. The aim of this paper was to assess the differential impact of the intervention according to gender, age, marital status, number of years of exposure and time since last exposure to the intervention. METHODS: In 2007, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in the 20 trial communities among 13,814 young people (15-30 yrs) who had attended intervention or comparison schools between 1999 and 2002. Outcomes for which the intervention had an impact in 2001 or 2007 were included in this subgroup analysis. Data were analysed using cluster-level methods for stratified cluster-randomised trials, using interaction tests to determine if intervention impact differed by subgroup. RESULTS: Taking into account multiplicity of testing, concurrence with a priori hypotheses and consistency within the results no strong effect-modifiers emerged. Impact on pregnancy knowledge and reported attitudes to sex increased with years of exposure to high-quality intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The desirable long-term impact of the MEMA kwa Vijana intervention did not vary greatly according to the subgroups examined. This suggests that the intervention can have an impact on a broad cross-section of young people in rural Mwanza. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00248469
The limit of N=(2,2) superconformal minimal models
The limit of families of two-dimensional conformal field theories has
recently attracted attention in the context of AdS/CFT dualities. In our work
we analyse the limit of N=(2,2) superconformal minimal models when the central
charge approaches c=3. The limiting theory is a non-rational N=(2,2)
superconformal theory, in which there is a continuum of chiral primary fields.
We determine the spectrum of the theory, the three-point functions on the
sphere, and the disc one-point functions.Comment: 37 pages, 3 figures; v2: minor corrections in section 5.3, version to
be published in JHE
Two-photon Lithography for 3D Magnetic Nanostructure Fabrication
Ferromagnetic materials have been utilised as recording media within data
storage devices for many decades. Confinement of the material to a two
dimensional plane is a significant bottleneck in achieving ultra-high recording
densities and this has led to the proposition of three dimensional (3D)
racetrack memories that utilise domain wall propagation along nanowires.
However, the fabrication of 3D magnetic nanostructures of complex geometry is
highly challenging and not easily achievable with standard lithography
techniques. Here, by using a combination of two-photon lithography and
electrochemical deposition, we show a new approach to construct 3D magnetic
nanostructures of complex geometry. The magnetic properties are found to be
intimately related to the 3D geometry of the structure and magnetic imaging
experiments provide evidence of domain wall pinning at a 3D nanostructured
junction
- âŠ