Structural studies and T c dependence in La2−x Dy x Ca y Ba2Cu4+y O z type mixed oxide superconductors

A new series of mixed oxide superconductors with the stoichiometric composition La_2−x Dy _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z (x=0.0 − 0.5, y=2x) has been studied for structural and superconductiong properties. Our earlier studies on La_2−x (Y/Er) _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z series, show a strong dependence of T _c on hole concentration (p _sh). In the present work, the results of the analysis of the neutron diffraction measurements at room temprerature on x=0.3 and 0.5 samples are reported. It is interesting to know that Ca substitutes for both La and Ba site with concomitant displacement of La onto Ba site. Superconductivity studies show that maximum T _c is obtained for x=0.5, y=1.0 sample (T _c ∼ 75 K), for La_1.5Dy_0.5Ca₁Ba₂Cu₅O _z (La-2125).     

Electrical properties of vapour grown ZrSe3 single crystals

Resistivity, Hall coefficient and thermoelectric power measurements of ZrSe₃ single crystals along the chain axis were carried out in the temperature range from 200 to 400 K. Experimental results are explained by the model of compensated semiconductors with two-dimensional characteristics. The activation energy of the donor level is determined to be 0.25 eV and the effective mass of the conduction band parallel to the layer is estimated to be 0.3m₀.     

Boundary-value problems for systems of first-order partial differential inclusions

((Without abstract.))     

Compensation strategies for a lip-tube perturbation of French [u]: an acoustic and perceptual study of 4-year-old children

The relations between production and perception in 4-year-old children were examined in a study of compensation strategies for a lip-tube perturbation. Acoustic and perceptual analyses of the rounded vowel [u] produced by twelve 4-year-old French speakers were conducted under two conditions: normal and with a 15-mm-diam tube inserted between the lips. Recordings of isolated vowels were made in the normal condition before any perturbation (N1), immediately upon insertion of the tube and for the next 19 trials in this perturbed condition, with (P2) or without articulatory instructions (P1), and in the normal condition after the perturbed trials (N2). The results of the acoustic analyses reveal speaker-dependent alterations of F1, F2, and/or F0 in the perturbed conditions and after the removal of the tube. For some subjects, the presence of the tube resulted in very little change; for others, an increase in F2 was observed in P1, which was generally reduced in some of the 20 repetitions, but not systematically and not continuously. The use of articulatory instructions provided in the P2 condition was detrimental to the achievement of a good acoustic target. Perceptual data are used to determine optimal combinations of F0, F1, and F2 (in bark) related to these patterns. The data are compared to a previous study conducted with adults [Savariaux et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 106, 381-393 (1999)].     

Nuclear magnetic moment of 210Fr: a combined theoretical and experimental approach

We measure the hyperfine splitting of the 9S_{1/2} level of 210Fr, and find a magnetic dipole hyperfine constant A=622.25(36) MHz. The theoretical value, obtained using the relativistic all-order method from the electronic wave function at the nucleus, allows us to extract a nuclear magnetic moment of 4.38(5)micro_{N} for this isotope, which represents a factor of 2 improvement in precision over previous measurements. The same method can be applied to other rare isotopes and elements.     

Phase-amplitude characterization of a high-repetition-rate quantum dash passively mode-locked laser

We apply a novel phase-amplitude characterization method to a one-section quantum dash-based passively mode-locked laser at a 42.2 GHz repetition rate. The method relies on the measurement of the spectral phase of the longitudinal modes by the successive analysis of the correlation signal of a group of three adjacent modes. It provides both the temporal shape of the intensity and the phase of the emitted signal. A pulse of 1.5 ps of width is measured, and a pedestal is exhibited. Extinction ratio limitation is explained by investigating the origin of this pedestal. The accuracy of the method is estimated by comparing the measured autocorrelation signal and the calculated one from the phase analysis.     

Lifetime measurement of the 9s level of atomic francium

We use two-photon resonant excitation and time-correlated single-photon counting techniques on a sample of 210Fr atoms confined and cooled in a magneto-optical trap to measure the lifetime of the 9s excited level. Direct measurement of the decay through the 7P(3/2) level at 851 nm yields a lifetime of 107.53 +/- 0.80 ns.     

Shubnikov de haas oscillations in Cd3-xZnxAs2 alloys

These first measurements of the Shubnikov de Haas effect in Cd_3-xZn_xAs₂ alloys were performed with x values ≤0.6. The electron effective mass is shown to be anisotropic but much less than Cd₃As₂ samples of similar Fermi energies. Spin splitting was observed yielding g values of up to 43 for the purest sample.