AlN/GaN-based MOS-HEMT technology: processing and device results

Process development of AlN/GaN MOS-HEMTs is presented, along with issues and problems concerning the fabrication processes. The developed technology uses thermally grown Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> as a gate dielectric and surface passivation for devices. Significant improvement in device performance was observed using the following techniques: (1) Ohmic contact optimisation using Al wet etch prior to Ohmic metal deposition and (2) mesa sidewall passivation. DC and RF performance of the fabricated devices will be presented and discussed in this paper

New evidence for a dramatic rise in atmosphere oxygen ca. 1,900 m.y. ago

Several lines of geologic evidence have pointed to a significant increase in P sub O2 about 2,000 m.y. ago, but the magnitude of P sub O2 before and after that time has been quite uncertain. The data that we have recently accumulated suggest that P sub O2 was approximately less than 2 x 10 (exp -3) atm more than 2,000 m.y. ago, and approximately greater than 0.03 atm more recently than ca. 1,900 m.y. ago. These estimates are based on the behavior of iron in Precambrian weathering horizons. More than ca. 2,000 m.y. ago, Fe(+2), released during the weathering of basalts was not oxidized to Fe(+3), and was removed in ground water from the upper layers of soil horizons. More recently than ca. 1,850 m.y. ago, Fe(+2) was oxidized to Fe(+3) and precipitated as iron oxides and hydroxides in such soil horizons and in the weathering products of a carbonate facies banded iron formation in Griqualand West, South Africa. The O2 content of the atmosphere must have increased dramatically about 1,900 m.y. ago to explain these observations. The reasons for the increase are still obscure, but are probably related to changes in the biologic productivity of the oceans. Eukaryotes appear to have developed shortly after the increase in P sub O2, perhaps in response to the subsequent increase in the supply of nitrate from the atmosphere to the oceans

Lie algebra and invariant tensor technology for g2

Proceeding in analogy with su(n) work on lambda matrices and f- and d-tensors, this paper develops the technology of the Lie algebra g2, its seven dimensional defining representation gamma and the full set of invariant tensors that arise in relation thereto. A comprehensive listing of identities involving these tensors is given. This includes identities that depend on use of characteristic equations, especially for gamma, and a good body of results involving the quadratic, sextic and (the non-primitivity of) other Casimir operators of g2.Comment: 29 pages, LaTe

Technical note: New applications for on-line automated solid phase extraction

This technical note explains the disadvantages of manual solid phase extraction (SPE) techniques and the benefits to be gained with automatic systems. The note reports on a number of general and highly specific applications using the Sample Preparation Unit OSP-2A

Scalable solid-state quantum processor using subradiant two-atom states

We propose a realization of a scalable, high-performance quantum processor whose qubits are represented by the ground and subradiant states of effective dimers formed by pairs of two-level systems coupled by resonant dipole-dipole interaction. The dimers are implanted in low-temperature solid host material at controllable nanoscale separations. The two-qubit entanglement either relies on the coherent excitation exchange between the dimers or is mediated by external laser fields.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Self-reported pain severity is associated with a history of coronary heart disease

This study was funded by Arthritis Research UK (grant number: 17292).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

q-Symmetries in DNLS-AL chains and exact solutions of quantum dimers

Dynamical symmetries of Hamiltonians quantized models of discrete non-linear Schroedinger chain (DNLS) and of Ablowitz-Ladik chain (AL) are studied. It is shown that for $n$-sites the dynamical algebra of DNLS Hamilton operator is given by the $su(n)$ algebra, while the respective symmetry for the AL case is the quantum algebra su_q(n). The q-deformation of the dynamical symmetry in the AL model is due to the non-canonical oscillator-like structure of the raising and lowering operators at each site. Invariants of motions are found in terms of Casimir central elements of su(n) and su_q(n) algebra generators, for the DNLS and QAL cases respectively. Utilizing the representation theory of the symmetry algebras we specialize to the $n=2$ quantum dimer case and formulate the eigenvalue problem of each dimer as a non-linear (q)-spin model. Analytic investigations of the ensuing three-term non-linear recurrence relations are carried out and the respective orthonormal and complete eigenvector bases are determined. The quantum manifestation of the classical self-trapping in the QDNLS-dimer and its absence in the QAL-dimer, is analysed by studying the asymptotic attraction and repulsion respectively, of the energy levels versus the strength of non-linearity. Our treatment predicts for the QDNLS-dimer, a phase-transition like behaviour in the rate of change of the logarithm of eigenenergy differences, for values of the non-linearity parameter near the classical bifurcation point.Comment: Latex, 19pp, 4 figures. Submitted for publicatio

Determinants of sustained volunteerism in sport organisations in Hong Kong

Oral presentation: abstract 2014-274INTRODUCTION: The crucial role played by volunteers in sport service delivery is well recognised and documented. However, while there has been considerable research on sport volunteers, most studies have been based typically on theories and samples derived from a western context. This study examined determinants of sustained volunteerism in sport organisations in Hong Kong adapting a theoretical model developed by Penner (2002) …postprin