73 research outputs found
Pressure-tuning of the electron-phonon coupling: the insulator to metal transition in manganites
A comprehensive understanding of the physical origin of the unique magnetic
and transport properties of A_(1-x)A'^xMnO_3 manganites (A = trivalent
rare-earth and A' = divalent alkali-earth metal) is still far from being
achieved. The complexity of these systems arises from the interplay among
several competing interactions of comparable strength. Recently the
electron-phonon coupling, triggered by a Jahn-Teller distortion of the MnO_6
octahedra, has been recognised to play an essential role in the insulator to
metal transition and in the closely related colossal magneto-resistance. The
pressure tuning of the octahedral distortion gives a unique possibility to
separate the basic interactions and, at least in principle, to follow the
progressive transformation of a manganite from an intermediate towards a weak
electron-phonon coupling regime. Using a diamond anvil cell, temperature and
pressure-dependent infrared absorption spectra of La_(0.75)Ca_(0.25)MnO_3 have
been collected and, from the spectral weight analysis, the pressure dependence
of the insulator to metal transition temperature T_IM has been determined for
the first time up to 11.2 GPa. The T_IM(P) curve we proposed to model the
present data revealed a universality character in accounting for the whole
class of intermediate coupling compounds. This property can be exploited to
distinguish the intermediate from the weak coupling compounds pointing out the
fundamental differences between the two coupling regimes.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Micro-beam and pulsed laser beam techniques for the micro-fabrication of diamond surface and bulk structures
Micro-fabrication in diamond is involved in a wide set of emerging
technologies, exploiting the exceptional characteristics of diamond for
application in bio-physics, photonics, radiation detection. Micro ion-beam
irradiation and pulsed laser irradiation are complementary techniques, which
permit the implementation of complex geometries, by modification and
functionalization of surface and/or bulk material, modifying the optical,
electrical and mechanical characteristics of the material. In this article we
summarize the work done in Florence (Italy) concerning ion beam and pulsed
laser beam micro-fabrication in diamond.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure
High Pressure Insulator-Metal Transition in Molecular Fluid Oxygen
We report the first experimental evidence for a metallic phase in fluid
molecular oxygen. Our electrical conductivity measurements of fluid oxygen
under dynamic quasi-isentropic compression show that a non-metal/metal
transition occurs at 3.4 fold compression, 4500 K and 1.2 Mbar. We discuss the
main features of the electrical conductivity dependence on density and
temperature and give an interpretation of the nature of the electrical
transport mechanisms in fluid oxygen at these extreme conditions.Comment: RevTeX, 4 figure
Low-Energy Linear Structures in Dense Oxygen: Implications for the -phase
Using density functional theory implemented within the generalized gradient
approximation, a new non-magnetic insulating ground state of solid oxygen is
proposed and found to be energetically favored at pressures corresponding to
the -phase. The newly-predicted ground state is composed of linear
herringbone-type chains of O molecules and has {\it Cmcm} symmetry (with an
alternative monoclinic cell). Importantly, this phase supports IR-active
zone-center phonons, and their computed frequencies are found to be in broad
agreement with recent infrared absorption experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Freeze-dried red wine effects on cardiac function and ECG of the Langendorff-perfused rat heart
The effect of freeze-dried red wine (FDRW) on cardiac function and electrocardiogram (ECG) in Langendorff-isolated rat hearts was investigated. FDRW significantly decreased left ventricular pressure and coronary perfusion pressure, the latter being dependent on the activation of both phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and eNOS. FDRW did not affect the QRS and QT interval in the ECG, although at 56 μg of gallic acid equivalents/mL, it prolonged PQ interval and induced a second-degree atrioventricular block in 3 out of 6 hearts. This is the first study demonstrating that at concentrations resembling a moderate consumption of red wine, FDRW exhibited negative inotropic and coronary vasodilating activity leaving unaltered ECG, whereas at very high concentrations, it induced arrhythmogenic effects
Pressure behavior of the sound velocity of liquid water at room temperature in the terahertz regime
The pressure evolution of the sound velocity in liquid water in the terahertz regime, c(infinity), between 0.05 and 0.88 GPa, at room temperature, has been investigated by synchrotron inelastic x-ray scattering in a diamond anvil cell. We confirm previous results showing that c(infinity) increases with density much less than the adiabatic sound velocity c(s), which is reasonably related to the known structural modifications in the hydrogen bond network. At variance with a previous study where an anomaly was found in the density evolution of c(infinity)-most likely due to the nonisothermal character of the study-the present work reveals a smooth behavior of c(infinity), which could provide a useful constraint to the current theories on liquid water
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