Magnetic structures of exchange bias Ni/FeF2(1 1 0) interface

Electronic and magnetic structures of ferromagnetic (FM)/antiferromagnetic (AFM), Ni/FeF₂(1 1 0), with a compensated AFM interface are investigated by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method. We find that magnetic structures at the AFM interface are perturbed by a contact with the FM material, where the superexchange interaction through the interface F excites and induces a small net moment at the AFM interface. These results predicted may play an important role for explaining the exchange bias in this system, and rule out the exchange bias mechanisms with the spin-flop coupling and the magnetic moment reorientation.     

Light focusing by slot Fabry-Perot photonic crystal nanoresonator on scanning tip

We numerically investigate the propagation of light through the photonic crystal (PhC) waveguide on low refraction index material for near-field light focusing at the visible wavelength (635 nm) by incorporating a center air slot and Fabry-Perot resonator on the scanning tip. Perturbations by water and substrate refraction index changes of the PhC are analyzed by the finite-difference time-domain method to show minimal impact on light confinement and throughput. Such a total dielectric probe tip design has great potential to complement the current widely used metal-coated optical-fiber-based light confinement probe.     

An X-ray diffraction study of anharmonic thermal vibrations in the ionic conductor,barium chloride fluoride (BaClF)

Integrated intensities of X-ray reflections from a barium chloride fluoride single crystal were measured at 24, 180, 289, 402, 467 and 610°C. The intensities were used for the determination of the anharmonic potential parameters up to the third order. Harmonic potential parameters for each ion were obtained from the temperature dependence of thermal parameters, and anharmonic potential parameters were determined by the least-squares procedures, utilizing the temperature factor formalism based on the cumulant expansion. As a result, it has been found that the Ba²⁺ and Cl^? ions show an anharmonicity, while no significant anharmonic effect was detected for the F^? ion. From the potential calculated around the Cl^? and F^? ions, it was found that both Cl^? and F^? ions diffuse more easily within the (001) plane than along the c axis.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of structural disordering and forming defects in a milling process for selenium

In our previous paper, structural changes of selenium powders ground by a planetary ball mill at various rotational speeds were investigated for the nanostructural modification of particles using mechanical grinding process. The experimental results indicated that the amorphisation of Se by grinding accompanies lattice strain, and the lattice strain arises from impact energy which is more than an energy related to intermolecular interaction. In this paper, molecular dynamics simulations of selenium have been carried out under compressing conditions of various pressure strengths for obtaining information of the lattice strain at atomic level. Then, dynamical behaviour of atomic configuration has been discussed in this process. The structural disordering and formation of the structural defects were estimated by deviations of bond length and angle and the number of created defects before and after compressing from simulated results. The disordering took place during compressing at various pressure strengths, and the disordered atoms return to their initial positions at lower pressure. Stable disordered state and defects after the compression can however remain by compression at more than a certain pressure strength mainly associated with binding energy of selenium.     

Study of Strangeness Photoproduction on the Neutron in the Threshold Region

Photoproduction of the neutral kaon on the deuteron has been investigated at the Research Center for Electron Photon Science, Tohoku University. We constructed the Neutral Kaon Spectrometer-2 for the detection of charged particles from the decay of the neutral kaon and the hyperon. We obtained a momentum distribution of K ⁰ with the inclusive measurement. It was consistent with the previous measurement. The total cross section of γ + d → K ⁰ + Λ + p was estimated from the measured integral cross section of γ + d → Λ + X. The total cross section with respect to the photon energy was compared with the theoretical calculations. It favored the Saclay-Lyon A model calculation with the ratio of the neutral to charged coupling constants of the axial-vector meson, K ₁, as ~ ?1.5. The energy dependence and the magnitude of the total cross section were similar to the total cross section of γ + p → K ⁺ Λ.     

Magnesium K‐edge XANES spectroscopy of geological standards

Magnesium K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectra have been investigated to develop a systematic understanding of a suite of Mg‐bearing geological materials such as silicate and carbonate minerals, sediments, rocks and chemical reagents. For the model compounds the Mg XANES was found to vary widely between compounds and to provide a fingerprint for the form of Mg involved in geologic materials. The energy positions and resonance features obtained from these spectra can be used to specify the dominant molecular host site of Mg, thus shedding light on Mg partitioning and isotope fractionation in geologic materials and providing a valuable complement to existing knowledge of Mg geochemistry.     

Detection and grading for esophageal varices in patients with chronic liver damage: comparison of gadolinium-enhanced and unenhanced steady-state coherent MR images

The purpose of this study was to compare observer interpreted steady-state coherent coronal images and gadolinium-enhanced axial images in terms of the detection and grading of esophageal varices. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed within 2 weeks in 90 patients with chronic liver damage, including 55 with untreated esophageal varices, for periodic screening purposes. Two blinded readers retrospectively reviewed T1- and T2-weighted images with gadolinium-enhanced (gadolinium image set) and steady-state coherent (coherent image set) images. Sensitivity for the detection of esophageal varices was higher (P<.001) in the gadolinium image set (76%) than in the coherent image set (35%); on the other hand, specificity was higher (P<.001) in the coherent image set (91%) than in the gadolinium image set (66%). Furthermore, area under the ROC curve was higher for the gadolinium image set (Az=0.823) than the coherent image set (Az=0.761) (P=.48). Moderate and weak positive correlations with endoscopic grades were found for the gadolinium image (r=0.48, P<.01) and coherent image sets (r=0.34, P=.018). The addition of steady-state coherent imaging to the current routine liver imaging protocol did not improve the detection or grading of esophageal varices, whereas gadolinium-enhanced imaging was found to be potentially valuable. Nevertheless, endoscopy was confirmed to be mandatory in patients with esophageal varices suspected by MRI of the liver.     

High-temperature protonic motion and low-temperature lattice deformation in one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded molecular chain in tetramethylpyrazine–chloranilic acid (1:1)

Recent theoretical advances have identified several computational algorithms that can be implemented utilizing quantum information processing (QIP), which gives an exponential speedup over the corresponding (known) algorithms on conventional computers. QIP makes use of the counter-intuitive properties of quantum mechanics, such as entanglement and the superposition principle. Unfortunately it has so far been impossible to build a practical QIP system that outperforms conventional computers. Atomic ions confined in an array of interconnected traps represent a potentially scalable approach to QIP. All basic requirements have been experimentally demonstrated in one and two qubit experiments. The remaining task is to scale the system to many qubits while minimizing and correcting errors in the system. While this requires extremely challenging technological improvements, no fundamental roadblocks are currently foreseen.     

SUSY flavor structure of generic 5D supergravity models

We perform a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the SUSY flavor structure of generic 5D supergravity models on S ¹/Z ₂ with multiple Z ₂-odd vector multiplets that generate multiple moduli. The SUSY flavor problem can be avoided due to contact terms in the 4D effective K?hler potential peculiar to the multi-moduli case. A?detailed phenomenological analysis is provided based on an illustrative model.