Design of near-field holographic optical elements by grating matching

A new method for designing holographic optical elements is presented. The method is based on matching the grating-spacing profile of the recording light interference pattern to the desired grating-spacing profile. We show that for designing near-field holograms, in which the optical images involved are close to the hologram aperture, the grating-matching technique is superior to the well-established aberration-balancing method introduced by Latta [Appl. Opt. 10, 609 (1971)].     

Magnetic and superconducting properties of niobium oxides

Low temperature magnetic susceptibilities of niobium oxides have been measured. A homogeneous sample of NbO prepared by arc melting and checked by using X-ray and metallographic techniques exhibits no ferromagnetism but becomes superconducting at 1.20°K.     

Cuprates and Ruthenates: Similarities and Differences

There is growing evidence that the p-wave superconductivity of Sr₂RuO₄ occurs primarily in the planar -band. Thus the minimum model for both cuprates and ruthenates is a single active band with onsite Coulomb interactions. Recent renormalization group analysis shows that such a model can show singlet d-wave or triplet p-wave pairing. The energy of the van Hove singularity in the band and the shape of the Fermi surface are the decisive factors at weak to moderate interaction strengths.     

Resonance and nonresonant laser ionization of sputtered uranium atoms from thin films and single microparticles: evaluation of a combined system for particle trace analysis

The resonance and nonresonant laser ionization of uranium atoms sputtered from thin metal films and individual micrometer-size uranium oxide particles, respectively, was studied to evaluate a new setup for the analysis of actinide-containing micrometer-size particles. Experiments using nonresonant (193-nm) ionization of atoms and molecules sputtered from micrometer-size uranium oxide particles have shown that the uranium detection efficiencies for sputtered neutral atoms are approximately 2 orders of magnitude higher than for secondary ions. In uranium particles of 0.5-microm diameter, 6 x 10(6) atoms of 235U were easily detected and the isotopic ratio of 235U/238U = 0.0048 +/- 4.6% is in excellent agreement with the certified value. The use of two-color, two-step resonance ionization of the sputtered neutral uranium atoms from thin films was investigated. Several excitation schemes were tested, and a significant population of several low-lying metastable states after ion sputtering was observed. Autoionizing states for double-resonant ionization were determined, and the high selectivity of ionization schemes involving these autoionizing states was illustrated by comparing the flight-time distributions of different sputtered species obtained both by resonance and nonresonant multiphoton (355-nm) laser postionization. Ideally, the options for resonance as well as nonresonant ionization would be combined in a single setup, to obtain a large gain in sensitivity and selectivity. Thus, information about the main components as well as specific isotopic information of a trace element could be obtained from the same single particle.     

Relative numerousness judgment and summation in young, middle-aged, and older adult orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus abelii and Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus).

The ability to select the larger of two quantities ranging from 1 to 5 (relative numerousness judgment [RNJ[) and the ability to select the larger of two pairs of quantities with each pair ranging from 1 to 8 (summation) were evaluated in young, middle-aged, and older adult orangutans (7 Pongo pygmaeus abelii and 2 Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus). Summation accuracy and RNJ were similar to those of previous reports in apes; however, the pattern of age-related differences with regard to these tasks was different from that previously reported in gorillas. Older orangutans were less accurate than the young and middle-aged for RNJ, and summation accuracy was equivalent among age groups. Evidence was found to suggest that the young and middle-aged based their selection of the largest quantity pair on both quantities within each pair during the summation task. These results show a relationship between subject age and the quantitative abilities of adult orangutans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Investigation of the Double Superconducting Transition and Low-Temperature Specific Heat of Pr(Os1-xRux)4Sb12

The double superconducting transition in PrOs₄Sb₁₂, first observed in specific heat C(T) measurements on single crystal samples, was studied by means of specific heat measurements on PrOs₄Sb₁₂ crystals that had been subjected to applied magnetic fields, substitution of up to 4 Ru for Os, and annealing. The double superconducting transitions of a batch of single crystals were measured before and after annealing for 5 days at 500°C, to remove strains and promote homogeniety, with no observed change. Measurements of C(T) near T_c for PrOs₄Sb₁₂ in several magnetic fields are also presented, detailing the evolution of the double transition up to 1 T. Samples of Pr(Os_1-x Ru_x)Sb₁₂ with 0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.04 also appear to display a double superconducting transition in specific heat. In addition, samples with the smallest Ru concentration measured (x = 0.01) may even display a more isotropic type of superconductivity than pure PrOs₄Sb₁₂ (x = 0).     

Non-Fermi Liquid Regimes and Superconductivity in the Low Temperature Phase Diagrams of Strongly Correlated d- and f-Electron Materials

Standard models for simple metals and insulators often fail for systems based on elements with unstable d- or f-electron shells, where strong electronic correlations can generate new and unexpected states of matter. Such a scenario can often be induced when a magnetic phase transition is tuned to absolute zero temperature by an external control parameter such as chemical composition, pressure or magnetic field. At the resulting quantum critical point (QCP), emergent phenomena, such as unconventional superconductivity and novel magnetic phases are frequently observed. The temperature and energy dependences of the physical properties are also found to deviate from expectations for a simple Fermi liquid. This “non-Fermi-liquid” (NFL) behavior is commonly manifested as weak power laws and logarithmic divergences in the physical properties at low temperatures and is often found in a V-shaped region near a QCP, which has become the “classic” QCP phase diagram. However, there is also a growing number of materials where the NFL behavior either occurs far away from the QCP, within an ordered phase, or may not be associated with any putative QCP. Thus, after nearly 20 years of research, it remains unknown whether NFL physics is universal, or if a multitude of unique subclasses exist. In this article, we review research that has primarily been carried out in our laboratory on systems that exhibit NFL behavior that does not conform to the “classic” QCP scenario.     

Design of LTCC with High Thermal Expansion

New applications of low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC), such as pressure sensors or integrated functional layers, require materials that possess higher coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE). To fabricate LTCC with elevated CTE, two methods of material design are examined: firstly, glass ceramic composites (GCC), which consist of >50 vol% glass in the starting powder, and, secondly, glass-bonded ceramics (GBC), where glass is added as a sintering aid only. The CTE of GBC is mainly determined by the crystalline component. For GCC, the CTE can be well predicted, if CTE and elastic data of each phase in the microstructure are known. A nonlinear characteristic of the CTE versus phase composition was found with increasing E _crystals/ E _glass ratio and absolute CTE difference between the components. The glass composition and glass amount can be used to compensate the fixed properties of a crystalline material in a desired way. However, because the CTE and permittivity of a glass cannot be chosen independently, an optimum glass composition has to be found. For a given LTCC, it is possible to control the devitrification by shifting the glass composition. In this way, the resulting CTE values can be predicted more exactly and tailoring becomes possible. Different LTCC materials, based on the crystalline compounds Ba(La,Nd)₂Ti₄O₁₂, ZrO₂ (Y-TZP), SiO₂ (quartz), and specially developed glasses, possessing an elevated CTE of around 10 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ while showing permittivity ɛ_r between 6 and 63, are introduced.     

Microsegregation: From Basic Concepts to Complexity in Liquid Crystal Self-Assembly

This review is focused on the basic concepts of microsegregation and a fundamental understanding of the formation of positionally ordered LC phases based on micro- and nanophases, interaction parameters and interfaces. Selected examples were chosen from the actual literature to illustrate the concepts. Microsegregation is the basis of classical LC phases and cybotaxis, and most importantly, it paves the way to a huge number of new LC phases. Beside the distinct modes of micellar packing motifs and liquid quasicrystals formed by self-assembly of dendritic molecules, attention is also focused on the specific effects of rigid anisometric units and polyphilicity. Honeycomb LC phases, vesicular LC phases and mesophases with 3D-lattices lead to enhanced complexity of LC self-assembly.