2,130 research outputs found
Towards spin injection from silicon into topological insulators: Schottky barrier between Si and Bi2Se3
A scheme is proposed to electrically measure the spin-momentum coupling in
the topological insulator surface state by injection of spin polarized
electrons from silicon. As a first approach, devices were fabricated consisting
of thin (<100nm) exfoliated crystals of Bi2Se3 on n-type silicon with
independent electrical contacts to silicon and Bi2Se3. Analysis of the
temperature dependence of thermionic emission in reverse bias indicates a
barrier height of 0.34 eV at the Si-Bi2Se3 interface. This robust Schottky
barrier opens the possibility of novel device designs based on sub-band gap
internal photoemission from Bi2Se3 into Si
Transverse momentum nonconservation at the ErAs/GaAs interface
Because ErAs, a semimetal, grows epitaxially on GaAs(100), ErAs-base/ GaAs-collector metal-base transistors provide a uniquely simple system in which to study the interfacial transverse momentum conservation of hot electrons. This system is also of interest for metal-semiconductor superlattice thermal energy conversion devices that utilize ErAs as the interbarrier material. A key requirement for such devices to outperform bulk thermal energy converters is the nonconservation of transverse momentum. Our results, indicating total nonconservation of transverse momentum, could therefore lead to significantly more efficient thermal energy conversion devices
Hot-electron mean free path of ErAs thin films grown on GaAs determined by metal-base transistor ballistic electron emission spectroscopy
We present an experimental investigation of the hot-electron mean free path in ErAs thin films grown on GaAs. Using an Al/Al2O3/Al tunnel junction as a hot-electron source for ballistic electron emission spectroscopy, we investigate ErAs films of thicknesses ~100-~300 Å. Our results indicate a mean free path of order 100 Å for electrons 1-2 eV above the Fermi level at 80 K
The MacArthur Treatment Competence Study. III: Abilities of patients to consent to psychiatric and medical treatments.
Nonequilibrium Transport through a Kondo Dot in a Magnetic Field: Perturbation Theory
Using nonequilibrium perturbation theory, we investigate the nonlinear
transport through a quantum dot in the Kondo regime in the presence of a
magnetic field. We calculate the leading logarithmic corrections to the local
magnetization and the differential conductance, which are characteristic of the
Kondo effect out of equilibrium. By solving a quantum Boltzmann equation, we
determine the nonequilibrium magnetization on the dot and show that the
application of both a finite bias voltage and a magnetic field induces a novel
structure of logarithmic corrections not present in equilibrium. These
corrections lead to more pronounced features in the conductance, and their form
calls for a modification of the perturbative renormalization group.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure
Medication errors during simulated paediatric resuscitations: a prospective, observational human reliability analysis
Introduction: Medication errors during paediatric resuscitation are thought to be common. However, there is little evidence about the individual process steps that contribute to such medication errors in this context. /
Objectives: To describe the incidence, nature and severity of medication errors in simulated paediatric resuscitations, and to employ human reliability analysis to understand the contributory role of individual process step discrepancies to these errors. /
Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of simulated resuscitations subject to video micro-analysis, identification of medication errors, severity assessment and human reliability analysis in a large English teaching hospital. Fifteen resuscitation teams of two doctors and two nurses each conducted one of two simulated paediatric resuscitation scenarios. /
Results: At least one medication error was observed in every simulated case, and a large magnitude or clinically significant error in 11 of 15 cases. Medication errors were observed in 29% of 180 simulated medication administrations, 40% of which considered to be moderate or severe. These errors were the result of 884 observed discrepancies at a number of steps in the drug ordering, preparation and administration stages of medication use, 8% of which made a major contribution to a resultant medication error. Most errors were introduced by discrepancies during drug preparation and administration. /
Conclusions: Medication errors were common with a considerable proportion likely to result in patient harm. There is an urgent need to optimise existing systems and to commission research into new approaches to increase the reliability of human interactions during administration of medication in the paediatric emergency setting
Medication errors during simulated paediatric resuscitations: a prospective, observational human reliability analysis
Introduction: Medication errors during paediatric resuscitation are thought to be common. However, there is little evidence about the individual process steps that contribute to such medication errors in this context. Objectives: To describe the incidence, nature and severity of medication errors in simulated paediatric resuscitations, and to employ human reliability analysis to understand the contribution of discrepancies in individual process steps to the occurrence of these errors. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of simulated resuscitations subjected to video micro-analysis, identification of medication errors, severity assessment and human reliability analysis in a large English teaching hospital. Fifteen resuscitation teams of two doctors and two nurses each conducted one of two simulated paediatric resuscitation scenarios. Results: At least one medication error was observed in every simulated case, and a large magnitude (>25% discrepant) or clinically significant error in 11 of 15 cases. Medication errors were observed in 29% of 180 simulated medication administrations, 40% of which considered to be moderate or severe. These errors were the result of 884 observed discrepancies at a number of steps in the drug ordering, preparation and administration stages of medication use, 8% of which made a major contribution to a resultant medication error. Most errors were introduced by discrepancies during drug preparation and administration. Conclusions: Medication errors were common with a considerable proportion likely to result in patient harm. There is an urgent need to optimise existing systems and to commission research into new approaches to increase the reliability of human interactions during administration of medication in the paediatric emergency setting
The Kondo Effect in Non-Equilibrium Quantum Dots: Perturbative Renormalization Group
While the properties of the Kondo model in equilibrium are very well
understood, much less is known for Kondo systems out of equilibrium. We study
the properties of a quantum dot in the Kondo regime, when a large bias voltage
V and/or a large magnetic field B is applied. Using the perturbative
renormalization group generalized to stationary nonequilibrium situations, we
calculate renormalized couplings, keeping their important energy dependence. We
show that in a magnetic field the spin occupation of the quantum dot is
non-thermal, being controlled by V and B in a complex way to be calculated by
solving a quantum Boltzmann equation. We find that the well-known suppression
of the Kondo effect at finite V>>T_K (Kondo temperature) is caused by inelastic
dephasing processes induced by the current through the dot. We calculate the
corresponding decoherence rate, which serves to cut off the RG flow usually
well inside the perturbative regime (with possible exceptions). As a
consequence, the differential conductance, the local magnetization, the spin
relaxation rates and the local spectral function may be calculated for large
V,B >> T_K in a controlled way.Comment: 9 pages, invited paper for a special edition of JPSJ "Kondo Effect --
40 Years after the Discovery", some typos correcte
Equation of motion approach to the solution of Anderson model
Based on an equation of motion approach the single impurity Anderson
model(SIAM) is reexamined. Using the cluster expansions the equations of motion
of Green functions are transformed into the corresponding equations of motion
of connected Green functions, which provides a natural and uniform truncation
scheme. A factor of two missing in the Lacroix's approximation for the Kondo
temperature is gained in the next higher order truncation beyond Lacroix's. A
quantitative improvement in the density of states at the Fermi level is also
obtained.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
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