From antiferromagnetic insulator to correlated metal in pressurized and doped LaMnPO.

Widespread adoption of superconducting technologies awaits the discovery of new materials with enhanced properties, especially higher superconducting transition temperatures T(c). The unexpected discovery of high T(c) superconductivity in cuprates suggests that the highest T(c)s occur when pressure or doping transform the localized and moment-bearing electrons in antiferromagnetic insulators into itinerant carriers in a metal, where magnetism is preserved in the form of strong correlations. The absence of this transition in Fe-based superconductors may limit their T(c)s, but even larger T(c)s may be possible in their isostructural Mn analogs, which are antiferromagnetic insulators like the cuprates. It is generally believed that prohibitively large pressures would be required to suppress the effects of the strong Hund's rule coupling in these Mn-based compounds, collapsing the insulating gap and enabling superconductivity. Indeed, no Mn-based compounds are known to be superconductors. The electronic structure calculations and X-ray diffraction measurements presented here challenge these long held beliefs, finding that only modest pressures are required to transform LaMnPO, isostructural to superconducting host LaFeAsO, from an antiferromagnetic insulator to a metallic antiferromagnet, where the Mn moment vanishes in a second pressure-driven transition. Proximity to these charge and moment delocalization transitions in LaMnPO results in a highly correlated metallic state, the familiar breeding ground of superconductivity.

Regulation of follicular activity and ovulation in ewes by exogenous progestagen.

The success of estrus synchronization programs using progestagen sponges, particularly for fixed-time AI, varies considerably. In view of the recent evidence in cattle that exogenous progestins alter follicular dynamics, it may be that the stage of the estrous cycle at which the synchronization protocol is begun affects the synchrony of ovulation. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) intravaginal sponges on follicular dynamics, luteal function and interval to ovulation when inserted at 3 stages of the estrous cycle. Sponges were inserted for 12 d beginning on either Day 0, 6 or 12 (n = 5) following ovulation. Ovarian activity was monitored using real-time ultrasound imaging during the treatment and the post-treatment estrous cycles. Information from the post-treatment cycle was used as a baseline to compare with the treatment cycle. Most ewes (79%) in the post-treatment cycle exhibited 3 follicular waves in an estrous cycle of 16 d, with the second wave follicles having smaller diameter (P < 0.001). Treatment with MAP increased the number of follicular waves from 3 to 4 or 5 when sponges were inserted on Days 6 and 12, respectively. Size of the largest follicle was smaller (P > 0.01) in waves in the early and middle of the 12-d MAP treatment period when compared with the last 4 days. This effect was most pronounced when endogenous progesterone concentrations were elevated concurrently with the presence of the sponge. Persistence of the ovulatory follicle was increased (P < 0.001) when sponges were inserted on Day 12, the only treatment where these follicles were under the influence of MAP in the absence of functional corpora lutea. Follicles were regressing at sponge removal in the Day 6 treatment, which resulted in a delay in emergence of ovulatory follicles, the LH surge and ovulation (P < 0.08) in relation to Day 0 and Day 12. Treatment with MAP sponges does not adequately synchronize estrus and ovulation among cyclic ewes due to the different follicular patterns that result depending on the stage of cycle at the time of sponge insertion.

Follicular activity and ovulation regulated by exogenous progestagen and PMSG in anestrous ewes.

Follicular dynamics and ovulation were compared in 3 groups of anestrous ewes: those treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) sponges for 12 d, then with 750 IU PMSG at the time of sponge removal (P4 + PMSG, n = 6), or PMSG alone (n = 6) and untreated controls (n = 6). Waves of follicular activity were observed in all the animals. In the P4 + PMSG treatment group, MAP priming permitted more ovulatory follicles (P < 0.001) to be recruited without changing follicle growth rate; MAP priming also delayed the time of ovulation (P < 0.001) and the time of the LH surge (P < 0.01), which allowed for an increase in the size of ovulatory follicles (P < 0.05). Ovulation also resulted in normal luteal function after P4 + PMSG (P < 0.01) but not after PMSG alone, since premature luteal regression occurred in 80% of the cases and was related to the presence of follicles > 4 mm when P4 levels were < 1 ng/mL on the day following ovulation. The results showed that MAP priming increased the ovulation rate by increasing the number of follicles that responded to PMSG.

Volume holographic narrow-band optical filter.

An 0.0125-nm (FWHM) bandwidth optical filter with >10% throughput, clean sidebands, f/12 speed, and a response roll-off of -40 dB/decade has been developed by using volume holography in photorefractive materials. The performance of the Accuwave holographic filter is characterized and compared with that of a Lyot filter, which is the standard for solar astronomy today. Moreover, this device represents the first commercial application of volume holography in photorefractive crystals.

Increased photorefractive sensitivity in double-doped KTa(1-x)Nb(x)O(3):Fe,Ti.

Double-doped KTN:Fe,Ti exhibits increased photorefractive sensitivity compared with single-doped KTN:Fe and KTN:Ti. Absorption and photoconductivity measurements correlate the increase with an increased concentration of Fe in the reduced Fe(2+) valence state and to an increased fraction of Fe incorporated into the crystal from the flux.

Fixing of a photorefractive grating in KTa(1-x)Nb(x)O(3) by cooling through the ferroelectric phase transition.

We report the fixing of a photorefractive grating in KTa(1-x)Nb(x)O(3). The procedure involves the writing of a photorefractive grating in the cubic phase and the cooling of the sample under an applied field into the rhombohedral phase. We discuss possible mechanisms responsible for the effect.

Voltage-controlled photorefractive effect in paraelectric KTa(1-x)Nb(x)O(3):Cu,V.

Experimental results that demonstrate the formation of photorefractive gratings in KTN:Cu,V in theparaelectric phase are presented. These gratings are formed using the quadratic electro-optic effect, which allows amplitude modulation of the diffracted beam by an external electric field. High diffraction efficiencies of over 50% in a 3-mmthick sample and amplitude modulation of the diffracted beam by an external field at frequencies of up to 20 kHz were observed.

Holographic fixing, readout, and storage dynamics in photorefractive materials.

Holographic gratings in photorefractive crystals that are based on charge redistribution inevitably decay as a result of ionic and electronic conduction. Under certain and restricted conditions these decay times can be acceptably long. Relevant decay rates and transient hologram field expressions are derived with special reference to LiNbO(3). Some experimental data are presented.

Fixing of volume holograms in ferroelectric K(1-y)Li(y)Ta(1-x)Nb(x)O(3).

We report on the fixing of photorefractive volume holograms in potassium lithium tantalate niobate with ionic gratings and also with ferroelectric domain-reversed gratings. A diffraction efficiency of 55% is obtained with domain reversal in a 2-mm-thick ferroelectric phase K(1-y)Li(y)Ta(1-x)Nb(x)O(3) crystal doped with Co, V, and Ti. We measured the decay rate of the domain gratings and also of the initial electron gratings and ion gratings. The domain grating decay agrees with Vogel-Fulcher fits. The activation energies for ionic and electronic conductivity are 0.76 and 0.12 eV, respectively.

Fixing of photorefractive volume holograms in K(1-y)Li(y)Ta(1-x)O(3).

We report the fixing of photorefractive holographic gratings with high efficiency in a sample of K(1-y)Li(y)Ta(1-x)Nb(x)O(3) doped with Cu, V, and Ti. Holograms are thermally fixed through the screening of a photorefractive space-charge f ield by a nonphotoactive species at elevated temperatures. Fixed holograms are revealed by illumination at lower temperatures. Diffraction efficiencies of 25% in a 0.54-cm-thick sample are measured. Holograms undergo thermal decay with a 0.67-eV activation energy.