Transient power dynamics in nematic electroconvection.

We have observed the transient dynamics in nematic electroconvection during a sudden change in the driving voltage. The steady state dynamics of nematic electroconvection during a constant driving voltage are well characterized examples of spatiotemporal chaos, and thus are useful for the study of chaotic transients. For a set of starting conditions, we were able to show that the system can enter a long-lived transient state with a larger power dissipation rate.

A Novel Magnetic Material by Design: Observation of Yb with Spin-1/2 in Yb PtP.

The localized f-electrons enrich the magnetic properties in rare-earth-based intermetallics. Among those, compounds with heavier 4d and 5d transition metals are even more fascinating because anomalous electronic properties may be induced by the hybridization of 4f and itinerant conduction electrons primarily from the d orbitals. Here, we describe the observation of trivalent Yb with = 1/2 at low temperatures in Yb PtP, the first of a new family of materials.