1,140 research outputs found
Brownian molecular motors driven by rotation-translation coupling
We investigated three models of Brownian motors which convert rotational
diffusion into directed translational motion by switching on and off a
potential. In the first model a spatially asymmetric potential generates
directed translational motion by rectifying rotational diffusion. It behaves
much like a conventional flashing ratchet. The second model utilizes both
rotational diffusion and drift to generate translational motion without spatial
asymmetry in the potential. This second model can be driven by a combination of
a Brownian motor mechanism (diffusion driven) or by powerstroke (drift driven)
depending on the chosen parameters. In the third model, elements of both the
Brownian motor and powerstroke mechanisms are combined by switching between
three distinct states. Relevance of the model to biological motor proteins is
discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure
Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy of the electronic local density of states of graphite surfaces near monoatomic step edges
We measured the electronic local density of states (LDOS) of graphite
surfaces near monoatomic step edges, which consist of either the zigzag or
armchair edge, with the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy
(STS) techniques. The STM data reveal that the and honeycomb superstructures coexist over a length scale of 3-4 nm
from both the edges. By comparing with density-functional derived nonorthogonal
tight-binding calculations, we show that the coexistence is due to a slight
admixing of the two types of edges at the graphite surfaces. In the STS
measurements, a clear peak in the LDOS at negative bias voltages from -100 to
-20 mV was observed near the zigzag edges, while such a peak was not observed
near the armchair edges. We concluded that this peak corresponds to the
graphite "edge state" theoretically predicted by Fujita \textit{et al.} [J.
Phys. Soc. Jpn. {\bf 65}, 1920 (1996)] with a tight-binding model for graphene
ribbons. The existence of the edge state only at the zigzag type edge was also
confirmed by our first-principles calculations with different edge
terminations.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figure
Keldysh study of point-contact tunneling between superconductors
We revisit the problem of point-contact tunnel junctions involving
one-dimensional superconductors and present a simple scheme for computing the
full current-voltage characteristics within the framework of the
non-equilibrium Keldysh Green function formalism. We address the effects of
different pairing symmetries combined with magnetic fields and finite
temperatures at arbitrary bias voltages. We discuss extensively the importance
of these results for present-day experiments. In particular, we propose ways of
measuring the effects found when the two sides of the junction have dissimilar
superconducting gaps and when the symmetry of the superconducting states is not
the one of spin-singlet pairing. This last point is of relevance for the study
of the superconducting state of certain organic materials like the Bechgaard
salts and, to some extent, for ruthenium compounds.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Microstructure and superconducting properties of hot isostatically pressed MgB2
Bulk samples of MgB2 have been formed by hot isostatic pressing (HIPping) of
commercial powder at 100MPa and 950=B0C. The resulting material is 100% dense
with a sharp superconducting transition at 37.5K. Microstructural studies have
indicated the presence of small amounts of second phases within the material,
namely MgO and B rich compositions, probably MgB4. Magnetisation measurements
performed at 20K have revealed values of Jc=1.3 x 106A/cm2 at zero field, and
9.3 x 105A/cm2 at 1T. Magneto optical (MO) studies have shown direct evidence
for the superconducting homogeneity and strong intergranular current flow in
the material.Comment: 3 pages, 6 figures, text updated, new references included and
discussed. Submitted to Superconductor Science and Technolog
Renminbi Internationalisation: Precedents and Implications
While it is commonly assumed that there are no known precedents against which to benchmark the internationalisation of the Renminbi (RMB), this paper argues that the PRCs own development experience provides a useful perspective on the internationalisation debate. In particular it indicates that lessons can be learnt from both the successes and the shortcomings of efforts to internationalise the RMB in the 1970s. During this period state-owned banks in Hong Kong played a central role in mobilising finance for foreign trade. Access to Hong Kong’s developed financial institutions allowed the PRC to maximise receipts from foreign trade as well as minimise the risks of undue swings in capital flows. The paper shows that although China no longer faces foreign exchange scarcity, economic reforms have not yet resolved vulnerabilities in China’s financial institutions and as such Hong Kong’s role in mitigating the risk of undue capital swings remains
Inter- and intragrain currents in bulk melt-grown YBaCuO rings
A simple contactless method suitable to discern between the intergrain
(circular) current, which flows in the thin superconducting ring, and the
intragrain current, which does not cross the weakest link, has been proposed.
At first, we show that the intergrain current may directly be estimated from
the magnetic flux density measured by the Hall sensor positioned
in the special points above/below the ring center. The experimental
and the numerical techniques to determine the value are discussed. Being
very promising for characterization of a current flowing across the joints in
welded YBaCuO rings (its dependencies on the temperature and the external
magnetic field as well as the time dissipation), the approach has been applied
to study corresponding properties of the intra- and intergrain currents flowing
across the -twisted grain boundaries which are frequent in bulk
melt-textured YBaCuO samples. We present experimental data related to the flux
penetration inside a bore of MT YBaCuO rings both in the non-magnetized, virgin
state and during the field reversal. The shielding properties and their
dependence on external magnetic fields are also studied. Besides, we consider
the flux creep effects and their influence on the current re-distribution
during a dwell.Comment: 13 pages, 16 figures (EPS), RevTeX4. In the revised version,
corrections to perturbing effects near the weak links are introduced, one
more figure is added. lin
Penetration Depth Measurements in MgB_2: Evidence for Unconventional Superconductivity
We have measured the magnetic penetration depth of the recently discovered
binary superconductor MgB_2 using muon spin rotation and low field
-susceptibility. From the damping of the muon precession signal we find the
penetration depth at zero temperature is about 85nm. The low temperature
penetration depth shows a quadratic temperature dependence, indicating the
presence of nodes in the superconducting energy gap.Comment: 4 pages 3 figure
The Belle II SVD detector
The Silicon Vertex Detector (SVD) is one of the main detectors in the Belle II experiment at KEK, Japan. In combination with a pixel detector, the SVD determines precise decay vertex and low-momentum track reconstruction. The SVD ladders are being developed at several institutes. For the development of the tracking algorithm as well as the performance estimation of the ladders, beam tests for the ladders were performed. We report an overview of the SVD development, its performance measured in the beam test, and the prospect of its assembly and commissioning until installation
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