Long Wavelength VCSELs and VCSEL-Based Processing of Microwave Signals

We address the challenge of decreasing the size, cost and power consumption for practical applications of next generation microwave photonics systems by using long-wavelength vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. Several demonstrations of new concepts of microwave photonics devices are presented and discussed

Transverse instabilities of multiple vortex chains in superconductor-ferromagnet bilayers

Using scanning tunneling microscopy and Ginzburg-Landau simulations we explore vortex configurations in magnetically coupled NbSe$_2$-Permalloy superconductor-ferromagnet bilayer. The Permalloy film with stripe domain structure induces periodic local magnetic induction in the superconductor creating a series of pinning-antipinning channels for externally added magnetic flux quanta. Such laterally confined Abrikosov vortices form quasi-1D arrays (chains). The transitions between multichain states occur through propagation of kinks at the intermediate fields. At high fields we show that the system becomes non-linear due to a change in both the number of vortices and the confining potential. The longitudinal instabilities of the resulting vortex structures lead to vortices `levitating' in the anti-pinning channels.Comment: accepted in PRB-Rapid

Влияние глобальных климатических изменений на размеры косточек среднего уха

Department of Anatomy and Anthropology Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, The Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Conferinţa Știinţifică Internaţională ”Probleme actuale ale morfologiei” dedicată сentenarului profesorului B.Z. Perlin, Chişinău, 20-22 septembrie 2012Abstract Hypothesis: The morphology of middle ear ossicles varies between people living in different climatic regions. Background: The differences between climatic conditions in different world regions have a morphological and physiological influence on human development. The present study is aimed to investigate morphological variations of middle-ear ossicles collected from different geographic locations on the globe. Methods: Middle ear ossicles (total samples 631) were collected from 6 different geographic regions: Australia, Chile, France, India, Israel and Kenya. Latitude and longitude, and climatic parameters (mean temperature, humidity and daylight duration of the warmer and colder months, and altitude above sea level) were collected for each region. The associations between middle ear ossicles’ dimensions and climate were evaluated using Pearson’s correlations. Results: Significant differences between samples of middle ear ossicles’ characteristics were found. Correlations between the ‘above sea level’ altitude and longitudinal sizes of the malleus, incus and stapes were negative. Correlations between warm temperature and longitudinal sizes of the malleus, incus and stapes were positive. Conclusions: Differences in characteristics of middle ear ossicles encountered between territorial samples could be the result of climatic variations. Гипотеза: морфология косточек среднего уха отличается у людей, живущих в различных климатических районах. Справочная информация: различия климатических условий в различных регионах мира имеют морфологические и физиологические воздействие на развитие человека. Данное исследование направлено на исследование морфологических изменений косточек среднего уха, собранных в различных географических точках земного шара. Методы: косточки среднего уха (всего 631 образец) были собраны в 6 различных географических регионах: Австралия, Чили, Франция, Индия, Израиль и Кения. Широта и долгота, климатические параметры (средняя температура, влажность и продолжительность светового дня теплых и холодных месяцев, высота над уровнем моря) были определены для каждого региона. Связь между размерами косточек среднего уха и климатом были оценены с использованием корреляции Пирсона. Результат: были найдены значительные различия в характеристиках образцов косточек среднего уха. Корреляция между «над уровнем моря» и продольными размерами молоточка, наковальни и стремечка были обратнопропорциональными. Корреляция между теплой температурой и продольными размерами слуховых косточек были прямопропорциональными. Выводы: Различия в характеристиках косточек среднего уха различных территориальных образцов могут быть результатом климатических изменений

Tungstate Based Ceramics Obtained By Spark Plasma Sintering Method – Possible Material for Consolidation of Radioactive Wastes’ Components

The Spark Plasma Sintering method was used to produce high-density ceramics from tungstates SrWO4 and NaNd(WO4)2 with scheelite structure. These compounds are proposed as possible matrices for the consolidation of radwaste components. Powder samples were obtained by coprecipitation method and studied by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After sintering, the samples retained their phase identity (scheelite structure). The total duration of sintering was ∼ 13-15 min, the relative density was reached ∼ 92, 99%. Keywords: Tungstates, RW, Spark Plasma Sintering, high density, microstructur

Nonmonotonic Decay of Nonequilibrium Polariton Condensate in Direct-Gap Semiconductors

Time evolution of a nonequilibrium polariton condensate has been studied in the framework of a microscopic approach. It has been shown that due to polariton-polariton scattering a significant condensate depletion takes place in a comparatively short time interval. The condensate decay occurs in the form of multiple echo signals. Distribution-function dynamics of noncondensate polaritons have been investigated. It has been shown that at the initial stage of evolution the distribution function has the form of a bell. Then oscillations arise in the contour of the distribution function, which further transform into small chaotic ripples. The appearance of a short-wavelength wing of the distribution function has been demonstrated. We have pointed out the enhancement and then partial extinction of the sharp extra peak arising within the time interval characterized by small values of polariton condensate density and its relatively slow changes.Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX 2.09; in press in PR

Investigation of the microstructure of the fine-grained YPO4_4:Gd ceramics with xenotime structure after Xe irradiation

The paper reports on the preparation of xenotime-structured ceramics by the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method. Phosphates Y$_{0.95}$Gd$_{0.05}$PO$_4$ (YPO$_4$:Gd) were obtained by the sol-gel method. The synthesized nanopowders are collected in large agglomerates 10-50 mkm in size. Ceramics has a fine-grained microstructure and a high relative density (98.67%). The total time of the SPS process was approximately 18 min. High-density sintered ceramics YPO$_4$:Gd with a xenotime structure were irradiated with Xe$^{+26}$ ions (E = 167 MeV) to fluences of $1\times10^{12}$-$3\times 10^{13}$ cm$^{-2}$. Complete amorphization at maximum fluence was not achieved. As the fluence increases, an insignificant increase in the depth of the amorphous layer is observed. According to the results of grazing incidence XRD (GIXRD), with an increase in fluence from $1\times10^{12}$-$3\times 10^{13}$ cm$^{-2}$, an increase in the volume fraction of the amorphous structure from 20 to 70% is observed. The intensity of XRD peak 200 YPO$_4$:Gd after recovery annealing (700$^\circ$C, 18 h) reached a value of ~80% of the initial intensity I0.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure