Focused-ion-beam-induced deposition of superconducting nanowires

Superconducting nanowires, with a critical temperature of 5.2 K, have been synthesized using an ion-beam-induced deposition, with a Gallium focused ion beam and Tungsten Carboxyl, W(CO)6, as precursor. The films are amorphous, with atomic concentrations of about 40, 40, and 20 % for W, C, and Ga, respectively. Zero Kelvin values of the upper critical field and coherence length of 9.5 T and 5.9 nm, respectively, are deduced from the resistivity data at different applied magnetic fields. The critical current density is Jc= 1.5 10^5 A/cm2 at 3 K. This technique can be used as a template-free fabrication method for superconducting devices.Comment: Accepted for publication in Applied Physics Letter

A New Phenomenology for the Disordered Mixed Phase

A universal phase diagram for type-II superconductors with weak point pinning disorder is proposed. In this phase diagram, two thermodynamic phase transitions generically separate a ``Bragg glass'' from the disordered liquid. Translational correlations in the intervening ``multi-domain glass'' phase are argued to exhibit a significant degree of short-range order. This phase diagram differs significantly from the currently accepted one but provides a more accurate description of experimental data on high and low-T$_c$ materials, simulations and current theoretical understanding.Comment: 15 pages including 2 postscript figures, minor changes in published versio

Microcantilever Studies of Angular Field Dependence of Vortex Dynamics in BSCCO

Using a nanogram-sized single crystal of BSCCO attached to a microcantilever we demonstrate in a direct way that in magnetic fields nearly parallel to the {\it ab} plane the magnetic field penetrates the sample in the form of Josephson vortices rather than in the form of a tilted vortex lattice. We further investigate the relation between the Josephson vortices and the pancake vortices generated by the perpendicular field component.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figure

Gravitational radiation from nonaxisymmetric spherical Couette flow in a neutron star

The gravitational wave signal generated by global, nonaxisymmetric shear flows in a neutron star is calculated numerically by integrating the incompressible Navier--Stokes equation in a spherical, differentially rotating shell. At Reynolds numbers \Rey \gsim 3 \times 10^{3}, the laminar Stokes flow is unstable and helical, oscillating Taylor--G\"ortler vortices develop. The gravitational wave strain generated by the resulting kinetic-energy fluctuations is computed in both $+$ and $\times$ polarizations as a function of time. It is found that the signal-to-noise ratio for a coherent, $10^{8}$-{\rm s} integration with LIGO II scales as $6.5 (\Omega_*/10^{4} {\rm rad} {\rm s}^{-1})^{7/2}$ for a star at 1 {\rm kpc} with angular velocity $\Omega_*$. This should be regarded as a lower limit: it excludes pressure fluctuations, herringbone flows, Stuart vortices, and fully developed turbulence (for \Rey \gsim 10^{6}).Comment: (1) School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia. (2) Departamento de Fisica, Escuela de Ciencias,Universidad de Oriente, Cumana, Venezuela, (3) Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letter

Vortex Matter Transition in Bi2{}_2Sr2{}_2CaCu2{}_2O8+y{}_{8+y} under Tilted Fields

Vortex phase diagram under tilted fields from the $c$ axis in Bi${}_2$Sr${}_2$CaCu${}_2$O${}_{8+y}$ is studied by local magnetization hysteresis measurements using Hall probes. When the field is applied at large angles from the $c$ axis, an anomaly ($H_p^\ast$) other than the well-known peak effect ($H_p$) are found at fields below $H_p$. The angular dependence of the field $H_p^\ast$ is nonmonotonic and clearly different from that of $H_p$ and depends on the oxygen content of the crystal. The results suggest existence of a vortex matter transition under tilted fields. Possible mechanisms of the transition are discussed.Comment: Revtex, 4 pages, some corrections are adde

liquid air energy storage as a polygeneration system to solve the unit commitment and economic dispatch problems in micro grids applications

Abstract Storage technologies play a crucial role in polygeneration plants that attempt to integrate power, thermal and cooling energy systems in order to maximize process efficiency and reduce operating cost. With the increasing penetration of renewable energy into the plant, storage technologies help to dampen the intermittency problem in their energy supply whilst at the same time perform peak shaving to reduce primary energy consumption, thus mitigating pollutant emission. Among the various storage technologies, Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) have gathered research interest due to its capability of simultaneously producing electrical and cooling power. Furthermore, unlike Electrochemical Energy Storage (EES) technologies, the LAES lifetime is not heavily dependent on its duty cycle, thus allowing for a calendar life twice or thrice that of EES. In this paper, the economic dispatch of an Eco-building in Singapore has been evaluated using a mixed-integer quadratic programming solver by comparing the adoption of EES and LAES within a capacity range of 300kWh-2000kWh. At the higher end of the capacity range, the LAES configuration results in a higher Net Present Value after 20 years and a shorter time period to obtain the Return of Investment compared to that of EES. At the lower capacity range, both technologies give similar financial returns. Analysis of the results show LAES to be a promising technology to compete with EES in the context of a polygeneration plant and further technology integration is discussed

Numerical Study of the Behaviour of Wall Shear Stress in Pulsatile Stenotic Flows

This paper presents a numerical study of pulsatile flow through an axisymmetric stenosed artery. Numerical calculations of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations were carried out in an axisymmetric geometry to investigate how the wall shear stress (WSS) is affected by varying levels of stenosis contractions and pulse periods (reduced velocity). It is found that the distribution and strength of the WSS is closely correlated with the position of the vortex ring formed at the stenosis. Each vortex ring generates high WSS at the stenosis walls and this high WSS propagate downstream with the vortex ring. As the vortex ring convects downstream, it loses its strength due to viscous effects and WSS decreases in magnitude. In general, the strength of the vortex ring increases with increasing stenosis levels which leads to higher WSS values on the walls. The effect of smaller pulse period is to reduce the distance between the vortex rings, thus increasing the spatial variation of WSS along the stenosed artery

Self-reported illness among Boston-area international travelers: A prospective study

This is the Accepted Manuscript version and was published in final edited form as: Travel Med Infect Dis. 2016 ; 14(6): 604–613. doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.09.009.BACKGROUND: The Boston Area Travel Medicine Network surveyed travelers on travel-related health problems. METHODS: Travelers were recruited 2009-2011 during pre-travel consultation at three clinics. The investigation included pre-travel data, weekly during-travel diaries, and a post-travel questionnaire. We analyzed demographics, trip characteristics, health problems experienced, and assessed the relationship between influenza vaccination, influenza prevention advice, and respiratory symptoms. RESULTS:Of 987 enrolled travelers, 628 (64%) completed all surveys, of which 400 (64%) reported health problems during and/or after travel; median trip duration was 12 days. Diarrhea affected the most people during travel (172) while runny/stuffy nose affected the most people after travel (95). Of those with health problems during travel, 25% stopped or altered plans; 1% were hospitalized. After travel, 21% stopped planned activities, 23% sought physician or other health advice; one traveler was hospitalized. Travelers who received influenza vaccination and influenza prevention advice had lower rates of respiratory symptoms than those that received influenza prevention advice alone (18% vs 28%, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS:A large proportion of Boston-area travelers reported health problems despite pre-travel consultation, resulting in inconveniences. The combination of influenza prevention advice and influenza immunization was associated with fewer respiratory symptoms than those who received influenza prevention advice alone

XAX: a multi-ton, multi-target detection system for dark matter, double beta decay and pp solar neutrinos

A multi-target detection system XAX, comprising concentric 10 ton targets of 136Xe and 129/131Xe, together with a geometrically similar or larger target of liquid Ar, is described. Each is configured as a two-phase scintillation/ionization TPC detector, enhanced by a full 4pi array of ultra-low radioactivity Quartz Photon Intensifying Detectors (QUPIDs) replacing the conventional photomultipliers for detection of scintillation light. It is shown that background levels in XAX can be reduced to the level required for dark matter particle (WIMP) mass measurement at a 10^-10 pb WIMP-nucleon cross section, with single-event sensitivity below 10^-11 pb. The use of multiple target elements allows for confirmation of the A^2 dependence of a coherent cross section, and the different Xe isotopes provide information on the spin-dependence of the dark matter interaction. The event rates observed by Xe and Ar would modulate annually with opposite phases from each other for WIMP mass >~100 GeV/c^2. The large target mass of 136Xe and high degree of background reduction allow neutrinoless double beta decay to be observed with lifetimes of 10^27-10^28 years, corresponding to the Majorana neutrino mass range 0.01-0.1 eV, the most likely range from observed neutrino mass differences. The use of a 136Xe-depleted 129/131Xe target will also allow measurement of the pp solar neutrino spectrum to a precision of 1-2%.Comment: 16 pages with 17 figure