Helical vortex phase in the noncentrosymmetric CePt3Si

We consider the role of magnetic fields on the broken inversion superconductor CePt3Si. We show that the upper critical field for a field along the c axis exhibits a much weaker paramagnetic effect than for a field applied perpendicular to the c axis. The in-plane paramagnetic effect is strongly reduced by the appearance of helical structure in the order parameter. We find that, to get good agreement between theory and recent experimental measurements of H(c2), this helical structure is required. We propose a Josephson junction experiment that can be used to detect this helical order. In particular, we predict that the Josephson current will exhibit a magnetic interference pattern for a magnetic field applied perpendicular to the junction normal. We also discuss unusual magnetic effects associated with the helical order.     

Groupes d’homotopie des variétés de Stiefel complexes

Sans résumé L’auteur tient à remercier vivement MM. les professeursB. Eckmann etP. J. Hilton pour leurs suggestions enrichissantes au cours de la rédaction de ce travail.     

Application of surface biopassivated disposable poly(dimethylsiloxane)/glass chips to a heterogeneous competitive human serum immunoglobulin G immunoassay with incorporated internal standard

A microfluidic platform for a heterogeneous competitive immunoassay of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) employing Cy5-human IgG as tracer and Cy3-mouse IgG as internal standard was developed. The device consisted of microchannels made of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and glass which were patterned with antibodies against human IgG and mouse IgG. Electrokinetic sample transport was employed in order to exploit the small difference between the net mobilities of analyte and tracer, thereby achieving favorable conditions for the performance of the competitive immunoreaction. The overall quality of the disposable chip and performance of the immunoassay were controlled by monitoring the fluorescence of bound tracer and bound internal standard. Analyses with an insufficient internal standard response were discarded, and immunoassay data evaluation was based on the ratio of tracer and internal standard fluorescence. Using synthetic samples in the range from 0 to 80 microg/mL IgG and alkaline running conditions, a concentration-dependent response with reproducible Cy5/Cy3 signal ratios (average relative standard deviation of 6.8%) was obtained. Chips stored with solution in the channels at 4 degrees C over a two-month period were found to perform like freshly prepared chips, whereas chips stored dry at -20 degrees C and rehydrated prior to use could not be employed. The analysis of patient sera showed that the immunoassay platform behaved differently in the presence of serum-based samples. Using the same conditions as for the synthetic samples, no concentration dependence was noted. With a large excess of tracer, however, an IgG concentration dependence was observed, permitting distinction of samples of patients with normal IgG serum levels (8-16 mg/mL) from those with elevated IgG concentrations (>16 mg/mL).     

Computational and experimental investigation of flow over a transient pitching hydrofoil

The present study is developed within the framework of marine structure design operating in transient regimes. It deals with an experimental and numerical investigation of the time–space distribution of the wall-pressure field on a NACA66 hydrofoil undergoing a transient up-and-down pitching motion from 0° to 15° at four pitching velocities and a Reynolds number Re = 0.75 × 10⁶. The experimental investigation is performed using an array of wall-pressure transducers located on the suction side and by means of time–frequency analysis and Empirical Modal Decomposition method. The numerical study is conducted for the same flow conditions. It is based on a 2D RANS code including mesh reconstruction and an ALE formulation in order to take into account the foil rotation and the tunnel walls. Due to the moderate Reynolds number, a laminar to turbulent transition model was also activated. For the operating flow conditions of the study, experimental and numerical flow analysis revealed that the flow experiences complex boundary layer events as leading-edge laminar separation bubble, laminar to turbulent transition, trailing-edge separation and flow detachment at stall. Although the flow is relatively complex, the calculated wall pressure shows a quite good agreement with the experiment provided that the mesh resolution and the temporal discretization are carefully selected depending on the pitching velocity. It is particularly shown that the general trend of the wall pressure (low frequency) is rather well predicted for the four pitching velocities with for instance a net inflection of the wall pressure when transition occurs. The inflection zone is reduced as the pitching velocity increases and tends to disappear for the highest pitching velocity. Conversely, high frequency wall-pressure fluctuations observed experimentally are not captured by the RANS model. Based on the good agreement with experiment, the model is then used to investigate the effects of the pitching velocity on boundary layer events and on hydrodynamic loadings. It is shown that increasing the pitching velocity tends to delay the laminar-to-turbulence transition and even to suppress it for the highest pitching velocity during the pitch-up motion. It induces also an increase of the stall angle (compared to quasi-static one) and an increase of the hysteresis effect during pitch-down motion resulting to a significant increase of the hydrodynamic loading.     

Stress wave generation in liquids by laser impact

Summary The generation of stress transients in liquids by laser impact has been investigated using special stress transducers. The observed time dependence and amplitudes of the pressure pulses are strongly dependent on the incident laser energy density and on physical properties of the liquid. This is explained by various interaction mechanisms involved. The results are in good agreement with theoretical models. For the pure thermoelastic process an analytical solution has been found where the laser impact is represented by a three dimensional heat pole.

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Zusammenfassung Die Erzeugung von Stosswellen in Flüssigkeiten durch Laserbeschuss wurde mit speziellen Drucksonden untersucht. Die Messungen zeigen, dass sowohl die Zeitabhängigkeit als auch Amplituden der Druckimpulse stark von der einfallenden Laserenergiedichte und von physikalischen Eigenschaften der Flüssigkeit abhängen. Dies wird anhand verschiedener Wechselwirkungs-Mechanismen erklärt. Die Resultate stimmen gut mit theoretischen Modellen überein. Für den rein thermoelastischen Prozess wurde eine analytische Lösung gefunden. Der Lasereinschuss wird dabei durch einen dreidimensionalen Wärmepol dargestellt.

     

Investigation and optimisation of a multipass resonant photoacoustic cell at high absorption levels

A theoretical and experimental investigation of photoacoustic (PA) signals in a resonant multipass PA cell with high background absorption (up to 29 m^-1) is presented. An analogous electric transmission line model including discontinuity inductances at cross section changes was used to model the first longitudinal acoustic mode of the multipass PA cell equipped with two buffer volumes. This model was validated with experimentally obtained results and used to predict the behaviour of the PA cell for different multipass arrangements and different buffer volume diameters. The highest PA signal is obtained for high pass number and large buffer radius. Increasing the absorption coefficient of the medium enhances the PA signal until a maximum is reached, leading to a minimum for the PA signal sensitivity. For a given background absorption, the number of passes required to maximise the sensitivity depends on the absorption coefficient. The model allows the determination of the best-suited number of passes for a given absorption coefficient and cell geometry. PACS 82.80.Kd; 42.62.Fi; 82.80.Gk     

Easy Ruthenium-Catalysed Oxidation of Primary Amines to Nitriles under Oxidant-Free Conditions

A dehydrogenation of primary amine to give the corresponding nitrile under oxidant- and base-free conditions catalysed by simple [Ru(p-cym)Cl₂]₂ with no extra ligand is reported. The system is highly selective for alkyl amines, whereas benzylamine derivatives gave the nitrile product together with the imine in a ratio ranging from 14:1 to 4:1 depending on the substrate. Preliminary mechanistic investigations have been performed to identify the key factors that govern the selectivity.     

Etude de l'absorption optique du vanadium en couches minces interpretation par la theorie des bandes d'energie

Optical absorption of vanadium thin films has been determinated from 0.32 to 5.5 eV from reflectance and transmittance data. The films have been deposited in ultra high vacuum and the measurements have been realised in situ. Between 1 to 5.5 eV, we note a large absorption band which is independant of the photons angle of incidence and polarisation; with an important maximum and a shoulder respectively at 3.1 and 2 eV. We explain this absorption band by direct interband transitions deduced from theorical bands calculated by Yasui et al. From 0.32 to 1 eV, the observed absorption is principally due to intraband transitions.