Efficiency enhancement in two-cell CIGS photovoltaic system with low-cost optical spectral splitter.

Spectrum splitting represents a valid alternative to multi-junction solar cells for broadband light-to-electricity conversion. While this concept has existed for decades, its adoption at the industrial scale is still stifled by high manufacturing costs and inability to scale to large areas. Here we report the experimental validation of a novel design that could allow the widespread adoption of spectrum splitting as a low-cost approach to high efficiency photovoltaic conversion. Our system consists of a prismatic lens that can be manufactured using the same methods employed for conventional CPV optic production, and two inexpensive CuInGaSe(2) (CIGS) solar cells having different composition and, thus, band gaps. We demonstrate a large improvement in cell efficiency under the splitter and show how this can lead to substantial increases in system output at competitive cost using existing technologies

Progress in crystal extraction and collimation

Recent IHEP Protvino experiments show efficiencies of crystal-assisted slow extraction and collimation of 85.3+-2.8%, at the intensities of the channeled beam on the order of 10^12 proton per spill of 2 s duration. The obtained experimental data well follows the theory predictions. We compare the measurements against theory and outline the theoretical potential for further improvement in the efficiency of the technique. This success is important for the efficient use of IHEP accelerator and for implementation of crystal-assisted collimation at RHIC and slow extraction from AGS onto E952, now in preparation. Future applications, spanning in the energy from order of 1 GeV (scraping in SNS, slow extraction from COSY and medical accelerators) to order of 1 TeV and beyond (scraping in Tevatron, LHC, VLHC), can benefit from these studies.Comment: 7pp. Presented at HEACC 2001 (Tsukuba, March 25-30

Crystal experiments on efficient beam extraction

Silicon crystal was channeling and extracting 70-GeV protons from the U-70 accelerator with efficiency of 85.3+-2.8% as measured for a beam of 10^12 protons directed towards crystals of 2 mm length in spills of 1-2 s duration. The experimental data follow very well the prediction of Monte Carlo simulations. This success is important to devise a more efficient use of the U-70 accelerator in Protvino and provides a crucial support for implementation of crystal-assisted collimation of gold ion beam in RHIC and slow extraction from AGS onto E952, now in preparation at Brookhaven Nat'l Lab. Future applications, spanning in the energy from sub-GeV (medical) to order of 1 GeV (scraping in the SNS, extraction from COSY) to order of 1 TeV and beyond (scraping in the Tevatron, LHC, VLHC), can benefit from these studies.Comment: 12pp. Presented at 19-th Intern. Conference on Atomic Collisions in Solids (ICACS-19: Paris, July 29 - August 3, 2001

Highly efficient crystal deflector for channeling extraction of a proton beam from accelerators

The design and performance of a novel crystal deflector for proton beams are reported. A silicon crystal was used to channel and extract 70 GeV protons from the U-70 accelerator in Protvino with an efficiency of 85%, as measured for a beam of ~1e12 protons directed towards crystals of ~2 mm length in spills of ~2 s duration. Experimental data agree with the theoretically predicted Monte Carlo results for channeling. The technique allows one to manufacture a very short deflector along the beam direction (2 mm). Consequently, multiple encounters of circulating particles with the crystal are possible with little probability of multiple scattering and nuclear interactions per encounter. Thus, drastic increase in efficiency for particle extraction out of the accelerator was attained. We show the characteristics of the crystal- deflector and the technology behind it. Such an achievement is important in devising a more efficient use of the U-70 accelerator and provides crucial support for implementing crystal-assisted slow extraction and collimation in other machines, such as the Tevatron, RHIC, the AGS, the SNS, COSY, and the LHC.Comment: Presented at PAC 2003 (Portland, May 12-16

Crystal Deflector for Highly-efficient Channelling Extraction of a Proton Beam from Accelerators

The design and manufacturing details of a new crystal deflector for proton beams are reported. The technique allows one to manufacture a very short deflector along the beam direction (2 mm). Thanks to that, multiple encounters of circulating particles with the crystal are possible with a reduced probability of multiple scattering and nuclear interactions per encounter. Thus, drastic increase in efficiency for particle extraction out of the accelerator was attained (85%) on a 70-GeV proton beam. We show the characteristics of the crystal-deflector and the technology behind it

The Investigations Of Beam Extraction And Collimation At U-70 Proton Synchrotron Of IHEP By Using Short Silicon Crystals

The new results of using short (2-4mm) bent crystals for extraction and collimation of proton beam at IHEP 70 Gev proton synchrotron are reported. A broad range of energies from 6 to 65 GeV has been studied in the same crystal collimation set-up. The efficiency of extraction more than 85% and intensity more than 10E12 were obtained by using crystal with the length 2-mm and the angle 1 mrad. The new regime of extraction is applied now at the accelerator to deliver the beam for different experimental setups within the range of intensity 10E7-10E12ppp.Comment: Presented at EPAC 2002 (Paris, June 3-7), 3p

L\'{e}vy scaling: the Diffusion Entropy Analysis applied to DNA sequences

We address the problem of the statistical analysis of a time series generated by complex dynamics with a new method: the Diffusion Entropy Analysis (DEA) (Fractals, {\bf 9}, 193 (2001)). This method is based on the evaluation of the Shannon entropy of the diffusion process generated by the time series imagined as a physical source of fluctuations, rather than on the measurement of the variance of this diffusion process, as done with the traditional methods. We compare the DEA to the traditional methods of scaling detection and we prove that the DEA is the only method that always yields the correct scaling value, if the scaling condition applies. Furthermore, DEA detects the real scaling of a time series without requiring any form of de-trending. We show that the joint use of DEA and variance method allows to assess whether a time series is characterized by L\'{e}vy or Gauss statistics. We apply the DEA to the study of DNA sequences, and we prove that their large-time scales are characterized by L\'{e}vy statistics, regardless of whether they are coding or non-coding sequences. We show that the DEA is a reliable technique and, at the same time, we use it to confirm the validity of the dynamic approach to the DNA sequences, proposed in earlier work.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figure

Crystal Undulator As A Novel Compact Source Of Radiation

A crystalline undulator (CU) with periodically deformed crystallographic planes is capable of deflecting charged particles with the same strength as an equivalent magnetic field of 1000 T and could provide quite a short period L in the sub-millimeter range. We present an idea for creation of a CU and report its first realization. One face of a silicon crystal was given periodic micro-scratches (grooves), with a period of 1 mm, by means of a diamond blade. The X-ray tests of the crystal deformation have shown that a sinusoidal-like shape of crystalline planes goes through the bulk of the crystal. This opens up the possibility for experiments with high-energy particles channeled in CU, a novel compact source of radiation. The first experiment on photon emission in CU has been started at LNF with 800 MeV positrons aiming to produce 50 keV undulator photons.Comment: Presented at PAC 2003 (Portland, May 12-16

Antifungal activity of azole compounds CPA18 and CPA109 against azole-susceptible and -resistant strains of Candida albicans

Objectives: In this study we investigated the in vitro fungistatic and fungicidal activities of CPA18 and CPA109, two azole compounds with original structural features, alone and in combination with fluconazole against fluconazole-susceptible and -resistant Candida albicans strains. Methods: Antifungal activities were measured by MIC evaluation and time–kill studies. Azole binding analysis was performed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Hyphal growth inhibition and filipin and propidium iodide staining assays were used for morphological analysis. An analysis of membrane lipids was also performed to gauge alterations in membrane composition and integrity. Synergism was calculated using fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs). Evaluation of cytotoxicity towards murine macrophages was performed to verify selective antifungal activity. Results: Even though their binding affinity to C. albicans Erg11p is comparable to that of fluconazole, CPA compounds are active against resistant strains of C. albicans with a mutation in ERG11 sequences and/or overexpressing the ABC transporter genes CDR1 and CDR2, which encode ATP-dependent efflux pumps. Moreover, CPA18 is fungistatic, even against the two resistant strains, and was found to be synergistic with fluconazole. Differently from fluconazole and other related azoles, CPA compounds induced marked changes in membrane permeability and dramatic alterations in membrane lipid composition. Conclusions: Our outcomes suggest that CPA compounds are able to overcome major mechanisms of resistance in C. albicans. Also, they are promising candidates for combination treatment that could reduce the toxicity caused by high fluconazole doses, particularly in immunocompromised patients