Strain-mediated metal-insulator transition in epitaxial ultra-thin films of NdNiO3

We have synthesized epitaxial NdNiO$_{3}$ ultra-thin films in a layer-by-layer growth mode under tensile and compressive strain on SrTiO$_{3}$ (001) and LaAlO$_3$ (001), respectively. A combination of X-ray diffraction, temperature dependent resistivity, and soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been applied to elucidate electronic and structural properties of the samples. In contrast to the bulk NdNiO$_{3}$, the metal-insulator transition under compressive strain is found to be completely quenched, while the transition remains under the tensile strain albeit modified from the bulk behavior.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

The trends and dependencies between air and water temperatures in lakes in northern Poland in 1961?2000

International audienceOver 40 years, from 1961?2000, daily mean values of surface lake water temperatures at 0.4 m depth in six lakes in northern Poland were recorded with nearby mean daily air temperatures at 2 m. Air temperatures increased on average from 0.020 to 0.025°C year?1 while lake-water temperatures varied more but increased by 0.005 to 0.028°C year-1. For shorter periods (for instance, for 10 days) the pattern of trend directions and values was more complex, depending on the morphometric and trophic conditions of the lakes. It has been concluded that changes in lake water temperatures during climate warming may be documented by studies of lakes located relatively closely together (up to 300 kilometres). Keywords: physical limnology, climate changes, lake water, temperatur

An integrated DC-DC step-up charge pump and step-down converter in 130 nm technology

After the LHC luminosity upgrade the number of readout channels in the ATLAS Inner Detector will be increased by one order of magnitude and delivering the power to the front-end electronics as well as cooling will become a critical system issue. Therefore a new solution for powering the readout electronics has to be worked out. Two main approaches for the power distribution are under development, the serial powering of a chain of modules and the parallel powering with a DCDC conversion stage on the detector. In both cases switchedcapacitor converters in the CMOS front-end chips will be used. In the paper we present the design study of a step-up charge pump and a step-down converter. In optimized designs power efficiency of 85 % for the step-up converter and 92 % for the step-down converter has been achieved

h-deformation of GL(1|1)

h-deformation of (graded) Hopf algebra of functions on supergroup GL(1|1) is introduced via a contration of GL_q (1|1). The deformation parameter h is odd (grassmann). Related differential calculus on h-superplane is presented.Comment: latex file, 8 pages, minor change

Structural analysis, magnetic and transport properties of the (Ru1-xCox)Sr2GdCu2O8 system

The effects of Co substitution on structural and superconducting properties of RuSr2GdCu2O8 compound have been studied. Rietveld refinements of the X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the cobalt ion progressively replaces ruthenium sites. This replacement induces significant changes on the crystal structure and on the magnetic and superconducting properties. The effects Co substitution on the superconducting behaviour, and more particulary on the changes induce by the hole doping mechanism, were investigated in (Ru1-xCox)Sr2GdCu2O8 by a "bond valence sum" analysis with Co content from x= 0.0 to x = 0.2. The weak ferromagnetic transition at Tm= 138.2 K is shifted to lower temperature, and suppressed at higher Co content. From the crystallographic point of view the Ru-O(1)-Cu bond angle, associated to the rotation of the RuO6 octahedra, around the c-axis remain essetially constant when Ru is substituted by Co. Furthermore, increasing Co content has the effect to increase the weak ferromagnetic moment, which may be interpreted as the main responsible for breaking the delicate balance between magnetic and superconducting ordering.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figure