Contactless gating,surface charging and illumination effects in a buried Al<Subscript>0.24</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>0.76</Subscript>As/GaAs quantum well structure

The conductivity of an Al_0.24Ga_0.76As/GaAs quantum well was studied as a function of the surface charge generated by electron bombardment of the sample in the absence of an externally applied surface electric field. Under a suitable rate of electron irradiation, it was possible to completely shut off the conductive channel, implying a surface density . Light illumination quenches the increase of the resistivity, apparently due to photoemission from the metastable surface states. Upon turning off the electron bombardment the surface charge on adsorbed layers of xenon and water at 8 K decays in room temperature darkness with a lifetime τ= 0.30 ±0.02 s. The average charging efficiency, is μ₀ ≃0.001. Surface charging is shown to be an effective method for contactless gating of field effect devices.     

Magneto-optical spectroscopy of carbon nanotubes

We review our recent optical experiments on single-walled carbon nanotubes in high magnetic fields. The data revealed magnetic-field-induced optical anisotropy as well as broadening, splittings, and shifts of interband absorption and photoluminescence peaks. Quantitative comparison with theoretical predictions based on the Aharonov–Bohm effect is presented.     

Measurement of the wrong-sign decays D0 --> K+ pi- pi0 and D0 --> K+ pi- pi+ pi-, and search for CP violation

Using 281 fb-1 of data from the Belle experiment recorded at or near the (4S) resonance, we have measured the rates of the "wrong-sign" decays D0 --> K+ pi- pi0 and D0 --> K+ pi- pi+ pi- relative to those of the Cabibbo-favored decays D0 --> K- pi+ pi0 and D0 --> K- pi+ pi+ pi-. These wrong-sign decays proceed via a doubly Cabibbo-suppressed amplitude or via D0-D0 mixing; the latter has not yet been observed. We obtain R(WS)(K pi pi0) = [0.229 +/- 0.015(stat)(+0.013)(-0.009)(syst)]% and R(WS)(K3pi) = [0.320 +/- 0.018(stat)(+0.018)(0.013)(syst)]%. The CP asymmetries are measured to be -0.006 +/- 0.053 and -0.018 +/- 0.044 for the K+ pi- pi0 and K+ pi- pi+ pi- final states, respectively.     

Effect of bias field on the dielectric properties of 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.3PbTiO3 single crystals with different orientations

Microdomain-macrodomain transformations and phase transitions in 0.7Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.3PbTiO₃ single crystals were investigated by studying their relative permittivity under various dc bias at constant heating and cooling rates. The orientation dependence of the bias field effect was revealed by examining the temperature dependence of relative permittivity as a function of crystal orientation (the 111, 011 and 001 directions) and dc bias field. The crystals have a microdomain rhombohedral ferroelectric state in the ferroelectric phase under zero dc bias. External bias field could modulate the domain state and induce a macrodomain state in the crystals. Also, it is proposed that the dc bias applied along the 001 or 011 direction could induce a tetragonal ferroelectric phase or an orthorhombic ferroelectric phase, respectively, in an intermediate temperature range. PACS 77.80.-e; 77.22.-d; 81.40.-z     

Measurements of near-IR water vapor absorption at high pressure and temperature

Tunable diode lasers (TDLs) are used to measure high resolution (0.1 cm^-1), near-infrared (NIR) water vapor absorption spectra at 700 K and pressures up to 30 atm within a high-pressure and -temperature optical cell in a high-uniformity tube furnace. Both direct absorption and wavelength modulation with second harmonic detection (WMS-2f) spectra are obtained for 6 cm^-1 regions near 7204 cm^-1 and 7435 cm^-1. Direct absorption measurements at 700 K and 10 atm are compared with simulations using spectral parameters from HITRAN and a hybrid database combining HITRAN with measured spectral constants for transitions in the two target spectral regions. The hybrid database reduces RMS error between the simulation and the measurements by 45% for the 7204 cm^-1 region and 28% for the 7435 cm^-1 region. At pressures above 10 atm, the breakdown of the impact approximation inherent to the Lorentzian line shape model becomes apparent in the direct absorption spectra, and measured results are in agreement with model results and trends at elevated temperatures reported in the literature. The wavelength-modulation spectra are shown to be less affected by the breakdown of the impact approximation and measurements agree well with the hybrid database predictions to higher pressures (30 atm). PACS 33.20.Ea; 42.62.Fi; 52.25.Os     

High-sensitivity vibrational imaging with frequency modulation coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (FM CARS) microscopy

We demonstrate a new approach to coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy that significantly increases the detection sensitivity. CARS signals are generated by collinearly overlapped, tightly focused, and raster scanned pump and Stokes laser beams, whose difference frequency is rapidly modulated. The resulting amplitude modulation of the CARS signal is detected through a lock-in amplifier. This scheme efficiently suppresses the nonresonant background and allows for the detection of far fewer vibrational oscillators than possible through existing CARS microscopy methods.     

Isospin symmetry breaking in ρ→πγ decay

In terms of effective field theory and mixed-propagator approach, we show that there is a larger hidden effect of isospin breaking in ρ→πγ decay due to a ω exchange, ρ→ω→πγ. The branching ratio is predicted as B(ρ→πγ) = (11.67±2.0)×10^-4, which is much larger than Particle Data Group's datum (6.8±1.7)×10^-4 and one of charged mode, B(ρ^±→π^±γ) = (4.5±0.5)×10^-4. Received: 7 January 2002 / Accepted: 2 April 2002     

Beam-helicity asymmetry in photon and pion electroproduction in the Δ(1232)-resonance region at Q2 = 0.35(GeV/c)2

The beam-helicity asymmetry has been measured simultaneously for the reactions p→epγ and p→epπ ⁰ in the Δ(1232)-resonance region at Q ² = 0.35(GeV/c)². The experiment was performed at MAMI with a longitudinally polarized beam and an out-of-plane detection of the proton. The results are compared with calculations based on dispersion relations for virtual Compton scattering and with the MAID model for pion electroproduction. There is an overall good agreement between experiment and theoretical calculations. The remaining discrepancies may be ascribed to an imperfect parametrization of some γ ^(*) N→πN multipoles, mainly contributing to the non-resonant background. The beam-helicity asymmetry in both channels (γ and π ⁰) shows a good sensitivity to these multipoles and should allow future improvement in their parametrization.     

Pyrolysis study of poplar biomass by tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry

Pyrolysis is one of the most important methods to convert biomass into biofuel, which is a potential substitute for fossil fuel. The pyrolysis process of poplar biomass, a potential biofuel feedstock, has been studied with tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (SVUV) photoionization mass spectrometry (PIMS). The mass spectra at different photon energies, temperatures, and time-evolved profiles of selected species during poplar pyrolysis process were measured. Our results reveal that poplar is typical of hardwood according to its relative contents of three lignin monomeric precursors. As temperature increases from 300 to 700 °C, the overall intensities of pyrolysis products decrease due to the gas-phase cracking. Observed intensities of syringyl and guaiacyl subunits of lignin in poplar at low temperature present different trends: the intensities of syringyl subunits of lignin undergo an increase firstly and then a decrease, whereas those of guaiacyl subunits of lignin show decrease continuously. Time-dependent data demonstrate that hemicellulose pyrolysis is faster than lignin in poplar. This work reports a new application of SVUV PIMS in biomass pyrolysis, which performs very well in products analysis.     

Thermophysical properties of undercooled liquid Co-Mo alloys

Using electromagnetic levitation in combination with the oscillating drop technique and drop calorimeter method, the surface tensions and specific heats of undercooled liquid Co-10 wt% Mo, Co-26.3 wt% Mo, and Co-37.6 wt% Mo alloys were measured. The containerless state during levitation produces substantial undercoolings up to 223 K (0.13 T _L), 213 K (0.13 T _L) and 110 K (0.07 T _L) respectively for these three alloys. In their respective undercooling ranges, the surface tensions were determined to be 1895 m0.31(T m1744), 1932 m0.33(T m1682), and 1989 m0.34(T m1607) mN m^?1. According to the Butler equation, the surface tensions of these three Co-Mo alloys were also calculated, and the results agree well with the experimental data. The specific heats of these three alloys are determined to be 41.85, 43.75 and 44.92 J mol^?1 K^?1. Based on the determined surface tensions and specific heats, the changes in thermodynamics functions such as enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy are predicted. Furthermore, the crystal nucleation, dendrite growth and Marangoni convection of undercooled Co-Mo alloys are investigated in the light of these measured thermophysical properties.