Superconducting state of Sr2RuO4 under magnetic fields

The layered perovskite Sr₂RuO₄ exhibits unconventional superconductivity below 1.5 K. There are now several key experimental facts which indicate that its superconducting symmetry is spin-triplet, p-wave, but some important features of its gap structure still need to be determined. In order to address some of the outstanding issues, we have performed a study of its thermodynamic behavior in the field-temperature phase diagram. Specific heat measurements give evidence for multiple superconducting gaps. We will discuss implications of this in relation to the idea of “orbital-dependent superconductivity”. We will also present the results of a search for a second superconducting transition under the magnetic field applied precisely parallel to the quasi-two-dimensional plane.     

Weak magnetic order in the normal state of the high-Tc superconductor La2-xSrxCuO4

We report magnetization measurements in the normal state of the high transition temperature (high-Tc) superconductor La2-xSrxCuO4. A magnetic order in the form of hysteresis in the low-field magnetization is observed at temperatures well above Tc. The doping (x) dependence of the onset and strength of this order follows Tc(x) and falls within the pseudogap regime.     

Reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) with pentavalent vanadium ion

The reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAL) with V(V), i.e., pentavalent vanadium ion, was studied in aqueous H₂SO₄ medium. The viscosity change of reaction mixture with time showed a peculiar feature owing to formation of labile complex between V(V) and PVAL and the subsequent decomposition of the complex. On the other hand, the change of viscosity disappeared when NaOH was added during the reaction to neutralize H₂SO₄ in the reaction mixture. Under a suitable condition, the reaction mixture set to a gel as a result of complex formation. It appeared that reactive sites in PVAL responsive to complexing with V(V) were 1,2-glycol unit and 1,2-ketoalcohol unit resulting from the oxidation of 1,2-glycol by V(V). The rate of oxidation was increased with increasing H₂SO₄ concentration. The main-chain scission of PVAL took place to an insignificant extent, unless the reaction condition was severe. Based on the results obtained a reaction mechanism has been proposed.     

Coherent diffraction imaging through shift-invariant scattering

Optical Review - In this paper, we present a method for single-shot phase imaging with a wide field of view based on coherent diffraction imaging. Coherent diffraction imaging can be implemented by...     

One-dimensional electronic order in underdoped surface of YBa2Cu3Oy studied by STM

We have performed low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments on the cold-cleaved surface of YBa₂Cu₃O_y single crystals to study the nanoscale electronic order in high-T_c superconductors. STM images measured at low-bias voltage below ∼50 meV show the one-dimensional (1D) electronic modulation along the Cu-O bonds (parallel to the b-axis). The 1D electronic modulation does not have long-range order and the periodicity along the a-axis varies within the range ∼2a-4a depending on the position on the surface, indicating the glassy electronic order in the underdoped CuO₂ plane.     

Lattice orientations of driven vortex matter in amorphous MoGe films

We have investigated the lattice orientation of driven vortex matter in amorphous MoGe films. Mode locking experiments in the flux flow state reveal that in addition to the theoretically predicted lattice orientation parallel to the flow direction also the perpendicular orientation occurs. Mapping out the orientations in a phase diagram, the perpendicular orientation is found to dominate the phase diagram covering a wide field and temperature range. Scanning tunneling microscopy images of the vortex lattice frozen from the flux flow state confirm the switching between parallel and perpendicular orientations in the phase diagram. The effect is possibly caused by the influence of the sample edge.     

Nondominated Equilibrium Solutions of a Multiobjective Two-Person Nonzero-Sum Game and Corresponding Mathematical Programming Problem

With reference to a multiobjective two-person nonzero-sum game, we define nondominated equilibrium solutions and provide a necessary and sufficient condition for a pair of mixed strategies to be a nondominated equilibrium solution. Using the necessary and sufficient condition, we formulate a mathematical programming problem yielding nondominated equilibrium solutions. We give a numerical example and demonstrate that nondominated equilibrium solutions can be obtained by solving the formulated mathematical programming problem.     

Equilibrium solutions for multiobjective bimatrix games incorporating fuzzy goals

Equilibrium solutions in terms of the degree of attainment of a fuzzy goal for games in fuzzy and multiobjective environments are examined. We introduce a fuzzy goal for a payoff in order to incorporate ambiguity of human judgments and assume that a player tries to maximize his degree of attainment of the fuzzy goal. A fuzzy goal for a payoff and the equilibrium solution with respect to the degree of attainment of a fuzzy goal are defined. Two basic methods, one by weighting coefficients and the other by a minimum component, are employed to aggregate multiple fuzzy goals. When the membership functions are linear, computational methods for the equilibrium solutions are developed. It is shown that the equilibrium solutions are equal to the optimal solutions of mathematical programming problems in both cases. The relations between the equilibrium solutions for multiobjective bimatrix games incorporating fuzzy goals and the Pareto-optimal equilibrium solutions are considered.     

Reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) with potassium persulfate and graft copolymerization

A study of the oxidation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAL) by potassium persulfate (KPS) in aqueous solutions showed that the decomposition of KPS was greatly enhanced by the presence of PVAL, its hydroxyl groups being oxidized to ketones in a yield of about one mole of ketone from one mole of KPS. The decomposition rate of KPS was found to be given by the equation, ?d[S₂O₈^2?]/dt = k[S₂O₈^2?] [PVAL]^1/2, which was essentially the same as in the oxidation of alcohols of low molecular weight by persulfate ion. The occurrence of gelation of PVAL solutions and graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto PVAL in the presence of KPS was evidence for PVAL radical as an intermediate species in the oxidation of PVAL. A characterization study was also carried out for the reaction products of the graft copolymerization of MMA onto PVAL with KPS in dimethyl sulfoxide solution.