9,150 research outputs found
Local pressure-induced metallization of a semiconducting carbon nanotube in a crossed junction
The electronic and vibrational density of states of a semiconducting carbon
nanotube in a crossed junction was investigated by elastic and inelastic
scanning tunneling spectroscopy. The strong radial compression of the nanotube
at the junction induces local metallization spatially confined to a few nm. The
local electronic modifications are correlated with the observed changes in the
radial breathing and G-band phonon modes, which react very sensitively to local
mechanical deformation. In addition, the experiments reveal the crucial
contribution of the image charges to the contact potential at nanotube-metal
interfaces
Autonomous Guidance Strategy for Spacecraft Formations and Reconfiguration Maneuvers
A guidance strategy for autonomous spacecraft formation reconfiguration maneuvers is presented. The guidance strategy is presented as an algorithm that solves the linked assignment and delivery problems. The assignment problem is the task of assigning the member spacecraft of the formation to their new positions in the desired formation geometry. The guidance algorithm uses an auction process (also called an “auction algorithm”), presented in the dissertation, to solve the assignment problem. The auction uses the estimated maneuver and time of flight costs between the spacecraft and targets to create assignments which minimize a specific “expense” function for the formation. The delivery problem is the task of delivering the spacecraft to their assigned positions, and it is addressed through one of two guidance schemes described in this work. The first is a delivery scheme based on artificial potential function (APF) guidance. APF guidance uses the relative distances between the spacecraft, targets, and any obstacles to design maneuvers based on gradients of potential fields. The second delivery scheme is based on model predictive control (MPC); this method uses a model of the system dynamics to plan a series of maneuvers designed to minimize a unique cost function. The guidance algorithm uses an analytic linearized approximation of the relative orbital dynamics, the Yamanaka-Ankersen state transition matrix, in the auction process and in both delivery methods. The proposed guidance strategy is successful, in simulations, in autonomously assigning the members of the formation to new positions and in delivering the spacecraft to these new positions safely using both delivery methods. This guidance algorithm can serve as the basis for future autonomous guidance strategies for spacecraft formation missions
Kondo effect of Co adatoms on Ag monolayers on noble metal surfaces
The Kondo temperature of single Co adatoms on monolayers of Ag on Cu
and Au(111) is determined using Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy. of Co on
a single monolayer of Ag on either substrate is essentially the same as that of
Co on a homogenous Ag(111) crystal. This gives strong evidence that the
interaction of surface Kondo impurities with the substrate is very local in
nature. By comparing found for Co on Cu, Ag, and Au (111)-surfaces we
show that the energy scale of the many-electron Kondo state is insensitive to
the properties of surface states and to the energetic position of the projected
bulk band edges.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Magnetocaloric effect and improved relative cooling power in (La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrRuO3) superlattices
Magnetic properties of a series of (La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrRuO3) superlattices,
where the SrRuO3 layer thickness is varying, are examined. A room-temperature
magnetocaloric effect is obtained owing to the finite size effect which reduces
the TC of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 layers. While the working temperature ranges are
enlarged,, -DeltaSmax values remains similar to the values in polycrystalline
La0.7Sr0.3MnO3. Consequently, the relative cooling powers are significantly
improved, the microscopic mechanism of which is related to the effect of the
interfaces at La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrRuO3 and higher nanostructural disorder. This
study indicates that artificial oxide superlattices/multilayers might provide
an alternative pathway in searching for efficient room-temperature magnetic
refrigerators for (nano)microscale systems.Comment: 14^pages, 3 figures, Submitted to J. Phys. Cond. Ma
Repeatability of brown adipose tissue measurements on FDG PET/CT following a simple cooling procedure for BAT activation
Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) is present in a significant number of adult humans and can be activated by exposure to cold. Measurement of active BAT presence, activity, and volume are desirable for determining the efficacy of potential treatments intended to activate BAT. The repeatability of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) measurements of BAT presence, activity, and volume under controlled conditions has not been extensively studied. Eleven female volunteers underwent double baseline FDG PET imaging performed following a simple, regional cold intervention intended to activate brown fat. The cold intervention involved the lightly-clothed participants intermittently placing their feet on a block of ice while sitting in a cooled room. A repeat study was performed under the same conditions within a target of two weeks. FDG scans were obtained and maximum standardized uptake value adjusted for lean body mass (SULmax), CT Hounsfield units (HU), BAT metabolic volume (BMV), and total BAT glycolysis (TBG) were determined according to the Brown Adipose Reporting Criteria in Imaging STudies (BARCIST) 1.0. A Lin's concordance correlation (CCC) of 0.80 was found for BMV between test and retest imaging. Intersession BAT SULmax was significantly correlated (r = 0.54; p < 0.05). The session #1 mean SULmax of 4.92 ± 4.49 g/mL was not significantly different from that of session #2 with a mean SULmax of 7.19 ± 7.34 g/mL (p = 0.16). BAT SULmax was highly correlated with BMV in test and retest studies (r ≥ 0.96, p < 0.001). Using a simplified ice-block cooling method, BAT was activated in the majority (9/11) of a group of young, lean female participants. Quantitative assessments of BAT SUL and BMV were not substantially different between test and retest imaging, but individual BMV could vary considerably. Intrasession BMV and SULmax were strongly correlated. The variability in estimates of BAT activity and volume on test-retest with FDG should inform sample size choice in studies quantifying BAT physiology and support the dynamic metabolic characteristics of this tissue. A more sophisticated cooling method potentially may reduce variations in test-retest BAT studies
Quantum Coherence of Image-Potential States
The quantum dynamics of the two-dimensional image-potential states in front
of the Cu(100) surface is measured by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and
spectroscopy (STS). The dispersion relation and the momentum resolved
phase-relaxation time of the first image-potential state are determined from
the quantum interference patterns in the local density of states (LDOS) at step
edges. It is demonstrated that the tip-induced Stark shift does not affect the
motion of the electrons parallel to the surface.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett., 4 pages, 4 figures; corrected typos,
minor change
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