Superconductivity and possible overdoping in Lu1−x Ca x Ba2Cu3O7−δ

Structural and superconducting properties of the system Lu_1?x Ca _x Ba₂ Cu₃O_7?δ, both in bulk as well as thin film form, have been investigated. Presence of large Ca-ions at the Lu-sites is responsible for phase stability (in 1–2–3 phase) in bulk. In argon annealed tetragonal samples (δ:1) superconductivity is reinstated as in these samples, presence of Ca-ions lead to the generation of holes in the Cu?O planes. In oxygen annealed bulk samples and thin films, there is a large depression ofT _c due to divalent Ca-ions present in concentrationx<0.2. Our data indicate that this depression ofT _c is likely due to overdoping effect.     

Electrical and thermoelectric properties of undoped MnO single crystals

The electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficients of pure MnO single crystals have been measured above the Néel temperature. The material is p type in this temperature range. The results are interpreted on the basis of small-polaron hopping involving charge carriers in one or more sets of transport levels.     

The white line inL absorption spectra of rare earth oxides

The online version of the original article can be found at     

A.C. electrical conductivity of pure and doped potassium perchlorate

A.C. electrical conductivity of potassium perchlorate (KP) has been measured in the temperature range 25–325°C at frequencies ranging from 50–500 Hz using an automated technique. The results are interpreted in terms of a novel mechanism involving Schottky defects in the anion sublattice and Frenkel defects in the cation sublattice. The conductivity behavior of KP is compared with literature data on similar low-symmetry systems containing polyatomic ions.     

Interferometers for displacement-noise-free gravitational-wave detection

We propose a class of displacement- and laser-noise-free gravitational-wave-interferometer configurations, which does not sense nongeodesic mirror motion and laser noise, but provides a nonvanishing gravitational-wave signal. Our interferometers consist of four mirrors and two beam splitters, which form four Mach-Zehnder interferometers. By contrast to previous works, no composite mirrors with multiple reflective surfaces are required. Each mirror in our configuration is sensed redundantly, by at least two pairs of incident and reflected beams. Displacement- and laser-noise-free detection is achieved when output signals from these four interferometers are combined appropriately. Our 3-dimensional interferometer configuration has a low-frequency response proportional to f2, which is better than the f3 achievable by previous 2-dimensional configurations.     

Microfabricated quadrupole ion trap for mass spectrometer applications

An array of miniaturized cylindrical quadrupole ion traps, with a radius of 20 microm, is fabricated using silicon micromachining using phosphorus doped polysilicon and silicon dioxide for the purpose of creating a mass spectrometer on a chip. We have operated the array for mass-selective ion ejection and mass analysis using Xe ions at a pressure of 10(-4). The scaling rules for the ion trap in relation to operating pressure, voltage, and frequency are examined.