Variable-range hopping and quantum creep in one dimension

We study the quantum nonlinear response to an applied electric field E of a one-dimensional pinned charge-density wave or Luttinger liquid in the presence of disorder. From an explicit construction of low-lying metastable states and of bounce instanton solutions between them, we demonstrate quantum creep v=e(-c/E(1/2)) as well as a sharp crossover at E=E(*) towards a linear response form consistent with variable-range hopping arguments, but dependent only on electronic degrees of freedom.     

Ionic shell and subshell structures in aluminum and gold nanocontacts

Conductance histograms of aluminum and gold nanocontact rupture are studied experimentally and simulated using embedded atom potentials to assess the interplay between electronic and structural properties at room temperature. Our results reveal a crossover from quantized conductance structures to crystalline faceting or geometric shell/subshell structures at 300 K. The absence of electronic shell structure in gold and aluminum is in stark contrast with the behavior of alkaline metal nanowires which emulate their cluster counterparts. Semiclassical arguments suggest why rapid dominance of ionic structures takes place, and possible nanowire architectures are proposed in consistency with both the experimental and simulated nanocontact data.     

The effect of a low-frequency sound source (acoustic thermometry of the ocean climate) on the diving behavior of juvenile northern elephant seals,Mirounga angustirostris

Changes in the diving behavior of individual free-ranging juvenile northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, exposed to the acoustic thermometry of the ocean climate (ATOC) sound source were examined using data loggers. Data loggers were attached to the animals and measured swim speed, maximum depth of dive, dive duration, surface interval, descent and ascent rate, and descent and ascent angle along with sound pressure level (SPL). The ATOC sound source was at a depth of 939 m and transmitted at 195 dB re: 1 microPa at 1 m centered at 75 Hz with a 37.5-Hz bandwidth. Sound pressure levels (SPL) measured at the seal during transmissions averaged 128 dB and ranged from 118 to 137 dB re: 1 microPa for the 60-90 Hz band, in comparison to ambient levels of 87-107 dB within this band. In no case did an animal end its dive or show any other obvious change in behavior upon exposure to the ATOC sound. Subtle changes in diving behavior were detected, however. During exposure, deviations in descent rate were greater than 1 s.d. of the control mean in 9 of 14 seals. Dive depth increased and descent velocity increased in three animals, ascent velocity decreased in two animals, ascent rate increased in one animal and decreased in another, and dive duration decreased in only one animal. There was a highly significant positive correlation between SPL and descent rate. The biological significance of these subtle changes is likely to be minimal. This is the first study to quantify behavioral responses of an animal underwater with simultaneous measurements of SPL of anthropogenic sounds recorded at the animal.     

Probing hole-induced ferromagnetic exchange in magnetic semiconductors by inelastic neutron scattering

The effect of hole doping on the exchange coupling of the nearest neighbor (NN) Mn pairs in Zn(1-x)MnxTe is probed by inelastic neutron scattering. The difference in the NN exchange energy DeltaJ1 in the presence and in the absence of the holes is determined. The obtained value of DeltaJ1 is in good agreement with the predictions of the Zener/RKKY model, even on the insulator side of the metal-insulator transition.     

Double incoherent Raman scattering induced by molecular interactions in gases

A new Raman band is observed in two gases, CF4 and CH4. It is attributable to a double incoherent Raman scattering that takes place in pairs of interacting molecules. Spectral scattering intensities are given on an absolute scale. Zero order spectral moments are measured and are found higher than their long-range interaction value.     

New Deformation of Para-Bose Statistics

We propose commutation relations for a single mode -deformed para-Bose oscillator. In this new deformation of para-Bose statistics the distribution function has the same form as in the para-Bose statistics. Furthermore, we show analogies between the coherent states of -deformed and q-deformed para-Bose statistics.     

Multichannel mueller matrix ellipsometry for simultaneous real-time measurement of bulk isotropic and surface anisotropic complex dielectric functions of semiconductors

We have applied a dual rotating-compensator multichannel ellipsometer to acquire spectra ( approximately 2.0-4.6 eV) in all 16 elements of the Mueller matrix associated with a specularly reflecting surface, in a minimum time of 0.25 s. In this initial study, such results have been collected for the (110) silicon surface at an incidence angle of approximately 70 degrees and have been used to derive spectra in the bulk isotropic dielectric function epsilon (b)= epsilon (1b)-i epsilon (2b) and the surface-induced dielectric function anisotropy Delta epsilon =Delta epsilon (1)-iDelta epsilon (2). Thus, this instrument shows promise for simultaneous real-time measurement of epsilon (b) and Delta epsilon spectra in oblique reflection during the fabrication of semiconductor structures having bulk isotropic components.     

Excavations in molecular crystals

Single crystals built from porous molecular networks can react with agents that penetrate the crystals, cleave fragments from the network, and thereby increase the volume available for guests, all without loss of crystallinity.