Non-quasiparticle states in Co2_2MnSi evidenced through magnetic tunnel junction spectroscopy measurements

We investigate the effects of electronic correlations in the full-Heusler Co$_2$MnSi, by combining a theoretical analysis of the spin-resolved density of states with tunneling-conductance spectroscopy measurements using Co$_2$MnSi as electrode. Both experimental and theoretical results confirm the existence of so-called non-quasiparticle states and their crucial contribution to the finite-temperature spin polarisation in this material.Comment: Repalced Fig. 1. of PRL, 100, 086402 (2008), better k-space resolution for DOS around Fermi energ

Transient Receptor Potential Channel M4 and M5 in Magnocellular Cells in Rat Supraoptic and Paraventricular Nuclei

The neurohypophysial hormones, vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT), are synthesised by magnocellular cells in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. The release of VP into the general circulation from the neurohypophysis increases during hyperosmolality, hypotension and hypovolaemia. VP neurones increase hormone release by increasing their firing rate as a result of adopting a phasic bursting. Depolarising after potentials (DAPs) following a series of action potentials are considered to be involved in the generation of the phasic bursts by summating to plateau potentials. We recently discovered a fast DAP (fDAP) in addition to the slower DAP characterised previously. Almost all VP neurones expressed the fDAP, whereas only 16% of OT neurones had this property, which implicates the involvement of fDAP in the generation of the firing patterns in VP neurones. Our findings obtained from electrophysiological experiments suggested that the ionic current underlying the fDAP is mediated by those of two closely-related Ca 2+-activated cation channels: the melastatin-related subfamily of transient receptor potential channels, TRPM4 and TRPM5. In the present study, double/triple immunofluorescence microscopy and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction techniques were employed to evaluate whether TRPM4 and TRPM5 are specifically located in VP neurones. Using specific antibodies against these channels, TRPM5 immunoreactivity was found almost exclusively in VP neurones, but not in OT neurones in both the SON and PVN. The most prominent TRPM5 immunoreactivity was in the dendrites of VP neurones. By contrast, most TRPM4 immunoreactivity occurred in cell bodies of both VP and OT neurones. TRPM4 and TRPM5 mRNA were both found in a cDNA library derived from SON punches. These results indictate the possible involvement of TRPM5 in the generation of the fDAP, and these channels may play an important role in determining the distinct firing properties of VP neurones in the SON. © 2011 The Authors. Journal of Neuroendocrinology © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Magnetic second harmonic generation at the Co2MnSi/AlO x interface

Copyright © 2008 American Institute of PhysicsWe have studied magnetic second harmonic generation (MSHG) at the Co2MnSi/AlOx interface. The variation of the MSHG intensity was consistent with the nonvanishing components of the nonlinear susceptibility tensor expected for the (001) cubic surface. The difference in the MSHG asymmetry, the MSHG anisotropy, is found to have maximum value at an annealing temperature of 450 °C, for which similar samples have previously been found to show optimum L21 site ordering and maximum tunnel magnetoresistance

Ultrafast optical modification of magnetic anisotropy and stimulated precession in an epitaxial Co2 MnAl thin film

Copyright © 2007 American Institute of PhysicsAn all-optical pump-probe method was used to study magnetization precession in an epitaxial Co2MnAl Heusler alloy thin film. The frequency and amplitude of precession showed a clear fourfold variation as the orientation of the static field was applied in different directions within the plane of the film, revealing that the precession is induced by an ultrafast modification of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy field. The effective fields acting upon the magnetization have been determined and the damping parameter is found to decrease rapidly as the strength of the applied field is increased

Practical Use of a Liquid Helium-Free Superconducting Magnet(Magnet Technology)

A cryocooler-cooled 4.6 T superconducting magnet with a 38 mm room temperature bore, which consists of a low-T_c Nb_3Sn coil and high-T_c Bi_2Sr_2Ca_2Cu3O_ current leads, has been working in vacuum for about 18000 cooling hours without trouble, It is found that the high-T_c current leads can hold excellent superconducting properties for a long enough time to be practically used. As a next step, we have succeeded in the construction of a l0.7 T-52 mm room temperature bore and a 5.7 T-220 mm room temperature bore liquid helium-free superconducting magnet