Is cosmology compatible with sterile neutrinos?

By combining data from cosmic microwave background experiments (including the recent WMAP third year results), large scale structure, and Lyman-alpha forest observations, we constrain the hypothesis of a fourth, sterile, massive neutrino. For the 3 massless+1 massive neutrino case, we bound the mass of the sterile neutrino to ms<0.26 eV (0.44 eV) at 95% (99.9%) C.L., which excludes at high significance the sterile neutrino hypothesis as an explanation of the LSND anomaly. We generalize the analysis to account for active neutrino masses and the possibility that the sterile abundance is not thermal. In the latter case, the contraints in the plane are nontrivial. For a mass of >1 or <0.05 eV, the cosmological energy density in sterile neutrinos is always constrained to be omeganu<0.003 at 95% C.L., but for a mass of approximately 0.25 eV, omeganu can be as large as 0.01.     

Spin coupling and magnetic field effects on the finite-size free energy and its non-extensivity for 1-D Ising model with nearest and next-nearest neighbor interactions in nanosystem

The effects of second-neighbor spin coupling interactions and a magnetic field are investigated on the free energies of a finite-size 1-D Ising model. For both ferromagnetic of nearest neighbor (NN) and next-nearest neighbor (NNN) spin coupling interactions, the finite-size free energy first increases and then approaches a constant value for any size of the spin chain. In contrast, when NNN and NN spin coupling interactions are antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic, respectively, the finite-size free energy gradually decreases by increasing the competition factor and eventually vanishes for large values of it. When a magnetic field is applied, the finite-size free energy decreases with respect to the case of zero magnetic fields for both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spin coupling interactions. Deviation of free energy per size for finite-size systems relative to the infinite system increases when the spin coupling interactions as well as the f parameter (the ratio of the magnetic field to NN spin coupling interaction) increase.     

Generation of linear and nonlinear nonparaxial accelerating beams

We study linear and nonlinear self-accelerating beams propagating along circular trajectories beyond the paraxial approximation. Such nonparaxial accelerating beams are exact solutions of the Helmholtz equation, preserving their shapes during propagation even under nonlinearity. We generate experimentally and observe directly these large-angle bending beams in colloidal suspensions of polystyrene nanoparticles.     

On Random Flights with Non-uniformly Distributed Directions

This paper deals with a new class of random flights in ℝ ^d , d≥2, characterized by non-uniform probability distributions on the multidimensional sphere. These random motions differ from similar models appeared in literature where the directions are taken according to the uniform law. The family of angular probability distributions introduced in this paper depends on a parameter ν≥0, which gives the anisotropy of the motion. Furthermore, we assume that the number of changes of direction performed by the random flight is fixed. The time lengths between two consecutive changes of orientation have joint probability distribution given by a Dirichlet density function.     

Lateral IBIC characterization of single crystal synthetic diamond detectors

In order to evaluate the charge collection efficiency (CCE) profile of single‐crystal diamond devices based on a p‐type/intrinsic/metal configuration, a lateral Ion Beam Induced Charge (IBIC) analysis was performed over their cleaved cross sections using a 2 MeV proton microbeam. CCE profiles in the depth direction were extracted from the cross‐sectional maps at variable bias voltage. IBIC spectra relevant to the depletion region extending beneath the frontal Schottky electrode show a 100% CCE, with a spectral resolution of about 1.5%. The dependence of the width of the high efficiency region from applied bias voltage allows the constant residual doping concentration of the active region to be evaluated. The region where the electric field is absent shows an exponentially decreasing CCE profile, from which it is possible to estimate the diffusion length of the minority carriers by means of a drift–diffusion model. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Thermal expansion of supported and freestanding graphene: lattice constant versus interatomic distance

By using ab initio molecular dynamics calculations, we show that even where the graphene lattice constant contracts, as previously reported for freestanding graphene below room temperature, the average carbon-carbon distance increases with temperature, in both free and supported graphene. This results in a larger corrugation at higher temperature, which can affect the interaction between graphene and the supporting substrate. For a weakly interacting system as graphene/Ir(111), we confirm the results using an experimental approach which gives direct access to interatomic distances.     

Large-scale simulations of a-Si:H: the origin of midgap states revisited

Large-scale classical and quantum simulations are used to generate a-Si:H structures. The bond-resolved density of the occupied electron states discloses the nature of microscopic defects responsible for levels in the gap. Highly strained bonds give rise to band tails and midgap states. The latter originate mainly from stretched bonds, in addition to dangling bonds, and can act as hole traps. This study provides strong evidence for photoinduced degradation (Staebler-Wronski effect) driven by strain, thus supporting recent work on a-Si, and sheds light on the role of hydrogen.     

Design and performance of BOREAS,the beamline for resonant X‐ray absorption and scattering experiments at the ALBA synchrotron light source

The optical design of the BOREAS beamline operating at the ALBA synchrotron radiation facility is described. BOREAS is dedicated to resonant X‐ray absorption and scattering experiments using soft X‐rays, in an unusually extended photon energy range from 80 to above 4000 eV, and with full polarization control. Its optical scheme includes a fixed‐included‐angle, variable‐line‐spacing grating monochromator and a pair of refocusing mirrors, equipped with benders, in a Kirkpatrick–Baez arrangement. It is equipped with two end‐stations, one for X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism and the other for resonant magnetic scattering. The commissioning results show that the expected beamline performance is achieved both in terms of energy resolution and of photon flux at the sample position.