Self-injection length in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3-YBa2Cu3O7-δ ferromagnet-superconductor multilayer thin films

We have carried out extensive studies on the self-injection problem in barrierless heterojunctions between La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ (LCMO) and YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (YBCO) thin films. The heterojunctions were formed in situ by sequentially growing LCMO and YBCO films on 〈100〉 LaAlO₃ (LAO) substrate using a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) system. YBCO micro-bridges with 64 μm width were patterned both on the LAO (control) and LCMO side of the substrate. Critical current, I _c, was measured at 77 K on both the control side as well as the LCMO side for different YBCO film thickness. It was observed that while the control side showed a J _c of ∼ 2 × 10⁶ A/cm², the LCMO side showed about half the value for the same thickness (1800 ?). The difference in J _c indicates that a certain thickness of YBCO has become ‘effectively’ normal due to self-injection. From the measurement of J _c at two different thicknesses (1800 ? and 1500 ?) of YBCO films both on the LAO as well as the LCMO side, the value of self-injection length (at 77 K) was estimated to be ∼ 900 ?. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first time that self-injection length has been quantified. A control experiment carried out with LaNiO₃ deposited by PLD on YBCO did not show any evidence of self-injection.     

A laser scanning system for the measurement of facial surface morphology

A no contact system based on laser scanning, which records 20 000 facial surface coordinates with a dynamic resolution of approximately 0·9mm in 30s, has been developed for the study of facial changes following facial reconstructive surgery. Individual profiles are recorded with a resolution better than 0·5mm. The system is based on the analysis of the output from a video camera which obliquely views a laser line projected vertically onto the face. In order to sample the whole face, the subject sits on a chair which rotates at six degrees per second under computer control. Examples of applications of the system are given.     

Competing edge networks

We introduce a model for a pair of nonlinear evolving networks, defined over a common set of vertices, subject to edgewise competition. Each network may grow new edges spontaneously or through triad closure. Both networks inhibit the other?s growth and encourage the other?s demise. These nonlinear stochastic competition equations yield to a mean field analysis resulting in a nonlinear deterministic system. There may be multiple equilibria; and bifurcations of different types are shown to occur within a reduced parameter space. This situation models competitive communication networks such as BlackBerry Messenger displacing SMS; or instant messaging displacing emails.     

Meso-substituted [34]octaphyrin(1.1.1.0.1.1.1.0) and corrole formation in reactions of a dipyrromethanedicarbinol with 2,2'-bipyrrole

The reaction of a dipyrromethanedicarbinol with 2,2'-bipyrrole leading to meso-substituted [34]octaphyrin(1.1.1.0.1.1.1.0) and/or corrole was investigated to determine the effect of key reaction parameters on the distribution of the two macrocycles. Solvent, acid catalyst, acid quantity, oxidant, oxidant quantity, and reaction time were surveyed for a model reaction affording 5,10,19,24,29,38-hexaphenyl[34]octaphyrin(1.1.1.0.1.1.1.0) (HPO) and/or meso-triphenylcorrole (TPC). HPO was found to be a fairly ubiquitous product, produced in yields as high as 23% (UV-vis), while TPC was observed infrequently, in yields up to 10% (UV-vis). A preparative-scale reaction provided HPO in an isolated yield of 25%. The methodology was extended to the synthesis of an octaphyrin bearing two different substituents in defined locations and to an octaphyrin possessing electron-withdrawing pentafluorophenyl substituents. Preferential formation of octaphyrin instead of corrole suggests that the anti conformation of 2,2'-bipyrrole is the relevant form under the reaction conditions surveyed. The spectral properties of the novel meso-substituted [34]octaphyrin(1.1.1.0.1.1.1.0) species are similar to those of the known beta-substituted analogue, including spectra consistent with the absence of macrocycle aromaticity despite a main conjugation path of 34 pi-electrons. Key to the overall study was the development of a refined synthesis of 2,2'-bipyrrole.     

Magnetoelectric effect in cobalt ferrite-barium titanate composites and their electrical properties

CoFe₂O₄-BaTiO₃ composites were prepared using conventional ceramic double sintering process with various compositions. Presence of two phases in the composites was confirmed using X-ray diffraction. The dc resistivity and thermoemf as a function of temperature in the temperature range 300 K to 600 K were measured. Variation of dielectric constant (ɛ′) with frequency in the range 100 Hz to 1 MHz and also with temperature at a fixed frequency of 1 kHz was studied. The ac conductivity was derived from dielectric constant (ɛ′) and loss tangent (tan δ). The nature of conduction is discussed on the basis of small polaron hopping model. The static value of magnetoelectric conversion factor has been studied as a function of magnetic field.     

Energy dependence of multiplicity in proton-nucleus collisions and models of multiparticle production

This is a continuation of our earlier investigation (Gurtuet al 1974Phys. Lett. 50 B 391) on multiparticle production in proton-nucleus collisions based on an exposure of emulsion stack to 200 GeV/c beam at the NAL. It is found that the ratioR _em = 〈n _s〉/〈n _ch〉, where 〈n _ch〉 is the charged particle multiplicity in pp-collisions, increases slowly from about 1 at 10 GeV/c to 1·6 at 68 GeV/c and attains a constant value of 1·71 ± 0·04 in the region 200 to 8000 GeV/c. Furthermore,R _em = 1·71 implies an effectiveA-dependence ofR _A =A ^0.18,i.e., a very weak dependence. Predictions ofR _em on various models are discussed and compared with the emulsion data. Data seem to favour models of hadron-nucleon collisions in which production of particles takes place through adouble step mechanism,e.g., diffractive excitation, hydrodynamical and energy flux cascade as opposed to models which envisage instantaneous production.     

Working group report: Heavy-ion physics and quark-gluon plasma

This is the report of Heavy Ion Physics and Quark-Gluon Plasma at WHEPP-09 which was part of Working Group-4. Discussion and work on some aspects of quark-gluon plasma believed to have created in heavy-ion collisions and in early Universe are reported.     

A Bayesian estimation of unfolded pitchfork bifurcation structure based upon experimental data

We consider the practical problem of estimating parameter valuesfor the unfolding of a pitchfork bifurcation from observed data.Although the existence of a bifurcation point may have beentheoretically determined, observed data from experiments ormeasurement must reflect the natural unfolding due to existingperturbations and imperfections. We demonstrate how a Bayesianapproach provides a natural formulation to this problem andhow incremental observations alter our best assessment of thetrue, unfolded, bifurcation structure, close to the prior estimate(the pitchfork). This method may be useful in practice to estimatethe location of bifurcation branches other than a particularone experimentally observed.