Fluctuation-driven directed transport in the presence of Lévy flights

The role of Lévy flights on fluctuation-driven transport in time independent periodic potentials with broken spatial symmetry is studied. Two complementary approaches are followed. The first one is based on a generalized Langevin model describing overdamped dynamics in a ratchet type external potential driven by Lévy white noise with stability index α in the range 1<α<2. The second approach is based on the space fractional Fokker-Planck equation describing the corresponding probability density function (PDF) of particle displacements. It is observed that, even in the absence of an external tilting force or a bias in the noise, the Lévy flights drive the system out of the thermodynamic equilibrium and generate an up-hill current (i.e., a current in the direction of the steeper side of the asymmetric potential). For small values of the noise intensity there is an optimal value of α yielding the maximum current. The direction and magnitude of the current can be manipulated by changing the Lévy noise asymmetry and the potential asymmetry. For a sharply localized initial condition, the PDF of staying at the minimum of the potential exhibits scaling behavior in time with an exponent bigger than the −1/α exponent corresponding to the force free case.     

Electrical conduction in a semicrystalline polyethylene terephthalate in high electric field

Measurements of conduction currents were carried out on polyethylene terephthalate semi crystalline PET in an electrical field region varying from 40 to 260 V/μm. Various mechanisms of conduction (Richardson-Schottky, Fowler-Nordheim, Poole-Frenkel, space charge limited current SCLC, Hopping), can cause non-linear characteristics. To highlight the mechanism responsible for conduction in the PET, we used the slope of the experimental curve Log(J)=f(E) in the region 150<E<260 V/μm, to calculate the value of the dielectric permittivity. The characteristic curve Log(J)=f(1/T) shows that the Poole-Frenkel mechanism of conduction is prevalent in the semi crystalline PET. The characteristic J=f(E) for various thicknesses shows that the field threshold increases with the thickness.     

Energy,momentum and angular momentum of gravitational radiation from a particle plunging into a non-rotating black hole

We have computed the energy ΔE, the momentum ΔP and the angular momentum ΔJ of gravitational radiation induced by a particle of mass μ and angular momentum μL_z plunging into a Schwarzschild black hole of mass M (?μ). It is found that the maximum value of ΔP is 4.5 × 10^?2 (μ/M) μc, ΔE/ΔJ ≈ 0.15c/(GM/c²), and a rotating ring plunging into a black hole emits less energy than a non-rotating one.     

Competition between strong and decoupling schemes in 187Ir

Low spin states (J < j) for transitional nuclei with a typical decoupling spectrum built on a single particle level j show systematic discrepancies between theory and experiment. To account for the discrepancies the decoupling scheme is extended to include also strong coupling. Excellent agreement including that for the low spin states is found in ¹⁸⁷Ir to which this theory is applied.     

Time dependence of isothermal magnetization in single-phase B1 MoCy encapsulated in multiwall carbon nanocages

Isothermal magnetization M(t) in nanocrystalline single-phase B1 MoC_y encapsulated in multiwall carbon nanocages is studied within the time window of 100 < t < 5000 s. The current density J exhibits a linear logarithmic time decay. The effective activation energy U_eff increases linearly with increasing temperature T, and decreases linearly with increasing J. The behaviors of J(t), U_eff(T), and U_eff(J) can be described by the Anderson–Kim flux-creep model for thermally activated motion of uncorrelated vortices or vortex bundles over a net potential barrier U_eff. The slower relaxation of current density above the broad peak field in the isothermal magnetization curves suggests that the peak is a result of vortex dynamics.     

Effects on Jc of pinning center morphology for multiple-in-line-damage in coated conductor and bulk,melt-textured HTS

The properties of discontinuous aligned pinning centers (PCs) created by high-energy heavy-ions are compared for bulk melt-textured and coated conductor HTS. Properties of PCs, which increase J_c (pinning potential and entanglement), and negative properties which decrease J_c (e.g., decreased T_c and percolation paths) are evaluated. Mechanisms are proposed to explain the very large increases in J_c resulting from multiple-in-line-damage (MILD) compared to continuous columnar pinning centers (CCPC). In particular, a mechanism which results in fluxoid entanglement, even for parallel (unsplayed) PCs, is discussed. The same mechanism is found to also account for restoration of much of the pinning potential expected to be lost due to the gaps in MILD PCs. It also accounts for the fact that at high fluence, J_c increases as fluence is increased, instead of decreasing as expected. The very low self-field in coated conductor permits separation of the negative and positive effects of PCs. It is found that parameters developed to quantify the negative effects in bulk melt-textured YBCO, by 63 GeV U²³⁸ ions, successfully describe damage to 2.1 μm thick coated conductor by 1 GeV Ru⁴⁴ ions. Coated conductor at 77 K and self-field is generally known to have J_c about 100 times that of melt-textured YBCO. However, at 77 K and applied field of 1 T, when both forms of HTS are processed with comparable numbers of near-optimum MILD PCs, the difference in J_c is reduced to a factor of 1.3–2. Whereas J_c for melt-textured YBCO increased sharply, by a factor of up to 16.8 for high-fluence MILD PCs, J_c in coated conductor increased by a smaller factor of 2.5–3.0. Nevertheless, 2.1 μm thick coated conductor, with near-optimum MILD PCs, exhibits J_c = 543 kA/cm² at 77 K and applied field of 1.0 T, and I_c = 114 A/cm-width of conductor. This is the highest value we find in the literature. The phenomenology developed indicates that for optimum MILD PCs in coated conductor, J_c ～ 700 ± 70 kA/cm² should be achievable at 77 K, 1.0 T.     

Do muons interact anomalously with hadrons?

We examine the possibility that the recently observed suppression of the rate for K_L→μ⁺μ⁻ is due to the three-pion intermediate state with an anomalously large amplitude for 3π(J^P = 0⁻)→μ⁺μ⁻. We do not explicitly introduce new dynamics, but merely parameterize the empirically required enhancement in the simplest phenomenological manner. The question is then raised as to whether this interaction would be presently observable in other experiments where muons are studied in the vicinity of hadrons, in particular muon-proton scattering and muonic atoms. We also raise the same question with respect to an alternative possibility, namely that an anomalously large amplitude for ππ(J^P=0⁺)→μ⁺μ⁻ give rise to K_S→μ⁺μ⁻. The possible size and nature of effects in other experiments are thus estimated.     

MgB2 coated superconducting tapes with high critical current densities fabricated by hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition

The MgB₂ coated superconducting tapes have been fabricated on textured Cu (0 0 1) and polycrystalline Hastelloy tapes using coated conductor technique, which has been developed for the second generation high temperature superconducting wires. The MgB₂/Cu tapes were fabricated over a wide temperature range of 460-520 °C by using hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition (HPCVD) technique. The tapes exhibited the critical temperatures (T_c) ranging between 36 and 38 K with superconducting transition width (ΔT_c) of about 0.3-0.6 K. The highest critical current density (J_c) of 1.34 × 10⁵ A/cm² at 5 K under 3 T is obtained for the MgB₂/Cu tape grown at 460 °C. To further improve the flux pinning property of MgB₂ tapes, SiC is coated as an impurity layer on the Cu tape. In contrast to pure MgB₂/Cu tapes, the MgB₂ on SiC-coated Cu tapes exhibited opposite trend in the dependence of J_c with growth temperature. The improved flux pinning by the additional defects created by SiC-impurity layer along with the MgB₂ grain boundaries lead to strong improvement in J_c for the MgB₂/SiC/Cu tapes. The MgB₂/Hastelloy superconducting tapes fabricated at a temperature of 520 °C showed the critical temperatures ranging between 38.5 and 39.6 K. We obtained much higher J_c values over the wide field range for MgB₂/Hastelloy tapes than the previously reported data on other metallic substrates, such as Cu, SS, and Nb. The J_c values of J_c(20 K, 0 T) ∼5.8 × 10⁶ A/cm² and J_c(20 K, 1.5 T) ∼2.4 × 10⁵ A/cm² is obtained for the 2-μm-thick MgB₂/Hastelloy tape. This paper will review the merits of coated conductor approach along with the HPCVD technique to fabricate MgB₂ conductors with high T_c and J_c values which are useful for large scale applications.     

Localization in the ground state of a disordered array of quantum rotators

We consider the zero-temperature behavior of a disordered array of quantum rotators given by the finite-volume Hamiltonian: $$H_\Lambda = - \mathop \Sigma \limits_{x \in \Lambda } \frac{{h(x)}}{2}\frac{{\partial ^2 }}{{\partial \varphi (x)^2 }} - J\mathop \Sigma \limits_{\left\langle {x,y} \right\rangle \in \Lambda } \cos (\varphi (x) - \varphi (y))$$ , wherex,y∈Z ^d , 〈,〉 denotes nearest neighbors inZ ^d ;J>0 andh={h(x)>0,x∈Z ^d } are independent identically distributed random variables with common distributiondμ(h), satisfying ∫h ^?δ dμ(h)<∞ for some δ>0. We prove that for anym>0 it is possible to chooseJ(m) sufficiently small such that, if 0<J<J(m), for almost every choice ofh and everyx∈Z ^d the ground state correlation function satisfies $$\left\langle {\cos (\varphi (x) - \varphi (y))} \right\rangle \leqq C_{x,h,J} e^{ - m\left| {x - y} \right|} $$ for ally∈Z ^d withC _x,h,J <∞.     

Current-voltage dependencies of heterogeneous semiconductor systems

Computed current-voltage (J–V) dependencies of heterogeneous (powder) semiconductor systems reveal an anomalous dependence between the constant-voltage current J and the uncompensated donor (acceptor) concentration N. Over a range of N(N₁ < n < N₂) of approximately one decade, J decreases by as much as four decades with increasing N. For N > N₂, the grain Schottky barrier thickness d is less than the grain half-width l/2, the grain surface potential V_s is almost independent of N and the J–V dependence is superlinear. For N₁ < N < N₂, d > l/2, V_s decreases linearly with N, J increases strongly with decreasing N and the J–V dependence is superlinear. For N < N₁, d > l/2. V_s ? V_th ( = kT/q) and J ∝ NV. The phenomenon is used to account for some observed J–V dependencies with column II-chalcogenide and ZnO powder semiconductor systems (electro-optic displays, electrophotographic receptors and heterogeneous catalysts).     

Gravitational radiation induced by a particle falling along the Z-axis into a Kerr black hole

We have computed the spectrum and the energy of gravitational radiation induced by a test particle of mass μ falling along the z-axis into a Kerr black hole of mass M(? μ) and angular momentum Ma(a < M). It is found that the total energy radiated is 0.0170 0.0170 μc²μM when α = 0.99M, which is 1.65 times larger than that when α = 0, i.e., the Schwarzschild black hole case.     

Experimental intensity and lineshape parameters of the oxygen A-band using frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy

Line intensities, self- and air-broadened linewidths, pressure-induced shifts, and collisional narrowing coefficients were measured from 2 ? J′ ? 32 in the P branch of the O₂A-band (12 975-13110 cm⁻¹) utilizing Galatry line profiles. Spectra were recorded using the frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectrometer located at NIST, Gaithersburg, MD with a spectral resolution <0.0001 cm⁻¹ and noise-equivalent absorption coefficient of 6 × 10⁻⁸ m⁻¹ Hz^−1/2. Line intensities, obtained from calibrated gas samples for 2 ? J′ ? 32, are ∼1% lower than the values in current spectroscopic databases. At higher J (18 ? J′ ? 32), the measured air- and self- broadened half widths are up to 20% lower than the extrapolated values given in HITRAN 2004, while corresponding half-widths for 2 ? J′ ? 15 are in better agreement. Available self-broadened half widths are fitted to empirical expressions with an rms of 0.8%. We discuss the implications of our results for accurate remote sensing of surface pressure and photon path length distributions.     

Gravitational radiation from a particle with zero orbital angular momentum plunging into a Kerr black hole

We have computed the energy ΔE, the momentum ΔP and the angular momentum ΔJ of gravitational radiation induced by a particle of mass μ and of zero orbital angular momentum plunging in the θ = π/2 plane into a Kerr black hole of mass M(?μ) and angular momentum Ma. It is found that ΔE for a = 0.99M is 4.45 × 10^-2 (μ²/M)c², which is 4.27 times larger than that for the a = 0 case.     

Polaron-like vortices, dissociation transition, and self-induced pinning in magnetic superconductors

Vortices in magnetic superconductors polarize spins nonuniformly and repolarize them when moving. At a low spin relaxation rate and at low bias currents, vortices carrying magnetic polarization clouds become polaron-like and their velocities are determined by the effective drag coefficient that is significantly bigger than the Bardeen-Stephen (BS) one. As the current increases, vortices release polarization clouds and the velocity as well as the voltage in the I–V characteristics jump to values corresponding to the BS drag coefficient at a critical current J _c . The nonuniform components of the magnetic field and magnetization drop as the velocity increases, resulting in weaker polarization and a discontinuous dynamic dissociation depinning transition. Experimentally, the jump shows up as a depinning transition and the corresponding current at the jump is the depinning current. As the current decreases, on the way back, vortices are retrapped by polarization clouds at the current J _r < J _c . As a result, the polaronic effect suppresses dissipation and enhances the critical current. Borocarbides (RE)Ni₂B₂C with a short penetration length and highly polarizable rare earth spins seem to be optimal systems for a detailed study of vortex polaron formation by measuring I–V characteristics. We also propose to use a superconductor-magnet multilayer structure to study polaronic mechanism of pinning with the goal to achieve high critical currents. The magnetic layers should have large magnetic susceptibility to enhance the coupling between vortices and magnetization in magnetic layers while the relaxation of the magnetization should be slow. For Nb and a proper magnet multilayer structure, we estimate the critical current density J _c ～ 10⁹ A/m² at the magnetic field B ≈ 1 T.     

Halleffekt und anisotropie der beweglichkeit der elektronen in ZnO

Hallconstant, conductivity and Hall mobility of ZnO crystals were measured as function of temperature (4 °K < T < 370 °K) and orientation. Value and anisotropy of mobility can be explained (50 °K < T < 370 °K) by polar optical scattering, deformation potential sc., piezoelectric sc. and sc. by ionized impurities. The anisotropy of mobility is caused only by piezoelectric sc. Maximum values of μ_H are reached for μ_H ⊥ c, with 2400 cm²/V sec at 40 °K and for μ_H ¦ c with 1350cm²/Vsec at 60 °. Below 50 °K Hallconstant, conductivity and Hall mobility are influenced by impurity band conduction processes. The crystals have impurity concentration in the 10¹⁶ cm^?3 range, but they show different donor activation energies depending on growth conditions: Type I: 38,4 meV (50 °K < T < 100 °K) and Type II: 20,3 meV (50 °K < T < 100 °K) and 6 meV (25 °K < T < 50 °K).     

FTMW spectroscopy of jet-cooled 9-cyanoanthracene

Rotational spectrum of jet-cooled 9-cyanoanthracene has been observed in the 4-8 GHz region with a Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. The present observation of 25 low-J transitions with J^′′?11 has confirmed the previous results on the rotational constants of the ground state determined by rotational coherence spectroscopy [J. Phys. Chem. A. 105 (2001) 1131] and provided the values with significantly improved precision. An accurate set of hyperfine splitting constants is also reported for the ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole coupling. The electric dipole moment was determined from Stark effect measurements on several split components: μ_b(=μ)=4.406(7) D.     

B4C in ex-situ spark plasma sintered MgB2

Powder mixtures of MgB₂ and B₄C with composition ((MgB₂) + (B₄C)_x, x = 0.005, 0.01, 0.03) were consolidated by Spark Plasma Sintering at 1150 °C for 3 min. The average particle size of B₄C raw powder was relatively high of 4 μm. Despite this, it is shown that processing processes are fast and, as in the case of the in-situ routes, for our ex-situ method carbon substitutes for the boron in the crystal lattice of MgB₂. Specifics of microstructure are discussed based on electron microscopy observations. Carbon substitution and microstructure contribute to enhancement of the critical current density J_c at high magnetic fields and of the irreversibility field H_irr. Samples are shown to be in the point pinning limit with some tendency toward the grain boundary pinning depending on B₄C doping amount and temperature. An optimum composition is found for x = 0.01: for this sample, at 20 K, a J_c of 100 A/cm² is obtained at 5.35 T. This value is higher than for the pristine MgB₂ sample and for an optimum ex-situ nano-SiC-doped sample obtained for the same SPS processing conditions.     

The pomeron in elastic meson-baryon scattering

We show that a pomeron (P) trajectory with α_P(t) ≈ 1.07 + 0.22t provides a simple and satisfactory fit to π^±p and K^±p elastic scattering data (as well as pp and $\text{p}$p considered in an earlier publication) for |t| < 1.2 GeV², including the rising total cross sections. The destructive term needed to explain the diffraction minimum in pp may be explained as a weak P ? P cut effect provided that the Gribov vertices are given suitable structure, and the prediction is then made that similar minima should be observed in meson-baryon scattering at FNAL somewhere in the region 1.5 < |t| < 2.5 GeV². The P ? P cut does not seem to be related (at least directly) to the unitarization effects which must eventually make σ_tot ～ log²s (but not until s > 10⁸GeV²). Thus the “effective” J-plane singularity structure, at currently available energies seems to be much simpler than it can be asymptotically.     

Stroboscopic XMCD-PEEM imaging of standing and propagating spinwave modes in permalloy thin-film structures

Using synchrotron-based stroboscopic photoemission electron microscopy with X-ray circular dichroism as contrast method, we have investigated the high-frequency response of permalloy thin-film structures. Standing precessional modes have been studied in rectangular elements (16 × 32 μm², 10 nm thick) with a high time resolution of about 15 ps in the low-α mode of BESSY. With increasing amplitude of the applied magnetic AC field the particle is driven from an initial symmetric Landau flux-closure state into an asymmetric state and finally into a single-domain state magnetized perpendicular to the applied field H_AC. The electromagnetic microwave field thus can induces a net magnetization in a small particle. This behaviour is a result of the constant throughput of energy (open system) that allows for an increase of local order, contrary to the usual increase on entropy in closed systems. A propagating spinwave in an ultrathin elliptical particle (semi axes 6 × 12 μm², 3 nm thick) was observed in a snapshot series with 25 ps time increment. The phase front of the spinwave with large precessional angle (bright contrast) propagates with a velocity of 8100 m/s, i.e. much faster than typical domain wall velocities in permalloy.     

Exciton level densities with spin and parity based on random matrix model

Level densities for fixedJ ^π and the exciton number are evaluated for closed shell nuclei⁴⁰Ca and²⁰⁸Pb. The single particle spectra and wave functions are generated by Woods-Saxon potentials. The effects of the residual interaction are taken into account statistically by the method of generating function and Grassmann integral. The matrix elements for the residual interaction are assumed to be random variables with Gaussian distributions whose second moments are calculated by using a zero range interaction. The second moments are evaluated for fixedJ ^π by ignoring the Pauli principle between active nucleons and the spectator. This approximation is shown numerically to be very good. The partial level densities are calculated using the second moments as well as independent particle model spectra. The resulting level densities spread over wider energy ranges, have a smoother energy dependence and are enhanced at low energies compared with the independent particle model densities, although the total level densities do not differ by much.