Suppression of low-energy Andreev states by a supercurrent in YBa_2Cu_3O_7-delta

We report a coherence-length scale phenomenon related to how the high-Tc order parameter (OP) evolves under a directly-applied supercurrent. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy was performed on current-carrying YBa_2Cu_3O_7-delta thin-film strips at 4.2K. At current levels well below the theoretical depairing limit, the low-energy Andreev states are suppressed by the supercurrent, while the gap-like structures remain unchanged. We rule out the likelihood of various extrinsic effects, and propose instead a model based on phase fluctuations in the d-wave BTK formalism to explain the suppression. Our results suggest that a supercurrent could weaken the local phase coherence while preserving the pairing amplitude. Other possible scenarios which may cause the observed phenomenon are also discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Physical Review

Lattice gas model for fragmentation: From Argon on Scandium to Gold on Gold

The recent fragmentation data for central collisions of Gold on Gold are even qualitatively different from those for central collisions of Argon on Scandium. The latter can be fitted with a lattice gas model calculation. Effort is made to understand why the model fails for Gold on Gold. The calculation suggests that the large Coulomb interaction which is operative for the larger system is responsible for this discrepancy. This is demonstrated by mapping the lattice gas model to a molecular dynamics calculation for disassembly. This mapping is quite faithful for Argon on Scandium but deviates strongly for Gold on Gold. The molecular dynamics calculation for disassembly reproduces the characteristics of the fragmentation data for both Gold on Gold and Argon on Scandium.Comment: 13 pages, Revtex, 8 figures in ps files, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Simple Scheme for Efficient Linear Optics Quantum Gates

We describe the construction of a conditional quantum control-not (CNOT) gate from linear optical elements following the program of Knill, Laflamme and Milburn [Nature {\bf 409}, 46 (2001)]. We show that the basic operation of this gate can be tested using current technology. We then simplify the scheme significantly.Comment: Problems with PDF figures correcte

Demonstration of Non-Deterministic Quantum Logic Operations using Linear Optical Elements

Knill, Laflamme, and Milburn recently showed that non-deterministic quantum logic operations could be performed using linear optical elements, additional photons (ancilla), and post-selection based on the output of single-photon detectors [Nature 409, 46 (2001)]. Here we report the experimental demonstration of two logic devices of this kind, a destructive controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate and a quantum parity check. These two devices can be combined with a pair of entangled photons to implement a conventional (non-destructive) CNOT that succeeds with a probability of 1/4.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures; Minor change

Development of digital computer program for thermal network correction. Phase 1 - Investigation/feasibility study Final report

Feasibility of analytical error analysis applied to thermal network solution

A burst from the direction of UZ Fornacis with XMM-Newton

The XMM-Newton pointing towards the magnetic cataclysmic variable UZ For finds the source to be a factor > 10^3 fainter than previous EXOSAT and ROSAT observations. The source was not detected for the majority of a 22 ksec exposure with the EPIC cameras, suggesting that the accretion rate either decreased, or stopped altogether. However a 1.1 ksec burst was detected from UZ For during the observation. Spectral fits favour optically thin, kT = 4.4 keV thermal emission. Detection of the burst by the on-board Optical Monitor indicates that this was most probably an accretion event. The 0.1-10 keV luminosity of 2.1 x 10^30 erg/s is typical for accretion shock emission from high state polars and would result from the potential energy release of ~ 10^16 g of gas. There is no significant soft excess due to reprocessing in the white dwarf atmosphere.Comment: 7 pages, 2 postscript figures, ApJL, in pres

The viscosity radius in dilute polymer solutions: Universal behaviour from DNA rheology and Brownian dynamics simulations

The swelling of the viscosity radius, $\alpha_\eta$, and the universal viscosity ratio, $U_{\eta R}$, have been determined experimentally for linear DNA molecules in dilute solutions with excess salt, and numerically by Brownian dynamics simulations, as a function of the solvent quality. In the latter instance, asymptotic parameter free predictions have been obtained by extrapolating simulation data for finite chains to the long chain limit. Experiments and simulations show a universal crossover for $\alpha_\eta$ and $U_{\eta R}$ from $\theta$ to good solvents in line with earlier observations on synthetic polymer-solvent systems. The significant difference between the swelling of the dynamic viscosity radius from the observed swelling of the static radius of gyration, is shown to arise from the presence of hydrodynamic interactions in the non-draining limit. Simulated values of $\alpha_\eta$ and $U_{\eta R}$ are in good agreement with experimental measurements in synthetic polymer solutions reported previously, and with the measurements in linear DNA solutions reported here.Comment: 19 pages, 14 figures, two column, Supporting Information added, to appear in Macromolecule

Shear thinning in dilute and semidilute solutions of polystyrene and DNA

The viscosity of dilute and semidilute unentangled DNA solutions, in steady simple shear flow, has been measured across a range of temperatures and concentrations. For polystyrene solutions, measurements of viscosity have been carried out in the semidilute unentangled regime, while results of prior experimental measurements in the dilute regime have been used for the purpose of data analysis, and for comparison with the behaviour of DNA solutions. Interpretation of the shear rate dependence of viscosity in terms of suitably defined non-dimensional variables, is shown to lead to master plots, independent of temperature and concentration, in each of the two concentration regimes. In the case of semidilute unentangled solutions, defining the Weissenberg number in terms of a concentration dependent large scale relaxation time is found not to lead to data collapse across different concentrations. On the other hand, the use of an alternative relaxation time, with the concentration dependence of a single correlation blob, suggests the existence of universal shear thinning behaviour at large shear rates.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figures, supplementary material (see ancillary directory), to appear in Journal of Rheolog

New mechanism for the enhancement of sdsd dominance in interacting boson models

We introduce an exactly solvable model for interacting bosons that extend up to high spin and interact through a repulsive pairing force. The model exhibits a phase transition to a state with almost complete $sd$ dominance. The repulsive pairing interaction that underlies the model has a natural microscopic origin in the Pauli exclusion principle between contituent nucleons. As such, repulsive pairing between bosons seems to provide a new mechanism for the enhancement of $sd$ dominance, giving further support for the validity of the $sd$ Interacting Boson Model.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure