A tunable radiation source by coupling laser-plasma-generated electrons to a periodic structure

Near-infrared radiation around 1000 nm generated from the interaction of a high-density MeV electron beam, obtained by impinging an intense ultrashort laser pulse on a solid target, with a metal grating is observed experimentally. Theoretical modeling and particle-in-cell simulation suggest that the radiation is caused by the Smith-Purcell mechanism. The results here indicate that tunable terahertz radiation with tens GV=m field strength can be achieved by using appropriate grating parameter

Theory of weak continuous measurements in a strongly driven quantum bit

Continuous spectroscopic measurements of a strongly driven superconducting qubit by means of a high-quality tank circuit (a linear detector) are under study. Output functions of the detector, namely, a spectrum of voltage fluctuations and an impedance, are expressed in terms of the qubit spectrum and magnetic susceptibility. The nonequilibrium spectrum of the current fluctuations in the qubit loop and the linear response function of the driven qubit coupled to a heat bath are calculated with Bloch-Redfield and rotating wave approximations. Backaction effects of the qubit on the tank and the tank on the qubit are analyzed quantitatively. We show that the voltage spectrum of the tank provides detailed information about a frequency and a decay rate of Rabi oscillations in the qubit. It is found that both an efficiency of spectroscopic measurement and measurement-induced decoherence of the qubit demonstrate a resonant behaviour as the Rabi frequency approaches the resonant frequency of the tank. We determine conditions when the spectroscopic observation of the Rabi oscillations in the flux qubit with the tank circuit can be considered as a weak continuous quantum measurement.Comment: 28 page

Density of states and magnetoconductance of disordered Au point contacts

We report the first low temperature magnetotransport measurements on electrochemically fabricated atomic scale gold nanojunctions. As $T \to 0$, the junctions exhibit nonperturbatively large zero bias anomalies (ZBAs) in their differential conductance. We consider several explanations and find that the ZBAs are consistent with a reduced local density of states (LDOS) in the disordered metal. We suggest that this is a result of Coulomb interactions in a granular metal with moderate intergrain coupling. Magnetoconductance of atomic scale junctions also differs significantly from that of less geometrically constrained devices, and supports this explanation.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures. Accepted to PRB as Brief Repor

Wave Height Transformation and Set-up Between A Submerged Permeable Breakwater and A Seawall

In this study, we investigated wave transformation and wave set-up between a submerged permeable breakwater and a seawall. Modified time-dependent mild-slope equations, which involve parameters of the porous medium, were used to calculate the wave height transformation and the mean water level change around a submerged breakwater. The numerical solution is verified with experimental data. The simulated results show that modulations of the wave profile and wave set-up are clearly observed between the submerged breakwater and the seawall. In contrast to cases without a seawall, the node or pseudo-node of wave height evolution can be found between the submerged breakwater and the seawall. Higher wave set-up occurs if the nodal or pseudo-nodal point appears near the submerged breakwater. We also examined the influence of the porosity and friction factor of the submerged permeable breakwater on wave transformation and set-up

Influence of season of birth, sex and paternal line on growth performance and carcass traits in pigs

Participants in the pig production industry focus on feed and feed additives to improve growth performance and meat quality of pigs. Consequently, the Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea produced a new paternal line to improve economic traits in pigs. However, there is an absence of information on pig traits with regard to season and sex, and a comparison between the new paternal line and past paternal lines. Therefore, the authors conducted this study to investigate the influence of season of birth, sex and paternal line on growth performance and carcass traits in pigs. A total of 2888 piglets ((Landrace × Yorkshire) × Darby Duroc (DD) or Chookjin Duroc (CD)) with an average age of three weeks were tested for 22 weeks during the four season of the year (spring 608 piglets, summer 404 piglets, autumn 576 piglets and winter 1300 piglets). The bodyweights (BW) of individual pig were recorded, and feed consumption was recorded at weeks 2, 12 and 22, to determine growth performance. At reaching market weight, backfat thickness was determined at the last rib area. Meat was graded according to the criteria of the slaughterhouse. There were no significant differences in growth performance and carcass traits between sexes. The CD line crossbred pig had a significant higher BW at 16 weeks, and higher carcass trait values at 22 weeks than the DD line. During weeks 8 to 16 the CD line crossbred pigs showed a tendency of an increased average daily gain (ADG) and gain : feed (G : F) ratio compared with the DD line. Furthermore, pigs born in spring had significant lower ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and carcass trait values than born in the other seasons. In conclusion, the new paternal line (Chookjin Duroc) improved growth performance and carcass traits compare with the DD line.Keywords: sex, growth, terminal sire, meat quality, backfat thicknes

Effect of tea soil acidification on the diversity and function of fungi community

Soil fungi play an important role in the process of planting tea tree. However, effects of acidification on the diversity and function of the fungi community in tea rhizosphere soil have been rarely reported. In this study, tea rhizosphere soils with pH of 3.3, 4.7, 5.3 and 6.4 were investigated for diversity and function of fungal communities through T-RFLP technology. The results showed that the abundance and diversity of fungi increased significantly with the decrease of pH value of rhizosphere soil. The results of significance analysis showed that 38 T-RFs fragments were significantly correlated with pH value, among which 32 were negatively correlated with pH value and 6 were positively correlated with pH value. After database comparison, 23 fungi were identified and classified according to their nutritional patterns, which can be divided into four types, including pathotroph, symbiotroph, saprotroph and unknown, accounting for 36.85%, 7.89%, 15.79% and 39.47%, respectively. At pH value of 3.3, the fungus abundance reached the maximum value. In conclusion, acidification leads to changes in the structure and diversity of the fungi community in tea rhizosphere soil, specifically, a significant increase in the number and species of fungi, of which the pathotroph type is the largest. This study provides an important theoretical basis for controlling fungal diseases of tea tree in acidified tea plantation

Body Fixed Frame, Rigid Gauge Rotations and Large N Random Fields in QCD

The "body fixed frame" with respect to local gauge transformations is introduced. Rigid gauge "rotations" in QCD and their \Sch equation are studied for static and dynamic quarks. Possible choices of the rigid gauge field configuration corresponding to a nonvanishing static colormagnetic field in the "body fixed" frame are discussed. A gauge invariant variational equation is derived in this frame. For large number N of colors the rigid gauge field configuration is regarded as random with maximally random probability distribution under constraints on macroscopic--like quantities. For the uniform magnetic field the joint probability distribution of the field components is determined by maximizing the appropriate entropy under the area law constraint for the Wilson loop. In the quark sector the gauge invariance requires the rigid gauge field configuration to appear not only as a background but also as inducing an instantaneous quark-quark interaction. Both are random in the large N limit.Comment: 29 pages LATEX, Weizmann Institute preprint WIS-93/40/Apr -P

Radiative Seesaw Mechanism at Weak Scale

We investigate an alternative seesaw mechanism for neutrino mass generation. Neutrino mass is generated at loop level but the basic concept of usual seesaw mechanism is kept. One simple model is constructed to show how this mechanism is realized. The applications of this seesaw mechanism at weak scale to cosmology and neutrino physics are discussed.Comment: 12 Pages, latex, no figure