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S. Nakano

Publications and source records attributed to S. Nakano.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Temperature-dependent local structure of superconducting BaPd$_2$As$_2$ and SrPd$_2$As$_2$

The local structures of 122-type paradium arsenides, namely BaPd$_2$As$_2$ and SrPd$_2$As$_2$, are examined by As K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements to find a possible correlation between the variation of their superconducting transition temperature and the local structure. The local atomic distances are found to be consistent with average distances measured by diffraction techniques. The temperature dependence of mean square relative displacements reveal that, while BaPd$_2$As$_2$ is characterized by a local As-Pd soft mode, albeit with larger atomic disorder, SrPd$_2$As$_2$ shows anomalous As-Pd correlations with a kink at $\sim$160 K due to hardening by raising temperature. We have discussed implications of these results and possible mechanism of differing superconducting transition temperature in relation with the structural instability.

cond-mat.supr-con

Enhanced thermoelectric properties by Ir doping of PtSb2 with pyrite structure

The effects of Ir doping on the thermoelectric properties of Pt1-xIrxSb2 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.1) with pyrite structure were studied. Measurements of electrical resistivity rho, Seebeck coefficient S, and thermal conductivity kappa were conducted. The results showed an abrupt change from semiconducting behavior without Ir (x = 0) to metallic behavior at x = 0.01. The sample with x = 0.01 exhibited large S and low rho, resulting in a maximum power factor (S^2/rho) of 43 muW/cmK^2 at 400 K. The peculiar "pudding mold"-type electronic band dispersion could explain the enhanced thermoelectric properties in the metallic state.

cond-mat.str-el

Low-temperature specific heat for ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orders in CaRu1-xMnxO3

Low-temperature specific heat of CaRu1-xMnxO3 was measured to clarify the role of d electrons in ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orders observed above x=0.2. Specific heat divided by temperature C_p/T is found to roughly follow a T^2 function, and relatively large magnitudes of electronic specific heat coefficient gamma were obtained in wide x range. In particular, gamma is unchanged from the value at x=0 (84 mJ/K^2 mol) in the paramagnetic state for x<=0.1, but linearly reduced with increasing x above x= 0.2. These features of gamma strongly suggest that itinerant d electrons are tightly coupled with the evolution of magnetic orders in small and intermediate Mn concentrations.

cond-mat.str-el

CANGAROO-III search for TeV Gamma-rays from two clusters of galaxies

Because accretion and merger shocks in clusters of galaxies may accelerate particles to high energies, clusters are candidate sites for the origin of ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic-rays. A prediction was presented for gamma-ray emission from a cluster of galaxies at a detectable level with the current generation of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. The gamma-ray emission was produced via inverse Compton upscattering of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons by electron-positron pairs generated by collisions of UHE cosmic rays in the cluster. We observed two clusters of galaxies, Abell 3667 and Abell 4038, searching for very-high-energy gamma-ray emission with the CANGAROO-III atmospheric Cherenkov telescope system in 2006. The analysis showed no significant excess around these clusters, yielding upper limits on the gamma-ray emission. From a comparison of the upper limit for the north-west radio relic region of Abell 3667 with a model prediction, we derive a lower limit for the magnetic field of the region of ~0.1 micro G. This shows the potential of gamma-ray observations in studies of the cluster environment. We also discuss the flux upper limit from cluster center regions using a model of gamma-ray emission from neutral pions produced in hadronic collisions of cosmic-ray protons with the intra-cluster medium (ICM). The derived upper limit of the cosmic-ray energy density within this framework is an order of magnitude higher than that of our Galaxy.

astro-ph.HE

CANGAROO-III Observation of TeV Gamma Rays from the vicinity of PSR B1 706-44

Observation by the CANGAROO-III stereoscopic system of the Imaging Cherenkov Telescope has detected extended emission of TeV gamma rays in the vicinity of the pulsar PSR B1706$-$44. The strength of the signal observed as gamma-ray-like events varies when we apply different ways of emulating background events. The reason for such uncertainties is argued in relevance to gamma-rays embedded in the "off-source data", that is, unknown sources and diffuse emission in the Galactic plane, namely, the existence of a complex structure of TeV gamma-ray emission around PSR B1706$-$44.

astro-ph.HE

Pressure Study of Superconducting Oxypnictide LaFePO

Electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements under high pressure were performed on an iron-based superconductor LaFePO. A steep increase in superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of LaFePO with dTc/dP > 4 K/GPa to a maximum of 8.8 K for P = 0.8 GPa was observed. These results are similar to isocrystalline LaFeAsO1-xFx system reported previously. X-ray diffraction measurements were also performed under high pressure up to 10 GPa, where linear compressibility ka and kc are presented.

cond-mat.supr-con

Apollo asteroids (1566) Icarus and 2007 MK6: Icarus family members?

Although it is more complicated to search for near-Earth object (NEO) families than main belt asteroid (MBA) families, since differential orbital evolution within a NEO family can cause current orbital elements to drastically differ from each other, we have found that Apollo asteroids (1566) Icarus and the newly discovered 2007 MK6 are almost certainly related. Specifically, their orbital evolutions show a similar profile, time shifted by only ~1000 yr, based on our time-lag theory. The dynamical relationship between Icarus and 2007 MK6 along with a possible dust band, the Taurid-Perseid meteor swarm, implies the first detection of an asteroidal NEO family, namely the "Icarus asteroid family".

astro-ph

A giant outburst two years before the core-collapse of a massive star

The death of massive stars produces a variety of supernovae, which are linked to the structure of the exploding stars. The detection of several precursor stars of Type II supernovae have been reported, however we do not yet have direct information on the progenitors of the hydrogen deficient Type Ib and Ic supernovae. Here we report that the peculiar Type Ib supernova SN2006jc is spatially coincident with a bright optical transient that occurred in 2004. Spectroscopic and photometric monitoring of the supernova leads us to suggest that the progenitor was a carbon-oxygen Wolf-Rayet star embedded within a helium-rich circumstellar medium. There are different possible explanations for this pre-explosion transient. It appears similar to the giant outbursts of Luminous Blue Variables (LBV) of 60-100 solar mass stars, however the progenitor of SN2006jc was helium and hydrogen deficient. An LBV-like outburst of a Wolf-Rayet star could be invoked, but this would be the first observational evidence of such a phenomenon. Alternatively a massive binary system composed of an LBV which erupted in 2004, and a Wolf-Rayet star exploding as SN2006jc, could explain the observations.

astro-ph