f(R) Gravity, relic coherent gravitons and optical chaos

We discuss the production of massive relic coherent gravitons in a particular class of f(R) gravity which arises from string theory and their possible imprint in Cosmic Microwave Background. In fact, in the very early universe these relic gravitons could have acted as slow gravity waves. They may have then acted to focus the geodesics of radiation and matter. Therefore, their imprint on the later evolution of the universe could appear as filaments and domain wall in the Universe today. In that case, the effect on Cosmic Microwave Background should be analogous to the effect of water waves, which, in focusing light, create optical caustics which are commonly seen on the bottom of swimming pools. We analyze this important issue by showing how relic massive GWs perturb the trajectories of Cosmic Microwave Background photons (gravitational lensing by relic GWs). The consequence of the type of physics discussed is outlined by illustrating an amplification of what might be called optical chaos.Comment: 32 pages, 1 figure, invited paper to appear in "Beyond Standard Gravity and Cosmology", special issue of "Galaxies" edited by Antonaldo Diaferi

Flight investigation of the effect of tail boom strakes on helicopter directional control

A joint U.S. Army/NASA flight investigation was conducted utilizing a single-rotor helicopter to determine the effectiveness of horizontally mounted tail boom strakes on directional controllability and tail rotor power during low-speed, crosswind operating conditions. Three configurations were investigated: (1) baseline (strakes off), (2) single strake (strake at upper shoulder on port side of boom), and (3) double strake (upper strake plus a lower strake on same side of boom). The strakes were employed as a means to separate airflow over the tail boom and change fuselage yawing moments in a direction to improve the yaw control margin and reduce tail rotor power. Crosswind data were obtained in 5-knot increments of airspeed from 0 to 35 knots and in 30 deg increments of wind azimuth from 0 deg to 330 deg. At the most critical wind azimuth and airspeed in terms of tail rotor power, the strakes improved the pedal margin by 6 percent of total travel and reduced tail rotor power required by 17 percent. The increase in yaw control and reduction in tail rotor power offered by the strakes can expand the helicopter operating envelope in terms of gross weight and altitude capability. The strakes did not affect the flying qualities of the vehicle at airspeeds between 35 and 100 knots

Spin injection from perpendicular magnetized ferromagnetic δ\delta-MnGa into (Al,Ga)As heterostructures

Electrical spin injection from ferromagnetic $\delta$-MnGa into an (Al,Ga)As p-i-n light emitting diode (LED) is demonstrated. The $\delta$-MnGa layers show strong perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy, enabling detection of spin injection at remanence without an applied magnetic field. The bias and temperature dependence of the spin injection are found to be qualitatively similar to Fe-based spin LED devices. A Hanle effect is observed and demonstrates complete depolarization of spins in the semiconductor in a transverse magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Hyperfine Interactions and Spin Transport in Ferromagnet-Semiconductor Heterostructures

Measurements and modeling of electron spin transport and dynamics are used to characterize hyperfine interactions in Fe/GaAs devices with $n$-GaAs channels. Ga and As nuclei are polarized by electrically injected electron spins, and the nuclear polarization is detected indirectly through the depolarization of electron spins in the hyperfine field. The dependence of the electron spin signal on injector bias and applied field direction is modeled by a coupled drift-diffusion equation, including effective fields from both the electronic and nuclear polarizations. This approach is used to determine the electron spin polarization independently of the assumptions made in standard transport measurements. The extreme sensitivity of the electron spin dynamics to the nuclear spin polarization also facilitates the electrical detection of nuclear magnetic resonance.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.