12,765 research outputs found
Tackling Challenges in Seebeck Coefficient Measurement of Ultra-High Resistance Samples with an AC Technique
Seebeck coefficient is a widely studied semiconductor property. Conventional Seebeck coefficient measurements are based on DC voltage measurement. Normally this is performed on samples with moderate resistances (e.g., below a few MΩ level). Certain semiconductors are intrinsic and highly resistive. Many examples can be found in optical and photovoltaic materials. The hybrid halide perovskites that have gained extensive attention recently are a good example. Despite great attention from the materials and physics communities, few successful studies exist of the Seebeck coefficient of these compounds, for example CH3NH3PbI3. An AC-technique-based Seebeck coefficient measurement is reported, which makes high-quality Seebeck voltage measurements on samples with resistances up to the 100 GΩ level. This is achieved through a specifically designed setup to enhance sample isolation and increase capacitive impedance. As a demonstration, Seebeck coefficient measurement of a CH3NH3PbI3 thin film is performed at dark, with sample resistance 150 GΩ, and found S = +550 µV K−1. The strategy reported could be applied to the studies of fundamental transport parameters of all intrinsic semiconductors that have not been feasible
TDC Chip and Readout Driver Developments for COMPASS and LHC-Experiments
A new TDC-chip is under development for the COMPASS experiment at CERN. The
ASIC, which exploits the 0.6 micrometer CMOS sea-of-gate technology, will allow
high resolution time measurements with digitization of 75 ps, and an
unprecedented degree of flexibility accompanied by high rate capability and low
power consumption. Preliminary specifications of this new TDC chip are
presented.
Furthermore a FPGA based readout-driver and buffer-module as an interface
between the front-end of the COMPASS detector systems and an optical S-LINK is
in development. The same module serves also as remote fan-out for the COMPASS
trigger distribution and time synchronization system. This readout-driver
monitors the trigger and data flow to and from front-ends. In addition, a
specific data buffer structure and sophisticated data flow control is used to
pursue local pre-event building. At start-up the module controls all necessary
front-end initializations.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Sustaining Collection Value: Managing Collection/Item Metadata Relationships
Many aspects of managing collection/item metadata relationships are critical to sustaining collection value over time. Metadata at the collection-level not only provides context for finding, understanding, and using the items in the collection, but is often essential to the particular research and scholarly activities the collection is designed to support. Contemporary retrieval systems, which search across collections, usually ignore collection level metadata. Alternative approaches, informed by collection-level information, will require an understanding of the various kinds of relationships that can obtain between collection-level and item-level metadata. This paper outlines the problem and describes a project that is developing a logic-based framework for classifying collection-level/item-level metadata relationships. This framework will support (i) metadata specification developers defining metadata elements, (ii) metadata librarians describing objects, and (iii) system designers implementing systems that help users take advantage of collection-level metadata.Institute for Museum and Libary Services (Grant #LG06070020)published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewe
Do Lognormal Column-Density Distributions in Molecular Clouds Imply Supersonic Turbulence?
Recent observations of column densities in molecular clouds find lognormal
distributions with power-law high-density tails. These results are often
interpreted as indications that supersonic turbulence dominates the dynamics of
the observed clouds. We calculate and present the column-density distributions
of three clouds, modeled with very different techniques, none of which is
dominated by supersonic turbulence. The first star-forming cloud is simulated
using smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH); in this case gravity, opposed only
by thermal-pressure forces, drives the evolution. The second cloud is
magnetically subcritical with subsonic turbulence, simulated using nonideal
MHD; in this case the evolution is due to gravitationally-driven ambipolar
diffusion. The third cloud is isothermal, self-gravitating, and has a smooth
density distribution analytically approximated with a uniform inner region and
an r^-2 profile at larger radii. We show that in all three cases the
column-density distributions are lognormal. Power-law tails develop only at
late times (or, in the case of the smooth analytic profile, for strongly
centrally concentrated configurations), when gravity dominates all opposing
forces. It therefore follows that lognormal column-density distributions are
generic features of diverse model clouds, and should not be interpreted as
being a consequence of supersonic turbulence.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Tunable dynamical channel blockade in double-dot Aharonov-Bohm interferometers
We study electronic transport through an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer with
single-level quantum dots embedded in the two arms. The full counting
statistics in the shot-noise regime is calculated to first order in the
tunnel-coupling strength. The interplay of interference and charging energy in
the dots leads to a dynamical channel blockade that is tunable by the magnetic
flux penetrating the Aharonov-Bohm ring. We find super-Poissonian behavior with
diverging second and higher cumulants when the Aharonov-Bohm flux approaches an
integer multiple of the flux quantum.Comment: published version, 10 pages, 10 figure
Jahn-Teller Distortions and the Supershell Effect in Metal Nanowires
A stability analysis of metal nanowires shows that a Jahn-Teller deformation
breaking cylindrical symmetry can be energetically favorable, leading to stable
nanowires with elliptic cross sections. The sequence of stable cylindrical and
elliptical nanowires allows for a consistent interpretation of experimental
conductance histograms for alkali metals, including both the shell and
supershell structures. It is predicted that for gold, elliptical nanowires are
even more likely to form since their eccentricity is smaller than for alkali
metals. The existence of certain metastable ``superdeformed'' nanowires is also
predicted
Electronic and atomic shell structure in aluminum nanowires
We report experiments on aluminum nanowires in ultra-high vacuum at room
temperature that reveal a periodic spectrum of exceptionally stable structures.
Two "magic" series of stable structures are observed: At low conductance, the
formation of stable nanowires is governed by electronic shell effects whereas
for larger contacts atomic packing dominates. The crossover between the two
regimes is found to be smooth. A detailed comparison of the experimental
results to a theoretical stability analysis indicates that while the main
features of the observed electron-shell structure are similar to those of
alkali and noble metals, a sequence of extremely stable wires plays a unique
role in Aluminum. This series appears isolated in conductance histograms and
can be attributed to "superdeformed" non-axisymmetric nanowires.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure
Engineering study to determine feasible methods of simulating planetary albedo and radiation effects upon the thermal balance of spacecraft Final report
Planetary radiation and albedo effects on thermal balance of spacecraft orbiting Mars and Venu
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