55,684 research outputs found
Evaluation of the hazard from exposure to electron irradiation simulating that in the synchronous orbit
The electron spectrum predicted for the synchronous orbit was simulated to determine the effects that might occur to astroscientists exposed to such irradiation while on a prolonged space station mission in that region. Miniature pigs were exposed to monoenergetic and spectral-fractionated irradiations with 0.5 to 2.1 MeV electrons. Clinical and pathological alterations observed in biopsies were correlated with depth-dose pattern and length of post irradiation period up to one year. With monoenergetic electrons, the lowest dose causing a recognizable lesion was 1450 rad and with increasing dose lesions appeared earlier and were more severe. At the highest dose given, 2650 rad, ulceration extending into the dermis was present by twenty one days and required about four months for complete healing. Spectral-fractionated irradiations, in which the total dose range was essentially comparable to that of the monoenergetic series, resulted in very minimal outer dermis edema at 1790 rad and at no dose employed did necrosis of epidermis or ulceration into dermis occur
Nonlinear nanomechanical resonators for quantum optoelectromechanics
We present a scheme for tuning and controlling nano mechanical resonators by
subjecting them to electrostatic gradient fields, provided by nearby tip
electrodes. We show that this approach enables access to a novel regime of
optomechanics, where the intrinsic nonlinearity of the nanoresonator can be
explored. In this regime, one or several laser driven cavity modes coupled to
the nanoresonator and suitably adjusted gradient fields allow to control the
motional state of the nanoresonator at the single phonon level. Some
applications of this platform have been presented previously [New J. Phys. 14,
023042 (2012), Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 120503 (2013)]. Here, we provide a
detailed description of the corresponding setup and its optomechanical coupling
mechanisms, together with an in-depth analysis of possible sources of damping
or decoherence and a discussion of the readout of the nanoresonator state.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure
Josephson effect in ballistic graphene
We solve the Dirac-Bogoliubov-De-Gennes equation in an impurity-free
superconductor-normal-superconductor (SNS) junction, to determine the maximal
supercurrent that can flow through an undoped strip of graphene with heavily
doped superconducting electrodes. The result is determined by the
superconducting gap and by the aspect ratio of the junction (length L, small
relative to the width W and to the superconducting coherence length). Moving
away from the Dirac point of zero doping, we recover the usual ballistic result
in which the Fermi wave length takes over from L. The product of critical
current and normal-state resistance retains its universal value (up to a
numerical prefactor) on approaching the Dirac point.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Recommended from our members
Refinement and preliminary evaluation of two tablet-based tests of real-world visual function
PURPOSE: To describe, refine, evaluate, and provide normative control data for two freely available tablet-based tests of real-world visual function, using a cohort of young, normally-sighted adults.
METHODS: Fifty young (18-40Â years), normally-sighted adults completed tablet-based assessments of (1) face discrimination and (2) visual search. Each test was performed twice, to assess test-retest repeatability. Post-hoc analyses were performed to determine the number of trials required to obtain stable estimates of performance. Distributions were fitted to the normative data to determine the 99% population-boundary for normally sighted observers. Participants were also asked to rate their comprehension of each test.
RESULTS: Both tests provided stable estimates in around 20 trials (~1-4Â min), with only a further reduction of 14%-17% in the 95% Coefficient of Repeatability (CoR95 ) when an additional 40 trials were included. When using only ~20 trials: median durations for the first run of each test were 191Â s (Faces) and 51Â s (Search); test-retest CoR95 were 0.27Â d (Faces) and 0.84Â s (Search); and normative 99% population-limits were 3.50Â d (Faces) and 3.1Â s (Search). No participants exhibited any difficulties completing either test (100% completion rate), and ratings of task-understanding were high (Faces: 9.6 out of 10; Search: 9.7 out of 10).
CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary assessment indicated that both tablet-based tests are able to provide simple, quick, and easy-to-administer measures of real-world visual function in normally-sighted young adults. Further work is required to assess their accuracy and utility in older people and individuals with visual impairment. Potential applications are discussed, including their use in clinic waiting rooms, and as an objective complement to Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs)
Scattering of coherent states on a single artificial atom
In this work we theoretically analyze a circuit QED design where propagating
quantum microwaves interact with a single artificial atom, a single Cooper pair
box. In particular, we derive a master equation in the so-called transmon
regime, including coherent drives. Inspired by recent experiments, we then
apply the master equation to describe the dynamics in both a two-level and a
three-level approximation of the atom. In the two-level case, we also discuss
how to measure photon antibunching in the reflected field and how it is
affected by finite temperature and finite detection bandwidth.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figure
Profinite completion of Grigorchuk's group is not finitely presented
In this paper we prove that the profinite completion of
the Grigorchuk group is not finitely presented as a profinite
group. We obtain this result by showing that H^2(\mathcal{\hat
G},\field{F}_2) is infinite dimensional. Also several results are proven about
the finite quotients including minimal
presentations and Schur Multipliers
Surface flashover of oil-immersed dielectric materials in uniform and non-uniform fields
The applied electrical fields required to initiate surface flashover of different types of dielectric material immersed in insulating oil have been investigated, by applying impulses of increasing peak voltage until surface flashover occurred. The behavior of the materials in repeatedly over-volted gaps was also analyzed in terms of breakdown mode (some bulk sample breakdown behaviour was witnessed in this regime), time to breakdown, and breakdown voltage. Cylindrical samples of polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and Rexolite, were held between two electrodes immersed in insulating oil, and subjected to average applied electrical fields up to 870 kV/cm. Tests were performed in both uniform- and non-uniform-fields, and with different sample topologies. In applied field measurements, polypropylene required the highest levels of average applied field to initiate flashover in all electrode configurations tested, settling at similar to 600 kV/cm in uniform fields, and similar to 325 kV/cm in non-uniform fields. In over-volted point-plane gaps, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene exhibited the longest pre-breakdown delay times. The results will provide comparative data for system designers for the appropriate choice of dielectric materials to act as insulators for high-voltage, pulsed-power machines
Analogue mouse pointer control via an online steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) brain-computer interface
The steady state visual evoked protocol has recently become a popular paradigm in brain–computer interface (BCI) applications. Typically (regardless of function) these applications offer the user a binary selection of targets that perform correspondingly discrete actions. Such discrete control systems are appropriate for applications that are inherently isolated in nature, such as selecting numbers from a keypad to be dialled or letters from an alphabet to be spelled. However motivation exists for users to employ proportional control methods in intrinsically analogue tasks such as the movement of a mouse pointer. This paper introduces an online BCI in which control of a mouse pointer is directly proportional to a user's intent. Performance is measured over a series of pointer movement tasks and compared to the traditional discrete output approach. Analogue control allowed subjects to move the pointer faster to the cued target location compared to discrete output but suffers more undesired movements overall. Best performance is achieved when combining the threshold to movement of traditional discrete techniques with the range of movement offered by proportional control
- …