Small-signal gain of Free Electron Laser in a resonator Gaussian mode

We present an analytical expression for the small-signal gain of a Free Electron Laser (FEL) in the presence of a Gaussian mode. To describe the electron beam evolution we use the one-dimensional (1-d) Vlasov equation. Our perturbation result, valid for small values of the parameterq (length of the undulatorL divided by the Rayleigh rangeZ _R), can be extrapolated to values ofq4÷5.     

Polarization fluctuations of partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian beams in a slant turbulent channel

The propagation of a partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian beam in a slant turbulent channel is studied. The analytical formula for the quantum degree of polarization of a partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian beam is derived based on the quantum Stokes operators and the generalized Huygens–Fresnel principle. It is shown that the zenith angle slightly affects the polarization degree of partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian beams, and the changes of polarization degree are affected by the coherence length, the detection photon-number and the ground refractive index structure parameter. Furthermore, the numerical simulations show that a partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian beam with bigger coherence length, higher photon-number level, lower beam order, shorter wavelength is less affected by the turbulence. These results indicate that one can choose the partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian beam with bigger coherence length, lower beam order, shorter wavelength, higher detection photon-number and set the size of transmitting aperture w₀$w_0$ as about 0.065 m to improve the performance of a polarization-encoded free-space quantum communication system.     

Zero temperature phase diagram of a small metallic junction

We discuss the phase diagram for a metal tunnel junction with quasiparticle dissipation. We present some evidences of aT=0 phase transition induced by dissipation, by means of Monte Carlo simulation and studying the problem by means of a selfconsistent harmonic approximation. When the nominal conductance of the junctioin is large the predictions of the spin wave theory turn out to be correct and the algebraic decay of correlations implies quasi-long range order (phase with infinite susceptibility), this situation corresponds to the absence of a Coulomb blockade voltage threshold. The critical value of the nominal junction resistance is estimated to beR _t 0.6 k.     

Hartree-Fock theory of spiral magnetic order in the 2-d Hubbard model

The magnetic order in the 2-d Hubbard model is investigated within Hartree-Fock theory. For the class of states with uniform particle density and spiral arrangement of spins the phase diagram is obtained by minimizing the free energy. At zero temperature and large Hubbard interactionU there is a continuous transition from the antiferromagnetic solution at half filling over a spiral state of increasing wavelength along the diagonal of the lattice to the ferromagnetic state at doping _c 2t/U. At finite temperatureT, the antiferromagnetic state remains stable for doping smaller than _AF 2T/U. For intermediate values ofU and finite doping there exists also a phase with a spiral wave vector of the form Q=(Q, ).     

Electronic phase separation in La-Cuprates

The mechanisms driving the phase separation in high-T _c La cuprates is studied by magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements. The experiments are performed under different thermal treatment. Three temperature ranges can be resolved characteristic for different physical processes: At 150T170K a space limited diffusion of superparamagnetic clusters (single hole clusters) occurs leading to the formation of a small but rather tight percolative subphase which at highT _c values becomes superconducting. Above 180 K the cluster motion becomes unrestricted in space and a more extended subphase is built up, however, with lowerT _c values. Above 230 K oxygen diffusion starts leading to an unexpected destruction of the conducting/superconducting phase.     

Phase conjugation in an optical fibre

We report experimental studies of phase conjugation by stimulated Mandelstam Brillouin scattering in multimode fibres. A dramatic decrease in the threshold power as compared to that (10⁴ to 10⁵ W) typically observed in conventional media was achieved. A ruby pulsed pump with 500-ns pulses was used. For the 7-m-long fibre, the threshold power was 50 W, the degree of phase conjugation was almost one, the pump-to-Stokes conversion efficiency was about 80%. For the 130-m-long fibre, the threshold power decreased to 10 W and the pump-to-Stokes conversion efficiency reached 100%. Polarization scrambling was observed in the 130-m-long fibre, but the Stokes wave with polarization coinciding with that of the pump wave was a phase-conjugate replica of the pump, as before.     

A heterodyne receiver for the submillimeter wavelength region based on cyclotron resonance in InSb at low temperatures

A new heterodyne receiver has been developed for the submillimeter wavelength region. The mixing element is liquid helium cooled bulk n-InSb in a quantizing magnetic field. The value of the magnetic induction is such that the detector photoresponse is dominated by cyclotron-resonance absorption. Laboratory tests have yielded double-sideband receiver noise temperatures of 250 K at 492 GHz, 350 K at 625 GHz and 510 K at 812 GHz. The magnetic induction for these tests was 2.5 KG and the mixer operating temperature was 1.6 K.     

Multiple scattering of narrow light beams in aerosols

A multiple scattering propagation model of narrow light beams in aerosol media is described. It is based on a paraxial approximation of the radiative transfer equation in which the flux normal to the incident beam direction is modeled by a diffusion process. The model solutions are the forward- and backscattered intensity profiles for the specified geometry and receiver aperture and field of view. The required inputs are the system parameters, and the aerosol single scattering angular phase function and extinction and scattering coefficients which are allowed to vary along the beam axis. Good agreement is shown with measurements performed in the laboratory over scales ranging from a few tens of mm to a few m, and in the atmosphere over a scale of the order of 1 km. The solutions are valid for optical depths smaller than 10, for phase functions corresponding to average size parameters of order one or greater, and for off-axis positions not exceeding 25% of the reciprocal of the scattering coefficient.     

Nonlinear interaction of a modulated beam with plasma

Nonlinear evolution of h. f. instabilities excited by a premodulated electron beam in a magnetized plasma is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. Only the erenkov type of excitation (k_¦|v_b) of the upper branch of the electron plasma oscillations has been observed. The dynamics of excitation of the quasistationary fundamental wave (having the frequency of modulation) has been determined numerically. The wave absorption has been included into the theoretical model through an effective collision frequency. Numerical results agree well with the measured evolution of the amplitude and of the phase velocity of the fundamental wave along the system, as well as with the beam distribution functions. The observed bunching of beam electrons and characteristic features of plasma electrons heating are also reported. Broadening of the frequency spectrum and the occurrence of satellite waves with lower phase velocities have been observed downstream. Physical mechanism of spantaneous excitation of these satellites is suggested and their role in the process of the beam relaxation is discussed. More detailed studies of the nonlinearly excited waves have been performed by modulating the beam at two frequencies.It is a pleasure for us to thank Dr .Körbel who has kindly performed the numerical calculations.     

Structural phase transitions in ‘hcp’ C70 single-crystals

The thermal expansion of vapor-grownC ₇₀ single crystals ahs been investigated using high-resolution capacitance dilatometry from 5–380 K. Measurements were made both parallel and perpendicular to the hexagonalc-axis. Three first-order phase transitions which we associate with the consecutive disordering of theC ₇₀ molecules are observed upon heating at 280 K (long-axis spinning), 300 K (long-axis precession) and 355 K (quasi-free rotation), respectively. The highest-temperature transition exhibits a very large (50 K) thermal hysteresis. Powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction show that the crystals are predominantly hexagonal-close-packed (HCP) with an idealc/a1.63 above 360 K andc/a1.84 at 295 K.     

A Full-Height Waveguide to Thin-Film Microstrip Transition with Exceptional RF Bandwidth and Coupling Efficiency

We describe a waveguide to thin-film microstrip transition for high-performance submillimetre wave and teraherz applications. The proposed constant-radius probe couples thin-film microstrip line, to full-height rectangular waveguide with better than 99% efficiency (VSWR 1.20) and 45% fractional bandwidth. Extensive HFSS simulations, backed by scale-model measurements, are presented in the paper. By selecting the substrate material and probe radius, any real impedance between 15-60 can be achieved. The radial probe gives significantly improved performance over other designs discussed in the literature. Although our primary application is submillimetre wave superconducting mixers, we show that membrane techniques should allow broad-band waveguide components to be constructed for the THz frequency range.     

Superconductivity and magnetism in Y1−x Ca x Sr2GaCu2O7−δ

Samples of Y_1–x Ca _x Sr₂GaCu₂O_7– (x=0, 0.4) doped with⁵⁷Fe, prepared under various oxygen pressures, have been studied by magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Most of the iron ions (Fe³⁺) enter the Ga(Cu(1)) site. For thex=0 sample, the Mössbauer spectra of the iron nuclei in the Cu(2) sublattice display magnetic order of Cu,T _N=370 K. The iron ions in the Ga site display magnetic order only at low temperatures. At temperatures above 90 K, these iron ions display a pure quadrupole doublet Mössbauer spectrum. The samplex=0.4 also displays magnetic order of the Cu(2) site,T _N370 K. A sharp drop in the hyperfine field is observed atT _N, probably associated with a first-order phase transition or two-dimensional ordering. The iron nuclei in the Ga site display paramagnetic long spin relaxation time phenomena at 4.2 K. Thex=0.4 sample prepared under 110 atm oxygen pressure, displays superconductivity,T _c50 K. The Mössbauer spectra give evidence of the presence of two phases. One displays magnetic order, the other is paramagnetic, the last is probably associated with the superconducting phase.     

Process characterization and mechanism for laser-induced chemical vapor deposition of a-Si : H from SiH4

The dependence of a-SiH film deposition by laser-induced decomposition of SiH₄ on the different process variables is studied. The gas phase temperature in the beam center, produced by CO₂ laser irradiation in parallel configuration, is estimated using a simple energy balance model. The surface temperature is measured with high accuracy employing a Ni sensor (250°–400 °C). The deposition rate and film properties such as the hydrogen content and the optical energy gap are determined as a function of these parameters. The production of H₂ (10%), Si₂H₆ (2%), and Si₃H₈ in the gas phase during laser irradiation is proved by a mass spectrometric analysis. The chemical reaction processes induced in the gas phase and at the surface are discussed. A mechanism explaining the main features of the complicated chemistry involved is developed.     

μ +SR study of some magnetic superconductors

The relaxation of the ⁺SR signal has been investigated for the three compounds YRh₄B₄, ErRh₄B₄ and SmRh₄B₄. In the non-magnetic superconducting (T _c 11 K) YRh₄B₄, the data display a Kubo-Toyabe (gaussian) shape for zero (transverse) magnetic fields. ErRh₄B₄ (superconducting below 8.7 K and ferromagnetic below 1 K) shows a dominant signal with very slow relaxation. In contrast SmRh₄B₄ (superconducting below 2.7 K and antiferromagnetic-superconducting below 0.87 K) shows a change in relaxation from gaussian above 60 K to exponential between 1 K and 4 K to two exponential signals (fast and slow) belowT _N=0.9 K. In the region 0.9 K <T < 4.5 K, the relaxation time and the asymmetry both increase withT.supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.Supported by NSERC of Canada.supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.We are grateful to Drs. H. Umezawa and H. Matsumoto for interesting discussions regarding the persistent current screening and the results of self-consistent calculations.     

Kolmogorov exponents for near-incompressible turbulence from perturbative quantum field theory

I derive the Kolmogorov exponents for the energy spectrum of freely-decaying, fully-developed, near-incompressible turbulence, using the methods of perturbative quantum field theory. In contrast to the approach involving Gaussian random forces, the leading-order result is determined uniquely through selfconsistency. At the first order in , I find a unique and nontrivial, IR (infrared) stable fixed-line. I show that the upper critical dimension of this system is 6, and E(k)k^–2 in 3 dimensions and E(k)k^–3 in 2 dimensions along this nontrivial fixed-line (at the one-loop level).     

Symmetric behavior of vortex states of superconducting networks in a magnetic field

We present magnetic field dependence of phase transition temperature and vortex configuration of superconducting networks based on theoretical study. The applied magnetic field is called “filling field” that is defined by applied magnetic flux (in unit of the flux quantum) per unit loop of the superconducting network. If a superconducting network is composed of very thin wires whose thicknesses are less than coherence length, the de Gennes–Alexander (dGA) theory is applicable. We have already shown that field dependences of transition temperature curves have symmetric behavior about the filling field of 1/2 by solving the dGA equation numerically in square lattices, honeycomb lattices, cubic lattices and those with randomly lack of wires networks. Many experimental studies also show the symmetric behavior. In this paper, we make an explicit theoretical explanation of symmetric behaviors of superconducting network respect to the applied field.     

The neutron decay retardation spectrometer aSPECT: Electromagnetic design and systematic effects

The apparatus described here, aSPECT, will be used for a measurement of the neutrino-electron angular correlation coefficient a in the decay of free neutrons. The idea of the aSPECT spectrometer is to measure the integrated proton energy spectrum very accurately using an energy filter by electrostatic retardation and magnetic adiabatic collimation. The main ideas of the spectrometer are presented, followed by an explanation of the adiabatic transmission function. Details of the superconducting coil and of the electrode system are given, as well as a discussion of the most important systematic effects: magnetic field and electrostatic potential inhomogeneities, deviation from adiabatic motion, scattering in the residual gas, background, Doppler effect, edge effect, and detector efficiency. Using this spectrometer, the parameter a is planned to be measured with an absolute experimental uncertainty of a 3 ^. 10^-4, from which the axial vector to vector coupling constant ratio can be determined with an accuracy of 0.001.     

Pulsed laser crystallization of hydrogen-free a-Si thin films for high-mobility poly-Si TFT fabrication

The possibility to fabricate high-mobility polysilicon TFTs by nanosecond pulsed laser crystallization of unhydrogenated amorphous Si thin films has been investigated. Two types of lasers have been used: a large area ( 1 cm²) single ArF excimer laser pulse and a small diameter ( 100 m) frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser beam, working in the scanning regime. Processed films have been characterized in detail by different optical and microscopic techniques. Device performances indicate that the best results are achieved with the excimer laser leading to high mobility values (up to 140 cm²/Vs) which are much larger than in polysilicon TFTs fabricated onto the same quartz substrates by low-temperature thermal (630° C) crystallization of amorphous Si films (_fe55 cm²/Vs).     

Low-Frequency Pulsations of Coronal Magnetic Loops

We analyze low-frequency intensity fluctuations of the microwave emission from solar flares at frequencies 22 and 37 GHz. The three microwave bursts of durations of about 1 h, observed at the Metsähovi Radio Observatory (Finland) with the time resolution of 0.1 and 0.05 s, are studied. To obtain spectral-temporal characteristics of the low-frequency fluctuations, we apply the Wigner-Ville method, i.e., the time-lag Fourier transform of the local autocorrelation function of an analytical signal. As a result, we obtain for the first time the dynamical spectra of the low-frequency fluctuations, which are identified as MHD eigenoscillations of coronal magnetic loops. The features of the dynamical spectra testify that several types of low-frequency pulsations are excited in coronal magnetic loops during solar flares: 1) Fast and slow magnetosonic oscillations with periods of 1-1.5 s and 200-280 s, respectively. Fast magnetosonic oscillations appear as pulse trains of duration 100-200 s and have the positive frequency drift d/ dt 0.125 Hz/min and the frequency splitting 0.05 Hz; 2) The eigenoscillations of a coronal magnetic loop as an equivalent electric circuit. The period of these oscillations is about 1 s during the initial stage of a microwave burst and increases gradually up to 4 s during the decay stage of the radio emission; and 3) Intensity modulation of the microwave radiation by a periodic pulse sequence with a period of about 1 s at the burst onset and about 2 s at its end. The parameters of the dynamical spectra and identification of the MHD pulsations allow us to obtain information on the loop parameters, such as the ratio of the loop radius to its length (r/L 0.1), the ratio of the gas pressure to the magnetic-field pressure inside the loop ( 3· 10^-3), the ratio of plasma densities outside and inside the loop, and the electric current in the coronal loop (I 1.5 · 10¹² A).     

Martensitic transformation in La1−x Yb x Ag1−y In y

The structural phase transformation of La_1–x Yb _x Ag_1–y In _y has been studied on single crystals by low temperature Laue-technique. The martensitic transformation in this pseudobinary intermetallic alloy has to be characterized as a weak orthorhtombic distortion of a single I centered unit cell (c/a1.04;a/b1.006) and a collective slipping or twinning of these cells that gives a fixed orientation between the remaining cubic room temperature structure and the martensitic phase. Above room temperature exists an order-disorder transformation from the CsCl-B2 structure to an at room temperature metastable W-A2 structure. There is no dramatic change in the physical properties of this alloy by substituting La by Yb, so we may approximate our results to LaAg_1–y In _y .This paper is dedicated to Prof. Dr. S. Methfessel on the occasion of his 60^th birthday