Field theory of mesoscopic fluctuations in superconductor/normal-metal systems

The thermodynamic and transport properties of normal disordered conductors are strongly influenced by the proximity of a superconductor. A cooperation between mesoscopic coherence and Andreev scattering of particles from the superconductor generates new types of interference phenomena. A field theoretic approach is introduced which is capable of exploring both the averaged properties and mesoscopic fluctuations of superconductor/normal-metal systems. As an example the method is applied to the study of the level statistics of a SNS junction. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 1, 21–26 (10 January 1998) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Diluted generalized random energy model

A layered random spin model, equivalent to the generalized random energy model (GREM), is introduced. In analogy with diluted spin systems, a diluted GREM (DGREM) is constructed. It can be applied to calculate approximately the thermodynamic properties of spin glass models in low dimensions. For the Edwards-Anderson model it gives the correct critical dimension and 5% accuracy for the ground state energy in two dimensions. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 6, 415–419 (25 March 1998) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

A differential calculus on the quantum groupSU q (2) comparible with the gauge-transformation structure

We consider a three-dimensional bicovariant differential calculus on the quantum group SU_q(2) that is compatible with the structure of gauge transformations. In the approach based on the global covariance with respect to the stability subgroup U(1), we show that the gauge-covariant exterior differential algebra on SU_q(2) is uniquely determined. We construct explicit representations of q-deformed Lie algebras in terms of differential operators. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 116, No. 2, pp. 265–276, August. 1998.     

351 nm, 0.7 ns laser damage thresholds of monomeric liquid-crystalline systems

The 351 nm laser-damage thresholds (at 0.7 nm pulse length) of monomeric liquid crystals are reported and results from aromatic-core samples are compared with those from fully saturated systems. The role of π-electron conjugation is examined and identified as the key cause for laser damage. For UV laser compatibility of devices, the damage behaviour of an alignment-layer polymer (nylon 6/6) was also investigated.     

Structure and defects at Y2BaCuO5 interfaces in melt-textured YBa2Cu3Ox superconductors

Y₂BaCuO₅ (211) inclusions are prominent microstructural features found in melt-textured YBa₂Cu₃O_x (123) superconductors. These particles are of interest because the 123/211 interfaces and the interface-associated defects have been proposed to be flux pinning centers. In addition, the 211 particles are believed to be heterogeneous nucleation centers of dislocation which can increase the critical current density of 123. Unfortunately, only limited studies have been performed on these particles to ascertain their roles in flux pinning. In this investigation, 211 particles, the interfacial structure and defects in undeformed and mechanically deformed melt-textured 123 have been studied by transmission electron microscopy. It was found that there appears to be a preferred orientation between large oblong 211 particles and the 123 matrix. In addition, while the 123/211 interfaces in undeformed 123 are sharp and relatively undistorted, the interfaces in deformed 123 samples are much thicker. Also, the distribution of strained regions and dislocations around oblong 211 particles in undeformed 123 is nonuniform; the interfaces of low surface curvature are relatively free of defects while the surfaces of high curvature are abundant in dislocations. In contrast, the 123/211 interfaces in deformed 123 samples contain high density of dislocations regardless of interface curvature.     

Optimality conditions in a resource allocation problem

Translated from Vychislitel'nye Kompleksy i Modelirovanie Slozhnykh Sistem, pp. 138–141, Moscow State University, 1989.     

A positron annihilation study in some amorphous scintillators

Two organic scintillators — NE104 and a liquid solution of 2,5 diphenyloxazole (PPO) — were investigated through positron annihilation spectroscopy to study the influence of the structural order on the magnetic quenching effect on positron bound systems in solids.Preliminary note in [11]     

Use of dynamic trees in a network simplex algorithm for the maximum flow problem

Goldfarb and Hao (1990) have proposed a pivot rule for the primal network simplex algorithm that will solve a maximum flow problem on ann-vertex,m-arc network in at mostnm pivots and O(n ² m) time. In this paper we describe how to extend the dynamic tree data structure of Sleator and Tarjan (1983, 1985) to reduce the running time of this algorithm to O(nm logn). This bound is less than a logarithmic factor larger than those of the fastest known algorithms for the problem. Our extension of dynamic trees is interesting in its own right and may well have additional applications.Research partially supported by a Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation, Grant No. CCR-8858097, an IBM Faculty Development Award, and AT&T Bell Laboratories.Research partially supported by the Office of Naval Research, Contract No. N00014-87-K-0467.Research partially supported by the National Science Foundation, Grant No. DCR-8605961, and the Office of Naval Research, Contract No. N00014-87-K-0467.     

Acoustic effect of pulsed high-energy proton beams

Experimental data on the generation of acoustic radiation in solid targets by pulsed high-energy proton beams are outlined. The features of ultrasound generation in solids by beams of heavy charged particles are analyzed, and the possibility of using the acoustic effect of heavy charged particles to investigate the interaction between radiation and condensed media and to determine particle energies is shown.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 95–99, August, 1991.