Research on cold cathodes Second quarterly report, 14 Aug. - 14 Nov. 1965

GaP/tungsten and GaP/platinum diode and tungsten/barium oxide phototube fabrication and testing in cold cathode stud

Research on cold cathodes Final report

Semiconductor/metal hot electron cold cathode

Research on cold cathodes Third quarterly report, 14 Nov. 1965 - 14 Feb. 1966

Electrical measurements on GaP/Pd diodes and Pd/BaO and Ni/BaO photoelectric work functions in cold cathode stud

Skeleton as a probe of the cosmic web: the 2D case

We discuss the skeleton as a probe of the filamentary structures of a 2D random field. It can be defined for a smooth field as the ensemble of pairs of field lines departing from saddle points, initially aligned with the major axis of local curvature and connecting them to local maxima. This definition is thus non local and makes analytical predictions difficult, so we propose a local approximation: the local skeleton is given by the set of points where the gradient is aligned with the local curvature major axis and where the second component of the local curvature is negative. We perform a statistical analysis of the length of the total local skeleton, chosen for simplicity as the set of all points of space where the gradient is either parallel or orthogonal to the main curvature axis. In all our numerical experiments, which include Gaussian and various non Gaussian realizations such as \chi^2 fields and Zel'dovich maps, the differential length is found within a normalization factor to be very close to the probability distribution function of the smoothed field. This is in fact explicitly demonstrated in the Gaussian case. This result might be discouraging for using the skeleton as a probe of non Gausiannity, but our analyses assume that the total length of the skeleton is a free, adjustable parameter. This total length could in fact be used to constrain cosmological models, in CMB maps but also in 3D galaxy catalogs, where it estimates the total length of filaments in the Universe. Making the link with other works, we also show how the skeleton can be used to study the dynamics of large scale structure.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, submitted to MNRA

Raman spectroscopy study of the interface structure in (CaCuO2)n/(SrTiO3)m superlattices

Raman spectra of CaCuO2/SrTiO3 superlattices show clear spectroscopic marker of two structures formed in CaCuO2 at the interface with SrTiO3. For non-superconducting superlattices, grown in low oxidizing atmosphere, the 425 cm-1 frequency of oxygen vibration in CuO2 planes is the same as for CCO films with infinite layer structure (planar Cu-O coordination). For superconducting superlattices grown in highly oxidizing atmosphere, a 60 cm-1 frequency shift to lower energy occurs. This is ascribed to a change from planar to pyramidal Cu-O coordination because of oxygen incorporation at the interface. Raman spectroscopy proves to be a powerful tool for interface structure investigation

Effect of Al doping on the optical phonon spectrum in Mg(1-x)Al(x)B(2)

Raman and infrared absorption spectra of Mg(1-x)Al(x)B(2) have been collected for 0<x<0.5 in the spectral range of optical phonons. The x-dependence of the peak frequency, the width and the intensity of the observed Raman lines has been carefully analized. A peculiar x-dependence of the optical modes is pointed out for two different Al doping ranges. In particular the onset of the high-doping structural phase previously observed in diffraction measurements is marked by the appearence of new spectral components at high frequencies. A connection between the whole of our results and the observed suppression of superconductivity in the high doping region is established

Pressure-tuning of the electron-phonon coupling: the insulator to metal transition in manganites

A comprehensive understanding of the physical origin of the unique magnetic and transport properties of A_(1-x)A'^xMnO_3 manganites (A = trivalent rare-earth and A' = divalent alkali-earth metal) is still far from being achieved. The complexity of these systems arises from the interplay among several competing interactions of comparable strength. Recently the electron-phonon coupling, triggered by a Jahn-Teller distortion of the MnO_6 octahedra, has been recognised to play an essential role in the insulator to metal transition and in the closely related colossal magneto-resistance. The pressure tuning of the octahedral distortion gives a unique possibility to separate the basic interactions and, at least in principle, to follow the progressive transformation of a manganite from an intermediate towards a weak electron-phonon coupling regime. Using a diamond anvil cell, temperature and pressure-dependent infrared absorption spectra of La_(0.75)Ca_(0.25)MnO_3 have been collected and, from the spectral weight analysis, the pressure dependence of the insulator to metal transition temperature T_IM has been determined for the first time up to 11.2 GPa. The T_IM(P) curve we proposed to model the present data revealed a universality character in accounting for the whole class of intermediate coupling compounds. This property can be exploited to distinguish the intermediate from the weak coupling compounds pointing out the fundamental differences between the two coupling regimes.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Liquid - liquid flows in microchannels

This paper was presented at the 3rd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2011), which was held at the Makedonia Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki in Greece. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Italian Union of Thermofluiddynamics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Thessaly, IPEM, the Process Intensification Network, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Heat Transfer Society, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group, and the Energy Institute.In this work the flow patterns are investigated during the flow of an ionic liquid and deionized water mixture in a glass microchannel (0.2mm I.D) for two different inlet configurations (T- and Yjunction). The density, viscosity and surface tension of the ionic liquid [C4mim][NTf2] are 1420kg/m3 , 0.029Pa·s and 31.92mN/m respectively. The water phase has a density of 1000kg/m3, a viscosity of 0.001Pa·s and a surface tension of 73,69mN/m. In most of the patterns observed water was the continuous phase with the ionic liquid forming plugs or a mixture of plugs and drops within it. With the Y-junction and at high mixture velocities a separated pattern was observed with the two fluids flowing in parallel along the channel for the middle range of ionic liquid fractions, while water dispersed as drops was found at high ionic liquid fractions. Pressure drop was measured during regular plug flow which revealed that for the same ionic liquid superficial velocity the pressure drop was lower when it flowed in a mixture with water than when it was on its own in the channel. For a xonstant ionic liquid flow rate, pressure drop decreased as the ionic liquid fraction increased.The project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Energy Institute at UCL

Coexistence of pressure-induced structural phases in bulk black phosphorus: a combined x-ray diffraction and Raman study up to 18 GPa

We report a study of the structural phase transitions induced by pressure in bulk black phosphorus by using both synchrotron x-ray diffraction for pressures up to 12.2 GPa and Raman spectroscopy up to 18.2 GPa. Very recently black phosphorus attracted large attention because of the unique properties of fewlayers samples (phosphorene), but some basic questions are still open in the case of the bulk system. As concerning the presence of a Raman spectrum above 10 GPa, which should not be observed in an elemental simple cubic system, we propose a new explanation by attributing a key role to the non-hydrostatic conditions occurring in Raman experiments. Finally, a combined analysis of Raman and XRD data allowed us to obtain quantitative information on presence and extent of coexistences between different structural phases from ~5 up to ~15 GPa. This information can have an important role in theoretical studies on pressure-induced structural and electronic phase transitions in black phosphorus

A cross-sectional study of the identification of prevalent asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among initiators of long-acting β-agonists in health insurance claims data

Background: Claims data are potentially useful for identifying long-acting β-agonist (LABA) use by patients with asthma, a practice that is associated with increased mortality. We evaluated the accuracy of claims data for classifying prevalent asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among initiators of LABAs. Methods: This study included adult LABA initiators during 2005–2008 in a US commercial health plan. Diagnosis codes from the 6 months before LABA initiation identified potential asthma or COPD and a physician adjudicated case status using abstracted medical records. We estimated the positive predictive value (PPV) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of covariate patterns for identifying asthma and COPD. Results: We sought 520 medical records at random from 225,079 LABA initiators and received 370 (71%). The PPV for at least one asthma claim was 74% (CI 63–82), and decreased as age increased. Having at least one COPD claim resulted in a PPV of 82% (CI 72–89), and of over 90% among older patients, men, and recipients of inhaled anticholinergic drugs. Only 2% (CI 0.2–7.6) of patients with a claim for COPD alone were found to have both COPD and asthma, while 9% (CI 4–16) had asthma only. Twenty-one percent (CI 14–30) of patients with claims for both diagnoses had both conditions. Among patients with no asthma or COPD claims, 62% (CI 50–72) had no confirmed diagnosis and 29% (CI 19–39) had confirmed asthma. Conclusions: Subsets of patients with asthma, COPD, and both conditions can be identified and differentiated using claims data, although categorization of the remaining patients is infeasible. Safety surveillance for off-label use of LABAs must account for this limitation