Optical generation of spin coherence in single-charged (In,Ga)As/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots

The generation of electron spin coherence has been studied in n-modulation-doped (In,Ga)As/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) which contain on average a single electron per dot. The doping has been confirmed by pump–probe Faraday rotation experiments in a magnetic field parallel to the heterostructure growth direction. For studying spin coherence, the magnetic field was rotated by 90° to the Voigt geometry, and the precession of the electron spin about the field was monitored. The coherence is generated by resonant excitation of the QDs with circularly polarized laser pulses, creating a coherent superposition of an electron, and a trion state. The efficiency of the generation can be controlled by the pulse intensity, being most efficient for (2n+1)π pulses.     

Photoelastic investigation of interfacial fracture between orthotropic and isotropic materials

Static and dynamic fracture of interfaces between orthotropic and isotropic materials were studied using photoelasticity. In this study, a bi-material specimen made of PSM-1^® and Scotchply^® 1002, a unidirectional glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite, was used. Two fiber orientations, fibers parallel to the interface (α=0°) and fibers perpendicular to the interface (α=90°) were considered. Center crack bi-material specimens having different crack lengths were loaded quasi-statically and the full-field isochromatics were recorded using a digital camera. The complex stress intensity factor corresponding to each crack length was calculated from the isochromatics and the values were compared to that obtained from boundary collocation method. Dynamic interfacial fracture was studied with an edge crack bi-material geometry for the two different fiber orientations. The isochromatics around the propagating crack were recorded using a digital high-speed camera. The fracture parameters such as crack speed, complex stress intensity factor and energy release rate were extracted from the isochromatics using the asymptotic stress field equations. The complex stress intensity factor obtained from the static experiments was in close agreement with that calculated using the boundary collocation method. The results also indicated that the fiber orientation with respect to the interface influences the fracture parameters for stationary and propagating cracks.     

Annealing effect on the superconductivity of In2O3–ZnO thin films

We have investigated the relation among ρ–T characteristics, superconductivity, annealing conditions and the crystallinity of polycrystalline (In₂O₃)_1−x–(ZnO)_x films. We annealed as-grown amorphous films in air by changing annealing temperature and time. It is found that the films annealed at 200 °C or 300 °C for a time over 0.5 h shows the superconductivity. Transition temperature T_c and the carrier density n are T_c < 3.3 K and n ≈ 10²⁵–10²⁶ m⁻³, respectively. Investigations for films with x = 0.01 annealed at 200 °C have revealed that the T_c, n and crystallinity depend systematically on annealing time. Further, we consider that there is a suitable annealing time for sharp resistive transition because the transition width becomes wider with longer annealing times. We studied the upper critical magnetic field H_c2(T) for the film with different annealing time. From the slope of dH_c2/dT for all films, we have obtained the resistivity ρ dependence of the coherence length ξ(0) at T = 0 K.     

Control of susceptibility-related image contrast by spin-lock techniques

Macroscopic magnetic field inhomogeneities might lead to image distortions, while microscopic field inhomogeneities, due to susceptibility changes in tissues, cause spin dephasing and decreasing T₂ relaxation time. The latter effects are especially observed in the trabecular bone and in regions adjacent to air-containing cavities when gradient-echo sequences are applied. In conventional MRI, these susceptibility-related signal voids can be avoided by applying spin-echo (SE) techniques. In this study, an alternative method for the examination and control of susceptibility-related effects by spin-lock (SL) radiofrequency pulses is presented: SL pulses were applied in two different susceptibility-sensitive sequence types: (a) between the jump and return 90° pulses in a 90°_x−τ−90°_−x magnetization-prepared Fast Low Angle Shot (FLASH) sequence and (b) between the 90° pulse and the 180° pulse in an asymmetric SE sequence. The range of Larmor frequencies used for spin locking can be determined for different B₁ amplitudes of the SL pulses, allowing control of image contrast by the amplitude of the SL pulses.     

Inclusive production of the meson in hadronic decays of the Z boson

The inclusive production rate of the ρ^±(770) vector meson in hadronic Z decays is measured with the ALEPH detector at the LEP collider. A total of 3.2 million hadronic events are selected from data recorded between 1991 and 1995. Decays of ρ^±→π⁰+π^± are reconstructed for x_E>0.05 and x_p>0.05 where x_p=p_ρ/p_beam and x_E=E_ρ/E_beam. The average ρ^± multiplicity per hadronic event is evaluated to be N(ρ^±)=2.59±0.03±0.15±0.04 where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. The third error is from the uncertainty in the extrapolation to x_p=x_E=0. The rates and differential cross-section are compared with Monte Carlo model predictions and OPAL measurements. Residual Bose–Einstein correlations are found to be an important component in the analysis.     

Miniature microstructured fiber coil with high magneto-optical sensitivity

Magneto-optic Faraday Effect in a miniature coil wound from a microstructured spun-type optical fiber is investigated theoretically and experimentally for the first time. It is shown that such a microstructured fiber allows one to efficiently accumulate the Faraday phase shift in a magnetic field even when the fiber is wound into a coil of very small diameter. For example, a fiber coil of diameter 5 mm with 100 turns has a magneto-optic sensitivity of about 70% of its “ideal” value and agrees well with theoretical data.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of single-crystalline BaFe12O19 nanoparticles

Rod-like and platelet-like nanoparticles of simple-crystalline barium hexaferrite (BaFe₁₂O₁₉) have been synthesized by the molten salt method. Both particle size and morphology change with the reaction temperature and time. The easy magnetization direction (0 0 l) of the BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles has been observed directly by performing X-ray diffraction on powders aligned at 0.5 T magnetic field. The magnetic properties of the BaFe₁₂O₁₉ magnet were investigated with various sintering temperatures. The maximum values of saturation magnetization (σ_s=65.8 emu/g), remanent magnetization (σ_r=56 emu/g) and coercivity field (H_ic=5251 Oe) of the aligned samples occurred at the sintering temperatures of 1100 °C. These results indicate that BaFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles synthesized by the molten salt method should enable detailed investigation of the size-dependent evolution of magnetism, microwave absorption, and realization of a nanodevice of magnetic media.     

Time-resolved study of the AΠ state of CaH by laser spectroscopy

A time-resolved experiment on the A²Π state of gaseous calcium hydride has been performed by applying laser spectroscopic methods. The following zero-pressure lifetime was obtained for the CaH A²Π state: τ_υ´=0 = 33.2 (±3.2) ns and τ_υ´=1 = 33.7 (±5.2) ns. The lifetime was found to be the same for the A²Π_½ and A²Π_3/2 states.     

N Chemical Shift Tensor Magnitude and Orientation in the Molecular Frame of Uracil Determined via MAS NMR

The potential of heteronuclear MAS NMR spectroscopy for the characterization of ¹⁵N chemical shift (CS) tensors in multiply labeled systems has been illustrated, in one of the first studies of this type, by a measurement of the chemical shift tensor magnitude and orientation in the molecular frame for the two ¹⁵N sites of uracil. Employing polycrystalline samples of ¹⁵N₂ and 2-¹³C,¹⁵N₂-labeled uracil, we have measured, via ¹⁵N–¹³C REDOR and ¹⁵N–¹H dipolar-shift experiments, the polar and azimuthal angles (θ, ψ) of orientation of the ¹⁵N–¹³C and ¹⁵N–¹H dipolar vectors in the ¹⁵N CS tensor frame. The (θ_NC, ψ_NC) angles are determined to be (92 ± 10°, 100 ± 5°) and (132 ± 3°, 88 ± 10°) for the N1 and N3 sites, respectively. Similarly, (θ_NH, ψ_NH) are found to be (15 ± 5°, −80 ± 10°) and (15 ± 5°, 90 ± 10°) for the N1 and N3 sites, respectively. These results obtained based only on MAS NMR measurements have been compared with the data reported in the literature.     

Studies on lead-free multiferroic magnetoelectric composites

Lead-free multiferroic magnetoelectric composites consisting of ferrimagnetic Ni_0.93Co_0.02Mn_0.05Fe_1.95O₄ (NMF) and ferroelectric Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ (NBT) phases were synthesized by the solid-state sintering method. The presence of constituent phases in composites was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A systematic study of dc conductivity as a function of temperature (RT −450 °C) revealed that the conduction is due to small polarons. The effect of constituent phase variation on the dielectric constant and piezoelectric strength (d₃₃) was examined. The composites exhibited typical magnetic hysteresis (M–H) loops at room temperature. Furthermore, magnetoelectric (ME) output was evaluated as a function of applied magnetic field, which is a product property of the constituent phases. The compound 50% NMF–50%NBT is a new lead-free magnetoelectric composite with 155 μV/cm ME output, which may have potential applications.     

Epitaxial growth of highly transparent and conducting Sc-doped ZnO films on c-plane sapphire by sol–gel process without buffer

Highly transparent and conductive scandium doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Sc) films were deposited on c-plane sapphire substrates by sol–gel technique using zinc acetate dihydrate [Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O] as precursor, 2-methoxyethanol as solvent and monoethanolamine as a stabilizer. The doping with scandium is achieved by adding 0.5 wt% of scandium nitrate hexahydrate [(ScNO₃·6H₂O)] in the solution. The influence of annealing temperature (300–550 °C) on the structural, optical and electrical properties was investigated. X-ray Diffraction study revealed that highly c-axis oriented films with full-width half maximum of 0.16° are obtained at an annealing temperature of 400 °C. The surface morphology of the films was judged by SEM and AFM images which indicated formation of grains. The average transmittance was found to be above 92% in the visible region. ZnO:Sc film, annealed at 400 °C exhibited minimum resistivity of 1.91 × 10⁻⁴ Ω cm. Room-temperature photoluminescence measurements of the ZnO:Sc films annealed at 400 °C showed ultraviolet peak at 3.31eV with a FWHM of 11.2 meV, which are comparable to those found in high-quality ZnO films. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction pattern confirmed the epitaxial nature of the films even without introducing any buffer layer.     

Magnetische streufelder über den bereichen sehr genau orientierter Ni-einkristalloberflächen zwischen 5.5–500 K

The previously described electron optical measurements of the magnetic stray fields of Ni single crystals above the domain structure of plane ( 10)-surfaces oriented within 0.01° at room temperature are now extended to the temperature range 5.5–500 K. Their dependence on the angle ₀, 0° ₀ 5.41°, between exact 10 direction and the normal to the surface is investigated along the crystal axis 110. The results are discussed and compared with calculations of the μ^*-correction.     

Observation of the π(1800) and (1880) mesons in decay

A partial-wave analysis of the reaction π⁻p→ηηπ⁻p at 18 GeV/c has been performed on a data sample of approximately 4000 events obtained by Brookhaven experiment E852. The J^PC=0⁻⁺π(1800) state is observed in the a₀(980)η and f₀(1500)π decay modes. It has a mass of 1876±18±16 MeV/c² and a width of 221±26±38 MeV/c². The J^PC=2⁻⁺π₂(1880) meson is observed decaying through a₂(1320)η. It has a mass of 1929±24±18 MeV/c² and a width of 323±87±43 MeV/c². Both states are potential candidates for non-exotic hybrid mesons.     

Study of in flight

An analysis of data on is presented at beam momenta 600 to 1940 MeV/c. There is evidence for an I=1, J^PC=2⁻⁺ resonance in ηηπ⁰ with mass M=1880±20 MeV and width 255±45 MeV, decaying strongly to a₂(1320)η; it is too strong to be explained as the high mass tail of π₂(1670)→a₂(1320)η. There is tentative evidence also for weak decays to f₀(1500)π. It makes a natural partner to the η₂(1860).     

Thermal and magnetic behavior of Angustifolia Kunth bamboo fibers covered with Fe3O4 particles

Several Angustifolia Kunth bamboo fibers, which have been previously treated with an alkaline solution, were coated with magnetite particles. The coating of the fibers was achieved by an in-situ co-precipitation method with Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺in NaOH or NH₄OH. The fibers were evaluated by chemical analysis using atomic absorption (A.A.) technique, structural characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal stability with thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) in nitrogen at temperature range between 23 °C and 800 °C and magnetic behavior using vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) applying a magnetic field between −27 KOe and 27 KOe at room temperature. We found that the thermal stability and magnetization depend of the synthesis method used to cover the Angustifolia Kunth bamboo fibers. In addition, an improved magnetic response was observed when NaOH solution is used to generate the magnetite coating on the fiber surface.     

Measurement of and the dipion contribution to the muon anomaly with the KLOE detector

We have measured the cross section σ(e⁺e⁻→π⁺π⁻γ(γ)) at DAΦNE, the Frascati -factory, using events with initial state radiation photons emitted at small angle and inclusive of final state radiation. We present the analysis of a new data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 240 pb⁻¹. We have achieved a reduced systematic uncertainty with respect to previously published KLOE results. From the cross section we obtain the pion form factor and the contribution to the muon magnetic anomaly from two-pion states in the mass range 0.592<M_ππ<0.975 GeV. For the latter we find Δ^ππa_μ=(387.2±0.5_stat±2.4_exp±2.3_th)×10⁻¹⁰.     

Computation of streamwise vorticity in a compressible flow of a winglet nozzle-based COIL device

Chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) is a high-power laser with potential applications in both military as well as in the industry. COIL is the only chemical laser based on electronic transition with a wavelength of 1.315 μm, which falls in the near-infrared (IR) range. Thus, COIL beam can also be transported via optical fibers for remote applications such as dismantling of nuclear reactors. The efficiency of a supersonic COIL is essentially a function of mixing specially in systems employing cross-stream injection of the secondary lasing (I₂) flow in supersonic regime into the primary pumping (O₂¹Δ_g) flow. Streamwise vorticity has been proven to be among the most effective manner of enhancing mixing and has been utilized in jet engines for thrust augmentation, noise reduction, supersonic combustion, etc. Therefore, a computational study of the generation of streamwise vorticity in the supersonic flow field of a COIL device employing a winglet nozzle with various delta wing angles of 5°, 10°, and 22.5° has been carried out. The study predicts a typical Mach number of approximately 1.75 for all the winglet geometries. The analysis also confirms that the winglet geometry doubles up both as a nozzle and as a vortex generator. The region of maximum turbulence and fully developed streamwise vortices is observed to occur close to the exit, at x/λ of 0.5, of the winglets making it the most suitable region for secondary flow injection for achieving efficient mixing. The predicted length scale of the scalloped mixer formed by the winglet nozzle is 4λ. Also, the winglet nozzle with 10° lobe angle is most suitable from the point of view of mixing developing cross-stream velocity of 120 m/s with acceptable pressure drop of 0.7 Torr. The winglet geometry with 5° lobe angle is associated with a low cross-stream velocity of 60 m/s, whereas the one with 22.5° lobe angle is associated with a large static and total pressure drop of 1.87 and 9.37 Torr, respectively, making both the geometries unsuitable for COIL systems. The experimental validation shows a close agreement with the computationally predicted values. The studies for the most suitable 10° lobe angle geometry show an observed Mach number of 1.72 with an improved mixing efficiency of 74% due to the occurrence of predicted streamwise vortices in the flow.     

Li mobility in Li0.5 − xNaxLa0.5TiO3 perovskites (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5): Influence of structural and compositional parameters

The dependence of Li mobility on structure and composition of Li_0.5 − xNa_xLa_0.5TiO₃ perovskites (0 ≤ x ≤  0.5) has been investigated by means of neutron diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance and impedance spectroscopy. At 300 K, all samples display a rhombohedral superstructure (R-3c S.G.), where octahedra are out of phase tilted along [111] direction of the ideal cubic cell. The elimination of the octahedral tilting is responsible for the rhombohedral–cubic transformation, detected near 1000 K. In these perovskites, La and Na cations are randomly distributed in A sites, but Li ions are fourfold coordinated at unit cell faces of the cubic perovskite. Lithium conductivity, σ_300 K, decreases with the sodium content, decreasing from values typical of fast ionic conductors, 10^− 3 S/cm, to those of good insulators, 10^− 10 S/cm, when the interconnectivity between vacant A sites is lost (x > 0.3). In samples with x < 0.3, dc conductivity displays a non-Arrhenius behaviour, decreasing activation energy from ~ 0.37 to 0.25 eV when the sample is heated between 77 and 500 K. The temperature dependence of B_Li factors shows the existence of two regimes for Li motion. Below 373 K, Li ions remain partially located near square oxygen windows that connect contiguous A sites, but above 400 K, extended Li motions become dominant. The additional decrease of activation energy from 0.25 to 0.16 eV (low-temperature ⁷Li NMR value), should require the full elimination of octahedral tilting which is only produced above 1000 °C.     

Magneto-controlled illumination with opto-fluidics

Imaging of micro- and nanofluidics is a challenge since the size of the channels is so small that the installment of additional optical and mechanical switches is very difficult. The size of the device and associated increase in viscous dissipation constitute another constraint. In response to these limitations, this work proposes and demonstrates the manipulation of light by adding a functional lens to control the light on demand. In the present work, this lens is realized by filling a hollow fiber with a colloid of superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. When the propagation of light is perpendicular to the magnetic field, this lens stretches the circular beam into a ribbon yielding a larger visible area. Potentially, one can apply a rotating magnetic field thus illuminating a larger spot size or creating other beam geometries. Such composite fibers might also be of value for Faraday isolation and other magneto-optic effects in optical fibers.     

Temperature measurements using fiber optic polarization interferometer

A novel measurement method of temperature based on the phenomena that the phase difference between principle polarization states in the optical retarder is function of temperature is described. The polarization state of optical beam is changed as it passes through the optical retarder, which depends on the temperature. The temperature of optical retarder is determined by comparison of the power difference between principal polarization states. We demonstrate successfully the temperature measurement by using a polarization maintaining fiber as the optical retarder. With a 100 mm length of the fiber optic retarder, the change rate of phase difference on temperature was 0.236 rad/°C and the measurement error was ±0.038°C over the temperature range of −2.6 – +3.4°C. With a 11.5 mm length of the fiber optic retarder, the change rate of phase difference on temperature was 0.021 rad/°C and the measurement error was ±0.79°C over the temperature range of −8.5 – +86.5°C.