Defect Motion and Lattice Pinning Barrier in Josephson-Junction Ladders

We study motion of domain wall defects in a fully frustrated Josephson-unction ladder system, driven by small applied currents. For small system sizes, the energy barrier E_B to the defect motion is computed analytically via symmetry and topological considerations. More generally, we perform numerical simulations directly on the equations of motion, based on the resistively-shunted junction model, to study the dynamics of defects, varying the system size. Coherent motion of domain walls is observed for large system sizes. In the thermodynamical limit, we find E_B=0.1827 in units of the Josephson coupling energy.Comment: 7 pages, and to apear in Phys. Rev.

Critical currents for vortex defect motion in superconducting arrays

We study numerically the motion of vortices in two-dimensional arrays of resistively shunted Josephson junctions. An extra vortex is created in the ground states by introducing novel boundary conditions and made mobile by applying external currents. We then measure critical currents and the corresponding pinning energy barriers to vortex motion, which in the unfrustrated case agree well with previous theoretical and experimental findings. In the fully frustrated case our results also give good agreement with experimental ones, in sharp contrast with the existing theoretical prediction. A physical explanation is provided in relation with the vortex motion observed in simulations.Comment: To appear in Physical Review

Intrinsic time gravity and the Lichnerowicz-York equation

We investigate the effect on the Hamiltonian structure of general relativity of choosing an intrinsic time to fix the time slicing. 3-covariance with momentum constraint is maintained, but the Hamiltonian constraint is replaced by a dynamical equation for the trace of the momentum. This reveals a very simple structure with a local reduced Hamiltonian. The theory is easily generalised; in particular, the square of the Cotton-York tensor density can be added as an extra part of the potential while at the same time maintaining the classic 2 + 2 degrees of freedom. Initial data construction is simple in the extended theory; we get a generalised Lichnerowicz-York equation with nice existence and uniqueness properties. Adding standard matter fields is quite straightforward.Comment: 4 page

Dynamic transition and Shapiro-step melting in a frustrated Josephson-junction array

We consider a two-dimensional fully frustrated Josephson-junction array driven by combined direct and alternating currents. Interplay between the mode locking phenomenon, manifested by giant Shapiro steps in the current-voltage characteristics, and the dynamic phase transition is investigated at finite temperatures. Melting of Shapiro steps due to thermal fluctuations is shown to be accompanied by the dynamic phase transition, the universality class of which is also discussed

Equivalence between various versions of the self-dual action of the Ashtekar formalism

Different aspects of the self-dual (anti-self-dual) action of the Ashtekar canonical formalism are discussed. In particular, we study the equivalences and differences between the various versions of such an action. Our analysis may be useful for the development of an Ashtekar formalism in eight dimensions.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, minor correction

Spatiotemporal Stochastic Resonance in Fully Frustrated Josephson Ladders

We consider a Josephson-junction ladder in an external magnetic field with half flux quantum per plaquette. When driven by external currents, periodic in time and staggered in space, such a fully frustrated system is found to display spatiotemporal stochastic resonance under the influence of thermal noise. Such resonance behavior is investigated both numerically and analytically, which reveals significant effects of anisotropy and yields rich physics.Comment: 8 pages in two columns, 8 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Manufacture of active matrix display devices

An active plate (2) for an active matrix display device (16), the active plate (2) comprising a substrate (4), a pixel area (6) and an adjacent drive circuit area (8). Both areas include polycrystalline silicon material formed by a process in which a metal is used to enhance the crystallisation process (MIC poly-Si), but only the MIC poly-Si in the drive circuit area (8) is subjected to an irradiation process using an energy beam (10). TFTs are fabricated with MIC poly-Si which have leakage currents in the off state sufficiently low for them to be acceptable for use as switching elements in the pixel area of matrix display devices. As only the drive circuit area (8) need be irradiated to provide poly-Si having the desired mobility, the time taken by the irradiation process can be significantly reduced