Dependence of single-molecule conductance on molecule junction symmetry

The symmetry of a molecule junction has been shown to play a significant role in determining the conductance of the molecule, but the details of how conductance changes with symmetry have heretofore been unknown. Herein, we investigate a naphthalenedithiol single-molecule system in which sulfur atoms from the molecule are anchored to two facing gold electrodes. In the studied system, the highest single-molecule conductance, for a molecule junction of 1,4-symmetry, is 110 times larger than the lowest single-molecule conductance, for a molecule junction of 2,7-symmetry. We demonstrate clearly that the measured dependence of molecule junction symmetry for single-molecule junctions agrees with theoretical predictions.     

Hydrogenated crystalline silicon fabricated at low-substrate temperatures by reactive sputtering in He-H2 atmosphere

Crystallized films of silicon containing about 5 at.% of bonded hydrogen have been fabricated by reactive sputtering in He and H₂ atmosphere at low substrate temperatures below 250°C. The structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, infrared and visible absorption measurements. The infrared spectra show two or three sharp absorption peaks at the stretching vibrational region of Si-H. The processes of both sputtering and crystallization are strongly affected by the presence of H₂.     

Quasi-Nambu-Goldstone modes in Bose-Einstein condensates

We show that quasi-Nambu-Goldstone (NG) modes, which play prominent roles in high energy physics but have been elusive experimentally, can be realized with atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. The quasi-NG modes emerge when the symmetry of a ground state is larger than that of the Hamiltonian. When they appear, the conventional vacuum manifold should be enlarged. Consequently, topological defects that are stable within the conventional vacuum manifold become unstable and decay by emitting the quasi-NG modes. Contrary to conventional wisdom, however, we show that the topological defects are stabilized by quantum fluctuations that make the quasi-NG modes massive, thereby suppressing their emission.     

Moduli space of non-abelian vortices

We completely determine the moduli space M(N,k) of k vortices in U(N) gauge theory with N Higgs fields in the fundamental representation. Its open subset for separated vortices is found as the symmetric product (CxCP(N-1))k/(see text)k. Orbifold singularities of this space correspond to coincident vortices and are resolved resulting in a smooth moduli manifold. The relation to K?hler quotient construction is discussed.     

A chemiluminescence biochemical oxygen demand measuring method

A new chemiluminescence biochemical oxygen demand (BOD_CL) determining method was studied by employing redox reaction between quinone and Baker's yeast. The measurement was carried out by utilizing luminol chemiluminescence (CL) reaction catalyzed by ferricyanide with oxidized quinone of menadione, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a batch-type luminometer. In this study, dimethyl sulfoxide was used as a solvent for menadione. After optimization of the measuring conditions, the CL response to hydrogen peroxide in the incubation mixture had a linear response between 0.1 and 100 μM H₂O₂ (r² = 0.9999, 8 points, n = 3, average of relative standard deviation; R.S.D._av = 4.22%). Next, a practical relationship between the BOD_CL response and the glucose glutamic acid concentration was obtained over a range of 11-220 mg O₂ L⁻¹ (6 points, n = 3, R.S.D._av 3.71%) with a detection limit of 5.5 mg O₂ L⁻¹ when using a reaction mixture and incubating for only 5 min. Subsequently, the characterization of this method was studied. First, the BOD_CL responses to 16 pure organic substances were examined. Second, the influences of chloride ions, artificial seawater, and heavy metal ions on the BOD_CL response were investigated. Real sample measurements using river water were performed. Finally, BOD_CL responses were obtained for at least 8 days when the S. cerevisiae suspension was stored at 4 °C (response reduction, 69.9%; R.S.D. for 5 testing days, 18.7%). BOD_CL responses after 8 days and 24 days were decreased to 69.9% and 35.8%, respectively, from their original values (R.S.D. for 8 days involving 5 testing days, 18.7%).     

Flow and fracture of rocks under general triaxial compression

Recent laboratory studies of the flow and fracture of rocks under general triaxial compression are reviewed. New developments in laboratory techniques have made it possible to measure three principal stresses and strains under general triaxial stress states, in which all three principal stresses are different.Strength and ductility of isotropic rocks are markedly affected not only by the least compression ₃, but also by the intermediate compression ₂, although these two effects are rather additional in strength, but opposite in ductility. The experimental results show that dilatancy is highly anisotropic under the general triaxial stress states.Deformational properties of anisotropic rocks have been also measured under the general triaxial compression. In this case, the effect of the intermediate compression markedly depends on the orientations of the weak planes.