Diamagnetic Response of Normal-metal -- Superconductor Double Layers

The magnetic response of a proximity-coupled superconductor-normal metal sandwich is studied within the framework of the quasiclassical theory. The magnetization is evaluated for finite values of the applied magnetic field (linear and nonlinear response) at arbitrary temperatures and is used to fit recent experimental low-temperature data. The hysteretic behavior predicted from a Ginzburg-Landau approach and observed in experiments is obtained within the quasiclassical theory and shown to exist also outside the Ginzburg-Landau region.Comment: RevTex, 11 pages, 9 PostScript figures include

Properties of the energy landscape of network models for covalent glasses

We investigate the energy landscape of two dimensional network models for covalent glasses by means of the lid algorithm. For three different particle densities and for a range of network sizes, we exhaustively analyse many configuration space regions enclosing deep-lying energy minima. We extract the local densities of states and of minima, and the number of states and minima accessible below a certain energy barrier, the 'lid'. These quantities show on average a close to exponential growth as a function of their respective arguments. We calculate the configurational entropy for these pockets of states and find that the excess specific heat exhibits a peak at a critical temperature associated with the exponential growth in the local density of states, a feature of the specific heat also observed in real glasses at the glass transition.Comment: RevTeX, 19 pages, 7 figure

Anomalous density of states of a Luttinger liquid in contact with a superconductor

We study the frequency and space dependence of the local tunneling density of states of a Luttinger liquid (LL) which is connected to a superconductor. This coupling {\em strongly} modifies the single-particle properties of the LL. It significantly enhances the density of states near the Fermi level, whereas this quantity vanishes as a power law for an isolated LL. The enhancement is due to the interplay between electron-electron interactions and multiple back-scattering processes of low-energy electrons at the interface between the LL and the superconductor. This anomalous behavior extends over large distances from the interface and may be detected by coupling normal probes to the system.Comment: 8 pages Revtex, two postscript figure

Single-qubit lasing and cooling at the Rabi frequency

For a superconducting qubit driven to perform Rabi oscillations and coupled to a slow electromagnetic or nano-mechanical oscillator we describe previously unexplored quantum optics effects. When the Rabi frequency is tuned to resonance with the oscillator the latter can be driven far from equilibrium. Blue detuned driving leads to a population inversion in the qubit and a bi-stability with lasing behavior of the oscillator; for red detuning the qubit cools the oscillator. This behavior persists at the symmetry point where the qubit-oscillator coupling is quadratic and decoherence effects are minimized. There the system realizes a "single-atom-two-photon laser".Comment: Replaced with final published version, fig. 2 compresse

Was sagen die Studierenden zur E-Learning- Strategie der Hochschule?

E-Learning an der Hochschule bedarf einer Strategie. Dies scheint unumstritten und heutzutage eine Notwendigkeit. Zunehmend stellt sich aber die Frage, wie dies die Studierenden sehen. In dieser Arbeit stellen wir kurz den Prozess der Strategieentwicklung einer Universität dar und bringen diesen mit einer parallel dazu durchgeführten Studierendenumfrage in Zusammenhang. Die Auswertung zeigt, dass Studierende vermehrt Online-Inhalte einfordern und dass E-Learning für sie ein klares Qualitätsmerkmal in der Hochschullehre ist. 27.04.2015 | Martin Ebner, Martin Schön & Walther Nagler (Graz

Xenogeneic, extracorporeal liver perfusion in primates improves the ratio of branched-chain amino acids to aromatic amino acids (Fischer's ratio)

In fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), the development of hepatic encephalopathy is associated with grossly abnormal concentrations of plasma amino acids (PAA). Normalization of the ratio of branched-chain amino acids to aromatic amino acids (Fischer's ratio) correlates with clinical improvement. This study evaluated changes in PAA metabolism during 4 h of isolated, normothermic extracorporeal liver perfusion using a newly designed system containing human blood and a rhesus monkey liver. Bile and urea production were within the physiological range. Release of the transaminases AST, ALT and LDH were minimal. The ratio of branched (valine, leucine, isoleucine) to aromatic (tyrosine, phenylalanine) amino acids increased significantly. These results indicate that a xenogeneic extracorporeal liver perfusion system is capable of significantly increasing Fischer's ratio and may play a role in treating and bridging patients in FHF in the future

Full Counting Statistics for a Single-Electron Transistor, Non-equilibrium Effects at Intermediate Conductance

We evaluate the current distribution for a single-electron transistor with intermediate strength tunnel conductance. Using the Schwinger-Keldysh approach and the drone (Majorana) fermion representation we account for the renormalization of system parameters. Nonequilibrium effects induce a lifetime broadening of the charge-state levels, which suppress large current fluctuations.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Low- and high-frequency noise from coherent two-level systems

Recent experiments indicate a connection between the low- and high-frequency noise affecting superconducting quantum systems. We explore the possibilities that both noises can be produced by one ensemble of microscopic modes, made up, e.g., by sufficiently coherent two-level systems (TLS). This implies a relation between the noise power in different frequency domains, which depends on the distribution of the parameters of the TLSs. We show that a distribution, natural for tunneling TLSs, with a log-uniform distribution in the tunnel splitting and linear distribution in the bias, accounts for experimental observations.Comment: minor corrections, references adde

A new physarum learner for network structure learning from biomedical data

A novel structure learning algorithm for Bayesian Networks based on a Physarum Learner is presented. The length of the connections within an initially fully connected Physarum-Maze is taken as the inverse Pearson correlation coefficient between the connected nodes. The Physarum Learner then estimates the shortest indirect paths between each pair of nodes. In each iteration, a score of the surviving edges is incremented. Finally, the highest scored connections are combined to form a Bayesian Network. The novel Physarum Learner method is evaluated with different configurations and compared to the LAGD Hill Climber showing comparable performance with respect to quality of training results and increased time efficiency for large data sets