Proximity Induced Superconductivity and Multiple Andreev Reflections in Few-Layer-Graphene

We have investigated electronic transport of few-layer-graphene (FLG) connected to superconducting electrodes. The device is prepared by mechanical exfoliation of graphite. A small mesa of FLG is placed on the surface of an insulating Alumina layer over silicon substrate, and is connected with two tungsten electrodes, separated by 2.5 microns, grown by focused ion beam. While tungsten electrodes are superconducting below 4 K, proximity induced superconductivity in FLG is observed below 1K with a large differential resistance drop at low bias. Signatures of multiple Andreev reflections are observed as peaks located at voltages corresponding to sub-multiple values of the superconducting gap of the electrodes

Cardiovasc Diabetol

Lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is a major endemic disease with an alarming increased prevalence worldwide. It is a common and severe condition with excess risk of major cardiovascular events and death. It also leads to a high rate of lower-limb adverse events and non-traumatic amputation. The American Diabetes Association recommends a widespread medical history and clinical examination to screen for LEAD. The ankle brachial index (ABI) is the first non-invasive tool recommended to diagnose LEAD although its variable performance in patients with diabetes. The performance of ABI is particularly affected by the presence of peripheral neuropathy, medial arterial calcification, and incompressible arteries. There is no strong evidence today to support an alternative test for LEAD diagnosis in these conditions. The management of LEAD requires a strict control of cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. The benefit of intensive versus standard glucose control on the risk of LEAD has not been clearly established. Antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, and antiplatelet agents are obviously worthfull to reduce major cardiovascular adverse events, but few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the benefits of these treatments in terms of LEAD and its related adverse events. Smoking cessation, physical activity, supervised walking rehabilitation and healthy diet are also crucial in LEAD management. Several advances have been achieved in endovascular and surgical revascularization procedures, with obvious improvement in LEAD management. The revascularization strategy should take into account several factors including anatomical localizations of lesions, medical history of each patients and operator experience. Further studies, especially RCTs, are needed to evaluate the interest of different therapeutic strategies on the occurrence and progression of LEAD and its related adverse events in patients with diabetes

Near-field measurement of microwave active devices

A completely new near field mapping system based on micro monopole antenna has been developed in order to determine the electric near-field at the surface of MMIC. The possibilities of this innovative experimental setup are shown by 2D mapping of a bend 5 line deposited on GaAs substrate and a coupled-line filter on Duroid 6002. These are supported by 3D electromagnetic simulations. We finally give some results obtained on a real MMIC with a medium resolution of 50µm. The industrial applications are clearly the reliability issues of microwave power devices but also a new tool for MMIC designers. The knowledge of radiated near field will also contribute to optimize the packaging of microwave functions

Application of Inverse Problems to current density reconstruction inside components

International audienc

Near-Field Electromagnetic Tomography Applied to Current Density Reconstruction in Metallized Capacitors

International audienceA nonintrusive method of current cartography inside a component is presented. The measurement of the current density in metallized film capacitors has numerous applications, including nondestructive testing, new component design, and validation of existing models on current distribution in capacitors. The method is based upon the measurement of the magnetic field created by a capacitor and the current density reconstruction by means of inverse problem methodology. The experimental setup comprises of a radio-frequency generator operating between 10 to 1000 MHz, a near-field probe, an XY positioning table and a computer used for control and data acquisition. The first results confirm that, near some frequencies, the current density in the capacitor becomes nonhomogeneous and increases dramatically in some areas

Near-field microscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy: application to chromosomes labelled with different fluorophores

International audienc

Evaluation of small scattering defects densities by laser scattering tomography: application to levitated glasses

A specific experimental Laser Scattering Tomography (LST) acquisition procedure is presented. It is adapted to the characterization of materials containing scattering defects ranging from 1 to 102/mm3. The technique makes it possible to obtain good resolution within a volume chosen to contain a statistically significant defect density. This method is used to show that the gas levitation technique makes it possible to significantly decrease scattering defects in glasses. In parallel, individual study of defects in such glasses is also presented

MMIC's characterization by very near-field technique

International audienceThis paper shows a method to characterize microwave circuits using a near-field scanning microscope. Applied of various samples, it shows good resolution and weak disturbance for ICs operating with very common microwave components. Here, it is applied in an industrial surd rounding to characterize the Bluetooth CMOS power amplifier