147 research outputs found
A universal platform for magnetostriction measurements in thin films
We present a universal nanomechanical sensing platform for the investigation
of magnetostriction in thin films. It is based on a doubly-clamped silicon
nitride nanobeam resonator covered with a thin magnetostrictive film. Changing
the magnetization direction within the film plane by an applied magnetic field
generates a magnetostrictive stress and thus changes the resonance frequency of
the nanobeam. A measurement of the resulting resonance frequency shift, e.g. by
optical interferometry, allows to quantitatively determine the magnetostriction
constants of the thin film. We use this method to determine the
magnetostriction constants of a 10nm thick polycrystalline cobalt film, showing
very good agreement with literature values. The presented technique can be
useful in particular for the precise measurement of magnetostriction in a
variety of (conducting and insulating) thin films, which can be deposited by
e.g. electron beam deposition, thermal evaporation or sputtering
Anisotropic optical conductivity of the putative Kondo insulator CeRuSn
Kondo insulators and in particular their non-cubic representatives have
remained poorly understood. Here we report on the development of an anisotropic
energy pseudogap in the tetragonal compound CeRuSn employing optical
reflectivity measurements in broad frequency and temperature ranges, and local
density approximation plus dynamical mean field theory calculations. The
calculations provide evidence for a Kondo insulator-like response within the
plane and a more metallic response along the c axis and qualitatively
reproduce the experimental observations, helping to identify their origin
Optical detection of a BCS transition of Lithium-6 in harmonic traps
We study the detection of a BCS transition within a sample of Lithium--6
atoms confined in a harmonic trap. Using the local density approximation we
calculate the pair correlation function in the normal and superfluid state at
zero temperature. We show that the softening of the Fermi hole associated with
a BCS transition leads to an observable increase in the intensity of
off--resonant light scattered from the atomic cloud at small angles.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Europhysics Letter
Schweres nichtkardiales Lungenödem durch Permeabilitätsstörung nach i.v.-CT-Kontrastmittel-Gabe mit konsekutiver venovenöser extrakorporaler Membranoxygenierung
Hypersensitivity reactions are one of the most feared side effects associated with the use of CT contrast agents. Bronchospasm and lung edema are known manifestations, whereby the latter occurs much less often. In anaphylaxis, numerous mechanisms can lead to cardiac failure with subsequent lung edema. In contrast, the cardiac function is not impaired in noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (NCPE), which is a~rare phenomenon but with potentially fatal outcome. The exact pathophysiology of NCPE remains unknown and characteristically response to conventional anaphylaxis treatment is poor. This article presents the case of a~48-year-old man with NCPE who underwent elective coronary CT as part of the evaluation of recurrent syncope. After administration of iodinated contrast medium the patient developed a fulminant lung edema, which led to severe hypoxemia with cardiac arrest despite immediate treatment by the medical emergency team, including assisted ventilation, prednisolone, dimetindene and adrenaline. An early echocardiographic assessment after ROSC and intubation showed an intact cardiac function and no signs of valvular pathologies. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed a~severe global respiratory failure (Horowitz quotient~73), profound acidosis (pH 7.06), elevated lactate and hemoglobin levels (8.9 mmol/l and 23.7 g/dl, respectively). A chest X\hbox-ray revealed bilateral inhomogeneous opacities. Nitrous oxide was administered to improve the ventilation-perfusion mismatch. In addition, intravenous hydrocortisone was started to address the severe capillary leak syndrome. Follow-up echocardiography showed consistently stable cardiac function at all times. As the lung function deteriorated despite aggressive countermeasures, venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was initiated 6 h after the initial event. With the aid of ECMO support the invasiveness of mechanical ventilation could be reduced and volume substitution intensified. In the further course, microcirculatory dysfunction and respiratory function gradually improved and ECMO support could be discontinued after 70 h. The patient was extubated on day~9 and discharged to the normal ward on day~13 without any neurological impairments
Measuring nanomechanical motion with an imprecision far below the standard quantum limit
We demonstrate a transducer of nanomechanical motion based on cavity enhanced
optical near-fields capable of achieving a shot-noise limited imprecision more
than 10 dB below the standard quantum limit (SQL). Residual background due to
fundamental thermodynamical frequency fluctuations allows a total imprecision 3
dB below the SQL at room temperature (corresponding to 600 am/Hz^(1/2) in
absolute units) and is known to reduce to negligible values for moderate
cryogenic temperatures. The transducer operates deeply in the quantum
backaction dominated regime, prerequisite for exploring quantum backaction,
measurement-induced squeezing and accessing sub-SQL sensitivity using
backaction evading techniques
Single electron-phonon interaction in a suspended quantum dot phonon cavity
An electron-phonon cavity consisting of a quantum dot embedded in a
free-standing GaAs/AlGaAs membrane is characterized in Coulomb blockade
measurements at low temperatures. We find a complete suppression of single
electron tunneling around zero bias leading to the formation of an energy gap
in the transport spectrum. The observed effect is induced by the excitation of
a localized phonon mode confined in the cavity. This phonon blockade of
transport is lifted at magnetic fields where higher electronic states with
nonzero angular momentum are brought into resonance with the phonon energy.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Coherent Electron-Phonon Coupling in Tailored Quantum Systems
The coupling between a two-level system and its environment leads to
decoherence. Within the context of coherent manipulation of electronic or
quasiparticle states in nanostructures, it is crucial to understand the sources
of decoherence. Here, we study the effect of electron-phonon coupling in a
graphene and an InAs nanowire double quantum dot. Our measurements reveal
oscillations of the double quantum dot current periodic in energy detuning
between the two levels. These periodic peaks are more pronounced in the
nanowire than in graphene, and disappear when the temperature is increased. We
attribute the oscillations to an interference effect between two alternative
inelastic decay paths involving acoustic phonons present in these materials.
This interpretation predicts the oscillations to wash out when temperature is
increased, as observed experimentally.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
Proteogenomics analysis of CUG codon translation in the human pathogen Candida albicans
Abstract Background: Yeasts of the CTG-clade lineage, which includes the human-infecting Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis species, are characterized by an altered genetic code. Instead of translating CUG codons as leucine, as happens in most eukaryotes, these yeasts, whose ancestors are thought to have lost the relevant leucine-tRNA gene, translate CUG codons as serine using a serine-tRNA with a mutated anticodon, tRNASer CAG . Previously reported experiments have suggested that 3–5% of the CTG-clade CUG codons are mistranslated as leucine due to mischarging of the tRNA Ser CAG . The mistranslation was suggested to result in variable surface proteins explaining fast host adaptation and pathogenicity. Results: In this study, we reassess this potential mistranslation by high-resolution mass spectrometry-based proteogenomics of multiple CTG-clade yeasts, including various C. albicans strains, isolated from colonized and from infected human body sites, and C. albicans grown in yeast and hyphal forms. Our data do not support a bias towards CUG codon mistranslation as leucine. Instead, our data suggest that (i) CUG codons are mistranslated at a frequency corresponding to the normal extent of ribosomal mistranslation with no preference for specific amino acids, (ii) CUG codons are as unambiguous (or ambiguous) as the related CUU leucine and UCC serine codons, (iii) tRNA anticodon loop variation across the CTG-clade yeasts does not result in any difference of the mistranslation level, and (iv) CUG codon unambiguity is independent of C. albicans’ strain pathogenicity or growth form. Conclusions: Our findings imply that C. albicans does not decode CUG ambiguously. This suggests that the proposed misleucylation of the tRNA Ser CAG might be as prevalent as every other misacylation or mistranslation event and, if at all, be just one of many reasons causing phenotypic diversity
Index-antiguiding in narrow-ridge GaN-based laser diodes investigated by measurements of the current-dependent gain and index spectra and by self-consistent simulation
The threshold current density of narrow (1.5 {\mu}m) ridge-waveguide InGaN
multi-quantum-well laser diodes, as well as the shape of their lateral
far-field patterns, strongly depend on the etch depth of the ridge waveguide.
Both effects can be attributed to strong index-antiguiding. A value of the
antiguiding factor R = 10 is experimentally determined near threshold by
measurements of the current-dependent gain and refractive index spectra. The
device performances are simulated self-consistently solving the
Schr\"odinger-Poisson equations and the equations for charge transport and
waveguiding. Assuming a carrier-induced index change which matches the
experimentally determined antiguiding factor, both the measured high threshold
current and the shape of the far-field pattern of lasers with shallow ridges
can be reproduced theoretically.Comment: This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article
accepted for publication in the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics. IEEE is
not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript
or any version derived from i
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