Observation of the second harmonic in the phase dependence of a superconducting current in Nb/Au/YBCO heterojunctions

The second harmonic in the dependence of a superconducting current on the phase difference of superconducting wave functions of the electrodes was observed experimentally in Nb/Au/(001)YBa₂Cu₃O_x heterojunctions. Possible reasons for its appearance were discussed within the framework of a mixed (d±s) symmetry order parameter of YBa₂Cu₃O_x.     

Optical filaments and optical bullets in dispersive nonlinear media

We have investigated the evolution of picosecond and femtosecond optical pulses governed by the amplitude vector equation in the optical and UV domains. We have written this equation in different coordinate frames, namely, in the laboratory frame, the Galilean frame, and the moving-in-time frame and have normalized it for the cases of different and equal transverse and longitudinal sizes of optical pulses or modulated optical waves. For optical pulses with a small transverse size and a large longitudinal size (optical filaments), we obtain the well-known paraxial approximation in all the coordinate frames, while for optical pulses with relatively equal transverse and longitudinal sizes (so-called light bullets), we obtain new non-paraxial nonlinear amplitude equations. In the case of optical fields with low intensity, we have reduced the nonlinear amplitude vector equations governing the light-bullet evolution to the linear amplitude equations. We have solved the linear equations using the method of Fourier transform. An unexpected new result is the relative stability of light bullets and the significant decrease in the diffraction enlargement of light bullets with respect to the case of long pulses in the linear propagation regime.     

Atomic lines isotope shifts of short-lived radioactive Eu studied by high-sensitive laser resonance photoionization method in “on-line” experiments with proton beams

In “on-line” experiments the isotope shifts (IS) of ^141–144Eu have been measured at the mass-separator output. The overall detection efficiency of Eu atoms is equal to 3 x 10^-4. The accuracy of IS measurement is ±70 MHz and determined by laser linewidth.     

Bulk and Surface Quenching of Structural Steel: Morphological Analysis of the Structure

Structures formed in medium-carbon low-alloy steels during bulk quenching from furnace heating and surface quenching initiated by a low-power high-current electron beam are investigated by the methods of diffraction electron microscopy. The influence of the carbon concentration, initial austenite grain size, and cooling rate on the morphology of martensitic crystals and self-tempered carbide particles, long-range stress fields inside a packet and plates, and their dislocation substructure is analyzed. The temperature intervals for the formation of high-temperature plate martensitic crystals and packet (lath) martensite are estimated. It is demonstrated that the structure formed at ultrahigh heating and cooling rates is determined mostly by the morphology of martensite in the initial steel samples.     

Towards Higher-N Superextensions of Born–Infeld Theory

We give a brief account of supersymmetric Born–Infeld theories with extended supersymmetry, including those with partially broken supersymmetry. Some latest developments in this area are presented. One of them is N = 3 supersymmetric Born–Infeld theory which admits a natural off-shell formulation in N = 3 harmonic superspace.     

Temperature dependence of the electric field gradient of204Pb in hexagonal Tl

The temperature dependence of the nuclear quadrupole interaction of²⁰⁴Pb(4⁺) isomer in hexagonal Tl host has been investigated by the TDPAD technique. It is the first reported EFG which does not respect the T^3/2 law fors-p metals. The chosen approach is the independent treatment of the ionic contribution and of the electronic contribution in the approximation of the additivity of the two contributions, avoiding any assumption of a direct temperature dependence for the total EFG.     

Modeling of optimal conditions for oxyhemoglobin photodissociation in laser-irradiated biotissue

Based on the theory of radiation transfer and a model that describes the structure and optical properties of biotissues, we have found spectral conditions of irradiation of the skin surface that ensure efficient generation of molecular oxygen O₂ in the dermis due to the photodissociation of blood oxyhemoglobin. We show that, for maximal local O₂ formation at depths z ≤ 0.2 mm, 0.2 mm < z ≤ 0.9 mm, 0.9 mm < z ≤ 2.5 mm, and z > 2.5 mm, it is more effective to use wavelengths in the intervals 418 ± 5, 575 ± 5, 585 ± 5, and 600 ± 5 nm, respectively. Physical reasons for the shift of optimal wavelengths toward the red range of the spectrum are described. We show that they are based on the selectivity of optical properties of the skin biotissue, which acts as of a kind of spectral filter the transmission curve of which depends on the depth. It is found that irradiation at a wavelength near 575 nm is optimal for the generation of a maximal amount of O₂ in the intire bulk of the dermis.     

Resonant spin excitation in an overdoped high temperature superconductor

An inelastic neutron scattering study of overdoped Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+delta) ( T(c) = 83 K) has revealed a resonant spin excitation in the superconducting state. The mode energy is E(res) = 38.0 meV, significantly lower than in optimally doped Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+delta) ( T(c) = 91 K, E(res) = 42.4 meV). This observation, which indicates a constant ratio E(res)/k(B)T(c) approximately 5.4, helps resolve a long-standing controversy about the origin of the resonant spin excitation in high temperature superconductors.     

Anomalies in the physical properties of the α form of bismuth oxide

Several of the physical properties of α-Bi₂O₃ have been studied in the temperature region above room temperature: the thermal expansion, the thermally stimulated current, the permittivity, the electrical resistance, and the specific heat. X-ray diffraction measurements and a thermogravimetric analysis have also been carried out. Several unusual properties in the physical properties of bismuth oxide have been detected in the temperature interval 450–570 K: exothermic maxima on the DTA and DSC curves, a small maximum and a sharp increase of the permittivity of the single crystal, a jump and a change of sign in the thermally stimulated current, and a sharp falloff of the electrical resistance of ceramic samples. At the same time, no appreciable changes in the monoclinic structure of α-Bi₂O₃ have been recorded in the indicated temperature interval. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 865–870 (May 1997)     

Heavy baryons in the relativistic quark model

We present a summary of results for exclusive decays of single and double heavy-flavored baryons in the relativistic three-quark model.