MOVPE growth and characterization of a ‐plane AlGaN over the entire composition range

We report the metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) growth and characterization of non‐polar (11 0) a ‐plane Al_x Ga_1–xN on (1 02) r ‐plane sapphire substrates over the entire composition range. Al_x Ga_1–xN samples with ～0.8 μm thick layers and with x = 0, 0.18, 0.38, 0.46, 0.66, and 1.0 have been grown on r ‐plane sapphire substrates. The layer quality can be improved by using a 3‐stage AlN nucleation layer and appropriate V/III ratio switching following nucleation. All a ‐plane AlGaN epilayers show an anisotropic in‐plane mosaicity, strongly influenced by Al incorporation and growth conditions. Careful lattice parameter measurements show anisotropic in‐plane strain that results in an orthorhombic distortion of the hexagonal unit cell, making Al composition determination from X‐ray diffraction difficult. In general lower Al incorporation is seen in a ‐plane epilayers compared to c ‐plane samples grown under the same conditions. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effects of nematic fluctuations on the elastic properties of iron arsenide superconductors

We demonstrate that the changes in the elastic properties of the FeAs systems, as seen in our resonant ultrasound spectroscopy data, can be naturally understood in terms of fluctuations of emerging nematic degrees of freedom. Both the softening of the lattice in the normal, tetragonal phase as well as its hardening in the superconducting phase are consistently described by our model. Our results confirm the view that structural order is induced by magnetic fluctuations.     

Effect of ZnO on phase emergence, microstructure and surface modifications of calcium phosphosilicate glass/glass-ceramics having iron oxide

The effect of ZnO on phase emergence and microstructure properties of glass and glass-ceramics with composition 25SiO₂-50CaO-15P₂O₅-(10 − x)Fe₂O₃-xZnO (where x = 0, 2, 5, 7 mol%) has been studied. They have been characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Surface modifications of these glass-ceramics in simulated body fluid have been studied using Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy (FTIR), XPS and SEM. Results have shown a decrease in the fraction of non-bridging oxygen with increase in zinc oxide content. Emergence of crystalline phases in glass-ceramics at different heat treatment temperatures was studied using XRD. When glass is heat treated at 800 °C calcium phosphate, hematite and magnetite are developed as major phases in the glass-ceramics samples with ZnO up to 5 mol%. In addition to these, calcium silicate (Ca₃Si₂O₇) phase is also observed when glass is heat treated at 1000 °C. The microstructure of the glass-ceramics heat treated at 800 °C exhibits the formation of nano-size (40-50 nm) grains. On heat treatment at 1000 °C crystallites grow to above 50 nm size and more than one phase are observed in the microstructure. The formation of thin flake-like structure with coarse particles is observed at high zinc oxide concentration (x = 7 mol%). In vitro studies have shown the surface modifications and formation of Ca-P-rich layer on the glass-ceramics when immersed in simulated body fluids (SBF) for different durations. The bioactive response was found to depend on ZnO content.     

Solar eclipse effects of 22 July, 2009 on the propagation of radio signals

The results of investigation of the variation of radio signal strengths during the solar eclipse on July 22, 2009 are reported in this paper. Observations of the radio signals transmitted from different radio stations at different frequencies and received at a particular observing site indicate a distinct change in signal strength around the time the eclipse umbra passes the propagation paths. The three types of variations in the eclipse day and particularly during its peak period are different from propagation under normal condition. The phenomena of signal variations, the noted “Inverted U-shape“ at one of the frequencies before the occurrence of the eclipse and 13 to 15 minutes time difference between the enhancement of the signal strength and the onset of eclipse are some interesting characteristics. The results are interpreted by ionospheric D-layer behavior at such times.     

Steady state and time-resolved spectroscopic investigations on the photoreactions involved within the electronically excited electron acceptor 9-cyanoanthracene in presence of benzotriazole and benzimidazole donors

The electrochemical, “steady-state” and “time-resolved” spectroscopic investigations were made on the well-known electron acceptor 9-cyanoanthracene (CNA) when interacted with the electron donors benzotriazole (BZT) and benzimidazole (BMI) molecules. Though electrochemical measurements indicate the thermodynamical possibility of occurrences of photoinduced electron transfer reactions within these reacting systems in the lowest excited singlet state (S₁) of the acceptor CNA but the steady-state and time-resolved measurements clearly demonstrate only the triplet-initiated charge separation reactions. It was reported earlier that in the cases of disubstituted indole molecules the occurrences of photoinduced electron transfer reactions were apparent both in the excited singlet and triplet states of the acceptor 9-cyanoanthracene, but the similarly structured present donor molecules benzotriazole (and benzimidazole) behave differently from indoles. The weak ground state complex formations within the presently studied reacting systems appear to be responsible for the observed static quenching phenomena as evidenced from the time-resolved fluorescence studies. Time-resolved spectroscopic investigations demonstrate the formation of the ground state of the reacting components (donor and acceptor) through recombination of triplet ion-pairs via formations of contact neutral radical produced by H-abstraction mechanism.     

Electrical spin injection and threshold reduction in a semiconductor laser

A spin-polarized vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser is demonstrated with electrical spin injection from an Fe/Al0.1Ga0.9As Schottky tunnel barrier. Laser operation with a spin-polarized current results in a maximum threshold current reduction of 11% and degree of circular polarization of 23% at 50 K. A cavity spin polarization of 16.8% is estimated from spin-dependent rate equation analysis of the observed threshold reduction.     

Rain Height in Relation to 0°C Isotherm Height Over Some Indian Tropical Locations and Rain Attenuation for an Indian South Coastal Station for Microwave and Millimeter Wave Communication Systems

There is a dearth of results on rain height over Indian tropical stations.The results on rain height in relation to 0°C isotherm height over four stations having different latitudes are presented in this paper. Four stations have been chosen in such a way that all have different latitudes and are located in different geographical regions having different local weather conditions. The seaonal variation of rain height in relation to 0°C isotherm height has been found to be appreciable over the station located in Indian east coast and Gujarat region, while seasonal variation is not significant at lower and intermediate probability levels over the stations located in Indian south-east coast and island. The prevailing local weather conditions over different stations also have been discussed. Based on observed rain heights and rain rates, the attenuation of radio wave at different frequencies lying in the range from 10 GHz to 150 GHz for different probability levels over Indian south-east coastal station have been deduced and presented in this paper.     

Observation of muon neutrino disappearance with the MINOS detectors in the NuMI neutrino beam

This Letter reports results from the MINOS experiment based on its initial exposure to neutrinos from the Fermilab NuMI beam. The rates and energy spectra of charged current nu(mu) interactions are compared in two detectors located along the beam axis at distances of 1 and 735 km. With 1.27 x 10(20) 120 GeV protons incident on the NuMI target, 215 events with energies below 30 GeV are observed at the Far Detector, compared to an expectation of 336+/-14 events. The data are consistent with nu(mu) disappearance via oscillations with |Delta(m)2/32|=2.74 +0.44/-0.26 x10(-3)eV(2) and sin(2)(2theta(23))>0.87 (68% C.L.).     

Reciprocal Ontological Models Show Indeterminism Comparable to Quantum Theory

We show that within the class of ontological models due to Harrigan and Spekkens, those satisfying preparation-measurement reciprocity must allow indeterminism comparable to that in quantum theory. Our result implies that one can design quantum random number generator, for which it is impossible, even in principle, to construct a reciprocal deterministic model.