Superconducting nanowires currently attract great interest due to their application in single-photon detectors and quantum-computing circuits. In this context, it is of fundamental importance to understand the detrimental fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter as the wire width shrinks. In this paper, we use controlled electromigration to narrow down aluminium nanoconstrictions. We...

The topological features of low-dimensional superconductors have created a lot of excitement recently because of their broad range of applications in quantum information and their potential to reveal novel phases of quantum matter. A potential problem for practical applications is the presence of phase slips that break phase coherence. Dissipation in nontopological superconductors suppresses ph...

The recently developed integrated Precise Point Positioning (PPP) GPS/INS system can be useful to many applications, such as UAV navigation systems, land vehicle/machine automation and mobile mapping systems. Since carrier phase measurements are the primary observables in PPP GPS, cycle slips, which often occur due to high dynamics, signal obstructions and low satellite elevation, must be detec...

Aim: Exposure to repeated gait perturbations improves the balance of older adults (OAs) and decreases their risks falling, but little is known about underpinning mechanical adjustments. We aimed quantify changing temporo-spatial kinetic characteristics recovery following backward slips better understand adjustments responsible for improved balance. Methods: exposed 17 young (YAs) (25.2 ± 3.7 ye...

To achieve a high level of accuracy from an integrated GPS/INS system, the carrier-phase observations have to be used to update the integration filter’s states. It is a prerequisite that the integer ambiguity must be resolved before using carrier-phase measurements. However, the occurrence of an undetected cycle slip will significantly degrade the filter’s performance. In this paper, an algorit...

Ice-repellent coatings can have significant impact on global energy savings and improving safety in many infrastructures, transportation, and cooling systems. Recent efforts for developing ice-phobic surfaces have been mostly devoted to utilizing lotus-leaf-inspired superhydrophobic surfaces, yet these surfaces fail in high-humidity conditions due to water condensation and frost formation and e...