Table of contents

Dilute liquid - liquids offer a model system for testing theories of weakly interacting fermions. The ability to spin polarize the nuclei adds an extra dimension to the field. In this review, the extraordinary way in which the polarization of the nuclear spins can modify the macroscopic behaviour of the liquid is explained. Frequent reference to recent experiments and theoretical developments are made and the various techniques for producing high polarizations are described.

Spin-polarized photoemission has developed into a versatile tool for the study of surface and thin film magnetism. In this review, we examine the methodology of the technique and its application to a number of different problems, including both valence band and core level studies. After a detailed review of spin-polarization measurement techniques and the related experimental requirements we consider in detail studies of the bulk properties both above and below the Curie temperature. This section also includes a discussion of observations relating to unique metastable phases obtained via epitaxial growth. The application of the technique to the study of surfaces, both clean and adsorbate covered, is reviewed. The report then examines, in detail, studies of the spin-polarized electronic structure of thin films and the related interfacial magnetism. Finally, observations of spin-polarized quantum well states in non-magnetic thin films are discussed with particular reference to their mediation of the oscillatory exchange coupling in related magnetic multilayers.

The temperature (T)-dependent density functional approach and some methods for calculating bands in structurally disordered systems are described. The band results are used for determining thermodynamic properties. The methods are applied to determine T-dependent properties in systems which are sensitive to temperature as the result of special density-of-state features at the Fermi energy. Such systems include heavy fermion Ce-compounds, FeSi, and fcc Ce, and the properties are specific heat enhancements, large magnetic susceptibility, and the - transition, respectively. The phase stability of transition metals at high T are studied with the purpose of separating the electronic and vibrational effects. T-dependent effects in copper oxides leading to nonlinear electron - phonon coupling are discussed. Finally, calculations of momentum densities are shown to give a sensitive indication of thermal disorder in alkali metals. It is found that the effects of disorder are often similar to the effects of strong correlation.

Optical experiments have demonstrated cases in which mirror symmetry in stable atoms is broken during the absorption or emission of light. Such results, which are in conflict with quantum electrodynamics, support the theory of unification of the electromagnetic and weak interactions. The interpretation of the experimental results is based on exchanges of weak neutral bosons between the electrons and the nucleus of the atom. A concise review of these phenomena in atomic physics is presented. The role of precise caesium parity-violation experiments, as a source of valuable information about electroweak physics, is illustrated by examples pertaining to experimental conditions which, in some cases, are not accessible to accelerator experiments. We give the basic principles of experiments, some under way and others completed, where a quantitative determination of the nuclear weak charge, , which plays for the exchange the same role as the electric charge for the Coulomb interaction is to be, or has been achieved. In the most recent and most precise experiment the accuracy on is limited to 1 % by the uncertainty due to atomic physics calculations. Such a result challenges specialists in atomic theory and nuclear structure, since a more accurate determination of would mean more stringent constraints upon possible extensions of the standard model. Moreover, clear evidence has recently been obtained for the existence of the nuclear anapole moment, which describes the valence electron interaction with a chiral nuclear-magnetization component induced by the parity-violating nuclear forces. In writing this review, our hope was to make clear that any improvement in atomic parity-violation measurements will allow the exploration of new areas of electroweak physics.

This review discusses recent advances in biosensor technology which draw on the disciplines of physics, chemistry, biochemistry and electronics. We first show that a biosensor consists of three components, a biological detection system, a transducer and an output system. Biological receptors are briefly reviewed, followed by a detailed discussion of immobilization procedures for the efficacious attachment of receptor molecules to a transducer surface. Two classes of transducers, optical and piezoelectric, which involve interesting physics and show particular promise for commercial biosensors, are discussed thoroughly. We comment briefly on practical factors affecting the commercialization of various biosensors.