397 research outputs found
Superconducting gap anisotropy of LuNi2B2C thin films from microwave surface impedance measurements
Surface impedance measurements of LuNi2B2C superconducting thin films as a
function of temperature have been performed down to 1.5 K and at 20 GHz using a
dielectric resonator technique. The magnetic penetration depth closely
reproduces the standard B.C.S. result, but with a reduced value of the energy
gap at low temperature. These data provide evidence for an anisotropic s-wave
character of the order parameter symmetry in LuNi2B2C. From the evaluation of
the real part of complex conductivity, we have observed constructive (type II)
coherence effects in the electromagnetic absorption below Tc.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure
Bandgap properties of low index contrast aperiodically ordered photonic quasicrystals
We numerically analyze, using Finite Difference Time Domain simulations, the
bandgap properties of photonic quasicrystals with a low index contrast. We
compared 8-, 10- and 12-fold symmetry aperiodically ordered lattices with
different spatial tiling. Our results show that tiling design, more than
symmetry, determines the transmission properties of these structures.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Microwave and Optical
Technologies Letter
Species Review of Amphibian Extinction Risks in Madagascar: Conclusions from the Global Amphibian Assessment
We assessed the extinction risks of Malagasy amphibians by evaluating their distribution, occurrence in protected areas, population trends, habitat quality, and prevalence in commercial trade. We estimated and mapped the distribution of each of the 220 described Malagasy species and applied, for the first time, the IUCN Red List categories and criteria to all species described at the time of the assessment. Nine species were categorized as critically endangered, 21 as endangered, and 25 as vulnerable. The most threatened species occur on the High Plateau and/or have been subjected to overcollection for the pet trade, but restricted extent of occurrence and ongoing habitat destruction were identified as the most important factors influencing extinction threats. The two areas with the majority of threatened species were the northern Tsaratanana-Marojejy-Masoala highlands and the southeastern Anosy Mountains. The current system of protected areas includes 82% of the threatened amphibian species. Of the critically endangered species, 6 did not occur in any protected area. For conservation of these species we recommend the creation of a reserve for the species of the Mantella aurantiaca group, the inclusion of two Scaphiophryne species in the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species Appendix II, and the suspension of commercial collecting for Mantella cowani . Field surveys during the last 15 years reveal no pervasive extinction of Malagasy amphibians resulting from disease or other agents, as has been reported in some other areas of the world.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75394/1/j.1523-1739.2005.00249.x.pd
Anomalous Low Temperature Behavior of Superconducting Nd(1.85)Ce(0.15)CuO(4-y)
We have measured the temperature dependence of the in-plane London
penetration depth lambda(T) and the maximum Josephson current Ic(T) using
bicrystal grain boundary Josephson junctions of the electron-doped cuprate
superconductor Nd(1.85)Ce(0.15)CuO(4-y). Both quantities reveal an anomalous
temperature dependence below about 4 K. In contrast to the usual monotonous
decrease (increase) of lambda(T) (Ic(T)) with decreasing temperature, lambda(T)
and Ic(T) are found to increase and decrease, respectively, with decreasing
temperature below 4 K resulting in a non-monotonous overall temperature
dependence. This anomalous behavior was found to be absent in analogous
measurements performed on Pr(1.85)Ce(0.15)CuO(4-y). From this we conclude that
the anomalous behavior of Nd(1.85)Ce(0.15)CuO(4-y) is caused by the presence of
the Nd3+ paramagnetic moments. Correcting the measured lambda(T) dependence of
Nd(1.85)Ce(0.15)CuO(4-y) for the temperature dependent susceptibility due to
the Nd moments, an exponential dependence is obtained indicating isotropic
s-wave pairing. This result is fully consistent with the lambda(T) dependence
measured for Pr(1.85)Ce(0.15)CuO(4-y).Comment: 4 pages including 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
Evidence of two-electron tunneling interference in Nb/InAs junctions
The impact of junction transparency in driving phase-coherent charge transfer
across diffusive semiconductor-superconductor junctions is demonstrated. We
present conductivity data for a set of Nb-InAs junctions differing only in
interface transparency. Our experimental findings are analyzed within the
quasi-classical Green-function approach and unambiguously show the physical
processes giving rise to the observed excess zero-bias conductivity.Comment: 10 pages (RevTex), 4 figures (PostScript), accepted for pubblication
in Physical Review
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Simultaneous assessment of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses against multiple viral infections by combined usage of optimal epitope matrices, anti- CD3 mAb T-cell expansion and "RecycleSpot"
The assessment of cellular anti-viral immunity is often hampered by the limited availability of adequate samples, especially when attempting simultaneous, high-resolution determination of T cell responses against multiple viral infections. Thus, the development of assay systems, which optimize cell usage, while still allowing for the detailed determination of breadth and magnitude of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, is urgently needed. This study provides an up-to-date listing of currently known, well-defined viral CTL epitopes for HIV, EBV, CMV, HCV and HBV and describes an approach that overcomes some of the above limitations through the use of peptide matrices of optimally defined viral CTL epitopes in combination with anti-CD3 in vitro T cell expansion and re-use of cells from negative ELISpot wells. The data show that, when compared to direct ex vivo cell preparations, antigen-unspecific in vitro T cell expansion maintains the breadth of detectable T cell responses and demonstrates that harvesting cells from negative ELISpot wells for re-use in subsequent ELISpot assays (RecycleSpot), further maximized the use of available cells. Furthermore when combining T cell expansion and RecycleSpot with the use of rationally designed peptide matrices, antiviral immunity against more than 400 different CTL epitopes from five different viruses can be reproducibly assessed from samples of less than 10 milliliters of blood without compromising information on the breadth and magnitude of these responses. Together, these data support an approach that facilitates the assessment of cellular immunity against multiple viral co-infections in settings where sample availability is severely limited
Systematics of two-component superconductivity in from microwave measurements of high quality single crystals
Systematic microwave surface impedance measurements of YBCO single crystals
grown in crucibles reveal new properties that are not directly seen
in similar measurements of other YBCO samples. Two key observations obtained
from complex conductivity are: a new normal conductivity peak at around 80K and
additional pairing below 65K. High pressure oxygenation of one of the crystals
still yields the same results ruling out any effect of macroscopic segregation
of O-deficient regions. A single complex order parameter cannot describe these
data, and the results suggest at least two superconducting components.
Comparisons with model calculations done for various decoupled two-component
scenarios (i.e. s+d, d+d) are presented. Systematics of three single crystals
show that the 80K quasiparticle peak is correlated with the normal state
inelastic scattering rate. Close to Tc, the data follow a mean-field behavior.
Overall, our results strongly suggest the presence of multiple pairing
temperature and energy scales in .Comment: 14 pages, 2-column, Revtex, 5 embedded postscript figures, uses
graphicx. Postscript version also available at
http://sagar.physics.neu.edu/preprints.htm
Phase-sensitive Evidence for d-wave Pairing Symmetry in Electron-doped Cuprate Superconductors
We present phase-sensitive evidence that the electron-doped cuprates
Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4-y (NCCO) and Pr1.85Ce0.15CuO4-y (PCCO) have d-wave pairing
symmetry. This evidence was obtained by observing the half-flux quantum effect,
using a scanning SQUID microscope, in c-axis oriented films of NCCO or PCCO
epitaxially grown on tricrystal [100] SrTiO3 substrates designed to be
frustrated for a d(x2-y2) order parameter. Samples with two other
configurations, designed to b unfrustrated for a d-wave superconductor, do not
show the half-flux quantum effect.Comment: 4 pages, Latex, 4 figure
Evidence of a d to s-wave pairing symmetry transition in the electron-doped cuprate superconductor PrCeCuO
We present point contact spectroscopy (PCS) data for junctions between a
normal metal and the electron doped cuprate superconductor
PrCeCuO (PCCO). For the underdoped compositions of this cuprate
() we observe a peak in the conductance-voltage characteristics of
the point contact junctions. The shape and magnitude of this peak suggests the
presence of Andreev bound states at the surface of underdoped PCCO which is
evidence for a d-wave pairing symmetry. For overdoped PCCO () the
PCS data does not show any evidence of Andreev bound states at the surface
suggesting an s-wave pairing symmetry.Comment: 4 pages Latex, 4 eps figures included. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
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