The microscopic investigation of structures of moving flux lines by neutron and muon techniques

We have used a variety of microscopic techniques to reveal the structure and motion of flux line arrangements, when the flux lines in low T _c type II superconductors are caused to move by a transport current. Using small-angle neutron scattering by the flux line lattice (FLL), we are able to demonstrate directly the alignment by motion of the nearest-neighbor FLL direction. This tends to be parallel to the direction of flux line motion, as had been suspected from two-dimensional simulations. We also see the destruction of the ordered FLL by plastic flow and the bending of flux lines. Another technique that our collaboration has employed is the direct measurement of flux line motion, using the ultra-high-resolution spectroscopy of the neutron spin-echo technique to observe the energy change of neutrons diffracted by moving flux lines. The muon spin rotation (μSR) technique gives the distribution of values of magnetic field within the FLL. We have recently succeeded in performing μSR measurements while the FLL is moving. Such measurements give complementary information about the local speed and orientation of the FLL motion. We conclude by discussing the possible application of this technique to thin film superconductors.     

Microscopic interactions in CuGeO 3 and organic Spin-Peierls systems deduced from their pretransitional lattice fluctuations

CuGeO₃ exhibits a Spin-Peierls (SP) transition, at T _SP = 14.3 K, which is announced above 19 K by an important regime of one-dimensional (1D) pretransitional lattice fluctuations which can be detected until about 40 K using X-ray diffuse scattering investigations. A quantitative analysis of this scattering shows that in this 1D direction the correlation length follows the “universal” behaviour expected for the thermal fluctuations of a real order parameter which characterizes the lattice dimerization. This allows to define a 1D mean-field temperature, T _SP ^MF , of about 60 K and invalidates any mean field scenario for the SP transition of CuGeO₃. As T _SP ^MF is as high as 4 T _SP we propose that the 3D-SP order is achieved by the interchain coupling between 1D solitons which form below about 16-20 K. CuGeO₃ being in the non-adiabatic regime, it is also suggested that the observed pretransitional fluctuations of CuGeO₃ originate from the X-ray scattering on a very broad damped critical response of lower frequency than the “critical” phonon modes. From the quantitative analysis of the 1D fluctuations we also estimate the microscopic parameters of the SP chain. These parameters allow to locate CuGeO₃ close to the quantum critical boundary separating the gapped SP ground state to the ungapped anti-ferromagnetic ground state. The vicinity of a quantum critical point emphasizes the role of the quantum and non-adiabatic fluctuations and the importance of the interchain coupling in the physics of CuGeO₃. Finally we compare these findings with those obtained for the organic SP systems (BCPTTF)₂PF₆, (TMTTF)₂PF₆ and MEM(TCNQ)₂. From a similar analysis of the pretransitional lattice fluctuations it is found that (BCPTTF)₂PF₆ and (TMTTF)₂PF₆ are located on the SP gapped classical-quantum boundary and are in the adiabatic regime where the fluctuations lead to the formation of a pseudo-gap in the spin degrees of freedom. Differently, we place MEM(TCNQ)₂ inside the SP quantum phase around the crossover line between the adiabatic and non-adiabatic regimes. Received 13 September 2000 and Received in final form 6 February 2001     

X-ray diffuse scattering from incommensurable structures

X-Ray diffuse scattering from a series of examples where the reason for the existence of incommensurable features is fairly well understood, is described. They include in particular non stoichiometric compounds such as [DIPS Φ₄(l₃)0.76] and such as intercalated graphite RbC₂₄. and quasi one dimensional conductors. A particular emphasis is given on various 1 - D conductors and to the relation of the incommensurability to the characteristics of the electron conduction bands.     

Influence of Cyclodextrins on the Kinetics of Oxidation of Amino Acids and BSA by Hydrazyl Radicals

The kinetics of oxidation of amino acids (Arg, His, Lys, Phe, Thr and Tyr), a dipeptide (Gly-His), and BSA (bovine serum albumin) by two persistent water soluble free radicals of the hydrazyl type has been studied.The rate decreases in the order Arg>Lys>Tyr>Thr>HisBSAPheGly-His with bothfree radicals. Addition to the reaction mixture of - and -cyclodextrin decreases the oxidation rate, probably due to amino acidencapsulation in the cyclodextrin cavity. -Cyclodextrin protects more efficiently against oxidation than -cyclodextrin.     

On the Topology of Real Algebraic Plane Curves

We revisit the problem of computing the topology and geometry of a real algebraic plane curve. The topology is of prime interest but geometric information, such as the position of singular and critical points, is also relevant. A challenge is to compute efficiently this information for the given coordinate system even if the curve is not in generic position. Previous methods based on the cylindrical algebraic decomposition use sub-resultant sequences and computations with polynomials with algebraic coefficients. A novelty of our approach is to replace these tools by Gröbner basis computations and isolation with rational univariate representations. This has the advantage of avoiding computations with polynomials with algebraic coefficients, even in non-generic positions. Our algorithm isolates critical points in boxes and computes a decomposition of the plane by rectangular boxes. This decomposition also induces a new approach for computing an arrangement of polylines isotopic to the input curve. We also present an analysis of the complexity of our algorithm. An implementation of our algorithm demonstrates its efficiency, in particular on high-degree non-generic curves.     

Noncovalent triblock copolymers based on a coiled-coil peptide motif

The formation of a noncovalent triblock copolymer based on a coiled-coil peptide motif is demonstrated in solution. A specific peptide pair (E and K) able to assemble into heterocoiled coils was chosen as the middle block of the polymer and conjugated to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and polystyrene (PS) as the outer blocks. Mixing equimolar amounts of the polymer-peptide block copolymers PS-E and K-PEG resulted in the formation of coiled-coil complexes between the peptides and subsequently in the formation of the amphiphilic triblock copolymer PS-E/K-PEG. Aqueous self-assembly of the separate peptides (E and K), the block copolymers (PS-E and K-PEG), and equimolar mixtures thereof was studied by circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the noncovalent PS-E/K-PEG copolymer assembled into rodlike micelles, while in all other cases, spherical micelles were observed. Temperature-dependent studies revealed the reversible nature of the coiled-coil complex and the influence of this on the morphology of the aggregate. A possible mechanism for these transitions based on the interfacial free energy and the free energy of the hydrophobic blocks is discussed. The self-assembly of the polymer-peptide conjugates is compared to that of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene glycol), emphasizing the importance of the coiled-coil peptide block in determining micellar structure and dynamic behavior.     

Ground state of the quasi-1D compound BaVS3 resolved by resonant magnetic x-ray scattering

Resonant magnetic x-ray scattering near the vanadium L2,3-absorption edges has been used to investigate the low temperature magnetic structure of high quality BaVS3 single crystals. Below T(N)=31 K, the strong resonance revealed a triple-incommensurate magnetic ordering at the wave vector (0.226 0.226 ξ) in hexagonal notation, with ξ=0.033. The azimuthal-angle dependence of the scattering signal and time-dependent density functional theory simulations indicate an antiferromagnetic order within the ab plane with the spins polarized along a in the monoclinic structure.