8,508 research outputs found
Anomalous Ferromagnetism of Monatomic Co Wire at the Pt(111) Surface Step Edge
A first-principles investigation of the anomalous ferromagnetism of a
quasi-one-dimensional Co chain at the Pt(111) step edge is reported. Our
calculations show that the symmetry breaking at the step leads to an easy
magnetization axis at an odd angle of {\em towards} the Pt
step, in agreement with experiment [P. Gambardella {\em et al.}, {\em Nature}
{\bf 416}, 301 (2002)]. Also, the Co spin and orbital moments become
noncollinear, even in the case of a collinear ferromagnetic spin arrangement. A
significant enhancement of the Co orbital magnetic moment is achieved when
modest electron correlations are treated within LSDA+ calculations.Comment: Presented at MRS Meeting in Boston, Dec. 2003; 4 pages including 3
figure
A new interaction force decomposition maximizing compensating forces under physical work constraints
Decomposition of interaction forces in manipulation tasks has a long research tradition. Interaction forces are often split into robustness-reflective and accelerating forces. While this decomposition is typically performed for the synthesis of interaction forces to be applied for example in the context of robotic grasping, less attention has been paid to the analysis of measured, human interaction forces. Here we present a new decomposition approach for interaction force analysis. It extends the intuitive solution known in literature for the two finger grasp and combines it with a physically motivated bounding constraint, which allows the maximization of robustness reflective forces. Advantages of our approach are illustrated with an example and are compared to existing decomposition approaches. In contrast to existing approaches the new approach is not limited in the number of interaction points and incorporates forces which are physically possible only
Spatially resolved observation of uniform precession modes in spin-valve systems
Using time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy the excitation of
uniform precession modes in individual domains of a weakly coupled spin-valve
system has been studied. A coupling dependence of the precession frequencies
has been found that can be reasonably well understood on the basis of a
macrospin model. By tuning the frequency of the excitation source the uniform
precession modes are excited in a resonant way.Comment: This article has been accepted by Journal of Applied Physics. After
it is published, it will be found at http://jap.aip.or
Enhanced Retention In The Passive-Avoidance Task By 5-HT1A Receptor Blockade Is Not Associated With Increased Activity Of The Central Nucleus Of The Amygdala
The effect of blockade of S-HT1A receptors was investigated on (1) retention in a mildly aversive passive-avoidance task, and (2) spontaneous single-unit activity of central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) neurons, a brain site implicated in modulation of retention. Systemic administration of the selective S-HT1A antagonist NAN-190 immediately after training markedly-and dose-dependently-facilitated retention in the passive-avoidance task; enhanced retention was time-dependent and was not attributable to variations in wattages of shock received by animals. Systemic administration of NAN-190 had mixed effects on spontaneous single-unit activity of CeA neurons recorded extracellularly in vivo; microiontophoretic application of S-HT, in contrast, consistently and potently suppressed CeA activity. The present findings-that S-HT1A receptor blockade by NAN-190 (1) enhances retention in the passive-avoidance task, and (2) does not consistently increase spontaneous neuronal activity of the CeA-provide evidence that a serotonergic system tonically inhibits modulation of retention in the passive-avoidance task through activation of the S-HT1A receptor subtype at brain sites located outside the CeA
Scan-rescan reproducibility of neurite microstructure estimates using NODDI
In this work we provide a preliminary assessment of the reproducibility of the Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI), a recent diffusion MRI technique for directly quantifying microstructural indices of neurites in vivo, in the human brain. It is important to assess the reproducibility of such a technique to verify the precision of the method, which has implications for translation to clinical studies. NODDI outputs indices which reflect the functional and computational complexity of various regions of the brain and thus can provide useful information, non-invasively, for understanding pathology of the brain. We compare the parameter maps derived from diffusion MRI data acquired using the NODDI protocol from a normal subject, at two separate imaging sessions. We show that the NODDI indices have reproducibility comparable to that of the DTI indices. We additionally show that the clinically feasible NODDI protocol maintains good reproducibility of parameter estimates, comparable to that of a more comprehensive protocol
Measuring the Size of Quasar Broad-Line Clouds Through Time Delay Light-Curve Anomalies of Gravitational Lenses
Intensive monitoring campaigns have recently attempted to measure the time
delays between multiple images of gravitational lenses. Some of the resulting
light-curves show puzzling low-level, rapid variability which is unique to
individual images, superimposed on top of (and concurrent with) longer
time-scale intrinsic quasar variations which repeat in all images. We
demonstrate that both the amplitude and variability time-scale of the rapid
light-curve anomalies, as well as the correlation observed between intrinsic
and microlensed variability, are naturally explained by stellar microlensing of
a smooth accretion disk which is occulted by optically-thick broad-line clouds.
The rapid time-scale is caused by the high velocities of the clouds (~5x10^3
km/s), and the low amplitude results from the large number of clouds covering
the magnified or demagnified parts of the disk. The observed amplitudes of
variations in specific lenses implies that the number of broad-line clouds that
cover ~10% of the quasar sky is ~10^5 per 4 pi steradian. This is comparable to
the expected number of broad line clouds in models where the clouds originate
from bloated stars.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures. Submitted to Ap
Image potential states as quantum probe of graphene interfaces
Image potential states (IPSs) are electronic states localized in front of a
surface in a potential well formed by the surface projected bulk band gap on
one side and the image potential barrier on the other. In the limit of a
two-dimensional solid a double Rydberg series of IPSs has been predicted which
is in contrast to a single series present in three-dimensional solids. Here, we
confirm this prediction experimentally for mono- and bilayer graphene. The IPSs
of epitaxial graphene on SiC are measured by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy
and the results are compared to ab-initio band structure calculations. Despite
the presence of the substrate, both calculations and experimental measurements
show that the first pair of the double series of IPSs survives, and eventually
evolves into a single series for graphite. Thus, IPSs provide an elegant
quantum probe of the interfacial coupling in graphene systems.Comment: Accepted for publication in New Journal of Physic
Reversible Tuning of Collinear versus Chiral Magnetic Order by Chemical Stimulus
The Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction mediates collinear
magnetic interactions via the conduction electrons of a non-magnetic spacer,
resulting in a ferro- or antiferromagnetic magnetization in magnetic
multilayers. The resulting spin-polarized charge transport effects have found
numerous applications. Recently it has been discovered that heavy non-magnetic
spacers are able to mediate an indirect magnetic coupling that is non-collinear
and chiral. This Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya-enhanced RKKY (DME-RKKY) interaction
causes the emergence of a variety of interesting magnetic structures, such as
skyrmions and spin spirals. Applications using these magnetic quasi-particles
require a thorough understanding and fine-tuning of the balance between the
Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and other magnetic interactions, e.g., the
exchange interaction and magnetic anisotropy contributions. Here, we show by
spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy that the spin structure of
manganese oxide chains on Ir(001) can reproducibly be switched from chiral to
collinear antiferromagnetic interchain interactions by increasing the oxidation
state of MnO while the reverse process can be induced by thermal reduction.
The underlying structural change is revealed by low-energy electron diffraction
intensity data (LEED-IV) analysis. Density functional theory calculations
suggest that the magnetic transition may be caused by a significant increase of
the Heisenberg exchange upon oxidation.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
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