Stable vortex-antivortex molecules in mesoscopic superconducting triangles

A thermodynamically stable vortex-antivortex pattern has been revealed in equilateral mesoscopic type I superconducting triangles, contrary to type II superconductors where similar patterns are unstable. The stable vortex-antivortex "molecule" appears due to the interplay between two factors: a repulsive vortex-antivortex interaction in type I superconductors and the vortex confinement in the mesoscopic triangle.     

Nucleation of superconductivity in mesoscopic star-shaped superconductors

We study the phase transition of a star-shaped superconductor, which covers smoothly the range from zero to two dimensions with respect to the superconducting coherence length . Detailed measurements and numerical calculations show that the nucleation of superconductivity in this device is very inhomogeneous: the superconducting order parameter is strongly enhanced and mostly robust in regions close to multiple boundaries. The strong inhomogeneity of the order parameter results in a rich structure of the superconducting transition as a function of temperature and magnetic field.Received: 26 February 2003, Published online: 4 August 2003PACS: 74.78.-w Superconducting films and low-dimensional structures - 74.78.Na Mesoscopic and nanoscale systems - 74.20.De Phenomenological theories D.A. Dikin: On leave from: Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering, 61164 Kharkov, UkraineV.R. Misko: On leave from: Institute of Applied Physics, 2028 Kishinev, Republic of MoldovaV.M. Fomin: On leave from: State University of Moldova, 2009 Kishinev, Republic of Moldova; Also at: Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The NetherlandsJ.T. Devreese: Also at: Universiteit Antwerpen (RUCA), B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium and Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands     

Investigation of Sr uptake by birnessite-type sorbents from seawater

Sorption of micro- and microamounts of Sr from seawater has been studied using granulated Na-birnessite. Distribution coefficients of ⁹⁰Sr in the natural seawater are 0.8–1.2?×?10³ ml g^?1, in the model seawater they are 1.6–1.8?×?10³ ml g^?1. Application of Na-birnessite was shown to be prospective in sorption–desorption–regeneration regime. In dynamic sorption conditions, over 150 bed volumes of seawater can be purified till 5% breakthrough occurs at feed rate 10 BV h^?1. Na-birnessite can be used for ⁹⁰Sr radionuclide removal from liquid radioactive wastes containing seawater.

     

A new project for the investigation of unsolved problems of ddµ and pdµ catalysis in D2 and H/D mixtures

We propose to study a number of open problems in ddµ and pdµ fusion using the new high-pressure ionization chamber for charged particle identification in coincidence with the n-/e-counter array for the detection of neutrons and µ-decay electrons. Our first objective will be a precise measurement of the absolute rates of resonant and non-resonant ddµ formation in D₂ and HD-gases and their temperature dependence from 40 to 350 K. Both output channels of the dd-reaction:³He + n and t + p will be observed and their ratio sensitive to contributions of S and P-waves will be determined. Simultaneously, we shall investigate the pdµ-cycle and determine the absolute pd-fusion yields in different molecular H/D compositions, observing tritons from nuclear muon capture in³Heµ: pdµ ³Heµ + . We have developed a special system for the preparation of HD-gas with high concentration (96%) of HD and a purity (10^–6).     

Unconventional dynamics of vortex shells in mesoscopic superconducting corbino disks

The dynamics of vortex matter in mesoscopic superconducting Corbino disk is strongly influenced by the discrete vortex structure arranged in shells. While in previous works the vortex dynamics has been studied in large (macroscopic) and in very small mesoscopic disks (containing only few shells), in the intermediate-size regime it is much more complex and unusual, due to: (i) the competition between the vortex–vortex interaction and confinement and (ii) (in)commensurability among the vortex shells. We found that the interplay between these effects can result in a very unusual vortex dynamical behavior: (i) unconventional angular melting (i.e., propagating from the boundary, where the shear stress is minimum, towards the center) and (ii) unconventional dynamics of shells (i.e., the inversion of shell velocities with respect to the gradient driving force). This unusual behavior is found for different number of shells.     

Finite-temperature Wigner solid and other phases of ripplonic polarons on a helium film

Electrons on liquid helium can form different phases depending on density, and temperature. Also the electron-ripplon coupling strength influences the phase diagram, through the formation of so-called “ripplonic polarons”, that change how electrons are localized, and that shifts the transition between the Wigner solid and the liquid phase. We use an all-coupling, finite-temperature variational method to study the formation of a ripplopolaron Wigner solid on a liquid helium film for different regimes of the electron-ripplon coupling strength. In addition to the three known phases of the ripplopolaron system (electron Wigner solid, polaron Wigner solid, and electron fluid), we define and identify a fourth distinct phase, the ripplopolaron liquid. We analyse the transitions between these four phases and calculate the corresponding phase diagrams. This reveals a reentrant melting of the electron solid as a function of temperature. The calculated regions of existence of the Wigner solid are in agreement with recent experimental data.     

Critical currents in quasiperiodic pinning arrays: chains and Penrose lattices

We study the critical depinning current Jc versus the applied magnetic flux Phi, for quasiperiodic (QP) chains and 2D arrays of pinning centers placed on the nodes of a fivefold Penrose lattice. In QP chains, the peaks in Jc(Phi) are determined by a sequence of harmonics of the long and short segments of the chain. The critical current Jc(Phi) has a remarkable self-similarity. In 2D QP pinning arrays, we predict analytically and numerically the main features of Jc(Phi), and demonstrate that the Penrose lattice of pinning sites provides an enormous enhancement of Jc(Phi), even compared to triangular and random pinning site arrays. This huge increase in Jc(Phi) could be useful for applications.     

Anisotropic Diffusion in Driven Convection Arrays

We numerically investigate the transport of a Brownian colloidal particle in a square array of planar counter-rotating convection rolls at high Péclet numbers. We show that an external force produces huge excess peaks of the particle’s diffusion constant with a height that depends on the force orientation and intensity. In sharp contrast, the particle’s mobility is isotropic and force independent. We relate such a nonlinear response of the system to the advection properties of the laminar flow in the suspension fluid.     

Effect of Vacuum-Chamber Wall Gassing on the Evolution of an ECR Discharge in a Magnetic Trap

We study the evolution of the ECR discharge sustained in a simple mirror magnetic trap by a powerful millimeter-wave radiation. Specific features of the discharge behavior are determined by the intense gassing of the vacuum chamber walls affected by a plasma that flows out of the trap. A model of the discharge dynamics is proposed. Solutions with explosive plasma-density increase were found and analyzed, and qualitative agreement between the model and experimental results was obtained.     

Nonuniform self-organized dynamical states in superconductors with periodic pinning

We consider magnetic flux moving in superconductors with periodic pinning arrays. We show that sample heating by moving vortices produces negative differential resistivity (NDR) of both N and S type (i.e., N- and S-shaped) in the voltage-current characteristic (VI curve). The uniform flux flow state is unstable in the NDR region of the VI curve. Domain structures appear during the NDR part of the VI curve of an N type, while a filamentary instability is observed for the NDR of an S type. The simultaneous existence of the NDR of both types gives rise to the appearance of striking self-organized (both stationary and nonstationary) two-dimensional dynamical structures.