Inhibition of exportin-1 function results in rapid cell cycle-associated DNA damage in cancer cells

PubMed Central

Burke, Russell T.; Marcus, Joshua M.; Orth, James D.

2017-01-01

Selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE) are small molecules in development as anti-cancer agents. The first-in-class SINE, selinexor, is in clinical trials for blood and solid cancers. Selinexor forms a covalent bond with exportin-1 at cysteine-528, and blocks its ability to export cargos. Previous work has shown strong cell cycle effects and drug-induced cell death across many different cancer-derived cell lines. Here, we report strong cell cycle-associated DNA double-stranded break formation upon the treatment of cancer cells with SINE. In multiple cell models, selinexor treatment results in the formation of clustered DNA damage foci in 30-40% of cells within 8 hours that is dependent upon cysteine-528. DNA damage strongly correlates with G1/S-phase and decreased DNA replication. Live cell microscopy reveals an association between DNA damage and cell fate. Cells that form damage in G1-phase more often die or arrest, while those damaged in S/G2-phase frequently progress to cell division. Up to half of all treated cells form damage foci, and most cells that die after being damaged, were damaged in G1-phase. By comparison, non-transformed cell lines show strong cell cycle effects but little DNA damage and less death than cancer cells. Significant drug combination effects occur when selinexor is paired with different classes of agents that either cause DNA damage or that diminish DNA damage repair. These data present a novel effect of exportin-1 inhibition and provide a strong rationale for multiple combination treatments of selinexor with agents that are currently in use for the treatment of different solid cancers. PMID:28467801

The Effect of Microstructure on Mechanical Properties of Directionally Solidified Al2O3/ZrO2(Y2O3) Eutectic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sayir, Ali; Farmer, Serene C.

1999-01-01

The eutectic architecture of a continuous reinforcing phase within a higher volume fraction phase or matrix can be described as a naturally occurring in-situ composite. Here we report the results of experiments aimed at identifying the sources of high temperature creep resistance and high levels of strength in a two phase Al2O3/ZrO2(Y2O3) system. The mechanical properties of two phase Al2O3/ZrO2(Y2O3) eutectic are superior to those of either constituent alone due to strong constraining effects provided by the coherent interfaces and microstructure. The AlO3/ZrO2(Y2O3) eutectic maintains a low energy interface resulting from directional solidification and can produce strong and stable reinforcing phase/matrix bonding. The phases comprising a eutectic are thermodynamically compatible at higher homologous temperatures than man-made composites and as such offer the potential for superior high temperature properties.

Towards an integrated AlGaAs waveguide platform for phase and polarisation shaping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maltese, G.; Halioua, Y.; Lemaître, A.; Gomez-Carbonell, C.; Karimi, E.; Banzer, P.; Ducci, S.

2018-05-01

We propose, design and fabricate an on-chip AlGaAs waveguide capable of generating a controlled phase delay of π/2 between the guided transverse electric and magnetic modes. These modes possess significantly strong longitudinal field components as a direct consequence of their strong lateral confinement in the waveguide. We demonstrate that the effect of the device on a linearly polarised input beam is the generation of a field, which is circularly polarised in its transverse components and carries a phase vortex in its longitudinal component. We believe that the discussed integrated platform enables the generation of light beams with tailored phase and polarisation distributions.

Open-loop simulations of atmospheric turbulence using the AdAPS interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widiker, Jeffrey J.; Magee, Eric P.

2005-08-01

We present and analyze experimental results of lab-based open-loop turbulence simulation utilizing the Adaptive Aberrating Phase Screen Interface developed by ATK Mission Research, which incorporates a 2-D spatial light modulator manufactured by Boulder Nonlinear Systems. These simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of a SLM to simulate various atmospheric turbulence scenarios in a laboratory setting without altering the optical setup. This effectiveness is shown using several figures of merit including: long-term Strehl ratio, time-dependant mean-tilt analysis, and beam break-up geometry. The scenarios examined here range from relatively weak (D/ro = 0.167) to quite strong (D/ro = 10) turbulence effects modeled using a single phase-screen placed at the pupil of a Fourier Transforming lens. While very strong turbulence scenarios result long-term Strehl ratios higher than expected, the SLM provided an accurate simulation of atmospheric effects for conventional phase-screen strengths.

Dark incoherent soliton splitting and "phase-memory" effects: Theory and experiment.

PubMed

Coskun, T H; Christodoulides, D N; Chen, Z; Segev, M

1999-05-01

We report on an experimental observation of dark incoherent soliton Y splitting. The effects of incoherence on the evolution of incoherent dark soliton doublets are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. We show that the dynamics of these incoherent self-trapped entities are associated with strong "phase-memory" effects that are otherwise absent in the linear regime.

Effect of the existing form of Cu element on the mechanical properties, bio-corrosion and antibacterial properties of Ti-Cu alloys for biomedical application.

PubMed

Zhang, Erlin; Wang, Xiaoyan; Chen, Mian; Hou, Bing

2016-12-01

Ti-Cu alloys have exhibited strong antibacterial ability, but Ti-Cu alloys prepared by different processes showed different antibacterial ability. In order to reveal the controlling mechanism, Ti-Cu alloys with different existing forms of Cu element were prepared in this paper. The effects of the Cu existing form on the microstructure, mechanical, corrosion and antibacterial properties of Ti-Cu alloys have been systematically investigated. Results have shown that the as-cast Ti-Cu alloys showed a higher hardness and mechanical strength as well as a higher antibacterial rate (51-64%) but a relatively lower corrosion resistance than pure titanium. Treatment at 900°C/2h (T4) significantly increased the hardness and the strength, improved the corrosion resistance but had little effect on the antibacterial property. Treatment at 900°C/2h+400°C/12h (T6) increased further the hardness and the mechanical strength, improved the corrosion resistance and but also enhanced the antibacterial rate (>90%) significantly. It was demonstrated that the Cu element in solid solution state showed high strengthening ability but low antibacterial property while Cu element in Ti2Cu phase exhibited strong strengthening ability and strong antibacterial property. Ti2Cu phase played a key role in the antibacterial mechanism. The antibacterial ability of Ti-Cu alloy was strongly proportional to the Cu content and the surface area of Ti2Cu phase. High Cu content and fine Ti2Cu phase would contribute to a high strength and a strong antibacterial ability. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Geometric stability of topological lattice phases

PubMed Central

Jackson, T. S.; Möller, Gunnar; Roy, Rahul

2015-01-01

The fractional quantum Hall (FQH) effect illustrates the range of novel phenomena which can arise in a topologically ordered state in the presence of strong interactions. The possibility of realizing FQH-like phases in models with strong lattice effects has attracted intense interest as a more experimentally accessible venue for FQH phenomena which calls for more theoretical attention. Here we investigate the physical relevance of previously derived geometric conditions which quantify deviations from the Landau level physics of the FQHE. We conduct extensive numerical many-body simulations on several lattice models, obtaining new theoretical results in the process, and find remarkable correlation between these conditions and the many-body gap. These results indicate which physical factors are most relevant for the stability of FQH-like phases, a paradigm we refer to as the geometric stability hypothesis, and provide easily implementable guidelines for obtaining robust FQH-like phases in numerical or real-world experiments. PMID:26530311

Berry phase mechanism of the anomalous Hall effect in a disordered two-dimensional magnetic semiconductor structure.

DOE PAGES

Oveshnikov, L. N.; Kulbachinskii, V. A.; Davydov, A. B.; ...

2015-11-24

In this study, the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) arises from the interplay of spin-orbit interactions and ferromagnetic order and is a potentially useful probe of electron spin polarization, especially in nanoscale systems where direct measurement is not feasible. While AHE is rather well-understood in metallic ferromagnets, much less is known about the relevance of different physical mechanisms governing AHE in insulators. As ferromagnetic insulators, but not metals, lend themselves to gatecontrol of electron spin polarization, understanding AHE in the insulating state is valuable from the point of view of spintronic applications. Among the mechanisms proposed in the literature for AHEmore » in insulators, the one related to a geometric (Berry) phase effect has been elusive in past studies. The recent discovery of quantized AHE in magnetically doped topological insulators - essentially a Berry phase effect - provides strong additional motivation to undertake more careful search for geometric phase effects in AHE in the magnetic semiconductors. Here we report our experiments on the temperature and magnetic field dependences of AHE in insulating, strongly-disordered two-dimensional Mn delta-doped semiconductor heterostructures in the hopping regime. In particular, it is shown that at sufficiently low temperatures, the mechanism of AHE related to the Berry phase is favoured.« less

Berry phase mechanism of the anomalous Hall effect in a disordered two-dimensional magnetic semiconductor structure

PubMed Central

Oveshnikov, L. N.; Kulbachinskii, V. A.; Davydov, A. B.; Aronzon, B. A.; Rozhansky, I. V.; Averkiev, N. S.; Kugel, K. I.; Tripathi, V.

2015-01-01

The anomalous Hall effect (AHE) arises from the interplay of spin-orbit interactions and ferromagnetic order and is a potentially useful probe of electron spin polarization, especially in nanoscale systems where direct measurement is not feasible. While AHE is rather well-understood in metallic ferromagnets, much less is known about the relevance of different physical mechanisms governing AHE in insulators. As ferromagnetic insulators, but not metals, lend themselves to gate-control of electron spin polarization, understanding AHE in the insulating state is valuable from the point of view of spintronic applications. Among the mechanisms proposed in the literature for AHE in insulators, the one related to a geometric (Berry) phase effect has been elusive in past studies. The recent discovery of quantized AHE in magnetically doped topological insulators - essentially a Berry phase effect - provides strong additional motivation to undertake more careful search for geometric phase effects in AHE in the magnetic semiconductors. Here we report our experiments on the temperature and magnetic field dependences of AHE in insulating, strongly-disordered two-dimensional Mn delta-doped semiconductor heterostructures in the hopping regime. In particular, it is shown that at sufficiently low temperatures, the mechanism of AHE related to the Berry phase is favoured. PMID:26596472

Berry phase jumps and giant nonreciprocity in Dirac quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodriguez-Nieva, Joaquin F.; Levitov, Leonid S.

2016-12-01

We predict that a strong nonreciprocity in the resonance spectra of Dirac quantum dots can be induced by the Berry phase. The nonreciprocity arises in relatively weak magnetic fields and is manifest in anomalously large field-induced splittings of quantum dot resonances which are degenerate at B =0 due to time-reversal symmetry. This exotic behavior, which is governed by field-induced jumps in the Berry phase of confined electronic states, is unique to quantum dots in Dirac materials and is absent in conventional quantum dots. The effect is strong for gapless Dirac particles and can overwhelm the B -induced orbital and Zeeman splittings. A finite Dirac mass suppresses the effect. The nonreciprocity, predicted for generic two-dimensional Dirac materials, is accessible through Faraday and Kerr optical rotation measurements and scanning tunneling spectroscopy.

Unambiguous Signature of the Berry Phase in Intense Laser Dissociation of Diatomic Molecules.

PubMed

Bouakline, Foudhil

2018-05-03

We report strong evidence of Berry phase effects in intense laser dissociation of D 2 + molecules, manifested as Aharonov-Bohm-like oscillations in the photofragment angular distribution (PAD). Our calculations show that this interference pattern strongly depends on the parity of the diatom initial rotational state, (-1) j . Indeed, the PAD local maxima (minima) observed in one case ( j odd) correspond to local minima (maxima) in the other case ( j even). Using simple topological arguments, we clearly show that such interference conversion is a direct signature of the Berry phase. The sole effect of the latter on the rovibrational wave function is a sign change of the relative phase between two interfering components, which wind in opposite senses around a light-induced conical intersection (LICI). Therefore, encirclement of the LICI leads to constructive ( j odd) or destructive ( j even) self-interference of the initial nuclear wavepacket in the dissociative limit. To corroborate our theoretical findings, we suggest an experiment of strong-field indirect dissociation of D 2 + molecules, comparing the PAD of the ortho and para molecular species in directions nearly perpendicular to the laser polarization axis.

Notes on phase transitions and the role of spin fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stishov, S. M.

2016-09-01

The physical properties of two chiral systems with localized and delocalized magnetic moments, {\\text{Cu}}2{\\text{OSeO}}3 and MnSi, are reviewed. It is concluded that the longitudinal fluctuations of magnetic moments have no strong effect on the qualitative picture of phase transitions and the magnetic phase diagrams of chiral systems.

Berry phase dependent quantum trajectories of electron-hole pairs in semiconductors under intense terahertz fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Fan; Liu, Ren-Bao

2013-03-01

Quantum evolution of particles under strong fields can be approximated by the quantum trajectories that satisfy the stationary phase condition in the Dirac-Feynmann path integrals. The quantum trajectories are the key concept to understand strong-field optics phenomena, such as high-order harmonic generation (HHG), above-threshold ionization (ATI), and high-order terahertz siedeband generation (HSG). The HSG in semiconductors may have a wealth of physics due to the possible nontrivial ``vacuum'' states of band materials. We find that in a spin-orbit-coupled semiconductor, the cyclic quantum trajectories of an electron-hole pair under a strong terahertz field accumulates nontrivial Berry phases. We study the monolayer MoS2 as a model system and find that the Berry phases are given by the Faraday rotation angles of the pulse emission from the material under short-pulse excitation. This result demonstrates an interesting Berry phase dependent effect in the extremely nonlinear optics of semiconductors. This work is supported by Hong Kong RGC/GRF 401512 and the CUHK Focused Investments Scheme.

Probing strong electroweak symmetry breaking dynamics through quantum interferometry at the LHC

DOE PAGES

Murayama, Hitoshi; Rentala, Vikram; Shu, Jing

2015-12-07

Here, we present a new probe of strongly coupled electroweak symmetry breaking at the 14 TeV LHC by measuring a phase shift in the event distribution of the decay azimuthal angles in massive gauge boson scattering. One generically expects a large phase shift in the longitudinal gauge boson scattering amplitude due to the presence of broad resonances. This phase shift is observable as an interference effect between the strongly interacting longitudinal modes and the transverse modes of the gauge bosons. We find that even very broad resonances of masses up to 900 GeV can be probed at 3σ significance withmore » a 3000 fb -1 run of the LHC by using this technique. We also present the estimated reach for a future 50 TeV proton-proton collider.« less

Effect of different annealing condition on the structural and magnetic properties of Mn2NiGa Heusler alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vagadia, Megha; Hester, James; Nigam, A. K.

2018-04-01

We studied the effect of different annealing conditions on structural and magnetic properties of Mn2NiGa Heusler alloys. Reitveld refinement of neutron diffraction pattern at RT confirms the tetragonal structure with cubic phase for I-W quenched alloy whereas Le Bail fitting trials performed on neutron diffraction pattern collected for other three alloys confirm 7M monoclinic structure with cubic phase. It is found that starting and finish temperatures associated with martensite and austenite phase transformation depends strongly on the cooling rate corresponding to different cooling techniques. Slow furnace cooled sample possesses the highest martensite start temperature above room temperature ˜ 326K which decreases to ˜ 198K for ice -water quenched sample. Variation in the drop in the magnetization around MS obtained upon warming from martensite to austenite phase under ZFC cycle suggests that change in the cooling condition strongly affects the magnetization in the low temperature martensite phase. Present results suggest that by varying the cooling rate, martensite transformation as well as the martensite structure can be tuned.

Liquid-solid equilibria involving spinel, ilmenite, and ferropseudobrookite in the system 'FeO'-Al2O3-TiO2 in contact with metallic iron

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schreifels, W. A.; Muan, A.

1975-01-01

Phase relations in the liquidus temperature region of the system 'FeO'-Al2O3-TiO2 in contact with metallic iron, at a total pressure below 1 atm, have been determined by the quenching technique. Four invariant points have been located, with phase assemblages and temperatures as follows; wuestite, ulvoespinel, nercynite and liquid, 1306 C; ulvoespinel, ilmenite, ferropseudobrookite and liquid, 1340 C; ulvoespinel, hercynite, ferropseudobrookite and liquid, 1367 C; hercynite, ferropseudobrookite, corundum and liquid, 1465 C. The data obtained confirm the presence of a miscibility gap between titanate and aluminate spinels, and provide quantitative data for the effect of Al2O3 on mutual stability relations among spinel, ilmenite, and ferropseudobrookite phases in the presence of liquid at high temperatures and strongly reducing conditions. It is shown that Al2O3 has a strong stabilizing effect on the phase assemblage ferropseudobrookite and spinel relative to ilmenite.

Effects of temperature dependent pre-amorphization implantation on NiPt silicide formation and thermal stability on Si(100)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ozcan, Ahmet S.; Wall, Donald; Jordan-Sweet, Jean

Using temperature controlled Si and C ion implantation, we studied the effects of pre-amorphization implantation on NiPt alloy silicide phase formation. In situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction and resistance measurements were used to monitor phase and morphology evolution in silicide films. Results show that substrate amorphization strongly modulate the nucleation of silicide phases, regardless of implant species. However, morphological stability of the thin films is mainly enhanced by C addition, independently of the amorphization depth.

Phase-noise influence on coherent transients and hole burning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shakhmuratov, R. N.; Szabo, Alex

1998-10-01

Resonant excitation of an inhomogeneously broadened ensemble of two-level atoms (TLA) by a stochastic field with phase noise is theoretically investigated. Free-induction decay (FID), hole burning (HB), and transient nutation (TN) are studied. We consider two kinds of driving fields, one with a free walking phase and another with the phase locked in a limited domain. It is shown that the resonant excitation behavior depends strongly on the noise property. Noise induced by a walking phase gives a simple contribution to the dephasing time, T2, of two-level atoms whereas phase locking qualitatively changes the laser-atom interaction. In the latter case, it is shown that even when the central part of the driving field spectrum is narrower than homogeneous absorption line of the TLA, the wide, low intensity wings of the spectrum (sidebands produced by the locked phase noise), have a strong effect on the FID, TN, and HB induced by the central, narrow part of the spectrum. The influence of sidebands on photon echoes is also discussed.

Extension and Public Service in the University of Illinois. Phase II Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois Univ., Urbana.

Phase II of the report on the problem outlined in Phase I deals with specific recommendations for expanding and improving the extension and public service functions of the University of Illinois. To be effective, the university needs a master plan in which the four essential ingredients must be (1) broad, strong and explicit policy commitments by…

Mott-Hubbard transition and Anderson localization: A generalized dynamical mean-field theory approach

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuchinskii, E. Z.; Nekrasov, I. A.; Sadovskii, M. V.

The DOS, the dynamic (optical) conductivity, and the phase diagram of a strongly correlated and strongly disordered paramagnetic Anderson-Hubbard model are analyzed within the generalized dynamical mean field theory (DMFT + {sigma} approximation). Strong correlations are taken into account by the DMFT, and disorder is taken into account via an appropriate generalization of the self-consistent theory of localization. The DMFT effective single-impurity problem is solved by a numerical renormalization group (NRG); we consider the three-dimensional system with a semielliptic DOS. The correlated metal, Mott insulator, and correlated Anderson insulator phases are identified via the evolution of the DOS and dynamicmore » conductivity, demonstrating both the Mott-Hubbard and Anderson metal-insulator transition and allowing the construction of the complete zero-temperature phase diagram of the Anderson-Hubbard model. Rather unusual is the possibility of a disorder-induced Mott insulator-to-metal transition.« less

Using nonequilibrium dynamics to probe competing orders in a Mott-Peierls system

DOE PAGES

Wang, Y.; Moritz, B.; Chen, C. -C.; ...

2016-02-24

Competition between ordered phases, and their associated phase transitions, are significant in the study of strongly correlated systems. Here, we examine one aspect, the nonequilibrium dynamics of a photoexcited Mott-Peierls system, using an effective Peierls-Hubbard model and exact diagonalization. Near a transition where spin and charge become strongly intertwined, we observe antiphase dynamics and a coupling-strength-dependent suppression or enhancement in the static structure factors. The renormalized bosonic excitations coupled to a particular photoexcited electron can be extracted, which provides an approach for characterizing the underlying bosonic modes. The results from this analysis for different electronic momenta show an uneven softeningmore » due to a stronger coupling near k F. As a result, this behavior reflects the strong link between the fermionic momenta, the coupling vertices, and ultimately, the bosonic susceptibilities when multiple phases compete for the ground state of the system.« less

Effect of strong disorder on three-dimensional chiral topological insulators: Phase diagrams, maps of the bulk invariant, and existence of topological extended bulk states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Juntao; Fine, Carolyn; Prodan, Emil

2014-11-01

The effect of strong disorder on chiral-symmetric three-dimensional lattice models is investigated via analytical and numerical methods. The phase diagrams of the models are computed using the noncommutative winding number, as functions of disorder strength and model's parameters. The localized/delocalized characteristic of the quantum states is probed with level statistics analysis. Our study reconfirms the accurate quantization of the noncommutative winding number in the presence of strong disorder, and its effectiveness as a numerical tool. Extended bulk states are detected above and below the Fermi level, which are observed to undergo the so-called "levitation and pair annihilation" process when the system is driven through a topological transition. This suggests that the bulk invariant is carried by these extended states, in stark contrast with the one-dimensional case where the extended states are completely absent and the bulk invariant is carried by the localized states.

Microgravity experiments on the effect of internal flow on solidification of Fe-Cr-Ni stainless steels.

PubMed

Hanlon, Alaina B; Matson, Douglas M; Hyers, Robert W

2006-09-01

A new hypothesis has been developed to explain the effect of internal fluid flow on the lifetime of a metastable phase in solidifying Fe-Cr-Ni alloys. The hypothesis shows excellent agreement with available experimental results, but microgravity experiments are required for complete validation. Certain Fe-Cr-Ni stainless steel alloys solidify from an undercooled melt by a two-step process in which the metastable ferrite phase forms first followed by the stable austenite phase. Recent experiments using containerless processing techniques have shown that the lifetime of the metastable phase is strongly influenced by flow within the molten sample. Simulations using a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package, FIDAP, were performed to determine the time required for collision of dendrites and compared to experimental delay time. If the convective velocities are strong enough to bend the primary arms, then the secondary arms of adjacent dendrites can touch. The points of collision form low-angle boundaries and result in high-energy sites that can serve as nuclei for the transformation to the stable phase. It has been determined that the convective velocities in electrostatic levitation (ESL) are not strong enough to cause collision. However, in ground-based electromagnetic levitation (EML), the convective velocities are strong enough to cause the dendrites to deflect so that the secondary arms of adjacent dendrites collide. There is quantitative agreement between the numerically determined time to collision and the experimentally observed delay time in EML. The strong internal velocity due to convection within the EML samples is the reason for the observed difference in delay times between ESL and EML. Microgravity testing is essential because the significant change in nucleation behavior occurs between the ranges accessible by ground-based ESL and EML. Testing in microgravity using EML will permit a large range of internal convective velocities including those that are inaccessible in 1 g.

Al-, Y-, and La-doping effects favoring intrinsic and field induced ferroelectricity in HfO2: A first principles study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Materlik, Robin; Künneth, Christopher; Falkowski, Max; Mikolajick, Thomas; Kersch, Alfred

2018-04-01

III-valent dopants have shown to be most effective in stabilizing the ferroelectric, crystalline phase in atomic layer deposited, polycrystalline HfO2 thin films. On the other hand, such dopants are commonly used for tetragonal and cubic phase stabilization in ceramic HfO2. This difference in the impact has not been elucidated so far. The prospect is a suitable doping to produce ferroelectric HfO2 ceramics with a technological impact. In this paper, we investigate the impact of Al, Y, and La doping, which have experimentally proven to stabilize the ferroelectric Pca21 phase in HfO2, in a comprehensive first-principles study. Density functional theory calculations reveal the structure, formation energy, and total energy of various defects in HfO2. Most relevant are substitutional electronically compensated defects without oxygen vacancy, substitutional mixed compensated defects paired with a vacancy, and ionically compensated defect complexes containing two substitutional dopants paired with a vacancy. The ferroelectric phase is strongly favored with La and Y in the substitutional defect. The mixed compensated defect favors the ferroelectric phase as well, but the strongly favored cubic phase limits the concentration range for ferroelectricity. We conclude that a reduction of oxygen vacancies should significantly enhance this range in Y doped HfO2 thin films. With Al, the substitutional defect hardly favors the ferroelectric phase before the tetragonal phase becomes strongly favored with the increasing concentration. This could explain the observed field induced ferroelectricity in Al-doped HfO2. Further Al defects are investigated, but do not favor the f-phase such that the current explanation remains incomplete for Al doping. According to the simulation, doping alone shows clear trends, but is insufficient to replace the monoclinic phase as the ground state. To explain this fact, some other mechanism is needed.

Suppression of Self-Induced Flavor Conversion in the Supernova Accretion Phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarikas, Srdjan; Raffelt, Georg G.; Hüdepohl, Lorenz; Janka, Hans-Thomas

2012-02-01

Self-induced flavor conversions of supernova (SN) neutrinos can strongly modify the flavor-dependent fluxes. We perform a linearized flavor stability analysis with accretion-phase matter profiles of a 15M⊙ spherically symmetric model and corresponding neutrino fluxes. We use realistic energy and angle distributions, the latter deviating strongly from quasi-isotropic emission, thus accounting for both multiangle and multienergy effects. For our matter and neutrino density profile we always find stable conditions: flavor conversions are limited to the usual Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein effect. In this case one may distinguish the neutrino mass hierarchy in a SN neutrino signal if the mixing angle θ13 is as large as suggested by recent experiments.

Suppression of self-induced flavor conversion in the supernova accretion phase.

PubMed

Sarikas, Srdjan; Raffelt, Georg G; Hüdepohl, Lorenz; Janka, Hans-Thomas

2012-02-10

Self-induced flavor conversions of supernova (SN) neutrinos can strongly modify the flavor-dependent fluxes. We perform a linearized flavor stability analysis with accretion-phase matter profiles of a 15M[symbol: see text] spherically symmetric model and corresponding neutrino fluxes. We use realistic energy and angle distributions, the latter deviating strongly from quasi-isotropic emission, thus accounting for both multiangle and multienergy effects. For our matter and neutrino density profile we always find stable conditions: flavor conversions are limited to the usual Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein effect. In this case one may distinguish the neutrino mass hierarchy in a SN neutrino signal if the mixing angle θ13 is as large as suggested by recent experiments.

Coherent quantum phase slip.

PubMed

Astafiev, O V; Ioffe, L B; Kafanov, S; Pashkin, Yu A; Arutyunov, K Yu; Shahar, D; Cohen, O; Tsai, J S

2012-04-18

A hundred years after the discovery of superconductivity, one fundamental prediction of the theory, coherent quantum phase slip (CQPS), has not been observed. CQPS is a phenomenon exactly dual to the Josephson effect; whereas the latter is a coherent transfer of charges between superconducting leads, the former is a coherent transfer of vortices or fluxes across a superconducting wire. In contrast to previously reported observations of incoherent phase slip, CQPS has been only a subject of theoretical study. Its experimental demonstration is made difficult by quasiparticle dissipation due to gapless excitations in nanowires or in vortex cores. This difficulty might be overcome by using certain strongly disordered superconductors near the superconductor-insulator transition. Here we report direct observation of CQPS in a narrow segment of a superconducting loop made of strongly disordered indium oxide; the effect is made manifest through the superposition of quantum states with different numbers of flux quanta. As with the Josephson effect, our observation should lead to new applications in superconducting electronics and quantum metrology.

Topological Hall Effect from Strong to Weak Coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakazawa, Kazuki; Bibes, Manuel; Kohno, Hiroshi

2018-03-01

The topological Hall effect (THE) of electrons coupled to a noncoplanar spin texture has been studied so far for the strong- and weak-coupling regimes separately; the former in terms of the Berry phase and the latter by perturbation theory. In this letter, we present a unified treatment in terms of spin gauge field by considering not only the adiabatic (Berry phase) component of the gauge field but also the nonadiabatic component. While only the adiabatic contribution is important in the strong-coupling regime, it is completely canceled by a part of the nonadiabatic contribution in the weak-coupling regime, where the THE is governed by the remaining nonadiabatic terms. We found a new weak-coupling region that cannot be accessed by a simple perturbation theory, where the Hall conductivity is proportional to M, with 2M being the exchange splitting of the electron spectrum.

The finite-size effect in thin liquid crystal systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Śliwa, I.

2018-05-01

Effects of surface ordering in liquid crystal systems confined between cell plates are of great theoretical and experimental interest. Liquid crystals introduced in thin cells are known to be strongly stabilized and ordered by cell plates. We introduce a new theoretical method for analyzing the effect of surfaces on local molecular ordering in thin liquid crystal systems with planar geometry of the smectic layers. Our results show that, due to the interplay between pair long-range intermolecular forces and nonlocal, relatively short-range, surface interactions, both orientational and translational orders of liquid crystal molecules across confining cells are very complex. In particular, it is demonstrated that the SmA, nematic, and isotropic phases can coexist. The phase transitions from SmA to nematic, as well as from nematic to isotropic phases, occur not simultaneously in the whole volume of the system but begin to appear locally in some regions of the LC sample. Phase transition temperatures are demonstrated to be strongly affected by the thickness of the LC system. The dependence of the corresponding shifts of phase transition temperatures on the layer number is shown to exhibit a power law character. This new type of scaling behavior is concerned with the coexistence of local phases in finite systems. The influence of a specific character of interactions of molecules with surfaces and other molecules on values of the resulting critical exponents is also analyzed.

Effect of a relative phase of waves constituting the initial perturbation and the wave interference on the dynamics of strong-shock-driven Richtmyer-Meshkov flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandian, Arun; Stellingwerf, Robert F.; Abarzhi, Snezhana I.

2017-07-01

While it is a common wisdom that initial conditions influence the evolution of the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI), the research in this area is focused primarily on the effects of the wavelength and amplitude of the interface perturbation. The information has hitherto largely ignored the influences on RMI dynamics of the relative phase of waves constituting a multiwave initial perturbation and the interference of the perturbation waves. In this work we systematically study the influence of the relative phase and the interference of waves constituting a multiwave initial perturbation on a strong-shock-driven Richtmyer-Meshkov unstable interface separating ideal fluids with contrast densities. We apply group theory analysis and smoothed particle hydrodynamics numerical simulations. For verification and validation of the simulations, qualitative and quantitative comparisons are performed with rigorous zeroth-order, linear, and nonlinear theories as well as with gas dynamics experiments achieving good agreement. For a sample case of a two-wave (two-mode) initial perturbation we select the first-wave amplitude enabling the maximum initial growth rate of the RMI and we vary the second-wave amplitude from 1% to 100% of the first-wave amplitude. We also vary the relative phase of the first and second waves and consider the in-phase, the antiphase and the random-phase cases. We find that the relative phase and the interference of waves are important factors of RMI dynamics influencing qualitatively and quantitatively the symmetry, morphology, and growth rate of the Richtmyer-Meshkov unstable interface, as well as the order and disorder in strong-shock-driven RMI.

Thermodynamics of strongly coupled repulsive Yukawa particles in ambient neutralizing plasma: Thermodynamic instability and the possibility of observation in fine particle plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Totsuji, Hiroo

2008-07-01

The thermodynamics is analyzed for a system composed of particles with hard cores, interacting via the repulsive Yukawa potential (Yukawa particulates), and neutralizing ambient (background) plasma. An approximate equation of state is given with proper account of the contribution of ambient plasma and it is shown that there exists a possibility for the total isothermal compressibility of Yukawa particulates and ambient plasma to diverge when the coupling between Yukawa particulates is sufficiently strong. In this case, the system undergoes a transition into separated phases with different densities and we have a critical point for this phase separation. Examples of approximate phase diagrams related to this transition are given. It is emphasized that the critical point can be in the solid phase and we have the possibility to observe a solid-solid phase separation. The applicability of these results to fine particle plasmas is investigated. It is shown that, though the values of the characteristic parameters are semiquantitative due to the effects not described by this model, these phenomena are expected to be observed in fine particle plasmas, when approximately isotropic bulk systems are realized with a very strong coupling between fine particles.

Direct NMR Monitoring of Phase Separation Behavior of Highly Supersaturated Nifedipine Solution Stabilized with Hypromellose Derivatives.

PubMed

Ueda, Keisuke; Higashi, Kenjirou; Moribe, Kunikazu

2017-07-03

We investigated the phase separation behavior and maintenance mechanism of the supersaturated state of poorly water-soluble nifedipine (NIF) in hypromellose (HPMC) derivative solutions. Highly supersaturated NIF formed NIF-rich nanodroplets through phase separation from aqueous solution containing HPMC derivative. Dissolvable NIF concentration in the bulk water phase was limited by the phase separation of NIF from the aqueous solution. HPMC derivatives stabilized the NIF-rich nanodroplets and maintained the NIF supersaturation with phase-separated NIF for several hours. The size of the NIF-rich phase was different depending on the HPMC derivatives dissolved in aqueous solution, although the droplet size had no correlation with the time for which NIF supersaturation was maintained without NIF crystallization. HPMC acetate and HPMC acetate succinate (HPMC-AS) effectively maintained the NIF supersaturation containing phase-separated NIF compared with HPMC. Furthermore, HPMC-AS stabilized NIF supersaturation more effectively in acidic conditions. Solution 1 H NMR measurements of NIF-supersaturated solution revealed that HPMC derivatives distributed into the NIF-rich phase during the phase separation of NIF from the aqueous solution. The hydrophobicity of HPMC derivative strongly affected its distribution into the NIF-rich phase. Moreover, the distribution of HPMC-AS into the NIF-rich phase was promoted at lower pH due to the lower aqueous solubility of HPMC-AS. The distribution of a large amount of HPMC derivatives into NIF-rich phase induced the strong inhibition of NIF crystallization from the NIF-rich phase. Polymer distribution into the drug-rich phase directly monitored by solution NMR technique can be a useful index for the stabilization efficiency of drug-supersaturated solution containing a drug-rich phase.

Quantum Liquid Crystal Phases in Strongly Correlated Fermionic Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, Kai

2009-01-01

This thesis is devoted to the investigation of the quantum liquid crystal phases in strongly correlated electronic systems. Such phases are characterized by their partially broken spatial symmetries and are observed in various strongly correlated systems as being summarized in Chapter 1. Although quantum liquid crystal phases often involve…

The Quantum Phase-Dynamical Properties of the Squeezed Vacuum State Intensity-Couple Interacting with the Atom

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fan, An-Fu; Sun, Nian-Chun; Zhou, Xin

1996-01-01

The Phase-dynamical properties of the squeezed vacuum state intensity-couple interacting with the two-level atom in an ideal cavity are studied using the Hermitian phase operator formalism. Exact general expressions for the phase distribution and the associated expectation value and variance of the phase operator have been derived. we have also obtained the analytic results of the phase variance for two special cases-weakly and strongly squeezed vacuum. The results calculated numerically show that squeezing has a significant effect on the phase properties of squeezed vacuum.

Low temperature thermodynamic investigation of the phase diagram of Sr3Ru2O7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, D.; Rost, A. W.; Perry, R. S.; Mackenzie, A. P.; Brando, M.

2018-03-01

We studied the phase diagram of Sr3Ru2O7 by means of heat capacity and magnetocaloric effect measurements at temperatures as low as 0.06 K and fields up to 12 T. We confirm the presence of a new quantum critical point at 7.5 T which is characterized by a strong non-Fermi-liquid behavior of the electronic specific heat coefficient Δ C /T ˜-logT over more than a decade in temperature, placing strong constraints on theories of its criticality. In particular logarithmic corrections are found when the dimension d is equal to the dynamic critical exponent z , in contrast to the conclusion of a two-dimensional metamagnetic quantum critical end point, recently proposed. Moreover, we achieved a clear determination of the new second thermodynamic phase adjoining the first one at lower temperatures. Its thermodynamic features differ significantly from those of the dominant phase and characteristics expected of classical equilibrium phase transitions are not observed, indicating fundamental differences in the phase formation.

Strongly first-order electroweak phase transition and classical scale invariance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farzinnia, Arsham; Ren, Jing

2014-10-01

In this work, we examine the possibility of realizing a strongly first-order electroweak phase transition within the minimal classically scale-invariant extension of the standard model (SM), previously proposed and analyzed as a potential solution to the hierarchy problem. By introducing one complex gauge-singlet scalar and three (weak scale) right-handed Majorana neutrinos, the scenario was successfully rendered capable of achieving a radiative breaking of the electroweak symmetry (by means of the Coleman-Weinberg mechanism), inducing nonzero masses for the SM neutrinos (via the seesaw mechanism), presenting a pseudoscalar dark matter candidate (protected by the CP symmetry of the potential), and predicting the existence of a second CP-even boson (with suppressed couplings to the SM content) in addition to the 125 GeV scalar. In the present treatment, we construct the full finite-temperature one-loop effective potential of the model, including the resummed thermal daisy loops, and demonstrate that finite-temperature effects induce a first-order electroweak phase transition. Requiring the thermally driven first-order phase transition to be sufficiently strong at the onset of the bubble nucleation (corresponding to nucleation temperatures TN˜100-200 GeV) further constrains the model's parameter space; in particular, an O(0.01) fraction of the dark matter in the Universe may be simultaneously accommodated with a strongly first-order electroweak phase transition. Moreover, such a phase transition disfavors right-handed Majorana neutrino masses above several hundreds of GeV, confines the pseudoscalar dark matter masses to ˜1-2 TeV, predicts the mass of the second CP-even scalar to be ˜100-300 GeV, and requires the mixing angle between the CP-even components of the SM doublet and the complex singlet to lie within the range 0.2≲sinω ≲0.4. The obtained results are displayed in comprehensive exclusion plots, identifying the viable regions of the parameter space. Many of these predictions lie within the reach of the next LHC run.

Phase transition transistors based on strongly-correlated materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakano, Masaki

2013-03-01

The field-effect transistor (FET) provides electrical switching functions through linear control of the number of charges at a channel surface by external voltage. Controlling electronic phases of condensed matters in a FET geometry has long been a central issue of physical science. In particular, FET based on a strongly correlated material, namely ``Mott transistor,'' has attracted considerable interest, because it potentially provides gigantic and diverse electronic responses due to a strong interplay between charge, spin, orbital and lattice. We have investigated electric-field effects on such materials aiming at novel physical phenomena and electronic functions originating from strong correlation effects. Here we demonstrate electrical switching of bulk state of matter over the first-order metal-insulator transition. We fabricated FETs based on VO2 with use of a recently developed electric-double-layer transistor technique, and found that the electrostatically induced carriers at a channel surface drive all preexisting localized carriers of 1022 cm-3 even inside a bulk to motion, leading to bulk carrier delocalization beyond the electrostatic screening length. This non-local switching of bulk phases is achieved with just around 1 V, and moreover, a novel non-volatile memory like character emerges in a voltage-sweep measurement. These observations are apparently distinct from those of conventional FETs based on band insulators, capturing the essential feature of collective interactions in strongly correlated materials. This work was done in collaboration with K. Shibuya, D. Okuyama, T. Hatano, S. Ono, M. Kawasaki, Y. Iwasa, and Y. Tokura. This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSAP) through its ``Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology (FIRST Program).''

G2 accumulation and melanin overproduction in malignant melanocytes treated with a new nitrosourea.

PubMed

Buchdahl, C; Papon, J; Communal, Y; Bourges, M; Madelmont, J C

1998-12-01

Cystemustine (N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N-(2-(methylsulphonyl)ethyl)-N'-nitrosourea), a new anticancer chloroethylnitrosourea (CENU) is being tested in a phase II clinical trial of disseminated melanoma. The antitumour effect of this drug is mainly due to DNA damage in malignant melanocytes. Recently, we have shown that this damage can induce apoptosis in some melanoma cell lines. In others, apoptosis is not clearly observed, although there is a strong cytostatic effect. In this paper, we have characterized the cytological effect of cystemustine on murine malignant melanocytes (B16 cell line) which are resistant to apoptosis induced by this CENU. The results show that 3 days after cystemustine treatment, these melanocytes had accumulated in phase G2 of the cell cycle. There was then a strong morphological modification during a long cytostatic phase up to 30 days after treatment. During this cytostatic phase, there was uncontrolled DNA synthesis and marked swelling. Also, tyrosinase activity, melanin content and the number of mature melanosomes were greatly increased. These results suggest that when malignant melanocytes are not able to undergo apoptosis after treatment with CENU, they accumulate in G2 and this is followed by enhancement of melanogenesis.

Semiconductor of spinons: from Ising band insulator to orthogonal band insulator.

PubMed

Farajollahpour, T; Jafari, S A

2018-01-10

We use the ionic Hubbard model to study the effects of strong correlations on a two-dimensional semiconductor. The spectral gap in the limit where on-site interactions are zero is set by the staggered ionic potential, while in the strong interaction limit it is set by the Hubbard U. Combining mean field solutions of the slave spin and slave rotor methods, we propose two interesting gapped phases in between: (i) the insulating phase before the Mott phase can be viewed as gapping a non-Fermi liquid state of spinons by the staggered ionic potential. The quasi-particles of underlying spinons are orthogonal to physical electrons, giving rise to the 'ARPES-dark' state where the ARPES gap will be larger than the optical and thermal gap. (ii) The Ising insulator corresponding to ordered phase of the Ising variable is characterized by single-particle excitations whose dispersion is controlled by Ising-like temperature and field dependences. The temperature can be conveniently employed to drive a phase transition between these two insulating phases where Ising exponents become measurable by ARPES and cyclotron resonance. The rare earth monochalcogenide semiconductors where the magneto-resistance is anomalously large can be a candidate system for the Ising band insulator. We argue that the Ising and orthogonal insulating phases require strong enough ionic potential to survive the downward renormalization of the ionic potential caused by Hubbard U.

Semiconductor of spinons: from Ising band insulator to orthogonal band insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farajollahpour, T.; Jafari, S. A.

2018-01-01

We use the ionic Hubbard model to study the effects of strong correlations on a two-dimensional semiconductor. The spectral gap in the limit where on-site interactions are zero is set by the staggered ionic potential, while in the strong interaction limit it is set by the Hubbard U. Combining mean field solutions of the slave spin and slave rotor methods, we propose two interesting gapped phases in between: (i) the insulating phase before the Mott phase can be viewed as gapping a non-Fermi liquid state of spinons by the staggered ionic potential. The quasi-particles of underlying spinons are orthogonal to physical electrons, giving rise to the ‘ARPES-dark’ state where the ARPES gap will be larger than the optical and thermal gap. (ii) The Ising insulator corresponding to ordered phase of the Ising variable is characterized by single-particle excitations whose dispersion is controlled by Ising-like temperature and field dependences. The temperature can be conveniently employed to drive a phase transition between these two insulating phases where Ising exponents become measurable by ARPES and cyclotron resonance. The rare earth monochalcogenide semiconductors where the magneto-resistance is anomalously large can be a candidate system for the Ising band insulator. We argue that the Ising and orthogonal insulating phases require strong enough ionic potential to survive the downward renormalization of the ionic potential caused by Hubbard U.

Phase modulation in dipolar-coupled A 2 spin systems: effect of maximum state mixing in 1H NMR in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schröder, Leif; Schmitz, Christian; Bachert, Peter

2004-12-01

Coupling constants of nuclear spin systems can be determined from phase modulation of multiplet resonances. Strongly coupled systems such as citrate in prostatic tissue exhibit a more complex modulation than AX connectivities, because of substantial mixing of quantum states. An extreme limit is the coupling of n isochronous spins (A n system). It is observable only for directly connected spins like the methylene protons of creatine and phosphocreatine which experience residual dipolar coupling in intact muscle tissue in vivo. We will demonstrate that phase modulation of this "pseudo-strong" system is quite simple compared to those of AB systems. Theory predicts that the spin-echo experiment yields conditions as in the case of weak interactions, in particular, the phase modulation depends linearly on the line splitting and the echo time.

Magnetic field control of microstructural development in melt-spun Pr2Co14 B

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGuire, Michael A.; Rios, Orlando; Conner, Ben S.; Carter, William G.; Huang, Mianliang; Sun, Kewei; Palasyuk, Olena; Jensen, Brandt; Zhou, Lin; Dennis, Kevin; Nlebedim, Ikenna C.; Kramer, Matthew J.

2017-05-01

In the processing of commercial rare earth permanent magnets, use of external magnetic fields is limited mainly to the alignment of anisotropic particles and the polarization of the finished magnets. Here we explore the effects of high magnetic fields on earlier stages of magnet synthesis, including the crystallization and chemical phase transformations that produce the 2:14:1 phase in the Pr-Co-B system. Pr2Co14 B alloys produced by melt-spinning were annealed in the presence of strong applied magnetic fields (H=90 kOe). The resulting materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and magnetization measurements. We find that magnetic fields suppress the nucleation and growth of crystalline phases, resulting in significantly smaller particle sizes. In addition, magnetic fields applied during processing strongly affects chemical phase selection, suppressing the formation of Pr2Co14 B and α-Co in favor of Pr2Co17 . The results demonstrate that increased control over key microstructural properties is achievable by including a strong magnetic field as a processing parameter for rare-earth magnet materials.

Patterns Cancer Prevention Through Induction of Phase 2 Enzymes

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-04-01

2) enzymes. During our Phase I Award, we identified sulforaphane as the most potent inducer of carcinogen defenses in the prostate cell. We have...characterized global effects of sulforaphane in prostate cancer cell lines using cDNA microarray technology that allows large-scale determination of...changes in gene expression. These findings argue strongly for a preventive intervention trial involving with sulforaphane . During our Phase 2 Award, we used

Collective Transport Properties of Driven Skyrmions with Random Disorder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reichhardt, C.; Ray, D.; Reichhardt, C. J. Olson

2015-05-01

We use particle-based simulations to examine the static and driven collective phases of Skyrmions interacting with random quenched disorder. We show that nondissipative effects due to the Magnus term reduce the depinning threshold and strongly affect the Skyrmion motion and the nature of the dynamic phases. The quenched disorder causes the Hall angle to become drive dependent in the moving Skyrmion phase, while different flow regimes produce distinct signatures in the transport curves. For weak disorder, the Skyrmions form a pinned crystal and depin elastically, while for strong disorder the system forms a pinned amorphous state that depins plastically. At high drives the Skyrmions can dynamically reorder into a moving crystal, with the onset of reordering determined by the strength of the Magnus term.

Material transport in laser-heated diamond anvil cell melting experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, Andrew J.; Heinz, Dion L.; Davis, Andrew M.

1992-01-01

A previously undocumented effect in the laser-heated diamond anvil cell, namely, the transport of molten species through the sample chamber, over distances large compared to the laser beam diameter, is presented. This effect is exploited to determine the melting behavior of high-pressure silicate assemblages of olivine composition. At pressures where beta-spinel is the phase melted, relative strengths of partitioning can be estimated for the incompatible elements studied. Iron was found to partition into the melt from beta-spinel less strongly than calcium, and slightly more strongly than manganese. At higher pressures, where a silicate perovskite/magnesiowuestite assemblage is melted, it is determined that silicate perovskite is the liquidus phase, with iron-rich magnesiowuestite accumulating at the end of the laser-melted stripe.

Symmetry of Carrier-Envelope Phase Difference Effects in Strong-Field, Few-Cycle Ionization of Atoms and Molecules

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martiny, Christian Per Juul; Madsen, Lars Bojer

2006-09-01

In few-cycle pulses, the exact value of the carrier-envelope phase difference (CEPD) has a pronounced influence on the ionization dynamics of atoms and molecules. We show that, for atoms in circularly polarized light, a change in the CEPD is mapped uniquely to an overall rotation of the system, and results for arbitrary CEPD are obtained by rotation of the results from a single calculation with fixed CEPD. For molecules, this is true only for linear molecules aligned parallel with the propagation direction of the field. The effects of CEPD are classified as geometric or nongeometric. The observations are exemplified bymore » strong-field calculations on hydrogen.« less

Characterisation of Asphalt Concrete Using Nanoindentation

PubMed Central

Barbhuiya, Salim; Caracciolo, Benjamin

2017-01-01

In this study, nanoindentation was conducted to extract the load-displacement behaviour and the nanomechanical properties of asphalt concrete across the mastic, matrix, and aggregate phases. Further, the performance of hydrated lime as an additive was assessed across the three phases. The hydrated lime containing samples have greater resistance to deformation in the mastic and matrix phases, in particular, the mastic. There is strong evidence suggesting that hydrated lime has the most potent effect on the mastic phase, with significant increase in hardness and stiffness. PMID:28773181

Evolution from BCS superconductivity to Bose condensation: Calculation of the zero-temperature phase coherence length

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pistolesi, F.; Strinati, G.C.

1996-06-01

We consider a fermionic system at zero temperature interacting through an effective nonretarded potential of the type introduced by Nozi{grave e}res and Schmitt-Rink, and calculate the {ital phase} coherence length {xi}{sub phase} (associated with the spatial fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter) by exploiting a functional-integral formulation for the correlation functions and the associated loop expansion. This formulation is especially suited to follow the evolution of the fermionic system from a BCS-type superconductor for weak coupling to a Bose-condensed system for strong coupling, since in the latter limit a {ital direct} mapping of the original fermionic system onto an effectivemore » system of bosons with a residual boson-boson interaction can be established. Explicit calculations are performed at the one-loop order. The phase coherence length {xi}{sub phase} is compared with the coherence length {xi}{sub pair} for two-electron correlation, which is relevant to distinguish the weak- ({ital k}{sub {ital F}}{xi}{sub pair}{gt}1) from the strong- ({ital k}{sub {ital F}}{xi}{sub pair}{lt}1) coupling limits ({ital k}{sub {ital F}} being the Fermi wave vector) {ital as} {ital well} {ital as} to follow the crossover in between. It is shown that {xi}{sub phase} coincides with {xi}{sub pair} down to {ital k}{sub {ital F}}{xi}{sub pair}{approx_equal}10, {xi}{sub pair} in turn coinciding with the Pippard coherence length. In the strong-coupling limit we find instead that {xi}{sub phase}{gt}{xi}{sub pair}, with {xi}{sub pair} coinciding with the radius of the bound-electron pair. From the mapping onto an effective system of bosons in the strong-coupling limit we further relate {xi}{sub pair} with the {open_quote}{open_quote}range{close_quote}{close_quote} of the residual boson-boson interaction, which is physically the only significant length associated with the dynamics of the bosonic system. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}« less

Study on each phase characteristics of the whole coal life cycle and their ecological risk assessment-a case of coal in China.

PubMed

Dai, Wenting; Dong, Jihong; Yan, Wanglin; Xu, Jiren

2017-01-01

The paper divided the whole coal life cycle, explained each phase characteristics, and took coal mine in China as a study case to assess the ecological risk in coal utilization phase. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) the whole coal life cycle is divided into coal mining, processing, transportation, utilization, and waste disposal. (2) The key points of production organization and characteristics in the five phases have great differences. The coal mining phase is characterized by the damage of the key ecological factors (water, soil, atmosphere, vegetation, etc.) damaged while the coal processing phase by discharging waste. The characteristics in coal transportation phase mainly performance as escaping and migration of atmospheric pollutants. In coal utilization phase, the main characteristics are aggravation of greenhouse effect. The main characteristics of waste disposal phase are accumulation of negative ecological effects on the land. (3) The ecological risk of soil heavy metals is serious in coal utilization phase. The potential ecological hazard coefficients of Pb and As in coal, residue and ash are all lower than 40, presenting low environmental impact on soil; the potential ecological risk coefficients of Cd are higher than 60, nearly half of their potential ecological risk coefficients are higher than 160, which presents high environmental pollution impact on soil; Hg's potential ecological risk coefficients are higher than 320, presenting the highest environmental pollution impact on soil; the comprehensive pollution indexes in coal, residue, and ash are relatively high, which means the pollution hazard potential to soil environment is high. (4) The ecological risk of the atmospheric solid suspended matter is relatively strong in coal utilization phase. The ecological risk of Cd and As in primary flue gas is both lower than net flue gas. The geoaccumulation indexes of Cd and Hg in primary flue gas and net flue gas are both higher than 5, presenting the very strong ecological risk; 50 % of the geoaccumulation index values of As are between 3 and 4, which has also presenting a strong ecological risk while Pb does not present the ecological risk characterization.

Countercurrent distribution of biological cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

It is known that the addition of phosphate buffer to two polymer aqueous phase systems has a strong effect on the partition behavior of cells and other particles in such mixtures. The addition of sodium phosphate to aqueous poly(ethylene glycol) dextran phase systems causes a concentration-dependent shift in binodial on the phase diagram, progressively lowering the critical conditions for phase separation as the phosphate concentration is increased. Sodium chloride produces no significant shift in the critical point relative to the salt-free case. Accurate determinations of the phase diagram require measurements of the density of the phases; data is presented which allows this parameter to be calculated from polarimetric measurements of the dextran concentrations of both phases. Increasing polymer concentrations in the phase systems produce increasing preference of the phosphate for the dextran-rich bottom phase. Equilibrium dialysis experiments showed that poly(ethylene glycol) effectively rejected phosphate, and to a lesser extent chloride, but that dextran had little effect on the distribution of either salt. Increasing ionic strength via addition of 0.15 M NaCl to phase systems containing 0.01 M phosphate produces an increased concentration of phosphate ions in the bottom dextran-rich phase, the expected effect in this type of Donnan distribution.

Carbachol Induces Phase-dependent Phase Shifts of Per1 Transcription Rhythms in Cultured Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Slices.

PubMed

Dojo, Kumiko; Yamaguchi, Yoshiaki; Fustin, Jean-Michel; Doi, Masao; Kobayashi, Masaki; Okamura, Hitoshi

2017-04-01

Among nonphotic stimulants, a classic cholinergic agonist, carbachol, is known to have a strong and unique phase-resetting effect on the circadian clock: Intracerebroventricular carbachol treatment causes phase delays during the subjective early night and phase advances in the subjective late night, but the effects of this drug on the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in vivo and in vitro are still controversial. In the present study, we succeeded in reproducing the biphasic phase-shifting effect of carbachol on clock gene expression in organotypic SCN slices prepared from mice carrying a Per1-promoter fused luciferase gene ( Per1-luc). Since this biphasic effect of carbachol in Per1-luc SCN was prevented by atropine but not by mecamylamine, we concluded that these phase shifts were muscarinic receptor-dependent. Next, we analyzed the expression of muscarinic receptors in the SCN by in situ hybridization and found that M3 and M4 subtypes were expressed in SCN cells. These signals appeared neonatally and reached adult levels at postnatal day 10. Together, these findings suggest that carbachol has a phase-dependent phase-shifting effect on the SCN clock through muscarinic receptor subtypes expressed in the SCN.

Phase attraction in sensorimotor synchronization with auditory sequences: effects of single and periodic distractors on synchronization accuracy.

PubMed

Repp, Bruno H

2003-04-01

Four experiments showed that both single and periodic distractor tones affected the timing of finger taps produced in synchrony with an isochronous auditory target sequence. Single distractors had only small effects, but periodic distractors occurring at various fixed or changing phase relationships exerted strong phase attraction. The attraction was asymmetric, being stronger when distractors preceded target tones than when they lagged behind. A large pitch difference between target and distractor tones (20 vs. 3 semitones) did not reduce phase attraction substantially, although in the case of continuously changing phase relationships it did prevent complete capture of the taps by the distractors. The results support the hypothesis that phase attraction is an automatic process that is sensitive primarily to event onsets.

The unified mechanism of aging effects in both martensite and parent phase for shape-memory alloys: atomic-level simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, J.; Ding, X.; Suzuki, T.; Otsuka, K.; Lookman, T.; Saxena, A.; Sun, J.; Ren, X.

2011-03-01

Most shape-memory alloys (SMAs) subject to the aging effects not only in the martensite phase but also in the parent phase. These aging effects have been attracted much attention as they strongly affect the practical applications of SMAs. So far, the intrinsic mechanism of them has remained controversial due to the difficulty in visualization of what happens in atomic scale. In the present study, by using a combination of molecular dynamics method and Monte-Carlo method [1], we investigate the aging effects in both martensite and parent phase. We successfully reproduced the thermal behaviors of aging effects for SMAs, i.e., the Af temperature increase with aging time in martensite and the Ms temperature decrease with aging time in parent phase, which keep good agreement with the experimental observations [2]. In addition, quantitative analysis of the atomic configurations during aging reveals that the aging effects are not associated with a change in the average structure.

Time-dependent effects of dim light at night on re-entrainment and masking of hamster activity rhythms.

PubMed

Frank, David W; Evans, Jennifer A; Gorman, Michael R

2010-04-01

Bright light has been established as the most ubiquitous environmental cue that entrains circadian timing systems under natural conditions. Light equivalent in intensity to moonlight (<1 lux), however, also strongly modulates circadian function in a number of entrainment paradigms. For example, compared to completely dark nights, dim nighttime illumination accelerated re-entrainment of hamster activity rhythms to 4-hour phase advances and delays of an otherwise standard laboratory photocycle. The purpose of this study was to determine if a sensitive period existed in the night during which dim illumination had a robust influence on speed of re-entrainment. Male Siberian hamsters were either exposed to dim light throughout the night, for half of the night, or not at all. Compared to dark nights, dim illumination throughout the entire night decreased by 29% the time for the midpoint of the active phase to re-entrain to a 4-hour phase advance and by 26% for a 4-hour delay. Acceleration of advances and delays were also achieved with 5 hours of dim light per night, but effects depended on whether dim light was present in the first half, second half, or first and last quarters of the night. Both during phase shifting and steady-state entrainment, partially lit nights also produced strong positive and negative masking effects, as well as entrainment aftereffects in constant darkness. Thus, even in the presence of a strong zeitgeber, light that might be encountered under a natural nighttime sky potently modulates the circadian timing system of hamsters.

Anisotropic strong-coupling effects on superfluid 3He in aerogels: Conventional spin-fluctuation approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikeda, Ryusuke

2015-05-01

Motivated by recent experiments on liquid 3He reporting emergence of novel superfluid phases in globally anisotropic aerogels, our previous theory on superfluid 3He in globally anisotropic aerogels is extended to incorporate the effects of anisotropy of the quasiparticle scattering cross section on the strong-coupling (SC) contributions to the Ginzburg-Landau (GL) free energy on the basis of the spin-fluctuation (paramagnon) approach to the SC contributions developed by Brinkman et al. [Phys. Rev. A 10, 2386 (1974), 10.1103/PhysRevA.10.2386]. In the globally isotropic case, impurity effects on the SC correction destabilize the A phase even at higher pressures of about 30 bar and make the B phase the only state in equilibrium, while SC contributions accompanied by a global stretched anisotropy to the GL quartic terms generally tend to broaden the stability region of the A phase compared with that of the B phase. In particular, in contrast to the cases in bulk and in the isotropic aerogel, the SC corrections to the GL quadratic terms are not negligible in the globally anisotropic case but may change the sign of the apparent anisotropy depending on the magnitude of the frequency cutoff of the normal paramagnon propagator. Based on this sign change of the apparent anisotropy, we discuss different strange observations on superfluid 3He in porous media such as the disappearance of the polar superfluid phase at higher pressures seen in nematically ordered aerogels and the absence of B and A phases with planar l ̂ vector in a stretched aerogel.

On the asynchronization of hemispheric high-latitude solar activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, K. J.; Gao, P. X.; Zhan, L. S.; Shi, X. J.; Zhu, W. W.

2008-11-01

The monthly mean numbers of polar faculae in the time interval of 1951 August to 1998 December, from observations of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan are used to investigate the reasons which mathematically result in the asynchronization of high-latitude solar activity between the northern and southern hemispheres. It is found that the monthly mean numbers of polar faculae in the northern hemisphere three months lead those in the southern one, which should mathematically lead to phase asynchrony of the hemispheric polar-facula activity but with a slight effect. The Schwabe period length for the polar-facula activity in one hemisphere obviously differs from that in the other, which should also lead to phase asynchrony of the hemispheric polar-facula activity. It is the low-frequency components of the hemispheric polar-facula activity in period scales around the Schwabe cycle that are responsible for its strong phase synchronization. In the high-frequency components, there is a strong phase mixing, which should also lead to phase asynchrony of the hemispheric polar-facula activity.

Joint estimation of phase and phase diffusion for quantum metrology.

PubMed

Vidrighin, Mihai D; Donati, Gaia; Genoni, Marco G; Jin, Xian-Min; Kolthammer, W Steven; Kim, M S; Datta, Animesh; Barbieri, Marco; Walmsley, Ian A

2014-04-14

Phase estimation, at the heart of many quantum metrology and communication schemes, can be strongly affected by noise, whose amplitude may not be known, or might be subject to drift. Here we investigate the joint estimation of a phase shift and the amplitude of phase diffusion at the quantum limit. For several relevant instances, this multiparameter estimation problem can be effectively reshaped as a two-dimensional Hilbert space model, encompassing the description of an interferometer phase probed with relevant quantum states--split single-photons, coherent states or N00N states. For these cases, we obtain a trade-off bound on the statistical variances for the joint estimation of phase and phase diffusion, as well as optimum measurement schemes. We use this bound to quantify the effectiveness of an actual experimental set-up for joint parameter estimation for polarimetry. We conclude by discussing the form of the trade-off relations for more general states and measurements.

Transient coherence of media under strong phase modulation exploiting electromagnetically induced transparency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shwa, David; Katz, Nadav

2014-08-01

When quantum systems are shifted faster than their transition and coupling time scales, their susceptibility is dramatically modified. We measure the optical susceptibility of a strongly modulated electromagnetically induced transparency system. Time vs detuning plots for different pump modulation frequencies reveal a transition between an adiabatic regime where a series of smooth pulses are created and a nonadiabatic regime where a strong transient oscillating response is added. Applying a magnetic field lifts the hyperfine level degeneracy, revealing an interference effect between the different magnetic level transients. We explore the dynamics of the magnetic and nonmagnetic cases and discuss their coherent nature. We finally combine the global phase of the transmitted pulses with the transient interference to achieve broadband magnetic sensing without losing the sensitivity of a single electromagnetically induced transparency line.

High-Harmonic Generation in Solids with and without Topological Edge States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer, Dieter; Hansen, Kenneth K.

2018-04-01

High-harmonic generation in the two topological phases of a finite, one-dimensional, periodic structure is investigated using a self-consistent time-dependent density functional theory approach. For harmonic photon energies smaller than the band gap, the harmonic yield is found to differ by up to 14 orders of magnitude for the two topological phases. This giant topological effect is explained by the degree of destructive interference in the harmonic emission of all valence-band (and edge-state) electrons, which strongly depends on whether or not topological edge states are present. The combination of strong-field laser physics with topological condensed matter opens up new possibilities to electronically control strong-field-based light or particle sources or—conversely—to steer by all optical means topological electronics.

EFFECT OF AQUEOUS PHASE PROPERTIES ON CLAY PARTICLE ZETA POTENTIAL AND ELECTRO-OSMOTIC PERMEABILITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR ELECTRO-KINETIC SOIL REMEDIATION PROCESSES

EPA Science Inventory

The influence of aqueous phase properties (pH, ionic strength and divalent metal ion concentration) on clay particle zeta potential and packed-bed electro-osmotic permeability was quantified. Although pH strongly altered the zeta potential of a Georgia kaolinite, it did not signi...

Equation of State of Structured Matter at Finite Temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maruyama, T.; Yasutake, N.; Tatsumi, T.

We investigate the properties of nuclear matter at the first-order phase transitions such as liquid-gas phase transition and hadron-quark phase transition. As a general feature of the first-order phase transitions of matter consisting of many species of charged particles, there appears a mixed phases with geometrical structures called ``pasta'' due to the balance of the Coulomb repulsion and the surface tension between two phases [G.~D.~Ravenhall, C.~J.~Pethick and J.~R.~Wilson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 50 (1983), 2066. M.~Hashimoto, H.~Seki and M.~Yamada, Prog. Theor. Phys. 71 (1984), 320.] The equation of state (EOS) of mixed phase is different from the one obtained by a bulk application of the Gibbs conditions or by the Maxwell construction due to the effects of the non-uniform structure. We show that the charge screening and strong surface tension make the EOS close to that of the Maxwell construction. The thermal effects are elucidated as well as the above finite-size effects.

Controlling phase separation in vanadium dioxide thin films via substrate engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilbert Corder, Stephanie N.; Jiang, Jianjuan; Chen, Xinzhong; Kittiwatanakul, Salinporn; Tung, I.-Cheng; Zhu, Yi; Zhang, Jiawei; Bechtel, Hans A.; Martin, Michael C.; Carr, G. Lawrence; Lu, Jiwei; Wolf, Stuart A.; Wen, Haidan; Tao, Tiger H.; Liu, Mengkun

2017-10-01

The strong electron-lattice interactions in correlated electron systems provide unique opportunities for altering the material properties with relative ease and flexibility. In this Rapid Communication, we use localized strain control via a focused-ion-beam patterning of Ti O2 substrates to demonstrate that one can selectively engineer the insulator-to-metal transition temperature, the fractional component of the insulating and metallic phases, and the degree of optical anisotropy down to the length scales of the intrinsic phase separation in V O2 thin films without altering the quality of the films. The effects of localized strain control on the strongly correlated electron system are directly visualized by state-of-the-art IR near-field imaging and spectroscopy techniques and x-ray microdiffraction measurements.

Controlling phase separation in vanadium dioxide thin films via substrate engineering

DOE PAGES

Gilbert Corder, Stephanie N.; Jiang, Jianjuan; Chen, Xinzhong; ...

2017-10-23

The strong electron-lattice interactions in correlated electron systems provide unique opportunities for altering the material properties with relative ease and flexibility. Here in this Rapid Communication, we use localized strain control via a focused-ion-beam patterning of TiO 2 substrates to demonstrate that one can selectively engineer the insulator-to-metal transition temperature, the fractional component of the insulating and metallic phases, and the degree of optical anisotropy down to the length scales of the intrinsic phase separation in VO 2 thin films without altering the quality of the films. The effects of localized strain control on the strongly correlated electron system aremore » directly visualized by state-of-the-art IR near-field imaging and spectroscopy techniques and x-ray microdiffraction measurements.« less

Observation of three-photon bound states in a quantum nonlinear medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Qi-Yu; Venkatramani, Aditya V.; Cantu, Sergio H.; Nicholson, Travis L.; Gullans, Michael J.; Gorshkov, Alexey V.; Thompson, Jeff D.; Chin, Cheng; Lukin, Mikhail D.; Vuletić, Vladan

2018-02-01

Bound states of massive particles, such as nuclei, atoms, or molecules, constitute the bulk of the visible world around us. By contrast, photons typically only interact weakly. We report the observation of traveling three-photon bound states in a quantum nonlinear medium where the interactions between photons are mediated by atomic Rydberg states. Photon correlation and conditional phase measurements reveal the distinct bunching and phase features associated with three-photon and two-photon bound states. Such photonic trimers and dimers possess shape-preserving wave functions that depend on the constituent photon number. The observed bunching and strongly nonlinear optical phase are described by an effective field theory of Rydberg-induced photon-photon interactions. These observations demonstrate the ability to realize and control strongly interacting quantum many-body states of light.

Identification and properties of the non-cubic phases of Mg 2Pb

DOE PAGES

Li, Yuwei; Bian, Guang; Singh, David J.

2016-12-20

Mg 2Pb occurs in the cubic fluorite structure and is a semimetal with a band structure strongly affected by spin-orbit interaction on the Pb p states. Its properties are therefore of interest in the context of topological materials. In addition a different phase of Mg 2Pb was experimentally reported, but its crystal structure and properties remain unknown. Here we determine the structure of this phase using ab initio evolutionary methods and report its properties. The energy of one tetragonal phase, space group P4/ nmm, is 2 meV per atom higher than that of the ground state structure supporting the experimentalmore » observation. We find this tetragonal phase to be a compenstated anisotropic metal with strong spin orbit effects. As a result, many other metastable structures have also been identified, especially one orthorhombic structure, space group Pnma, of which energy is 17 meV per atom higher than that of ground state structure and which perhaps could be the phase that was reported based on similarity of lattice parameters.« less

Moving heavy quarkonium entropy, effective string tension, and the QCD phase diagram

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xun; Feng, Sheng-Qin; Shi, Ya-Fei; Zhong, Yang

2018-03-01

The entropy and effective string tension of the moving heavy quark-antiquark pair in the strongly coupled plasmas are calculated by using a deformed an anti-de Sitter/Reissner-Nordström black hole metric. A sharp peak of the heavy-quarkonium entropy around the deconfinement transition can be realized in our model, which is consistent with the lattice QCD result. The effective string tension of the heavy quark-antiquark pair is related to the deconfinement phase transition. Thus, we investigate the deconfinement phase transition by analyzing the characteristics of the effective string tension with different temperatures, chemical potentials, and rapidities. It is found that the results of phase diagram calculated through effective string tension are in agreement with results calculated through a Polyakov loop. We argue that a moving system will reach the phase transition point at a lower temperature and chemical potential than a stationary system. It means that the lifetime of the moving quark-gluon plasma become longer than the static one.

Simultaneous occurrence of multiferroism and short-range magnetic order in DyFeO 3

DOE PAGES

Wang, Jinchen; Liu, Juanjuan; Sheng, Jieming; ...

2016-04-06

In this paper, we present a combined neutron scattering and magnetization study on the multiferroic DyFeO 3, which shows a very strong magnetoelectric effect. Applying magnetic field along the c axis, the weak ferromagnetic order of the Fe ions is quickly recovered from a spin reorientation transition, and the long-range antiferromagnetic order of Dy becomes a short-range one. We found that the short-range order concurs with the multiferroic phase and is responsible for its sizable hysteresis. In conclusion, our H-T phase diagram suggests that the strong magnetoelectric effect in DyFeO 3 has to be understood with not only the weakmore » ferromagnetism of Fe but also the short-range antiferromagnetic order of Dy.« less

Molecular Structure and Sequence in Complex Coacervates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sing, Charles; Lytle, Tyler; Madinya, Jason; Radhakrishna, Mithun

Oppositely-charged polyelectrolytes in aqueous solution can undergo associative phase separation, in a process known as complex coacervation. This results in a polyelectrolyte-dense phase (coacervate) and polyelectrolyte-dilute phase (supernatant). There remain challenges in understanding this process, despite a long history in polymer physics. We use Monte Carlo simulation to demonstrate that molecular features (charge spacing, size) play a crucial role in governing the equilibrium in coacervates. We show how these molecular features give rise to strong monomer sequence effects, due to a combination of counterion condensation and correlation effects. We distinguish between structural and sequence-based correlations, which can be designed to tune the phase diagram of coacervation. Sequence effects further inform the physical understanding of coacervation, and provide the basis for new coacervation models that take monomer-level features into account.

Magnetic field control of microstructural development in melt-spun Pr 2 Co 14 B

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McGuire, Michael A.; Rios, Orlando; Conner, Ben S.

In the processing of commercial rare earth permanent magnets, use of external magnetic fields is limited mainly to the alignment of anisotropic particles and the polarization of the finished magnets. Here we explore the effects of high magnetic fields on earlier stages of magnet synthesis, including the crystallization and chemical phase transformations that produce the 2:14:1 phase in the Pr-Co-B system. Pr 2Co 14B alloys produced by melt-spinning were annealed in the presence of strong applied magnetic fields (H=90 kOe). The resulting materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and magnetization measurements. We find that magnetic fields suppress themore » nucleation and growth of crystalline phases, resulting in significantly smaller particle sizes. In addition, magnetic fields applied during processing strongly affects chemical phase selection, suppressing the formation of Pr 2Co 14B and α-Co in favor of Pr 2Co 17. Here, the results demonstrate that increased control over key microstructural properties is achievable by including a strong magnetic field as a processing parameter for rare-earth magnet materials.« less

Magnetic field control of microstructural development in melt-spun Pr 2 Co 14 B

DOE PAGES

McGuire, Michael A.; Rios, Orlando; Conner, Ben S.; ...

2017-01-27

In the processing of commercial rare earth permanent magnets, use of external magnetic fields is limited mainly to the alignment of anisotropic particles and the polarization of the finished magnets. Here we explore the effects of high magnetic fields on earlier stages of magnet synthesis, including the crystallization and chemical phase transformations that produce the 2:14:1 phase in the Pr-Co-B system. Pr 2Co 14B alloys produced by melt-spinning were annealed in the presence of strong applied magnetic fields (H=90 kOe). The resulting materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and magnetization measurements. We find that magnetic fields suppress themore » nucleation and growth of crystalline phases, resulting in significantly smaller particle sizes. In addition, magnetic fields applied during processing strongly affects chemical phase selection, suppressing the formation of Pr 2Co 14B and α-Co in favor of Pr 2Co 17. Here, the results demonstrate that increased control over key microstructural properties is achievable by including a strong magnetic field as a processing parameter for rare-earth magnet materials.« less

Observation of the Meissner effect in a lattice Higgs model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Damgaard, Poul H.; Heller, Urs M.

1988-01-01

The lattice-regularized U(1) Higgs model in an external electromagnetic field is studied by Monte Carlo techniques. In the Coulomb phase, magnetic flux can flow through uniformly. The Higgs phase splits into a region where magnetic flux can penetrate only in the form of vortices and a region where the magnetic flux is completely expelled, the relativistic analog of the Meissner effect in superconductivity. Evidence is presented for symmetry restoration in strong external fields.

Laser-irradiated Kondo insulators: Controlling the Kondo effect and topological phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takasan, Kazuaki; Nakagawa, Masaya; Kawakami, Norio

2017-09-01

We investigate theoretically the nature of laser-irradiated Kondo insulators. Using Floquet theory and the slave-boson approach, we study a periodic Anderson model and derive an effective model that describes laser-irradiated Kondo insulators. In this model, we find two generic effects induced by laser light. One is dynamical localization, which suppresses hopping and hybridization. The other is laser-induced hopping and hybridization, which can be interpreted as synthetic spin-orbit coupling or a magnetic field. The first effect drastically changes the behavior of the Kondo effect. In particular, the Kondo effect under laser light qualitatively changes its character depending on whether the hybridization is on-site or off-site. The second effect triggers topological phase transitions. In topological Kondo insulators, linearly polarized laser light realizes phase transitions between trivial, weak topological, and strong topological Kondo insulators. Moreover, circularly polarized laser light breaks time-reversal symmetry and induces Weyl semimetallic phases. Our results make it possible to dynamically control the Kondo effect and topological phases in heavy-fermion systems. We also discuss experimental setups to detect the signatures.

Electronic Griffiths Phases and Quantum Criticality at Disordered Mott Transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobrosavljevic, Vladimir

2012-02-01

The effects of disorder are investigated in strongly correlated electronic systems near the Mott metal-insulator transition. Correlation effects are foundootnotetextE. C. Andrade, E. Miranda, and V. Dobrosavljevic, Phys. Rev. Lett., 102, 206403 (2009). to lead to strong disorder screening, a mechanism restricted to low-lying electronic states, very similar to what is observed in underdoped cuprates. These results suggest, however, that this effect is not specific to disordered d-wave superconductors, but is a generic feature of all disordered Mott systems. In addition, the resulting spatial inhomogeneity rapidly increasesootnotetextE. C. Andrade, E. Miranda, and V. Dobrosavljevic, Phys. Rev. Lett., 104 (23), 236401 (2010). as the Mott insulator is approached at fixed disorder strength. This behavior, which can be described as an Electronic Griffiths Phase, displays all the features expected for disorder-dominated Infinite-Randomness Fixed Point scenario of quantum criticality.

Strong-coupling effects in superfluid He3 in aerogel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aoyama, Kazushi; Ikeda, Ryusuke

2007-09-01

Effects of impurity scatterings on the strong-coupling (SC) contribution, stabilizing the ABM (axial) pairing state, to the quartic term of the Ginzburg-Landau free energy of superfluid He3 are theoretically studied to examine recent observations suggestive of an anomalously small SC effect in superfluid He3 in aerogels. To study the SC corrections, two approaches are used. One is based on a perturbation in the short-range repulsive interaction, and the other is a phenomenological approach used previously for the bulk liquid by Sauls and Serene [Phys. Rev. B 24, 183 (1981)]. It is found that the impurity scattering favors the BW pairing state and shrinks the region of the ABM pairing state in the T-P phase diagram. In the phenomenological approach, the resulting shrinkage of the ABM region is especially substantial and, if assuming an anisotropy over a large scale in aerogel, leads to justifying the phase diagrams determined experimentally.

The rheological effect of water on lower mantle minerals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muir, J.; Brodholt, J. P.

2017-12-01

The presence of water in many upper mantle minerals has been shown to have a large effect on their rheology in what is generally known as "hydrolytic weakening". A growing number of studies are finding that incorporating a water dependent rheology into global mantle convection models has a strong effect on global dynamics. However, while there is an abundance of experimental evidence showing that upper mantle minerals deformed under hydrous conditions are significantly weaker than when dry, there is no such experimental evidence for lower mantle minerals. In this study we use DFT methods to calculate the partitioning of water between different sites in lower mantle minerals (bridgmanite, cubic and tetragonal calcium perovskite, ferropericlase and phase H) which allows us to speculate on the effects of water on the rheology and phase stability of lower mantle minerals under various conditions. The effect of water on lower mantle minerals is found to depend strongly upon both water content and temperature. Under typical lower mantle conditions and with reasonable water concentrations (<1000 ppm), water partitions preferentially into bridgmanite but with a mechanism that does not increase the concentration of Mg or Si vacancies in bridgmanite and thus is unlikely to affect its rheology. In cooler conditions, such as in a descending slab, water partitions into calcium perovskite or forms water rich aluminous phases. The presence of water in calcium perovskite has large effects on the preferred phase and can induce multiple phase transitions at varying depths of the mantle depending upon both water content and slab temperature. These transitions are likely to be seismically anomalous and could cause large and characteristic seismic heterogeneity in descending slabs.

Exploration of S-wave velocity profiles at strong motion stations in Eskisehir, Turkey, using microtremor phase velocity and S-wave amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamanaka, Hiroaki; Özmen, Ögur Tuna; Chimoto, Kosuke; Alkan, Mehmet Akif; Tün, Muammer; Pekkan, Emrah; Özel, Oguz; Polat, Derya; Nurlu, Murat

2018-05-01

We have explored 1D S-wave velocity profiles of shallow and deep soil layers over a basement at strong motion stations in Eskisehir Province, Turkey. Microtremor array explorations were conducted at eight strong motion stations in the area to know shallow 1D S-wave velocity models. Rayleigh wave phase velocity at a frequency range from 3 to 30 Hz was estimated with the spatial autocorrelation analysis of array records of vertical microtremors at each station. Individual phase velocity was inverted to a shallow S-wave velocity profile. Low-velocity layers were identified at the stations in the basin. Site amplification factors from S-wave parts of earthquake records that had been estimated at the strong motion stations by Yamanaka et al. (2017) were inverted to the S-wave velocities and Q-values of the sedimentary layers. The depths to the basement with an S-wave velocity of 2.2 km/s are about 1 km in the central part of the basin, while the basement becomes shallow as 0.3 km in the marginal part of the basin. We finally discussed the effects of the shallow and deep sedimentary layers on the 1D S-wave amplification characteristics using the revealed profiles. It is found that the shallow soil layers have no significant effects in the amplification at a frequency range lower than 3 Hz in the area.

Phase-space perspective on the wavelength-dependent electron correlation of strong-field double ionization of Xe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Yun; Yuan, Zongqiang; Ye, Difa; Fu, Libin; Liu, Ming-Ming; Sun, Xufei; Wu, Chengyin; Liu, Jie; Gong, Qihuang; Liu, Yunquan

2017-12-01

We measure the wavelength-dependent correlated-electron momentum (CEM) spectra of strong-field double ionization of Xe atoms, and observe a significant change from a roughly nonstructured (uncorrelated) pattern at 795 nm to an elongated distribution with V-shaped structure (correlated) at higher wavelengths of 1320 and 1810 nm, pointing to the transition of the ionization dynamics imprinted in the momentum distributions. These observations are well reproduced by a semiclassical model using Green-Sellin-Zachor potential to take into account the screening effect. We show that the momentum distribution of Xe2+ undergoes a bifurcation structure emerging from single-hump to double-hump structure as the laser wavelength increases, which is dramatically different from that of He2+, indicating the complex multi-electron effect. By back analyzing the double ionization trajectories in the phase space (the initial transverse momentum and the laser phase at the tunneling exit) of the first tunneled electrons, we provide deep insight into the physical origin for electron correlation dynamics. We find that a random distribution in phase-space is responsible for a less distinct structured CEM spectrum at shorter wavelength. While increasing the laser wavelength, a topology-invariant pattern in phase-space appears, leading to the clearly visible V-shaped structures.

Phase velocity enhancement of linear explosive shock tubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loiseau, Jason; Serge, Matthew; Szirti, Daniel; Higgins, Andrew; Tanguay, Vincent

2011-06-01

Strong, high density shocks can be generated by sequentially detonating a hollow cylinder of explosives surrounding a thin-walled, pressurized tube. Implosion of the tube results in a pinch that travels at the detonation velocity of the explosive and acts like a piston to drive a shock into the gas ahead of it. In order to increase the maximum shock velocities that can be obtained, a phase velocity generator can be used to drag an oblique detonation wave along the gas tube at a velocity much higher than the base detonation velocity of the explosive. Since yielding and failure of the gas tube is the primary limitation of these devices, it is desirable to retain the dynamic confinement effects of a heavy-walled tamper without interfering with operation of the phase velocity generator. This was accomplished by cutting a slit into the tamper and introducing a phased detonation wave such that it asymmetrically wraps around the gas tube. This type of configuration has been previously experimentally verified to produce very strong shocks but the post-shock pressure and shock velocity limits have not been investigated. This study measured the shock trajectory for various fill pressures and phase velocities to ascertain the limiting effects of tube yield, detonation obliquity and pinch aspect ratio.

Phase behavior and orientational ordering in block copolymers doped with anisotropic nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osipov, M. A.; Gorkunov, M. V.; Berezkin, A. V.; Kudryavtsev, Y. V.

2018-04-01

A molecular field theory and coarse-grained computer simulations with dissipative particle dynamics have been used to study the spontaneous orientational ordering of anisotropic nanoparticles in the lamellar and hexagonal phases of diblock copolymers and the effect of nanoparticles on the phase behavior of these systems. Both the molecular theory and computer simulations indicate that strongly anisotropic nanoparticles are ordered orientationally mainly in the boundary region between the domains and the nematic order parameter possesses opposite signs in adjacent domains. The orientational order is induced by the boundary and by the interaction between nanoparticles and the monomer units in different domains. In simulations, sufficiently long and strongly selective nanoparticles are ordered also inside the domains. The nematic order parameter and local concentration profiles of nanoparticles have been calculated numerically using the model of a nanoparticle with two interaction centers and also determined using the results of computer simulations. A number of phase diagrams have been obtained which illustrate the effect of nanoparticle selectivity and molar fraction of the stability ranges of various phases. Different morphologies have been identified by analyzing the static structure factor and a phase diagram has been constructed in coordinates' nanoparticle concentration-copolymer composition. Orientational ordering of even a small fraction of nanoparticles may result in a significant increase of the dielectric anisotropy of a polymer nanocomposite, which is important for various applications.

Cross-correlation photothermal optical coherence tomography with high effective resolution.

PubMed

Tang, Peijun; Liu, Shaojie; Chen, Junbo; Yuan, Zhiling; Xie, Bingkai; Zhou, Jianhua; Tang, Zhilie

2017-12-01

We developed a cross-correlation photothermal optical coherence tomography (CC-PTOCT) system for photothermal imaging with high lateral and axial resolution. The CC-PTOCT system consists of a phase-sensitive OCT system, a modulated pumping laser, and a digital cross-correlator. The pumping laser was used to induce the photothermal effect in the sample, causing a slight phase modulation of the OCT signals. A spatial phase differentiation method was employed to reduce phase accumulation. The noise brought by the phase differentiation method and the strong background noise were suppressed efficiently by the cross-correlator, which was utilized to extract the photothermal signals from the modulated signals. Combining the cross-correlation technique with spatial phase differentiation can improve both lateral and axial resolution of the PTOCT imaging system. Clear photothermal images of blood capillaries of a mouse ear in vivo were successfully obtained with high lateral and axial resolution. The experimental results demonstrated that this system can enhance the effective transverse resolution, effective depth resolution, and contrast of the PTOCT image effectively, aiding the ongoing development of the accurate 3D functional imaging.

Strong Impact of an Axial Ligand on the Absorption by Chlorophyll a and b Pigments Determined by Gas-Phase Ion Spectroscopy Experiments.

PubMed

Kjær, Christina; Stockett, Mark H; Pedersen, Bjarke M; Nielsen, Steen Brøndsted

2016-12-01

The microenvironments in photosynthetic proteins affect the absorption by chlorophyll (Chl) pigments. It is, however, a challenge to disentangle the impact on the transition energies of different perturbations, for example, the global electrostatics of the protein (nonbonded environmental effects), exciton coupling between Chl's, conformational variations, and binding of an axial ligand to the magnesium center. This is needed to distinguish between the two most commonly proposed mechanisms for energy transport in photosynthetic proteins, relying on either weakly or strongly coupled pigments. Here, on the basis of photodissociation action spectroscopy, we establish that the redshift of the Soret absorption band due to binding of a negatively charged carboxylate (as present in aspartic acid and glutamic acid residues) is 0.1-0.2 eV for Chl a and b. This effect is almost enough to reproduce the well-known green color of plants and can account for the strong spectral variation between Chl's. The experimental data serve to benchmark future high-level calculations of excited-state energies. Finally, we demonstrate that complexes between Chl a and histidine, tagged by a quaternary ammonium ion, can be made in the gas phase by electrospray ionization, but more work is needed to produce enough ions for gas-phase spectroscopy.

Concentration-dependent effect of melatonin on DSPC membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahin, Ipek; Bilge, Duygu; Kazanci, Nadide; Severcan, Feride

2013-11-01

The concentration-induced effects of melatonin on distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) model membranes were investigated by using two different non-invasive techniques, namely Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An investigation of the Csbnd H, Cdbnd O and PO2- double bond stretching mode in FTIR spectra and DSC studies reveals that the inclusion of melatonin changes the physical properties of the DSPC multilamellar liposomes (MLVs) by shifting the main phase transition to lower temperatures, abolishing the pretransition, ordering the system in the gel phase and slightly disordering the system in the liquid crystalline phase, increasing the dynamics both in the gel phase and liquid crystalline phases. Melatonin also causes strong hydrogen bonding between Cdbnd O and PO2- groups of lipids and the water molecules around.

Three-dimensional instabilities of mantle convection with multiple phase transitions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Honda, S.; Yuen, D. A.; Balachandar, S.; Reuteler, D.

1993-01-01

The effects of multiple phase transitions on mantle convection are investigated by numerical simulations that are based on three-dimensional models. These simulations show that cold sheets of mantle material collide at junctions, merge, and form a strong downflow that is stopped temporarily by the transition zone. The accumulated cold material gives rise to a strong gravitational instability that causes the cold mass to sink rapidly into the lower mantle. This process promotes a massive exchange between the lower and upper mantles and triggers a global instability in the adjacent plume system. This mechanism may be cyclic in nature and may be linked to the generation of superplumes.

Elastic excitations in BaTiO3 single crystals and ceramics: Mobile domain boundaries and polar nanoregions observed by resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salje, Ekhard K. H.; Carpenter, Michael A.; Nataf, Guillaume F.; Picht, Gunnar; Webber, Kyle; Weerasinghe, Jeevaka; Lisenkov, S.; Bellaiche, L.

2013-01-01

The dynamic properties of elastic domain walls in BaTiO3 were investigated using resonance ultrasonic spectroscopy (RUS). The sequence of phase transitions is characterized by minima in the temperature dependence of RUS resonance frequencies and changes in Q factors (resonance damping). Damping is related to the friction of mobile twin boundaries (90° ferroelectric walls) and distorted polar nanoregions (PNRs) in the cubic phase. Damping is largest in the tetragonal phase of ceramic materials but very low in single crystals. Damping is also small in the low-temperature phases of the ceramic sample and slightly increases with decreasing temperature in the single crystal. The phase angle between the real and imaginary part of the dynamic response function changes drastically in the cubic and tetragonal phases and remains constant in the orthorhombic phase. Other phases show a moderate dependence of the phase angle on temperature showing systematic changes of twin microstructures. Mobile twin boundaries (or sections of twin boundaries such as kinks inside twin walls) contribute strongly to the energy dissipation of the forced oscillation while the reduction in effective modulus due to relaxing twin domains is weak. Single crystals and ceramics show strong precursor softening in the cubic phase related to polar nanoregions (PNRs). The effective modulus decreases when the transition point of the cubic-tetragonal transformation is approached from above. The precursor softening follows temperature dependence very similar to recent results from Brillouin scattering. Between the Burns temperature (≈586 K) and Tc at 405 K, we found a good fit of the squared RUS frequency [˜Δ (C11-C12)] to a Vogel-Fulcher process with an activation energy of ˜0.2 eV. Finally, some first-principles-based effective Hamiltonian computations were carried out in BaTiO3 single domains to explain some of these observations in terms of the dynamics of the soft mode and central mode.

Behaviour of rippled shocks from ablatively-driven Richtmyer-Meshkov in metals accounting for strength

DOE PAGES

Opie, S.; Gautam, S.; Fortin, E.; ...

2016-05-26

While numerous continuum material strength and phase transformation models have been proposed to capture their complex dependences on intensive properties and deformation history, few experimental methods are available to validate these models particularly in the large pressure and strain rate regime typical of strong shock and ramp dynamic loading. In the experiments and simulations we present, a rippled shock is created by laser-ablation of a periodic surface perturbation on a metal target. The strength of the shock can be tuned to access phase transitions in metals such as iron or simply to study high-pressure strength in isomorphic materials such asmore » copper. Simulations, with models calibrated and validated to the experiments, show that the evolution of the amplitude of imprinted perturbations on the back surface by the rippled shock is strongly affected by strength and phase transformation kinetics. Increased strength has a smoothing effect on the perturbed shock front profile resulting in smaller perturbations on the free surface. Lastly, in iron, faster phase transformations kinetics had a similar effect as increased strength, leading to smoother pressure contours inside the samples and smaller amplitudes of free surface perturbations in our simulations.« less

Effect of ketoconazole, a strong CYP3A inhibitor, on the pharmacokinetics of venetoclax, a BCL‐2 inhibitor, in patients with non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

PubMed Central

Agarwal, Suresh K.; Danilov, Alexey V.; Hu, Beibei; Puvvada, Soham; Gutierrez, Martin; Chien, David; Lewis, Lionel D.; Wong, Shekman L.

2017-01-01

Aims To examine the effect of a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A inhibitor, ketoconazole, on the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of venetoclax. Methods Twelve patients with non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were enrolled in this Phase 1, open‐label, fixed‐sequence study. Patients received a single 50 mg dose of venetoclax orally on Day 1 and Day 8, and a 400 mg once daily dose of ketoconazole on Days 5–11. Blood samples were collected predose and up to 96 h after each venetoclax dose on Day 1 and Day 8. Results Eleven patients had evaluable pharmacokinetic data and were therefore included in the statistical analyses. Compared to administration of a single 50 mg dose of venetoclax alone, ketoconazole increased the venetoclax mean maximum observed plasma concentration (C max) and area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC∞) by 2.3‐fold (90% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0–2.7) and 6.4‐fold (90% CI: 4.5–9.2; range: 2‐ to 12‐fold), respectively. Conclusions Coadministration of venetoclax with multiple doses of ketoconazole resulted in a significant increase of venetoclax exposures, strongly suggesting that CYP3A plays a major role in elimination of venetoclax in patients. These results suggest the need to avoid concomitant use with strong and moderate inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A during the venetoclax ramp‐up phase in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients. For patients who have completed the ramp‐up phase, a modification in venetoclax dose for use with strong and moderate inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A is recommended. PMID:27859472

Effect of ketoconazole, a strong CYP3A inhibitor, on the pharmacokinetics of venetoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor, in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

PubMed

Agarwal, Suresh K; Salem, Ahmed Hamed; Danilov, Alexey V; Hu, Beibei; Puvvada, Soham; Gutierrez, Martin; Chien, David; Lewis, Lionel D; Wong, Shekman L

2017-04-01

To examine the effect of a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A inhibitor, ketoconazole, on the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of venetoclax. Twelve patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were enrolled in this Phase 1, open-label, fixed-sequence study. Patients received a single 50 mg dose of venetoclax orally on Day 1 and Day 8, and a 400 mg once daily dose of ketoconazole on Days 5-11. Blood samples were collected predose and up to 96 h after each venetoclax dose on Day 1 and Day 8. Eleven patients had evaluable pharmacokinetic data and were therefore included in the statistical analyses. Compared to administration of a single 50 mg dose of venetoclax alone, ketoconazole increased the venetoclax mean maximum observed plasma concentration (C max ) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC ∞ ) by 2.3-fold (90% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0-2.7) and 6.4-fold (90% CI: 4.5-9.2; range: 2- to 12-fold), respectively. Coadministration of venetoclax with multiple doses of ketoconazole resulted in a significant increase of venetoclax exposures, strongly suggesting that CYP3A plays a major role in elimination of venetoclax in patients. These results suggest the need to avoid concomitant use with strong and moderate inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A during the venetoclax ramp-up phase in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients. For patients who have completed the ramp-up phase, a modification in venetoclax dose for use with strong and moderate inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A is recommended. © 2016 The British Pharmacological Society.

Superfluid transition temperature in a trapped gas of Fermi atoms with a Feshbach resonance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ohashi, Y.; Institute of Physics, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305; Griffin, A.

2003-03-01

We investigate strong-coupling effects on the superfluid phase transition in a gas of Fermi atoms with a Feshbach resonance. The Feshbach resonance describes a composite quasiboson that can give rise to an additional pairing interaction between the Fermi atoms. This attractive interaction becomes stronger as the threshold energy 2{nu} of the Feshbach resonance two-particle bound state is lowered. In a recent paper, we showed that in the uniform Fermi gas, this tunable pairing interaction naturally leads to a crossover from a BCS state to a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of the Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink kind, in which the BCS-type superfluid phasemore » transition continuously changes into the BEC type as the threshold energy is decreased. In this paper, we extend our previous work by including the effect of a harmonic trap potential, treated within the local-density approximation. We also give results for both weak and strong coupling to the Feshbach resonance. We show that the BCS-BEC crossover phenomenon strongly modifies the shape of the atomic density profile at the superfluid phase-transition temperature T{sub c}, reflecting the change of the dominant particles going from Fermi atoms to composite bosons. In the BEC regime, these composite bosons are shown to first appear well above T{sub c}. We also discuss the 'phase diagram' above T{sub c} as a function of the tunable threshold energy 2{nu}. We introduce a characteristic temperature T*(2{nu}) describing the effective crossover in the normal phase from a Fermi gas of atoms to a gas of stable molecules.« less

Observation of universal strong orbital-dependent correlation effects in iron chalcogenides

DOE PAGES

Yi, M.; Liu, Z. -K.; Zhang, Y.; ...

2015-07-23

Establishing the appropriate theoretical framework for unconventional superconductivity in the iron-based materials requires correct understanding of both the electron correlation strength and the role of Fermi surfaces. This fundamental issue becomes especially relevant with the discovery of the iron chalcogenide superconductors. Here, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to measure three representative iron chalcogenides, FeTe 0.56Se 0.44, monolayer FeSe grown on SrTiO 3 and K 0.76Fe 1.72Se 2. We show that these superconductors are all strongly correlated, with an orbital-selective strong renormalization in the dxy bands despite having drastically different Fermi surface topologies. Furthermore, raising temperature brings all three compounds frommore » a metallic state to a phase where the dxy orbital loses all spectral weight while other orbitals remain itinerant. As a result, these observations establish that iron chalcogenides display universal orbital-selective strong correlations that are insensitive to the Fermi surface topology, and are close to an orbital-selective Mott phase, hence placing strong constraints for theoretical understanding of iron-based superconductors.« less

The 'Brick Wall' radio loss approximation and the performance of strong channel codes for deep space applications at high data rates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shambayati, Shervin

2001-01-01

In order to evaluate performance of strong channel codes in presence of imperfect carrier phase tracking for residual carrier BPSK modulation in this paper an approximate 'brick wall' model is developed which is independent of the channel code type for high data rates. It is shown that this approximation is reasonably accurate (less than 0.7dB for low FERs for (1784,1/6) code and less than 0.35dB for low FERs for (5920,1/6) code). Based on the approximation's accuracy, it is concluded that the effects of imperfect carrier tracking are more or less independent of the channel code type for strong channel codes. Therefore, the advantage that one strong channel code has over another with perfect carrier tracking translates to nearly the same advantage under imperfect carrier tracking conditions. This will allow the link designers to incorporate projected channel code performance of strong channel codes into their design tables without worrying about their behavior in the face of imperfect carrier phase tracking.

Observation of universal strong orbital-dependent correlation effects in iron chalcogenides

PubMed Central

Yi, M.; Liu, Z-K; Zhang, Y.; Yu, R.; Zhu, J.-X.; Lee, J.J.; Moore, R.G.; Schmitt, F.T.; Li, W.; Riggs, S.C.; Chu, J.-H.; Lv, B.; Hu, J.; Hashimoto, M.; Mo, S.-K.; Hussain, Z.; Mao, Z.Q.; Chu, C.W.; Fisher, I.R.; Si, Q.; Shen, Z.-X.; Lu, D.H.

2015-01-01

Establishing the appropriate theoretical framework for unconventional superconductivity in the iron-based materials requires correct understanding of both the electron correlation strength and the role of Fermi surfaces. This fundamental issue becomes especially relevant with the discovery of the iron chalcogenide superconductors. Here, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to measure three representative iron chalcogenides, FeTe0.56Se0.44, monolayer FeSe grown on SrTiO3 and K0.76Fe1.72Se2. We show that these superconductors are all strongly correlated, with an orbital-selective strong renormalization in the dxy bands despite having drastically different Fermi surface topologies. Furthermore, raising temperature brings all three compounds from a metallic state to a phase where the dxy orbital loses all spectral weight while other orbitals remain itinerant. These observations establish that iron chalcogenides display universal orbital-selective strong correlations that are insensitive to the Fermi surface topology, and are close to an orbital-selective Mott phase, hence placing strong constraints for theoretical understanding of iron-based superconductors. PMID:26204461

Theory of disordered unconventional superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keles, A.; Andreev, A. V.; Spivak, B. Z., E-mail: spivak@uw.edu

In contrast to conventional s-wave superconductivity, unconventional (e.g., p- or d-wave) superconductivity is strongly suppressed even by relatively weak disorder. Upon approaching the superconductormetal transition, the order parameter amplitude becomes increasingly inhomogeneous, leading to effective granularity and a phase ordering transition described by the Mattis model of spin glasses. One consequence of this is that at sufficiently low temperatures, between the clean unconventional superconducting and the diffusive metallic phases, there is necessarily an intermediate superconducting phase that exhibits s-wave symmetry on macroscopic scales.

Thermal properties and phase transition in the fluoride, (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kartashev, A.V.; Astafijev Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University, 660049 Krasnoyarsk; Gorev, M.V.

2016-05-15

Calorimetric, dilatometric and differential thermal analysis studies were performed on (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7} for a wide range of temperatures and pressures. Large entropy (δS{sub 0}=22 J/mol K) and elastic deformation (δ(ΔV/V){sub 0}=0.89%) jumps have proven that the Pa-3↔Pm-3m phase transition is a strong first order structural transformation. A total entropy change of ΔS{sub 0}=32.5 J/mol K is characteristic for the order–disorder phase transition, and is equal to the sum of entropy changes in the related material, (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}TiF{sub 7}, undergoing transformation between the two cubic phases through the intermediate phases. Hydrostatic pressure decreases the stability of the highmore » temperature Pm-3m phase in (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7}, contrary to (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}TiF{sub 7}, characterised by a negative baric coefficient. The effect of experimental conditions on the chemical stability of (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7} was observed. - Graphical abstract: Strong first order structural transformation Pa-3↔Pm-3m in (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7} is associated with very large total entropy change of ΔS{sub 0}=32.5 J/mol K characteristic for the ordering processes and equal to the sum of entropy changes in the related (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}TiF{sub 7} undergoing transformation between the same two cubic phases through the intermediate phases. - Highlights: • (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7} undergoes strong first order Pa-3↔Pm-3m phase transition. • Anomalous behaviour of ΔC{sub p} and ΔV/V exists far below phase transition temperature. • Structural distortions are accompanied by huge total entropy change ΔS≈Rln50. • High pressure strongly increases the stability of Pa-3 phase in (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7}. • Entropy of the Pa-3↔Pm-3m phase transition does not depend on pressure.« less

Phase segregation and dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of MgO-doped NBT-BT lead-free ferroelecric ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Gang; Wang, Ziyang; Zhang, Leiyang; Shi, Wenjing; Jing, Jiayi; Chen, Yi; Liu, Hongbo; Yan, Yan

2018-03-01

MgO doped NBT-BT ceramics were prepared by the conventional electroceramic processing. The effects of MgO on the phase, microstructures and electrical properties of NBT-BT ceramics were systematically investigated. When doping content is more than 1%, a second phase appeared, which has great effect on dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties, such as the T F-R peak weakened, moved to the higher temperature, and eventually disappeared. When the doping content is above 1.5%, the ceramic samples show a strong relaxation. The detailed analysis and discussion can be found within this study.

Fracture and damage evolution of fluorinated polymers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, E. N.; Rae, P.; Orler, E. B.

2004-01-01

Fluoropolymers are often semi-crystalline in nature, with their linear chains forming complicated phases near room temperature and ambient pressure. The most widely used fluorocarbon polymer for engineering applications is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), due to its extremely low coefficient of friction, outstanding resistance to corrosion, and excellent electrical properties. The phase structure of PTFE is complex with four well-characterized crystalline phases (three observed at atmospheric pressure) and substantial molecular motion well below the melting point. The first-order transition at 19 C between phases II and IV is an unraveling in the helical conformation. Further rotational disordering and untwisting of the helices occursmore » above 30 C giving way to phase I. The mechanical behavior, including fracture and damage evolution, of PTFE depends on the chain and segment motions dictated by crystalline phase microstructure. The presence of three unique phases at ambient pressure near room temperature implies that failure during standard operating conditions may be strongly dependent on the phase. This paper presents a preliminary study of fracture and damage evolution in PTFE with the effects of temperature-induced phase on fracture mechanisms. The quasi-static fracture of PTFE in the atmospheric pressure regime, over a range of temperatures, was found to be strongly phase dependent: phase II exhibits brittle-fracture, phase IV displays ductile-fracture with crazing and some stable crack growth, and plastic flow dominates phase 1. The bulk failure properties are correlated to failure mechanisms through fractography of the fracture surfaces (optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)).« less

Successive magnetic phase transitions in α -RuCl3 : XY-like frustrated magnet on the honeycomb lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kubota, Yumi; Tanaka, Hidekazu; Ono, Toshio; Narumi, Yasuo; Kindo, Koichi

2015-03-01

The layered compound α -RuCl3 is composed of a honeycomb lattice of magnetic Ru3 + ions with the 4 d5 electronic state. We have investigated the magnetic properties of α -RuCl3 via magnetization and specific heat measurements using single crystals. It was observed that α -RuCl3 undergoes a structural phase transition at Tt≃150 K accompanied by fairly large hysteresis. This structural phase transition is expected to be similar to that observed in closely related CrCl3. The magnetizations and magnetic susceptibilities are strongly anisotropic, which mainly arise from the anisotropic g factors, i.e., ga b≃2.5 and gc≃0.4 for magnetic fields parallel and perpendicular to the a b plane, respectively. These g factors and the obtained entropy indicate that the effective spin of Ru3 + is one-half, which results from the low-spin state. Specific heat data show that magnetic ordering occurs in four steps at zero magnetic field. The successive magnetic phase transitions should be ascribed to the competition among exchange interactions. The magnetic phase diagram for H ∥a b is obtained. We discuss the strongly anisotropic g factors in α -RuCl3 and deduce that the exchange interaction is strongly XY-like. α -RuCl3 is magnetically described as a three-dimensionally coupled XY-like frustrated magnet on a honeycomb lattice.

A model to study finite-size and magnetic effects on the phase transition of a fermion interacting system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corrêa, Emerson B. S.; Linhares, César A.; Malbouisson, Adolfo P. C.

2018-03-01

We present a model to study the effects from external magnetic field, chemical potential and finite size on the phase structures of a massive four- and six-fermion interacting systems. These effects are introduced by a method of compactification of coordinates, a generalization of the standard Matsubara prescription. Through the compactification of the z-coordinate and of imaginary time, we describe a heated system with the shape of a film of thickness L, at temperature β-1 undergoing first- or second-order phase transition. We have found a strong dependence of the temperature transition on the coupling constants λ and η. Besides inverse magnetic catalysis and symmetry breaking for both kinds of transition, we have found an inverse symmetry breaking phenomenon with respect to first-order phase transition.

Carrier-Envelope Phase Effects in Plasma-Based Electron Acceleration with Few-Cycle Laser Pulses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nerush, E. N.; Kostyukov, I. Yu.

2009-07-17

Carrier-envelope phase effects during the interaction of relativistically intense few-cycle laser pulses with a plasma are studied in the 'bubble' regime when an electron cavity (bubble) is formed behind the pulse. We show that for few-cycle laser pulses the cavity shape becomes asymmetric and depends strongly on the carrier-envelope phase. The carrier-envelope phase varies when the laser pulse propagates in plasma, which causes transverse oscillations of the cavity. Furthermore, the beam of electrons trapped by the cavity becomes modulated in the polarization plane. To describe these effects we derive an analytical model extended beyond the ponderomotive approximation. The degree ofmore » plasma cavity asymmetry as a function of the laser-plasma parameters is calculated. The obtained results are verified by particle-in-cell simulations.« less

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization and the Paradox of Quantum Thermalization.

PubMed

De Luca, Andrea; Rosso, Alberto

2015-08-21

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is to date the most effective technique to increase the nuclear polarization opening disruptive perspectives for medical applications. In a DNP setting, the interacting spin system is quasi-isolated and brought out of equilibrium by microwave irradiation. Here we show that the resulting stationary state strongly depends on the ergodicity properties of the spin many-body eigenstates. In particular, the dipolar interactions compete with the disorder induced by local magnetic fields resulting in two distinct dynamical phases: while for weak interaction, only a small enhancement of polarization is observed, for strong interactions the spins collectively equilibrate to an extremely low effective temperature that boosts DNP efficiency. We argue that these two phases are intimately related to the problem of thermalization in closed quantum systems where a many-body localization transition can occur varying the strength of the interactions.

Extremely large magnetoresistance induced by Zeeman effect-driven electron-hole compensation and topological protection in MoSi2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matin, M.; Mondal, Rajib; Barman, N.; Thamizhavel, A.; Dhar, S. K.

2018-05-01

Here, we report an extremely large positive magnetoresistance (XMR) in a single-crystal sample of MoSi2, approaching almost 107% at 2 K in a 14-T magnetic field without appreciable saturation. Hall resistivity data reveal an uncompensated nature of MoSi2 with an electron-hole compensation level sufficient enough to expect strong saturation of magnetoresistance in the high-field regime. Magnetotransport and the complementary de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations results, however, suggest that strong Zeeman effect causes a magnetic field-induced modulation of the Fermi pockets and drives the system towards perfect electron-hole compensation condition in the high-field regime. Thus, the nonsaturating XMR of this semimetal arises under the unconventional situation of Zeeman effect-driven electron-hole compensation, whereas its huge magnitude is decided solely by the ultralarge value of the carrier mobility. Intrinsic ultralarge carrier mobility, strong suppression of backward scattering of the charge carriers, and nontrivial Berry phase in dHvA oscillations attest to the topological character of MoSi2. Therefore, this semimetal represents another material hosting combination of topological and conventional electronic phases.

Three-player quantum Kolkata restaurant problem under decoherence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramzan, M.

2013-01-01

Effect of quantum decoherence in a three-player quantum Kolkata restaurant problem is investigated using tripartite entangled qutrit states. Different qutrit channels such as, amplitude damping, depolarizing, phase damping, trit-phase flip and phase flip channels are considered to analyze the behaviour of players payoffs. It is seen that Alice's payoff is heavily influenced by the amplitude damping channel as compared to the depolarizing and flipping channels. However, for higher level of decoherence, Alice's payoff is strongly affected by depolarizing noise. Whereas the behaviour of phase damping channel is symmetrical around 50% decoherence. It is also seen that for maximum decoherence ( p = 1), the influence of amplitude damping channel dominates over depolarizing and flipping channels. Whereas, phase damping channel has no effect on the Alice's payoff. Therefore, the problem becomes noiseless at maximum decoherence in case of phase damping channel. Furthermore, the Nash equilibrium of the problem does not change under decoherence.

Effect of silver on the phase transition and wettability of titanium oxide films

PubMed Central

Mosquera, Adolfo A.; Albella, Jose M.; Navarro, Violeta; Bhattacharyya, Debabrata; Endrino, Jose L.

2016-01-01

The effect of silver on the phase transition and microstructure of titanium oxide films grown by pulsed cathodic arc had been investigated by XRD, SEM and Raman spectroscopy. Following successive thermal annealing up to 1000 °C, microstructural analysis of annealed Ag-TiO2 films reveals that the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles strongly affects the transition temperature from the initial metastable amorphous phase to anatase and stable rutile phase. An increase of silver content into TiO2 matrix inhibits the amorphous to anatase phase transition, raising its temperature boundary and, simultaneously reduces the transition temperature to promote rutile structure at lower value of 600 °C. The results are interpreted in terms of the steric effects produced by agglomeration of Ag atoms into larger clusters following annealing which hinders diffusion of Ti and O ions for anatase formation and constrains the volume available for the anatase lattice, thus disrupting its structure to form rutile phase. The effect of silver on the optical and wetting properties of TiO2 was evaluated to demonstrate its improved photocatalytic performance. PMID:27571937

Quantum tomography enhanced through parametric amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knyazev, E.; Spasibko, K. Yu; Chekhova, M. V.; Khalili, F. Ya

2018-01-01

Quantum tomography is the standard method of reconstructing the Wigner function of quantum states of light by means of balanced homodyne detection. The reconstruction quality strongly depends on the photodetectors quantum efficiency and other losses in the measurement setup. In this article we analyze in detail a protocol of enhanced quantum tomography, proposed by Leonhardt and Paul [1] which allows one to reduce the degrading effect of detection losses. It is based on phase-sensitive parametric amplification, with the phase of the amplified quadrature being scanned synchronously with the local oscillator phase. Although with sufficiently strong amplification the protocol enables overcoming any detection inefficiency, it was so far not implemented in the experiment, probably due to the losses in the amplifier. Here we discuss a possible proof-of-principle experiment with a traveling-wave parametric amplifier. We show that with the state-of-the-art optical elements, the protocol enables high fidelity tomographic reconstruction of bright non-classical states of light. We consider two examples: bright squeezed vacuum and squeezed single-photon state, with the latter being a non-Gaussian state and both strongly affected by the losses.

Phase behavior, rheological characteristics and microstructure of sodium caseinate-Persian gum system.

PubMed

Sadeghi, Farzad; Kadkhodaee, Rassoul; Emadzadeh, Bahareh; Phillips, Glyn O

2018-01-01

In this study, the phase behavior of sodium caseinate-Persian gum mixtures was investigated. The effect of thermodynamic incompatibility on phase distribution of sodium caseinate fractions as well as the flow behavior and microstructure of the biopolymer mixtures were also studied. The phase diagram clearly demonstrated the dominant effect of Persian gum on the incompatibility of the two biopolymers. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis indicated no selective fractionation of sodium caseinate subunits between equilibrium phases upon de-mixing. The microstructure of mixtures significantly changed depending on their position within the phase diagram. Fitting viscometric data to Cross and Bingham models revealed that the apparent viscosity, relaxation time and shear thinning behavior of the mixtures is greatly influenced by the volume ratio and concentration of the equilibrium phases. There is a strong dependence of the flow behavior of sodium caseinate-Persian gum mixtures on the composition of the equilibrium phases and the corresponding microstructure of the system. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Phase-field model of insulator-to-metal transition in VO2 under an electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Yin; Chen, Long-Qing

2018-05-01

The roles of an electric field and electronic doping in insulator-to-metal transitions are still not well understood. Here we formulated a phase-field model of insulator-to-metal transitions by taking into account both structural and electronic instabilities as well as free electrons and holes in VO2, a strongly correlated transition-metal oxide. Our phase-field simulations demonstrate that in a VO2 slab under a uniform electric field, an abrupt universal resistive transition occurs inside the supercooling region, in sharp contrast to the conventional Landau-Zener smooth electric breakdown. We also show that hole doping may decouple the structural and electronic phase transitions in VO2, leading to a metastable metallic monoclinic phase which could be stabilized through a geometrical confinement and the size effect. This work provides a general mesoscale thermodynamic framework for understanding the influences of electric field, electronic doping, and stress and strain on insulator-to-metal transitions and the corresponding mesoscale domain structure evolution in VO2 and related strongly correlated systems.

Intermittent strong transport of the quasi-adiabatic plasma state.

PubMed

Kim, Chang-Bae; An, Chan-Yong; Min, Byunghoon

2018-06-05

The dynamics of the fluctuating electrostatic potential and the plasma density couched in the resistive-drift model at nearly adiabatic state are simulated. The linear modes are unstable if the phase difference between the potential and the density are positive. Exponential growth of the random small perturbations slows down due to the nonlinear E × B flows that work in two ways. They regulate the strength of the fluctuations by transferring the energy from the energy-producing scale to neighboring scales and reduce the cross phase at the same time. During quasi-steady relaxation sporadic appearance of very strong turbulent particle flux is observed that is characterized by the flat energy spectrum and the broad secondary peak in the mesoscale of the order of the gyro-radius. Such boost of the transport is found to be caused by presence of relatively large cross phase as the E × B flows are not effective in cancelling out the cross phase.

Magnetic Field Observations of Partial Ring Current during Storm Recovery Phase

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Le, G.; Russell, C. T.; Slavin, J. A.; Lucek, E. A.

2008-01-01

We present results of an extensive survey of the magnetic field observations in the inner magnetosphere using 30 years of magnetospheric magnetic field data from Polar, Cluster, ISEE, and AMPTE/CCE missions. The purpose of this study is to understand the magnetic field evolution during the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms, and its implication to the ring current recovery and loss mechanisms of ring current particles. It is now commonly believed that a strong partial ring current is formed during the storm main phase due to the enhanced earthward convection of energetic ions from nightside plasma sheet. But the presence of a strong partial ring current throughout the recovery phase remains controversial. The magnetic field generated by the ring current inflates the inner magnetosphere and causes magnetic field depressions in the equatorial magnetosphere. During the storm recovery phase, we find that the distribution of the equatorial magnetic field depression exhibits similar local time dependence as the ring current distribution obtained from the combined dataset in the earlier study. It shows that a strong partial ring current is a permanent feature throughout the recovery phase. In the early recovery phase, the partial ring current peaks near the dusk terminator as indicated by the peak of the magnetic field depression. As the recovery phase progresses, the partial ring current decays most quickly near the dusk and results in a dusk-to-midnight moving of the peak of the partial ring current. Thus the loss mechanisms work most effectively near the dusk. The magnetic field depression increases the gyroradius of ring current protons to a scale greater or comparable to the thickness of the magnetopause, which increases the chance of ion drift loss near the dusk magnetopause at larger L-shell (L greater than 5). But the drift loss mechanism alone cannot explain the loss of ring current ions especially in the smaller L-shell (L less than 5). The precipitation loss due to wave-particle interaction is most likely the dominant loss mechanism in the small L-shell as it works most effectively at the same local time.

Prostate Cancer Prevention Through Induction of Phase 2 Enzymes

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-04-01

enzymes. During our Phase I Award, we identified sulforaphane as the most potent inducer of carcinogen defenses in the prostate cell. We have...characterized global effects of sulforaphane in prostate cancer cell lines using cDNA microarray technology that allows large-scale determination of changes...of sulforaphane ) and decreased risk of prostate cancer. These findings argue strongly for a preventive intervention trial involving supplementation

Recruitment Strategies of Methamphetamine-Using Men Who Have Sex with Men into an Online Survey

PubMed Central

Wilkerson, J. Michael; Shenk, Jared E.; Grey, Jeremy A.; Simon Rosser, B. R.; Noor, Syed W.

2014-01-01

Recruiting hidden populations into online research remains challenging. In this manuscript, we report lessons learned from our efforts to recruit methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men. Between July and October 2012, we implemented a four-phase recruitment strategy to enroll a total of 343 methamphetamine-using MSM into an online survey about recent substance use, sexual behavior, and various psychosocial measures. The four phases were implemented sequentially. During phase one, we placed advertisements on mobile applications, and during phase two, we placed advertisements on traditional websites formatted for browsers. During phase three, we used e-mail to initiate snowball recruitment, and during phase four, we used social media for snowball recruitment. Advertisements on mobile devices and websites formatted for browsers proved to be expensive options and resulted in few eligible participants. Our attempts to initiate a snowball through e-mail also proved unsuccessful. The majority (n=320) of observations in our final dataset came from our use of social media. However, participant fraud was a concern, requiring us to implement a strong participant verification protocol. For maximum recruitment and cost-effectiveness, researchers should use social media for recruitment provided they employ strong participant verification protocols. PMID:25642143

Recruitment Strategies of Methamphetamine-Using Men Who Have Sex with Men into an Online Survey.

PubMed

Wilkerson, J Michael; Shenk, Jared E; Grey, Jeremy A; Simon Rosser, B R; Noor, Syed W

Recruiting hidden populations into online research remains challenging. In this manuscript, we report lessons learned from our efforts to recruit methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men. Between July and October 2012, we implemented a four-phase recruitment strategy to enroll a total of 343 methamphetamine-using MSM into an online survey about recent substance use, sexual behavior, and various psychosocial measures. The four phases were implemented sequentially. During phase one, we placed advertisements on mobile applications, and during phase two, we placed advertisements on traditional websites formatted for browsers. During phase three, we used e-mail to initiate snowball recruitment, and during phase four, we used social media for snowball recruitment. Advertisements on mobile devices and websites formatted for browsers proved to be expensive options and resulted in few eligible participants. Our attempts to initiate a snowball through e-mail also proved unsuccessful. The majority (n=320) of observations in our final dataset came from our use of social media. However, participant fraud was a concern, requiring us to implement a strong participant verification protocol. For maximum recruitment and cost-effectiveness, researchers should use social media for recruitment provided they employ strong participant verification protocols.

Superconductivity in an almost localized Fermi liquid of quasiparticles with spin-dependent masses and effective-field induced by electron correlations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaczmarczyk, Jan; Spałek, Jozef

2009-06-01

Paired state of nonstandard quasiparticles is analyzed in detail in two model situations. Namely, we consider the Cooper-pair bound state and the condensed phase of an almost localized Fermi liquid composed of quasiparticles in a narrow band with the spin-dependent masses and an effective field, both introduced earlier and induced by strong electronic correlations. Each of these novel characteristics is calculated in a self-consistent manner. We analyze the bound states as a function of Cooper-pair momentum |Q| in applied magnetic field in the strongly Pauli limiting case (i.e., when the orbital effects of applied magnetic field are disregarded). The spin-direction dependence of the effective mass makes the quasiparticles comprising Cooper-pair spin distinguishable in the quantum-mechanical sense, whereas the condensed gas of pairs may still be regarded as composed of identical entities. The Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) condensed phase of moving pairs is by far more robust in the applied field for the case with spin-dependent masses than in the situation with equal masses of quasiparticles. Relative stability of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer vs FFLO phase is analyzed in detail on temperature-applied field plane. Although our calculations are carried out for a model situation, we can conclude that the spin-dependent masses should play an important role in stabilizing high-field low-temperature unconventional superconducting phases (FFLO, for instance) in systems such as CeCoIn5 , organic metals, and possibly others.

Complex life cycles and offspring provisioning in marine invertebrates.

PubMed

Marshall, Dustin J; Keough, Michael J

2006-10-01

Offspring size can have pervasive effects throughout an organism's life history. Mothers can make either a few large or many small offspring, and the balance between these extremes is determined by the relationship between offspring size and performance. This relationship in turn is thought to be determined by the offspring's environment. Recently, it has become clear that events in one life-history stage can strongly affect performance in another. Given these strong carryover effects, we asked whether events in the larval phase can change the relationship between offspring size and performance in the adult phase. We manipulated the length of the larval period in the bryozoan Bugula neritina and then examined the relationship between offspring size and various parameters of adult performance under field conditions. We found that despite the adult stage being outplanted into identical conditions, different offspring sizes were predicted to be optimal, depending on the experience of those adults as larvae. This work highlights the fact that the strong phenotypic links between life-history stages may result in optimal offspring size being highly unpredictable for organisms with complex life cycles.

Dynamics and Melting of Finite Plasma Crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ludwig, Patrick; K"Ahlert, Hanno; Baumgartner, Henning; Thomsen, Hauke; Bonitz, Michael

2009-11-01

Interacting few-particle systems in external trapping potentials are of strong current interest since they allow to realize and control strong correlation and quantum effects [1]. Here, we present our recent results on the structural and thermodynamic properties of the crystal-like Wigner phase of complex plasma confined in a 3D harmonic potential. We discuss the linear response of the strongly correlated system to external excitations, which can be described in terms of normal modes [2]. By means of first-principle simulations the details of the melting phase transitions of these mesoscopic systems are systematically analysed with the melting temperatures being determined by a modified Lindemann parameter for the pair distance fluctuations [3]. The critical temperatures turn out to be utmost sensitive to finite size effects (i.e., the exact particle number), and form of the (screened) interaction potential.[4pt] [1] PhD Thesis, P. Ludwig, U Rostock (2008)[0pt] [2] C. Henning et al., J. Phys. A 42, 214023 (2009)[0pt] [3] B"oning et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 113401 (2008)

Electrically tunable artificial gauge potential for polaritons

PubMed Central

Lim, Hyang-Tag; Togan, Emre; Kroner, Martin; Miguel-Sanchez, Javier; Imamoğlu, Atac

2017-01-01

Neutral particles subject to artificial gauge potentials can behave as charged particles in magnetic fields. This fascinating premise has led to demonstrations of one-way waveguides, topologically protected edge states and Landau levels for photons. In ultracold neutral atoms, effective gauge fields have allowed the emulation of matter under strong magnetic fields leading to realization of Harper-Hofstadter and Haldane models. Here we show that application of perpendicular electric and magnetic fields effects a tunable artificial gauge potential for two-dimensional microcavity exciton polaritons. For verification, we perform interferometric measurements of the associated phase accumulated during coherent polariton transport. Since the gauge potential originates from the magnetoelectric Stark effect, it can be realized for photons strongly coupled to excitations in any polarizable medium. Together with strong polariton–polariton interactions and engineered polariton lattices, artificial gauge fields could play a key role in investigation of non-equilibrium dynamics of strongly correlated photons. PMID:28230047

0 - π Quantum transition in a carbon nanotube Josephson junction: Universal phase dependence and orbital degeneracy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delagrange, R.; Weil, R.; Kasumov, A.; Ferrier, M.; Bouchiat, H.; Deblock, R.

2018-05-01

In a quantum dot hybrid superconducting junction, the behavior of the supercurrent is dominated by Coulomb blockade physics, which determines the magnetic state of the dot. In particular, in a single level quantum dot singly occupied, the sign of the supercurrent can be reversed, giving rise to a π-junction. This 0 - π transition, corresponding to a singlet-doublet transition, is then driven by the gate voltage or by the superconducting phase in the case of strong competition between the superconducting proximity effect and Kondo correlations. In a two-level quantum dot, such as a clean carbon nanotube, 0- π transitions exist as well but, because more cotunneling processes are allowed, are not necessarily associated to a magnetic state transition of the dot. In this proceeding, after a review of 0- π transitions in Josephson junctions, we present measurements of current-phase relation in a clean carbon nanotube quantum dot, in the single and two-level regimes. In the single level regime, close to orbital degeneracy and in a regime of strong competition between local electronic correlations and superconducting proximity effect, we find that the phase diagram of the phase-dependent transition is a universal characteristic of a discontinuous level-crossing quantum transition at zero temperature. In the case where the two levels are involved, the nanotube Josephson current exhibits a continuous 0 - π transition, independent of the superconducting phase, revealing a different physical mechanism of the transition.

The Effect of Wettability Heterogeneity on Relative Permeability of Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media: A Lattice Boltzmann Study

DOE PAGES

Zhao, Jianlin; Kang, Qinjun; Yao, Jun; ...

2018-02-27

Relative permeability is a critical parameter characterizing multiphase flow in porous media and it is strongly dependent on the wettability. In many situations, the porous media are nonuniformly wet. In this study, to investigate the effect of wettability heterogeneity on relative permeability of two-phase flow in porous media, a multi-relaxation-time color-gradient lattice Boltzmann model is adopted to simulate oil/water two-phase flow in porous media with different oil-wet solid fractions. For the water phase, when the water saturation is high, the relative permeability of water increases with the increase of oil-wet solid fraction under a constant water saturation. However, as themore » water saturation decreases to an intermediate value (about 0.4–0.7), the relative permeability of water in fractionally wet porous media could be lower than that in purely water-wet porous media, meaning additional flow resistance exists in the fractionally wet porous media. For the oil phase, similar phenomenon is observed. This phenomenon is mainly caused by the wettability-related microscale fluid distribution. According to both our simulation results and theoretical analysis, it is found that the relative permeability of two-phase flow in porous media is strongly related to three parameters: the fluid saturation, the specific interfacial length of fluid, and the fluid tortuosity in the flow direction. Lastly, the relationship between the relative permeability and these parameters under different capillary numbers is explored in this paper.« less

The Effect of Wettability Heterogeneity on Relative Permeability of Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media: A Lattice Boltzmann Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jianlin; Kang, Qinjun; Yao, Jun; Viswanathan, Hari; Pawar, Rajesh; Zhang, Lei; Sun, Hai

2018-02-01

Relative permeability is a critical parameter characterizing multiphase flow in porous media and it is strongly dependent on the wettability. In many situations, the porous media are nonuniformly wet. To investigate the effect of wettability heterogeneity on relative permeability of two-phase flow in porous media, a multi-relaxation-time color-gradient lattice Boltzmann model is adopted to simulate oil/water two-phase flow in porous media with different oil-wet solid fractions. For the water phase, when the water saturation is high, the relative permeability of water increases with the increase of oil-wet solid fraction under a constant water saturation. However, as the water saturation decreases to an intermediate value (about 0.4-0.7), the relative permeability of water in fractionally wet porous media could be lower than that in purely water-wet porous media, meaning additional flow resistance exists in the fractionally wet porous media. For the oil phase, similar phenomenon is observed. This phenomenon is mainly caused by the wettability-related microscale fluid distribution. According to both our simulation results and theoretical analysis, it is found that the relative permeability of two-phase flow in porous media is strongly related to three parameters: the fluid saturation, the specific interfacial length of fluid, and the fluid tortuosity in the flow direction. The relationship between the relative permeability and these parameters under different capillary numbers is explored in this paper.

The Effect of Wettability Heterogeneity on Relative Permeability of Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media: A Lattice Boltzmann Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Jianlin; Kang, Qinjun; Yao, Jun

Relative permeability is a critical parameter characterizing multiphase flow in porous media and it is strongly dependent on the wettability. In many situations, the porous media are nonuniformly wet. In this study, to investigate the effect of wettability heterogeneity on relative permeability of two-phase flow in porous media, a multi-relaxation-time color-gradient lattice Boltzmann model is adopted to simulate oil/water two-phase flow in porous media with different oil-wet solid fractions. For the water phase, when the water saturation is high, the relative permeability of water increases with the increase of oil-wet solid fraction under a constant water saturation. However, as themore » water saturation decreases to an intermediate value (about 0.4–0.7), the relative permeability of water in fractionally wet porous media could be lower than that in purely water-wet porous media, meaning additional flow resistance exists in the fractionally wet porous media. For the oil phase, similar phenomenon is observed. This phenomenon is mainly caused by the wettability-related microscale fluid distribution. According to both our simulation results and theoretical analysis, it is found that the relative permeability of two-phase flow in porous media is strongly related to three parameters: the fluid saturation, the specific interfacial length of fluid, and the fluid tortuosity in the flow direction. Lastly, the relationship between the relative permeability and these parameters under different capillary numbers is explored in this paper.« less

Magnetism in S = 1 / 2 Double Perovskites with Strong Spin-Orbit Interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishizuka, Hiroaki; Balents, Leon

2015-03-01

Motivated by recent studies on heavy-element double-perovskite (DP) compounds, we theoretically studied spin models on a FCC lattice with anisotropic interactions. In these systems, competition/cooperation of spin, orbital, and the lattice degrees of freedoms in the presence of the strong-spin orbit coupling is of particular interest. In a previous theoretical study, the magnetic phase diagrams of DP compounds with 5d1 electron configuration was studied using a model with four-fold degenerated single-ion state. On the other hand, a recent experiment on a DP material, Ba2Na2OsO6, reported that the compound is likely to be an effective S = 1 / 2 magnet. Inspired by the experimental observation, we considered spin models with symmetry-allowed anisotropic nearest-neighbor interactions. By a combination of various analytical and numerical techniques, we present the magnetic phase diagram of the model and the effect of thermal and quantum fluctuations. In particular, we show that fluctuations induce < 110 > anisotropy of magnetic moments. We also discuss a possible ``nematic'' phase driven by spin-phonon couplings.

Large electroweak penguin contribution in B{yields}K{pi} and {pi}{pi} decay modes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mishima, Satoshi; Yoshikawa, Tadashi

2004-11-01

We discuss a possibility of large electroweak penguin contribution in B{yields}K{pi} and {pi}{pi} from recent experimental data. The experimental data may be suggesting that there are some discrepancies between the data and theoretical estimation in the branching ratios of them. In B{yields}K{pi} decays, to explain it, a large electroweak penguin contribution and large strong phase differences seem to be needed. The contributions should appear also in B{yields}{pi}{pi}. We show, as an example, a solution to solve the discrepancies in both B{yields}K{pi} and B{yields}{pi}{pi}. However the magnitude of the parameters and the strong phase estimated from experimental data are quite largemore » compared with the theoretical estimations. It may be suggesting some new physics effects are included in these processes. We will have to discuss about the dependence of the new physics. To explain both modes at once, we may need large electroweak penguin contribution with new weak phases and some SU(3) breaking effects by new physics in both QCD and electroweak penguin-type processes.« less

Phase transitions, magnetotransport and magnetocaloric effects in a new family of quaternary Ni-Mn-In-Z Heusler alloys.

PubMed

Kazakov, Alexander; Prudnikov, Valerii; Granovsky, Alexander; Perov, Nikolai; Dubenko, Igor; Pathak, Arjun Kumar; Samanta, Tapas; Stadler, Shane; Ali, Naushad; Zhukov, Arcady; Ilyin, Maxim; Gonzalez, Julian

2012-09-01

The magnetic, magnetotransport, and magnetocaloric properties near compound phase transitions in Ni50Mn35In14Z (Z = In, Ge, Al), and Ni48Co2Mn35In15 Heusler alloys have been studied using VSM and SQUID magnetometers (at magnetic fields (H) up to 5 T), four-probe method (at H = 0.005-1.5 T), and an adiabatic magnetocalorimeter (for H changes up to deltaH = 1.8 T), respectively. The martensitic transformation (MT) is accompanied by large magnetoresistance (up to 70%), a significant change in resistivity (up to 200%), and a sign reversal of the ordinary Hall effect coefficient, all related to a strong change in the electronic spectrum at the MT. The field dependences of the Hall resistance are complex in the vicinity of the MT, indicating a change in the relative concentrations of the austenite and martensite phases at strong fields. Negative and positive changes in adiabatic temperatures of about -2 K and +2 K have been observed in the vicinity of MT and Curie temperatures, respectively, for deltaH = 1.8 T.

Dynamic diffraction artefacts in Bragg coherent diffractive imaging

DOE PAGES

Hu, Wen; Huang, Xiaojing; Yan, Hanfei

2018-02-01

This article reports a theoretical study on the reconstruction artefacts in Bragg coherent diffractive imaging caused by dynamical diffraction effects. It is shown that, unlike the absorption and refraction effects that can be corrected after reconstruction, dynamical diffraction effects have profound impacts on both the amplitude and the phase of the reconstructed complex object, causing strong artefacts. At the dynamical diffraction limit, the reconstructed shape is no longer correct, as a result of the strong extinction effect. Simulations for hemispherical particles of different sizes show the type, magnitude and extent of the dynamical diffraction artefacts, as well as the conditionsmore » under which they are negligible.« less

Dynamic diffraction artefacts in Bragg coherent diffractive imaging.

PubMed

Hu, Wen; Huang, Xiaojing; Yan, Hanfei

2018-02-01

This article reports a theoretical study on the reconstruction artefacts in Bragg coherent diffractive imaging caused by dynamical diffraction effects. It is shown that, unlike the absorption and refraction effects that can be corrected after reconstruction, dynamical diffraction effects have profound impacts on both the amplitude and the phase of the reconstructed complex object, causing strong artefacts. At the dynamical diffraction limit, the reconstructed shape is no longer correct, as a result of the strong extinction effect. Simulations for hemispherical particles of different sizes show the type, magnitude and extent of the dynamical diffraction artefacts, as well as the conditions under which they are negligible.

Dynamic diffraction artefacts in Bragg coherent diffractive imaging

PubMed Central

Yan, Hanfei

2018-01-01

This article reports a theoretical study on the reconstruction artefacts in Bragg coherent diffractive imaging caused by dynamical diffraction effects. It is shown that, unlike the absorption and refraction effects that can be corrected after reconstruction, dynamical diffraction effects have profound impacts on both the amplitude and the phase of the reconstructed complex object, causing strong artefacts. At the dynamical diffraction limit, the reconstructed shape is no longer correct, as a result of the strong extinction effect. Simulations for hemispherical particles of different sizes show the type, magnitude and extent of the dynamical diffraction artefacts, as well as the conditions under which they are negligible. PMID:29507549

The Influence of Mo, Cr and B Alloying on Phase Transformation and Mechanical Properties in Nb Added High Strength Dual Phase Steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Girina, O.; Fonstein, N.; Yakubovsky, O.; Panahi, D.; Bhattacharya, D.; Jansto, S.

The influence of Nb, Mo, Cr and B on phase transformations and mechanical properties are studied in a 0.15C-2.0Mn-0.3Si-0.020Ti dual phase steel separately and in combination. The formation and decomposition of austenite together with recrystallization of ferrite are evaluated by dilatometry and constructed CCT-diagrams in laboratory processed cold rolled material cooled after full austenitization and from intercritical temperature range. The effect of alloying elements on formation of austenite through their effect on initial hot rolled structure is taken into account. The interpretation of phase transformations during heating and cooling is supported by metallography. The effect of alloying elements on mechanical properties and structure are evaluated by annealing simulations. It has been shown that mechanical properties are strongly influenced by alloying additions such as Nb, Mo, Cr and B through their effect on ferrite formation during continuous cooling and corresponding enrichment of remaining austenite by carbon. Depending on combined effect of these alloying elements, different phase transformations can be promoted during cooling. This allows controlling of final microstructural constituents and mechanical properties.

Thin-film versus slurry-phase carbonation of steel slag: CO₂ uptake and effects on mineralogy.

PubMed

Baciocchi, R; Costa, G; Di Gianfilippo, M; Polettini, A; Pomi, R; Stramazzo, A

2015-01-01

The results of direct aqueous accelerated carbonation of three types of steel manufacturing residues, including an electric arc furnace (EAF) slag and two basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slags, are reported. Batch accelerated carbonation tests were conducted at different temperatures and CO2 pressures applying the thin-film route (liquid to solid, L/S, ratio=0.3L/kg) or the slurry-phase route (L/S ratio=5L/kg). The CO2 uptake strongly depended on both the slag characteristics and the process route; maximum yields of 280 (EAF), 325 (BOF1) and 403 (BOF2) gCO2/kg slag were achieved in slurry phase at T=100°C and pCO2=10 bar. Differently from previous studies, additional carbonates (other than Ca-based phases) were retrieved in the carbonated BOF slags, indicating that also Mg-, Fe- and Mn-containing phases partially reacted with CO2 under the tested conditions. The results hence show that the effects of accelerated carbonation in terms of CO2 uptake capacity, yield of mineral conversion into carbonates and mineralogy of the treated product, strongly rely on several factors. These include, above all, the mineralogy of the original material and the operating conditions adopted, which thus need specific case-by-case optimization to maximize the CO2 sequestration yield. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A single-phase elastic hyperbolic metamaterial with anisotropic mass density.

PubMed

Zhu, R; Chen, Y Y; Wang, Y S; Hu, G K; Huang, G L

2016-06-01

Wave propagation can be manipulated at a deep subwavelength scale through the locally resonant metamaterial that possesses unusual effective material properties. Hyperlens due to metamaterial's anomalous anisotropy can lead to superior-resolution imaging. In this paper, a single-phase elastic metamaterial with strongly anisotropic effective mass density has been designed. The proposed metamaterial utilizes the independently adjustable locally resonant motions of the subwavelength-scale microstructures along the two principal directions. High anisotropy in the effective mass densities obtained by the numerical-based effective medium theory can be found and even have opposite signs. For practical applications, shunted piezoelectric elements are introduced into the microstructure to tailor the effective mass density in a broad frequency range. Finally, to validate the design, an elastic hyperlens made of the single-phase hyperbolic metamaterial is proposed with subwavelength longitudinal wave imaging illustrated numerically. The proposed single-phase hyperbolic metamaterial has many promising applications for high resolution damage imaging in nondestructive evaluation and structural health monitoring.

Quantum criticality of one-dimensional multicomponent Fermi gas with strongly attractive interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Peng; Jiang, Yuzhu; Guan, Xiwen; He, Jinyu

2015-01-01

Quantum criticality of strongly attractive Fermi gas with SU(3) symmetry in one dimension is studied via the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) equations. The phase transitions driven by the chemical potential μ , effective magnetic field H1, H2 (chemical potential biases) are analyzed at the quantum criticality. The phase diagram and critical fields are analytically determined by the TBA equations in the zero temperature limit. High accurate equations of state, scaling functions are also obtained analytically for the strong interacting gases. The dynamic exponent z=2 and correlation length exponent ν =1/2 read off the universal scaling form. It turns out that the quantum criticality of the three-component gases involves a sudden change of density of states of one cluster state, two or three cluster states. In general, this method can be adapted to deal with the quantum criticality of multicomponent Fermi gases with SU(N) symmetry.

Field propagation-induced directionality of carrier-envelope phase-controlled photoemission from nanospheres

PubMed Central

Süßmann, F.; Seiffert, L.; Zherebtsov, S.; Mondes, V.; Stierle, J.; Arbeiter, M.; Plenge, J.; Rupp, P.; Peltz, C.; Kessel, A.; Trushin, S. A.; Ahn, B.; Kim, D.; Graf, C.; Rühl, E.; Kling, M. F.; Fennel, T.

2015-01-01

Near-fields of non-resonantly laser-excited nanostructures enable strong localization of ultrashort light fields and have opened novel routes to fundamentally modify and control electronic strong-field processes. Harnessing spatiotemporally tunable near-fields for the steering of sub-cycle electron dynamics may enable ultrafast optoelectronic devices and unprecedented control in the generation of attosecond electron and photon pulses. Here we utilize unsupported sub-wavelength dielectric nanospheres to generate near-fields with adjustable structure and study the resulting strong-field dynamics via photoelectron imaging. We demonstrate field propagation-induced tunability of the emission direction of fast recollision electrons up to a regime, where nonlinear charge interaction effects become dominant in the acceleration process. Our analysis supports that the timing of the recollision process remains controllable with attosecond resolution by the carrier-envelope phase, indicating the possibility to expand near-field-mediated control far into the realm of high-field phenomena. PMID:26264422

Field propagation-induced directionality of carrier-envelope phase-controlled photoemission from nanospheres.

PubMed

Süßmann, F; Seiffert, L; Zherebtsov, S; Mondes, V; Stierle, J; Arbeiter, M; Plenge, J; Rupp, P; Peltz, C; Kessel, A; Trushin, S A; Ahn, B; Kim, D; Graf, C; Rühl, E; Kling, M F; Fennel, T

2015-08-12

Near-fields of non-resonantly laser-excited nanostructures enable strong localization of ultrashort light fields and have opened novel routes to fundamentally modify and control electronic strong-field processes. Harnessing spatiotemporally tunable near-fields for the steering of sub-cycle electron dynamics may enable ultrafast optoelectronic devices and unprecedented control in the generation of attosecond electron and photon pulses. Here we utilize unsupported sub-wavelength dielectric nanospheres to generate near-fields with adjustable structure and study the resulting strong-field dynamics via photoelectron imaging. We demonstrate field propagation-induced tunability of the emission direction of fast recollision electrons up to a regime, where nonlinear charge interaction effects become dominant in the acceleration process. Our analysis supports that the timing of the recollision process remains controllable with attosecond resolution by the carrier-envelope phase, indicating the possibility to expand near-field-mediated control far into the realm of high-field phenomena.

Three dimensional δf simulations of beams in the SSC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koga, J.; Tajima, T.; Machida, S.

1993-12-01

A three dimensional δf strong-strong algorithm has been developed to apply to the study of such effects as space charge and beam-beam interaction phenomena in the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC). The algorithm is obtained from the merging of the particle tracking code Simpsons used for 3 dimensional space charge effects and a δf code. The δf method is used to follow the evolution of the non-gaussian part of the beam distribution. The advantages of this method are twofold. First, the Simpsons code utilizes a realistic accelerator model including synchrotron oscillations and energy ramping in 6 dimensional phase space with electromagnetic fields of the beams calculated using a realistic 3 dimensional field solver. Second, the beams are evolving in the fully self-consistent strong-strong sense with finite particle fluctuation noise is greatly reduced as opposed to the weak-strong models where one beam is fixed.

Normal-Mode Splitting in a Weakly Coupled Optomechanical System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, Massimiliano; Kralj, Nenad; Zippilli, Stefano; Natali, Riccardo; Borrielli, Antonio; Pandraud, Gregory; Serra, Enrico; Di Giuseppe, Giovanni; Vitali, David

2018-02-01

Normal-mode splitting is the most evident signature of strong coupling between two interacting subsystems. It occurs when two subsystems exchange energy between themselves faster than they dissipate it to the environment. Here we experimentally show that a weakly coupled optomechanical system at room temperature can manifest normal-mode splitting when the pump field fluctuations are antisquashed by a phase-sensitive feedback loop operating close to its instability threshold. Under these conditions the optical cavity exhibits an effectively reduced decay rate, so that the system is effectively promoted to the strong coupling regime.

Spiral magnetism in the single-band Hubbard model: the Hartree-Fock and slave-boson approaches.

PubMed

Igoshev, P A; Timirgazin, M A; Gilmutdinov, V F; Arzhnikov, A K; Irkhin, V Yu

2015-11-11

The ground-state magnetic phase diagram is investigated within the single-band Hubbard model for square and different cubic lattices. The results of employing the generalized non-correlated mean-field (Hartree-Fock) approximation and generalized slave-boson approach by Kotliar and Ruckenstein with correlation effects included are compared. We take into account commensurate ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and incommensurate (spiral) magnetic phases, as well as phase separation into magnetic phases of different types, which was often lacking in previous investigations. It is found that the spiral states and especially ferromagnetism are generally strongly suppressed up to non-realistically large Hubbard U by the correlation effects if nesting is absent and van Hove singularities are well away from the paramagnetic phase Fermi level. The magnetic phase separation plays an important role in the formation of magnetic states, the corresponding phase regions being especially wide in the vicinity of half-filling. The details of non-collinear and collinear magnetic ordering for different cubic lattices are discussed.

Theory of Multifarious Quantum Phases and Large Anomalous Hall Effect in Pyrochlore Iridate Thin Films

PubMed Central

Hwang, Kyusung; Kim, Yong Baek

2016-01-01

We theoretically investigate emergent quantum phases in the thin film geometries of the pyrochore iridates, where a number of exotic quantum ground states are proposed to occur in bulk materials as a result of the interplay between electron correlation and strong spin-orbit coupling. The fate of these bulk phases as well as novel quantum states that may arise only in the thin film platforms, are studied via a theoretical model that allows layer-dependent magnetic structures. It is found that the magnetic order develop in inhomogeneous fashions in the thin film geometries. This leads to a variety of magnetic metal phases with modulated magnetic ordering patterns across different layers. Both the bulk and boundary electronic states in these phases conspire to promote unusual electronic properties. In particular, such phases are akin to the Weyl semimetal phase in the bulk system and they would exhibit an unusually large anomalous Hall effect. PMID:27418293

Cell Partition in Two Polymer Aqueous Phases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brooks, D. E.

1985-01-01

In a reduced gravity environment the two polymer phases will not separate via density driven settling in an acceptably short length of time. It is to be expected that a certain amount of phase separation will take place, however, driven by the reduction in free energy gained when the interfacial area is reduced. This stage of separation process will therefore depend directly on the magnitude of the interfacial tension between the phases. In order to induce complete phase separation in a short time, electric field-induced separation which occurs because the droplets of one phase in the other have high electrophoretic mobilities which increase with droplet size was investigated. These mobilities are significant only in the presence of certain salts, particularly phosphates. The presence of such salts, in turn has a strong effect on the cell partition behavior in dextran-poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) systems. The addition of the salts necessary to produce phase drop mobilities has a large effect on the interfacial tensions in the systems.

Effect of duty-cycles on the air plasma gas-phase of dielectric barrier discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barni, R.; Biganzoli, I.; Dell'Orto, E. C.; Riccardi, C.

2015-10-01

An experimental investigation concerning the effects of a duty-cycle in the supply of a dielectric barrier discharge in atmospheric pressure air has been performed. Electrical characteristics of the discharge have been measured, focusing mainly on the statistical properties of the current filaments and on dielectric surface charging, both affected by the frequent repetition of breakdown imposed by the duty-cycle. Information on the gas-phase composition was gathered too. In particular, a strong enhancement in the ozone formation rate is observed when suitable long pauses separate the active discharge phases. A simulation of the chemical kinetics in the gas-phase, based on a simplified discharge modeling, is briefly described in order to shed light on the observed increase in ozone production. The effect of a duty-cycle on surface modification of polymeric films in order to increase their wettability has been investigated too.

Glutathione protects Candida albicans against horseradish volatile oil.

PubMed

Bertóti, Regina; Vasas, Gábor; Gonda, Sándor; Nguyen, Nhat Minh; Szőke, Éva; Jakab, Ágnes; Pócsi, István; Emri, Tamás

2016-10-01

Horseradish essential oil (HREO; a natural mixture of different isothiocyanates) had strong fungicide effect against Candida albicans both in volatile and liquid phase. In liquid phase this antifungal effect was more significant than those of its main components allyl, and 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate. HREO, at sublethal concentration, induced oxidative stress which was characterized with elevated superoxide content and up-regulated specific glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. Induction of specific glutathione S-transferase activities as marker of glutathione (GSH) dependent detoxification was also observed. At higher concentration, HREO depleted the GSH pool, increased heavily the superoxide production and killed the cells rapidly. HREO and the GSH pool depleting agent, 1-chlore-2,4-dinitrobenzene showed strong synergism when they were applied together to kill C. albicans cells. Based on all these, we assume that GSH metabolism protects fungi against isothiocyanates. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Phase diagram of the Hubbard-Holstein model on a four-leg tube system at quarter filling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reja, Sahinur; Nishimoto, Satoshi

2018-06-01

We derive an effective electronic Hamiltonian for the square lattice Hubbard-Holstein model (HHM) in the strong electron-electron (e -e ) and electron-phonon (e -p h ) coupling regime and under nonadiabatic conditions (t /ω0≤1 ), t and ω0 being the electron hopping and phonon frequency respectively. Using the density matrix renormalization-group method, we simulate this effective electronic model on a four-leg cylinder system at quarter filling and present a phase diagram in the g -U plane where g and U are the e -p h coupling constant and Hubbard on-site interaction respectively. For larger g , we find that a cluster of spins, i.e., phase separation (PS), gives way to a charge density wave (CDW) phase made of nearest-neighbor singlets which abruptly goes to another CDW phase as we increase U . But for smaller g , we find a metallic phase sandwiched between PS and the singlet CDW phase. This phase is characterized by a vanishing charge gap but a finite spin gap, suggesting a singlet superconducting phase.

Dispersions of Goethite Nanorods in Aprotic Polar Solvents

PubMed Central

Coursault, Delphine; Dozov, Ivan; Nobili, Maurizio; Dupont, Laurent; Chanéac, Corinne

2017-01-01

Colloidal suspensions of anisotropic nanoparticles can spontaneously self-organize in liquid-crystalline phases beyond some concentration threshold. These phases often respond to electric and magnetic fields. At lower concentrations, usual isotropic liquids are observed but they can display very strong Kerr and Cotton-Mouton effects (i.e., field-induced particle orientation). For many examples of these colloidal suspensions, the solvent is water, which hinders most electro-optic applications. Here, for goethite (α-FeOOH) nanorod dispersions, we show that water can be replaced by polar aprotic solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), without loss of colloidal stability. By polarized-light microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering and electro-optic measurements, we found that the nematic phase, with its field-response properties, is retained. Moreover, a strong Kerr effect was also observed with isotropic goethite suspensions in these polar aprotic solvents. Furthermore, we found no significant difference in the behavior of both the nematic and isotropic phases between the aqueous and non-aqueous dispersions. Our work shows that goethite nanorod suspensions in polar aprotic solvents, suitable for electro-optic applications, can easily be produced and that they keep all their outstanding properties. It also suggests that this solvent replacement method could be extended to the aqueous colloidal suspensions of other kinds of charged anisotropic nanoparticles. PMID:29039797

Infrared x-ray pump-probe spectroscopy of the NO molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guimarães, F. F.; Kimberg, V.; Felicíssimo, V. C.; Gel'Mukhanov, F.; Cesar, A.; Ågren, H.

2005-07-01

Two color infrared x-ray pump-probe spectroscopy of the NO molecule is studied theoretically and numerically in order to obtain a deeper insight of the underlying physics and of the potential of this suggested technology. From the theoretical investigation a number of conclusions could be drawn: It is found that the phase of the infrared field strongly influences the trajectory of the nuclear wave packet, and hence, the x-ray spectrum. The trajectory experiences fast oscillations with the vibrational frequency with a modulation due to the anharmonicity of the potential. The dependences of the x-ray spectra on the delay time, the duration, and the shape of the pulses are studied in detail. It is shown that the x-ray spectrum keep memory about the infrared phase after the pump field left the system. This memory effect is sensitive to the time of switching-off the pump field and the Rabi frequency. The phase effect takes maximum value when the duration of the x-ray pulse is one-fourth of the infrared field period, and can be enhanced by a proper control of the duration and intensity of the pump pulse. The manifestation of the phase is different for oriented and disordered molecules and depends strongly on the intensity of the pump radiation.

Quantum anomalous Hall effect and topological phase transition in two-dimensional antiferromagnetic Chern insulator NiOsCl6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Wei-Wei; Li, Lei; Zhao, Jing-Sheng; Liu, Xiao-Xiong; Deng, Jian-Bo; Tao, Xiao-Ma; Hu, Xian-Ru

2018-05-01

By doing calculations based on density functional theory, we predict that the two-dimensional anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) NiOsCl6 as a Chern insulator can realize the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect. We investigate the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energies in different magnetic configurations and the Néel AFM configuration is proved to be ground state. When considering spin–orbit coupling (SOC), this layered material with spins perpendicular to the plane shows properties as a Chern insulator characterized by an inversion band structure and a nonzero Chern number. The nontrivial band gap is 37 meV and the Chern number C  =  ‑1, which are induced by a strong SOC and AFM order. With strong SOC, the NiOsCl6 system performs a continuous topological phase transition from the Chern insulator to the trivial insulator upon the increasing Coulomb repulsion U. The critical U c is indicated as 0.23 eV, at which the system is in a metallic phase with . Upon increasing U, the E g reduces linearly with C  =  ‑1 for 0  <  U  <  U c and increases linearly with C  =  0 for U  >  U c . At last we analysis the QAH properties and this continuous topological phase transition theoretically in a two-band model. This AFM Chern insulator NiOsCl6 proposes not only a promising way to realize the QAH effect, but also a new material to study the continuous topological phase transition.

Dynamical phases in a one-dimensional chain of heterospecies Rydberg atoms with next-nearest-neighbor interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Jing; Zhang, Lu; Zhai, Jingjing; Zhang, Weiping

2015-12-01

We theoretically investigate the dynamical phase diagram of a one-dimensional chain of laser-excited two-species Rydberg atoms. The existence of a variety of unique dynamical phases in the experimentally achievable parameter region is predicted under the mean-field approximation, and the change in those phases when the effect of the next-nearest-neighbor interaction is included is further discussed. In particular, we find that the com-petition of the strong Rydberg-Rydberg interactions and the optical excitation imbalance can lead to the presence of complex multiple chaotic phases, which are highly sensitive to the initial Rydberg-state population and the strength of the next-nearest-neighbor interactions.

Phase equilibria in polymer blend thin films: A Hamiltonian approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Souche, M.; Clarke, N.

2009-12-01

We propose a Hamiltonian formulation of the Flory-Huggins-de Gennes theory describing a polymer blend thin film. We then focus on the case of 50:50 polymer blends confined between antisymmetric walls. The different phases of the system and the transitions between them, including finite-size effects, are systematically studied through their relation with the geometry of the Hamiltonian flow in phase space. This method provides an easy and efficient way, with strong graphical insight, to infer the qualitative physical behavior of polymer blend thin films.

The Formation of Martensitic Austenite During Nitridation of Martensitic and Duplex Stainless Steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zangiabadi, Amirali; Dalton, John C.; Wang, Danqi; Ernst, Frank; Heuer, Arthur H.

2017-01-01

Isothermal martensite/ferrite-to-austenite phase transformations have been observed after low-temperature nitridation in the martensite and δ-ferrite phases in 15-5 PH (precipitation hardening), 17-7 PH, and 2205 (duplex) stainless steels. These transformations, in the region with nitrogen concentrations of 8 to 16 at. pct, are consistent with the notion that nitrogen is a strong austenite stabilizer and substitutional diffusion is effectively frozen at the paraequilibrium temperatures of our experiments. Our microstructural and diffraction analyses provide conclusive evidence for the martensitic nature of these phase transformations.

Microstructure characterization of multi-phase composites and utilization of phase change materials and recycled rubbers in cementitious materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meshgin, Pania

2011-12-01

This research focuses on two important subjects: (1) Characterization of heterogeneous microstructure of multi-phase composites and the effect of microstructural features on effective properties of the material. (2) Utilizations of phase change materials and recycled rubber particles from waste tires to improve thermal properties of insulation materials used in building envelopes. Spatial pattern of multi-phase and multidimensional internal structures of most composite materials are highly random. Quantitative description of the spatial distribution should be developed based on proper statistical models, which characterize the morphological features. For a composite material with multi-phases, the volume fraction of the phases as well as the morphological parameters of the phases have very strong influences on the effective property of the composite. These morphological parameters depend on the microstructure of each phase. This study intends to include the effect of higher order morphological details of the microstructure in the composite models. The higher order statistics, called two-point correlation functions characterize various behaviors of the composite at any two points in a stochastic field. Specifically, correlation functions of mosaic patterns are used in the study for characterizing transport properties of composite materials. One of the most effective methods to improve energy efficiency of buildings is to enhance thermal properties of insulation materials. The idea of using phase change materials and recycled rubber particles such as scrap tires in insulation materials for building envelopes has been studied.

Effects of heat input on pitting corrosion in super duplex stainless steel weld metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Yong taek; Shin, Hak soo; Lee, Hae woo

2012-12-01

Due to the difference in reheating effects depending on the heat input of subsequent weld passes, the microstructure of the weld metal varies between acicular type austenite and a mixture of polygonal type and grain boundary mixed austenite. These microstructural changes may affect the corrosion properties of duplex stainless steel welds. This result indicates that the pitting resistance of the weld can be strongly influenced by the morphology of the secondary austenite phase. In particular, the ferrite phase adjacent to the acicular type austenite phase shows a lower Pitting Resistance Equivalent (PRE) value of 25.3, due to its lower chromium and molybdenum contents, whereas the secondary austenite phase maintains a higher PRE value of more than 38. Therefore, it can be inferred that the pitting corrosion is mainly due to the formation of ferrite phase with a much lower PRE value.

Effect of initial phase on error in electron energy obtained using paraxial approximation for a focused laser pulse in vacuum

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singh, Kunwar Pal, E-mail: k-psingh@yahoo.com; Department of Physics, Shri Venkateshwara University, Gajraula, Amroha, Uttar Pradesh 244236; Arya, Rashmi

2015-09-14

We have investigated the effect of initial phase on error in electron energy obtained using paraxial approximation to study electron acceleration by a focused laser pulse in vacuum using a three dimensional test-particle simulation code. The error is obtained by comparing the energy of the electron for paraxial approximation and seventh-order correction description of the fields of Gaussian laser. The paraxial approximation predicts wrong laser divergence and wrong electron escape time from the pulse which leads to prediction of higher energy. The error shows strong phase dependence for the electrons lying along the axis of the laser for linearly polarizedmore » laser pulse. The relative error may be significant for some specific values of initial phase even at moderate values of laser spot sizes. The error does not show initial phase dependence for a circularly laser pulse.« less

Detailed Studies on Flame Extinction by Inert Particles in Normal- and Micro-gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andac, M. G.; Egolfopoulos, F. N.; Campbell, C. S.

2001-01-01

The combustion of dusty flows has been studied to lesser extent than pure gas phase flows and sprays. Particles can have a strong effect by modifying the dynamic response and detailed structure of flames through the dynamic, thermal, and chemical couplings between the two phases. A rigorous understanding of the dynamics and structure of two-phase flows can be attained in stagnation flow configurations, which have been used by others to study spray combustion as well as reacting dusty flows. In earlier studies on reacting dusty flows, the thermal coupling between the two phases as well as the effect of gravity on the flame response were not considered. However, in Ref. 6, the thermal coupling between chemically inert particles and the gas was addressed in premixed flames. The effects of gravity was also studied showing that it can substantially affect the profiles of the particle velocity, number density, mass flux, and temperature. The results showed a strong dynamic and thermal dependence of reacting dusty flows to particle number density. However, the work was only numerical and limited to twin-flames, stagnation, premixed flames. In Ref. 7 the effects of chemically inert particle clouds on the extinction of strained premixed and non-premixed flames were studied both experimentally and numerically at 1-g. It was shown and explained that large particles can cause more effective flame cooling compared to smaller particles. The effects of flame configuration and particle injection orientation were also addressed. The complexity of the coupling between the various parameters in such flows was demonstrated and it was shown that it was impossible to obtain a simple and still meaningful scaling that captured all the pertinent physics.

Life history traits in a cyclic ecosystem: a field experiment on the arctic fox.

PubMed

Meijer, Tomas; Elmhagen, Bodil; Eide, Nina E; Angerbjörn, Anders

2013-10-01

The reproduction of many species depends strongly on variation in food availability. The main prey of the arctic fox in Fennoscandia are cyclic small rodents, and its number of litters and litter size vary depending on the phase of the rodent cycle. In this experiment, we studied if the arctic fox adjusts its reproduction as a direct response to food abundance, in accordance with the food limitation hypothesis, or if there are additional phase-dependent trade-offs that influence its reproduction. We analysed the weaning success, i.e. proportion of arctic fox pairs established during mating that wean a litter in summer, of 422 pairs of which 361 were supplementary winter fed, as well as the weaned litter size of 203 litters of which 115 were supplementary winter fed. Females without supplementary winter food over-produced cubs in relation to food abundance in the small rodent increase phase, i.e. the litter size was equal to that in the peak phase when food was more abundant. The litter size for unfed females was 6.38 in the increase phase, 7.11 in the peak phase and 3.84 in the decrease phase. The litter size for supplementary winter-fed litters was 7.95 in the increase phase, 10.61 in the peak phase and 7.86 in the decrease phase. Thus, feeding had a positive effect on litter size, but it did not diminish the strong impact of the small rodent phase, supporting phase-dependent trade-offs in addition to food determining arctic fox reproduction.

Time-dependent local and average structural evolution of δ-phase 239Pu-Ga alloys

DOE PAGES

Smith, Alice I.; Page, Katharine L.; Siewenie, Joan E.; ...

2016-08-05

Here, plutonium metal is a very unusual element, exhibiting six allotropes at ambient pressure, between room temperature and its melting point, a complicated phase diagram, and a complex electronic structure. Many phases of plutonium metal are unstable with changes in temperature, pressure, chemical additions, or time. This strongly affects structure and properties, and becomes of high importance, particularly when considering effects on structural integrity over long periods of time [1]. This paper presents a time-dependent neutron total scattering study of the local and average structure of naturally aging δ-phase 239Pu-Ga alloys, together with preliminary results on neutron tomography characterization.

Population ecology of insect invasions and their management

Treesearch

Andrew M. Liebhold; Patrick C. Tobin

2008-01-01

During the establishment phase of a biological invasion, population dynamics are strongly influenced by Allee effects and stochastic dynamics, both of which may lead to extinction of low-density populations. Allee effects refer to a decline in population growth rate with a decline in abundance and can arise from various mechanisms. Strategies to eradicate newly...

Effect of the Hartmann number on phase separation controlled by magnetic field for binary mixture system with large component ratio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heping, Wang; Xiaoguang, Li; Duyang, Zang; Rui, Hu; Xingguo, Geng

2017-11-01

This paper presents an exploration for phase separation in a magnetic field using a coupled lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The left vertical wall was kept at a constant magnetic field. Simulations were conducted by the strong magnetic field to enhance phase separation and increase the size of separated phases. The focus was on the effect of magnetic intensity by defining the Hartmann number (Ha) on the phase separation properties. The numerical investigation was carried out for different governing parameters, namely Ha and the component ratio of the mixed liquid. The effective morphological evolutions of phase separation in different magnetic fields were demonstrated. The patterns showed that the slant elliptical phases were created by increasing Ha, due to the formation and increase of magnetic torque and force. The dataset was rearranged for growth kinetics of magnetic phase separation in a plot by spherically averaged structure factor and the ratio of separated phases and total system. The results indicate that the increase in Ha can increase the average size of separated phases and accelerate the spinodal decomposition and domain growth stages. Specially for the larger component ratio of mixed phases, the separation degree was also significantly improved by increasing magnetic intensity. These numerical results provide guidance for setting the optimum condition for the phase separation induced by magnetic field.

Influence of the least-squares phase on optical vortices in strongly scintillated beams

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen Mingzhou; Roux, Filippus S.; National Laser Centre, CSIR, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001

2009-07-15

The optical vortices that exist in strongly scintillated beams make it difficult for conventional adaptive optics systems to remove the phase distortions. When the least-squares reconstructed phase is removed, the vortices still remain. However, we found that the removal of the least-squares phase induces a portion of the vortices to be annihilated during subsequent propagation, causing a reduction in the total number of vortices. This can be understood in terms of the restoration of equilibrium between explicit vortices, which are visible in the phase function, and vortex bound states, which are somehow encoded in the continuous phase fluctuations. Numerical simulationsmore » are provided to show that the total number of optical vortices in a strongly scintillated beam can be reduced significantly after a few steps of least-squares phase corrections.« less

Effect of microstructure on static and dynamic mechanical properties of high strength steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qu, Jinbo

The high speed deformation behavior of a commercially available dual phase (DP) steel was studied by means of split Hopkinson bar apparatus in shear punch (25m/s) and tension (1000s-1) modes with an emphasis on the influence of microstructure. The cold rolled sheet material was subjected to a variety of heat treatment conditions to produce several different microstructures, namely ferrite plus pearlite, ferrite plus bainite and/or acicular ferrite, ferrite plus bainite and martensite, and ferrite plus different fractions of martensite. Static properties (0.01mm/s for shear punch and 0.001s -1 for tension) of all the microstructures were also measured by an MTS hydraulic machine and compared to the dynamic properties. The effects of low temperature tempering and bake hardening were investigated for some ferrite plus martensite microstructures. In addition, two other materials, composition designed as high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel and transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel, were heat treated and tested to study the effect of alloy chemistry on the microstructure and property relationship. A strong effect of microstructure on both static and dynamic properties and on the relationship between static and dynamic properties was observed. According to the variation of dynamic factor with static strength, three groups of microstructures with three distinct behaviors were identified, i.e. classic dual phase (ferrite plus less than 50% martensite), martensite-matrix dual phase (ferrite plus more than 50% martensite), and non-dual phase (ferrite plus non-martensite). Under the same static strength level, the dual phase microstructure was found to absorb more dynamic energy than other microstructures. It was also observed that the general dependence of microstructure on static and dynamic property relationship was not strongly influenced by chemical composition, except the ferrite plus martensite microstructures generated by the TRIP chemistry, which exhibited much better dynamic factor values. This may suggest that solid solution strengthening should be more utilized in the design of crashworthy dual phase steels.

Mesoscopic fluctuations of the population of a qubit in a strong alternating field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Denisenko, M. V.; Satanin, A. M.

2016-12-01

Fluctuations of the population of a Josephson qubit in an alternating field, which is a superposition of electromagnetic pulses with large amplitudes, are studied. It is shown that the relative phase of pulses is responsible for the rate of Landau-Zener transitions and, correspondingly, for the frequency of transitions between adiabatic states. The durations of pulses incident on the qubit are controlled with an accuracy of the field period, which results in strong mesoscopic fluctuations of the population of the qubit. Similar to the magnetic field in mesoscopic physics, the relative phase of pulses can destroy the interference pattern of the population of the qubit. The influence of the duration of the pulse and noise on the revealed fluctuation effects is studied.

Dynamics of a coherently driven micromaser by the Monte Carlo wavefunction approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonacina, L.; Casagrande, F.; Lulli, A.

2000-08-01

Using a Monte Carlo wavefunction approach we investigate the dynamics of a micromaser driven by a resonant coherent field. At steady state, for increasing interaction times, the system exhibits driven Rabi oscillations, followed by collapse as the range of micromaser trapping states is approached. The system operates in regimes ranging from a strong to a weak amplifier. In the strong-amplifier regime the cavity mode shows a preferred phase and can exhibit quadrature squeezing and sub-Poissonian photon statistics. In the weak-amplifier regime the cavity mode has no preferred phase, is super-Poissonian and is influenced by trapping effects; no revival of Rabi oscillations occurs. The main predictions can be compared with experimental measurements on the populations of atoms leaving the cavity.

Spontaneous dressed-state polarization in the strong driving regime of cavity QED.

PubMed

Armen, Michael A; Miller, Anthony E; Mabuchi, Hideo

2009-10-23

We utilize high-bandwidth phase-quadrature homodyne measurement of the light transmitted through a Fabry-Perot cavity, driven strongly and on resonance, to detect excess phase noise induced by a single intracavity atom. We analyze the correlation properties and driving-strength dependence of the atom-induced phase noise to establish that it corresponds to the long-predicted phenomenon of spontaneous dressed-state polarization. Our experiment thus provides a demonstration of cavity quantum electrodynamics in the strong-driving regime in which one atom interacts strongly with a many-photon cavity field to produce novel quantum stochastic behavior.

Influence of transition group elements on the stability of the δ- and η-phase in nickelbase alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bäker, Martin; Rösler, Joachim; Hentrich, Tatiana; Ackland, Graeme

2018-01-01

To improve the high-temperature capability of 718-type wrought nickel-base superalloys, the γ \\prime -phase ({{Ni}}3{Al}) can be stabilized. However, this also reduces the size of the forging window because forging has to be done above the γ \\prime - and below the solvus temperature of the phase that is used to enable fine-grain forging, i.e. the δ-phase of {{Ni}}3{Nb} type or the η-phase of {{Ni}}3{Ti}-type. Understanding the influence of alloying elements on the formation of these phases is therefore important. In this paper, density functional theory calculations at 0 K are performed to determine the stabilizing effect of aluminium and of the transition group elements on the stability of the δ-phase and η-phase. Most of the transition group elements of 5th and 6th period stabilize the δ-phase, whereas the stabilizing effect on the η-phase is weaker. According to the calculations, Mo, Tc, W, Re, and Os may be expected to stabilize the δ-phase but not the η-phase, whereas Al and Zn strongly stabilize the η-phase. V, Zr, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, Ir, Pt, Au, and Hg stabilize both phases. For some elements (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co), magnetic effects in the δ and especially in the η-phase are shown to be significant at the concentrations studied here.

Length scale effects and multiscale modeling of thermally induced phase transformation kinetics in NiTi SMA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frantziskonis, George N.; Gur, Sourav

2017-06-01

Thermally induced phase transformation in NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) shows strong size and shape, collectively termed length scale effects, at the nano to micrometer scales, and that has important implications for the design and use of devices and structures at such scales. This paper, based on a recently developed multiscale model that utilizes molecular dynamics (MDs) simulations at small scales and MD-verified phase field (PhF) simulations at larger scales, reports results on specific length scale effects, i.e. length scale effects in martensite phase fraction (MPF) evolution, transformation temperatures (martensite and austenite start and finish) and in the thermally cyclic transformation between austenitic and martensitic phase. The multiscale study identifies saturation points for length scale effects and studies, for the first time, the length scale effect on the kinetics (i.e. developed internal strains) in the B19‧ phase during phase transformation. The major part of the work addresses small scale single crystals in specific orientations. However, the multiscale method is used in a unique and novel way to indirectly study length scale and grain size effects on evolution kinetics in polycrystalline NiTi, and to compare the simulation results to experiments. The interplay of the grain size and the length scale effect on the thermally induced MPF evolution is also shown in this present study. Finally, the multiscale coupling results are employed to improve phenomenological material models for NiTi SMA.

Climate Change and ENSO Effects on Southeastern US Climate Patterns and Maize Yield.

PubMed

Mourtzinis, Spyridon; Ortiz, Brenda V; Damianidis, Damianos

2016-07-19

Climate change has a strong influence on weather patterns and significantly affects crop yields globally. El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has a strong influence on the U.S. climate and is related to agricultural production variability. ENSO effects are location-specific and in southeastern U.S. strongly connect with climate variability. When combined with climate change, the effects on growing season climate patterns and crop yields might be greater than expected. In our study, historical monthly precipitation and temperature data were coupled with non-irrigated maize yield data (33-43 years depending on the location) to show a potential yield suppression of ~15% for one °C increase in southeastern U.S. growing season maximum temperature. Yield suppression ranged between -25 and -2% among locations suppressing the southeastern U.S. average yield trend since 1981 by 17 kg ha(-1)year(-1) (~25%), mainly due to year-to-year June temperature anomalies. Yields varied among ENSO phases from 1971-2013, with greater yields observed during El Niño phase. During La Niña years, maximum June temperatures were higher than Neutral and El Niño, whereas June precipitation was lower than El Niño years. Our data highlight the importance of developing location-specific adaptation strategies quantifying both, climate change and ENSO effects on month-specific growing season climate conditions.

In situ optical measurements of Chang'E-3 landing site in Mare Imbrium: 2. Photometric properties of the regolith

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Weidong; Zhang, Hao; Yuan, Ye; Yang, Yazhou; Shkuratov, Yuriy G.; Lucey, Paul G.; Kaydash, Vadim G.; Zhu, Meng-Hua; Xue, Bin; Di, Kaichang; Xu, Bin; Wan, Wenhui; Xiao, Long; Wang, Ziwei

2015-10-01

The panorama cameras onboard the Yutu Rover of the Chang'E-3 lunar mission acquired hundreds of high-resolution color images of the lunar surface and captured the first in situ lunar opposition effect (OE) since the Apollo era. We extracted the phase curve and the color ratio in three bands with the phase angle range from 2° to 141°. Photometric inversions using the Hapke model reveal that submicroscopic dusts are present in the landing area and both the coherent backscattering and the shadow hiding are responsible for the strong OE. Compared with spaceborne measurements, the grains in the landing site are brighter, more transparent, and appear to be better crystallized than the average maria basaltic grains. The results show that the phase-reddening effect appears to be present in the in situ phase curves. The current phase curve can be used as the ground-truth validations of any future spaceborne phase curve measurement over the landing site region.

Countercurrent distribution of biological cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brooks, D. E.

1982-01-01

Detailed physiochemical studies of dextran/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) two phase systems were carried out to characterize and provide understanding of the properties of the systems which determine cell partition and the electrophoretic behavior of phase drops responsible for electric field driven phase separation. A detailed study of the electrostatic and electrokinetic potentials developed in these systems was carried out. The salt partition was examined both in phase systems and with pure polymer solutions via equilibrium dialysis and mechanism of sulfate, chloride and phosphate partition shown to be exclusion by PEG rather than binding by dextran. Salt partition was shown to have a strong effect on the polymer compositions of the phases as well, an effect which produces large changes in the interfacial tension between them. These effects were characterized and the interfacial tension shown to obey a power law with respect to its dependence on the length of the tie line describing the system composition on a phase diagram. The electrostatic potential differences measured via salt bridges were shown to obey thermodynamic predictions. The electrophoretic mobilities measured were utilized to provide a partial test of Levine's incomplete theory of phase drop electrophoresis. The data were consistent with Levine's expression over a limited range of the variables tested.

Waddling on the Dark Side: Ambient Light Affects Attendance Behavior of Little Penguins.

PubMed

Rodríguez, Airam; Chiaradia, André; Wasiak, Paula; Renwick, Leanne; Dann, Peter

2016-04-01

Visible light on Earth largely comes from the sun, including light reflected from the moon. Predation risk is strongly determined by light conditions, and some animals are nocturnal to reduce predation. Artificial lights and its consequent light pollution may disrupt this natural behavior. Here, we used 13 years of attendance data to study the effects of sun, moon, and artificial light on the attendance pattern of a nocturnal seabird, the little penguin Eudyptula minor at Phillip Island, Australia. The little penguin is the smallest and the only penguin species whose activity on land is strictly nocturnal. Automated monitoring systems recorded individually marked penguins every time they arrived (after sunset) at or departed (before sunrise) from 2 colonies under different lighting conditions: natural night skylight and artificial lights (around 3 lux) used to enhance penguin viewing for ecotourism around sunset. Sunlight had a strong effect on attendance as penguins arrived on average around 81 min after sunset and departed around 92 min before sunrise. The effect of moonlight was also strong, varying according to moon phase. Fewer penguins came ashore during full moon nights. Moon phase effect was stronger on departure than arrival times. Thus, during nights between full moon and last quarter, arrival times (after sunset) were delayed, even though moonlight levels were low, while departure times (before sunrise) were earlier, coinciding with high moonlight levels. Cyclic patterns of moon effect were slightly out of phase but significantly between 2 colonies, which could be due to site-specific differences or presence/absence of artificial lights. Moonlight could be overridden by artificial light at our artificially lit colony, but the similar amplitude of attendance patterns between colonies suggests that artificial light did not mask the moonlight effect. Further research is indeed necessary to understand how seabirds respond to the increasing artificial night light levels. © 2016 The Author(s).

Homeostatic action of adenosine A3 and A1 receptor agonists on proliferation of hematopoietic precursor cells.

PubMed

Hofer, Michal; Pospísil, Milan; Znojil, Vladimír; Holá, Jirina; Streitová, Denisa; Vacek, Antonín

2008-07-01

Two adenosine receptor agonists, N6-(3-iodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (IB-MECA) and N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), which selectively activate adenosine A3 and A1 receptors, respectively, were tested for their ability to influence proliferation of granulocytic and erythroid cells in femoral bone marrow of mice using morphological criteria. Agonists were given intraperitoneally to mice in repeated isomolar doses of 200 nmol/kg. Three variants of experiments were performed to investigate the action of the agonists under normal resting state of mice and in phases of cell depletion and subsequent regeneration after treatment with the cytotoxic drug 5-fluorouracil. In the case of granulopoiesis, IB-MECA 1) increased by a moderate but significant level proliferation of cells under normal resting state; 2) strongly increased proliferation of cells in the cell depletion phase; but 3) did not influence cell proliferation in the regeneration phase. CPA did not influence cell proliferation under normal resting state and in the cell depletion phase, but strongly suppressed the overshooting cell proliferation in the regeneration phase. The stimulatory effect of IB-MECA on cell proliferation of erythroid cells was observed only when this agonist was administered during the cell depletion phase. CPA did not modulate erythroid proliferation in any of the functional states investigated, probably due to the lower demand for cell production as compared with granulopoiesis. The results indicate opposite effects of the two adenosine receptor agonists on proliferation of hematopoietic cells and suggest the plasticity and homeostatic role of the adenosine receptor expression.

Maximum Mass of Hybrid Stars in the Quark Bag Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alaverdyan, G. B.; Vartanyan, Yu. L.

2017-12-01

The effect of model parameters in the equation of state for quark matter on the magnitude of the maximum mass of hybrid stars is examined. Quark matter is described in terms of the extended MIT bag model including corrections for one-gluon exchange. For nucleon matter in the range of densities corresponding to the phase transition, a relativistic equation of state is used that is calculated with two-particle correlations taken into account based on using the Bonn meson-exchange potential. The Maxwell construction is used to calculate the characteristics of the first order phase transition and it is shown that for a fixed value of the strong interaction constant αs, the baryon concentrations of the coexisting phases grow monotonically as the bag constant B increases. It is shown that for a fixed value of the strong interaction constant αs, the maximum mass of a hybrid star increases as the bag constant B decreases. For a given value of the bag parameter B, the maximum mass rises as the strong interaction constant αs increases. It is shown that the configurations of hybrid stars with maximum masses equal to or exceeding the mass of the currently known most massive pulsar are possible for values of the strong interaction constant αs > 0.6 and sufficiently low values of the bag constant.

Low-noise phase of a two-dimensional active nematic system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shankar, Suraj; Ramaswamy, Sriram; Marchetti, M. Cristina

2018-01-01

We consider a collection of self-driven apolar particles on a substrate that organize into an active nematic phase at sufficiently high density or low noise. Using the dynamical renormalization group, we systematically study the two-dimensional fluctuating ordered phase in a coarse-grained hydrodynamic description involving both the nematic director and the conserved density field. In the presence of noise, we show that the system always displays only quasi-long-ranged orientational order beyond a crossover scale. A careful analysis of the nonlinearities permitted by symmetry reveals that activity is dangerously irrelevant over the linearized description, allowing giant number fluctuations to persist although now with strong finite-size effects and a nonuniversal scaling exponent. Nonlinear effects from the active currents lead to power-law correlations in the density field, thereby preventing macroscopic phase separation in the thermodynamic limit.

Low temperature detection of phase transitions and relaxation processes in strontium titanate by means of cathodoluminescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, B.; Townsend, P. D.; Fromknecht, R.

2004-11-01

Cathodoluminescence is an effective tool for investigating phase changes and relaxation processes in insulators and data are presented for strontium titanate. The results demonstrate considerable sensitivity to the origin of the samples as the detailed spectra and intensity changes with temperature are strongly dependent on the growth conditions, trace impurities and radiation induced defects. It is of particular note that in the defective surface layer the normal second-order phase transition cited near 105 K transforms into a sharply defined first-order transition because of the relaxation of the near surface layer in doped crystals. Detection of the other main relaxation stages is also straightforward via intensity and spectral changes. Secondary effects of phase changes incorporated within the surface layers are clearly evident, particularly for the 197 K sublimation of CO2 nanoparticle inclusions.

Non-Fermi-liquid and topological states with strong spin-orbit coupling.

PubMed

Moon, Eun-Gook; Xu, Cenke; Kim, Yong Baek; Balents, Leon

2013-11-15

We argue that a class of strongly spin-orbit-coupled materials, including some pyrochlore iridates and the inverted band gap semiconductor HgTe, may be described by a minimal model consisting of the Luttinger Hamiltonian supplemented by Coulomb interactions, a problem studied by Abrikosov and collaborators. It contains twofold degenerate conduction and valence bands touching quadratically at the zone center. Using modern renormalization group methods, we update and extend Abrikosov's classic work and show that interactions induce a quantum critical non-Fermi-liquid phase, stable provided time-reversal and cubic symmetries are maintained. We determine the universal power-law exponents describing various observables in this Luttinger-Abrikosov-Beneslavskii state, which include conductivity, specific heat, nonlinear susceptibility, and the magnetic Gruneisen number. Furthermore, we determine the phase diagram in the presence of cubic and/or time-reversal symmetry breaking perturbations, which includes a topological insulator and Weyl semimetal phases. Many of these phases possess an extraordinarily large anomalous Hall effect, with the Hall conductivity scaling sublinearly with magnetization σ(xy)∼M0.51.

Photoemission studies of fluorine functionalized porous graphitic carbon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ganegoda, Hasitha; Olive, Daniel; Cheng, Lidens

2012-03-01

Porous graphitic carbon (PGC) has unique properties desirable for liquid chromatography applications when used as a stationary phase. The polar retention effect on graphite (PREG) allows efficient separation of polar and non-polar solutes. Perfluorinated hydrocarbons however lack polarizabilty and display strong lipo- and hydrophobicity, hence common lipophilic and hydrophilic analytes have low partition coefficiency in fluorinated stationary phases. Attractive interaction between fluorinated stationary phase and fluorinated analytes results in strong retention compared to non-fluorinated analytes. In order to change the selectivities of PGC, it is necessary to develop a bonded PGC stationary phase. In this study, we have synthesized perfluorinated,more » PGC using hepatadecafluoro-1-iodooctane, under different temperature conditions. Surface functionalization of the raw material was studied using photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). Results indicate the existence of fluorine containing functional groups, -CF, -CF{sub 2} along with an intercalated electron donor species. Multiple oxygen functional groups were also observed, likely due to the presence of oxygen in the starting material. These oxygen species may be responsible for significant modifications to planer and tetrahedral carbon ratios.« less

Impact of Antarctic mixed-phase clouds on climate.

PubMed

Lawson, R Paul; Gettelman, Andrew

2014-12-23

Precious little is known about the composition of low-level clouds over the Antarctic Plateau and their effect on climate. In situ measurements at the South Pole using a unique tethered balloon system and ground-based lidar reveal a much higher than anticipated incidence of low-level, mixed-phase clouds (i.e., consisting of supercooled liquid water drops and ice crystals). The high incidence of mixed-phase clouds is currently poorly represented in global climate models (GCMs). As a result, the effects that mixed-phase clouds have on climate predictions are highly uncertain. We modify the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Earth System Model (CESM) GCM to align with the new observations and evaluate the radiative effects on a continental scale. The net cloud radiative effects (CREs) over Antarctica are increased by +7.4 Wm(-2), and although this is a significant change, a much larger effect occurs when the modified model physics are extended beyond the Antarctic continent. The simulations show significant net CRE over the Southern Ocean storm tracks, where recent measurements also indicate substantial regions of supercooled liquid. These sensitivity tests confirm that Southern Ocean CREs are strongly sensitive to mixed-phase clouds colder than -20 °C.

Impact of Antarctic mixed-phase clouds on climate

PubMed Central

Lawson, R. Paul; Gettelman, Andrew

2014-01-01

Precious little is known about the composition of low-level clouds over the Antarctic Plateau and their effect on climate. In situ measurements at the South Pole using a unique tethered balloon system and ground-based lidar reveal a much higher than anticipated incidence of low-level, mixed-phase clouds (i.e., consisting of supercooled liquid water drops and ice crystals). The high incidence of mixed-phase clouds is currently poorly represented in global climate models (GCMs). As a result, the effects that mixed-phase clouds have on climate predictions are highly uncertain. We modify the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Earth System Model (CESM) GCM to align with the new observations and evaluate the radiative effects on a continental scale. The net cloud radiative effects (CREs) over Antarctica are increased by +7.4 Wm−2, and although this is a significant change, a much larger effect occurs when the modified model physics are extended beyond the Antarctic continent. The simulations show significant net CRE over the Southern Ocean storm tracks, where recent measurements also indicate substantial regions of supercooled liquid. These sensitivity tests confirm that Southern Ocean CREs are strongly sensitive to mixed-phase clouds colder than −20 °C. PMID:25489069

Role of structurally and magnetically modified nanoclusters in colossal magnetoresistance

PubMed Central

Tao, Jing; Niebieskikwiat, Dario; Jie, Qing; Schofield, Marvin A.; Wu, Lijun; Li, Qiang; Zhu, Yimei

2011-01-01

It is generally accepted that electronic and magnetic phase separation is the origin of many of exotic properties of strongly correlated electron materials, such as colossal magnetoresistance (CMR), an unusually large variation in the electrical resistivity under applied magnetic field. In the simplest picture, the two competing phases are those associated with the material state on either side of the phase transition. Those phases would be paramagnetic insulator and ferromagnetic metal for the CMR effect in doped manganites. It has been speculated that a critical component of the CMR phenomenon is nanoclusters with quite different properties than either of the terminal phases during the transition. However, the role of these nanoclusters in the CMR effect remains elusive because the physical properties of the nanoclusters are hard to measure when embedded in bulk materials. Here we show the unexpected behavior of the nanoclusters in the CMR compound La1-xCaxMnO3 (0.4 ≤ x < 0.5) by directly correlating transmission electron microscopy observations with bulk measurements. The structurally modified nanoclusters at the CMR temperature were found to be ferromagnetic and exhibit much higher electrical conductivity than previously proposed. Only at temperatures much below the CMR transition, the nanoclusters are antiferromagnetic and insulating. These findings substantially alter the current understanding of these nanoclusters on the material’s functionality and would shed light on the microscopic study on the competing spin-lattice-charge orders in strongly correlated systems. PMID:22160678

Multispacecraft Observations and 3D Structure of Electromagnetic Electron Phase-Space Holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holmes, J.; Ahmadi, N.; Ergun, R.; Wilder, F. D.; Newman, D. L.; Le Contel, O.; Torbert, R. B.; Burch, J. L.

2017-12-01

Electron phase-space holes are nonlinear plasma structures characterized by a unipolar trapping potential with a radial electric field. They commonly form from beam instabilities and other turbulent processes in many plasma environments. Due to their strong fields and long lifetimes, it has been hypothesized that phase-space holes can carry energy over long distances, contribute to large-scale currents, and accelerate individual particles to high energies. With electromagnetic field measurements at high cadence and precision on more than two spacecraft, we can compare the real 3D structure of electron phase-space holes to the models suggested by Andersson et al. (2009) and Treumann and Baumjohann (2012). In this case study, we consider a train of correlated electron phase-space holes observed by all four MMS spacecraft on the dusk flank within the magnetosphere. A number of the holes appear to pass directly through the 7 km tetrahedron formation. We use this data to compute the holes' phase velocity vector relative to the background magnetic field, and quantify their internal currents and associated magnetic moments. For these weak magnetic signatures, we find that the contribution from internal E×B0 currents is comparable to the v×E effect. This study will be interesting to compare with MMS observations in the magnetotail, which are expected to capture large, semi-relativistic phase-space holes with a strong magnetic component.

Far-infrared response of spherical quantum dots: Dielectric effects and the generalized Kohn's theorem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Movilla, J. L.; Planelles, J.

2007-05-01

The influence of the dielectric environment on the far-infrared (FIR) absorption spectra of two-electron spherical quantum dots is theoretically studied. Effective mass and envelope function approaches with realistic steplike confining potentials are used. Special attention is paid to absorptions that are induced by the electron-electron interaction. High confining barriers make the FIR absorption coefficients almost independent of the quantum dot dielectric environment. Low barrier heights and strong dielectric mismatches preserve the strong fundamental (Kohn) mode but yield the cancellation of excited absorptions, thus monitoring dielectrically induced phase transitions from volume to surface states.

Nontrivial interplay of strong disorder and interactions in quantum spin-Hall insulators doped with dilute magnetic impurities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Jun-Hui; Cazalilla, Miguel A.

2018-06-01

We investigate nonperturbatively the effect of a magnetic dopant impurity on the edge transport of a quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator. We show that for a strongly coupled magnetic dopant located near the edge of a system, a pair of transmission antiresonances appear. When the chemical potential is on resonance, interaction effects broaden the antiresonance width with decreasing temperature, thus suppressing transport for both repulsive and moderately attractive interactions. Consequences for the recently observed QSH insulating phase of the 1 -T' of WTe2 are briefly discussed.

Using a Full Complex Site Transfer Function to Estimate Strong Ground Motion in Port-au-Prince (Haiti).

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

ST Fleur, S.; Courboulex, F.; Bertrand, E.; Mercier De Lepinay, B. F.; Hough, S. E.; Boisson, D.; Momplaisir, R.

2017-12-01

To assess the possible impact of a future earthquake in the urban area of Port-au-Prince (Haiti), we have implemented a simulation approach for complex ground motions produced by an earthquake. To this end, we have integrated local site effect in the prediction of strong ground motions in Port-au-Prince using the complex transfer functions method, which takes into account amplitude changes as well as phase changes. This technique is particularly suitable for basins where a conventional 1D digital approach proves inadequate, as is the case in Port-au-Prince. To do this, we use the results of the Standard Spectral Ratio (SSR) approach of St Fleur et al. (2016) to estimate the amplitude of the response of the site to a nearby rock site. Then, we determine the phase difference between sites, interpreted as changes in the phase of the signal related to local site conditions, using the signals of the 2010 earthquake aftershocks records. Finally, the accelerogram of the simulated earthquake is obtain using the technique of the inverse Fourier transform. The results of this study showed that the strongest soil motions are expected in neighborhoods of downtown Port-au-Prince and adjacent hills. In addition, this simulation method by complex transfer functions was validated by comparison with recorded actual data. Our simulated response spectra reproduce very well both the amplitude and the shape of the response spectra of recorded earthquakes. This new approach allowed to reproduce the lengthening of the signal that could be generated by surface waves at certain stations in the city of Port-au-Prince. However, two points of vigilance must be considered: (1) a good signal-to-noise ratio is necessary to obtain a robust estimate of the site-reference phase shift (ratio at least equal to 10); (2) unless the amplitude and phase changes are measured on strong motion records, this technique does not take non-linear effects into account.

The Ionospheric Scintillation Effects on the BeiDou Signal Receiver

PubMed Central

He, Zhijun; Zhao, Hongbo; Feng, Wenquan

2016-01-01

Irregularities in the Earth’s ionosphere can make the amplitude and phase of radio signals fluctuate rapidly, which is known as ionospheric scintillation. Severe ionospheric scintillation could affect the performance of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Currently, the Multiple Phase Screen (MPS) technique is widely used in solving problems caused by weak and strong scintillations. Considering that Southern China is mainly located in the area where moderate and intense scintillation occur frequently, this paper built a model based on the MPS technique and discussed the scintillation impacts on China’s BeiDou navigation system. By using the BeiDou B1I signal, this paper analyzed the scintillation effects on the receiver, which includes the acquisition and tracking process. For acquisition process, this paper focused on the correlation peak and acquisition probability. For the tracking process, this paper focused on the carrier tracking loop and the code tracking loop. Simulation results show that under high scintillation intensity, the phase fluctuation could be −1.13 ± 0.087 rad to 1.40 ± 0.087 rad and the relative amplitude fluctuation could be −10 dB to 8 dB. As the scintillation intensity increased, the average correlation peak would decrease more than 8%, which could thus degrade acquisition performance. On the other hand, when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is comparatively lower, the influence of strong scintillation on the phase locked loop (PLL) is much higher than that of weak scintillation. As the scintillation becomes more intense, PLL variance could consequently results in an error of more than 2.02 cm in carrier-phase based ranging. In addition, the delay locked loop (DLL) simulation results indicated that the pseudo-range error caused by strong scintillation could be more than 4 m and the consequent impact on positioning accuracy could be more than 6 m. PMID:27834867

Effect of parameter mismatch on the dynamics of strongly coupled self sustained oscillators.

PubMed

Chakrabarty, Nilaj; Jain, Aditya; Lal, Nijil; Das Gupta, Kantimay; Parmananda, Punit

2017-01-01

In this paper, we present an experimental setup and an associated mathematical model to study the synchronization of two self-sustained, strongly coupled, mechanical oscillators (metronomes). The effects of a small detuning in the internal parameters, namely, damping and frequency, have been studied. Our experimental system is a pair of spring wound mechanical metronomes; coupled by placing them on a common base, free to move along a horizontal direction. We designed a photodiode array based non-contact, non-magnetic position detection system driven by a microcontroller to record the instantaneous angular displacement of each oscillator and the small linear displacement of the base, coupling the two. In our system, the mass of the oscillating pendula forms a significant fraction of the total mass of the system, leading to strong coupling of the oscillators. We modified the internal mechanism of the spring-wound "clockwork" slightly, such that the natural frequency and the internal damping could be independently tuned. Stable synchronized and anti-synchronized states were observed as the difference in the parameters was varied in the experiments. The simulation results showed a rapid increase in the phase difference between the two oscillators beyond a certain threshold of parameter mismatch. Our simple model of the escapement mechanism did not reproduce a complete 180° out of phase state. However, the numerical simulations show that increased mismatch in parameters leads to a synchronized state with a large phase difference.

The Effect of Ocean Currents on Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stammer, Detlef; Leeuwenburgh, Olwijn

2000-01-01

We investigate regional and global-scale correlations between observed anomalies in sea surface temperature and height. A strong agreement between the two fields is found over a broad range of latitudes for different ocean basins. Both time-longitude plots and wavenumber-frequency spectra suggest an advective forcing of SST anomalies by a first-mode baroclinic wave field on spatial scales down to 400 km and time scales as short as 1 month. Even though the magnitude of the mean background temperature gradient is determining for the effectiveness of the forcing, there is no obvious seasonality that can be detected in the amplitudes of SST anomalies. Instead, individual wave signatures in the SST can in some cases be followed over periods of two years. The phase relationship between SST and SSH anomalies is dependent upon frequency and wavenumber and displays a clear decrease of the phase lag toward higher latitudes where the two fields come into phase at low frequencies. Estimates of the damping coefficient are larger than generally obtained for a purely atmospheric feedback. From a global frequency spectrum a damping time scale of 2-3 month was found. Regionally results are very variable and range from 1 month near strong currents to 10 month at low latitudes and in the sub-polar North Atlantic. Strong agreement is found between the first global EOF modes of 10 day averaged and spatially smoothed SST and SSH grids. The accompanying time series display low frequency oscillations in both fields.

Two-dimensional Anderson-Hubbard model in the DMFT + {Sigma} approximation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuchinskii, E. Z., E-mail: kuchinsk@iep.uran.ru; Kuleeva, N. A.; Nekrasov, I. A.

The density of states, the dynamic (optical) conductivity, and the phase diagram of the paramagnetic two-dimensional Anderson-Hubbard model with strong correlations and disorder are analyzed within the generalized dynamical mean field theory (DMFT + {Sigma} approximation). Strong correlations are accounted by the DMFT, while disorder is taken into account via the appropriate generalization of the self-consistent theory of localization. We consider the two-dimensional system with the rectangular 'bare' density of states (DOS). The DMFT effective single-impurity problem is solved by numerical renormalization group (NRG). The 'correlated metal,' Mott insulator, and correlated Anderson insulator phases are identified from the evolution ofmore » the density of states, optical conductivity, and localization length, demonstrating both Mott-Hubbard and Anderson metal-insulator transitions in two-dimensional systems of finite size, allowing us to construct the complete zero-temperature phase diagram of the paramagnetic Anderson-Hubbard model. The localization length in our approximation is practically independent of the strength of Hubbard correlations. But the divergence of the localization length in a finite-size two-dimensional system at small disorder signifies the existence of an effective Anderson transition.« less

Effect Anticipation Affects Perceptual, Cognitive, and Motor Phases of Response Preparation: Evidence from an Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study

PubMed Central

Harrison, Neil R.; Ziessler, Michael

2016-01-01

The anticipation of action effects is a basic process that can be observed even for key-pressing responses in a stimulus-response paradigm. In Ziessler et al.’s (2012) experiments participants first learned arbitrary effects of key-pressing responses. In the test phase an imperative stimulus determined the response, but participants withheld the response until a Go-stimulus appeared. Reaction times (RTs) were shorter if the Go-stimulus was compatible with the learned response effect. This is strong evidence that effect representations were activated during response planning. Here, we repeated the experiment using event-related potentials (ERPs), and we found that Go-stimulus locked ERPs depended on the compatibility relationship between the Go-stimulus and the response effect. In general, this supports the interpretation of the behavioral data. More specifically, differences in the ERPs between compatible and incompatible Go-stimuli were found for the early perceptual P1 component and the later frontal P2 component. P1 differences were found only in the second half of the experiment and for long stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) between imperative stimulus and Go-stimulus, i.e., when the effect was fully anticipated and the perceptual system was prepared for the effect-compatible Go-stimulus. P2 amplitudes, likely associated with evaluation and conflict detection, were larger when Go-stimulus and effect were incompatible; presumably, incompatibility increased the difficulty of effect anticipation. Onset of response-locked lateralized readiness potentials (R-LRPs) occurred earlier under incompatible conditions indicating extended motor processing. Together, these results strongly suggest that effect anticipation affects all (i.e., perceptual, cognitive, and motor) phases of response preparation. PMID:26858621

Effect Anticipation Affects Perceptual, Cognitive, and Motor Phases of Response Preparation: Evidence from an Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study.

PubMed

Harrison, Neil R; Ziessler, Michael

2016-01-01

The anticipation of action effects is a basic process that can be observed even for key-pressing responses in a stimulus-response paradigm. In Ziessler et al.'s (2012) experiments participants first learned arbitrary effects of key-pressing responses. In the test phase an imperative stimulus determined the response, but participants withheld the response until a Go-stimulus appeared. Reaction times (RTs) were shorter if the Go-stimulus was compatible with the learned response effect. This is strong evidence that effect representations were activated during response planning. Here, we repeated the experiment using event-related potentials (ERPs), and we found that Go-stimulus locked ERPs depended on the compatibility relationship between the Go-stimulus and the response effect. In general, this supports the interpretation of the behavioral data. More specifically, differences in the ERPs between compatible and incompatible Go-stimuli were found for the early perceptual P1 component and the later frontal P2 component. P1 differences were found only in the second half of the experiment and for long stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) between imperative stimulus and Go-stimulus, i.e., when the effect was fully anticipated and the perceptual system was prepared for the effect-compatible Go-stimulus. P2 amplitudes, likely associated with evaluation and conflict detection, were larger when Go-stimulus and effect were incompatible; presumably, incompatibility increased the difficulty of effect anticipation. Onset of response-locked lateralized readiness potentials (R-LRPs) occurred earlier under incompatible conditions indicating extended motor processing. Together, these results strongly suggest that effect anticipation affects all (i.e., perceptual, cognitive, and motor) phases of response preparation.

Pore-scale modeling of wettability effects on CO2-brine displacement during geological storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basirat, Farzad; Yang, Zhibing; Niemi, Auli

2017-11-01

Wetting properties of reservoir rocks and caprocks can vary significantly, and they strongly influence geological storage of carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifers, during which CO2 is supposed to displace the resident brine and to become permanently trapped. Fundamental understanding of the effect of wettability on CO2-brine displacement is thus important for improving storage efficiency and security. In this study, we investigate the influence of wetting properties on two-phase flow of CO2 and brine at the pore scale. A numerical model based on the phase field method is implemented to simulate the two-phase flow of CO2-brine in a realistic pore geometry. Our focus is to study the pore-scale fluid-fluid displacement mechanisms under different wetting conditions and to quantify the effect of wettability on macroscopic parameters such as residual brine saturation, capillary pressure, relative permeability, and specific interfacial area. Our simulation results confirm that both the trapped wetting phase saturation and the normalized interfacial area increase with decreasing contact angle. However, the wetting condition does not appear to influence the CO2 breakthrough time and saturation. We also show that the macroscopic capillary pressures based on the pressure difference between inlet and outlet can differ significantly from the phase averaging capillary pressures for all contact angles when the capillary number is high (log Ca > -5). This indicates that the inlet-outlet pressure difference may not be a good measure of the continuum-scale capillary pressure. In addition, the results show that the relative permeability of CO2 can be significantly lower in strongly water-wet conditions than in the intermediate-wet conditions.

Grain size effect on activation energy in spinel CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} ceramic

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Supriya, Sweety, E-mail: sweety@iitp.ac.in; Kumar, Sunil; Kar, Manoranjan

2016-05-23

Cobalt ferrite of different average crystallites (from nanocrystallite to micro crystallites) has been prepared by the Sol-Gel Method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the cubic spinel phase with no trace of impurity phases. The effect of annealing temperature on micro structure and electric transport properties as a function of frequency and temperature has been studied. It is observed that the electric impedance and conductivity are strongly dependent on grain size. The impedance spectroscopic study is employed to understand the electrical transport properties of cobalt ferrite.

A Gaussian wave packet phase-space representation of quantum canonical statistics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Coughtrie, David J.; Tew, David P.

2015-07-28

We present a mapping of quantum canonical statistical averages onto a phase-space average over thawed Gaussian wave-packet (GWP) parameters, which is exact for harmonic systems at all temperatures. The mapping invokes an effective potential surface, experienced by the wave packets, and a temperature-dependent phase-space integrand, to correctly transition from the GWP average at low temperature to classical statistics at high temperature. Numerical tests on weakly and strongly anharmonic model systems demonstrate that thermal averages of the system energy and geometric properties are accurate to within 1% of the exact quantum values at all temperatures.

Superfluid phase stiffness in electron doped superconducting Gd-123

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, P.; Ghosh, Ajay Kumar

2018-05-01

Current-voltage characteristics of Ce substituted Gd-123 superconductor exhibits nonlinearity below a certain temperature below the critical temperature. An exponent is extracted using the nonlinearity of current-voltage relation. Superfluid phase stiffness has been studied as a function of temperature following the Ambegaokar-Halperin-Nelson-Siggia (AHNS) theory. Phase stiffness of the superfluid below the superconducting transition is found to be sensitive to the change in the carrier concentration in superconducting system. There may be a crucial electron density which affects superfluid stiffness strongly. Electron doping is found to be effective even if the coupling of the superconducting planes is changed.

Sensitivity of a Wave Structure to Initial Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duval, Walter M. B.; Duval, Walter M. B. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

Microgravity experiments aimed at quantifying effects of gentler via controlled sinusoidal forcing transmitted on the interface between two miscible liquids have shown the evolution of a quasi -stationary four-mode wave structure oriented vertically. The sensitivity of the wave structure to phase angle variation is investigated computationally. We show that a slight variation of the phase angle is sufficient to cause a bifurcation to a two-mode structure. The dependence of phase angle on wave structure is attributed to sensitivity on initial conditions due to the strong nonlinearity of the coupled field equations for the parametric space of interest.

Topological insulating phases from two-dimensional nodal loop semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Linhu; Araújo, Miguel A. N.

2016-10-01

Starting from a minimal model for a two-dimensional nodal loop semimetal, we study the effect of chiral mass gap terms. The resulting Dirac loop anomalous Hall insulator's Chern number is the phase-winding number of the mass gap terms on the loop. We provide simple lattice models, analyze the topological phases, and generalize a previous index characterizing topological transitions. The responses of the Dirac loop anomalous Hall and quantum spin Hall insulators to a magnetic field's vector potential are also studied both in weak- and strong-field regimes, as well as the edge states in a ribbon geometry.

High-order above-threshold photoemission from nanotips controlled with two-color laser fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seiffert, Lennart; Paschen, Timo; Hommelhoff, Peter; Fennel, Thomas

2018-07-01

We investigate the process of phase-controlled high-order above-threshold photoemission from metallic nanotips under bichromatic laser fields. Experimental photoelectron spectra resulting from two-color excitation with a moderately intense near-infrared fundamental field (1560 nm) and its weak second harmonic show a strong sensitivity on the relative phase and clear indications for a plateau-like structure that is attributed to elastic backscattering. To explore the relevant control mechanisms, characteristic features, and particular signatures from the near-field inhomogeneity, we performed systematic quantum simulations employing a one-dimensional nanotip model. Besides rich phase-dependent structures in the simulated above-threshold ionization photoelectron spectra we find ponderomotive shifts as well as substantial modifications of the rescattering cutoff as function of the decay length of the near-field. To explore the quantum or classical nature of the observed features and to discriminate the two-color effects stemming from electron propagation and from the ionization rate we compare the quantum results to classical trajectory simulations. We show that signatures from direct electrons as well as the modulations in the plateau region mainly stem from control of the ionization probability, while the modulation in the cutoff region can only be explained by the impact of the two-color field on the electron trajectory. Despite the complexity of the phase-dependent features that render two-color strong-field photoemission from nanotips intriguing for sub-cycle strong-field control, our findings support that the recollision features in the cutoff region provide a robust and reliable method to calibrate the relative two-color phase.

Berry phase and anomalous transport of the composite fermions at the half-filled Landau level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, W.; Kang, W.; Baldwin, K. W.; West, K. W.; Pfeiffer, L. N.; Tsui, D. C.

2017-12-01

The fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) in two-dimensional electron systems is an exotic, superfluid-like matter with an emergent topological order. From the consideration of the Aharonov-Bohm interaction between electrons and magnetic field, the ground state of a half-filled lowest Landau level is mathematically transformed to a Fermi sea of composite objects of electrons bound to two flux quanta, termed composite fermions (CFs). A strong support for the CF theories comes from experimental confirmation of the predicted Fermi surface at ν = 1/2 (where ν is the Landau level filling factor) from the detection of the Fermi wavevector in semi-classical geometrical resonance experiments. Recent developments in the theory of CFs have led to the prediction of a π Berry phase for the CF circling around the Fermi surface at half-filling. In this paper we provide experimental evidence for the detection of the Berry phase of CFs in the fractional quantum Hall effect. Our measurements of the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations of CFs as a function carrier density at a fixed magnetic field provide strong support for the existence of a π Berry phase at ν = 1/2. We also discover that the conductivity of composite fermions at ν = 1/2 displays an anomalous linear density dependence, whose origin remains mysterious yet tantalizing.

Field propagation-induced directionality of carrier-envelope phase-controlled photoemission from nanospheres

DOE PAGES

SuBmann, F.; Seiffert, L.; Zherebtsov, S.; ...

2015-08-12

Near-fields of non-resonantly laser-excited nanostructures enable strong localization of ultrashort light fields and have opened novel routes to fundamentally modify and control electronic strong-field processes. Harnessing spatiotemporally tunable near-fields for the steering of sub-cycle electron dynamics may enable ultrafast optoelectronic devices and unprecedented control in the generation of attosecond electron and photon pulses. Here we utilize unsupported sub-wavelength dielectric nanospheres to generate near-fields with adjustable structure and study the resulting strong-field dynamics via photoelectron imaging. We demonstrate field propagation-induced tunability of the emission direction of fast recollision electrons up to a regime, where nonlinear charge interaction effects become dominant inmore » the acceleration process. In conclusion, our analysis supports that the timing of the recollision process remains controllable with attosecond resolution by the carrier-envelope phase, indicating the possibility to expand near-field-mediated control far into the realm of high-field phenomena.« less

Field propagation-induced directionality of carrier-envelope phase-controlled photoemission from nanospheres

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

SuBmann, F.; Seiffert, L.; Zherebtsov, S.

Near-fields of non-resonantly laser-excited nanostructures enable strong localization of ultrashort light fields and have opened novel routes to fundamentally modify and control electronic strong-field processes. Harnessing spatiotemporally tunable near-fields for the steering of sub-cycle electron dynamics may enable ultrafast optoelectronic devices and unprecedented control in the generation of attosecond electron and photon pulses. Here we utilize unsupported sub-wavelength dielectric nanospheres to generate near-fields with adjustable structure and study the resulting strong-field dynamics via photoelectron imaging. We demonstrate field propagation-induced tunability of the emission direction of fast recollision electrons up to a regime, where nonlinear charge interaction effects become dominant inmore » the acceleration process. In conclusion, our analysis supports that the timing of the recollision process remains controllable with attosecond resolution by the carrier-envelope phase, indicating the possibility to expand near-field-mediated control far into the realm of high-field phenomena.« less

TRILEX and G W +EDMFT approach to d -wave superconductivity in the Hubbard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vučičević, J.; Ayral, T.; Parcollet, O.

2017-09-01

We generalize the recently introduced TRILEX approach (TRiply irreducible local EXpansion) to superconducting phases. The method treats simultaneously Mott and spin-fluctuation physics using an Eliashberg theory supplemented by local vertex corrections determined by a self-consistent quantum impurity model. We show that, in the two-dimensional Hubbard model, at strong coupling, TRILEX yields a d -wave superconducting dome as a function of doping. Contrary to the standard cluster dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) approaches, TRILEX can capture d -wave pairing using only a single-site effective impurity model. We also systematically explore the dependence of the superconducting temperature on the bare dispersion at weak coupling, which shows a clear link between strong antiferromagnetic (AF) correlations and the onset of superconductivity. We identify a combination of hopping amplitudes particularly favorable to superconductivity at intermediate doping. Finally, we study within G W +EDMFT the low-temperature d -wave superconducting phase at strong coupling in a region of parameter space with reduced AF fluctuations.

Poppers, Kaposi's sarcoma, and HIV infection: empirical example of a strong confounding effect?

PubMed

Morabia, A

1995-01-01

Are there empirical examples of strong confounding effects? Textbooks usually show examples of weak confounding or use hypothetical examples of strong confounding to illustrate the paradoxical consequences of not separating out the effect of the studied exposure from that of second factor acting as a confounder. HIV infection is a candidate strong confounder of the spuriously high association reported between consumption of poppers, a sexual stimulant, and risk of Kaposi's sarcoma in the early phase of the AIDS epidemic. To examine this hypothesis, assumptions must be made on the prevalence of HIV infection among cases of Kaposi's sarcoma and on the prevalence of heavy popper consumption according to HIV infection in cases and controls. Results show that HIV infection may have confounded the poppers-Kaposi's sarcoma association. However, it cannot be ruled out that HIV did not qualify as a confounder because it was either an intermediate variable or an effect modifier of the association between popper inhalation and Kaposi's sarcoma. This example provides a basis to discuss the mechanism by which confounding occurs as well as the practical importance of confounding in epidemiologic research.

Strong anisotropy effect in an iron-based superconductor CaFe0.882Co0.118AsF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Yonghui; Ji, Qiucheng; Hu, Kangkang; Gao, Bo; Li, Wei; Mu, Gang; Xie, Xiaoming

2017-07-01

The anisotropy of iron-based superconductors is much smaller than that of the cuprates and that predicted by theoretical calculations. A credible understanding for this experimental fact is still lacking up to now. Here we experimentally study the magnetic-field-angle dependence of electronic resistivity in the superconducting phase of an iron-based superconductor CaFe{}0.882Co{}0.118AsF, and find the strongest anisotropy effect of the upper critical field among the iron-based superconductors based on the framework of Ginzburg-Landau theory. The evidence of the energy band structure and charge density distribution from electronic structure calculations demonstrates that the observed strong anisotropic effect mainly comes from the strong ionic bonding in between the ions of Ca2+ and F-, which weakens the interlayer coupling between the layers of FeAs and CaF. This finding provides a significant insight into the nature of the experimentally-observed strong anisotropic effect of electronic resistivity, and also paves the way for designing exotic two-dimensional artificial unconventional superconductors in the future.

Seasonal and diurnal variation in concentrations of gaseous and particulate phase endosulfan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qingbo; Wang, Xianyu; Song, Jing; Sui, Hongqi; Huang, Lei; Li, Lu

2012-12-01

Successive 52-week air monitoring of α-endosulfan (α-E), β-endosulfan (β-E) and endosulfan sulfate (E.S) in the gaseous and particulate phases was conducted in Dalian city, northeast China by using an active high-volume sampler. Significant seasonal and diurnal variations in endosulfan concentrations were observed. It was found that the concentration of gaseous-phase α-E peaked in the summer and the concentration of particulate phase α-E peaked in the winter. For E.S, both gaseous and particulate phase concentrations peaked in the summer. α-E was distributed predominantly in the gas phase in the summer but was distributed mainly in the particulate phase in the winter. β-E was distributed mainly in the gas phase in the summer and in the particulate phase at other times of the year. E.S was distributed mainly in the particulate phase throughout the year. Elevated temperatures facilitated the volatilization of α-E from particle surfaces but exerted little effect on β-E and had almost no effect on E.S. Trajectory-based analysis indicates that the seasonal variation in atmospheric concentrations of endosulfan in Dalian city was influenced strongly by the land and sea air masses. In addition, differences in endosulfan concentrations in the particulate phase between day and night were likely due to the circulation of sea/land breezes. The 'cold-condensation' effect occurring during the night may result in the attachment of endosulfan to the particulate phase.

Large piezoelectricity in electric-field modified single crystals of SrTiO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khanbabaee, B.; Mehner, E.; Richter, C.; Hanzig, J.; Zschornak, M.; Pietsch, U.; Stöcker, H.; Leisegang, T.; Meyer, D. C.; Gorfman, S.

2016-11-01

Defect engineering is an effective and powerful tool to control the existing material properties and produce completely new ones, which are symmetry-forbidden in a defect-free crystal. For example, the application of a static electric field to a single crystal of SrTiO3 forms a strained near-surface layer through the migration of oxygen vacancies out of the area beneath the positively charged electrode. While it was previously shown that this near-surface phase holds pyroelectric properties, which are symmetry-forbidden in centrosymmetric bulk SrTiO3, this paper reports that the same phase is strongly piezoelectric. We demonstrate the piezoelectricity of this phase through stroboscopic time-resolved X-ray diffraction under alternating electric field and show that the effective piezoelectric coefficient d33 ranges between 60 and 100 pC/N. The possible atomistic origins of the piezoelectric activity are discussed as a coupling between the electrostrictive effect and spontaneous polarization of this near-surface phase.

Geometric phase effects in ultracold hydrogen exchange reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naduvalath, Balakrishnan; Croft, James F. E.; Hazra, Jisha; Kendrick, Brian K.

2017-04-01

Electronically non-adiabatic effects play an important role in many chemical reactions. The geometric phase, also known as the Berry's phase, arises from the adiabatic transport of the electronic wave function around a conical intersection between two electronic potential energy surfaces. It is shown that in ultracold collisions of H and D atoms with vibrationally excited HD, inclusion of the geometric phase leads to constructive and destructive interferences between non-reactive and exchange components of the wave function. This results in strong enhancement or suppression of reactivity depending on the final rovibrational levels of the scattered HD molecules. The effect is illustrated for non-rotating and rotationally excited HD molecules in the v = 4 vibrational level for which the H+HD and D+HD reactions occur through a barrierless path. This work was supported in part by NSF Grant PHY-1505557 (N.B.), ARO MURI Grant No. W911NF-12-1-0476 (N.B.), and DOE LDRD Grant No. 20170221ER (B.K.).

Unusual magnetoelectric memory and polarization reversal in the kagome staircase compound N i3V2O8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y. J.; Wang, J. F.; He, Z. Z.; Lu, C. L.; Xia, Z. C.; Ouyang, Z. W.; Liu, C. B.; Chen, R.; Matsuo, A.; Kohama, Y.; Kindo, K.; Tokunaga, M.

2018-05-01

We study the electric polarization of the kagome staircase N i3V2O8 in magnetic fields up to 30 T and report a magnetoelectric memory effect controlled by bias electric fields. The explored ferroelectric phase in 19 -24 T is electrically controlled, whereas the ferroelectric phase in 2 -11 T exhibits unusual memory effects. We determine a characteristic critical magnetic field H3=11 T , below which strong memory exists and the polarization is frozen even in opposite bias fields. But when magnetic fields exceed H3, the frozen polarization is released and polarization reversal appears by tuning bias electric fields. We ascribe these phenomena to the pinning-depinning mechanism: nucleation and the accompanying pinning of chiral domain walls cooperatively induce the frozen behavior; the polarization reversal results from the depinning through the ferroelectrtic-to-paraelectric phase transition in high magnetic fields. Our experimental results reveal that the first-order phase transition plays an important role in these unusual memory effects.

The role of the hydrophobic phase in the unique rheological properties of saponin adsorption layers.

PubMed

Golemanov, Konstantin; Tcholakova, Slavka; Denkov, Nikolai; Pelan, Eddie; Stoyanov, Simeon D

2014-09-28

Saponins are a diverse class of natural, plant derived surfactants, with peculiar molecular structure consisting of a hydrophobic scaffold and one or several hydrophilic oligosaccharide chains. Saponins have strong surface activity and are used as natural emulsifiers and foaming agents in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, ore processing, and other industries. Many saponins form adsorption layers at the air-water interface with extremely high surface elasticity and viscosity. The molecular origin of the observed unique interfacial visco-elasticity of saponin adsorption layers is of great interest from both scientific and application viewpoints. In the current study we demonstrate that the hydrophobic phase in contact with water has a very strong effect on the interfacial properties of saponins and that the interfacial elasticity and viscosity of the saponin adsorption layers decrease in the order: air > hexadecane ≫ tricaprylin. The molecular mechanisms behind these trends are analyzed and discussed in the context of the general structure of the surfactant adsorption layers at various nonpolar phase-water interfaces.

Strong Dependence of U.S. Summertime Air Quality on the Decadal Variability of Atlantic Sea Surface Temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Lu; Mickley, Loretta J.; Leibensperger, Eric M.; Li, Mingwei

2017-12-01

We find that summertime air quality in the eastern U.S. displays strong dependence on North Atlantic sea surface temperatures, resulting from large-scale ocean-atmosphere interactions. Using observations, reanalysis data sets, and climate model simulations, we further identify a multidecadal variability in surface air quality driven by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). In one-half cycle ( 35 years) of the AMO from cold to warm phase, summertime maximum daily 8 h ozone concentrations increase by 1-4 ppbv and PM2.5 concentrations increase by 0.3-1.0 μg m-3 over much of the east. These air quality changes are related to warmer, drier, and more stagnant weather in the AMO warm phase, together with anomalous circulation patterns at the surface and aloft. If the AMO shifts to the cold phase in future years, it could partly offset the climate penalty on U.S. air quality brought by global warming, an effect which should be considered in long-term air quality planning.

Antinociceptive effects of the extracts of Xylopia parviflora bark and its alkaloidal components in experimental animals.

PubMed

Nishiyama, Yumi; Moriyasu, Masataka; Ichimaru, Momoyo; Iwasa, Kinuko; Kato, Atsushi; Mathenge, Simon G; Chalo Mutiso, Patrick B; Juma, Francis D

2010-01-01

In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the antinociceptive activity of Xylopia parviflora bark using the acetic acid-induced writhing test, hot plate test, and formalin test in mice. The MeOH extract (100 and 200 mg/kg, administered intraperitoneally (i.p.)) had an antinociceptive effect demonstrated by its inhibitory effects on writhing number induced by acetic acid. Three alkaloidal fractions exhibited significant antinociceptive effects in three animal models; the chloroform-soluble fraction, including secondary and tertiary alkaloids, exhibited the strongest effect. This result supported its use in folk medicine as an analgesic agent. We tested the main alkaloids of these fractions for their antinociceptive effects to clarify the active components. (+)-Corytuberine (6.3 and 12.5 mg/kg, i.p.) showed very strong activity, had a significant antinociceptive effect in the acetic acid-induced writhing test (with 49.4 and 98.9% reduction of writhes), in the hot plate test, and in the formalin test (with 55.4 and 90.6% inhibition during the first phase, and 73.9 and 99.9% during the second phase, respectively). (+)-Glaucine (12.5 and 25 mg/kg, i.p.) showed strong activity in three animal models, too. The activity of these compounds was also observed following oral administration in the acetic acid-induced writhing test.

Stability of strong species interactions resist the synergistic effects of local and global pollution in kelp forests.

PubMed

Falkenberg, Laura J; Russell, Bayden D; Connell, Sean D

2012-01-01

Foundation species, such as kelp, exert disproportionately strong community effects and persist, in part, by dominating taxa that inhibit their regeneration. Human activities which benefit their competitors, however, may reduce stability of communities, increasing the probability of phase-shifts. We tested whether a foundation species (kelp) would continue to inhibit a key competitor (turf-forming algae) under moderately increased local (nutrient) and near-future forecasted global pollution (CO(2)). Our results reveal that in the absence of kelp, local and global pollutants combined to cause the greatest cover and mass of turfs, a synergistic response whereby turfs increased more than would be predicted by adding the independent effects of treatments (kelp absence, elevated nutrients, forecasted CO(2)). The positive effects of nutrient and CO(2) enrichment on turfs were, however, inhibited by the presence of kelp, indicating the competitive effect of kelp was stronger than synergistic effects of moderate enrichment of local and global pollutants. Quantification of physicochemical parameters within experimental mesocosms suggests turf inhibition was likely due to an effect of kelp on physical (i.e. shading) rather than chemical conditions. Such results indicate that while forecasted climates may increase the probability of phase-shifts, maintenance of intact populations of foundation species could enable the continued strength of interactions and persistence of communities.

Phase-transition oscillations induced by a strongly focused laser beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Devailly, Clémence; Crauste-Thibierge, Caroline; Petrosyan, Artyom; Ciliberto, Sergio

2015-11-01

We report the observation of a surprising phenomenon consisting in a oscillating phase transition which appears in a binary mixture when this is enlightened by a strongly focused infrared laser beam. The mixture is poly-methyl-meth-acrylate (PMMA)-3-octanone, which has an upper critical solution temperature at Tc=306.6 K and volume fraction ϕc=12.8 % [Crauste et al., arXiv:1310.6720, 2013]. We describe the dynamical properties of the oscillations, which are produced by a competition between various effects: the local accumulation of PMMA produced by the laser beam, thermophoresis, and nonlinear diffusion. We show that the main properties of this kind of oscillations can be reproduced in the Landau theory for a binary mixture in which a local driving mechanism, simulating the laser beam, is introduced.

Mesoscopic fluctuations of the population of a qubit in a strong alternating field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Denisenko, M. V., E-mail: mar.denisenko@gmail.com; Satanin, A. M.

Fluctuations of the population of a Josephson qubit in an alternating field, which is a superposition of electromagnetic pulses with large amplitudes, are studied. It is shown that the relative phase of pulses is responsible for the rate of Landau–Zener transitions and, correspondingly, for the frequency of transitions between adiabatic states. The durations of pulses incident on the qubit are controlled with an accuracy of the field period, which results in strong mesoscopic fluctuations of the population of the qubit. Similar to the magnetic field in mesoscopic physics, the relative phase of pulses can destroy the interference pattern of themore » population of the qubit. The influence of the duration of the pulse and noise on the revealed fluctuation effects is studied.« less

Influence of strong and weak hydrogen bonds in ices on stimulated Raman scattering.

PubMed

Li, Tianyu; Li, Fangfang; Li, Zhanlong; Sun, Chenglin; Tong, Junhong; Fang, Wenhui; Men, Zhiwei

2016-03-15

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in liquid water and ice Ih using Nd:YAG laser is investigated. The spectrum of backward SRS (BSRS) in water is acquired. The spectrum shows an unexpected SRS peak at around 3453  cm(-1) besides the normal peak, which is similar to the spontaneous Raman spectrum of ice VII. The ice VII phase will be formed by laser-induced shock compression in liquid water. Simultaneously, unlike the spontaneous Raman spectrum, the pre-resonance SRS of ice Ih at around 3110 and 3210  cm(-1) is observed. The Raman peaks appeared in liquid water and ice Ih are attributed to the effect of strong and weak hydrogen bonds (H bonds), which should be ubiquitous in other ice phases.

Evidence of an Improper Displacive Phase Transition in Cd2 Re2 O7 via Time-Resolved Coherent Phonon Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harter, J. W.; Kennes, D. M.; Chu, H.; de la Torre, A.; Zhao, Z. Y.; Yan, J.-Q.; Mandrus, D. G.; Millis, A. J.; Hsieh, D.

2018-01-01

We have used a combination of ultrafast coherent phonon spectroscopy, ultrafast thermometry, and time-dependent Landau theory to study the inversion symmetry breaking phase transition at Tc=200 K in the strongly spin-orbit coupled correlated metal Cd2 Re2 O7 . We establish that the structural distortion at Tc is a secondary effect through the absence of any softening of its associated phonon mode, which supports a purely electronically driven mechanism. However, the phonon lifetime exhibits an anomalously strong temperature dependence that decreases linearly to zero near Tc. We show that this behavior naturally explains the spurious appearance of phonon softening in previous Raman spectroscopy experiments and should be a prevalent feature of correlated electron systems with linearly coupled order parameters.

Quantum Shielding Effects on the Eikonal Collision Cross Section in Strongly Coupled Two-temperature Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Myoung-Jae; Jung, Young-Dae

2017-05-01

The influence of nonisothermal and quantum shielding on the electron-ion collision process is investigated in strongly coupled two-temperature plasmas. The eikonal method is employed to obtain the eikonal scattering phase shift and eikonal cross section as functions of the impact parameter, collision energy, electron temperature, ion temperature, Debye length, and de Broglie wavelength. The results show that the quantum effect suppresses the eikonal scattering phase shift for the electron-ion collision in two-temperature dense plasmas. It is also found that the differential eikonal cross section decreases for small impact parameters. However, it increases for large impact parameters with increasing de Broglie wavelength. It is also found that the maximum position of the differential eikonal cross section is receded from the collision center with an increase in the nonisothermal character of the plasma. In addition, it is found that the total eikonal cross sections in isothermal plasmas are always greater than those in two-temperature plasmas. The variations of the eikonal cross section due to the two-temperature and quantum shielding effects are also discussed.

Simultaneous Cotton-Mouton and Faraday rotation angle measurements on JET

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boboc, A.; Zabeo, L.; Murari, A.

The change in the ellipticity of a laser beam that passes through plasma due to the Cotton-Mouton effect can provide additional information on the plasma density. This approach, complementary to the more traditional interferometric methods, has been implemented recently using the JET interferometer-polarimeter with a new setup. Routine Cotton-Mouton phase shift measurements are made on the vertical central chords simultaneously with the Faraday rotation angle data. These new data are used to provide robust line-integrated density measurements in difficult plasma scenarios, with strong Edge Localized Modes (ELMs) or pellets. These always affect interferometry, causing fringe jumps and preventing good controlmore » of the plasma density. A comparison of line-integrated density from polarimetry and interferometry measurements shows an agreement within 10%. Moreover, in JET the measurements can be performed close to a reactor relevant range of parameters, in particular, at high densities and temperatures. This provides a unique opportunity to assess the quality of the Faraday rotation and Cotton-Mouton phase shift measurements where both effects are strong and mutual nonlinear interaction between the two effects takes place.« less

Interaction of magnetic resonators studied by the magnetic field enhancement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Yumin

2013-12-01

It is the first time that the magnetic field enhancement (MFE) is used to study the interaction of magnetic resonators (MRs), which is more sensitive than previous parameters-shift and damping of resonance frequency. To avoid the coherence of lattice and the effect of Bloch wave, the interaction is simulated between two MRs with same primary phase when the distance is changed in the range of several resonance wavelengths, which is also compared with periodic structure. The calculated MFE oscillating and decaying with distance with the period equal to resonance wavelength directly shows the retardation effect. Simulation also shows that the interaction at normal incidence is sensitive to the phase correlation which is related with retardation effect and is ultra-long-distance interaction when the two MRs are strongly localized. When the distance is very short, the amplitude of magnetic resonance is oppressed by the strong interaction and thus the MFE can be much lower than that of single MR. This study provides the design rules of metamaterials for engineering resonant properties of MRs.

Accurate diblock copolymer phase boundaries at strong segregations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsen, M. W.; Whitmore, M. D.

1996-12-01

We examine the lamellar/cylinder and cylinder/sphere phase boundaries for strongly segregated diblock copolymer melts using self-consistent-field theory (SCFT) and the standard Gaussian chain model. Calculations are performed with and without the conventional unit-cell approximation (UCA). We find that for strongly segregated melts, the UCA simply produces a small constant shift in each of the phase boundaries. Furthermore, the boundaries are found to be linear at strong segregations when plotted versus (χN)-1, which allows for accurate extrapolations to χN=∞. Our calculations using the UCA allow direct comparisons to strong-segregation theory (SST), which is accepted as the χN=∞ limit of SCFT. A significant discrepancy between the SST and SCFT results indicate otherwise, suggesting that the present formulation of SST is incomplete.

Buoyancy-Marangoni convection in confined volatile binary fluids subject to a horizontal temperature gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Tongran; Grigoriev, Roman

2017-11-01

We consider convection in a layer of binary fluid with free surface subject to a horizontal temperature gradient in the presence of noncondensable gases, which is driven by a combination of three different forces: buoyancy, thermocapillarity, and solutocapillarity. Unlike buoyancy, both thermo- and solutocapillary stresses depend sensitively on the local phase equilibrium at the liquid-gas interface. In particular, thermocapillarity associated with the interfacial temperature gradient is controlled by the vapors' concentration along the interface, and solutocapillarity associated with the interfacial concentration gradient is controlled by differential phase change of two components of the liquid, which is strongly influenced by the presence of noncondensables. Therefore, flows in both phases, phase change, and effect of noncondensables all have to be considered. Numerical simulations based on a comprehensive model taking these effects into account show qualitative agreement with recent experiments which identified a number of flow regimes at various compositions of both phases. In particular,we find that the composition of both the gas and liquid phase have a significant effect on the observed convection patterns; this dependence can be understood using a simple analytical model. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1511470.

Magnetic phase diagram and electronic structure of UPt 2 Si 2 at high magnetic fields: A possible field-induced Lifshitz transition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Grachtrup, D. Schulze; Steinki, N.; Süllow, S.

2017-04-14

We have measured Hall effect, magnetotransport and magnetostriction on the field induced phases of single crystalline UPt2Si2 in magnetic fields up to 60T at temperatures down to 50mK, this way firmly establishing the phase diagram for magnetic fields Bka and c axes. Moreover, for Bkc axis we observe strong changes in the Hall effect at the phase boundaries. From a comparison to band structure calculations utilizing the concept of a dual nature of the uranium 5f electrons, we propose that these represent field induced topological changes of the Fermi surface due to at least one Lifshitz transition. Furthermore, we findmore » a unique history dependence of the magnetotransport and magnetostriction data, indicating that the proposed Lifshitz type transition is of a discontinuous nature, as predicted for interacting electron systems.« less

REVIEWS OF TOPICAL PROBLEMS: Order-disorder transformations and phase equilibria in strongly nonstoichiometric compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gusev, Aleksandr I.

2000-01-01

Data on order-disorder phase transformations in strongly nonstoichiometric carbides and nitrides MXy (X=C, N) of Group IV and V transition metals at temperatures below 1300-1400 K are reviewed. The order-parameter functional method as applied to atomic and vacancy ordering in strongly nonstoichiometric MXy compounds and to phase equilibrium calculations for M-X systems is discussed. Phase diagram calculations for the Ti-C, Zr-C, Hf-C, V-C, Nb-C, Ta-C, Ti-N, and Ti-B-C systems (with the inclusion of the ordering of nonstoichiometric carbides and nitrides) and those for pseudobinary carbide M(1)C-M(2)C systems are presented. Heat capacity, electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility changes at reversible order-disorder phase transformations in nonstoichiometric carbides are considered.

Otolithic influences on extraocular and intraocular muscles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gernandt, B. E.

1973-01-01

Selective stimulation of utricular gravireceptors leads to gross activation of the bulbar reticular formation where a strong interaction with evoked spino-bulbo-spinal reflex activity occurs. The utricular neurons encountered by microelectrodes in the lateral vestibular nuclei show four types of elicited activity; two of these display an increased firing rate, and two exhibit pronounced inhibitory effects. Application of a stimulus of long duration and constant intensity to the utricle has shown that rapid adaptation of the peripheral receptors is a prominent feature. The effects of selective utricular stimulation upon eye movements, as recorded by the corneoretinal potential method, have been studied in experiments on cats and monkeys and it can be firmly stated that prolonged stimulation of the utricle can evoke strong primary nystagmus, followed by a secondary nystagmus at the cessation of stimulation. The action of utricular stimulation on ocular reflexes has been examined further, with particular attention to evoked pupillary reactions in both cats and monkeys: constriction during the fast phase of the brisk conjugate eye movement, and dilatation during the flow phase.

Vortex interaction with a leading-edge of finite thickness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sohn, D.; Rockwell, Donald

1987-01-01

Vortex interaction with a thick elliptical leading-edge at zero relative offset produces a pronounced secondary vortes of opposite sense that travels with the same phase speed as the primaty vortex along the lower surface of the edge. The edge thickness (scale) relative to the incident vorticity field has a strong effect on the distortion of the incident primary vortex during the impingement processs. When the thickness is sufficiently small, there is a definite severing of the incident vortex and the portion of the incident vortex that travels along the upper part of the elliptical surface has a considerably larger phase speed than that along the lower surface; this suggests that the integrated loading along the upper surface is more strongly correlated. When the thickness becomes too large, then most, if not all, of the incident vortex passes below the leading-edge. On the other hand, the relative tranverse offset of the edge with respect to the center of the incident vortex has a significant effect on the secondary vortex formation.

Understanding Polymorphism Formation in Electrospun Fibers of Immiscible Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Blends

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

G Zhong; L Zhang; R Su

2011-12-31

Effects of electric poling, mechanical stretching, and dipolar interaction on the formation of ferroelectric ({beta} and/or {gamma}) phases in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) have been studied in electrospun fibers of PVDF/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and PVDF/polysulfone (PSF) blends with PVDF as the minor component, using wide-angle X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared techniques. Experimental results of as-electrospun neat PVDF fibers (beaded vs. bead-free) showed that mechanical stretching during electrospinning, rather than electric poling, was effective to induce ferroelectric phases. For as-electrospun PVDF blend fibers with the non-polar PSF matrix, mechanical stretching during electrospinning again was capable of inducing some ferroelectric phases in additionmore » to the major paraelectric ({alpha}) phase. However, after removing the mechanical stretching in a confined melt-recrystallization process, only the paraelectric phase was obtained. For as-electrospun PVDF blend fibers with the polar (or ferroelectric) PAN matrix, strong intermolecular interactions between polar PAN and PVDF played an important role in the ferroelectric phase formation in addition to the mechanical stretching effect during electrospinning. Even after the removal of mechanical stretching through the confined melt-recrystallization process, a significant amount of ferroelectric phases persisted. Comparing the ferroelectric phase formation between PVDF/PSF and PVDF/PAN blend fibers, we concluded that the local electric field-dipole interactions were the determining factor for the nucleation and growth of polar PVDF phases.« less

Discrimination of radiation quality through second harmonic out-of-phase cw-ESR detection.

PubMed

Marrale, Maurizio; Longo, Anna; Brai, Maria; Barbon, Antonio; Brustolon, Marina

2014-02-01

The ability to discriminate the quality of ionizing radiation is important because the biological effects produced in tissue strongly depends on both absorbed dose and linear energy transfer (LET) of ionizing particles. Here we present an experimental electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis aimed at discriminating the effective LETs of various radiation beams (e.g., 19.3 MeV protons, (60)Co photons and thermal neutrons). The measurement of the intensities of the continuous wave spectrometer signal channel first harmonic in-phase and the second harmonic out-of-phase components are used to distinguish the radiation quality. A computational analysis, was carried out to evaluate the dependence of the first harmonic in-phase and second harmonic out-of-phase components on microwave power, modulation amplitude and relaxation times, and highlights that these components could be used to point out differences in the relaxation times. On the basis of this numerical analysis the experimental results are discussed. The methodology described in this study has the potential to provide information on radiation quality.

Communications Contingency Plan: Planning for Crises and Controversy. Phase 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Treise, Deborah; Bernstein, Arla G.; Yates, Brad

1998-01-01

Interviews were conducted with a variety of Marshall Space Flight Center personnel and local media representatives in Huntsville, Alabama, in order to identify the current perceptions of these individuals regarding communication effectiveness between MSFC and the media. The purposes of the Phase One report are to (1) assess the need for a contingency plan for communicating in situations of crisis and controversy; (2) identify goals and objectives for the planning process; and (3) provide recommendations for future planning activities to achieve the goals and objectives outlined in Phase One. It is strongly recommended that MSFC personnel who are involved in communications with the media participate in a facilitated, strategic communications planning process in order to develop Phase Two of the Communications Contingency Plan (CCP). Phase Two will address (1) the categorizing, ranking and prioritizing of crises and controversies; (2) the development of action steps and implementation strategies for the CCP; and (3) the development of a monitoring and evaluation process for ongoing plan effectiveness.

An "unreasonable effectiveness" of Hilbert transform for the transition phase behavior in an Aharonov-Bohm two-path interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Englman, R.

2016-08-01

The recent phase shift data of Takada et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 113 (2014) 126601) for a two level system are reconstructed from their current intensity curves by the method of Hilbert transform, for which the underlying Physics is the principle of causality. An introductory algebraic model illustrates pedagogically the working of the method and leads to newly derived relationships involving phenomenological parameters, in particular for the sign of the phase slope between the resonance peaks. While the parametrization of the experimental current intensity data in terms of a few model parameters shows only a qualitative agreement for the phase shift, due to the strong impact of small, detailed variations in the experimental intensity curve on the phase behavior, the numerical Hilbert transform yields a satisfactory reproduction of the phase.

Topology and strong four fermion interactions in four dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catterall, Simon; Butt, Nouman

2018-05-01

We study massless fermions interacting through a particular four-fermion term in four dimensions. Exact symmetries prevent the generation of bilinear fermion mass terms. We determine the structure of the low-energy effective action for the auxiliary field needed to generate the four-fermion term and find it has an novel structure that admits topologically nontrivial defects with nonzero Hopf invariant. We show that fermions propagating in such a background pick up a mass without breaking symmetries. Furthermore, pairs of such defects experience a logarithmic interaction. We argue that a phase transition separates a phase where these defects proliferate from a broken phase where they are bound tightly. We conjecture that, by tuning one additional operator, the broken phase can be eliminated with a single BKT-like phase transition separating the massless from massive phases.

Toward a theory of the general-anesthetic-induced phase transition of the cerebral cortex. I. A thermodynamics analogy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steyn-Ross, Moira L.; Steyn-Ross, D. A.; Sleigh, J. W.; Wilcocks, Lara C.

2001-07-01

In a recent paper the authors developed a stochastic model for the response of the cerebral cortex to a general anesthetic agent. The model predicted that there would be an anesthetic-induced phase change at the point of transition into unconsciousness, manifested as a divergence in the electroencephalogram spectral power, and a change in spectral energy distribution from being relatively broadband in the conscious state to being strongly biased towards much lower frequencies in the unconscious state. Both predictions have been verified in recent clinical measurements. In the present paper we extend the model by calculating the equilibrium distribution function for the cortex, allowing us to establish a correspondence between the cortical phase transition and the more familiar thermodynamic phase transitions. This correspondence is achieved by first identifying a cortical free energy function, then by postulating that there exists an inverse relationship between an anesthetic effect and a quantity we define as cortical excitability, which plays a role analogous to temperature in thermodynamic phase transitions. We follow standard thermodynamic theory to compute a cortical entropy and a cortical ``heat capacity,'' and we investigate how these will vary with anesthetic concentration. The significant result is the prediction that the entropy will decrease discontinuously at the moment of induction into unconsciousness, concomitant with a release of ``latent heat'' which should manifest as a divergence in the analogous heat capacity. There is clear clinical evidence of heat capacity divergence in historical anesthetic-effect measurements performed in 1977 by Stullken et al. [Anesthesiology 46, 28 (1977)]. The discontinuous step change in cortical entropy suggests that the cortical phase transition is analogous to a first-order thermodynamic transition in which the comatose-quiescent state is strongly ordered, while the active cortical state is relatively disordered.

Studies of the Crystallization Process of Aluminum-Silicon Alloys Using a High Temperature Microscope. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Justi, S.

1985-01-01

It is shown that primary silicon crystals grow polyhedral in super-eutectic AlSi melts and that phosphorus additives to the melt confirm the strong seeding capacity. Primary silicon exhibits strong dendritic seeding effects in eutectic silicon phases of various silicon alloys, whereas primary aluminum does not possess this capacity. Sodium addition also produces a dendritic silicon network growth in the interior of the sample that is attributed to the slower silicon diffusion velocity during cooling.

Fine-structure characteristics in the emittance images of a strongly focusing He{sup +} beam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sasao, M.; Kobuchi, T.; Kisaki, M.

2010-02-15

The phase space distribution of a strongly focused He{sup +} ion beam source equipped with concave multiaperture electrodes was measured using a pepper-pot plate and a Kapton foil. The substructure of 301 merging He beamlets was clearly observed on a footprint of pepper-pot hole at the beam waist, where the beam density was 500 mA/cm{sup 2}. The position and the width of each beamlet substructure show the effect of interference of beamlets with surrounding one.

Magnetic Field Observations of Partial Ring Current during Storm Recovery Phase

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Le, Guan; Russell, C. T.; Slavin, J. A.; Lucek, E. A.

2007-01-01

We present results of an extensive survey of the magnetic field observations in the inner magnetosphere using 30 years of magnetospheric magnetic field data from Polar, Cluster, ISEE, and AMPTE/CCE missions. The purpose of this study is to understand the magnetic field evolution during the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms, and its implication to the ring current recovery and loss mechanisms of ring current particles. Our previous work on global ring current distribution [Le et al., 2004] has shown that a significant partial ring current is always present at all Dst levels (regardless of storm phases) even for quiet time ring current. The total current carried by the partial ring current is much stronger than (during stormtime) or at least comparable to (during quiet time) the symmetric ring current. It is now commonly believed that a strong partial ring current is formed during the storm main phase due to the enhanced earthward convection of energetic ions from nightside plasma sheet. But the presence of a strong partial ring current throughout the recovery phase remains controversial. The magnetic field generated by the ring current inflates the inner magnetosphere and causes magnetic field depressions in the equatorial magnetosphere. During the storm recovery phase, we find that the distribution of the equatorial magnetic field depression exhibits similar local time dependence as the ring current distribution obtained from the combined dataset in the earlier study. It shows that a strong partial ring current is a permanent feature throughout the recovery phase. In the early recovery phase, the partial ring current peaks near the dusk terminator as indicated by the peak of the magnetic field depression. As the recovery phase progresses, the partial ring current decays most quickly near the dusk and results in a dusk-to-midnight moving of the peak of the partial ring current. Thus the loss mechanisms work most effectively near the dusk. The magnetic field depression increases the gyroradius of ring current protons to a scale greater or comparable to the thickness of the magnetopause, which increases the chance of ion drift loss near the dusk magnetopause at larger L-shell (L>5). But the drift loss mechanism alone cannot explain the loss of ring current ions especially in the smaller L-shell (L<5). The precipitation loss due to wave-particle interaction is most likely the dominant loss mechanism in the small L-shell as it works most effectively at the same local time.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kubo, Jisuke; Yamada, Masatoshi; Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Heidelberg,Philosophenweg 16, 69120 Heidelberg

We assume that the origin of the electroweak (EW) scale is a gauge-invariant scalar-bilinear condensation in a strongly interacting non-abelian gauge sector, which is connected to the standard model via a Higgs portal coupling. The dynamical scale genesis appears as a phase transition at finite temperature, and it can produce a gravitational wave (GW) background in the early Universe. We find that the critical temperature of the scale phase transition lies above that of the EW phase transition and below few O(100) GeV and it is strongly first-order. We calculate the spectrum of the GW background and find the scalemore » phase transition is strong enough that the GW background can be observed by DECIGO.« less

Multiple Mode Actuation of a Turbulent Jet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pack, LaTunia G.; Seifert, Avi

2001-01-01

The effects of multiple mode periodic excitation on the evolution of a circular turbulent jet were studied experimentally. A short, wide-angle diffuser was attached to the jet exit. Streamwise and cross-stream excitations were introduced at the junction between the jet exit and the diffuser inlet on opposing sides of the jet. The introduction of high amplitude, periodic excitation in the streamwise direction enhances the mixing and promotes attachment of the jet shear-layer to the diffuser wall. Cross-stream excitation applied over a fraction of the jet circumference can deflect the jet away from the excitation slot. The two modes of excitation were combined using identical frequencies and varying the relative phase between the two actuators in search of an optimal response. It is shown that, for low and moderate periodic momentum input levels, the jet deflection angles depend strongly on the relative phase between the two actuators. Optimum performance is achieved when the phase difference is pi +/- pi/6. The lower effectiveness of the equal phase excitation is attributed to the generation of an azimuthally symmetric mode that does not produce the required non-axisymmetric vectoring. For high excitation levels, identical phase becomes more effective, while phase sensitivity decreases. An important finding was that with proper phase tuning, two unsteady actuators can be combined to obtain a non-linear response greater than the superposition of the individual effects.

Anderson Localization from the Berry-Curvature Interchange in Quantum Anomalous Hall Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiao, Zhenhua; Han, Yulei; Zhang, Lei; Wang, Ke; Deng, Xinzhou; Jiang, Hua; Yang, Shengyuan A.; Wang, Jian; Niu, Qian

2016-07-01

We theoretically investigate the localization mechanism of the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) in the presence of spin-flip disorders. We show that the QAHE stays quantized at weak disorders, then enters a Berry-curvature mediated metallic phase at moderate disorders, and finally goes into the Anderson insulating phase at strong disorders. From the phase diagram, we find that at the charge neutrality point although the QAHE is most robust against disorders, the corresponding metallic phase is much easier to be localized into the Anderson insulating phase due to the interchange of Berry curvatures carried, respectively, by the conduction and valence bands. In the end, we provide a phenomenological picture related to the topological charges to better understand the underlying physical origin of the QAHE Anderson localization.

Anderson Localization from the Berry-Curvature Interchange in Quantum Anomalous Hall Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Yulei; Qiao, Zhenhua

In this talk, we theoretically investigate the localization mechanism of the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) in the presence of spin-flip disorders. We show that the QAHE stays quantized at weak disorders, then enters a Berry-curvature mediated metallic phase at moderate disorders, and finally goes into the Anderson insulating phase at strong disorders. From the phase diagram, we find that at the charge neutrality point although the QAHE is most robust against disorders, the corresponding metallic phase is much easier to be localized into the Anderson insulating phase due to the interchange of Berry curvatures carried, respectively, by the conduction and valence bands. In the end, we provide a phenomenological picture related to the topological charges to better understand the underlying physical origin of the QAHE Anderson localization.

Strongly interacting high-partial-wave Bose gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Juan; Qi, Ran; Zhang, Pengfei

2018-04-01

Motivated by recent experimental progress, we make an investigation of p - and d -wave resonant Bose gas. An explanation of the Nozières and Schmitt-Rink (NSR) scheme in terms of two-channel model is provided. Different from the s -wave case, high-partial-wave interaction supports a quasibound state in the weak-coupling regime. Within the NSR approximation, we study the equation of state, critical temperature, and particle population distributions. We clarify the effect of the quasibound state on the phase diagram and the dimer production. A multicritical point where normal phase, atomic superfluid phase, and molecular superfluid phase meet is predicted within the phase diagram. We also show the occurrence of a resonant conversion between solitary atoms and dimers when temperature kBT approximates the quasibound energy.

Effect of point defects and disorder on structural phase transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Toulouse, J.

1997-06-01

Since the beginning in 1986, the object of this project has been Structural Phase Transitions (SPT) in real as opposed to ideal materials. The first stage of the study has been centered around the role of Point Defects in SPT`s. Our intent was to use the previous knowledge we had acquired in the study of point defects in non-transforming insulators and apply it to the study of point defects in insulators undergoing phase transitions. In non-transforming insulators, point defects, in low concentrations, marginally affect the bulk properties of the host. It is nevertheless possible by resonance or relaxation methods tomore » study the point defects themselves via their local motion. In transforming solids, however, close to a phase transition, atomic motions become correlated over very large distances; there, even point defects far removed from one another can undergo correlated motions which may strongly affect the transition behavior of the host. Near a structural transition, the elastic properties win be most strongly affected so as to either raise or decrease the transition temperature, prevent the transition from taking place altogether, or simply modify its nature and the microstructure or domain structure of the resulting phase. One of the well known practical examples is calcium-stabilized zirconia in which the high temperature cubic phase is stabilized at room temperature with greatly improved mechanical properties.« less

Evidence for a New Intermediate Phase in a Strongly Correlated 2D System near Wigner Crystallization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Xuan; Qiu, Richard; Goble, Nicholas; Serafin, Alex; Yin, Liang; Xia, Jian-Sheng; Sullivan, Neil; Pfeiffer, Loren; West, Ken

How the two dimensional (2D) quantum Wigner crystal (WC) transforms into the metallic liquid phase remains an outstanding problem in physics. In theories considering the 2D WC to liquid transition in the clean limit, it was suggested that a number of intermediate phases might exist. We have studied the transformation between the metallic fluid phase and the low magnetic field reentrant insulating phase (RIP) which was interpreted as due to the WC [Qiu et al., PRL 108, 106404 (2012)], in a strongly correlated 2D hole system in GaAs quantum well with large interaction parameter rs (~20-30) and high mobility. Instead of a sharp transition, we found that increasing density (or lowering rs) drives the RIP into a state where the incipient RIP coexists with Fermi liquid. This apparent mixture phase intermediate between Fermi liquid and WC also exhibits a non-trivial temperature dependent resistivity behavior which can be qualitatively understood by the reversed melting of WC in the mixture, in analogy to the Pomeranchuk effect in the solid-liquid mixture of Helium-3. X.G. thanks NSF (DMR-0906415) for supporting work at CWRU. Experiments at the NHMFL High B/T Facility were supported by NSF Grant 0654118 and the State of Florida. L.P. thanks the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and NSF MRSEC (DMR-0819860) for support.

Topological transitions for lattice bosons in a magnetic field

PubMed Central

Huber, Sebastian D.; Lindner, Netanel H.

2011-01-01

The Hall response provides an important characterization of strongly correlated phases of matter. We study the Hall conductivity of interacting bosons on a lattice subjected to a magnetic field. We show that for any density or interaction strength, the Hall conductivity is characterized by an integer. We find that the phase diagram is intersected by topological transitions between different values of this integer. These transitions lead to surprising effects, including sign reversal of the Hall conductivity and extensive regions in the phase diagram where it acquires a negative sign, which implies that flux flow is reversed in these regions—vortices there flow upstream. Our findings have immediate applications to a wide range of phenomena in condensed matter physics, which are effectively described in terms of lattice bosons. PMID:22109548

Flow behavior of colloidal rodlike viruses in the nematic phase.

PubMed

Lettinga, M Paul; Dogic, Zvonimir; Wang, Hao; Vermant, Jan

2005-08-16

The behavior of a colloidal suspension of rodlike fd viruses in the nematic phase, subjected to steady state and transient shear flows, is studied. The monodisperse nature of these rods combined with relatively small textural contribution to the overall stress make this a suitable model system to investigate the effects of flow on the nonequilibrium phase diagram. Transient rheological experiments are used to determine the critical shear rates at which director tumbling, wagging, and flow-aligning occurs. The present model system enables us to study the effect of rod concentration on these transitions. The results are in quantitatively agreement with the Doi-Edwards-Hess model. Moreover, we observe that there is a strong connection between the dynamic transitions and structure formation, which is not incorporated in theory.

Effect of interactions for one-dimensional asymmetric exclusion processes under periodic and bath-adapted coupling environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Midha, Tripti; Kolomeisky, Anatoly B.; Gupta, Arvind Kumar

2018-04-01

Stimulated by the effect of the nearest neighbor interactions in vehicular traffic and motor proteins, we study a 1D driven lattice gas model, in which the nearest neighbor particle interactions are taken in accordance with the thermodynamic concepts. The non-equilibrium steady-state properties of the system are analyzed under both open and periodic boundary conditions using a combination of cluster mean-field analysis and Monte Carlo simulations. Interestingly, the fundamental diagram of current versus density shows a complex behavior with a unimodal dependence for attractions and weak repulsions that turns into the bimodal behavior for stronger repulsive interactions. Specific details of system-reservoir coupling for the open system have a strong effect on the stationary phases. We produce the steady-state phase diagrams for the bulk-adapted coupling to the reservoir using the minimum and maximum current principles. The strength and nature of interaction energy has a striking influence on the number of stationary phases. We observe that interactions lead to correlations having a strong impact on the system dynamical properties. The correlation between any two sites decays exponentially as the distance between the sites increases. Moreover, they are found to be short-range for repulsions and long-range for attractions. Our results also suggest that repulsions and attractions asymmetrically modify the dynamics of interacting particles in exclusion processes.

Bilayer synergetic coupling double negative acoustic metasurface and cloak.

PubMed

Ma, Fuyin; Huang, Meng; Xu, Yicai; Wu, Jiu Hui

2018-04-12

In this paper, we propose a bilayer plate-type lightweight double negative metasurface based on a new synergetic coupling design concept, by which the perfect absorption, double negative bands, free manipulation of phase shifts with a 2π span and acoustic cloak can be successively realized. Firstly, the synergetic behavior between resonant and anti-resonant plates is presented to construct a bilayer unit in which each component respectively provides a pre-defined function in realizing the perfect absorption. Based on this bilayer structure, a double negative band with simultaneously negative effective mass density and bulk modulus is obtained, which, as a metasurface, can obtain continuous phase shifts almost completely covering a 2π range, thus facilitating the design of a three-dimensional (3D) acoustic cloak. In addition, based on this strong sound absorption concept, a two-dimensional (2D) omnidirectional broadband acoustical dark skin, covering between 800 to 6000 Hz, is also demonstrated through the proposed bilayer plate-type structure form. The proposed design concepts and metasurfaces have widespread potential application values in strong sound attenuation, filtering, superlens, imaging, cloak, and extraordinary wave steering, in which the attributes of strong absorption, double negative parameters or continuous phase shifts with full 2π span are required to realize the expected extraordinary physical features.

A qualitative analysis of messages to promote smoking cessation among pregnant women

PubMed Central

Hoek, Janet; Gifford, Heather; Maubach, Ninya; Newcombe, Rhiannon

2014-01-01

Objectives Although aware that smoking while pregnant presents serious risks to their unborn children, some women continue to smoke and rationalise their dissonance rather than quit. We explored metaphors women used to frame smoking and quitting, then developed cessation messages that drew on these metaphors and examined the perceived effectiveness of these. Participants We used a two-phase qualitative study. Phase one involved 13 in-depth interviews with women who were smoking (or who had smoked) while pregnant. Phase two comprised 22 in-depth interviews with a new sample drawn from the same population. Analyses Data were analysed using thematic analysis, which promoted theme identification independently of the research protocol. Results Participants often described smoking as a choice, a frame that explicitly asserted control over their behaviour. This stance allowed them to counter-argue messages to quit, and distanced them from the risks they created and faced. Messages tested in phase 2 used strong affective appeals as well as themes that stimulated cognitive reflection. Without exception, the messages depicting unwell or distressed children elicited strong emotional responses, were more powerful cessation stimuli, and elicited fewer counter-arguments. Conclusions Cessation messages that evoke strong affective responses capitalise on the dissonance many women feel when smoking while pregnant and stimulate stronger consideration of quitting. Given the importance of promoting cessation among pregnant women, future campaigns could make greater use of emotional appeals and place less emphasis on informational approaches, which often prompt vigorous counter-arguments. PMID:25431224

Are genetically robust regulatory networks dynamically different from random ones?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sevim, Volkan; Rikvold, Per Arne

We study a genetic regulatory network model developed to demonstrate that genetic robustness can evolve through stabilizing selection for optimal phenotypes. We report preliminary results on whether such selection could result in a reorganization of the state space of the system. For the chosen parameters, the evolution moves the system slightly toward the more ordered part of the phase diagram. We also find that strong memory effects cause the Derrida annealed approximation to give erroneous predictions about the model's phase diagram.

Role of small-norm components in extended random-phase approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tohyama, Mitsuru

2017-09-01

The role of the small-norm amplitudes in extended random-phase approximation (RPA) theories such as the particle-particle and hole-hole components of one-body amplitudes and the two-body amplitudes other than two-particle/two-hole components are investigated for the one-dimensional Hubbard model using an extended RPA derived from the time-dependent density matrix theory. It is found that these amplitudes cannot be neglected in strongly interacting regions where the effects of ground-state correlations are significant.

Single-particle spectral functions in the normal phase of a strongly attractive Bose-Fermi mixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fratini, E.; Pieri, P.

2013-07-01

We calculate the single-particle spectral functions and quasiparticle dispersions for a Bose-Fermi mixture when the boson-fermion attraction is sufficiently strong to suppress completely the condensation of bosons at zero temperature. Within a T-matrix diagrammatic approach, we vary the boson-fermion attraction from the critical value where the boson condensate first disappears to the strongly attractive (molecular) regime and study the effect of both mass and density imbalance on the spectral weights and dispersions. An interesting spectrum of particle-hole excitations mixing two different Fermi surfaces is found. These unconventional excitations could be produced and explored experimentally with radio-frequency spectroscopy.

Phase-breaking effect on polaron transport in organic conjugated polymers

DOE PAGES

Meng, Ruixuan; Yin, Sun; Zheng, Yujun; ...

2017-06-15

Despite intense investigations and many accepted viewpoints on theory and experiment, the coherent and incoherent carrier transport in organic semiconductors remains an unsettled topic due to the strong electron-phonon coupling. Based on the tight-binding Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model combined with a non-adiabatic dynamics method, we study the effect of phase-breaking on polaron transport by introducing a group of phase-breaking factors into π-electron wave-functions in organic conjugated polymers. Two approaches are applied: the modification of the transfer integral and the phase-breaking addition to the wave-function. Within the former, it is found that a single site phase-breaking can trap a polaron. However, withmore » a larger regular phase-breaking a polaron becomes more delocalized and lighter. Additionally, a group of disordered phase-breaking factors can make the polaron disperse in transport process. Within the latter approach, we show that the phase-breaking can render the delocalized state in valence band discrete and the state in the gap more localized. Consequently, the phase-breaking frequency and intensity can reduce the stability of a polaron. Furthermore, the phase-breaking in organic systems is the main factor that degrades the coherent transport and destroys the carrier stability.« less

Phase-breaking effect on polaron transport in organic conjugated polymers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meng, Ruixuan; Yin, Sun; Zheng, Yujun

Despite intense investigations and many accepted viewpoints on theory and experiment, the coherent and incoherent carrier transport in organic semiconductors remains an unsettled topic due to the strong electron-phonon coupling. Based on the tight-binding Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model combined with a non-adiabatic dynamics method, we study the effect of phase-breaking on polaron transport by introducing a group of phase-breaking factors into π-electron wave-functions in organic conjugated polymers. Two approaches are applied: the modification of the transfer integral and the phase-breaking addition to the wave-function. Within the former, it is found that a single site phase-breaking can trap a polaron. However, withmore » a larger regular phase-breaking a polaron becomes more delocalized and lighter. Additionally, a group of disordered phase-breaking factors can make the polaron disperse in transport process. Within the latter approach, we show that the phase-breaking can render the delocalized state in valence band discrete and the state in the gap more localized. Consequently, the phase-breaking frequency and intensity can reduce the stability of a polaron. Furthermore, the phase-breaking in organic systems is the main factor that degrades the coherent transport and destroys the carrier stability.« less

Combined effect of MJO, ENSO and IOD on the intraseasonal variability of northeast monsoon rainfall over south peninsular India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sreekala, P. P.; Rao, S. Vijaya Bhaskara; Rajeevan, K.; Arunachalam, M. S.

2018-02-01

The present study has examined the combined effect of MJO, ENSO and IOD on the intraseasonal and interannual variability of northeast monsoon rainfall over south peninsular India. The study has revealed that the intraseasonal variation of daily rainfall over south peninsular India during NEM season is associated with various phases of eastward propagating MJO life cycle. Positive rainfall anomaly over south peninsular India and surrounding Indian Ocean (IO) is observed during the strong MJO phases 2, 3 and 4; and negative rainfall anomaly during the strong MJO phases 5,6,7,8 and 1. Above normal (below normal) convection over south peninsular India and suppressed convection over east Indian and West Pacific Ocean, high pressure (low pressure) anomaly over West Pacific Ocean, Positive (negative) SST anomalies over equatorial East and Central Pacific Ocean and easterly wind anomaly (westerly anomaly) over equatorial Indian Ocean are the observed features during the first three MJO (5, 6, 7) phases and all these features are observed in the excess (drought) NEMR composite. This suggests that a similar mode of physical mechanism is responsible for the intraseasonal and interannual variability of northeast monsoon rainfall. The number of days during the first three phases (last four phases) of MJO, where the enhanced convection and positive rainfall anomaly is over Indian Ocean (East Indian ocean and West Pacific Ocean), is more (less) during El Nino and IOD years and less during La Nina and NIOD years and vice versa. The observed excess (deficit) rainfall anomaly over west IO and south peninsular India and deficit (excess) rainfall anomaly over east IO including Bay of Bengal and West Pacific Ocean suggest that the more (less) number of first three phases during El Nino and IOD (La Nina and Negative IOD) is due to the interaction between eastward moving MJO and strong easterlies over equatorial IO present during El Nino and IOD years. This interaction would inhibit the development of long duration MJO and would result in short duration high frequency MJO type which confined over Indian Ocean and south peninsular India and hence make all the El Nino and IOD years to be excess rainfall years for NEM season.

Analysis of Long-Range Interaction in Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes

DOE PAGES

Mistry, Aashutosh; Juarez-Robles, Daniel; Stein, Malcolm; ...

2016-12-01

The lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrode represents a complex porous composite, consisting of multiple phases including active material (AM), conductive additive, and polymeric binder. This study proposes a mesoscale model to probe the effects of the cathode composition, e.g., the ratio of active material, conductive additive, and binder content, on the electrochemical properties and performance. The results reveal a complex nonmonotonic behavior in the effective electrical conductivity as the amount of conductive additive is increased. Insufficient electronic conductivity of the electrode limits the cell operation to lower currents. Once sufficient electron conduction (i.e., percolation) is achieved, the rate performance can bemore » a strong function of ion-blockage effect and pore phase transport resistance. In conclusion, even for the same porosity, different arrangements of the solid phases may lead to notable difference in the cell performance, which highlights the need for accurate microstructural characterization and composite electrode preparation strategies.« less

Analysis of Long-Range Interaction in Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mistry, Aashutosh; Juarez-Robles, Daniel; Stein, Malcolm

The lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrode represents a complex porous composite, consisting of multiple phases including active material (AM), conductive additive, and polymeric binder. This study proposes a mesoscale model to probe the effects of the cathode composition, e.g., the ratio of active material, conductive additive, and binder content, on the electrochemical properties and performance. The results reveal a complex nonmonotonic behavior in the effective electrical conductivity as the amount of conductive additive is increased. Insufficient electronic conductivity of the electrode limits the cell operation to lower currents. Once sufficient electron conduction (i.e., percolation) is achieved, the rate performance can bemore » a strong function of ion-blockage effect and pore phase transport resistance. In conclusion, even for the same porosity, different arrangements of the solid phases may lead to notable difference in the cell performance, which highlights the need for accurate microstructural characterization and composite electrode preparation strategies.« less

Impact of Antarctic mixed-phase clouds on climate

DOE PAGES

Lawson, R. Paul; Gettelman, Andrew

2014-12-08

Precious little is known about the composition of low-level clouds over the Antarctic Plateau and their effect on climate. In situ measurements at the South Pole using a unique tethered balloon system and ground-based lidar reveal a much higher than anticipated incidence of low-level, mixed-phase clouds (i.e., consisting of supercooled liquid water drops and ice crystals). The high incidence of mixed-phase clouds is currently poorly represented in global climate models (GCMs). As a result, the effects that mixed-phase clouds have on climate predictions are highly uncertain. In this paper, we modify the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Earthmore » System Model (CESM) GCM to align with the new observations and evaluate the radiative effects on a continental scale. The net cloud radiative effects (CREs) over Antarctica are increased by +7.4 Wm –2, and although this is a significant change, a much larger effect occurs when the modified model physics are extended beyond the Antarctic continent. The simulations show significant net CRE over the Southern Ocean storm tracks, where recent measurements also indicate substantial regions of supercooled liquid. Finally, these sensitivity tests confirm that Southern Ocean CREs are strongly sensitive to mixed-phase clouds colder than –20 °C.« less

Intercalation Dynamics in Lithium-Ion Batteries

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

When applied to strongly phase-separating, highly anisotropic materials such as LiFePO4 , this model predicts phase-transformation waves between the...new findings relevant to batteries: Defect Interactions: When applied to strongly phase-separating, highly anisotropic mate- rials such as LiFePO4 ...93 6.3.5 Relevance to LiFePO4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 6.3.6 Wave propagation

Theoretical exploration of competing phases of lattice Bose gases in a cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, Renyuan; Chen, Huang-Jie; Zheng, Dong-Chen; Huang, Zhi-Gao

2018-01-01

We consider bosonic atoms loaded into optical lattices with cavity-mediated infinite-range interactions. Competing short- and global-range interactions cultivate a rich phase diagram. With a systematic field-theoretical perspective, we present an analytical construction of a global ground-state phase diagram. We find that the infinite-range interaction enhances the fluctuation of the number density. In the strong-coupling regime, we find four branches of elementary excitations, with two being "particlelike" and two being "holelike," and that the excitation gap becomes soft at the phase boundary between compressible phases and incompressible phases. We derive an effective theory describing compressible superfluid and supersolid states. To complement this perturbative study, we construct a self-consistent mean-field theory and find numerical results consistent with our theoretical analysis. We map out the phase diagram and find that a charge density wave may undergo a structure phase transition to a different charge density wave before it finally enters into the supersolid phase driven by increasing the hopping amplitude.

Intraseasonal oscillation associated with the Indian winter monsoon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimri, A. P.

2013-02-01

The Indian winter (December-February) monsoon (IWM) contributes almost one third of the annual precipitation over the western Himalayas (WH). In winter, eastward moving synoptic weather systems, or "western disturbances" (WDs), yield precipitation in either liquid or solid form. Although previous studies have examined the interannual variation (IAV) of the IWM, little is known of the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) associated with the IWM. The present study examines the ISO and its plausible effects on the IWM using 28 years (1980-2007) of precipitation, height, wind, and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) fields. The dominant ISO mode is found during the active IWM phase with well-defined cyclonic circulation in the midtroposphere over the WH. The relationship between OLR and circulation indicates that this ISO mode is driven by moisture convergence. During the peak phase, a strong moisture influx from the Arabian Sea dominates. This moisture incursion adds to the precipitation over the WH. Successive growth and decay of anomalous cyclonic and anticyclonic circulation takes place within ISO periodicity. Strong convection always seems to precede anomalous cyclonic circulation. In addition, in-phase wind and convection (over the WH region) are associated with the ISO phase.

Strong enhancement of s -wave superconductivity near a quantum critical point of Ca 3 Ir 4 Sn 13

DOE PAGES

Biswas, P. K.; Guguchia, Z.; Khasanov, R.; ...

2015-11-11

We repormore » t microscopic studies by muon spin rotation/relaxation as a function of pressure of the Ca 3 Ir 4 Sn 13 and Sr 3Ir 4Sn 13 system displaying superconductivity and a structural phase transition associated with the formation of a charge density wave (CDW). Our findings show a strong enhancement of the superfluid density and a dramatic increase of the pairing strength above a pressure of ≈ 1.6 GPa giving direct evidence of the presence of a quantum critical point separating a superconducting phase coexisting with CDW from a pure superconducting phase. The superconducting order parameter in both phases has the same s-wave symmetry. In spite of the conventional phonon-mediated BCS character of the weakly correlated (Ca 1-xSr x) 3Ir 4Sn 13 system the dependence of the effective superfluid density on the critical temperature puts this compound in the “Uemura” plot close to unconventional superconductors. This system exemplifies that conventional BCS superconductors in the presence of competing orders or multi-band structure can also display characteristics of unconventional superconductors.« less

On the composition dependence of faceting behaviour of primary phases during solidification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saroch, Mamta; Dubey, K. S.; Ramachandrarao, P.

1993-02-01

The entropy of solution of the primary aluminium-rich phase in the aluminium-tin melts has been evaluated as a function of temperature using available thermodynamic and phase equilibria data with a view to understand the faceting behaviour of this phase. It was noticed that the range of compositions in which alloys of aluminium and tin yield a faceted primary phase is correlated with the domain of compositions over which the entropy of solution shows a strong temperature dependence. It is demonstrated that both a high value of the entropy of solution and a strong temperature dependence of it are essential for providing faceting. A strong temperature dependence of the entropy of solution is in turn a consequence of negligible liquidus slope and existence of retrograde solubility. The AgBi and AgPb systems have similar features.

Mathematical modeling of viral kinetics: a tool to understand and optimize therapy.

PubMed

Layden, Thomas J; Layden, Jennifer E; Ribeiro, Ruy M; Perelson, Alan S

2003-02-01

One theme that continues to emerge from these studies is the relevance and need for a strong IFN effectiveness. In the prediction studies, the importance of IFN effectiveness for eventual clearance of the virus is present. In the study by Layden et al, the relevance of the viral load at the end of the first phase and IFN effectiveness, to the subsequent second-phase viral decline, is discussed. In the recently developed triphasic model by Bergmann et al, it is illustrated how, theoretically, the viral load at the end of the first phase could impact the second-phase viral decline and eventual clearance of the virus. And, in the investigation into the difference in viral dynamics between African Americans and Caucasians, it appears that a strong effectiveness and first-phase log drop is crucial for virus eradication. More work needs to be completed to understand better why the effectiveness is so crucial for elimination of the virus, and why the effectiveness varies so significantly from one person to another, or from one genotype to another. In a rather short time, the study of viral kinetics has improved our understanding of HCV infection, especially in relation to treatment response. Information has been gleaned on the rapid turnover and clearance rate of the virus, the mode of action of IFN, and the dose-dependence of IFN in inhibiting viral production. Such information has been used to challenge the way we treat patients, understand the difference between nonresponders and responders, gain insight into possible mechanisms of treatment resistance, and predict treatment response. As newer drugs emerge, viral kinetic studies should be able to shed light on the dose-dependent efficacy and mode of action of these newer forms of therapy. The use of kinetics needs to be extended to other areas, such as the study and treatment of acute HCV infection as well as following liver transplantation (see article by Drs. Pawlotsky and Rosen). If the past is any indication of the usefulness of mathematical modeling and kinetics in the study of viruses, continued employment of these tools will only prove beneficial.

8OCB and 8CB Liquid Crystals Confined in Nanoporous Alumina: Effect of Confinement on the Structure and Dynamics.

PubMed

Selevou, Aristoula; Papamokos, George; Steinhart, Martin; Floudas, George

2017-08-03

The effect of oxygen substitution is studied in two homologous compounds of n-cyanobiphenyls with n = 8 in the bulk and under confinement within self-ordered nanoporous alumina (AAO). Oxygen substitution in 8OCB increases the dipole moment and stabilizes the crystalline, smectic, and nematic phases to higher temperatures relative to 8CB. Within their smectic- A (SmA) phase both 8CB and 8OCB behave as weak viscoelastic solids with low shear moduli reflecting the underlying supramolecular defect structure. Dielectric spectroscopy assisted by DFT calculations identified strong dipolar associations within the isotropic phases characterized by a Kirkwood-Fröhlich interaction parameter, g ∼ 0.36. Dielectric spectroscopy further identified a slow process (∼ kHz) of low dielectric strength. The proximity of this process to the rheology time scale suggests as common origin a cooperative relaxation of the defect structure. Confinement alters the phase diagram by stabilizing certain crystalline phases and by reducing the N-I transition temperature in agreement with surface tension effects. However, the N-I transition seems to retain its first order character. Surface treatment with n-decyltrichlorosilane results in destabilization of the SmA phase at the expense of the N phase. This is consistent with a picture of surface anchored LC molecules at the pore walls that stabilize the nematic phase.

The influence of the equatorial QBO on sudden stratospheric warmings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holton, James R.; Austin, John

1991-01-01

A global primitive-equation model of the stratosphere and mesosphere is integrated for specified planetary-wave forcing at the 100-mb level with mean zonal flow conditions corresponding to the westerly and easterly phases of the equatorial QBO, respectively. The responses in the two QBO phases were compared for integrations with wavenumber-1 forcing-amplitude maxima at 100 mb and 60 deg N varying from 100 to 400 m. The phase of the QBO had little effect on the results in the weak-wave (100-m) cases, which did not produce warmings, and strong-wave (400-m) cases, which produced major sudden warmings.

Nuclear physics from lattice QCD at strong coupling.

PubMed

de Forcrand, Ph; Fromm, M

2010-03-19

We study numerically the strong coupling limit of lattice QCD with one flavor of massless staggered quarks. We determine the complete phase diagram as a function of temperature and chemical potential, including a tricritical point. We clarify the nature of the low temperature dense phase, which is strongly bound "nuclear" matter. This strong binding is explained by the nuclear potential, which we measure. Finally, we determine, from this first-principles limiting case of QCD, the masses of "atomic nuclei" up to A=12 "carbon".

Phase structuring in metal alloys: Ultrasound-assisted top-down approach to engineering of nanostructured catalytic materials.

PubMed

Cherepanov, Pavel V; Andreeva, Daria V

2017-03-01

High intensity ultrasound (HIUS) is a novel and efficient tool for top-down nanostructuring of multi-phase metal systems. Ultrasound-assisted structuring of the phase in metal alloys relies on two main mechanisms including interfacial red/ox reactions and temperature driven solid state phase transformations which affect surface composition and morphology of metals. Physical and chemical properties of sonication medium strongly affects the structuring pathways as well as morphology and composition of catalysts. HIUS can serve as a simple, fast, and effective approach for the tuning of structure and surface properties of metal particles, opening the new perspectives in design of robust and efficient catalysts. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pseudogap temperature and effects of a harmonic trap in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of an ultracold Fermi gas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsuchiya, Shunji; Research and Education Center for Natural Sciences, Keio University, 4-1-1 Hiyoshi, Kanagawa 223-8521; CREST

2011-10-15

We theoretically investigate excitation properties in the pseudogap regime of a trapped Fermi gas. Using a combined T-matrix theory with the local density approximation, we calculate strong-coupling corrections to single-particle local density of states (LDOS), as well as the single-particle local spectral weight (LSW). Starting from the superfluid phase transition temperature T{sub c}, we clarify how the pseudogap structures in these quantities disappear with increasing the temperature. As in the case of a uniform Fermi gas, LDOS and LSW give different pseudogap temperatures T{sup *} and T{sup **} at which the pseudogap structures in these quantities completely disappear. Determining T{supmore » *} and T{sup **} over the entire BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer)-BEC (Bose-Einstein condensation) crossover region, we identify the pseudogap regime in the phase diagram with respect to the temperature and the interaction strength. We also show that the so-called back-bending peak recently observed in the photoemission spectra by the JILA group may be explained as an effect of pseudogap phenomenon in the trap center. Since strong pairing fluctuations, spatial inhomogeneity, and finite temperatures are important keys in considering real cold Fermi gases, our results would be useful for clarifying normal-state properties of this strongly interacting Fermi system.« less

Re-entrant phase behavior of a concentrated anionic surfactant system with strongly binding counterions.

PubMed

Ghosh, Sajal Kumar; Rathee, Vikram; Krishnaswamy, Rema; Raghunathan, V A; Sood, A K

2009-08-04

The phase behavior of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the presence of the strongly binding counterion p-toluidine hydrochloride (PTHC) has been examined using small-angle X-ray diffraction and polarizing microscopy. A hexagonal-to-lamellar transition on varying the PTHC to SDS molar ratio (alpha) occurs through a nematic phase of rodlike micelles (Nc) --> isotropic (I) --> nematic of disklike micelles (N(D)) at a fixed surfactant concentration (phi). The lamellar phase is found to coexist with an isotropic phase (I') over a large region of the phase diagram. Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance investigations of the phase behavior at phi = 0.4 confirm the transition from N(C) to N(D) on varying alpha. The viscoelastic and flow behaviors of the different phases were examined. A decrease in the steady shear viscosity across the different phases with increasing alpha suggests a decrease in the aspect ratio of the micellar aggregates. From the transient shear stress response of the N() and N(D) nematic phases in step shear experiments, they were characterized to be tumbling and flow aligning, respectively. Our studies reveal that by tuning the morphology of the surfactant micelles strongly binding counterions modify the phase behavior and rheological properties of concentrated surfactant solutions.

Coexistence of two electronic phases in LaTiO3+δ (0.01⩽δ⩽0.12) and their evolution with δ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, H. D.; Goodenough, J. B.

2005-04-01

Although LaTiO3+δ(0.01⩽δ⩽0.12) is single-phase to powder x-ray diffraction, its properties reveal that a hole-poor strongly correlated electronic phase coexists with a hole-rich itinerant-electron phase. With δ⩽0.03 , the hole-rich phase exists as a minority phase of isolated, mobile itinerant-electron clusters embedded in the hole-poor phase. With δ⩾0.08 , isolated hole-poor clusters are embedded in an itinerant-electron matrix. As δ>0.08 increases, the hole-poor clusters become smaller and more isolated until they are reduced to superparamagnetic strong-correlation fluctuations by δ=0.12 . This behavior is consistent with prediction from the virial theorem of a first-order phase change at the crossover from localized (or strongly correlated) to itinerant electronic behavior, a smaller equilibrium (Ti-O) bond length being in the itinerant-electron phase. Accordingly, the variation of volume with oxidation state does not obey Végard’s law; the itinerant-electron minority phase exerts a compressive force on the hole-poor matrix, and the hole-poor minority phase exerts a tensile stress on the hole-rich matrix.

Three-dimensional mantle dynamics with an endothermic phase transition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Honda, S.; Balachandar, S.; Yuen, D. A.; Reuteler, D.

1993-01-01

3D convection for the spinel to perovskite phase change has been simulated numerically. Results for Rayleigh (Ra) numbers of 0(10 exp 6) show intermittent layering with a strong robust plume rising through the phase boundary. Many descending instabilities are deflected but merging cold sheets come together at a junction. A pool of cold material accumulates underneath in the phase-transition zone. A strong gravitational instability results, which precipitates a rapid and massive discharge of upper-mantle material.

Phase fluctuations in a strongly disordered s-wave NbN superconductor close to the metal-insulator transition.

PubMed

Mondal, Mintu; Kamlapure, Anand; Chand, Madhavi; Saraswat, Garima; Kumar, Sanjeev; Jesudasan, John; Benfatto, L; Tripathi, Vikram; Raychaudhuri, Pratap

2011-01-28

We explore the role of phase fluctuations in a three-dimensional s-wave superconductor, NbN, as we approach the critical disorder for destruction of the superconducting state. Close to critical disorder, we observe a finite gap in the electronic spectrum which persists at temperatures well above T(c). The superfluid density is strongly suppressed at low temperatures and evolves towards a linear-T variation at higher temperatures. These observations provide strong evidence that phase fluctuations play a central role in the formation of a pseudogap state in a disordered s-wave superconductor.

Strongly Correlated Topological Insulators

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-03

Strongly Correlated Topological Insulators In the past year, the grant was used for work in the field of topological phases, with emphasis on finding...surface of topological insulators . In the past 3 years, we have started a new direction, that of fractional topological insulators . These are materials...Strongly Correlated Topological Insulators Report Title In the past year, the grant was used for work in the field of topological phases, with emphasis

Photoinduced transition to charge-ordered phases from dynamical localization in the metallic phase of α -(BEDT-TTF)2I3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oya, Koudai; Takahashi, Akira

2018-03-01

From theory, we investigate charge localization induced by higher-frequency off-resonance light-pulse excitation in the metallic phase of α -(BEDT-TTF) 2I3 by numerically solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in the quarter-filled extended Hubbard model for the material. Around e a A(max )=1 , where e a A(max ) is the maximum amplitude of the dimensionless vector potential of the pump pulse, the charge distribution is significantly changed by photoexcitation, and the light-pulse-induced collective charge oscillations continue after photoexcitation. Furthermore, the charge dynamics depend strongly on the polarization direction of the pump pulse. These results are consistent with experiment. The magnitudes of the effective transfer integrals are reduced by strong photoexcitation, and this precursory phenomenon for dynamical localization is mainly driven by a photoinduced change in the ratio of the effective transfer integrals between the two strongest bonds. For e a A(max )≳2 , the photoinduced transition to the charge-ordered state, which can be regarded as a light-dressed state, occurs because of dynamical localization. Furthermore, the type of photogenerated charge-ordered state can be controlled by choosing e a A(max ) and the polarization direction.

Phase boundaries, nucleation rates and speed of crystal growth of the water-to-ice transition under an electric field: a simulation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaragoza, Alberto; Espinosa, Jorge R.; Ramos, Regina; Cobos, José Antonio; Aragones, Juan Luis; Vega, Carlos; Sanz, Eduardo; Ramírez, Jorge; Valeriani, Chantal

2018-05-01

We investigate with computer simulations the effect of applying an electric field on the water-to-ice transition. We use a combination of state-of-the-art simulation techniques to obtain phase boundaries and crystal growth rates (direct coexistence), nucleation rates (seeding) and interfacial free energies (seeding and mold integration). First, we consider ice Ih, the most stable polymorph in the absence of a field. Its normal melting temperature, speed of crystal growth and nucleation rate (for a given supercooling) diminish as the intensity of the field goes up. Then, we study polarised cubic ice, or ice Icf, the most stable solid phase under a strong electric field. Its normal melting point goes up with the field and, for a given supercooling, under the studied field (0.3 V nm‑1) ice Icf nucleates and grows at a similar rate as Ih with no field. The net effect of the field would then be that ice nucleates at warmer temperatures, but in the form of ice Icf. The main conclusion of this work is that reasonable electric fields (not strong enough to break water molecules apart) are not relevant in the context of homogeneous ice nucleation at 1 bar.

Phase boundaries, nucleation rates and speed of crystal growth of the water-to-ice transition under an electric field: a simulation study.

PubMed

Zaragoza, Alberto; Espinosa, Jorge R; Ramos, Regina; Antonio Cobos, José; Luis Aragones, Juan; Vega, Carlos; Sanz, Eduardo; Ramírez, Jorge; Valeriani, Chantal

2018-05-02

We investigate with computer simulations the effect of applying an electric field on the water-to-ice transition. We use a combination of state-of-the-art simulation techniques to obtain phase boundaries and crystal growth rates (direct coexistence), nucleation rates (seeding) and interfacial free energies (seeding and mold integration). First, we consider ice Ih, the most stable polymorph in the absence of a field. Its normal melting temperature, speed of crystal growth and nucleation rate (for a given supercooling) diminish as the intensity of the field goes up. Then, we study polarised cubic ice, or ice Icf, the most stable solid phase under a strong electric field. Its normal melting point goes up with the field and, for a given supercooling, under the studied field (0.3 V nm -1 ) ice Icf nucleates and grows at a similar rate as Ih with no field. The net effect of the field would then be that ice nucleates at warmer temperatures, but in the form of ice Icf. The main conclusion of this work is that reasonable electric fields (not strong enough to break water molecules apart) are not relevant in the context of homogeneous ice nucleation at 1 bar.

A near infrared classification of pre-main sequence stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alonso-Martínez, M.; Meeus, G.; Eiroa, C.

2017-03-01

T Tauri stars are young solar analogues (M ≤ 1.5M_{⊙}), harbouring a disc and with ongoing accretion. The T Tauri phase has been estimated to last around 10 Myr. We have obtained J and K band spectra with WHT/LIRIS and NOT/NOTCam of 112 T Tauri stars in the Taurus star forming region. By measuring the equivalent widths of common and strong spectral features, known to follow a tight relation with temperature, we aim at providing a direct and fast method to derive stellar effective temperatures. Line ratios of strong absorption features relatively close in wavelength are used to overcome the effects of veiling. Besides, the Al I (1.313μm) line is strongly gravity-dependent and used to discern between surface gravities. Finally, we estimate accretion rates using the H-lines Pa-β and Br-γ.

Disorder effects in the evolution from BCS to BEC superfluidity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Li; de Melo, Carlos A. R. Sa

2009-03-01

We discuss the effects of disorder on the critical temperature of superfluids during the evolution from BCS to BEC. For s-wave superfluids we find that the critical temperature is weakly affected by disorder in the BCS regime as described in Anderson’s theorem, even less affected by disorder at zero chemical potential (near unitarity), but strongly affected by disorder in the BEC regime, where Anderson's theorem does not apply. This suggests that the superfluid is more robust to the effects of disorder at the interaction parameter where the chemical potential vanishes (close to unitarity). We construct a three dimensional phase diagram of critical temperature, disorder and interaction parameter [1], and show that there are regions of localized superfluidity, as well as insulating regions due to Anderson localization of fermions (BCS regime) and molecular bosons (BEC regime). The phase diagram for higher angular momentum (e.g. p-wave and d-wave) is also analyzed, where the effects of disorder are much more dramatic in the BCS regime in comparison to the s-wave case because pair breaking is strong, while the disorder effects in BEC regime are similar to what occurs in the s-wave case. [1] Li Han, C. A. R. Sa de Melo, arXiv:0812.xxxx

Rashba sandwiches with topological superconducting phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volpez, Yanick; Loss, Daniel; Klinovaja, Jelena

2018-05-01

We introduce a versatile heterostructure harboring various topological superconducting phases characterized by the presence of helical, chiral, or unidirectional edge states. Changing parameters, such as an effective Zeeman field or chemical potential, one can tune between these three topological phases in the same setup. Our model relies only on conventional nontopological ingredients. The bilayer setup consists of an s -wave superconductor sandwiched between two two-dimensional electron gas layers with strong Rashba spin-orbit interaction. The interplay between two different pairing mechanisms, proximity induced direct and crossed Andreev superconducting pairings, gives rise to multiple topological phases. In particular, helical edge states occur if crossed Andreev superconducting pairing is dominant. In addition, an in-plane Zeeman field leads to a two-dimensional gapless topological phase with unidirectional edge states, which were previously predicted to exist only in noncentrosymmetric superconductors. If the Zeeman field is tilted out of the plane, the system is in a topological phase hosting chiral edge states.

Effects of solvent composition in the normal-phase liquid chromatography of alkylphenols and naphthols

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hurtubise, R.J.; Hussain, A.; Silver, H.F.

1981-11-01

The normal-phase liquid chromatographic models of Scott, Snyder, and Soczewinski were considered for a ..mu..-Bondapak NH/sub 2/ stationary phase. n-Heptane:2-propanol and n-heptane:ethyl acetate mobile phases of different compositions were used. Linear relationships were obtained from graphs of log K' vs. log mole fraction of the strong solvent for both n-heptane:2-propanol and n-heptane:ethyl acetate mobile phases. A linear relationship was obtained between the reciprocal of corrected retention volume and % wt/v of 2-propanol but not between the reciprocal of corrected retention volume and % wt/v of ethyl acetate. The slopes and intercept terms from the Snyder and Soczewinski models were foundmore » to approximately describe interactions with ..mu..-Bondapak NH/sub 2/. Capacity factors can be predicted for the compounds by using the equations obtained from mobile phase composition variation experiments.« less

[Financing healthcare in low-income countries: recurring questions, new challenges].

PubMed

Audibert, M; Mathonnat, J; de Roodenbeke, E

2004-01-01

Healthcare financing policies in low-income countries have gone through three successive phases. In the first phase the dominant approach was based on free access to healthcare and focused first on development of vertical programs and then on the necessity of providing primary care to all. While maintaining the emphasis on accessibility to primary care, the second policy phase introduced user fees and attempted to integrate healthcare programs into district-based healthcare structures. The third phase has been strongly influenced by the relationship between healthcare and development and the Millenium Objectives and places strong emphasis on necessity of developing insurance schemes. Recent studies on the relationship between healthcare spending and health status indicate that the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare spending plays a more determinant role than the amount. At the same time an effort is being made to develop synergy between the different players in the health care systems and to clarify the role of each player by hinging financing decisions on operating criteria such as "public welfare", externalities, catastrophic costs, and equity. Although many countries have made significant progress, there are still several lagging areas, i.e., coverage for the poorest segment of the population (despite the rhetoric), follow-up of financing, and governance. Increasing external aid already initiated by several states may have a non-negligible impact on the macroeconomic balance. Since these changes could lead to adverse effects on health, there is a need to implement careful non-dogmatic policies.

Strong ground motion simulation of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake of April 16 using multiple point sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagasaka, Yosuke; Nozu, Atsushi

2017-02-01

The pseudo point-source model approximates the rupture process on faults with multiple point sources for simulating strong ground motions. A simulation with this point-source model is conducted by combining a simple source spectrum following the omega-square model with a path spectrum, an empirical site amplification factor, and phase characteristics. Realistic waveforms can be synthesized using the empirical site amplification factor and phase models even though the source model is simple. The Kumamoto earthquake occurred on April 16, 2016, with M JMA 7.3. Many strong motions were recorded at stations around the source region. Some records were considered to be affected by the rupture directivity effect. This earthquake was suitable for investigating the applicability of the pseudo point-source model, the current version of which does not consider the rupture directivity effect. Three subevents (point sources) were located on the fault plane, and the parameters of the simulation were determined. The simulated results were compared with the observed records at K-NET and KiK-net stations. It was found that the synthetic Fourier spectra and velocity waveforms generally explained the characteristics of the observed records, except for underestimation in the low frequency range. Troughs in the observed Fourier spectra were also well reproduced by placing multiple subevents near the hypocenter. The underestimation is presumably due to the following two reasons. The first is that the pseudo point-source model targets subevents that generate strong ground motions and does not consider the shallow large slip. The second reason is that the current version of the pseudo point-source model does not consider the rupture directivity effect. Consequently, strong pulses were not reproduced enough at stations northeast of Subevent 3 such as KMM004, where the effect of rupture directivity was significant, while the amplitude was well reproduced at most of the other stations. This result indicates the necessity for improving the pseudo point-source model, by introducing azimuth-dependent corner frequency for example, so that it can incorporate the effect of rupture directivity.[Figure not available: see fulltext.

Solid-phase extraction sorbent consisting of alkyltrimethylammonium surfactants immobilized onto strong cation-exchange polystyrene resin.

PubMed

Reid, Kendra R; Kennedy, Lonnie J; Crick, Eric W; Conte, Eric D

2002-10-25

Presented is a solid-phase extraction sorbent material composed of cationic alkyltrimethylammonium surfactants attached to a strong cation-exchange resin via ion-exchange. The original hydrophilic cation-exchange resin is made hydrophobic by covering the surface with alkyl chains from the hydrophobic portion of the surfactant. The sorbent material now has a better ability to extract hydrophobic molecules from aqueous samples. The entire stationary phase (alkyltrimethylammonium surfactant) is removed along with the analyte during the elution step. The elution step requires a mild elution solvent consisting of 0.25 M Mg2+ in a 50% 2-propanol solution. The main advantage of using a removable stationary phase is that traditionally utilized toxic elution solvents such as methylene chloride, which are necessary to efficiently release strongly hydrophobic species from SPE stationary phases, may now be avoided. Also, the final extract is directly compatible with reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The performance of this procedure is presented using pyrene as a test molecule.

Classical dimer model with anisotropic interactions on the square lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otsuka, Hiromi

2009-07-01

We discuss phase transitions and the phase diagram of a classical dimer model with anisotropic interactions defined on a square lattice. For the attractive region, the perturbation of the orientational order parameter introduced by the anisotropy causes the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transitions from a dimer-liquid to columnar phases. According to the discussion by Nomura and Okamoto for a quantum-spin chain system [J. Phys. A 27, 5773 (1994)], we proffer criteria to determine transition points and also universal level-splitting conditions. Subsequently, we perform numerical diagonalization calculations of the nonsymmetric real transfer matrices up to linear dimension specified by L=20 and determine the global phase diagram. For the repulsive region, we find the boundary between the dimer-liquid and the strong repulsion phases. Based on the dispersion relation of the one-string motion, which exhibits a twofold “zero-energy flat band” in the strong repulsion limit, we give an intuitive account for the property of the strong repulsion phase.

Symmetry-broken states in a system of interacting bosons on a two-leg ladder with a uniform Abelian gauge field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greschner, S.; Piraud, M.; Heidrich-Meisner, F.; McCulloch, I. P.; Schollwöck, U.; Vekua, T.

2016-12-01

We study the quantum phases of bosons with repulsive contact interactions on a two-leg ladder in the presence of a uniform Abelian gauge field. The model realizes many interesting states, including Meissner phases, vortex fluids, vortex lattices, charge density waves, and the biased-ladder phase. Our work focuses on the subset of these states that breaks a discrete symmetry. We use density matrix renormalization group simulations to demonstrate the existence of three vortex-lattice states at different vortex densities and we characterize the phase transitions from these phases into neighboring states. Furthermore, we provide an intuitive explanation of the chiral-current reversal effect that is tied to some of these vortex lattices. We also study a charge-density-wave state that exists at 1/4 particle filling at large interaction strengths and flux values close to half a flux quantum. By changing the system parameters, this state can transition into a completely gapped vortex-lattice Mott-insulating state. We elucidate the stability of these phases against nearest-neighbor interactions on the rungs of the ladder relevant for experimental realizations with a synthetic lattice dimension. A charge-density-wave state at 1/3 particle filling can be stabilized for flux values close to half a flux quantum and for very strong on-site interactions in the presence of strong repulsion on the rungs. Finally, we analytically describe the emergence of these phases in the low-density regime, and, in particular, we obtain the boundaries of the biased-ladder phase, i.e., the phase that features a density imbalance between the legs. We make contact with recent quantum-gas experiments that realized related models and discuss signatures of these quantum states in experimentally accessible observables.

Evaluating the phase diagram of superconductors with asymmetric spin populations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mannarelli, Massimo; Nardulli, Giuseppe; Ruggieri, Marco

2006-09-15

The phase diagram of a nonrelativistic fermionic system with imbalanced state populations interacting via a short-range S-wave attractive interaction is analyzed in the mean-field approximation. We determine the energetically favored state for different values of the mismatch between the two Fermi spheres in the weak- and strong-coupling regimes considering both homogeneous and nonhomogeneous superconductive states. We find that the homogeneous superconductive phase persists for values of the population imbalance that increase with increasing coupling strength. In the strong-coupling regime and for large population differences the energetically stable homogeneous phase is characterized by one gapless mode. We also find that themore » inhomogeneous superconductive phase characterized by the condensate {delta}(x){approx}{delta} exp(iq{center_dot}x) is energetically favored in a range of values of the chemical-potential mismatch that shrinks to zero in the strong-coupling regime.« less

Effect of microstructural parameters on the mechanical behavior of TiAlNb(Cr,Mo) alloys with γ+σ microstructure at ambient temperature

DOE PAGES

Kesler, Michael S.; Goyel, Sonalika; Ebrahimi, Fereshteh; ...

2016-11-15

The mechanical properties of novel alloys with two-phase γ-TiAl + σ-Nb 2Al microstructures were evaluated under compression at room temperature. Microstructures of varying scales were developed through solutionizing and aging heat treatments and the volume fraction of phases were varied with changes in composition. Ultra-fine, aged γ+σ microstructures were achieved for the alloys which affectively retained high volume fractions of the parent β-phase upon quenching from the solutionizing temperature. The yield strength and compressive strain to failure of these alloys show a strong dependence on the relative scale and volume fraction of phases. Surprisingly, the hard brittle σ-phase particles weremore » not found to control fracture in the refined microstructures.« less

Effects of low central fuelling on density and ion temperature profiles in reversed shear plasmas on JT-60U

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takenaga, H.; Ide, S.; Sakamoto, Y.; Fujita, T.; JT-60 Team

2008-07-01

Effects of low central fuelling on density and ion temperature profiles have been investigated using negative ion based neutral beam injection and electron cyclotron heating (ECH) in reversed shear plasmas on JT-60U. Strong internal transport barrier (ITB) was maintained in density and ion temperature profiles, when central fuelling was decreased by switching positive ion based neutral beam injection to ECH after the strong ITB formation. Similar density and ion temperature ITBs were formed for the low and high central fuelling cases during the plasma current ramp-up phase. Strong correlation between the density gradient and the ion temperature gradient was observed, indicating that particle transport and ion thermal transport are strongly coupled or the density gradient assists the ion temperature ITB formation through suppression of drift wave instabilities such as ion temperature gradient mode. These results support that the density and ion temperature ITBs can be formed under reactor relevant conditions.

Does taste matter? How anticipation of cola brands influences gustatory processing in the brain.

PubMed

Kühn, Simone; Gallinat, Jürgen

2013-01-01

Brands surround us everywhere in daily life. Here we investigate the influences of brand cues on gustatory processing of the same beverage. Participants were led to believe that the brand that announced the administration of a Cola mixture provided correct information about the drink to come. We found stronger fMRI signal in right mOFC during weak compared to strong brand cues in a contrast of parametric modulation with subjective liking. When directly comparing the two strong brands cues, more activation in the right amygdala was found for Coca Cola cues compared with Pepsi Cola cues. During the taste phase the same beverage elicited stronger activation in left ventral striatum when it was previously announced by a strong compared with a weak brand. This effect was stronger in participants who drink Cola infrequently and might therefore point to a stronger reliance on brand cues in less experienced consumers. The present results reveal strong effects of brand labels on neural responses signalling reward.

Does Taste Matter? How Anticipation of Cola Brands Influences Gustatory Processing in the Brain

PubMed Central

Kühn, Simone; Gallinat, Jürgen

2013-01-01

Brands surround us everywhere in daily life. Here we investigate the influences of brand cues on gustatory processing of the same beverage. Participants were led to believe that the brand that announced the administration of a Cola mixture provided correct information about the drink to come. We found stronger fMRI signal in right mOFC during weak compared to strong brand cues in a contrast of parametric modulation with subjective liking. When directly comparing the two strong brands cues, more activation in the right amygdala was found for Coca Cola cues compared with Pepsi Cola cues. During the taste phase the same beverage elicited stronger activation in left ventral striatum when it was previously announced by a strong compared with a weak brand. This effect was stronger in participants who drink Cola infrequently and might therefore point to a stronger reliance on brand cues in less experienced consumers. The present results reveal strong effects of brand labels on neural responses signalling reward. PMID:23637857

Increased Response to Altered Auditory Feedback in Dyslexia: A Weaker Sensorimotor Magnet Implied in the Phonological Deficit

PubMed Central

Groen, Margriet A.; Ito, Takayuki; Francisco, Ana A.; Gracco, Vincent L.; Pugh, Ken R.; Verhoeven, Ludo

2017-01-01

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine whether developmental dyslexia (DD) is characterized by deficiencies in speech sensory and motor feedforward and feedback mechanisms, which are involved in the modulation of phonological representations. Method A total of 42 adult native speakers of Dutch (22 adults with DD; 20 participants who were typically reading controls) were asked to produce /bep/ while the first formant (F1) of the /e/ was not altered (baseline), increased (ramp), held at maximal perturbation (hold), and not altered again (after-effect). The F1 of the produced utterance was measured for each trial and used for statistical analyses. The measured F1s produced during each phase were entered in a linear mixed-effects model. Results Participants with DD adapted more strongly during the ramp phase and returned to baseline to a lesser extent when feedback was back to normal (after-effect phase) when compared with the typically reading group. In this study, a faster deviation from baseline during the ramp phase, a stronger adaptation response during the hold phase, and a slower return to baseline during the after-effect phase were associated with poorer reading and phonological abilities. Conclusion The data of the current study are consistent with the notion that the phonological deficit in DD is associated with a weaker sensorimotor magnet for phonological representations. PMID:28257585

Interplay of Coulomb interactions and disorder in three-dimensional quadratic band crossings without time-reversal symmetry and with unequal masses for conduction and valence bands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandal, Ipsita; Nandkishore, Rahul M.

2018-03-01

Coulomb interactions famously drive three-dimensional quadratic band crossing semimetals into a non-Fermi liquid phase of matter. In a previous work [Nandkishore and Parameswaran, Phys. Rev. B 95, 205106 (2017), 10.1103/PhysRevB.95.205106], the effect of disorder on this non-Fermi liquid phase was investigated, assuming that the band structure was isotropic, assuming that the conduction and valence bands had the same band mass, and assuming that the disorder preserved exact time-reversal symmetry and statistical isotropy. It was shown that the non-Fermi liquid fixed point is unstable to disorder and that a runaway flow to strong disorder occurs. In this paper, we extend that analysis by relaxing the assumption of time-reversal symmetry and allowing the electron and hole masses to differ (but continuing to assume isotropy of the low energy band structure). We first incorporate time-reversal symmetry breaking disorder and demonstrate that there do not appear any new fixed points. Moreover, while the system continues to flow to strong disorder, time-reversal-symmetry-breaking disorder grows asymptotically more slowly than time-reversal-symmetry-preserving disorder, which we therefore expect should dominate the strong-coupling phase. We then allow for unequal electron and hole masses. We show that whereas asymmetry in the two masses is irrelevant in the clean system, it is relevant in the presence of disorder, such that the `effective masses' of the conduction and valence bands should become sharply distinct in the low-energy limit. We calculate the RG flow equations for the disordered interacting system with unequal band masses and demonstrate that the problem exhibits a runaway flow to strong disorder. Along the runaway flow, time-reversal-symmetry-preserving disorder grows asymptotically more rapidly than both time-reversal-symmetry-breaking disorder and the Coulomb interaction.

Software for MR image overlay guided needle insertions: the clinical translation process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ungi, Tamas; U-Thainual, Paweena; Fritz, Jan; Iordachita, Iulian I.; Flammang, Aaron J.; Carrino, John A.; Fichtinger, Gabor

2013-03-01

PURPOSE: Needle guidance software using augmented reality image overlay was translated from the experimental phase to support preclinical and clinical studies. Major functional and structural changes were needed to meet clinical requirements. We present the process applied to fulfill these requirements, and selected features that may be applied in the translational phase of other image-guided surgical navigation systems. METHODS: We used an agile software development process for rapid adaptation to unforeseen clinical requests. The process is based on iterations of operating room test sessions, feedback discussions, and software development sprints. The open-source application framework of 3D Slicer and the NA-MIC kit provided sufficient flexibility and stable software foundations for this work. RESULTS: All requirements were addressed in a process with 19 operating room test iterations. Most features developed in this phase were related to workflow simplification and operator feedback. CONCLUSION: Efficient and affordable modifications were facilitated by an open source application framework and frequent clinical feedback sessions. Results of cadaver experiments show that software requirements were successfully solved after a limited number of operating room tests.

Electron-electron correlations in Raman spectra of VO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goncharuk, I. N.; Ilinskiy, A. V.; Kvashenkina, O. E.; Shadrin, E. B.

2013-01-01

It has been shown that, in single crystals and films of a strongly correlated material, namely, vanadium dioxide, upon a thermally stimulated phase transition from the low-temperature monoclinic phase to the high-temperature tetragonal phase, the narrow-line Raman spectrum of the insulating (monoclinic) phase transforms into the broad-band Raman spectrum, which contains two peaks at 500 and 5000 cm-1 with widths of 400 and 3500 cm-1, respectively. It has been found that, as the temperature of the monoclinic phase approaches the structural phase transition temperature (340 K), the line profile of soft-mode phonons at a frequency of 149 cm-1 with A g symmetry and the line profile of phonons at a frequency of 201 cm-1 with A g symmetry acquire an asymmetric shape with a Fano antiresonance that is characteristic of the interaction of a single phonon vibration with a continuum of strongly correlated electrons. It has been demonstrated that the thermal transformation of peaks in the Raman spectra of the VO2 metallic phase is in quantitative agreement with the theory of Raman scattering in strongly correlated materials.

Separation of cannabinoids on three different mixed-mode columns containing carbon/nanodiamond/amine-polymer superficially porous particles.

PubMed

Hung, Chuan-Hsi; Zukowski, Janusz; Jensen, David S; Miles, Andrew J; Sulak, Clayton; Dadson, Andrew E; Linford, Matthew R

2015-09-01

Three mixed-mode high-performance liquid chromatography columns packed with superficially porous carbon/nanodiamond/amine-polymer particles were used to separate mixtures of cannabinoids. Columns evaluated included: (i) reversed phase (C18 ), weak anion exchange, 4.6 × 33 mm, 3.6 μm, and 4.6 × 100 mm, 3.6 μm, (ii) reversed phase, strong anion exchange (quaternary amine), 4.6×33 mm, 3.6 μm, and (iii) hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, 4.6 × 150 mm, 3.6 μm. Different selectivities were achieved under various mobile phase and stationary phase conditions. Efficiencies and peak capacities were as high as 54 000 N/m and 56, respectively. The reversed phase mixed-mode column (C18 ) retained tetrahydrocannabinolic acid strongly under acidic conditions and weakly under basic conditions. Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid was retained strongly on the reversed phase, strong anion exchange mixed-mode column under basic polar organic mobile phase conditions. The hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column retained polar cannabinoids better than the (more) neutral ones under basic conditions. A longer reversed phase (C18 ) mixed-mode column (4.6 × 100 mm) showed better resolution for analytes (and a contaminant) than a shorter column. Fast separations were achieved in less than 5 min and sometimes 2 min. A real world sample (bubble hash extract) was also analyzed by gradient elution. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Size-dependent surface phase change of lithium iron phosphate during carbon coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jiajun; Yang, Jinli; Tang, Yongji; Liu, Jian; Zhang, Yong; Liang, Guoxian; Gauthier, Michel; Karen Chen-Wiegart, Yu-Chen; Norouzi Banis, Mohammad; Li, Xifei; Li, Ruying; Wang, Jun; Sham, T. K.; Sun, Xueliang

2014-03-01

Carbon coating is a simple, effective and common technique for improving the conductivity of active materials in lithium ion batteries. However, carbon coating provides a strong reducing atmosphere and many factors remain unclear concerning the interface nature and underlying interaction mechanism that occurs between carbon and the active materials. Here, we present a size-dependent surface phase change occurring in lithium iron phosphate during the carbon coating process. Intriguingly, nanoscale particles exhibit an extremely high stability during the carbon coating process, whereas microscale particles display a direct visualization of surface phase changes occurring at the interface at elevated temperatures. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the effect of particle size during carbon coating and the interface interaction that occurs on carbon-coated battery material—allowing for further improvement in materials synthesis and manufacturing processes for advanced battery materials.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shaw, K.C.; Bitzer, R.J.; Galliart, L.

We investigated the effect of a strong, DC-induced electromagnetic field (EMF) on the circadian singing activity of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus (L.). Groups of 10 crickets were exposed to strong, DC-induced EMFs under two light regimes, 12:12 (L:D) h and 0:24 (L:D) h. Exposure to the strong EMF resulted in an increase in mean time per hour during which one or more crickets were singing and in number of crickets singing per hour. Correcting for phase shift during O:24 (L:D) h, the daily pattern of singing was apparently unaffected by any treatment. The greatest percentage of singing and numbermore » of crickets singing per hour occurred during actual or expected scotophase. This is the first report of an increase in insect activity during exposure to a strong DC-induced EMF.« less

Radiation characteristics of multiple and single sound hole vihuelas and a classical guitar.

PubMed

Bader, Rolf

2012-01-01

Two recently built vihuelas, quasi-replicas of the Spanish Renaissance guitar, one with a small body and one sound hole and one with a large body with five sound holes, together with a classical guitar are investigated. Frequency dependent radiation strengths are measured using a 128 microphone array, back-propagating the frequency dependent sound field upon the body surface. All three instruments have a strong sound hole radiation within the low frequency range. Here the five tone holes vihuela has a much wider frequency region of strong sound hole radiation up to about 500 Hz, whereas the single hole instruments only have strong sound hole radiations up to about 300 Hz due to the enlarged radiation area of the sound holes. The strong broadband radiation of the five sound hole vihuela up to about 500 Hz is also caused by the sound hole phases, showing very consistent in-phase relations up to this frequency range. Also the radiation strength of the sound holes placed nearer to the center of the sound box are much stronger than those near the ribs, pointing to a strong position dependency of sound hole to radiation strength. The Helmholtz resonance frequency of the five sound hole vihuela is influenced by this difference in radiation strength but not by the rosettas, which only have a slight effect on the Helmholtz frequency. © 2012 Acoustical Society of America.

On the origin of residual strain in shape memory alloys: experimental investigation on evolutions in the microstructure of CuAlBe during complex thermomechanical loadings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barati, M.; Arbab Chirani, S.; Kadkhodaei, M.; Saint-Sulpice, L.; Calloch, S.

2017-02-01

The behaviors of shape memory alloys (SMAs) strongly depend on the presence of different phases: austenite, thermally-induced martensite and stress-induced martensite. Consequently, it is important to know the phase volume fraction of each phases and their evolution during thermomechanical loadings. In this work, a three-phase proportioning method based on electric resistivity variation of a CuAlBe SMA is proposed. Simple thermomechanical loadings (i. e. pseudoplasticity and pseudoelasticity), one-way shape memory effect, recovery stress, assisted two-way memory effect at different level of stress and cyclic pseudoelasticity tests are investigated. Based on the electric resistivity results, during each loading path, evolution of the microstructure is determined. The origin of residual strain observed during the considered thermomechanical loadings is discussed. A special attention is paid to two-way shape memory effect generated after considered cyclic loadings and its relation with the developed residual strain. These results permit to identify and to validate the macroscopic models of SMAs behaviors.

Effects of H3O+, OH-, \\text{O}_{2}^{-} , \\text{NO}_{\\text{x}}^{-} and NO x for Escherichia coli inactivation in atmospheric pressure DC corona discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekimoto, Kanako; Gonda, Rena; Takayama, Mitsuo

2015-08-01

The effects of ionic and neutral species such as H3O+, OH-, \\text{O}2- , \\text{NO}x- (x = 2, 3), and NO x on Escherichia coli (E. coli) inactivation in gas and liquid phases was investigated using atmospheric pressure DC corona discharges with point-to-plane electrodes. The above chemical species as well as OH and O3 were selectively irradiated onto E. coli suspensions on agar plates using a needle angle of 45° with respect to the plates, airflow, and a grid plate. Irradiation with the positive ion H3O+ did not inactivate E. coli, while the negative ions OH-/\\text{O}2- resulted in bactericidal inactivation, in both gas and liquid phases. In contrast, the negative ions \\text{NO}x- and neutral species NO x in the gas phase had quite strong bactericidal effects on E. coli compared to those species in the liquid phase. These results suggest that liquid-phase HNO3, formed primarily via the reaction of gas-phase \\text{NO}x- and NO x with H2O in agar, has only a weak inactivation effect on E. coli. Furthermore, using naphthylethylenediamine spectrophotometry, the threshold amount of gas-phase \\text{NO}x- and NO x for E. coli inactivation was determined to be  ≈1.3   ×   10-9 mol mm-1.

Generalized ensemble method applied to study systems with strong first order transitions

DOE PAGES

Malolepsza, E.; Kim, J.; Keyes, T.

2015-09-28

At strong first-order phase transitions, the entropy versus energy or, at constant pressure, enthalpy, exhibits convex behavior, and the statistical temperature curve correspondingly exhibits an S-loop or back-bending. In the canonical and isothermal-isobaric ensembles, with temperature as the control variable, the probability density functions become bimodal with peaks localized outside of the S-loop region. Inside, states are unstable, and as a result simulation of equilibrium phase coexistence becomes impossible. To overcome this problem, a method was proposed by Kim, Keyes and Straub, where optimally designed generalized ensemble sampling was combined with replica exchange, and denoted generalized replica exchange method (gREM).more » This new technique uses parametrized effective sampling weights that lead to a unimodal energy distribution, transforming unstable states into stable ones. In the present study, the gREM, originally developed as a Monte Carlo algorithm, was implemented to work with molecular dynamics in an isobaric ensemble and coded into LAMMPS, a highly optimized open source molecular simulation package. Lastly, the method is illustrated in a study of the very strong solid/liquid transition in water.« less

Superfluid density of states and pseudogap phenomenon in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of a superfluid Fermi gas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Watanabe, Ryota; Tsuchiya, Shunji; CREST

2010-10-15

We investigate single-particle excitations and strong-coupling effects in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of a superfluid Fermi gas. Including phase and amplitude fluctuations of the superfluid order parameter within a T-matrix theory, we calculate the superfluid density of states (DOS), as well as single-particle spectral weight, over the entire BCS-BEC crossover region below the superfluid transition temperature T{sub c}. We clarify how the pseudogap in the normal state evolves into the superfluid gap, as one passes through T{sub c}. While the pseudogap in DOS continuously evolves into the superfluid gap in the weak-coupling BCS regime, the superfluid gap in the crossovermore » region is shown to appear in DOS after the pseudogap disappears below T{sub c}. In the phase diagram with respect to the temperature and interaction strength, we determine the region where strong pairing fluctuations dominate over single-particle properties of the system. Our results would be useful for the study of strong-coupling phenomena in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of a superfluid Fermi gas.« less

Generalized ensemble method applied to study systems with strong first order transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Małolepsza, E.; Kim, J.; Keyes, T.

2015-09-01

At strong first-order phase transitions, the entropy versus energy or, at constant pressure, enthalpy, exhibits convex behavior, and the statistical temperature curve correspondingly exhibits an S-loop or back-bending. In the canonical and isothermal-isobaric ensembles, with temperature as the control variable, the probability density functions become bimodal with peaks localized outside of the S-loop region. Inside, states are unstable, and as a result simulation of equilibrium phase coexistence becomes impossible. To overcome this problem, a method was proposed by Kim, Keyes and Straub [1], where optimally designed generalized ensemble sampling was combined with replica exchange, and denoted generalized replica exchange method (gREM). This new technique uses parametrized effective sampling weights that lead to a unimodal energy distribution, transforming unstable states into stable ones. In the present study, the gREM, originally developed as a Monte Carlo algorithm, was implemented to work with molecular dynamics in an isobaric ensemble and coded into LAMMPS, a highly optimized open source molecular simulation package. The method is illustrated in a study of the very strong solid/liquid transition in water.

Novel Phases from the Interplay of Topology and Strong Interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hickey, Ciaran

In recent years, topology has become increasingly prevalent in condensed matter physics. It has allowed us to understand, and even predict, a variety of striking and remarkable physical phenomena. The study of strongly interacting systems has similarly lavished us with a diverse range of exotic phases and unconventional transitions, many of which are still poorly understood. In this thesis we will explore the interplay between topology and interactions in an effort to uncover new and novel phases. First we study how interactions impact the quantum phase transition between a topologically non-trivial phase and a trivial phase. The combination of interactions and the low-energy degrees of freedom associated with the transition leads to the emergence of a dome of lattice-symmetry breaking nematic order. Such behaviour is reminiscent of a number of strongly correlated electronic systems. We move on to study the strongly interacting limit of one of the earliest and best-known non-interacting topological phases, Haldane's model of a Chern insulator. Recently realized with ultracold atoms in a shaken optical lattice, the model has a non-trivial topological invariant associated with its band structure. In the strongly interacting limit the spin degrees of freedom are all that survive and we find a rich phase diagram of magnetically ordered phases, using a combination of both classical and quantum techniques. Supplementing the model with an additional term we can 'quantum-melt' one of these ordered states to produce a disordered, liquid state that we positively identify as a chiral spin liquid, a highly entangled state of matter with fractionalised excitations. We generalise this mechanism to other two dimensional lattices, uncovering a possible unifying framework with which to understand the emergence of chiral spin liquids in lattice spin models. Finally, motivated by groundbreaking experiments in the ultracold atoms community, we investigate a model of two-component bosons with an artificial spin-orbit coupling. The interplay between the lattice, interactions and spin-orbit coupling produces a variety of unusual superfluid phases. Using a novel Monte Carlo technique we reveal the finite temperature phase diagram that appears close to the Mott transition.

Electroweak baryogenesis and the standard model effective field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Vries, Jordy; Postma, Marieke; van de Vis, Jorinde; White, Graham

2018-01-01

We investigate electroweak baryogenesis within the framework of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory. The Standard Model Lagrangian is supplemented by dimension-six operators that facilitate a strong first-order electroweak phase transition and provide sufficient CP violation. Two explicit scenarios are studied that are related via the classical equations of motion and are therefore identical at leading order in the effective field theory expansion. We demonstrate that formally higher-order dimension-eight corrections lead to large modifications of the matter-antimatter asymmetry. The effective field theory expansion breaks down in the modified Higgs sector due to the requirement of a first-order phase transition. We investigate the source of the breakdown in detail and show how it is transferred to the CP-violating sector. We briefly discuss possible modifications of the effective field theory framework.

Strong-field two-photon transition by phase shaping

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Sangkyung; Lim, Jongseok; Ahn, Jaewook

2010-08-15

We demonstrate the ultrafast coherent control of a nonlinear two-photon absorption in a dynamically shifted energy level structure. We use a spectrotemporal laser-pulse shaping that is programed to preserve the resonant absorption condition during the intense laser-field interaction. Experiments carried out in the strong-field regime of two-photon absorption in the ground state of atomic cesium reveal that the analytically obtained offset and curvature of a laser spectrum compensate the effect of both static and dynamic energy shifts of the given light-atom interaction.

Metal dioxides as analogue of SiO2 under strong compression studied by synchrotron XRD and simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, H.; Liu, L. L.

2017-12-01

The phase transition sequence of SiO2 inducing by high pressure was theoretically predicted as coordination number (CN=6) structures (rutile, pyrite), CN=8 (Pnma) and CN=9 (P-62m) structures, but only the phases up to pyrite structure in SiO2 were observed experimentally up to now. The CN8 phase and CN9 phases of SiO2 were predicted to be stable at least 650 GPa, which is challenging to achieve in the static DAC experiment at present. In other metal dioxide systems, such as TiO2, the ambient rutile and anatase phases first transform to pyrite (CN6), then to the baddeleyite (CN7) phase, to a Pnma (CN8) phase and P-62m(CN9) phase. In this report, under strong compression at room temperature, several metal dioxides were studied experimentally and theoretically, to verify whether this theoretical predicted trend is common transition path under strong compression. This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (11374075), Heilongjiang Province Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (JC201005), Longjiang Scholar, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (HIT. BRET1.2010002, HIT. IBRSEM.A.201403).

Influence of physical properties and operating parameters on hydrodynamics in Centrifugal Partition Chromatography.

PubMed

Adelmann, S; Schembecker, G

2011-08-12

Besides the selection of a suitable biphasic solvent system the separation efficiency in Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) is mainly influenced by the hydrodynamics in the chambers. The flow pattern, the stationary phase retention and the interfacial area for mass transfer strongly depend on physical properties of the solvent system and operating parameters. In order to measure these parameters we visualized the hydrodynamics in a FCPC-chamber for five different solvent systems with an optical measurement system and calculated the stationary phase retention, interfacial area and the distribution of mobile phase thickness in the chamber. Although inclined chambers were used we found that the Coriolis force always deflected the mobile phase towards the chamber wall reducing the interfacial area. This effect increased for systems with low density difference. We also have shown that the stability of phase systems (stationary phase retention) and its tendency to disperse increased for smaller values of the ratio of interfacial tension and density difference. But also the viscosity ratio and the flow pattern itself had a significant effect on retention and dispersion of the mobile phase. As a result operating parameters should be chosen carefully with respect to physical properties for a CPC system. In order to reduce the effect of the Coriolis force CPC devices with greater rotor radius are desirable. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

On the nature of phase attraction in sensorimotor synchronization with interleaved auditory sequences.

PubMed

Repp, Bruno H

2004-10-01

In a task that requires in-phase synchronization of finger taps with an isochronous sequence of target tones that is interleaved with a sequence of distractor tones at various fixed phase relationships, the taps tend to be attracted to the distractor tones, especially when the distractor tones closely precede the target tones [Repp, B. H. (2003a). Phase attraction in sensorimotor synchronization with auditory sequences: Effects of single and periodic distractors on synchronization accuracy. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 29, 290-309]. The present research addressed two related questions about this distractor effect: (1) Is it a function of the absolute temporal separation or of the relative phase of the two stimulus sequences? (2) Is it the result of perceptual grouping (integration) of target and distractor tones or of simultaneous attraction to two independent sequences? In three experiments, distractor effects were compared across two different sequence rates. The results suggest that absolute temporal separation, not relative phase, is the critical variable. Experiment 3 also included an anti-phase tapping task that addressed the second question directly. The results suggest that the attraction of taps to distractor tones is caused mainly by temporal integration of target and distractor tones within a fixed window of 100-150 ms duration, with the earlier-occurring tone being weighted more strongly than the later-occurring one.

Enantiomeric separation of 2-arylpropionic acid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by HPLC with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin as chiral mobile phase additive.

PubMed

Ye, Jincui; Yu, Wenying; Chen, Guosheng; Shen, Zhengrong; Zeng, Su

2010-08-01

The enantio-separations of eight 2-arylpropionic acid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (2-APA NSAIDs) were established using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) as chiral mobile phase additive for studying the stereoselective skin permeation of suprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, indoprofen, fenoprofen, furbiprofen, ibuprofen and carprofen. The effects of the mobile phase composition, concentration of HP-beta-CD and column temperature on retention and enantioselective separation were investigated. With 2-APA NSAIDs as acidic analytes, the retention times and resolutions of the enantiomers were strongly related to the pH of the mobile phase. In addition, both the concentration of HP-beta-CD and temperature had a great effect on retention time, but only a slight or almost no effect on resolutions of the analytes. Enantioseparations were achieved on a Shimpack CLC-ODS (150 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm) column. The mobile phase was a mixture of methanol and phosphate buffer (pH 4.0-5.5, 20 mM) containing 25 mM HP-beta-CD. This method was flexible, simple and economically advantageous over the use of chiral stationary phase, and was successfully applied to the enantioselective determination of the racemic 2-APA NSAIDs in an enantioselective skin permeation study.

Lunar phase function effects on spectral ratios used for resource assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larson, S. M.; Collins, J.; Singer, R. B.; Johnson, J. R.; Melendrez, D. E.

1993-01-01

Groundbased telescopic CCD images of 36 selected locations on the moon were obtained in five 'standard' bandpasses at 12 phase angles ranging from -78 deg to +75 deg to measure phase function effects on the ratio values used to quantify the abundance of TiO2 and qualitatively indicate soil maturity. Consistent with previous studies, we find that the moon is 'bluer' at small phase angles, but that the effect on the ratio values for TiO2 abundance for the phase angles of our data is on the order of the measurement uncertainties throughout the range of abundances found in the mare. The effect is more significant as seen from orbiting spacecraft over a range of selenographic latitude. Spectral ratio images (400/560 and 400/730 nm) were used to map the abundance of TiO2 using the empirical relation found by Charlette et al from analysis of returned lunar soils. Additionally, the 950/560 and 950/730 nm image ratios were used to define the regions of mature mare soil in which the relation is valid. Although the phase function dependence on wavelength was investigated and quantified for small areas and the integrated disc, the effect specifically on TiO2 mapping was not rigorously determined. For consistency and convenience in observing the whole lunar front side, our mapping utilized images taken -15 deg less than alpha less than 15 deg when the moon was fully illuminated from earth; however, this includes the strong opposition peak.

Achieving a strongly negative scattering asymmetry factor in random media composed of dual-dipolar particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, B. X.; Zhao, C. Y.

2018-02-01

Understanding radiative transfer in random media like micro- or nanoporous and particulate materials, allows people to manipulate the scattering and absorption of radiation, as well as opens new possibilities in applications such as imaging through turbid media, photovoltaics, and radiative cooling. A strong-backscattering phase function, i.e., a negative scattering asymmetry parameter g , is of great interest, which can possibly lead to unusual radiative transport phenomena, for instance, Anderson localization of light. Here we demonstrate that by utilizing the structural correlations and second Kerker condition for a disordered medium composed of randomly distributed silicon nanoparticles, a strongly negative scattering asymmetry factor (g ˜-0.5 ) for multiple light scattering can be realized in the near infrared. Based on the multipole expansion of Foldy-Lax equations and quasicrystalline approximation (QCA), we have rigorously derived analytical expressions for the effective propagation constant and scattering phase function for a random system containing spherical particles, by taking the effect of structural correlations into account. We show that as the concentration of scattering particles rises, the backscattering is also enhanced. Moreover, in this circumstance, the transport mean free path is largely reduced and even becomes smaller than that predicted by independent scattering approximation. We further explore the dependent scattering effects, including the modification of electric and magnetic dipole excitations and far-field interference effect, both induced and influenced by the structural correlations, for volume fraction of particles up to fv˜0.25 . Our results have profound implications in harnessing micro- or nanoscale radiative transfer through random media.

Impact of nonlinear effective interactions on group field theory quantum gravity condensates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pithis, Andreas G. A.; Sakellariadou, Mairi; Tomov, Petar

2016-09-01

We present the numerical analysis of effectively interacting group field theory models in the context of the group field theory quantum gravity condensate analog of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation for real Bose-Einstein condensates including combinatorially local interaction terms. Thus, we go beyond the usually considered construction for free models. More precisely, considering such interactions in a weak regime, we find solutions for which the expectation value of the number operator N is finite, as in the free case. When tuning the interaction to the strongly nonlinear regime, however, we obtain solutions for which N grows and eventually blows up, which is reminiscent of what one observes for real Bose-Einstein condensates, where a strong interaction regime can only be realized at high density. This behavior suggests the breakdown of the Bogoliubov ansatz for quantum gravity condensates and the need for non-Fock representations to describe the system when the condensate constituents are strongly correlated. Furthermore, we study the expectation values of certain geometric operators imported from loop quantum gravity in the free and interacting cases. In particular, computing solutions around the nontrivial minima of the interaction potentials, one finds, already in the weakly interacting case, a nonvanishing condensate population for which the spectra are dominated by the lowest nontrivial configuration of the quantum geometry. This result indicates that the condensate may indeed consist of many smallest building blocks giving rise to an effectively continuous geometry, thus suggesting the interpretation of the condensate phase to correspond to a geometric phase.

A qualitative analysis of messages to promote smoking cessation among pregnant women.

PubMed

Hoek, Janet; Gifford, Heather; Maubach, Ninya; Newcombe, Rhiannon

2014-11-27

Although aware that smoking while pregnant presents serious risks to their unborn children, some women continue to smoke and rationalise their dissonance rather than quit. We explored metaphors women used to frame smoking and quitting, then developed cessation messages that drew on these metaphors and examined the perceived effectiveness of these. We used a two-phase qualitative study. Phase one involved 13 in-depth interviews with women who were smoking (or who had smoked) while pregnant. Phase two comprised 22 in-depth interviews with a new sample drawn from the same population. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, which promoted theme identification independently of the research protocol. Participants often described smoking as a choice, a frame that explicitly asserted control over their behaviour. This stance allowed them to counter-argue messages to quit, and distanced them from the risks they created and faced. Messages tested in phase 2 used strong affective appeals as well as themes that stimulated cognitive reflection. Without exception, the messages depicting unwell or distressed children elicited strong emotional responses, were more powerful cessation stimuli, and elicited fewer counter-arguments. Cessation messages that evoke strong affective responses capitalise on the dissonance many women feel when smoking while pregnant and stimulate stronger consideration of quitting. Given the importance of promoting cessation among pregnant women, future campaigns could make greater use of emotional appeals and place less emphasis on informational approaches, which often prompt vigorous counter-arguments. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Effects of roughness on density-weighted particle statistics in turbulent channel flows

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Milici, Barbara

2015-12-31

The distribution of inertial particles in turbulent flows is strongly influenced by the characteristics of the coherent turbulent structures which develop in the carrier flow field. In wall-bounded flows, these turbulent structures, which control the turbulent regeneration cycles, are strongly affected by the roughness of the wall, nevertheless its effects on the particle transport in two-phase turbulent flows has been still poorly investigated. The issue is discussed here by addressing DNS combined with LPT to obtain statistics of velocity and preferential accumulation of a dilute dispersion of heavy particles in a turbulent channel flow, bounded by irregular two-dimensional rough surfaces,more » in the one-way coupling regime.« less

Giant asymmetric self-phase modulation in superconductor thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robson, Charles W.; Biancalana, Fabio

2018-04-01

Self-phase modulation (SPM) of light pulses is found to occur strongly, at low incident intensities, in the coupling of light with superconductors. We develop a theory from a synthesis of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) equation and basic electrodynamics which shows the strongly non-linear phase accumulated in the interaction. Unusually, the SPM of the pulse in this system is found to be highly asymmetric, producing a strongly redshifted spectrum when interacting with a superconducting thin film, and it develops in just a few nanometers of propagation. In this paper we present theoretical results and simulations in the THz regime, for both hyperbolic secant and supergaussian-shaped pulses.

The influence of carbon, sulfur, and silicon on trace element partitioning in iron alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, J.; Van Orman, J. A.; Crispin, K. L.; Ash, R. D.

2014-12-01

Non-metallic light elements are important constituents of planetary cores and have a strong influence on the partitioning behavior of trace elements. Planetary cores may contain a wide range of non-metallic light elements, including H, N, S, P, Si, and C. Under highly reducing conditions, such as those that are thought to have pertained during the formation of Mercury's core, Si and C, in addition to sulfur, may be particularly important constituents. Each of these elements may strongly effect and have a different impact on the partitioning behavior of trace elements but their combined effects on trace element partitioning have not been quantified. We investigated the partitioning behavior of more than 25 siderophile trace elements within the Fe-S-C-Si system with varying concentrations of C, S, and Si. The experiments were performed under pressures varying from 1 atm to 2 GPa and temperatures ranging from 1200˚C to 1450˚C. All experiments produced immiscible liquids, one enriched in Si and C, and the other predominantly FeS. We found some highly siderophile elements including Os, Ru, Ir, and Re are much more enriched in Fe-Si-C phase than in Fe-S phase, whereas other trace elements like V, Co, Ag, Hf, and Pb are enriched in S-rich phase. However, not all the trace elements enriched in Fe-Si-C phase are repelled by sulfur. Elements like Re and Ru could have different partitioning trends if sulfur concentration in S-rich phase rises. The partitioning behavior of these trace elements could enhance our understanding of the differentiation of Mercury's core under oxygen-poor conditions.

Reinforcement: Food Signals the Time and Location of Future Food

PubMed Central

Cowie, Sarah; Davison, Michael; Elliffe, Douglas

2011-01-01

It has long been understood that food deliveries may act as signals of future food location, and not only as strengtheners of prefood responding as the law of effect suggests. Recent research has taken this idea further—the main effect of food deliveries, or other “reinforcers”, may be signaling rather than strengthening. The present experiment investigated the ability of food deliveries to signal food contingencies across time after food. In Phase 1, the next food delivery was always equally likely to be arranged for a left- or a right-key response. Conditions were arranged such that the next food delivery was likely to occur either sooner on the left (or right) key, or sooner on the just-productive (or not-just-productive) key. In Phase 2, similar contingencies were arranged, but the last-food location was signaled by a red keylight. Preference, measured in 2-s bins across interfood intervals, was jointly controlled by the likely time and location of the next food delivery. In Phase 1, when any food delivery signaled a likely sooner next food delivery on a particular key, postfood preference was strongly toward that key, and moved toward the other key across the interreinforcer interval. In other conditions in which food delivery on the two keys signaled different subsequent contingencies, postfood preference was less extreme, and quickly moved toward indifference. In Phase 2, in all three conditions, initial preference was strongly toward the likely-sooner food key, and moved to the other key across the interfood interval. In both phases, at a more extended level of analysis, sequences of same-key food deliveries caused a small increase in preference for the just-productive key, suggesting the presence of a “reinforcement effect”, albeit one that was very small. PMID:21765546

Role of the phase-matching condition in nondegenerate four-wave mixing in hot vapors for the generation of squeezed states of light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turnbull, M. T.; Petrov, P. G.; Embrey, C. S.; Marino, A. M.; Boyer, V.

2013-09-01

Nondegenerate forward four-wave mixing in hot atomic vapors has been shown to produce strong quantum correlations between twin beams of light [McCormick , Opt. Lett.OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.32.000178 32, 178 (2007)], in a configuration which minimizes losses by absorption. In this paper, we look at the role of the phase-matching condition in the trade-off that occurs between the efficiency of the nonlinear process and the absorption of the twin beams. To this effect, we develop a semiclassical model by deriving the atomic susceptibilities in the relevant double-Λ configuration and by solving the classical propagation of the twin-beam fields for parameters close to those found in typical experiments. These theoretical results are confirmed by a simple experimental study of the nonlinear gain experienced by the twin beams as a function of the phase mismatch. The model shows that the amount of phase mismatch is key to the realization of the physical conditions in which the absorption of the twin beams is minimized while the cross coupling between the twin beams is maintained at the level required for the generation of strong quantum correlations. The optimum is reached when the four-wave mixing process is not phase matched for fully resonant four-wave mixing.

Mermin-Wagner physics, (H ,T ) phase diagram, and candidate quantum spin-liquid phase in the spin-1/2 triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Ba8CoNb6O24

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Y.; Dai, J.; Zhou, P.; Wang, P. S.; Li, T. R.; Song, W. H.; Wang, J. C.; Ma, L.; Zhang, Z.; Li, S. Y.; Luke, G. M.; Normand, B.; Xiang, T.; Yu, W.

2018-04-01

Ba8CoNb6O24 presents a system whose Co2 + ions have an effective spin 1/2 and construct a regular triangular-lattice antiferromagnet (TLAFM) with a very large interlayer spacing, ensuring purely two-dimensional character. We exploit this ideal realization to perform a detailed experimental analysis of the S =1 /2 TLAFM, which is one of the keystone models in frustrated quantum magnetism. We find strong low-energy spin fluctuations and no magnetic ordering, but a diverging correlation length down to 0.1 K, indicating a Mermin-Wagner trend toward zero-temperature order. Below 0.1 K, however, our low-field measurements show an unexpected magnetically disordered state, which is a candidate quantum spin liquid. We establish the (H ,T ) phase diagram, mapping in detail the quantum fluctuation corrections to the available theoretical analysis. These include a strong upshift in field of the maximum ordering temperature, qualitative changes to both low- and high-field phase boundaries, and an ordered regime apparently dominated by the collinear "up-up-down" state. Ba8CoNb6O24 , therefore, offers fresh input for the development of theoretical approaches to the field-induced quantum phase transitions of the S =1 /2 Heisenberg TLAFM.

Phase Locking of Multiple Single Neurons to the Local Field Potential in Cat V1.

PubMed

Martin, Kevan A C; Schröder, Sylvia

2016-02-24

The local field potential (LFP) is thought to reflect a temporal reference for neuronal spiking, which may facilitate information coding and orchestrate the communication between neural populations. To explore this proposed role, we recorded the LFP and simultaneously the spike activity of one to three nearby neurons in V1 of anesthetized cats during the presentation of drifting sinusoidal gratings, binary dense noise stimuli, and natural movies. In all stimulus conditions and during spontaneous activity, the average LFP power at frequencies >20 Hz was higher when neurons were spiking versus not spiking. The spikes were weakly but significantly phase locked to all frequencies of the LFP. The average spike phase of the LFP was stable across high and low levels of LFP power, but the strength of phase locking at low frequencies (≤10 Hz) increased with increasing LFP power. In a next step, we studied how strong stimulus responses of single neurons are reflected in the LFP and the LFP-spike relationship. We found that LFP power was slightly increased and phase locking was slightly stronger during strong compared with weak stimulus-locked responses. In summary, the coupling strength between high frequencies of the LFP and spikes was not strongly modulated by LFP power, which is thought to reflect spiking synchrony, nor was it strongly influenced by how strongly the neuron was driven by the stimulus. Furthermore, a comparison between neighboring neurons showed no clustering of preferred LFP phase. We argue that hypotheses on the relevance of phase locking in their current form are inconsistent with our findings. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/362494-09$15.00/0.

The Effects of a Local Negative Feedback Function between Choice and Relative Reinforcer Rate

PubMed Central

Davison, Michael; Elliffe, Douglas; Marr, M. Jackson

2010-01-01

Four pigeons were trained on two-key concurrent variable-interval schedules with no changeover delay. In Phase 1, relative reinforcers on the two alternatives were varied over five conditions from .1 to .9. In Phases 2 and 3, we instituted a molar feedback function between relative choice in an interreinforcer interval and the probability of reinforcers on the two keys ending the next interreinforcer interval. The feedback function was linear, and was negatively sloped so that more extreme choice in an interreinforcer interval made it more likely that a reinforcer would be available on the other key at the end of the next interval. The slope of the feedback function was −1 in Phase 2 and −3 in Phase 3. We varied relative reinforcers in each of these phases by changing the intercept of the feedback function. Little effect of the feedback functions was discernible at the local (interreinforcer interval) level, but choice measured at an extended level across sessions was strongly and significantly decreased by increasing the negative slope of the feedback function. PMID:21451748

Topological Luttinger liquids from decorated domain walls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, Daniel E.; Scaffidi, Thomas; Vasseur, Romain

2018-04-01

We introduce a systematic construction of a gapless symmetry-protected topological phase in one dimension by "decorating" the domain walls of Luttinger liquids. The resulting strongly interacting phases provide a concrete example of a gapless symmetry-protected topological (gSPT) phase with robust symmetry-protected edge modes. Using boundary conformal field theory arguments, we show that while the bulks of such gSPT phases are identical to conventional Luttinger liquids, their boundary critical behavior is controlled by a different, strongly coupled renormalization group fixed point. Our results are checked against extensive density matrix renormalization group calculations.

Non-equilibrium quantum phase transition via entanglement decoherence dynamics.

PubMed

Lin, Yu-Chen; Yang, Pei-Yun; Zhang, Wei-Min

2016-10-07

We investigate the decoherence dynamics of continuous variable entanglement as the system-environment coupling strength varies from the weak-coupling to the strong-coupling regimes. Due to the existence of localized modes in the strong-coupling regime, the system cannot approach equilibrium with its environment, which induces a nonequilibrium quantum phase transition. We analytically solve the entanglement decoherence dynamics for an arbitrary spectral density. The nonequilibrium quantum phase transition is demonstrated as the system-environment coupling strength varies for all the Ohmic-type spectral densities. The 3-D entanglement quantum phase diagram is obtained.

Regioselectivity of pyridine deprotonation in the gas phase.

PubMed

Schafman, Bonnie S; Wenthold, Paul G

2007-03-02

The regioselective deprotonation of pyridine in the gas phase has been investigated by using chemical reactivity studies. The mixture of regioisomers, trapped as carboxylates, formed in an equilibrium mixture is determined to result from 70-80% deprotonation in the 4-position, and 20-30% deprotonation at the 3-position. The ion formed by deprotonation in the 2-position is not measurably deprotonated at equilibrium because the ion is destabilized by lone-pair repulsion. From the composition of the mixture, the gas-phase acidities (DeltaH degrees acid) at the 4-, 3-, and 2-positions are determined to be 389.9 +/- 2.0, 391.2-391.5, and >391.5 kcal/mol, respectively. The relative acidities of the 4- and 3-positions are explained by using Hammett-Taft parameters, derived by using the measured gas-phase acidities of pyridine carboxylic acids. The values of sigmaF and sigmaR are -0.18 and 0.74, respectively, showing the infused nitrogen in pyridine to have a strong pi electron-withdrawing effect, but with little sigma-inductive effect.

Miscibility Gap Closure, Interface Morphology, and Phase Microstructure of 3D Li xFePO 4 Nanoparticles from Surface Wetting and Coherency Strain

DOE PAGES

Welland, Michael J.; Karpeyev, Dmitry; O’Connor, Devin T.; ...

2015-09-10

We study the mesoscopic effects which suppress phase-segregation in Li xFePO 4 nanoparticles using a multiphysics phase-field model implement on a high performance cluster. We simulate 3D spherical particles of radii from 3nm to 40nm and examine the equilibrium microstructure and voltage profiles as a they depend on size and overall lithiation. The model includes anisotropic, concentration-dependent elastic moduli, misfit strain, and facet dependent surface wetting within a Cahn-Hilliard formulation. Here, we find that the miscibility gap vanishes for particles of radius ~ 5 nm, and the solubility limits change with overall particle lithiation. The corresponding voltage plateau, indicative ofmore » phase-segregation, changes in extent and also vanishes. Surface wetting is found to have a strong effect on stabilizing a variety of microstructures, exaggerating the shifting of solubility limits, and shortening the voltage plateau.« less

Majorana Kramers pairs in Rashba double nanowires with interactions and disorder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakurathi, Manisha; Simon, Pascal; Mandal, Ipsita; Klinovaja, Jelena; Loss, Daniel

2018-01-01

We analyze the effects of electron-electron interactions and disorder on a Rashba double-nanowire setup coupled to an s -wave superconductor, which has been recently proposed as a versatile platform to generate Kramers pairs of Majorana bound states in the absence of magnetic fields. We identify the regime of parameters for which these Kramers pairs are stable against interaction and disorder effects. We use bosonization, perturbative renormalization group, and replica techniques to derive the flow equations for various parameters of the model and evaluate the corresponding phase diagram with topological and disorder-dominated phases. We confirm aforementioned results by considering a more microscopic approach, which starts from the tunneling Hamiltonian between the three-dimensional s -wave superconductor and the nanowires. We find again that the interaction drives the system into the topological phase and, as the strength of the source term coming from the tunneling Hamiltonian increases, strong electron-electron interactions are required to reach the topological phase.

Surfactant effects on desorption rate of nonionic organic compounds from soils to water

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cesare, David Di; Smith, James A.

1994-01-01

The widespread occurrence of organic contamination in groundwater systems has become an important environmental concern. Of particular interest are nonionic organic compounds, which sorb strongly to natural soil as a result of their characteristic low aqueous solubilities and hydrophobic nature. Consequently, the remediation of nonionic organic contamination in groundwater systems is often highly dependent on contaminant desorption from the sorbed to aqueous phase. The kinetics of desorption will significantly influence the extraction efficiency of pump-and-treat remedial methods that are capable of removing only dissolved phase contaminants.

Effects of Switching Behavior for the Attraction on Pedestrian Dynamics

PubMed Central

Kwak, Jaeyoung; Jo, Hang-Hyun; Luttinen, Tapio; Kosonen, Iisakki

2015-01-01

Walking is a fundamental activity of our daily life not only for moving to other places but also for interacting with surrounding environment. While walking on the streets, pedestrians can be aware of attractions like shopping windows. They can be influenced by the attractions and some of them might shift their attention towards the attractions, namely switching behavior. As a first step to incorporate the switching behavior, this study investigates collective effects of switching behavior for an attraction by developing a behavioral model. Numerical simulations exhibit different patterns of pedestrian behavior depending on the strength of the social influence and the average length of stay. When the social influence is strong along with a long length of stay, a saturated phase can be defined at which all the pedestrians have visited the attraction. If the social influence is not strong enough, an unsaturated phase appears where one can observe that some pedestrians head for the attraction while others walk in their desired direction. These collective patterns of pedestrian behavior are summarized in a phase diagram by comparing the number of pedestrians who visited the attraction to the number of passersby near the attraction. Measuring the marginal benefits with respect to the strength of the social influence and the average length of stay enables us to identify under what conditions enhancing these variables would be more effective. The findings from this study can be understood in the context of the pedestrian facility management, for instance, for retail stores. PMID:26218430

Effects of Switching Behavior for the Attraction on Pedestrian Dynamics.

PubMed

Kwak, Jaeyoung; Jo, Hang-Hyun; Luttinen, Tapio; Kosonen, Iisakki

2015-01-01

Walking is a fundamental activity of our daily life not only for moving to other places but also for interacting with surrounding environment. While walking on the streets, pedestrians can be aware of attractions like shopping windows. They can be influenced by the attractions and some of them might shift their attention towards the attractions, namely switching behavior. As a first step to incorporate the switching behavior, this study investigates collective effects of switching behavior for an attraction by developing a behavioral model. Numerical simulations exhibit different patterns of pedestrian behavior depending on the strength of the social influence and the average length of stay. When the social influence is strong along with a long length of stay, a saturated phase can be defined at which all the pedestrians have visited the attraction. If the social influence is not strong enough, an unsaturated phase appears where one can observe that some pedestrians head for the attraction while others walk in their desired direction. These collective patterns of pedestrian behavior are summarized in a phase diagram by comparing the number of pedestrians who visited the attraction to the number of passersby near the attraction. Measuring the marginal benefits with respect to the strength of the social influence and the average length of stay enables us to identify under what conditions enhancing these variables would be more effective. The findings from this study can be understood in the context of the pedestrian facility management, for instance, for retail stores.

Braids and phase gates through high-frequency virtual tunneling of Majorana zero modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorantla, Pranay; Sensarma, Rajdeep

2018-05-01

Braiding of non-Abelian Majorana anyons is a first step towards using them in quantum computing. We propose a protocol for braiding Majorana zero modes formed at the edges of nanowires with strong spin-orbit coupling and proximity-induced superconductivity. Our protocol uses high-frequency virtual tunneling between the ends of the nanowires in a trijunction, which leads to an effective low-frequency coarse-grained dynamics for the system, to perform the braid. The braiding operation is immune to amplitude noise in the drives and depends only on relative phase between the drives, which can be controlled by the usual phase-locking techniques. We also show how a phase gate, which is necessary for universal quantum computation, can be implemented with our protocol.

Phase behaviour of the symmetric binary mixture from thermodynamic perturbation theory.

PubMed

Dorsaz, N; Foffi, G

2010-03-17

We study the phase behaviour of symmetric binary mixtures of hard core Yukawa (HCY) particles via thermodynamic perturbation theory (TPT). We show that all the topologies of phase diagram reported for the symmetric binary mixtures are correctly reproduced within the TPT approach. In a second step we use the capability of TPT to be straightforwardly extended to mixtures that are nonsymmetric in size. Starting from mixtures that belong to the different topologies of symmetric binary mixtures we investigate the effect on the phase behaviour when an asymmetry in the diameters of the two components is introduced. Interestingly, when the energy of interaction between unlike particles is weaker than the interaction between like particles, the propensity for the solution to demix is found to increase strongly with size asymmetry.

Understanding and Tailoring Grain Growth of Lead-Halide Perovskite for Solar Cell Application.

PubMed

Ma, Yongchao; Liu, Yanliang; Shin, Insoo; Hwang, In-Wook; Jung, Yun Kyung; Jeong, Jung Hyun; Park, Sung Heum; Kim, Kwang Ho

2017-10-04

The fundamental mechanism of grain growth evolution in the fabrication process from the precursor phase to the perovskite phase is not fully understood despite its importance in achieving high-quality grains in organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites, which are strongly affected by processing parameters. In this work, we investigate the fundamental conversion mechanism from the precursor phase of perovskite to the complete perovskite phase and how the intermediate phase promotes growth of the perovskite grains during the fabrication process. By monitoring the morphological evolution of the perovskite during the film fabrication process, we observed a clear rod-shaped intermediate phase in the highly crystalline perovskite and investigated the role of the nanorod intermediate phase on the growth of the grains of the perovskite film. Furthermore, on the basis of these findings, we developed a simple and effective method to tailor grain properties including the crystallinity, size, and number of grain boundaries, and then utilized the film with the tailored grains to develop perovskite solar cells.

Dissipation-driven phase transitions in superconducting wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lobos, Alejandro; Iucci, Aníbal; Müller, Markus; Giamarchi, Thierry

2010-03-01

Narrow superconducting wires with diameter dξ0 (where ξ0 is the bulk superconducting coherence length) are quasi-1D systems in which fluctuations of the order parameter strongly affect low-temperature properties. Indeed, fluctuations cause the magnitude of the order parameter to temporarily vanish at some point along the wire, allowing its phase to slip by 2π, and to produce finite resistivity for all temperatures below Tc. In this work, we show that a weak coupling to a diffusive metallic film reinforces superconductivity in the wire through a quench of phase fluctuations. We analyze the effective phase-only action of the system by a perturbative renormalization-group and a self-consistent variational approach to obtain the critical points and phases at T=0. We predict a quantum phase transition towards a superconducting phase with long-range order as a function of the wire stiffness and coupling to the metal. Finally we discuss implications for the DC resistivity of the wire.

Venetoclax Yields Strong Responses in CLL.

PubMed

2016-02-01

Results from an international phase II study show that the investigational BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax is effective in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the chromosome 17p deletion, whose prognosis is particularly poor. Venetoclax yielded high and durable responses in this population, including several complete remissions. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

The First Step in Educational Problem Solving---A Systematic Assessment of Student Benefits.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sweigert, Ray L., Jr.

The limitations on educational resources and the increasing complexity in all phases of social organization demand that the educational process become more efficient and effective. A strong opinion among educators suggests that students can learn faster if the educational forces are applied systematically. To achieve this goal, learning objectives…

Convection Effects in Three-dimensional Dendritic Growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lu, Yili; Beckermann, C.; Karma, A.

2003-01-01

A phase-field model is developed to simulate free dendritic growth coupled with fluid flow for a pure material in three dimensions. The preliminary results presented here illustrate the strong influence of convection on the three-dimensional (3D) dendrite growth morphology. The detailed knowledge of the flow and temperature fields in the melt around the dendrite from the simulations allows for a detailed understanding of the convection effects on dendritic growth.

Premelting hcp to bcc Transition in Beryllium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Y.; Sun, T.; Zhang, Ping; Zhang, P.; Zhang, D.-B.; Wentzcovitch, R. M.

2017-04-01

Beryllium (Be) is an important material with wide applications ranging from aerospace components to x-ray equipment. Yet a precise understanding of its phase diagram remains elusive. We have investigated the phase stability of Be using a recently developed hybrid free energy computation method that accounts for anharmonic effects by invoking phonon quasiparticles. We find that the hcp → bcc transition occurs near the melting curve at 0

The investigation of the lateral interaction effect's on traffic flow behavior under open boundaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouadi, M.; Jetto, K.; Benyoussef, A.; El Kenz, A.

2017-11-01

In this paper, an open boundaries traffic flow system is studied by taking into account the lateral interaction with spatial defects. For a random defects distribution, if the vehicles velocities are weakly correlated, the traffic phases can be predicted by considering the corresponding inflow and outflow functions. Conversely, if the vehicles velocities are strongly correlated, a phase segregation appears inside the system's bulk which induces the maximum current appearance. Such velocity correlation depends mainly on the defects densities and the probabilities of lateral deceleration. However, for a compact defects distribution, the traffic phases are predictable by using the inflow in the system beginning, the inflow entering the defects zone and the outflow function.

Phase-only asymmetric optical cryptosystem based on random modulus decomposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Hongfeng; Xu, Wenhui; Wang, Shuaihua; Wu, Shaofan

2018-06-01

We propose a phase-only asymmetric optical cryptosystem based on random modulus decomposition (RMD). The cryptosystem is presented for effectively improving the capacity to resist various attacks, including the attack of iterative algorithms. On the one hand, RMD and phase encoding are combined to remove the constraints that can be used in the attacking process. On the other hand, the security keys (geometrical parameters) introduced by Fresnel transform can increase the key variety and enlarge the key space simultaneously. Numerical simulation results demonstrate the strong feasibility, security and robustness of the proposed cryptosystem. This cryptosystem will open up many new opportunities in the application fields of optical encryption and authentication.

Component effects on crystallization of RE-containing aluminoborosilicate glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohd Fadzil, Syazwani; Hrma, Pavel; Schweiger, Michael J.; Riley, Brian J.

2016-09-01

Lanthanide-aluminoborosilicate (LABS) glass is one option for immobilizing rare earth (RE) oxide fission products generated during reprocessing of pyroprocessed fuel. This glass system can accommodate a high loading of RE oxides and has excellent chemical durability. The present study describes efforts to model equilibrium crystallinity as a function of glass composition and temperature as well as liquidus temperature (TL) as a function of glass composition. The experimental method for determining TL was ASTM C1720-11. Typically, three crystalline phases were formed in each glass: Ce-borosilicate (Ce3BSi2O10), mullite (Al10Si2O19), and corundum (Al2O3). Cerianite (CeO2) was a common minor crystalline phase and Nd-silicate (Nd2Si2O7) occurred in some of the glasses. In the composition region studied, TL decreased as SiO2 and B2O3 fractions increased and strongly increased with increasing fractions of RE oxides; Al2O3 had a moderate effect on the TL but, as expected, it strongly affected the precipitation of Al-containing crystals.

Vibration Analysis of a Split Path Gearbox

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krantz, Timothy L.; Rashidi, Majid

1995-01-01

Split path gearboxes can be attractive alternatives to the common planetary designs for rotorcraft, but because they have seen little use, they are relatively high risk designs. To help reduce the risk of fielding a rotorcraft with a split path gearbox, the vibration and dynamic characteristics of such a gearbox were studied. A mathematical model was developed by using the Lagrangian method, and it was applied to study the effect of three design variables on the natural frequencies and vibration energy of the gearbox. The first design variable, shaft angle, had little influence on the natural frequencies. The second variable, mesh phasing, had a strong effect on the levels of vibration energy, with phase angles of 0 deg and 180 deg producing low vibration levels. The third design variable, the stiffness of the shafts connecting the spur gears to the helical pinions, strongly influenced the natural frequencies of some of the vibration modes, including two of the dominant modes. We found that, to achieve the lowest level of vibration energy, the natural frequencies of these two dominant modes should be less than those of the main excitation sources.

Synergistic effect of combination of phenethyl isothiocyanate and sulforaphane or curcumin and sulforaphane in the inhibition of inflammation.

PubMed

Cheung, Ka Lung; Khor, Tin Oo; Kong, Ah-Ng

2009-01-01

Accumulating evidence from epidemiologic and clinical studies indicates that chronic inflammatory disorders harbor an increased risk of cancer development. Curcumin (CUR) has been strongly linked to the anti-inflammatory effect. On the other hand, isothiocyanates such as sulforaphane (SFN) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) are strong phase-II detoxifying/antioxidant enzymes inducer. Therefore it is interesting to see if combination of these drugs can inhibit inflammation with higher combined efficacies. We used nitric oxide (NO) assay to assess the synergism of the different combinations of CUR, SFN and PEITC. The inflammatory markers, e.g. iNOS, COX-2, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) levels were determined using RT-PCR, Western blot and ELISA assays. We report that combination of PEITC + SFN or CUR + SFN has a synergistic effect in down-regulating inflammation markers like TNF, IL-1, NO, PGE2. The synergism is probably due to the synergistic induction of phase II/antioxidant enzymes including heme-oxygenase1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1). Our data suggest that CUR + SFN and PEITC + SFN combinations could be more effective than used alone in preventing inflammation and possibly its associated diseases including cancer.

Nature of men and higher animals' response to the lunar phases.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Troshichev, Oleg; Vladimir, Vorobeichikov; Viktor, Stepanov; Eduard, Gorshkov

The Moon impact on the abnormal behavior of men and higher animals was marked during the entire mankind history, but the nature of this effect remained unclear. The popular hypothesis of the tidal influence of the Moon on the living organisms turned out to be incompatible with the contemporary biophysics concepts. In addition, the estimates of the lunar gravity influence on the men organism showed the negligible value of the possible effect. Vorobeichikov et al. [2006] were the first who suggested that the organisms' response to the lunar phases can be linked with the bacillus E.coli inhabiting in the bowels of the living organisms. E.coli belongs to family of enterobacteria, which are the important component of the human body microflora. Bacteria E.coli being sowed in the nutritious medium go in their development through four stages: adjusting, explosive reproducing, stationary, and dieing. The adjusting stage (or lagphase) is the most interesting for researchers, since duration of this phase L (the interval between the sowing time and the onset of the quick, exponential reproduction) is strongly influenced by the external conditions and can vary from standard 3 - 3.5 hours to some minutes. In our experiments the lag-phase L was determined for days of new moon and full moon, and for such exclusive events as the solar and lunar eclipses. The standard quantity of E.coli was sowed in the standard volume of the artificial nutritive. Lag-phase was detected every 1 minute near the key moment and every 15 minutes at other hours. It turned out that lag-phase is reduced to 1.5 hour for new moon, 1 hour for full moon, 0.5 hour for the lunar eclipse and falls to zero for the solar eclipse. In the latter case it took about 10 hours for the lag phase reduction before the eclipse and the lag-phase recovery after the eclipse. In case of a new moon the lag phase reduction lasted about half of hour. Thus, the close was the Moon to the line Sun-Earth, the shorter was lag phase and longer was interval of the lag phase reduction. Solution with the E.coli metabolism products related to time of the full Moon were punctured, four hours later, to the experimental pigs. After that the animals demonstrated the signs of anxiety and strong excitement. The conclusion is made that the accelerated, under the full moon conditions, reproduction of E.coli resulted in the increased bacteria metabolism, which products, caming into the animals' blood, led to abnormal reaction of the animals' organism. It was suggested that the Sun is the source of the unknown irradiation, which usually strongly suppressed the microorganisms' reproduction. The total gravitational field of the Earth and Moon modulates the irradiation intensity in such way that the irradiation income to the Earth surface sharply reduces.

Ring Current Dynamics in Moderate and Strong Storms: Comparative Analysis of TWINS and IMAGE/HENA Data with the Comprehensive Ring Current Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buzulukova, N.; Fok, M.-C.; Goldstein, J.; Valek, P.; McComas, D. J.; Brandt, P. C.

2010-01-01

We present a comparative study of ring current dynamics during strong and moderate storms. The ring current during the strong storm is studied with IMAGE/HENA data near the solar cycle maximum in 2000. The ring current during the moderate storm is studied using energetic neutral atom (ENA) data from the Two Wide-Angle Imaging Neutral- Atom Spectrometers (TWINS) mission during the solar minimum in 2008. For both storms, the local time distributions of ENA emissions show signatures of postmidnight enhancement (PME) during the main phases. To model the ring current and ENA emissions, we use the Comprehensive Ring Current Model (CRCM). CRCM results show that the main-phase ring current pressure peaks in the premidnight-dusk sector, while the most intense CRCM-simulated ENA emissions show PME signatures. We analyze two factors to explain this difference: the dependence of charge-exchange cross section on energy and pitch angle distributions of ring current. We find that the IMF By effect (twisting of the convection pattern due to By) is not needed to form the PME. Additionally, the PME is more pronounced for the strong storm, although relative shielding and hence electric field skewing is well developed for both events.

Vortex pinning landscape in MOD-TFA YBCO nanostroctured films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gutierrez, J.; Puig, T.; Pomar, A.; Obradors, X.

2008-03-01

A methodology of general validity to study vortex pinning in YBCO based on Jc transport measurements is described. It permits to identify, separate and quantify three basic vortex pinning contributions associated to anisotropic-strong, isotropic-strong and isotropic-weak pinning centers. Thereof, the corresponding vortex pinning phase diagrams are built up. This methodology is applied to the new solution-derived YBCO nanostructured films, including controlled interfacial pinning by the growth of nanostructured templates by means of self-assembled processes [1] and YBCO-BaZrO3 nanocomposites prepared by modified solution precursors. The application of the methodology and comparison with a standard solution-derived YBCO film [2], enables us to identify the nature and the effect of the additional pinning centers induced. The nanostructured templates films show c-axis pinning strongly increased, controlling most of the pinning phase diagram. On the other hand, the nanocomposites have achieved so far, the highest pinning properties in HTc-superconductors [3], being the isotropic-strong defects contribution the origin of their unique properties. [1] M. Gibert et al, Adv. Mat. vol 19, p. 3937 (2007) [2] Puig.T et al, SuST EUCAS 2007 (to be published) [3] J. Gutierrez et al, Nat. Mat. vol. 6, p. 367 (2007) * Work supported by HIPERCHEM, NANOARTIS and MAT2005-02047

Magnetic phase separation and strong enhancement of the Néel temperature at high pressures in a new multiferroic Ba3TaFe3Si2O14

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyubutin, I. S.; Starchikov, S. S.; Gavriliuk, A. G.; Troyan, I. A.; Nikiforova, Yu. A.; Ivanova, A. G.; Chumakov, A. I.; Rüffer, R.

2017-01-01

The high-pressure properties of a new multiferroic of the langasite family Ba3TaFe3Si2O14 were investigated in diamond-anvil cells (DAC) in the temperature range of 4.2-295 K by a new method of synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy. Strong enhancement of the Néel temperature T N was observed at pressures above 20 GPa associated with the structural transformation. The highest value of T N is about 130 K which is almost five times larger than the value at ambient pressure (about 27 K). It was suggested that the high value of T N appears due to redistribution of Fe ions over 3 f and 2 d tetrahedral sites of the langasite structure. In this case, the short Fe-O distances and favorable Fe-O-Fe bond angles create conditions for strong superexchange interactions between iron ions, and effective two-dimensional (2D) magnetic ordering appears in the ( ab) plane. The separation of the sample into two magnetic phases with different T N values of about 50 and 130 K was revealed, which can be explained by the strong 2D magnetic ordering in the ab plane and 3D ordering involving inter-plane interaction.

The role of thermodynamics in mantle convection: is mantle-layering intermittent?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stixrude, L. P.; Cagney, N.; Lithgow-Bertelloni, C. R.

2016-12-01

We examine the thermal evolution of the Earth using a 1D model in which mixing length theory is used to characterise the role of thermal convection. Unlike previous work, our model accounts for the complex role of thermodynamics and phase changes through the use of HeFESTo (Stixrude & Lithgow-Bertelloni, Geophys. J. Int. 184, 2011), a comprehensive thermodynamic model that enables self-consistent computation of phase equilibria, physical properties (e.g. density, thermal expansivity etc.) and mantle isentropes. Our model also accounts for the freezing of the inner core, radiogenic heating and Arrhenius rheology, and is validated by comparing our results to observations, including the present-day size of the inner core and the heat flux at the surface.If phase changes and the various thermodynamic effects on mantle properties are neglected, the results are weakly dependent on the initial conditions, as has been observed in several previous studies. However, when these effects are accounted for, the initial temperature profile has a strong influence on the thermal evolution of the mantle, because small changes in the temperature and phase-assemblage can lead to large changes in the local physical properties and the adiabatic gradient.The inclusion of thermodynamic effects leads to some new and interesting insights. We demonstrate that the Clapeyron slope and the thermal gradient at the transition zone both vary significantly with time; this causes the mantle to switch between a layered state, in which convection across the transition zone is weak or negligible, and an un-layered state, in which there is no resistance to mass transfer between the upper and lower mantles.Various plume models describe plumes either rising directly from the CMB to the lithosphere, or stalling at the transition zone before spawning new plumes in the upper mantle. The observance of switching behaviour indicates that both models may be applicable depending on the state of the mantle: plumes may rise directly from the CMB when the mantle is un-layered, but stall at the transition zone when it is strongly layered. This has significant implications for the geochemical interpretation of ancient and present-day OIB and LIPs. This switching also has a very strong effect on the Rayleigh number, which in turn controls the mixing time of the mantle.

Gas mixing enhanced by power modulations in atmospheric pressure microwave plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voráč, J.; Potočňáková, L.; Synek, P.; Hnilica, J.; Kudrle, V.

2016-04-01

Microwave plasma jet operating in atmospheric pressure argon was power modulated by audio frequency sine envelope in the 102 W power range. Its effluent was imaged using interference filters and ICCD camera for several different phases of the modulating signal. The combination of this fast imaging with spatially resolved optical emission spectroscopy provides useful insights into the plasmachemical processes involved. Phase-resolved schlieren photography was performed to visualize the gas dynamics. The results show that for higher modulation frequencies the plasma chemistry is strongly influenced by formation of transient flow perturbation resembling a vortex during each period. The perturbation formation and speed are strongly influenced by the frequency and power variations while they depend only weakly on the working gas flow rate. From application point of view, the perturbation presence significantly broadened lateral distribution of active species, effectively increasing cross-sectional area suitable for applications.

Determination of highly protein bound drugs in plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography and column switching, exemplified by the retinoids.

PubMed

Wyss, R; Bucheli, F

1988-12-02

During method development for the determination of either isotretinoin, tretinoin and their 4-oxo-metabolites, or etretinate, acitretin and 13-cis-acitretin in plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography and column switching, recovery problems arose, when undiluted plasma samples were injected directly onto the precolumn. These recovery problems may be due to the strong binding of the retinoids to different plasma proteins. Measures to overcome this strong protein binding, such as variation of the injection solution composition and the purge mobile phase, were systematically investigated. Best recoveries were obtained by diluting of plasma with 9 mM sodium hydroxide-acetonitrile (8:2, v/v) and protein precipitation with ethanol for the isotretinoin and etretinate series, respectively, in combination with the use of a purge mobile phase containing ammonium acetate and 10-20% acetonitrile. Less effective was the use of a longer precolumn or heating of the precolumn.

Spin-polaron nature of fermion quasiparticles and their d-wave pairing in cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Val'kov, V. V.; Dzebisashvili, D. M.; Barabanov, A. F.

2016-11-01

In the framework of the spin-fermion model, to which the Emery model is reduced in the limit of strong electron correlations, it is shown that the fermion quasiparticles in cuprate high- T c superconductors (HTSCs) arise under a strong effect of exchange coupling between oxygen holes and spins of copper ions. This underlies the spin-polaron nature of fermion quasiparticles in cuprate HTSCs. The Cooper instability with respect to the d-wave symmetry of the order parameter is revealed for an ensemble of such quasiparticles. For the normal phase, the spin-polaron concept allows us to reproduce the fine details in the evolution of the Fermi surface with the changes in the doping level x observed in experiment for La2-xSrxCuO4. The calculated T-x phase diagram correlates well with the available experimental data for cuprate HTSCs.

Anomalous Hooke’s law in disordered graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gornyi, I. V.; Kachorovskii, V. Yu; Mirlin, A. D.

2017-03-01

The discovery of graphene, a single monolayer of graphite, has provided an experimental demonstration of stability of 2D crystals. Although thermal fluctuations of such crystals tend to destroy the long-range order in the system, the crystal can be stabilized by strong anharmonicity effects. This competition is the central issue of the crumpling transition, i.e., a transition between flat and crumpled phases. We show that anharmonicity-controlled fluctuations of a graphene membrane around equilibrium flat phase lead to unusual elastic properties. In particular, we demonstrate that stretching ξ of a flake of graphene is a nonlinear function of the applied tension at small tension: ξ \\propto {σ }η /(2-η ) and ξ \\propto {σ }η /(8-η ) for clean and strongly disordered graphene, respectively. Conventional linear Hooke’s law, ξ \\propto σ , is realized at sufficiently large tensions: σ \\gg {σ }* , where {σ }* depends both on temperature and on the disorder strength.

Collective modes of an imbalanced unitary Fermi gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hofmann, Johannes; Chevy, Frédéric; Goulko, Olga; Lobo, Carlos

2018-03-01

We study theoretically the collective mode spectrum of a strongly imbalanced two-component unitary Fermi gas in a cigar-shaped trap, where the minority species forms a gas of polarons. We describe the collective breathing mode of the gas in terms of the Fermi-liquid kinetic equation taking collisions into account using the method of moments. Our results for the frequency and damping of the longitudinal in-phase breathing mode are in good quantitative agreement with an experiment by Nascimbène et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 170402 (2009), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.170402] and interpolate between a hydrodynamic and a collisionless regime as the polarization is increased. A separate out-of phase breathing mode, which for a collisionless gas is sensitive to the effective mass of the polaron, however, is strongly damped at finite temperature, whereas the experiment observes a well-defined oscillation.

Exotic Quantum Phases and Phase Transitions of Strongly Interacting Electrons in Low-Dimensional Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishmash, Ryan V.

Experiments on strongly correlated quasi-two-dimensional electronic materials---for example, the high-temperature cuprate superconductors and the putative quantum spin liquids kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu2(CN)3 and EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2---routinely reveal highly mysterious quantum behavior which cannot be explained in terms of weakly interacting degrees of freedom. Theoretical progress thus requires the introduction of completely new concepts and machinery beyond the traditional framework of the band theory of solids and its interacting counterpart, Landau's Fermi liquid theory. In full two dimensions, controlled and reliable analytical approaches to such problems are severely lacking, as are numerical simulations of even the simplest of model Hamiltonians due to the infamous fermionic sign problem. Here, we attempt to circumvent some of these difficulties by studying analogous problems in quasi-one dimension. In this lower dimensional setting, theoretical and numerical tractability are on much stronger footing due to the methods of bosonization and the density matrix renormalization group, respectively. Using these techniques, we attack two problems: (1) the Mott transition between a Fermi liquid metal and a quantum spin liquid as potentially directly relevant to the organic compounds kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu 2(CN)3 and EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit)2] 2 and (2) non-Fermi liquid metals as strongly motivated by the strange metal phase observed in the cuprates. In both cases, we are able to realize highly exotic quantum phases as ground states of reasonable microscopic models. This lends strong credence to respective underlying slave-particle descriptions of the low-energy physics, which are inherently strongly interacting and also unconventional in comparison to weakly interacting alternatives. Finally, working in two dimensions directly, we propose a new slave-particle theory which explains in a universal way many of the intriguing experimental results of the triangular lattice organic spin liquid candidates kappa-(BEDT-TTF) 2Cu2(CN)3 and EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit) 2]2. With use of large-scale variational Monte Carlo calculations, we show that this new state has very competitive trial energy in an effective spin model thought to describe the essential features of the real materials.

Nanoparticle engineering of colloidal suspension behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Angel Thanda

We investigate the effects of highly charged nanoparticles on the phase behavior, structure, and assembly of colloidal microsphere suspensions. Specifically, by selectively tuning the electrostatic interactions between silica microspheres and polystyrene nanoparticles, we study the behavior of four key systems: (i) strongly repulsive, (ii) haloing, (iii) weakly attractive, and (iv) strongly attractive systems. In each system, a combination of nanoparticle adsorption, zeta potential, and confocal microscopy measurements are carried out to systematically study the effects of nanoparticle volume fraction, microsphere/nanoparticle size ratios, and interparticle interactions on their behavior. Our observations indicate that minimal adsorption of highly charged nanoparticles occurs on like-charged and negligibly-charged microspheres, whereas their extent of association increases dramatically with increasing microsphere-nanoparticle attraction. A rich phase behavior emerges in these systems based on whether the nanoparticle species serve as depletants, haloing, or bridging species. The phase transitions in the haloing system occur at constant nanoparticle volume fractions, φnano, over a broad range of microsphere volume fractions, φmicro . By contrast, the observed transitions in the weakly and strongly attractive mixtures occur at a constant number ratio of nanoparticles per microsphere, Nnano/Nmicro. Important structural differences emerge, which can be exploited in the assembly of colloidal gels for direct ink writing and colloidal crystals on epitaxially patterned substrates. Finally, for the first time, we explore nanoparticle haloing as a new route for stabilizing hydrophobic colloidal drugs in aqueous suspensions media for preparation of injectable pharmaceuticals. These microsphere suspensions exhibit improved stability relative to their surfactant-stabilized counterparts after autoclaving, a critical processing step for this target applications. This research opens up a new avenue for stabilization of hydrophobic particles, when surfactant additions alone do not provide sufficient stabilization.

Synergistic Combination of Novel Tubulin Inhibitor ABI-274 and Vemurafenib Overcome Vemurafenib Acquired Resistance in BRAFV600E Melanoma

PubMed Central

Wang, Jin; Chen, Jianjun; Miller, Duane D.; Li, Wei

2013-01-01

Acquired clinical resistance to vemurafenib, a selective BRAFV600E inhibitor, arises frequently after short term chemotherapy. Since inhibitions of targets in the RAF-MEK-ERK pathway result in G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, vemurafenib-resistant cancer cells are expected to escape this cell cycle arrest and progress to subsequent G2/M phase. We hypothesized that a combined therapy using vemurafenib with a G2/M phase blocking agent will trap resistant cells and overcome vemurafenib resistance. To test this hypothesis, we first determined the combination index (CI) values of our novel tubulin inhibitor ABI-274 and vemurafenib on parental human A375 and MDA-MB-435 melanoma cell lines to be 0.32 and 0.1, respectively, suggesting strong synergy for the combination. We then developed an A375RF21 subline with significant acquired resistance to vemurafenib and confirmed the strong synergistic effect. Next we studied the potential mechanisms of overcoming vemurafenib resistance. Flow cytometry confirmed that the combination of ABI-274 and vemurafenib synergistically arrested cells in G1/G2/M phase, and significantly increased apoptosis in both parental A375 and the vemurafenib-resistant A375RF21 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that the combination treatment effectively reduced the level of phosphorylated and total AKT, activated the apoptosis cascade, and increased cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP, but had no significant influence on the level of ERK phosphorylation. Finally, in vivo co-administration of vemurafenib with ABI-274 showed strong synergistic efficacy in the vemurafenib-resistant xenograft model in nude mice. Overall, these results offer a rational combination strategy to significantly enhance the therapeutic benefit in melanoma patients who inevitably become resistant to current vemurafenib therapy. PMID:24249714

Specific heat and effects of strong pairing fluctuations in a superfluid Fermi atom gas in the BCS-BEC crossover region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Wyk, Pieter; Inotani, Daisuke; Ohashi, Yoji

2018-03-01

We theoretically investigate the specific heat at constant volume C V in the BCS(Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer)-BEC(Bose-Einstein-condensation)-crossover regime of an ultracold Fermi gas, below the superfluid phase transition temperature T c. Within the strong-coupling framework developed by Nozières and Schmitt-Rink, we show that the temperature dependence of C V drastically changes as one passes through the crossover region, and is sensitive to strong fluctuations in the Cooper channel near the unitarity limit. We also compare our results to a recent experiment on a 6Li unitary Fermi gas. Since fluctuation effects are a crucial key in the BCS-BEC-crossover phenomenon, our results would be helpful in considering how the fermionic BCS superfluid changes into BEC with increasing the interaction strength, from the viewpoint of specific heat.

Electron Backscatter Diffraction Analysis of Joints Between AISI 316L Austenitic/UNS S32750 Dual-Phase Stainless Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shamanian, Morteza; Mohammadnezhad, Mahyar; Amini, Mahdi; Zabolian, Azam; Szpunar, Jerzy A.

2015-08-01

Stainless steels are among the most economical and highly practicable materials widely used in industrial areas due to their mechanical and corrosion resistances. In this study, a dissimilar weld joint consisting of an AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel (ASS) and a UNS S32750 dual-phase stainless steel was obtained under optimized welding conditions by gas tungsten arc welding technique using AWS A5.4:ER2594 filler metal. The effect of welding on the evolution of the microstructure, crystallographic texture, and micro-hardness distribution was also studied. The weld metal (WM) was found to be dual-phased; the microstructure is obtained by a fully ferritic solidification mode followed by austenite precipitation at both ferrite boundaries and ferrite grains through solid-state transformation. It is found that welding process can affect the ferrite content and grain growth phenomenon. The strong textures were found in the base metals for both steels. The AISI 316L ASS texture is composed of strong cube component. In the UNS S32750 dual-phase stainless steel, an important difference between the two phases can be seen in the texture evolution. Austenite phase is composed of a major cube component, whereas the ferrite texture mainly contains a major rotated cube component. The texture of the ferrite is stronger than that of austenite. In the WM, Kurdjumov-Sachs crystallographic orientation relationship is found in the solidification microstructure. The analysis of the Kernel average misorientation distribution shows that the residual strain is more concentrated in the austenite phase than in the other phase. The welding resulted in a significant hardness increase in the WM compared to initial ASS.

Thickness-dependent electrocaloric effect in mixed-phase Pb0.87Ba0.1 La0.02(Zr0.6Sn0.33Ti0.07)O3 thin films

PubMed Central

Correia, T. M.

2016-01-01

Full-perovskite Pb0.87Ba0.1La0.02(Zr0.6Sn0.33Ti0.07)O3 (PBLZST) thin films were fabricated by a sol–gel method. These revealed both rhombohedral and tetragonal phases, as opposed to the full-tetragonal phase previously reported in ceramics. The fractions of tetragonal and rhombohedral phases are found to be strongly dependent on film thickness. The fraction of tetragonal grains increases with increasing film thickness, as the substrate constraint throughout the film decreases with film thickness. The maximum of the dielectric constant (εm) and the corresponding temperature (Tm) are thickness-dependent and dictated by the fraction of rhombohedral and tetragonal phase, with εm reaching a minimum at 400 nm and Tm shifting to higher temperature with increasing thickness. With the thickness increase, the breakdown field decreases, but field-induced antiferroelectric–ferroelectric (EAFE−FE) and ferroelectric–antiferroelectric (EFE−AFE) switch fields increase. The electrocaloric effect increases with increasing film thickness. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Taking the temperature of phase transitions in cool materials’. PMID:27402937

A Re-examination of the Effect of Masker Phase Curvature on Non-simultaneous Masking.

PubMed

Carlyon, Robert P; Flanagan, Sheila; Deeks, John M

2017-12-01

Forward masking of a sinusoidal signal is determined not only by the masker's power spectrum but also by its phase spectrum. Specifically, when the phase spectrum is such that the output of an auditory filter centred on the signal has a highly modulated ("peaked") envelope, there is less masking than when that envelope is flat. This finding has been attributed to non-linearities, such as compression, reducing the average neural response to maskers that produce more peaked auditory filter outputs (Carlyon and Datta, J Acoust Soc Am 101:3636-3647, 1997). Here we evaluate an alternative explanation proposed by Wotcjzak and Oxenham (Wojtczak and Oxenham, J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 10:595-607, 2009). They reported a masker phase effect for 6-kHz signals when the masker components were at least an octave below the signal frequency. Wotcjzak and Oxenham argued that this effect was inconsistent with cochlear compression, and, because it did not occur at lower signal frequencies, was also inconsistent with more central compression. It was instead attributed to activation of the efferent system reducing the response to the subsequent probe. Here, experiment 1 replicated their main findings. Experiment 2 showed that the phase effect on off-frequency forward masking is similar at signal frequencies of 2 and 6 kHz, provided that one equates the number of components likely to interact within an auditory filter centred on the signal, thereby roughly equating the effect of masker phase on the peakiness of that filter output. Experiment 3 showed that for some subjects, masker phase also had a strong influence on off-frequency backward masking of the signal, and that the size of this effect correlated across subjects with that observed in forward masking. We conclude that the masker phase effect is mediated mainly by cochlear non-linearities, with a possible additional effect of more central compression. The data are not consistent with a role for the efferent system.

Renormalization of effective interactions in a negative charge transfer insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seth, Priyanka; Peil, Oleg E.; Pourovskii, Leonid; Betzinger, Markus; Friedrich, Christoph; Parcollet, Olivier; Biermann, Silke; Aryasetiawan, Ferdi; Georges, Antoine

2017-11-01

We compute from first principles the effective interaction parameters appropriate for a low-energy description of the rare-earth nickelate LuNiO3 involving the partially occupied eg states only. The calculation uses the constrained random-phase approximation and reveals that the effective on-site Coulomb repulsion is strongly reduced by screening effects involving the oxygen-p and nickel-t2 g states. The long-range component of the effective low-energy interaction is also found to be sizable. As a result, the effective on-site interaction between parallel-spin electrons is reduced down to a small negative value. This validates effective low-energy theories of these materials that were proposed earlier. Electronic structure methods combined with dynamical mean-field theory are used to construct and solve an appropriate low-energy model and explore its phase diagram as a function of the on-site repulsion and Hund's coupling. For the calculated values of these effective interactions, we find that in agreement with experiments, LuNiO3 is a metal without disproportionation of the eg occupancy when considered in its orthorhombic structure, while the monoclinic phase is a disproportionated insulator.

Gas and grain chemical composition in cold cores as predicted by the Nautilus three-phase model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruaud, Maxime; Wakelam, Valentine; Hersant, Franck

2016-07-01

We present an extended version of the two-phase gas-grain code NAUTILUS to the three-phase modelling of gas and grain chemistry of cold cores. In this model, both the mantle and the surface are considered as chemically active. We also take into account the competition among reaction, diffusion and evaporation. The model predictions are confronted to ice observations in the envelope of low-mass and massive young stellar objects as well as towards background stars. Modelled gas-phase abundances are compared to species observed towards TMC-1 (CP) and L134N dark clouds. We find that our model successfully reproduces the observed ice species. It is found that the reaction-diffusion competition strongly enhances reactions with barriers and more specifically reactions with H2, which is abundant on grains. This finding highlights the importance having a good approach to determine the abundance of H2 on grains. Consequently, it is found that the major N-bearing species on grains go from NH3 to N2 and HCN when the reaction-diffusion competition is taken into account. In the gas phase and before a few 105 yr, we find that the three-phase model does not have a strong impact on the observed species compared to the two-phase model. After this time, the computed abundances dramatically decrease due to the strong accretion on dust, which is not counterbalanced by the desorption less efficient than in the two-phase model. This strongly constrains the chemical age of cold cores to be of the order of few 105 yr.

Formation of structural steady states in lamellar/sponge phase-separating fluids under shear flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panizza, P.; Courbin, L.; Cristobal, G.; Rouch, J.; Narayanan, T.

2003-05-01

We investigate the effect of shear flow on a lamellar-sponge phase-separating fluid when subjected to shear flow. We show the existence of two different steady states (droplets and ribbons structures) whose nature does not depend on the way to reach the two-phase unstable region of the phase diagram (temperature quench or stirring). The transition between ribbons and droplets is shear thickening and its nature strongly depends on what dynamical variable is imposed. If the stress is fixed, flow visualization shows the existence of shear bands at the transition, characteristic of coexistence in the cell between ribbons and droplets. In this shear-banding region, the viscosity oscillates. When the shear rate is fixed, no shear bands are observed. Instead, the transition exhibits a hysteretic behavior leading to a structural bi-stability of the phase-separating fluid under flow.

Multiple critical endpoints in magnetized three flavor quark matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreira, Márcio; Costa, Pedro; Providência, Constança

2018-01-01

The magnetized phase diagram for three-flavor quark matter is studied within the Polyakov extended Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. The order parameters are analyzed with special emphasis on the strange quark condensate. We show that the presence of an external magnetic field induces several critical endpoints (CEPs) in the strange sector, which arise due to the multiple phase transitions that the strange quark undergoes. The spinodal and binodal regions of the phase transitions are shown to increase with external magnetic field strength. The influence of strong magnetic fields on the isentropic trajectories around the several CEPs is analyzed. A focusing effect is observed on the region towards the CEPs that are related with the strange quark phase transitions. Compared to the chiral transitions, the deconfinement transition turns out to be less sensitive to the external magnetic field and the crossover nature is preserved over the whole phase diagram.

Manipulation of wavefront using helical metamaterials.

PubMed

Yang, Zhenyu; Wang, Zhaokun; Tao, Huan; Zhao, Ming

2016-08-08

Helical metamaterials, a kind of 3-dimensional structure, has relatively strong coupling effect among the helical nano-wires. Therefore, it is expected to be a good candidate for generating phase shift and controlling wavefront with high efficiency. In this paper, using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, we studied the phase shift properties in the helical metamaterials. It is found that the phase shift occurs for both transmitted and reflected light waves. And the maximum of reflection coefficients can reach over 60%. In addition, the phase shift (φ) is dispersionless in the range of 600 nm to 860 nm, that is, it is only dominated by the initial angle (θ) of the helix. The relationship between them is φ = ± 2θ. Using Jones calculus we give a further explanation for these properties. Finally, by arranging the helixes in an array with a constant phase gradient, the phenomenon of anomalous refraction was also observed in a broad wavelength range.

Phase Transitions in Definite Total Spin States of Two-Component Fermi Gases.

PubMed

Yurovsky, Vladimir A

2017-05-19

Second-order phase transitions have no latent heat and are characterized by a change in symmetry. In addition to the conventional symmetric and antisymmetric states under permutations of bosons and fermions, mathematical group-representation theory allows for non-Abelian permutation symmetry. Such symmetry can be hidden in states with defined total spins of spinor gases, which can be formed in optical cavities. The present work shows that the symmetry reveals itself in spin-independent or coordinate-independent properties of these gases, namely as non-Abelian entropy in thermodynamic properties. In weakly interacting Fermi gases, two phases appear associated with fermionic and non-Abelian symmetry under permutations of particle states, respectively. The second-order transitions between the phases are characterized by discontinuities in specific heat. Unlike other phase transitions, the present ones are not caused by interactions and can appear even in ideal gases. Similar effects in Bose gases and strong interactions are discussed.

Improving Climate Projections by Understanding How Cloud Phase affects Radiation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cesana, Gregory; Storelvmo, Trude

2017-01-01

Whether a cloud is predominantly water or ice strongly influences interactions between clouds and radiation coming down from the Sun or up from the Earth. Being able to simulate cloud phase transitions accurately in climate models based on observational data sets is critical in order to improve confidence in climate projections, because this uncertainty contributes greatly to the overall uncertainty associated with cloud-climate feedbacks. Ultimately, it translates into uncertainties in Earth's sensitivity to higher CO2 levels. While a lot of effort has recently been made toward constraining cloud phase in climate models, more remains to be done to document the radiative properties of clouds according to their phase. Here we discuss the added value of a new satellite data set that advances the field by providing estimates of the cloud radiative effect as a function of cloud phase and the implications for climate projections.

Model of chiral spin liquids with Abelian and non-Abelian topological phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jyong-Hao; Mudry, Christopher; Chamon, Claudio; Tsvelik, A. M.

2017-12-01

We present a two-dimensional lattice model for quantum spin-1/2 for which the low-energy limit is governed by four flavors of strongly interacting Majorana fermions. We study this low-energy effective theory using two alternative approaches. The first consists of a mean-field approximation. The second consists of a random phase approximation (RPA) for the single-particle Green's functions of the Majorana fermions built from their exact forms in a certain one-dimensional limit. The resulting phase diagram consists of two competing chiral phases, one with Abelian and the other with non-Abelian topological order, separated by a continuous phase transition. Remarkably, the Majorana fermions propagate in the two-dimensional bulk, as in the Kitaev model for a spin liquid on the honeycomb lattice. We identify the vison fields, which are mobile (they are static in the Kitaev model) domain walls propagating along only one of the two space directions.

The sensitivity of harassment to orbit: mass loss from early-type dwarfs in galaxy clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, R.; Sánchez-Janssen, R.; Beasley, M. A.; Candlish, G. N.; Gibson, B. K.; Puzia, T. H.; Janz, J.; Knebe, A.; Aguerri, J. A. L.; Lisker, T.; Hensler, G.; Fellhauer, M.; Ferrarese, L.; Yi, S. K.

2015-12-01

We conduct a comprehensive numerical study of the orbital dependence of harassment on early-type dwarfs consisting of 168 different orbits within a realistic, Virgo-like cluster, varying in eccentricity and pericentre distance. We find harassment is only effective at stripping stars or truncating their stellar discs for orbits that enter deep into the cluster core. Comparing to the orbital distribution in cosmological simulations, we find that the majority of the orbits (more than three quarters) result in no stellar mass loss. We also study the effects on the radial profiles of the globular cluster systems of early-type dwarfs. We find these are significantly altered only if harassment is very strong. This suggests that perhaps most early-type dwarfs in clusters such as Virgo have not suffered any tidal stripping of stars or globular clusters due to harassment, as these components are safely embedded deep within their dark matter halo. We demonstrate that this result is actually consistent with an earlier study of harassment of dwarf galaxies, despite the apparent contradiction. Those few dwarf models that do suffer stellar stripping are found out to the virial radius of the cluster at redshift = 0, which mixes them in with less strongly harassed galaxies. However when placed on phase-space diagrams, strongly harassed galaxies are found offset to lower velocities compared to weakly harassed galaxies. This remains true in a cosmological simulation, even when haloes have a wide range of masses and concentrations. Thus phase-space diagrams may be a useful tool for determining the relative likelihood that galaxies have been strongly or weakly harassed.

Two-dimensional topological superconducting phases emerged from d-wave superconductors in proximity to antiferromagnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Guo-Yi; Wang, Ziqiang; Zhang, Guang-Ming

2017-05-01

Motivated by the recent observations of nodeless superconductivity in the monolayer CuO2 grown on the Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ substrates, we study the two-dimensional superconducting (SC) phases described by the two-dimensional t\\text-J model in proximity to an antiferromagnetic (AF) insulator. We found that i) the nodal d-wave SC state can be driven via a continuous transition into a nodeless d-wave pairing state by the proximity-induced AF field. ii) The energetically favorable pairing states in the strong field regime have extended s-wave symmetry and can be nodal or nodeless. iii) Between the pure d-wave and s-wave paired phases, there emerge two topologically distinct SC phases with (s+\\text{i}d) symmetry, i.e., the weak and strong pairing phases, and the weak pairing phase is found to be a Z 2 topological superconductor protected by valley symmetry, exhibiting robust gapless nonchiral edge modes. These findings strongly suggest that the high-T c superconductors in proximity to antiferromagnets can realize fully gapped symmetry-protected topological SC.

Optically Tunable Resistive-Switching Memory in Multiferroic Heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Ming; Ni, Hao; Xu, Xiaoke; Qi, Yaping; Li, Xiaomin; Gao, Ju

2018-04-01

Electronic phase separation has been used to realize exotic functionalities in complex oxides with external stimuli, such as magnetic field, electric field, current, light, strain, etc. Using the Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3/0.7 Pb (Mg1 /3Nb2 /3)O3-0 .3 PbTiO3 multiferroic heterostructure as a model system, we investigate the electric field and light cocontrol of phase separation in resistive switching. The electric-field-induced nonvolatile electroresistance response is achieved at room temperature using reversible ferroelastic domain switching, which can be robustly modified on illumination of light. Moreover, the electrically controlled ferroelastic strain can effectively enhance the visible-light-induced photoresistance effect. These findings demonstrate that the electric-field- and light-induced effects strongly correlate with each other and are essentially driven by electronic phase separation. Our work opens a gate to design electrically tunable multifunctional storage devices based on multiferroic heterostructures by adding light as an extra control parameter.

Many-Body Effects on the Thermodynamics of Fluids, Mixtures, and Nanoconfined Fluids.

PubMed

Desgranges, Caroline; Delhommelle, Jerome

2015-11-10

Using expanded Wang-Landau simulations, we show that taking into account the many-body interactions results in sharp changes in the grand-canonical partition functions of single-component systems, binary mixtures, and nanoconfined fluids. The many-body contribution, modeled with a 3-body Axilrod-Teller-Muto term, results in shifts toward higher chemical potentials of the phase transitions from low-density phases to high-density phases and accounts for deviations of more than, e.g., 20% of the value of the partition function for a single-component liquid. Using the statistical mechanics formalism, we analyze how this contribution has a strong impact on some properties (e.g., pressure, coexisting densities, and enthalpy) and a moderate impact on others (e.g., Gibbs or Helmholtz free energies). We also characterize the effect of the 3-body terms on adsorption isotherms and adsorption thermodynamic properties, thereby providing a full picture of the effect of the 3-body contribution on the thermodynamics of nanoconfined fluids.

Combined effect of the East Atlantic/West Russia and Western Pacific teleconnections on the East Asian winter monsoon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Hyoeun; Jhun, Jong-Ghap; Ha, Kyung-Ja; Seo, Kyong-Hwan

2017-05-01

This study investigates the individual effects of the East Atlantic/West Russia (EATL/WRUS) and Western Pacific (WP) teleconnection patterns and their combined effect on the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM). The contributions of the respective EATL/WRUS and WP teleconnection patterns to the EAWM are revealed by removing the dependence on the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) using a linear regression, which are named as N_EATL/WRUS and N_WP, respectively. This is because the EATL/WRUS (WP) is closely linked to the Arctic (tropics) region. A significant increase (decrease) in temperature over East Asia (EA) corresponding to a weak (strong) EAWM is associated with the N_EATL/WRUS and N_WP teleconnection patterns during the positive (negative) phases. In order to examine impacts of these two teleconnections on the EAWM, three types of effects are reconstructed on the basis of ± 0.5 standard deviation: 1) Combined effect, 2) N_EATL/WRUS effect, and 3) N_WP effect. The positive N_EATL/WRUS teleconnection induces to a weakened Siberian High and a shallow EA trough at the mid-troposphere through wave propagation, leading to the weak EAWM. During the positive N_WP pattern, warm air from the tropics flows toward the EA along western flank of an anomalous anticyclone over the North Pacific that is relevant to the meridional shift of the Aleutian Low. When the two mid-latitude teleconnections have the in-phase combination, the increase in temperature over EA appears to be more pronounced than the individual effects by transporting warm air from tropics via strong southeasterly wind anomalies induced by anomalous zonal pressure gradient between the Siberian High and Aleutian Low. Therefore, the impact of the mid-latitude teleconnections on the EAWM becomes robust and linearly superimposed, unlike a nonlinear in-phase combined effect of the AO and ENSO.

Supersymmetrical bounding of asymmetric states and quantum phase transitions by anti-crossing of symmetric states

PubMed Central

Afzal, Muhammad Imran; Lee, Yong Tak

2016-01-01

Von Neumann and Wigner theorized the bounding and anti-crossing of eigenstates. Experiments have demonstrated that owing to anti-crossing and similar radiation rates, the graphene-like resonance of inhomogeneously strained photonic eigenstates can generate a pseudomagnetic field, bandgaps and Landau levels, whereas exponential or dissimilar rates induce non-Hermicity. Here, we experimentally demonstrate higher-order supersymmetry and quantum phase transitions by resonance between similar one-dimensional lattices. The lattices consisted of inhomogeneous strain-like phases of triangular solitons. The resonance created two-dimensional, inhomogeneously deformed photonic graphene. All parent eigenstates were annihilated. Eigenstates of mildly strained solitons were annihilated at similar rates through one tail and generated Hermitian bounded eigenstates. The strongly strained solitons with positive phase defects were annihilated at exponential rates through one tail, which bounded eigenstates through non-Hermitianally generated exceptional points. Supersymmetry was evident, with preservation of the shapes and relative phase differences of the parent solitons. Localizations of energies generated from annihilations of mildly and strongly strained soliton eigenstates were responsible for geometrical (Berry) and topological phase transitions, respectively. Both contributed to generating a quantum Zeno phase, whereas only strong twists generated topological (Anderson) localization. Anti-bunching-like condensation was also observed. PMID:27966596

Effect of Mg(2+) doping on beta-alpha phase transition in tricalcium phosphate (TCP) bioceramics.

PubMed

Frasnelli, Matteo; Sglavo, Vincenzo M

2016-03-01

The beta to alpha transition in tricalcium phosphate (TCP) bioceramics containing different amount of magnesium was studied in the present work. Mg-doped TCP powder was obtained by solid-state reaction starting from pure calcium carbonate, ammonium phosphate dibasic and magnesium oxide powders. The β to α transformation temperature was identified by dilatometric and thermo-differential analyses. Small pellets produced by uniaxial pressing samples were employed to study the influence of Mg(2+) on the transition kinetic, after sintering at 1550°C and subsequent slow or fast cooling down to room temperature. The evolution of β- and α-TCP crystalline phases during each thermal treatment was determined by X-ray powder diffraction analysis combined with Rietveld method-based software An annealing treatment, suitable to reconvert metastable α phase to the more clinically suitable β phase, was also investigated. It is shown that the presence of magnesium within the TCP lattice strongly influences the kinetic of the β⇆α phase transition, promoting the spontaneous α→β reconversion even upon fast cooling, or slowing down the β→α transition during heating. Similarly, it allows the α→β transformation in TCP sintered components by optimized annealing treatment at 850°C. This work concerns the effect of Mg(2+) doping on the β→α phase reconstructive transition in tricalcium phosphate (TCP), one of the most important bio-resorbable materials for bone tissue regeneration. The transition occurs upon the sintering process and is has been shown to be strongly irreversible upon cooling, leading to technological issues such as poor mechanical properties and excessive solubility due to the presence of metastable α-phase. This paper points out the kinetic contribution of Mg(2+) on the spontaneous α→β reconversion also upon fast cooling (i.e. quenching). Moreover, an annealing treatment has been shown to be beneficial to remove the retained α-phase in sintered TCP components, the presence of Mg promoting the reconversion process. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Systematic investigations of peak deformations due to co-solvent adsorption in preparative supercritical fluid chromatography.

PubMed

Glenne, Emelie; Leek, Hanna; Klarqvist, Magnus; Samuelsson, Jörgen; Fornstedt, Torgny

2017-05-05

Strangely shaped overloaded bands were recently reported using a standard supercritical fluid chromatographic system comprising a diol column as the stationary phase and carbon dioxide with methanol as the mobile phase. Some of these overloaded elution profiles appeared strongly deformed and even had "anti-Langmuirian" shapes although their solute compounds had "Langmuirian" adsorption. To obtain a more complete understanding of the generality of these effects, the investigation was expanded to cover also other common co-solvents, such as ethanol, 2-propanol, and acetonitrile, as well as various stationary phase materials, such as silica, and 2-ethylpyridine. From this expanded study it could be confirmed that the effects of deformed overloaded solute band shapes, due to co-solvent adsorption, is general phenomena in supercritical fluid chromatographic. It could also be concluded that these effects as well as previously observed "solvent effects" or "plug effects" are entirely due to competition between the solute and solvent molecules for the adsorption sites on the stationary phase surface. Finally, guidelines were given for how to evaluate the risk of deformations occurring for a given solvent-column combination, based simply on testing retention times of solutes and co-solvent. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Starbursts and Wispy Drops : Surfactants Spreading on Gel Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukhopadhyay, Shomeek; Daniels, Karen; Behringer, Robert

2005-11-01

We report a phase diagram for a novel instability seen in drops of nonionic surfactant solution (Triton X-305) spreading on viscoelastic agar gel substrate . This system allows us to examine the effect of varying the effective fluidity/stiffness of aqueous substrates. The morphology is strongly affected by the substrate fluidity, ranging from spreading starbursts of arms on weak gels, to wispy drops on intermediate strength gels, to circular drops on stiff gels. We analyze the dynamics of spreading in the starburst phase, where the arm length grows as t ^3/4 at early times, independent of the gel strength and surfactant concentration. The number of arms is proportional to the surfactant concentration and inversely proportional to the gel strength. Ongoing work is exploring the effects of changing the drop volume.

Pharmacotherapeutic agents in the treatment of methamphetamine dependence.

PubMed

Morley, Kirsten C; Cornish, Jennifer L; Faingold, Alon; Wood, Katie; Haber, Paul S

2017-05-01

Methamphetamine use is a serious public health concern in many countries and is second to cannabis as the most widely abused illicit drug in the world. Effective management for methamphetamine dependence remains elusive and the large majority of methamphetamine users relapse following treatment. Areas covered: Progression in the understanding of the pharmacological basis of methamphetamine use has provided us with innovative opportunities to develop agents to treat dependence. The current review summarizes relevant literature on the neurobiological and clinical correlates associated with methamphetamine use. We then outline agents that have been explored for potential treatments in preclinical studies, human laboratory phase I and phase II trials over the last ten years. Expert opinion: No agent has demonstrated a broad and strong effect in achieving MA abstinence in Phase II trials. Agents with novel therapeutic targets appear promising. Advancement in MA treatment, including translation into practice, faces several clinical challenges.

Hydrodynamic effects on phase transition in active matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gidituri, Harinadha; Akella, V. S.; Panchagnula, Mahesh; Vedantam, Srikanth; Multiphase flow physics lab Team

2017-11-01

Organized motion of active (self-propelled) objects are ubiquitous in nature. The objective of this study to investigate the effect of hydrodynamics on the coherent structures in active and passive particle mixtures. We use a mesoscopic method Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD). The system shows three different states viz. meso-turbulent (disordered state), polar flock and vortical (ordered state) for different values of activity and volume fraction of active particles. From our numerical simulations we construct a phase diagram between activity co-efficient, volume fraction and viscosity of the passive fluid. Transition from vortical to polar is triggered by increasing the viscosity of passive fluid which causes strong short-range hydrodynamic interactions. However, as the viscosity of the fluid decreases, both vortical and meso-turbulent states transition to polar flock phase. We also calculated the diffusion co-efficients via mean square displacement (MSD) for passive and active particles. We observe ballistic and diffusive regimes in the present system.

Effects of Coulomb Repulsion on the Phase Diagram of the Asakura-Oosawa Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haaga, Jason; Pemberton, Elizabeth; Gunton, James; Rickman, Jeffrey

We investigate the effect of adding a screened Coulomb charge to a model colloidal system interacting via the Asakura-Oosawa depletion potential. This model has previously been used to study the early stages of amelogenin self-assembly, a crucial process in the formation of dental enamel, by Li et al (BiophysicalJournal 101, 2502 (2011). By employing Monte Carlo simulations, we explore the role of interaction strengths and ranges on phase behavior. We find that charge strength and range have a strong influence on the stable, in the case of long range depletion potential, or metastable, in the case of short range depletion, fluid-fluid phase separation. Coulomb repulsion narrows and flattens the coexistence curve with increasing charge. This talk will also discuss solid-solid transitions present for certain interaction ranges. This work is supported by the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation.

Survey of minor-to-moderate magnetic storm effects on ionosphere: American sector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buresova, Dalia; Lastovicka, Jan; Chum, Jaroslav; Pezzopane, Michael; Staciarini Batista, Inez; Gularte, Erika; Novotna, Dagmar

2014-05-01

The paper is focused on ionospheric reaction to occasional minor-to-moderate magnetic storms above selected ionospheric stations located across the Northern and Southern America. Most of the storms analysed occurred under extremely low solar activity conditions of 2007-2009. We analysed variability of the F2 layer critical frequency foF2 and the F2 layer peak height hmF2 obtained for different latitudinal and longitudinal sectors of both hemispheres for the entire period of selected magnetic storms. Observations were compared with the effects of strong magnetic storms and with the IRI2000 outputs when STORM model option is activated. We analysed ionospheric reaction during each storm phase with main emphasis paid on the recovery phase. In general, storm recovery phase is characterized by an abatement of perturbations and a gradual return to the "ground state" of ionosphere. Magnetospheric substorms, typical for the main phase, as a rule cease during the storm recovery phase. However, observations of stormy ionosphere show significant departures from the climatology also within this phase, which are comparable with those usually observed during the storm main phase. Both positive and negative deviations of foF2 and hmF2 have been observed independent on season and location.

Coherent control of strong-field two-pulse ionization of Rydberg atoms.

PubMed

Fedorov, M; Poluektov, N

2000-02-28

Strong-field ionization of Rydberg atoms is investigated in its dependence on phase features of the initial coherent population of Rydberg levels. In the case of a resonance between Rydberg levels and some lower-energy atomic level (V-type transitions), this dependence is shown to be very strong: by a proper choice of the initial population an atom can be made either completely or very little ionized by a strong laser pulse. It is shown that phase features of the initial coherent population of Rydberg levels and the ionization yield can be efficiently controlled in a scheme of ionization by two strong laser pulses with a varying delay time between them.

Non-inductive current generation in fusion plasmas with turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Weixing; Ethier, S.; Startsev, E.; Chen, J.; Hahm, T. S.; Yoo, M. G.

2017-10-01

It is found that plasma turbulence may strongly influence non-inductive current generation. This may have radical impact on various aspects of tokamak physics. Our simulation study employs a global gyrokinetic model coupling self-consistent neoclassical and turbulent dynamics with focus on electron current. Distinct phases in electron current generation are illustrated in the initial value simulation. In the early phase before turbulence develops, the electron bootstrap current is established in a time scale of a few electron collision times, which closely agrees with the neoclassical prediction. The second phase follows when turbulence begins to saturate, during which turbulent fluctuations are found to strongly affect electron current. The profile structure, amplitude and phase space structure of electron current density are all significantly modified relative to the neoclassical bootstrap current by the presence of turbulence. Both electron parallel acceleration and parallel residual stress drive are shown to play important roles in turbulence-induced current generation. The current density profile is modified in a way that correlates with the fluctuation intensity gradient through its effect on k//-symmetry breaking in fluctuation spectrum. Turbulence is shown to deduct (enhance) plasma self-generated current in low (high) collisionality regime, and the reduction of total electron current relative to the neoclassical bootstrap current increases as collisionality decreases. The implication of this result to the fully non-inductive current operation in steady state burning plasma regime should be investigated. Finally, significant non-inductive current is observed in flat pressure region, which is a nonlocal effect and results from turbulence spreading induced current diffusion. Work supported by U.S. DOE Contract DE-AC02-09-CH11466.

A review of the contrasting behavior of two magmatic volatiles: Chlorine and carbon dioxide

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lowenstern, J. B.

2000-01-01

Chlorine (Cl) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are common magmatic volatiles with contrasting behaviors. CO2 solubility increases with pressure whereas Cl solubility shows relatively little pressure or temperature effect. CO2 speciation changes with silicate melt composition, dissolving as carbonate in basaltic magmas and molecular CO2 in more silicic compositions. In H2O-bearing systems, the strongly non-ideal behavior of alkali chlorides causes unmixing of the volatile phase to form a H2O-rich vapor and a hydrosaline phase with important implications for the maximum concentration of Cl in magmas. Addition of CO2 to magma hastens immiscibility at crustal pressures (<500 MPa), inducing the formation of CO2-rich vapors and Cl-rich hydrosaline melts. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.Chlorine (Cl) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are common magmatic volatiles with contrasting behaviors. CO2 solubility increases with pressure whereas Cl solubility shows relatively little pressure or temperature effect. CO2 speciation changes with silicate melt composition, dissolving as carbonate in basaltic magmas and molecular CO2 in more silicic compositions. In H2O-bearing systems, the strongly non-ideal behavior of alkali chlorides causes unmixing of the volatile phase to form a H2O-rich vapor and a hydrosaline phase with important implications for the maximum concentration of Cl in magmas. Addition of CO2 to magma hastens immiscibility at crustal pressures (<500 MPa), inducing the formation of CO2-rich vapors and Cl-rich hydrosaline melts.

Statistical physics of modulated phases in nematic liquid crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shamid, Shaikh M.

Nematic liquid crystals are the state of the matter in which there is no positional order like crystals but it has orientational order of the constituent molecules. In the conventional nematics, the long axes of the rod-like molecules tend to align up or down uniformly along a director n. If the constituent molecules are chiral, they tend to form a modulated structure in one of the space dimensions. They are called the chiral nematics. If the chirality is strong enough we get the modulated structures in all three dimensions called the chiral blue phase. On the other hand, if the molecules are achiral, but an additional polar dipole is attached to the molecules, they also tend to form a modulated structure. In these types of materials we observe an important physical effect called flexoelectric effect, in which the polar order is linearly coupled to the director gradients. This dissertation work presents analytical and simulation studies of that modulated structures using the flexoelectric mechanism. Classic work by R. B. Meyer and further studies by I. Dozov predicted two possible structures, known as twist-bend and splay-bend. One of these predictions, the twist-bend phase, has recently been identified in experiments on bent-shaped liquid crystals. In this recently discovered twist-bend nematic phase the modulation is along one of the space dimensions. If this flexoelectric coupling is strong enough, in addition to twist-bend and splay-bend, here we predict the formation of polar analog of chiral blue phases (in both 2D and 3D) made of achiral polar liquid crystal materials by using Elastic continuum theory-based numerical calculations and computer simulations. This dissertation work also presents the coarse-grained theory of twist-bend phase. This theory predicts normal modes of fluctuation in both sides of nematic to twist-bend transition, which then compared with light scattering experiments. Macroscopic elastic and electric properties of twist-bend nematics can be realized using this coarse-grained description.

Constrained Sintering in Fabrication of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

PubMed Central

Lee, Hae-Weon; Park, Mansoo; Hong, Jongsup; Kim, Hyoungchul; Yoon, Kyung Joong; Son, Ji-Won; Lee, Jong-Ho; Kim, Byung-Kook

2016-01-01

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are inevitably affected by the tensile stress field imposed by the rigid substrate during constrained sintering, which strongly affects microstructural evolution and flaw generation in the fabrication process and subsequent operation. In the case of sintering a composite cathode, one component acts as a continuous matrix phase while the other acts as a dispersed phase depending upon the initial composition and packing structure. The clustering of dispersed particles in the matrix has significant effects on the final microstructure, and strong rigidity of the clusters covering the entire cathode volume is desirable to obtain stable pore structure. The local constraints developed around the dispersed particles and their clusters effectively suppress generation of major process flaws, and microstructural features such as triple phase boundary and porosity could be readily controlled by adjusting the content and size of the dispersed particles. However, in the fabrication of the dense electrolyte layer via the chemical solution deposition route using slow-sintering nanoparticles dispersed in a sol matrix, the rigidity of the cluster should be minimized for the fine matrix to continuously densify, and special care should be taken in selecting the size of the dispersed particles to optimize the thermodynamic stability criteria of the grain size and film thickness. The principles of constrained sintering presented in this paper could be used as basic guidelines for realizing the ideal microstructure of SOFCs. PMID:28773795

Spectral analysis and slow spreading dynamics on complex networks.

PubMed

Odor, Géza

2013-09-01

The susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) model is one of the simplest memoryless systems for describing information or epidemic spreading phenomena with competing creation and spontaneous annihilation reactions. The effect of quenched disorder on the dynamical behavior has recently been compared to quenched mean-field (QMF) approximations in scale-free networks. QMF can take into account topological heterogeneity and clustering effects of the activity in the steady state by spectral decomposition analysis of the adjacency matrix. Therefore, it can provide predictions on possible rare-region effects, thus on the occurrence of slow dynamics. I compare QMF results of SIS with simulations on various large dimensional graphs. In particular, I show that for Erdős-Rényi graphs this method predicts correctly the occurrence of rare-region effects. It also provides a good estimate for the epidemic threshold in case of percolating graphs. Griffiths Phases emerge if the graph is fragmented or if we apply a strong, exponentially suppressing weighting scheme on the edges. The latter model describes the connection time distributions in the face-to-face experiments. In case of a generalized Barabási-Albert type of network with aging connections, strong rare-region effects and numerical evidence for Griffiths Phase dynamics are shown. The dynamical simulation results agree well with the predictions of the spectral analysis applied for the weighted adjacency matrices.

Non-equilibrium quantum phase transition via entanglement decoherence dynamics

PubMed Central

Lin, Yu-Chen; Yang, Pei-Yun; Zhang, Wei-Min

2016-01-01

We investigate the decoherence dynamics of continuous variable entanglement as the system-environment coupling strength varies from the weak-coupling to the strong-coupling regimes. Due to the existence of localized modes in the strong-coupling regime, the system cannot approach equilibrium with its environment, which induces a nonequilibrium quantum phase transition. We analytically solve the entanglement decoherence dynamics for an arbitrary spectral density. The nonequilibrium quantum phase transition is demonstrated as the system-environment coupling strength varies for all the Ohmic-type spectral densities. The 3-D entanglement quantum phase diagram is obtained. PMID:27713556

Reward modulates oculomotor competition between differently valued stimuli.

PubMed

Bucker, Berno; Silvis, Jeroen D; Donk, Mieke; Theeuwes, Jan

2015-03-01

The present work explored the effects of reward in the well-known global effect paradigm in which two objects appear simultaneously in close spatial proximity. The experiment consisted of three phases (i) a pre-training phase that served as a baseline, (ii) a reward-training phase to associate differently colored stimuli with high, low and no reward value, and (iii) a post-training phase in which rewards were no longer delivered, to examine whether objects previously associated with higher reward value attracted the eyes more strongly than those associated with low or no reward value. Unlike previous reward studies, the differently valued objects directly competed with each other on the same trial. The results showed that initially eye movements were not biased towards any particular stimulus, while in the reward-training phase, eye movements started to land progressively closer towards stimuli that were associated with a high reward value. Even though rewards were no longer delivered, this bias remained robustly present in the post-training phase. A time course analysis showed that the effect of reward was present for the fastest saccades (around 170 ms) and increased with increasing latency. Although strategic effects for slower saccades cannot be ruled out, we suggest that fast oculomotor responses became habituated and were no longer under strategic attentional control. Together the results imply that reward affects oculomotor competition in favor of stimuli previously associated high reward, when multiple reward associated objects compete for selection. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DETECTING OCEANS ON EXTRASOLAR PLANETS USING THE GLINT EFFECT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Robinson, Tyler D.; Meadows, Victoria S.; Crisp, David, E-mail: robinson@astro.washington.ed

2010-09-20

Glint, the specular reflection of sunlight off Earth's oceans, may reveal the presence of oceans on an extrasolar planet. As an Earth-like planet nears crescent phases, the size of the ocean glint spot increases relative to the fraction of the illuminated disk, while the reflectivity of this spot increases. Both effects change the planet's visible reflectivity as a function of phase. However, strong forward scattering of radiation by clouds can also produce increases in a planet's reflectivity as it approaches crescent phases, and surface glint can be obscured by Rayleigh scattering and atmospheric absorption. Here, we explore the detectability ofmore » glint in the presence of an atmosphere and realistic phase-dependent scattering from oceans and clouds. We use the NASA Astrobiology Institute's Virtual Planetary Laboratory three-dimensional line-by-line, multiple-scattering spectral Earth model to simulate Earth's broadband visible brightness and reflectivity over an orbit. Our validated simulations successfully reproduce phase-dependent Earthshine observations. We find that the glinting Earth can be as much as 100% brighter at crescent phases than simulations that do not include glint, and that the effect is dependent on both orbital inclination and wavelength, where the latter dependence is caused by Rayleigh scattering limiting sensitivity to the surface. We show that this phenomenon may be observable using the James Webb Space Telescope paired with an external occulter.« less

Effect of hockey-stick-shaped molecules on the critical behavior at the nematic to isotropic and smectic-A to nematic phase transitions in octylcyanobiphenyl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakraborty, Anish; Chakraborty, Susanta; Das, Malay Kumar

2015-03-01

In the field of soft matter research, the characteristic behavior of both nematic-isotropic (N -I ) and smectic-A nematic (Sm -A N ) phase transitions has gained considerable attention due to their several attractive features. In this work, a high-resolution measurement of optical birefringence (Δ n ) has been performed to probe the critical behavior at the N -I and Sm -A N phase transitions in a binary system comprising the rodlike octylcyanobiphenyl and a laterally methyl substituted hockey-stick-shaped mesogen, 4-(3-n -decyloxy-2-methyl-phenyliminomethyl)phenyl 4-n -dodecyloxycinnamate. For the investigated mixtures, the critical exponent β related to the limiting behavior of the nematic order parameter close to the N -I phase transition has come out to be in good conformity with the tricritical hypothesis. Moreover, the yielded effective critical exponents (α', β', γ') characterizing the critical fluctuation near the Sm -A N phase transition have appeared to be nonuniversal in nature. With increasing hockey-stick-shaped dopant concentration, the Sm -A N phase transition demonstrates a strong tendency to be driven towards a first-order nature. Such a behavior has been accounted for by considering a modification of the effective intermolecular interactions and hence the related coupling between the nematic and smectic order parameters, caused by the introduction of the angular mesogenic molecules.

Detecting Oceans on Extrasolar Planets Using the Glint Effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, Tyler D.; Meadows, Victoria S.; Crisp, David

2010-09-01

Glint, the specular reflection of sunlight off Earth's oceans, may reveal the presence of oceans on an extrasolar planet. As an Earth-like planet nears crescent phases, the size of the ocean glint spot increases relative to the fraction of the illuminated disk, while the reflectivity of this spot increases. Both effects change the planet's visible reflectivity as a function of phase. However, strong forward scattering of radiation by clouds can also produce increases in a planet's reflectivity as it approaches crescent phases, and surface glint can be obscured by Rayleigh scattering and atmospheric absorption. Here, we explore the detectability of glint in the presence of an atmosphere and realistic phase-dependent scattering from oceans and clouds. We use the NASA Astrobiology Institute's Virtual Planetary Laboratory three-dimensional line-by-line, multiple-scattering spectral Earth model to simulate Earth's broadband visible brightness and reflectivity over an orbit. Our validated simulations successfully reproduce phase-dependent Earthshine observations. We find that the glinting Earth can be as much as 100% brighter at crescent phases than simulations that do not include glint, and that the effect is dependent on both orbital inclination and wavelength, where the latter dependence is caused by Rayleigh scattering limiting sensitivity to the surface. We show that this phenomenon may be observable using the James Webb Space Telescope paired with an external occulter.

Strong spin-orbit effects in transition metal oxides with tetrahedral coordination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forte, Filomena; Guerra, Delia; Autieri, Carmine; Romano, Alfonso; Noce, Canio; Avella, Adolfo

2018-05-01

To prove that spin-orbit coupling can play a relevant role in determining the magnetic structure of transition metal oxides with tetrahedral coordination, we investigate the d1 Mott insulator KOsO4, combining density functional theory calculations and the exact diagonalization approach. We find that the interplay between crystal field, strong spin-orbit coupling, electronic correlations and structural distortions brings the system towards an antiferromagnetic phase, characterized by a non-vanishing orbital angular momentum and anisotropy among the in-plane and the out-of-plane antiferromagnetic correlations. We also show that, due to the peculiar interplay between spin-orbit coupling, Hund's coupling and hopping connectivity the system is on the verge of developing short range ferromagnetic correlations marked by strong directionality.

Fermion masses through four-fermion condensates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ayyar, Venkitesh; Chandrasekharan, Shailesh

Fermion masses can be generated through four-fermion condensates when symmetries prevent fermion bilinear condensates from forming. This less explored mechanism of fermion mass generation is responsible for making four reduced staggered lattice fermions massive at strong couplings in a lattice model with a local four-fermion coupling. The model has a massless fermion phase at weak couplings and a massive fermion phase at strong couplings. In particular there is no spontaneous symmetry breaking of any lattice symmetries in both these phases. Recently it was discovered that in three space-time dimensions there is a direct second order phase transition between the twomore » phases. Here we study the same model in four space-time dimensions and find results consistent with the existence of a narrow intermediate phase with fermion bilinear condensates, that separates the two asymptotic phases by continuous phase transitions.« less

Different phases of a system of hard rods on three dimensional cubic lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vigneshwar, N.; Dhar, Deepak; Rajesh, R.

2017-11-01

We study the different phases of a system of monodispersed hard rods of length k on a cubic lattice, using an efficient cluster algorithm able to simulate densities close to the fully-packed limit. For k≤slant 4 , the system is disordered at all densities. For k=5, 6 , we find a single density-driven transition, from a disordered phase to high density layered-disordered phase, in which the density of rods of one orientation is strongly suppressed, breaking the system into weakly coupled layers. Within a layer, the system is disordered. For k ≥slant 7 , three density-driven transitions are observed numerically: isotropic to nematic to layered-nematic to layered-disordered. In the layered-nematic phase, the system breaks up into layers, with nematic order in each layer, but very weak correlation between the ordering directions of different layers. We argue that the layered-nematic phase is a finite-size effect, and in the thermodynamic limit, the nematic phase will have higher entropy per site. We expect the systems of rods in four and higher dimensions will have a qualitatively similar phase diagram.

Phase-locked laser array through global antenna mutual coupling

DOE PAGES

Kao, Tsung -Yu; Reno, John L.; Hu, Qing

2016-01-01

Here, phase locking of an array of lasers is a highly effective way in beam shaping, to increase the output power, and to reduce lasing threshold. In this work, we present a novel phase-locking mechanism based on "antenna mutual coupling" wherein laser elements interact through far-field radiations with definite phase relations. This allows long-range global coupling among array elements to achieve robust 2-dimensional phase-locked laser array. The new scheme is ideal for lasers with deep sub-wavelength confined cavity such as nanolasers, where the divergent beam pattern could be used to form strong coupling among elements in the array. We experimentallymore » demonstrated such a scheme using sub-wavelength short-cavity surface-emitting lasers at terahertz frequency. More than 37 laser elements are phase-locked to each other, delivering up to 6.5 mW single-mode radiations at ~3 terahertz, with maximum 450-mW/A slope efficiency and near diffraction limit beam divergence.« less

Melatonin induces opposite effects on order and dynamics of anionic DPPG model membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahin, Ipek; Severcan, Feride; Kazancı, Nadide

2007-05-01

The temperature and concentration induced effects of melatonin on anionic dipalmitoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) multilamellar liposomes (MLVs) were investigated by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that melatonin does not perturb the phase transition profile, while a decrease in the main transition temperature ( Tm) is noticed at high melatonin concentrations (15, 24 and 30 mol %). Low concentrations of melatonin (3, 6 and 9 mol %) decrease the frequency of the CH 2 stretching mode, implying an ordering effect, whilst high concentrations of melatonin disorders system both in the gel and liquid crystalline phases. Furthermore, at low and high concentrations, melatonin also causes opposite effect on membrane dynamics. The bandwidth of the CH 2 stretching modes decreases at low concentrations, implying a decrease in the dynamics, while increasing it at high concentrations. Furthermore, it causes significant decrease in the frequency of the C dbnd O stretching and PO2- antisymmetric double bond stretching bands of DPPG for all concentrations both in the gel and liquid crystalline phases, which indicates strong hydrogen bonding around these functional groups.

Features of Talbot effect on phase diffraction grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brazhnikov, Denis G.; Danko, Volodymyr P.; Kotov, Myhaylo M.; Kovalenko, Andriy V.

2018-01-01

The features of the Talbot effect using the phase diffraction gratings have been considered. A phase grating, unlike an amplitude grating, gives a constant light intensity in the observation plane at a distance multiple to half of the Talbot length ZT. In this case, the subject of interest consists in so-called fractional Talbot effect with the periodic intensity distribution observed in planes shifted from the position nZT/2 (the so-called Fresnel images). Binary phase diffraction gratings with varying phase steps have been investigated. Gratings were made photographically on holographic plates PFG-01. The phase shift was obtained by modulating the emulsion refraction index of the plates. Two types of gratings were used: a square grating with a fill factor of 0.5 and a checkerwise grating (square areas with a bigger and lower refractive index alternate in a checkerboard pattern). By the example of these gratings, the possibility of obtaining in the observation plane an image of a set of equidistant spots with a size smaller than the size of the phase-shifting elements of the grating (the so-called Talbot focusing) has been shown. Clear images of spots with a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio have been obtained for a square grating. Their period was equal to the period of the grating. For a grating with a checkerwise distribution of the refractive index, the spots have been located in positions corresponding to the centres of cells. In addition, the quality of the resulting pattern strongly depended on the magnitude of a grating phase step. As a result of the work, the possibility to obtain Talbot focusing has been shown and the use of this effect to wavefront investigation with a gradient sensor has been demonstrated.

Classical topological paramagnetism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bondesan, R.; Ringel, Z.

2017-05-01

Topological phases of matter are one of the hallmarks of quantum condensed matter physics. One of their striking features is a bulk-boundary correspondence wherein the topological nature of the bulk manifests itself on boundaries via exotic massless phases. In classical wave phenomena, analogous effects may arise; however, these cannot be viewed as equilibrium phases of matter. Here, we identify a set of rules under which robust equilibrium classical topological phenomena exist. We write simple and analytically tractable classical lattice models of spins and rotors in two and three dimensions which, at suitable parameter ranges, are paramagnetic in the bulk but nonetheless exhibit some unusual long-range or critical order on their boundaries. We point out the role of simplicial cohomology as a means of classifying, writing, and analyzing such models. This opens an experimental route for studying strongly interacting topological phases of spins.

Humidity influence on gas-particle phase partitioning of α-pinene + O3 secondary organic aerosol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prisle, N. L.; Engelhart, G. J.; Bilde, M.; Donahue, N. M.

2010-01-01

Water vapor uptake to particles could potentially affect organic-aerosol mass in three ways: first, water in the organic phase could reduce organic (equilibrium) partial pressures according to Raoult's law; second, an aqueous phase could attract water soluble organics according to Henry's law; finally, deliquescence of inorganic particle cores could mix the organic and inorganic particle phases, significantly diluting the organics and again reducing organic partial pressures according to Raoult's law. We present experiments using initially dry α-pinene + ozone secondary organic aerosol (SOA) on ammonium sulfate (AS) seeds at atmospheric concentrations in a smog chamber. After SOA formation, the chamber relative humidity is increased steadily by addition of steam to near 100%. Little subsequent SOA mass growth is observed, suggesting that none of these potential effects play a strong role in this system.

Strong cation exchange-type chiral stationary phase for enantioseparation of chiral amines in subcritical fluid chromatography.

PubMed

Wolrab, Denise; Kohout, Michal; Boras, Mario; Lindner, Wolfgang

2013-05-10

A new strong cation exchange type chiral stationary phase (SCX CSP) based on a syringic acid amide derivative of trans-(R, R)-2-aminocyclohexanesulfonic acid was applied to subcritical fluid chromatography (SFC) for separation of various chiral basic drugs and their analogues. Mobile phase systems consisting of aliphatic alcohols as polar modifiers and a broad range of amines with different substitution patterns and lipophilicity were employed to evaluate the impact on the SFC retention and selectivity characteristics. The observed results point to the existence of carbonic and carbamic acid salts formed as a consequence of reactions occurring between carbon dioxide, the alcoholic modifiers and the amine species present in the sub/supercritical fluid medium, respectively. Evidence is provided that these species are essential for affecting ion exchange between the strongly acidic chiral selector units and the basic analytes, following the well-established stoichiometric displacement mechanisms. Specific trends were observed when different types of amines were used as basic additives. While ammonia gave rise to the formation of the most strongly eluting carbonic and carbamic salt species, simple tertiary amines consistently provided superior levels of enantioselectivity. Furthermore, trends in the chiral SFC separation characteristics were investigated by the systematic variation of the modifier content and temperature. Different effects of additives are interpreted in terms of changes in the relative concentration of the transient ionic species contributing to analyte elution, with ammonia-derived carbamic salts being depleted at elevated temperatures by decomposition. Additionally, in an effort to optimize SFC enantiomer separation conditions for selected analytes, the impact of the type of the organic modifier, temperature, flow rate and active back pressure were also investigated. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Early visual processing is enhanced in the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

PubMed

Lusk, Bethany R; Carr, Andrea R; Ranson, Valerie A; Bryant, Richard A; Felmingham, Kim L

2015-12-01

Event-related potential (ERP) studies have revealed an early attentional bias in processing unpleasant emotional images in women. Recent neuroimaging data suggests there are significant differences in cortical emotional processing according to menstrual phase. This study examined the impact of menstrual phase on visual emotional processing in women compared to men. ERPs were recorded from 28 early follicular women, 29 midluteal women, and 27 men while they completed a passive viewing task of neutral and low- and high- arousing pleasant and unpleasant images. There was a significant effect of menstrual phase in early visual processing, as midluteal women displayed significantly greater P1 amplitude at occipital regions to all visual images compared to men. Both midluteal and early follicular women displayed larger N1 amplitudes than men (although this only reached significance for the midluteal group) to the visual images. No sex or menstrual phase differences were apparent in later N2, P3, or LPP. A condition effect demonstrated greater P3 and LPP amplitude to highly-arousing unpleasant images relative to all other stimuli conditions. These results indicate that women have greater early automatic visual processing compared to men, and suggests that this effect is particularly strong in women in the midluteal phase at the earliest stage of visual attention processing. Our findings highlight the importance of considering menstrual phase when examining sex differences in the cortical processing of visual stimuli. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New Treatment of Strongly Anisotropic Scattering Phase Functions: The Delta-M+ Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stamnes, K. H.; Lin, Z.; Chen, N.; Fan, Y.; Li, W.; Stamnes, S.

2017-12-01

The treatment of strongly anisotropic scattering phase functions is still a challenge for accurate radiance computations. The new Delta-M+ method resolves this problem by introducing a reliable, fast, accurate, and easy-to-use Legendre expansion of the scattering phase function with modified moments. Delta-M+ is an upgrade of the widely-used Delta-M method that truncates the forward scattering cone into a Dirac-delta-function (a direct beam), where the + symbol indicates that it essentially matches moments above the first 2M terms. Compared with the original Delta-M method, Delta-M+ has the same computational efficiency, but the accuracy has been increased dramatically. Tests show that the errors for strongly forward-peaked scattering phase functions are greatly reduced. Furthermore, the accuracy and stability of radiance computations are also significantly improved by applying the new Delta-M+ method.

Effects of Nickel Doping on the Multiferroic and Magnetic Phases of MnWO 4

DOE PAGES

Poudel, N.; Lorenz, B.; Lv, B.; ...

2015-12-15

There are various orders in multiferroic materials with a frustrated spiral spin modulation inducing a ferroelectric state are extremely sensitive to small perturbations such as magnetic and electric fields, external pressure, or chemical substitutions. A classical multiferroic, the mineral Hubnerite with chemical formula MnWO 4, shows three different magnetic phases at low temperature. The intermediate phase between 7.5K < T < 12.7K is multiferroic and ferroelectricity is induced by an inversion symmetry breaking spiral Mn-spin order and strong spin-lattice interactions. Furthermore, the substitution of Ni 2+ (spin 1) for Mn 2+ (spin 5/2) in MnWO 4 and its effects onmore » the magnetic and multiferroic phases are studied. The ferroelectric phase is stabilized for low Ni content (up to 10%). Upon further Ni doping, the polarization in the ferroelectric phase is quickly suppressed while a collinear and commensurate magnetic phase, characteristic of the magnetic structure in NiWO 4, appears first at higher temperature, gradually extends to lower temperature, and becomes the ground state above 30% doping. Between 10% and 30%, the multiferroic phase coexists with the collinear commensurate phase. In this concentration region, the spin spiral plane is close to the a-b plane which explains the drop of the ferroelectric polarization. Finally, the phase diagram of Mn 1-xNi xWO 4 is derived by a combination of magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, electric polarization, and neutron scattering measurements.« less

Describing the strongly interacting quark-gluon plasma through the Friedberg-Lee model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shu Song; Li Jiarong; Institute of Particle Physics, Hua-Zhong Normal University, Wuhan 430079

2010-10-15

The Friedberg-Lee (FL) model is studied at finite temperature and density. The soliton solutions of the FL model in the deconfinement phase transition are solved and thoroughly discussed for certain boundary conditions. We indicate that the solitons before and after the deconfinement have different physical meanings: the soliton before deconfinement represents hadrons, while the soliton after the deconfinement represents the bound state of quarks which leads to a strongly interacting quark-gluon plasma phase. The corresponding phase diagram is given.

Manifestation of resonance-related chaos in coupled Josephson junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shukrinov, Yu. M.; Hamdipour, M.; Kolahchi, M. R.; Botha, A. E.; Suzuki, M.

2012-11-01

Manifestation of chaos in the temporal dependence of the electric charge is demonstrated through the calculation of the maximal Lyapunov exponent, phase-charge and charge-charge Lissajous diagrams and correlation functions. It is found that the number of junctions in the stack strongly influences the fine structure in the current-voltage characteristics and a strong proximity effect results from the nonperiodic boundary conditions. The observed resonance-related chaos exhibits intermittency. The criteria for a breakpoint region with no chaos are obtained. Such criteria could clarify recent experimental observations of variations in the power output from intrinsic Josephson junctions in high temperature superconductors.

Dynamic electronic correlation effects in NbO 2 as compared to VO 2

DOE PAGES

Brito, W. H.; Aguiar, M. C. O.; Haule, K.; ...

2017-11-01

In this study we present a comparative investigation of the electronic structures of NbO 2 and VO 2 obtained within a combination of density functional theory and cluster-dynamical mean-field theory calculations. We investigate the role of dynamic electronic correlations on the electronic structure of the metallic and insulating phases of NbO 2 and VO 2, with a focus on the mechanism responsible for the gap opening in the insulating phases. For the rutile metallic phases of both oxides, we obtain that electronic correlations lead to a strong renormalization of the t 2g subbands, as well as the emergence of incoherentmore » Hubbard subbands, signaling that electronic correlations are also important in the metallic phase of NbO 2. Interestingly, we find that nonlocal dynamic correlations do play a role in the gap formation of the [body-centered-tetragonal (bct)] insulating phase of NbO 2, by a similar physical mechanism as that recently proposed by us in the case of the monoclinic (M 1) dimerized phase of VO 2. Finally, although the effect of nonlocal dynamic correlations in the gap opening of bct phase is less important than in the (M 1 and M 2) monoclinic phases of VO 2, their presence indicates that the former is not a purely Peierls-type insulator, as it was recently proposed.« less

A review: applications of the phase field method in predicting microstructure and property evolution of irradiated nuclear materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Yulan; Hu, Shenyang; Sun, Xin

Here, complex microstructure changes occur in nuclear fuel and structural materials due to the extreme environments of intense irradiation and high temperature. This paper evaluates the role of the phase field method in predicting the microstructure evolution of irradiated nuclear materials and the impact on their mechanical, thermal, and magnetic properties. The paper starts with an overview of the important physical mechanisms of defect evolution and the significant gaps in simulating microstructure evolution in irradiated nuclear materials. Then, the phase field method is introduced as a powerful and predictive tool and its applications to microstructure and property evolution in irradiatedmore » nuclear materials are reviewed. The review shows that (1) Phase field models can correctly describe important phenomena such as spatial-dependent generation, migration, and recombination of defects, radiation-induced dissolution, the Soret effect, strong interfacial energy anisotropy, and elastic interaction; (2) The phase field method can qualitatively and quantitatively simulate two-dimensional and three-dimensional microstructure evolution, including radiation-induced segregation, second phase nucleation, void migration, void and gas bubble superlattice formation, interstitial loop evolution, hydrate formation, and grain growth, and (3) The Phase field method correctly predicts the relationships between microstructures and properties. The final section is dedicated to a discussion of the strengths and limitations of the phase field method, as applied to irradiation effects in nuclear materials.« less

A review: applications of the phase field method in predicting microstructure and property evolution of irradiated nuclear materials

DOE PAGES

Li, Yulan; Hu, Shenyang; Sun, Xin; ...

2017-04-14

Here, complex microstructure changes occur in nuclear fuel and structural materials due to the extreme environments of intense irradiation and high temperature. This paper evaluates the role of the phase field method in predicting the microstructure evolution of irradiated nuclear materials and the impact on their mechanical, thermal, and magnetic properties. The paper starts with an overview of the important physical mechanisms of defect evolution and the significant gaps in simulating microstructure evolution in irradiated nuclear materials. Then, the phase field method is introduced as a powerful and predictive tool and its applications to microstructure and property evolution in irradiatedmore » nuclear materials are reviewed. The review shows that (1) Phase field models can correctly describe important phenomena such as spatial-dependent generation, migration, and recombination of defects, radiation-induced dissolution, the Soret effect, strong interfacial energy anisotropy, and elastic interaction; (2) The phase field method can qualitatively and quantitatively simulate two-dimensional and three-dimensional microstructure evolution, including radiation-induced segregation, second phase nucleation, void migration, void and gas bubble superlattice formation, interstitial loop evolution, hydrate formation, and grain growth, and (3) The Phase field method correctly predicts the relationships between microstructures and properties. The final section is dedicated to a discussion of the strengths and limitations of the phase field method, as applied to irradiation effects in nuclear materials.« less

A novel mechanical model for phase-separation in debris flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pudasaini, Shiva P.

2015-04-01

Understanding the physics of phase-separation between solid and fluid phases as a two-phase mass moves down slope is a long-standing challenge. Here, I propose a fundamentally new mechanism, called 'separation-flux', that leads to strong phase-separation in avalanche and debris flows. This new model extends the general two-phase debris flow model (Pudasaini, 2012) to include a separation-flux mechanism. The new flux separation mechanism is capable of describing and controlling the dynamically evolving phase-separation, segregation, and/or levee formation in a real two-phase, geometrically three-dimensional debris flow motion and deposition. These are often observed phenomena in natural debris flows and industrial processes that involve the transportation of particulate solid-fluid mixture material. The novel separation-flux model includes several dominant physical and mechanical aspects that result in strong phase-separation (segregation). These include pressure gradients, volume fractions of solid and fluid phases and their gradients, shear-rates, flow depth, material friction, viscosity, material densities, boundary structures, gravity and topographic constraints, grain shape, size, etc. Due to the inherent separation mechanism, as the mass moves down slope, more and more solid particles are brought to the front, resulting in a solid-rich and mechanically strong frontal surge head followed by a weak tail largely consisting of the viscous fluid. The primary frontal surge head followed by secondary surge is the consequence of the phase-separation. Such typical and dominant phase-separation phenomena are revealed here for the first time in real two-phase debris flow modeling and simulations. However, these phenomena may depend on the bulk material composition and the applied forces. Reference: Pudasaini, Shiva P. (2012): A general two-phase debris flow model. J. Geophys. Res., 117, F03010, doi: 10.1029/2011JF002186.

Universal scattering response across the type-II Weyl semimetal phase diagram

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rüßmann, P.; Weber, A. P.; Glott, F.; Xu, N.; Fanciulli, M.; Muff, S.; Magrez, A.; Bugnon, P.; Berger, H.; Bode, M.; Dil, J. H.; Blügel, S.; Mavropoulos, P.; Sessi, P.

2018-02-01

The discovery of Weyl semimetals represents a significant advance in topological band theory. They paradigmatically enlarged the classification of topological materials to gapless systems while simultaneously providing experimental evidence for the long-sought Weyl fermions. Beyond fundamental relevance, their high mobility, strong magnetoresistance, and the possible existence of even more exotic effects, such as the chiral anomaly, make Weyl semimetals a promising platform to develop radically new technology. Fully exploiting their potential requires going beyond the mere identification of materials and calls for a detailed characterization of their functional response, which is severely complicated by the coexistence of surface- and bulk-derived topologically protected quasiparticles, i.e., Fermi arcs and Weyl points, respectively. Here, we focus on the type-II Weyl semimetal class in which we find a stoichiometry-dependent phase transition from a trivial to a nontrivial regime. By exploring the two extreme cases of the phase diagram, we demonstrate the existence of a universal response of both surface and bulk states to perturbations. We show that quasiparticle interference patterns originate from scattering events among surface arcs. Analysis reveals that topologically nontrivial contributions are strongly suppressed by spin texture. We also show that scattering at localized impurities can generate defect-induced quasiparticles sitting close to the Weyl point energy. These give rise to strong peaks in the local density of states, which lift the Weyl node, significantly altering the pristine low-energy spectrum. Remarkably, by comparing the WTe2 and the MoTe2 cases we found that scattering response and topological transition are not directly linked. Visualizing the existence of a universal microscopic response to scattering has important consequences for understanding the unusual transport properties of this class of materials. Overall, our observations provide a unifying picture of the type-II Weyl phase diagram.

The QCD mass gap and quark deconfinement scales as mass bounds in strong gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burikham, Piyabut; Harko, Tiberiu; Lake, Matthew J.

2017-11-01

Though not a part of mainstream physics, Salam's theory of strong gravity remains a viable effective model for the description of strong interactions in the gauge singlet sector of QCD, capable of producing particle confinement and asymptotic freedom, but not of reproducing interactions involving SU(3) color charge. It may therefore be used to explore the stability and confinement of gauge singlet hadrons, though not to describe scattering processes that require color interactions. It is a two-tensor theory of both strong interactions and gravity, in which the strong tensor field is governed by equations formally identical to the Einstein equations, apart from the coupling parameter, which is of order 1 {GeV}^{-1}. We revisit the strong gravity theory and investigate the strong gravity field equations in the presence of a mixing term which induces an effective strong cosmological constant, Λ f. This introduces a strong de Sitter radius for strongly interacting fermions, producing a confining bubble, which allows us to identify Λ f with the `bag constant' of the MIT bag model, B ˜eq 2 × 10^{14} {g} {cm}^{-3}. Assuming a static, spherically symmetric geometry, we derive the strong gravity TOV equation, which describes the equilibrium properties of compact hadronic objects. From this, we determine the generalized Buchdahl inequalities for a strong gravity `particle', giving rise to upper and lower bounds on the mass/radius ratio of stable, compact, strongly interacting objects. We show, explicitly, that the existence of the lower mass bound is induced by the presence of Λ _f, producing a mass gap, and that the upper bound corresponds to a deconfinement phase transition. The physical implications of our results for holographic duality in the context of the AdS/QCD and dS/QCD correspondences are also discussed.

Evidence for magnetic Weyl fermions in a correlated metal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuroda, K.; Tomita, T.; Suzuki, M.-T.; Bareille, C.; Nugroho, A. A.; Goswami, P.; Ochi, M.; Ikhlas, M.; Nakayama, M.; Akebi, S.; Noguchi, R.; Ishii, R.; Inami, N.; Ono, K.; Kumigashira, H.; Varykhalov, A.; Muro, T.; Koretsune, T.; Arita, R.; Shin, S.; Kondo, Takeshi; Nakatsuji, S.

2017-11-01

Weyl fermions have been observed as three-dimensional, gapless topological excitations in weakly correlated, inversion-symmetry-breaking semimetals. However, their realization in spontaneously time-reversal-symmetry-breaking phases of strongly correlated materials has so far remained hypothetical. Here, we report experimental evidence for magnetic Weyl fermions in Mn3Sn, a non-collinear antiferromagnet that exhibits a large anomalous Hall effect, even at room temperature. Detailed comparison between angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveals significant bandwidth renormalization and damping effects due to the strong correlation among Mn 3d electrons. Magnetotransport measurements provide strong evidence for the chiral anomaly of Weyl fermions--namely, the emergence of positive magnetoconductance only in the presence of parallel electric and magnetic fields. Since weak magnetic fields (approximately 10 mT) are adequate to control the distribution of Weyl points and the large fictitious fields (equivalent to approximately a few hundred T) produced by them in momentum space, our discovery lays the foundation for a new field of science and technology involving the magnetic Weyl excitations of strongly correlated electron systems such as Mn3Sn.

Premelting hcp to bcc Transition in Beryllium.

PubMed

Lu, Y; Sun, T; Zhang, Ping; Zhang, P; Zhang, D-B; Wentzcovitch, R M

2017-04-07

Beryllium (Be) is an important material with wide applications ranging from aerospace components to x-ray equipment. Yet a precise understanding of its phase diagram remains elusive. We have investigated the phase stability of Be using a recently developed hybrid free energy computation method that accounts for anharmonic effects by invoking phonon quasiparticles. We find that the hcp → bcc transition occurs near the melting curve at 0

Raman spectroscopy and dielectric Studies of multiple phase transitions in ZnO:Ni

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Harish Kumar; Sreenivas, K.; Gupta, Vinay; Scott, J. F.; Katiyar, R. S.

2008-03-01

We present Raman and dielectric data on Ni-doped ZnO (Zn1-xNixO) ceramics as a function of Ni concentration (x =0.03, 0.06, and 0.10) and temperature. A mode (around 130cm-1) is identified as TA(M) [J. M. Calleja and M. Cardona, Phys. Rev. B 16, 3753 (1977)] and appears due to an antiferromagnetic phase transition at low temperatures (100K) via the spin-orbit mechanism [P. Moch and C. Dugautier, Phys. Lett. A 43, 169 (1973)]. A strong dielectric anomaly occurs at around 430-460K, depending on Ni concentration, and is due to extrinsic electret effects (Ni ionic conduction) and not to a ferroelectric phase transition.

Microstructure, Corrosion and Magnetic Behavior of an Aged Dual-Phase Stainless Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziouche, A.; Haddad, A.; Badji, R.; Zergoug, M.; Zoubiri, N.; Bedjaoui, W.; Abaidia, S.

2018-03-01

In the present work, the effect of the precipitation phenomena on corrosion and magnetic behavior of an aged dual-phase stainless steel was investigated. Aging treatment caused the precipitation of the σ phase, chromium carbides and secondary austenite, which was accompanied by the shifting of the δ/γ interfaces inside the δ ferrite grains. Aging between 700 and 850 °C strongly deteriorated the pitting corrosion resistance of the studied material. Magnetic investigation of the aged material using the vibration sample magnetic technique revealed the sensitivity of the intrinsic magnetic properties to the smallest microstructural change. This was confirmed by the Eddy current technique that led also to the evaluation of the aging-induced localized corrosion.

Experimental invalidation of phase-transition-induced elastic softening in CrN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shanmin; Yu, Xiaohui; Zhang, Jianzhong; Chen, Miao; Zhu, Jinlong; Wang, Liping; He, Duanwei; Lin, Zhijun; Zhang, Ruifeng; Leinenweber, Kurt; Zhao, Yusheng

2012-08-01

We report experimental results of phase stability and incompressibility of CrN. The obtained bulk moduli for cubic and orthorhombic CrN are 257 and 262 GPa, respectively. These results invalidate the conclusion of phase-transition-induced elastic softening recently reported based on nonmagnetic simulations for cubic CrN [Nature Mater.NMAACR1476-112210.1038/nmat2549 8, 947 (2009)]. On the other hand, they provide the only experimental evidence to support the computational models involving the local magnetic moment of Cr atoms [Nature Mater.NMAACR1476-112210.1038/nmat2722 9, 283 (2010)], indicating that atomic spin has a profound influence on the material's elastic properties. We also demonstrate that nonstoichiometry in CrNx has strong effects on its structural stability.

Influence of preliminary deformation on the hardening effect upon aging of Al-Cu-Li alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Betsofen, S. Ya.; Ashmarin, A. A.; Knyazev, M. I.; Dolgova, M. I.

2016-09-01

The influence of preliminary deformation upon rolling of wedge specimens on the mechanical properties and the structural phase state of Al-Cu-Li alloys are studied by X-ray diffraction and hardness measurements. Strong dependence of the hardening effect upon aging on the reduction upon rolling has been revealed. Deformation weakly influences the hardness and significantly increases the hardening upon aging. Herewith, the hardening effect is nearly absent at the minimum deformation ratio of 1% and increases with its increase. It is demonstrated that the content of T1 phase increases from 2 to 4% in the range of a preliminary deformation ratio of 6-10% and the content of δ' phase is 17% at a deformation ratio in the range 1‒6% and increases to 18-19% at a deformation ratio of 6-10%. The δ' phase in an alloy contains <20% nanocrystalline particles with 6-20 nm in size, and the remaining part consists of amorphous particles (as detected by X-ray diffraction) <5 nm in size, which precipitate coherently from the matrix and have the same orientation as the nanocrystalline particles and the solid solution.

Effect of Cr3+ concentration on structural and optical properties of TiO2:Cr3+ anatase and rutile phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loan, Trinh Thi; Bang, Ngac An; Huong, Vu Hoang; Long, Nguyen Ngoc

2017-07-01

TiO2 powders doped with different amounts of Cr3+ions (from 0 to 10 mol%) have been prepared by hydrothermal technique. TiO2:Cr3+ powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflection, absorption, photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectra. The results showed that the Cr3+ dopant concentrations did not affect on the lattice constants of TiO2 crystal, but affected on shift and broadening of the Raman modes for both anatase and rutile phases. The band gap of both the anatase and rutile TiO2 host lattice was strongly decreased with increasing Cr3+ dopant concentration. The photoluminescence spectra of TiO2:Cr3+ anatase phase exhibited a weak narrow peak (the so-called R-line) at 698 nm, meanwhile those of TiO2:Cr3+ rutile phase consisted of a very intense narrow zero-phonon R-line at 695 nm assigned to the 2E(2G) → 4A2(4F) transition of Cr3+ ions in strong octahedral field and its phonon-sidebands. In particular, in the PL spectrum of TiO2:Cr3+ rutile phase is also observed an abroad emission band centered at 813 nm assigned to the 4T2(4F) → 4A2(4F) transition of ions Cr3+ in weak octahedral field.

There is not yet strong evidence that exercise regimens other than pelvic floor muscle training can reduce stress urinary incontinence in women: a systematic review.

PubMed

Bø, Kari; Herbert, Robert D

2013-09-01

What evidence is there for alternative exercises to specific pelvic floor muscle training for treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women? A systematic review was conducted with searches of PubMed and PEDro to January 2013. The quality of randomised trials was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Each type of exercise was classified as being in a Development Phase, Testing Phase, or Refinement and Dissemination Phase. Women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence with predominantly stress urinary incontinence. Exercise regimens other than pelvic floor muscle training. The primary outcome was urinary leakage. Seven randomised controlled trials were found: three on abdominal training, two on the Paula method, and two on Pilates exercise. The methodological quality score ranged between 4 and 8 with a mean of 5.7. There was no convincing evidence for the effect of these exercise regimens so they remain in the Testing Phase. Because no randomised trials were found for posture correction, breathing exercise, yoga, Tai Chi, and general fitness training, these were classified as being in the Development Phase. There is not yet strong evidence that alternative exercise regimens can reduce urinary leakage in women with stress urinary incontinence. Alternative exercise regimens should not yet be recommended for use in clinical practice for women with stress urinary incontinence. Copyright © 2013 Australian Physiotherapy Association. Published by .. All rights reserved.

Deep turbulence effects mitigation with coherent combining of 21 laser beams over 7 km.

PubMed

Weyrauch, Thomas; Vorontsov, Mikhail; Mangano, Joseph; Ovchinnikov, Vladimir; Bricker, David; Polnau, Ernst; Rostov, Andrey

2016-02-15

We demonstrate coherent beam combining and adaptive mitigation of atmospheric turbulence effects over 7 km under strong scintillation conditions using a coherent fiber array laser transmitter operating in a target-in-the-loop setting. The transmitter system is composed of a densely packed array of 21 fiber collimators with integrated capabilities for piston, tip, and tilt control of the outgoing beams wavefront phases. A small cat's-eye retro reflector was used for evaluation of beam combining and turbulence compensation performance at the target plane, and to provide the feedback signal for control of piston and tip/tilt phases of the transmitted beams using the stochastic parallel gradient descent maximization of the power-in-the-bucket metric.

The effect of high pressure on the intracellular trehalose synthase activity of Thermus aquaticus.

PubMed

Dong, Yongsheng; Ma, Lei; Duan, Yuanliang

2016-01-01

To understand the effect of high pressure on the intracellular trehalose synthase activity, Thermus aquaticus (T. aquaticus) in the logarithmic growth phase was treated with high-pressure air, and its intracellular trehalose synthase (TSase) activity was determined. Our results indicated that pressure is a factor strongly affecting the cell growth. High pressure significantly attenuated the growth rate of T. aquaticus and shortened the duration of stationary phase. However, after 2 h of culture under 1.0 MPa pressure, the activity of intracellular TSase in T. aquaticus reached its maximum value, indicating that pressure can significantly increase the activity of intracellular TSase in T. aquaticus. Thus the present study provides an important guide for the enzymatic production of trehalose.

HD{sup +} in a short strong laser pulse: Practical consideration of the observability of carrier-envelope phase effects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roudnev, V.; Esry, B. D.

2007-08-15

We summarize the results of numerical calculations of HD{sup +} in a 7.1 fs (intensity full width at half maximum) 790 nm laser pulse. The molecule is assumed to be aligned with the linearly polarized laser field and includes two electronic and one nuclear degrees of freedom. We report total dissociation and ionization probabilities from the lowest 10 vibrational states for a range of intensities from 10{sup 13} to 7x10{sup 14} W/cm{sup 2}. The conditions for the observability of carrier-envelope phase (CEP) effects for a mixed initial state and for intensity averaging over the laser focal volume are discussed inmore » detail.« less

Phase-synchronisation in continuous flow models of production networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scholz-Reiter, Bernd; Tervo, Jan Topi; Freitag, Michael

2006-04-01

To improve their position at the market, many companies concentrate on their core competences and hence cooperate with suppliers and distributors. Thus, between many independent companies strong linkages develop and production and logistics networks emerge. These networks are characterised by permanently increasing complexity, and are nowadays forced to adapt to dynamically changing markets. This factor complicates an enterprise-spreading production planning and control enormously. Therefore, a continuous flow model for production networks will be derived regarding these special logistic problems. Furthermore, phase-synchronisation effects will be presented and their dependencies to the set of network parameters will be investigated.

Coulomb blockade in a single tunnel junction directly connected to a multiwalled carbon nanotube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haruyama, Junji; Takesue, Izumi; Sato, Yuki

2000-10-01

We report on Coulomb blockade in a single tunnel junction directly connected to a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) by utilizing a nanoporous alumina film. The MWNT exhibits a weak localization effect with strong spin flip scattering. Experimental results and analysis suggest that a high-impedance external environment caused by the weak localization in the MWNT can yield Coulomb blockade, in accordance with phase correlation theory in a single junction system. It is also revealed that the Coulomb blockade is very sensitive to phase modulation in the MWNT, which also acts as a high-impedance transmission line.

Coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetism probed by simultaneous nuclear magnetic resonance and electrical transport in (TMTSF)2PF6 system.

PubMed

Lee, I J; Brown, S E; Yu, W; Naughton, M J; Chaikin, P M

2005-05-20

We report simultaneous NMR and electrical transport experiments in the pressure range near the boundary of the antiferromagnetic spin density wave (SDW) insulator and the metallic/superconducting (SC) phase in (TMTSF)2PF6. Measurements indicate a tricritical point separating a line of second-order SDW/metal transitions from a line of first-order SDW/metal(SC) transitions with coexistence of macroscopic regions of SDW and metal(SC) order, with little mutual interaction but strong hysteretic effects. NMR results quantify the fraction of each phase.

Characteristics of ionospheric storms in East Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiao; Wang, Guojun; Shi, Jiankui

The ionosphere experiences intense response during the geomagnetic storm and it varies with latitude and longitude. The DPS-4 digisonde measurements and GPS-TEC data of ionospheric stations located at different latitudes in the longitudinal sector of 90-130E during 2002 to 2012 were analyzed to investigate the ionospheric effects in the different latitude of East Asia during geomagnetic storm. About 70 geomagnetic storms are selected according to the Dst index and observed data and they are in different seasons and different solar activity levels. A few quiet days’ averages of data before geomagnetic storm were used as the undisturbed level. Results show that for the middle and high latitude, the short-lived positive disturbance associated with the initial phase of the every storm was observed in each season and then the disturbances were negative till the termination of storm. At the low latitude, storm-time disturbances of foF2 have obvious diurnal, seasonal and solar cycle characteristics. Generally, geomagnetic activity will cause foF2 to increase at daytime and decrease at nighttime except for the summer in low solar activity period. The intensity of response of foF2 is stronger at nighttime than that at daytime. The negative ionospheric storm effect is the strongest in summer and the positive ionospheric storm effect is the strongest in winter. In high solar activity period, the diurnal variation of the response of foF2 is very pronounced in each season, and the strong ionospheric response can last several days. In low solar activity period, ionospheric response has very pronounced diurnal variation in winter only. It’s notable that geomagnetic activities occurred at local time nighttime can cause stronger and longer responses of foF2 at the low latitude. All in all, the obvious negative phase ionospheric storms often occurred at the low latitude. Moreover a notable phenomenon was observed for the low latitude, there are the intensive oscillations of foF2 occurring during the main storm phase of enhanced storm in Hainan, and it occurred in the morning generally. For the TEC data, strong disturbances can be observed simultaneously from high latitude to low latitude during the main phase of some storms. Generally strong/weak storms can cause the negative/positive phase storms of TEC in the low latitude and which are obvious in the daytime for the summer and winter and in the period from noon to midnight for the equinox. The differences of the responses of foF2 and TEC are also investigated.

Algorithmic implementation of particle-particle ladder diagram approximation to study strongly-correlated metals and semiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prayogi, A.; Majidi, M. A.

2017-07-01

In condensed-matter physics, strongly-correlated systems refer to materials that exhibit variety of fascinating properties and ordered phases, depending on temperature, doping, and other factors. Such unique properties most notably arise due to strong electron-electron interactions, and in some cases due to interactions involving other quasiparticles as well. Electronic correlation effects are non-trivial that one may need a sufficiently accurate approximation technique with quite heavy computation, such as Quantum Monte-Carlo, in order to capture particular material properties arising from such effects. Meanwhile, less accurate techniques may come with lower numerical cost, but the ability to capture particular properties may highly depend on the choice of approximation. Among the many-body techniques derivable from Feynman diagrams, we aim to formulate algorithmic implementation of the Ladder Diagram approximation to capture the effects of electron-electron interactions. We wish to investigate how these correlation effects influence the temperature-dependent properties of strongly-correlated metals and semiconductors. As we are interested to study the temperature-dependent properties of the system, the Ladder diagram method needs to be applied in Matsubara frequency domain to obtain the self-consistent self-energy. However, at the end we would also need to compute the dynamical properties like density of states (DOS) and optical conductivity that are defined in the real frequency domain. For this purpose, we need to perform the analytic continuation procedure. At the end of this study, we will test the technique by observing the occurrence of metal-insulator transition in strongly-correlated metals, and renormalization of the band gap in strongly-correlated semiconductors.

The effect of arsenic chemical form and mixing regime on arsenic mass transfer from soil to magnetite.

PubMed

Yang, Kyung; Kim, Byung-Chul; Nam, Kyoungphile; Choi, Yongju

2017-03-01

This study investigated the effect of chemical forms of arsenic (As) and soil-magnetite mixing regimes on As mass transfer in magnetite-amended soil. Two soil samples with different component ratios of As chemical forms were prepared. In the absence of magnetite, the amount of desorbable As was strongly dependent on the fraction of easily extractable As in soil. Contact of the soils with magnetite in a slurry phase significantly reduced soil As concentration for both soils. Changes in As concentrations in soil, magnetite, and water by the slurry phase contact were simulated using an As mass transfer model. The model parameters were determined independently for each process of As soil desorption and magnetite sorption. The experimentally measured As mass transfer from soil to magnetite was significantly greater than the simulation result. By sequential extraction, it was observed that the soil As concentration was significantly reduced not only for easily extractable As, but also for relatively strongly bound forms of As. Enclosing the magnetite in a dialysis bag substantially limited the As mass transfer from soil to magnetite. These results suggest that improving the mixture between Fe oxides and soils can facilitate the effectiveness of As stabilization using Fe oxides.

Effective Hamiltonians for correlated narrow energy band systems and magnetic insulators: Role of spin-orbit interactions in metal-insulator transitions and magnetic phase transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chakraborty, Subrata; Vijay, Amrendra, E-mail: avijay@iitm.ac.in

Using a second-quantized many-electron Hamiltonian, we obtain (a) an effective Hamiltonian suitable for materials whose electronic properties are governed by a set of strongly correlated bands in a narrow energy range and (b) an effective spin-only Hamiltonian for magnetic materials. The present Hamiltonians faithfully include phonon and spin-related interactions as well as the external fields to study the electromagnetic response properties of complex materials and they, in appropriate limits, reduce to the model Hamiltonians due to Hubbard and Heisenberg. With the Hamiltonian for narrow-band strongly correlated materials, we show that the spin-orbit interaction provides a mechanism for metal-insulator transition, whichmore » is distinct from the Mott-Hubbard (driven by the electron correlation) and the Anderson mechanism (driven by the disorder). Next, with the spin-only Hamiltonian, we demonstrate the spin-orbit interaction to be a reason for the existence of antiferromagnetic phase in materials which are characterized by a positive isotropic spin-exchange energy. This is distinct from the Néel-VanVleck-Anderson paradigm which posits a negative spin-exchange for the existence of antiferromagnetism. We also find that the Néel temperature increases as the absolute value of the spin-orbit coupling increases.« less

Interpreting the human phase response curve to multiple bright-light exposures.

PubMed

Strogatz, S H

1990-01-01

Czeisler and his colleagues have recently reported that bright light can induce strong (Type O) resetting of the human circadian pacemaker. This surprising result shows that the human clock is more responsive to light than has been previously thought. The interpretation of their results is subtle, however, because of an unconventional aspect of their experimental protocol: They measured the phase shift after three cycles of the bright-light stimulus, rather than after the usual single pulse. A natural question is whether the apparent Type O response could reflect the summation of three weaker Type 1 responses to each of the daily light pulses. In this paper I show mathematically that repeated Type 1 resetting cannot account for the observed Type O response. This finding corroborates the strong resetting reported by Czeisler et al., and supports their claim that bright light induces strong resetting by crushing the amplitude of the circadian pacemaker. Furthermore, the results indicate that back-to-back light pulses can have a cooperative effect different from that obtained by simple iteration of a phase response curve (PRC). In this sense the resetting response of humans is similar to that of Drosophila, Kalanchoe, and Culex, and is more complex than that predicted by conventional PRC theory. To describe the way in which light resets the human circadian pacemaker, one needs a theory that includes amplitude resetting, as pioneered by Winfree and developed for humans by Kronauer.

Minoxidil upregulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human hair dermal papilla cells.

PubMed

Lachgar, S; Charveron, M; Gall, Y; Bonafe, J L

1998-03-01

The hair follicle dermal papilla which controls hair growth, is characterized in the anagen phase by a highly developed vascular network. We have demonstrated in a previous study that the expression of an angiogenic growth factor called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA varied during the hair cycle. VEGF mRNA is strongly expressed in dermal papilla cells (DPC) in the anagen phase, but during the catagen and telogen phases. VEGF mRNA is less strongly expressed. This involvement of VEGF during the hair cycle allowed us to determine whether VEGF mRNA expression by DPC was regulated by minoxidil. In addition, the effect of minoxidil on VEGF protein synthesis in both cell extracts and DPC-conditioned medium, was investigated immunoenzymatically. Both VEGF mRNA and protein were significantly elevated in treated DPC compared with controls. DPC incubated with increasing minoxidil concentrations (0.2, 2, 6, 12 and 24 mumol/L) induced a dose-dependent expression of VEGF mRNA. Quantification of transcripts showed that DPC stimulated with 24 mumol/L minoxidil express six times more VEGF mRNA than controls. Similarly, VEGF protein production increases in cell extracts and conditioned media following minoxidil stimulation. These studies strongly support the likely involvement of minoxidil in the development of dermal papilla vascularization via a stimulation of VEGF expression, and support the hypothesis that minoxidil has a physiological role in maintaining a good vascularization of hair follicles in androgenetic alopecia.

Bounds on strong field magneto-transport in three-dimensional composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briane, Marc; Milton, Graeme W.

2011-10-01

This paper deals with bounds satisfied by the effective non-symmetric conductivity of three-dimensional composites in the presence of a strong magnetic field. On the one hand, it is shown that for general composites the antisymmetric part of the effective conductivity cannot be bounded solely in terms of the antisymmetric part of the local conductivity, contrary to the columnar case studied by Briane and Milton [SIAM J. Appl. Math. 70(8), 3272-3286 (2010), 10.1137/100798090]. Thus a suitable rank-two laminate, the conductivity of which has a bounded antisymmetric part together with a high-contrast symmetric part, may generate an arbitrarily large antisymmetric part of the effective conductivity. On the other hand, bounds are provided which show that the antisymmetric part of the effective conductivity must go to zero if the upper bound on the antisymmetric part of the local conductivity goes to zero, and the symmetric part of the local conductivity remains bounded below and above. Elementary bounds on the effective moduli are derived assuming the local conductivity and the effective conductivity have transverse isotropy in the plane orthogonal to the magnetic field. New Hashin-Shtrikman type bounds for two-phase three-dimensional composites with a non-symmetric conductivity are provided under geometric isotropy of the microstructure. The derivation of the bounds is based on a particular variational principle symmetrizing the problem, and the use of Y-tensors involving the averages of the fields in each phase.

Quantifying Diurnal Cloud Radiative Effects by Cloud Type in the Tropical Western Pacific

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Burleyson, Casey D.; Long, Charles N.; Comstock, Jennifer M.

2015-06-01

Cloud radiative effects are examined using long-term datasets collected at the three Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facilities in the tropical western Pacific. We quantify the surface radiation budget, cloud populations, and cloud radiative effects by partitioning the data by cloud type, time of day, and as a function of large scale modes of variability such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase and wet/dry seasons at Darwin. The novel facet of our analysis is that we break aggregate cloud radiative effects down by cloud type across the diurnal cycle. The Nauru cloud populations andmore » subsequently the surface radiation budget are strongly impacted by ENSO variability whereas the cloud populations over Manus only shift slightly in response to changes in ENSO phase. The Darwin site exhibits large seasonal monsoon related variations. We show that while deeper convective clouds have a strong conditional influence on the radiation reaching the surface, their limited frequency reduces their aggregate radiative impact. The largest source of shortwave cloud radiative effects at all three sites comes from low clouds. We use the observations to demonstrate that potential model biases in the amplitude of the diurnal cycle and mean cloud frequency would lead to larger errors in the surface energy budget compared to biases in the timing of the diurnal cycle of cloud frequency. Our results provide solid benchmarks to evaluate model simulations of cloud radiative effects in the tropics.« less

Phase diagram of the symbiotic two-species contact process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Oliveira, Marcelo Martins; Dickman, Ronald

2014-09-01

We study the two-species symbiotic contact process, recently proposed by de Oliveira, Santos, and Dickman [Phys. Rev. E 86, 011121 (2012), 10.1103/PhysRevE.86.011121]. In this model, each site of a lattice may be vacant or host single individuals of species A and/or B. Individuals at sites with both species present interact in a symbiotic manner, having a reduced death rate μ <1. Otherwise, the dynamics follows the rules of the basic contact process, with individuals reproducing to vacant neighbor sites at rate λ and dying at a rate of unity. We determine the full phase diagram in the λ-μ plane in one and two dimensions by means of exact numerical quasistationary distributions, cluster approximations, and Monte Carlo simulations. We also study the effects of asymmetric creation rates and diffusion of individuals. In two dimensions, for sufficiently strong symbiosis (i.e., small μ), the absorbing-state phase transition becomes discontinuous for diffusion rates D within a certain range. We report preliminary results on the critical surface and tricritical line in the λ-μ-D space. Our results raise the possibility that strongly symbiotic associations of mobile species may be vulnerable to sudden extinction under increasingly adverse conditions.

Sharp phase variations from the plasmon mode causing the Rabi-analogue splitting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yujia; Sun, Chengwei; Gan, Fengyuan; Li, Hongyun; Gong, Qihuang; Chen, Jianjun

2017-06-01

The Rabi-analogue splitting in nanostructures resulting from the strong coupling of different resonant modes is of importance for lasing, sensing, switching, modulating, and quantum information processes. To give a clearer physical picture, the phase analysis instead of the strong coupling is provided to explain the Rabi-analogue splitting in the Fabry-Pérot (FP) cavity, of which one end mirror is a metallic nanohole array and the other is a thin metal film. The phase analysis is based on an analytic model of the FP cavity, in which the reflectance and the reflection phase of the end mirrors are dependent on the wavelength. It is found that the Rabi-analogue splitting originates from the sharp phase variation brought by the plasmon mode in the FP cavity. In the experiment, the Rabi-analogue splitting is realized in the plasmonic-photonic coupling system, and this splitting can be continually tuned by changing the length of the FP cavity. These experimental results agree well with the analytic and simulation data, strongly verifying the phase analysis based on the analytic model. The phase analysis presents a clear picture to understand the working mechanism of the Rabi-analogue splitting; thus, it may facilitate the design of the plasmonic-photonic and plasmonic-plasmonic coupling systems.

Structural, magnetothermal, and magnetotransport properties of single crystal terbium silicon germanide and spontaneous generation of voltage in single crystal gadolinium silicon germanide and gadolinium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Min

A systematic study of single crystalline Tb5Si2.2Ge1.8, including magnetic field induced crystallographic and magnetic phase transformations, magnetocaloric effect, ferromagnetic short-range correlations, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, and spontaneous generation of voltage (SGV) has been presented. A study of SGV in single crystalline Gd5Si2Ge2 and Gd has also been included. The metamagnetic-like transitions and giant magnetocaloric effect were observed with the magnetic field applied parallel to the a- and c-axes, but not the b-axis in a Tb5Si 2.2Ge1.8 single crystal. The in-situ x-ray powder diffraction study indicates that these metamagnetic-like transitions are coupled to a crystallographic phase transformation occurring via strong magnetoelastic interactions. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy plays an important role in this system. Magnetic fields less than 40 kOe can not drive either the magnetic or the crystallographic phase transition to completion for Tb5Si2.2Ge1.8 powder due to the strong single ion anisotropy of Tb. Magnetic field dependencies of the critical temperatures of magnetic phase transitions of Tb5Si2.2Ge1.8 are highly anisotropic for both the main magnetic ordering process occurring around 120 K and a spin reorientation transition at ~70 K. Magnetic-field-induced phase transitions occur with the magnetic field applied isothermally along the a-and b-axes (but not along the c-axis) between 1.8 and 70 K in fields below 70 kOe. Strongly anisotropic thermal irreversibility is observed in the Griffiths phase regime between 120 and 200 K with applied fields ranging from 10 to 1000 Oe. Our data: (1) show that the magnetic and structural phase transitions around 120 K are narrowly decoupled; (2) uncover the anisotropy of ferromagnetic short-range order in the Griffiths phase; and (3) reveal some unusual magnetic domain effects in the long-range ordered state of the Tb5Si2.2Ge1.8 compound. The temperature-magnetic field phase diagrams with field applied along the three major crystallographic directions have been constructed. The positive colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) with a magnitude of ~150% was observed with the magnetic field applied parallel to the a-axis, but not the b- and c-axes in Tb5Si 2.2Ge1.8 single crystals. The electrical resistivity shows a low-temperature high-resistivity behavior (i.e. the resistivity at low temperature is higher after the transformation to the low temperature phase than the resistivity of the phase before the transition) along the a-axis, contrary to those along the b- and c-axes. The positive CMR effect originates from an intrinsic crystallographic phase coexistence state frozen below the Curie Temperature (TC). The differences in the temperature dependencies of electrical resistivities and longitudinal magnetoresistance along the a-axis and those along the b- and c-axes can be explained by the geometry of the phase boundaries at low temperatures, and the inability of the external magnetic field to induce the crystallographic phase transformation along the b- and c-axes. Temperature-induced SGVs were observed along all three principal crystallographic axes of Tb5Si2.2Ge1.8, but not in Gd. Field-induced SGVs were observed with magnetic fields less than 40 kOe applied along the a-axis of Tb5Si2.2Ge1.8, and the c-axis of Gd. The absence of the temperature induced SGV in Gd indicates the key role first-order phase transformations play in the appearance of the effect when temperature varies. The anisotropy of magnetic field induced SGV in Tb5Si2.2Ge1.8 and the existence of field induced SGV in Gd, highlight the importance of the magnetocaloric effect in bringing about the SGV. In single crystal and polycrystalline Gd5Si 2Ge2 during the coupled magneto-structural transformations, reversible and repeatable SGV responses of the materials to the temperature and magnetic field have been observed. The parameters of the response and the magnitude of the signal are anisotropic and rate dependent. The magnitude of the SGV signal, and the critical temperatures and critical magnetic fields at which the SGV occurs vary with the rate of temperature and magnetic field changes.

First-order inflation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kolb, Edward W.

1991-01-01

In the original proposal, inflation occurred in the process of a strongly first-order phase transition. This model was soon demonstrated to be fatally flawed. Subsequent models for inflation involved phase transitions that were second-order, or perhaps weakly first-order; some even involved no phase transition at all. Recently the possibility of inflation during a strongly first-order phase transition has been revived. In this talk I will discuss some models for first-order inflation, and emphasize unique signatures that result if inflation is realized in a first-order transition. Before discussing first-order inflation, I will briefly review some of the history of inflation to demonstrate how first-order inflation differs from other models.

First-order inflation. [in cosmology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kolb, Edward W.

1991-01-01

In the original proposal, inflation occurred in the process of a strongly first-order phase transition. This model was soon demonstrated to be fatally flawed. Subsequent models for inflation involved phase transitions that were second-order, or perhaps weakly first-order; some even involved no phase transition at all. Recently the possibility of inflation during a strongly first-order phase transition has been revived. In this paper, some models for first-order inflation are discussed, and unique signatures that result if inflation is realized in a first-order transition are emphasized. Some of the history of inflation is reviewed to demonstrate how first-order inflation differs from other models.

Zoo of Quantum Phases and Excitations of Cold Bosonic Atoms in Optical Lattices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alon, Ofir E.; Streltsov, Alexej I.; Cederbaum, Lorenz S.

Quantum phases and phase transitions of weakly to strongly interacting bosonic atoms in deep to shallow optical lattices are described by a single multiorbital mean-field approach in real space. For weakly interacting bosons in one dimension, the critical value of the superfluid to Mott insulator (MI) transition found is in excellent agreement with many-body treatments of the Bose-Hubbard model. For strongly interacting bosons (i) additional MI phases appear, for which two (or more) atoms residing in each site undergo a Tonks-Girardeau-like transition and localize, and (ii) on-site excitation becomes the excitation lowest in energy. Experimental implications are discussed.

Collapsed tetragonal phase as a strongly covalent and fully nonmagnetic state: Persistent magnetism with interlayer As-As bond formation in Rh-doped Ca0 .8Sr0 .2Fe2As2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, K.; Glasbrenner, J. K.; Gretarsson, H.; Schmitz, D.; Bednarcik, J.; Etter, M.; Sun, J. P.; Manna, R. S.; Al-Zein, A.; Lafuerza, S.; Scherer, W.; Cheng, J. G.; Gegenwart, P.

2018-02-01

A well-known feature of the CaFe2As2 -based superconductors is the pressure-induced collapsed tetragonal phase that is commonly ascribed to the formation of an interlayer As-As bond. Using detailed x-ray scattering and spectroscopy, we find that Rh-doped Ca0.8Sr0.2Fe2As2 does not undergo a first-order phase transition and that local Fe moments persist despite the formation of interlayer As-As bonds. Our density functional theory calculations reveal that the Fe-As bond geometry is critical for stabilizing magnetism and the pressure-induced drop in the c lattice parameter observed in pure CaFe2As2 is mostly due to a constriction within the FeAs planes. The collapsed tetragonal phase emerges when covalent bonding of strongly hybridized Fe 3 d and As 4 p states completely wins out over their exchange splitting. Thus the collapsed tetragonal phase is properly understood as a strong covalent phase that is fully nonmagnetic with the As-As bond forming as a by-product.

Low temperature phase of the trigonal RbIn(MoO4)2 crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zapart, W.; Zapart, M. B.; Schranz, W.; Reinecker, M.

2013-02-01

The present article is devoted to a new low-temperature phase transition found at about T pt = 84 K in the layered RbIn(MoO4)2 crystal. This phase transition is well proved by dynamical mechanical analysis through anomalies in the temperature behaviour of both real and imaginary parts of the Young's modulus. From the polarizing microscope observations it was found that below T pt the ferroelastic phase disappears. This transition has also been seen through strong changes in the shape of the electron paramagnetic resonance lines. EPR studies, performed in the liquid nitrogen temperature, yield evidence of strong rebuilding of the crystal unit cell in comparison with that of the high temperature paraelastic phase.

Spontaneous Scalarization: Dead or Alive?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berti, Emanuele; Crispino, Luis; Gerosa, Davide; Gualtieri, Leonardo; Horbatsch, Michael; Macedo, Caio; Okada da Silva, Hector; Pani, Paolo; Sotani, Hajime; Sperhake, Ulrich

2015-04-01

In 1993, Damour and Esposito-Farese showed that a wide class of scalar-tensor theories can pass weak-field gravitational tests and exhibit nonperturbative strong-field deviations away from General Relativity in systems involving neutron stars. These deviations are possible in the presence of ``spontaneous scalarization,'' a phase transition similar in nature to spontaneous magnetization in ferromagnets. More than twenty years after the original proposal, binary pulsar experiments have severely constrained the possibility of spontaneous scalarization occurring in nature. I will show that these experimental constraints have important implications for the torsional oscillation frequencies of neutron stars and for the so-called ``I-Love-Q'' relations in scalar-tensor theories. I will also argue that there is still hope to observe strong scalarization effects, despite the strong experimental bounds on the original mechanism. In particular, I will discuss two mechanisms that could produce strong scalarization in neutron stars: anisotropy and multiscalarization. This work was supported by NSF CAREER Award PHY-1055103.

A time-dependent order parameter for ultrafast photoinduced phase transitions.

PubMed

Beaud, P; Caviezel, A; Mariager, S O; Rettig, L; Ingold, G; Dornes, C; Huang, S-W; Johnson, J A; Radovic, M; Huber, T; Kubacka, T; Ferrer, A; Lemke, H T; Chollet, M; Zhu, D; Glownia, J M; Sikorski, M; Robert, A; Wadati, H; Nakamura, M; Kawasaki, M; Tokura, Y; Johnson, S L; Staub, U

2014-10-01

Strongly correlated electron systems often exhibit very strong interactions between structural and electronic degrees of freedom that lead to complex and interesting phase diagrams. For technological applications of these materials it is important to learn how to drive transitions from one phase to another. A key question here is the ultimate speed of such phase transitions, and to understand how a phase transition evolves in the time domain. Here we apply time-resolved X-ray diffraction to directly measure the changes in long-range order during ultrafast melting of the charge and orbitally ordered phase in a perovskite manganite. We find that although the actual change in crystal symmetry associated with this transition occurs over different timescales characteristic of the many electronic and vibrational coordinates of the system, the dynamics of the phase transformation can be well described using a single time-dependent 'order parameter' that depends exclusively on the electronic excitation.

Resonant tidal excitation of oscillation modes in merging binary neutron stars: Inertial-gravity modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Wenrui; Lai, Dong

2017-10-01

In coalescing neutron star (NS) binaries, tidal force can resonantly excite low-frequency (≲500 Hz ) oscillation modes in the NS, transferring energy between the orbit and the NS. This resonant tide can induce phase shift in the gravitational waveforms, and potentially provide a new window of studying NS interior using gravitational waves. Previous works have considered tidal excitations of pure g-modes (due to stable stratification of the star) and pure inertial modes (due to Coriolis force), with the rotational effect treated in an approximate manner. However, for realistic NSs, the buoyancy and rotational effects can be comparable, giving rise to mixed inertial-gravity modes. We develop a nonperturbative numerical spectral code to compute the frequencies and tidal coupling coefficients of these modes. We then calculate the phase shift in the gravitational waveform due to each resonance during binary inspiral. Given the uncertainties in the NS equation of state and stratification property, we adopt polytropic NS models with a parametrized stratification. We derive relevant scaling relations and survey how the phase shift depends on various properties of the NS. We find that for canonical NSs (with mass M =1.4 M⊙ and radius R =10 km ) and modest rotation rates (≲300 Hz ), the gravitational wave phase shift due to a resonance is generally less than 0.01 radian. But the phase shift is a strong function of R and M , and can reach a radian or more for low-mass NSs with larger radii (R ≳15 km ). Significant phase shift can also be produced when the combination of stratification and rotation gives rise to a very low frequency (≲20 Hz in the inertial frame) modified g-mode. As a by-product of our precise calculation of oscillation modes in rotating NSs, we find that some inertial modes can be strongly affected by stratification; we also find that the m =1 r -mode, previously identified to have a small but finite inertial-frame frequency based on the Cowling approximation, in fact has essentially zero frequency, and therefore cannot be excited during the inspiral phase of NS binaries.

Negative Oxygen Isotope Effect in Manganites with an Ordered Cation Arrangement in a High Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taldenkov, A. N.; Snegirev, V. V.; Babushkina, N. A.; Kalitka, V. S.; Kaul', A. R.

2018-03-01

The oxygen isotope effect in PrBaMn2 16-18 O5.97 manganite with an ordered cation arrangement is studied. The field dependences of magnetic susceptibility and magnetization are measured in the temperature range 100-270 K and magnetic fields up to 32 T. A significant increase in the temperature of the spin-reorientation antiferromagnet-ferromagnet phase transition is detected in samples enriched in heavy oxygen 18O (negative isotope effect). The transition temperature and the isotope effect depend strongly on the magnetic field. An H-T phase diagram is plotted for samples with various isotope compositions. An analysis of the experimental results demonstrates that the detected negative isotope effect and the giant positive isotope effect revealed earlier in doped manganites have the same nature. The mechanisms of appearance of isotope effects are discussed in terms of the double exchange model under a polaron narrowing of the free carrier band.

Interstitial diffusion in lithium-ion battery electrodes and structural phase transitions in crystalline solids from first principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharya, Jishnu

We perform first-principles investigations of thermally activated phase transitions and diffusion in solids. The atomic scale energy landscapes are evaluated with first-principles total energy calculations for different structural and configurational microstates. Effective Hamiltonians constructed from the total energies are subjected to Monte Carlo simulations to study thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the solids at finite temperatures. Cubic to tetragonal martensitic phase transitions are investigated beyond the harmonic approximation. As an example, stoichiometric TiH2 is studied where a cubic phase becomes stable at high temperature while ab-initio energy calculations predict the cubic phase to be mechanically unstable with respect to tetragonal distortions at zero Kelvin. An anharmonic Hamiltonian is used to explain the stability of the cubic phase at higher temperature. The importance of anharmonic terms is emphasized and the true nature of the high temperature phase is elucidated beyond the traditional Landau-like explanation. In Li-ion battery electrodes, phase transitions due to atomic redistribution with changes in Li concentration occur with insertion (removal) of Li-ions during discharge (charge). A comprehensive study of the thermodynamics and the non-dilute Li-diffusion mechanisms in spinel-Li1+xTi2 O4 is performed. Two distinct phases are predicted at different lithium compositions. The predicted voltage curve qualitatively matches with experimental observation. The predicted fast diffusion arises from crystallographic features unique to the spinel crystal structure elucidating the crucial role of crystal structure on Li diffusion in intercalation compounds. Effects of anion and guest species on diffusion are elucidated with Li- and Cu-diffusion in spinel-LixTiS2. We predict strong composition dependence of the diffusion coefficients. A unique feature about spinel-LixTiS2 is that the intermediate site of a Li-hop is coordinated by four Li-sites. This results in di- and triple-vacancy mechanisms at non-dilute concentrations with very different migration barriers. The strong dependence of hop mechanisms on local Li-arrangement is at the origin of large concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficients. This contrasts with spinel-Li xTiO2 where the transition states are coordinated only by the end states of the hop, thereby restricting hops to a single vacancy mechanism. Cu ions are predicted to have much slower diffusion rate in TiS 2 host compared to Li ions.

Laboratory, Computational and Theoretical Investigations of Ice Nucleation and its Implications for Mixed Phase Clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Fan

Ice particles in atmospheric clouds play an important role in determining cloud lifetime, precipitation and radiation. It is therefore important to understand the whole life cycle of ice particles in the atmosphere, e.g., where they come from (nucleation), how they evolve (growth), and where they go (precipitation). Ice nucleation is the crucial step for ice formation, and in this study, we will mainly focus on ice nucleation in the lab and its effect on mixed-phase stratiform clouds. In the first half of this study, we investigate the relevance of moving contact lines (i.e., the region where three or more phases meet) on the phenomenon of contact nucleation. High speed video is used to investigate heterogeneous ice nucleation in supercooled droplets resting on cold substrates under two different dynamic conditions: droplet electrowetting and droplet vibration. The results show that contact-line motion is not a sufficient condition to trigger ice nucleation, while locally curved contact lines that can result from contact-line motion are strongly related to ice nucleation. We propose that pressure perturbations due to locally curved contact lines can strongly enhance the ice nucleation rate, which gives another interpretation for the mechanism for contact nucleation. Corresponding theoretical results provide a quantitative connection between pressure perturbations and temperature, providing a useful tool for ice nucleation calculations in atmospheric models. In this second half of the study, we build a minimalist model for long lifetime mixed-phase stratiform clouds based on stochastic ice nucleation. Our result shows that there is a non-linear relationship between ice water contact and ice number concentration in the mixed-phase cloud, as long as the volume ice nucleation rate is constant. This statistical property may help identify the source of ice nuclei in mixed-phase clouds. In addition, results from Lagrangian ice particle tracking in time dependent fields show that long lifetime ice particles exist in mixed-phase stratiform clouds. We find that small ice particle can be trapped in eddy-like structures. Whether ice particles grow or sublimate depends on the thermodynamic field in the trapping region. This dynamic-thermodynamic coupling effect on the lifetime of ice particles might explain the fast phase-partition change observed in the mixed phase cloud.

Strong-field and attosecond physics in solids

DOE PAGES

Ghimire, Shambhu; Ndabashimiye, Georges; DiChiara, Anthony D.; ...

2014-10-08

We review the status of strong-field and attosecond processes in bulk transparent solids near the Keldysh tunneling limit. For high enough fields and low-frequency excitations, the optical and electronic properties of dielectrics can be transiently and reversibly modified within the applied pulse. In Ghimire et al (2011 Phys. Rev. Lett. 107 167407) non-parabolic band effects were seen in photon-assisted tunneling experiments in ZnO crystals in a strong mid-infrared field. Using the same ZnO crystals, Ghimire et al (2011 Nat. Phys. 7 138–41) reported the first observation of non-pertubative high harmonics, extending well above the bandgap into the vacuum ultraviolet. Recent experiments by Schubert et al (2014 Nat. Photonics 8 119–23) showed a carrier envelope phase dependence in the harmonic spectrum in strong-field 30 THz driven GaSe crystals which is the most direct evidence yet of the role of sub-cycle electron dynamics in solid-state harmonic generation. The harmonic generation mechanism is different from the gas phase owing to the high density and periodicity of the crystal. For example, this results in a linear dependence of the high-energy cutoff with the applied field in contrast to the quadratic dependence in the gas phase. Sub-100 attosecond pulses could become possible if the harmonic spectrum can be extended into the extreme ultraviolet (XUV). Here we report harmonics generated in bulk MgO crystals, extending tomore » $$\\sim 26$$ eV when driven by ~35 fs, 800 nm pulses focused to a ~1 VÅ$$^{-1}$$ peak field. The fundamental strong-field and attosecond response also leads to Wannier–Stark localization and reversible semimetallization as seen in the sub-optical cycle behavior of XUV absorption and photocurrent experiments on fused silica by Schiffrin et al (2013 Nature 493 70–4) and Schultze et al (2013 Nature 493 75–8). These studies are advancing our understanding of fundamental strong-field and attosecond physics in solids with potential applications for compact coherent short-wavelength sources and ultra-high speed optoelectronics.« less

Effective spin physics in two-dimensional cavity QED arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minář, Jiří; Güneş Söyler, Şebnem; Rotondo, Pietro; Lesanovsky, Igor

2017-06-01

We investigate a strongly correlated system of light and matter in two-dimensional cavity arrays. We formulate a multimode Tavis-Cummings (TC) Hamiltonian for two-level atoms coupled to cavity modes and driven by an external laser field which reduces to an effective spin Hamiltonian in the dispersive regime. In one-dimension we provide an exact analytical solution. In two-dimensions, we perform mean-field study and large scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations of both the TC and the effective spin models. We discuss the phase diagram and the parameter regime which gives rise to frustrated interactions between the spins. We provide a quantitative description of the phase transitions and correlation properties featured by the system and we discuss graph-theoretical properties of the ground states in terms of graph colourings using Pólya’s enumeration theorem.

Structure of neutron star crusts from new Skyrme effective interactions constrained by chiral effective field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Yeunhwan; Holt, Jeremy W.

2017-06-01

We investigate the structure of neutron star crusts, including the crust-core boundary, based on new Skyrme mean field models constrained by the bulk-matter equation of state from chiral effective field theory and the ground-state energies of doubly-magic nuclei. Nuclear pasta phases are studied using both the liquid drop model as well as the Thomas-Fermi approximation. We compare the energy per nucleon for each geometry (spherical nuclei, cylindrical nuclei, nuclear slabs, cylindrical holes, and spherical holes) to obtain the ground state phase as a function of density. We find that the size of the Wigner-Seitz cell depends strongly on the model parameters, especially the coefficients of the density gradient interaction terms. We employ also the thermodynamic instability method to check the validity of the numerical solutions based on energy comparisons.

Topological Weyl superconductor to diffusive thermal Hall metal crossover in the B phase of UPt3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goswami, Pallab; Nevidomskyy, Andriy H.

2015-12-01

The recent phase-sensitive measurements in the superconducting B phase of UPt3 provide strong evidence for the triplet, chiral kz(kx±i ky) 2 pairing symmetries, which endow the Cooper pairs with orbital angular momentum projections Lz=±2 along the c axis. In the absence of disorder such pairing can support both line and point nodes, and both types of nodal quasiparticles exhibit nontrivial topology in the momentum space. The point nodes, located at the intersections of the closed Fermi surfaces with the c axis, act as the double monopoles and the antimonopoles of the Berry curvature, and generalize the notion of Weyl quasiparticles. Consequently, the B phase should support an anomalous thermal Hall effect, the polar Kerr effect, in addition to the protected Fermi arcs on the (1 ,0 ,0 ) and the (0 ,1 ,0 ) surfaces. The line node at the Fermi surface equator acts as a vortex loop in the momentum space and gives rise to the zero-energy, dispersionless Andreev bound states on the (0 ,0 ,1 ) surface. At the transition from the B phase to the A phase, the time-reversal symmetry is restored, and only the line node survives inside the A phase. As both line and double-Weyl point nodes possess linearly vanishing density of states, we show that weak disorder acts as a marginally relevant perturbation. Consequently, an infinitesimal amount of disorder destroys the ballistic quasiparticle pole, while giving rise to a diffusive phase with a finite density of states at the zero energy. The resulting diffusive phase exhibits T -linear specific heat, and an anomalous thermal Hall effect. We predict that the low-temperature thermodynamic and transport properties display a crossover between a ballistic thermal Hall semimetal and a diffusive thermal Hall metal. By contrast, the diffusive phase obtained from a time-reversal-invariant pairing exhibits only the T -linear specific heat without any anomalous thermal Hall effect.

Superfluid-Mott insulator transition of spin-1 bosons in an optical lattice

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsuchiya, Shunji; Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A7; Kurihara, Susumu

2004-10-01

We study the superfluid-Mott insulator (SF-MI) transition of spin-1 bosons interacting antiferromagnetically in an optical lattice. Starting from a Bose-Hubbard tight-binding model for spin-1 bosons, we obtain the zero-temperature phase diagram by a mean-field approximation. We find that the MI phase with an even number of atoms per site is a spin singlet state, while the MI phase with an odd number of atoms per site has spin 1 at each site in the limit of t=0, where t is the hopping matrix element. We also show that the superfluid phase is a polar state as in the case formore » a spin-1 Bose condensate in a harmonic trap. It is found that the MI phase is strongly stabilized against the SF-MI transition when the number of atoms per site is even, due to the formation of singlet pairs. We derive the effective spin Hamiltonian for the MI phase with one atom per site and briefly discuss the spin order in the MI phase.« less

The deconfining phase transition in and out of equilibrium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bazavov, Oleksiy

Recent experiments carried out at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at the Brookhaven National Laboratory provide strong evidence that a matter can be driven from a confined, low-temperature phase, observed in our every day world into a deconfined high-temperature phase of liberated quarks and gluons. The equilibrium and dynamical properties of the deconfining phase transition are thus of great theoretical interest, since they also provide an information about the first femtoseconds of the evolution of our Universe, when the hot primordial soup while cooling has undergone a chain of phase transitions. The aspects of the deconfining phase transition studied in this work include: the dynamics of the SU(3) gauge theory after the heating quench (which models rapid heating in the heavy-ion collisions), equilibrium properties of the phase transition in the SU(3) gauge theory with boundaries at low temperature (small volumes at RHIC suggest that boundary effects cannot be neglected and periodic boundary conditions normally used in lattice simulations do not correspond to the experimental situation), and a study of the order of the transition in U(1) gauge theory.

Disordered Kitaev chains with long-range pairing.

PubMed

Cai, Xiaoming

2017-03-22

We study the competition of disorder and superconductivity for a generalized Kitaev model in incommensurate potentials. The generalized Kitaev model describes one dimensional spinless fermions with long-range p-wave superconducting pairing, which decays with distance l as a power law  ∼[Formula: see text]. We focus on the transition from the topological superconducting phase to the topologically trivial Anderson localized phase, and effects of the exponent α on this phase transition. In the topological superconducting phase, for a system under open boundary condition the amplitude of zero-mode Majorana fermion has a hybrid exponential-algebraic decay as the distance increases from the edge. In the Anderson localized phase, some single-particle states remain critical for very strong disorders and the number of critical states increases as α decreases. In addition, except for critical disorders, the correlation function always has an exponential decay at the short range and an algebraic decay at the long range. Phase transition points are also numerically determined and the topological phase transition happens earlier at a smaller disorder strength for a system with smaller α.

Non-equilibrium phase stabilization versus bubble nucleation at a nanoscale-curved Interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schiffbauer, Jarrod; Luo, Tengfei

Using continuum dynamic van der Waals theory in a radial 1D geometry with a Lennard-Jones fluid model, we investigate the nature of vapor bubble nucleation near a heated, nanoscale-curved convex interface. Vapor bubble nucleation and growth are observed for interfaces with sufficiently large radius of curvature while phase stabilization of a superheated fluid layer occurs at interfaces with smaller radius. The hypothesis that the high Laplace pressure required for stable equilibrium of very small bubbles is responsible for phase stability is tested by effectively varying the parameter which controls liquid-vapor surface tension. In doing so, the liquid-vapor surface tension- hence Laplace pressure-is shown to have limited effect on phase stabilization vs. bubble nucleation. However, the strong dependence of nucleation on leading-order momentum transport, i.e. viscous dissipation, near the heated inner surface is demonstrated. We gratefully acknowledge ND Energy for support through the ND Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship program and the Army Research Office, Grant No. W911NF-16-1-0267, managed by Dr. Chakrapani Venanasi.

Magnetization plateaus and ground-state phase diagrams of the S=1 Ising model on the Shastry Sutherland lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deviren, Seyma Akkaya

2017-02-01

In this research, we have investigated the magnetic properties of the spin-1 Ising model on the Shastry Sutherland lattice with the crystal field interaction by using the effective-field theory with correlations. The effects of the applied field on the magnetization are examined in detail in order to obtain the magnetization plateaus, thus different types of magnetization plateaus, such as 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 3/5, 2/3 and 7/9 of the saturation, are obtained for strong enough magnetic fields (h). Magnetization plateaus exhibit single, triple, quintuplet and sextuple forms according to the interaction parameters, hence the magnetization plateaus originate from the competition between the crystal field (D) and exchange interaction parameters (J, J‧). The ground-state phase diagrams of the system are presented in three varied planes, namely (h/J, J‧/J), (h/J, D/J) and (D/J, J‧/J) planes. These phase diagrams display the Néel (N), collinear (C) and ferromagnetic (F) phases for certain values of the model parameters. The obtained results are in good agreement with some theoretical and experimental studies.

Mean-field study of correlation-induced antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling in a two-orbital honeycomb model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayami, Satoru; Kusunose, Hiroaki; Motome, Yukitoshi

2018-05-01

We investigate a two-orbital Hubbard model on a honeycomb structure, with a special focus on the antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling (ASOC) induced by symmetry breaking in the electronic degrees of freedom. By investigating the ground-state phase diagram by the mean-field approximation in addition to the analysis in the strong correlation limit, we obtain a variety of symmetry-broken phases that induce different types of effective ASOCs by breaking of spatial inversion symmetry. We find several unusual properties emergent from the ASOCs, such as a linear magnetoelectric effect in a spin-orbital ordered phase at 1/4 filling and a spin splitting in the band structure in charge ordered phases at 1/4 and 1/2 fillings. We also show that a staggered potential on the honeycomb structure leads to another type of ASOC, which gives rise to a valley splitting in the band structure at 1/2 filling. We discuss the experimental relevance of our results to candidate materials including transition metal dichalcogenides and trichalcogenides.

Superconductivity bordering Rashba type topological transition

DOE PAGES

Jin, M. L.; Sun, F.; Xing, L. Y.; ...

2017-01-04

Strong spin orbital interaction (SOI) can induce unique quantum phenomena such as topological insulators, the Rashba effect, or p-wave superconductivity. Combining these three quantum phenomena into a single compound has important scientific implications. Here we report experimental observations of consecutive quantum phase transitions from a Rashba type topological trivial phase to topological insulator state then further proceeding to superconductivity in a SOI compound BiTeI tuned via pressures. The electrical resistivity measurement with V shape change signals the transition from a Rashba type topological trivial to a topological insulator phase at 2 GPa, which is caused by an energy gap closemore » then reopen with band inverse. Superconducting transition appears at 8 GPa with a critical temperature T C of 5.3 K. Structure refinements indicate that the consecutive phase transitions are correlated to the changes in the Bi–Te bond and bond angle as function of pressures. As a result, the Hall Effect measurements reveal an intimate relationship between superconductivity and the unusual change in carrier density that points to possible unconventional superconductivity.« less

First-principles study of intermetallic phase stability in the ternary Ti-Al-Nb alloy system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Asta, M.; Ormeci, A.; Wills, J.M.

The stability of bcc-based phases in the Ti-Al-Nb alloy system has been studied from first-principles using a combination of ab-initio total energy and cluster variation method (CVM) calculations. Total energies have been computed for 18 binary and ternary bcc superstructures in order to determine low temperature ordering tendencies. From the results of these calculations a set of effective cluster interaction parameters have been derived. These interaction parameters are required input for CVM computations of alloy thermodynamic properties. The CVM has been used to study the effect of composition on finite-temperature ordering tendencies and site preferences for bcc-based phases. Strong orderingmore » tendencies are observed for binary Nb-Al and Ti-Al bcc phases as well as for ternary alloys with compositions near Ti{sub 2}AlNb. For selected superstructures we have also analyzed structural stabilities with respect to tetragonal distortions which transform the bcc into an fcc lattice. Instabilities with respect to such distortions are found to exist for binary but not ternary bcc compounds.« less

Ferroelastically and magnetically co-coupled resistive switching in Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3/PMN-PT(011) multiferroic heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Ming; Xu, Xiao-Ke; Ni, Hao; Qi, Ya-Ping; Li, Xiao-Min; Gao, Ju

2018-03-01

The phase separation, i.e., the competition between coexisting multi-phases, can be adjusted by external stimuli, such as magnetic field, electric field, current, light, and strain. Here, a multiferroic heterostructure composed of a charge-ordered Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 thin film and a ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 single crystal is fabricated to investigate the lattice strain and magnetic field co-control of phase separation in resistive switching. The stable and nonvolatile resistance tuning is realized at room temperature using the electric-field-induced reversible ferroelastic strain effect, which can be enhanced by 84% under the magnetic field. Moreover, the magnetoresistance can be effectively tuned by the electrically driven ferroelastic strain. These findings reveal that the ferroelastic strain and the magnetic field strongly correlate with each other and are mediated by phase separation. Our work provides an approach to design strain-engineered multifunctional memory devices based on complex oxides by introducing an extra magnetic field stimulus.

Beyond the Quantum Hall Effect: New Phases of 2D Electrons at High Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisenstein, James

2007-03-01

In this talk I will discuss recent experiments on high mobility single and double layer 2D electron systems in which collective phases lying outside the usual quantum Hall effect paradigm have been detected and studied. For example, in single layer 2D systems near half-filling of highly excited Landau levels new states characterized by a massive anisotropy in the electrical resistivity of the sample are observed at very low temperature. The anisotropy has been widely interpreted as the signature of a new class of correlated electron phases which incorporate a stripe-like charge density modulation. Orientational ordering of small striped domains at low temperatures accounts for the resistive anisotropy and is reminiscent of the isotropic-to-nematic phase transition in classical liquid crystals. Double layer 2D electron systems possess collective phases not present in single layer systems. In particular, when the total number of electrons in the bilayer equals the degeneracy of a single Landau level, an unusual phase appears at small layer separation. This phase possesses a novel broken symmetry, spontaneous interlayer phase coherence, which has a number of dramatic experimental signatures. The interlayer tunneling conductance develops a strong and very sharp resonance around zero bias resembling the dc Josephson effect. At the same time, both the longitudinal and Hall resistances of the sample vanish at low temperatures when currents are driven in opposite directions through the two layers. These, and other observations are broadly consistent with theories in which the broken symmetry phase can equivalently be described as a pseudospin ferromagnet or an (imperfect) excitonic superfluid. This work reflects a collaboration with M.P. Lilly, K.B. Cooper, I.B. Spielman, M. Kellogg, L.A. Tracy, L.N. Pfeiffer, and K.W. West.

Singlet-catalyzed electroweak phase transitions in the 100 TeV frontier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotwal, Ashutosh V.; Ramsey-Musolf, Michael J.; No, Jose Miguel; Winslow, Peter

2016-08-01

We study the prospects for probing a gauge singlet scalar-driven strong first-order electroweak phase transition with a future proton-proton collider in the 100 TeV range. Singlet-Higgs mixing enables resonantly enhanced di-Higgs production, potentially aiding discovery prospects. We perform Monte Carlo scans of the parameter space to identify regions associated with a strong first-order electroweak phase transition, analyze the corresponding di-Higgs signal, and select a set of benchmark points that span the range of di-Higgs signal strengths. For the b b ¯γ γ and 4 τ final states, we investigate discovery prospects for each benchmark point for the high-luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider and for a future p p collider with √{s }=50 , 100, or 200 TeV. We find that any of these future collider scenarios could significantly extend the reach beyond that of the high-luminosity LHC, and that with √{s }=100 TeV (200 TeV) and 30 ab-1 , the full region of parameter space favorable to strong first-order electroweak phase transitions is almost fully (fully) discoverable.

Broken Time-Reversal Symmetry in Strongly Correlated Ladder Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Troyer, Matthias

2004-03-01

A decade after the first detailed numerical investigations of strongly correlated ladder models, exotic and interesting phases are still being discovered. Besides charge and spin density wave states with broken translational symmetry, and resonating valence bond (RVB) type superconductivity, a time reversal symmetry borken phase was recently found at half filling [J.B. Marston et al., Phys. Rev. Lett 89, 056404 (2002)]. In this talk I will present our recent results of density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) calculations [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 186401 (2003)], where we provide, for the first time, in a doped strongly correlated system (two-leg ladder), a controlled theoretical demonstration of the existence of this state in which long-range ordered orbital currents are arranged in a staggered pattern. This phase, which we found to coexist with a charge density wave, is known in the literature under the names ``staggered flux phase'', ``orbital antiferromagnetism'' or ``d-density wave (DDW)''. This brings us closer to recent proposals that this order might be realized in the enigmatic pseudogap phase of the cuprate high temperature superconductors.

Quantitative experimental determination of the solid solution hardening potential of rhenium, tungsten and molybdenum in single-crystal nickel-based superalloys

DOE PAGES

Fleischmann, Ernst; Miller, Michael K.; Affeldt, Ernst; ...

2015-01-31

Here, the solid-solution hardening potential of the refractory elements rhenium, tungsten and molybdenum in the matrix of single-crystal nickel-based superalloys was experimentally quantified. Single-phase alloys with the composition of the nickel solid-solution matrix of superalloys were cast as single crystals, and tested in creep at 980 °C and 30–75 MPa. The use of single-phase single-crystalline material ensures very clean data because no grain boundary or particle strengthening effects interfere with the solid-solution hardening. This makes it possible to quantify the amount of rhenium, tungsten and molybdenum necessary to reduce the creep rate by a factor of 10. Rhenium is moremore » than two times more effective for matrix strengthening than either tungsten or molybdenum. The existence of rhenium clusters as a possible reason for the strong strengthening effect is excluded as a result of atom probe tomography measurements. If the partitioning coefficient of rhenium, tungsten and molybdenum between the γ matrix and the γ' precipitates is taken into account, the effectiveness of the alloying elements in two-phase superalloys can be calculated and the rhenium effect can be explained.« less

Figures of Merit for Magnetic Recording Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skomski, Ralph; Sellmyer, D. J.

2007-03-01

Since the first nucleation-field calculations for hard-soft nanostructures with multilayered [1] and arbitrary [2] geometries, exchange-spring magnets have attracted much attention in various areas of magnetism, including magnetic recording. Ultrahigh storage densities correspond to the strong-coupling limit, realized on small length scales and described by volume-averaged anisotropies. Second-order perturbation theory yields finite-size corrections that describe a partial decoupling of the phases. Since soft phases reduce the nucleation field, nanostructuring can be used to reduce the coercivity Hc while maintaining the energy barrier EB. However, the ratio EB/Hc is an ill-defined figure of merit, because the comparison with the Stoner-Wohlfarth model requires the introduction of a particle volume, as contrasted to an area. By using elongated particles with a continuous anisotropy gradient, it is possible to reduce the coercivity by a factor scaling as the bit size divided by the domain-wall width of the hard phase. However, with decreasing bit size this effect becomes less pronounced. In the strong-coupling limit, thermal stability yields a maximum storage density of order γ/kBT, where γ is the domain-wall energy of the hard phase. - This research is supported by NSF MRSEC, INSIC, and NCMN. [1] S. Nieber and H. Kronm"uller, phys. stat. sol. (b) 153, 367 (1989). [2] R. Skomski and J. M. D. Coey, Phys. Rev. B 48, 15812 (1993).

Anodic etching of GaN based film with a strong phase-separated InGaN/GaN layer: Mechanism and properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Qingxue; Liu, Rong; Xiao, Hongdi; Cao, Dezhong; Liu, Jianqiang; Ma, Jin

2016-11-01

A strong phase-separated InGaN/GaN layer, which consists of multiple quantum wells (MQW) and superlattices (SL) layers and can produce a blue wavelength spectrum, has been grown on n-GaN thin film, and then fabricated into nanoporous structures by electrochemical etching method in oxalic acid. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique reveals that the etching voltage of 8 V leads to a vertically aligned nanoporous structure, whereas the films etched at 15 V show branching pores within the n-GaN layer. Due to the low doping concentration of barriers (GaN layers) in the InGaN/GaN layer, we observed a record-low rate of etching (<100 nm/min) and nanopores which are mainly originated from the V-pits in the phase-separated layer. In addition, there exists a horizontal nanoporous structure at the interface between the phase-separated layer and the n-GaN layer, presumably resulting from the high transition of electrons between the barrier and the well (InGaN layer) at the interface. As compared to the as-grown MQW structure, the etched MQW structure exhibits a photoluminescence (PL) enhancement with a partial relaxation of compressive stress due to the increased light-extracting surface area and light-guiding effect. Such a compressive stress relaxation can be further confirmed by Raman spectra.

Evaluation of partial coherence correction in X-ray ptychography

DOE PAGES

Burdet, Nicolas; Shi, Xiaowen; Parks, Daniel; ...

2015-02-23

Coherent X-ray Diffraction Imaging (CDI) and X-ray ptychography both heavily rely on the high degree of spatial coherence of the X-ray illumination for sufficient experimental data quality for reconstruction convergence. Nevertheless, the majority of the available synchrotron undulator sources have a limited degree of partial coherence, leading to reduced data quality and a lower speckle contrast in the coherent diffraction patterns. It is still an open question whether experimentalists should compromise the coherence properties of an X-ray source in exchange for a higher flux density at a sample, especially when some materials of scientific interest are relatively weak scatterers. Amore » previous study has suggested that in CDI, the best strategy for the study of strong phase objects is to maintain a high degree of coherence of the illuminating X-rays because of the broadening of solution space resulting from the strong phase structures. In this article, we demonstrate the first systematic analysis of the effectiveness of partial coherence correction in ptychography as a function of the coherence properties, degree of complexity of illumination (degree of phase diversity of the probe) and sample phase complexity. We have also performed analysis of how well ptychographic algorithms refine X-ray probe and complex coherence functions when those variables are unknown at the start of reconstructions, for noise-free simulated data, in the case of both real-valued and highly-complex objects.« less

Diamagnetic levitation enhances growth of liquid bacterial cultures by increasing oxygen availability

PubMed Central

Dijkstra, Camelia E.; Larkin, Oliver J.; Anthony, Paul; Davey, Michael R.; Eaves, Laurence; Rees, Catherine E. D.; Hill, Richard J. A.

2011-01-01

Diamagnetic levitation is a technique that uses a strong, spatially varying magnetic field to reproduce aspects of weightlessness, on the Earth. We used a superconducting magnet to levitate growing bacterial cultures for up to 18 h, to determine the effect of diamagnetic levitation on all phases of the bacterial growth cycle. We find that diamagnetic levitation increases the rate of population growth in a liquid culture and reduces the sedimentation rate of the cells. Further experiments and microarray gene analysis show that the increase in growth rate is owing to enhanced oxygen availability. We also demonstrate that the magnetic field that levitates the cells also induces convective stirring in the liquid. We present a simple theoretical model, showing how the paramagnetic force on dissolved oxygen can cause convection during the aerobic phases of bacterial growth. We propose that this convection enhances oxygen availability by transporting oxygen around the liquid culture. Since this process results from the strong magnetic field, it is not present in other weightless environments, e.g. in Earth orbit. Hence, these results are of significance and timely to researchers considering the use of diamagnetic levitation to explore effects of weightlessness on living organisms and on physical phenomena. PMID:20667843

Diamagnetic levitation enhances growth of liquid bacterial cultures by increasing oxygen availability.

PubMed

Dijkstra, Camelia E; Larkin, Oliver J; Anthony, Paul; Davey, Michael R; Eaves, Laurence; Rees, Catherine E D; Hill, Richard J A

2011-03-06

Diamagnetic levitation is a technique that uses a strong, spatially varying magnetic field to reproduce aspects of weightlessness, on the Earth. We used a superconducting magnet to levitate growing bacterial cultures for up to 18 h, to determine the effect of diamagnetic levitation on all phases of the bacterial growth cycle. We find that diamagnetic levitation increases the rate of population growth in a liquid culture and reduces the sedimentation rate of the cells. Further experiments and microarray gene analysis show that the increase in growth rate is owing to enhanced oxygen availability. We also demonstrate that the magnetic field that levitates the cells also induces convective stirring in the liquid. We present a simple theoretical model, showing how the paramagnetic force on dissolved oxygen can cause convection during the aerobic phases of bacterial growth. We propose that this convection enhances oxygen availability by transporting oxygen around the liquid culture. Since this process results from the strong magnetic field, it is not present in other weightless environments, e.g. in Earth orbit. Hence, these results are of significance and timely to researchers considering the use of diamagnetic levitation to explore effects of weightlessness on living organisms and on physical phenomena.

Observation of resonant and non-resonant magnetic braking in the n = 1 non-axisymmetric configurations on KSTAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Kimin; Choe, W.; In, Y.; Ko, W. H.; Choi, M. J.; Bak, J. G.; Kim, H. S.; Jeon, Y. M.; Kwak, J. G.; Yoon, S. W.; Oh, Y. K.; Park, J.-K.

2017-12-01

Toroidal rotation braking by neoclassical toroidal viscosity driven by non-axisymmetric (3D) magnetic fields, called magnetic braking, has great potential to control rotation profile, and thereby modify tokamak stability and performance. In order to characterize magnetic braking in the various 3D field configurations, dedicated experiments have been carried out in KSTAR, applying a variety of static n=1 , 3D fields of different phasing of -90 , 0, and +90 . Resonant-type magnetic braking was achieved by -90 phasing fields, accompanied by strong density pump-out and confinement degradation, and explained by excitation of kink response captured by ideal plasma response calculation. Strong resonant plasma response was also observed under +90 phasing at q95 ∼ 6 , leading to severe confinement degradation and eventual disruption by locked modes. Such a strong resonant transport was substantially modified to non-resonant-type transport at higher q95 ∼ 7.2 , as the resonant particle transport was significantly reduced and the rotation braking was pushed to plasma edge. This is well explained by ideal perturbed equilibrium calculations indicating the strong kink coupling at lower q95 is reduced at higher q95 discharge. The 0 phasing fields achieved quiescent magnetic braking without density pump-out and confinement degradation, which is consistent with vacuum and ideal plasma response analysis predicting deeply penetrating 3D fields without an excitation of strong kink response.

Nonlinear geometries in liquid crystals and liquid crystalline polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dingemans, Theo Jacobus

The thermodynamic properties of thermotropic liquid crystals (LCs), and polymeric LCs are strongly dependent on mesogenic shape and in order to explore the relationships between shape and physical properties new, nonlinear geometries were examined. Symmetric oxadiazole based model compounds were synthesized and despite an internal exocyclic bond angle of 134sp° the model compounds exhibit a variety of mesophases. Conoscopic studies on bis(p-hexyloxyphenyl) 4,4sp'- (1,3,4-oxadiazole-2,5-diyl) dicarboxylate in its phase Ssb{A} phase are not consistent with the uniaxial Ssb{A} phase, but rather a biaxial Ssb{CM} phase. Uniaxial and biaxial mesogenic monomers were incorporated in main-chain polyesters. Transition temperatures of the interfacially prepared polymers were higher than materials that were melt polymerized. sp{13}C NMR showed that all polymers prepared by melt condensation have random monomer sequence distributions at the diad level. Thiophene and 1,3-phenylene modified p-quinquephenyls were synthesized in order to investigate the effects of mesogen nonlinearity and dipole direction on the LC thermodynamic properties. Results indicate that shape asymmetry favors mesophase formation and stability; the thiophene dipole moment appears to have no effect. The 120sp° exocyclic bond angle disrupts liquid crystallinity in 1,3-phenylene derivatives. Additionally the placement of 2,5-thiophene in "p-quinquephenyls" affects a red shift in its UV absorption. This was exploited in single layer light emitting diodes (LEDs) to tune the electroluminescence emission. In double layer LEDs these compounds function as efficient hole transport materials with high light outputs. Ferroelectric LCs derived from isoleucine were synthesized and shown to have spontaneous polarizations that are a strong function of halogen size (F > Cl > Br).

Cloud-Resolving Model Simulations of Aerosol-Cloud Interactions Triggered by Strong Aerosol Emissions in the Arctic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, H.; Kravitz, B.; Rasch, P. J.; Morrison, H.; Solomon, A.

2014-12-01

Previous process-oriented modeling studies have highlighted the dependence of effectiveness of cloud brightening by aerosols on cloud regimes in warm marine boundary layer. Cloud microphysical processes in clouds that contain ice, and hence the mechanisms that drive aerosol-cloud interactions, are more complicated than in warm clouds. Interactions between ice particles and liquid drops add additional levels of complexity to aerosol effects. A cloud-resolving model is used to study aerosol-cloud interactions in the Arctic triggered by strong aerosol emissions, through either geoengineering injection or concentrated sources such as shipping and fires. An updated cloud microphysical scheme with prognostic aerosol and cloud particle numbers is employed. Model simulations are performed in pure super-cooled liquid and mixed-phase clouds, separately, with or without an injection of aerosols into either a clean or a more polluted Arctic boundary layer. Vertical mixing and cloud scavenging of particles injected from the surface is still quite efficient in the less turbulent cold environment. Overall, the injection of aerosols into the Arctic boundary layer can delay the collapse of the boundary layer and increase low-cloud albedo. The pure liquid clouds are more susceptible to the increase in aerosol number concentration than the mixed-phase clouds. Rain production processes are more effectively suppressed by aerosol injection, whereas ice precipitation (snow) is affected less; thus the effectiveness of brightening mixed-phase clouds is lower than for liquid-only clouds. Aerosol injection into a clean boundary layer results in a greater cloud albedo increase than injection into a polluted one, consistent with current knowledge about aerosol-cloud interactions. Unlike previous studies investigating warm clouds, the impact of dynamical feedback due to precipitation changes is small. According to these results, which are dependent upon the representation of ice nucleation processes in the employed microphysical scheme, Arctic geoengineering/shipping could have substantial local radiative effects, but is unlikely to be effective as the sole means of counterbalancing warming due to climate change.

Metallic phases from disordered (2+1)-dimensional quantum electrodynamics

DOE PAGES

Goswami, Pallab; Goldman, Hart; Raghu, S.

2017-06-15

Metallic phases have been observed in several disordered two-dimensional (2D) systems, including thin films near superconductor-insulator transitions and quantum Hall systems near plateau transitions. The existence of 2D metallic phases at zero temperature generally requires an interplay of disorder and interaction effects. Consequently, experimental observations of 2D metallic behavior have largely defied explanation. We formulate a general stability criterion for strongly interacting, massless Dirac fermions against disorder, which describe metallic ground states with vanishing density of states. We show that (2+1)-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (QED 3) with a large, even number of fermion flavors remains metallic in the presence of weakmore » scalar potential disorder due to the dynamic screening of disorder by gauge fluctuations. In conclusion, we also show that QED 3 with weak mass disorder exhibits a stable, dirty metallic phase in which both interactions and disorder play important roles.« less

In situ investigations of phase transformations in Fe-sheathed MgB2 wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grivel, J.-C.; Pinholt, R.; Andersen, N. H.; Kovác, P.; Husek, I.; Homeyer, J.

2006-01-01

The phase evolution inside Fe-sheathed wires containing precursor powders consisting of a mixture of Mg and B has been studied in situ by means of x-ray diffraction with hard synchrotron radiation (90 keV). Mg was found to disappear progressively during the heating stage. At 500 °C, the intensity of the Mg diffraction lines is reduced by about 20%. This effect is partly attributable to MgO formation. The MgB2 phase was detected from 575 °C. Fe2B was forming at the interface between the sheath and the ceramic core at sintering temperatures of 780 and 700 °C, but not at 650 °C. The formation rate of this phase is strongly dependent on the heat treatment temperature. Its presence can be readily detected as soon as the average interface reaction thickness exceeds 150-200 nm.

Stability Formulation for Integrated Opto-mechanic Phase Shifters.

PubMed

Ozer, Yigit; Kocaman, Serdar

2018-01-31

Stability of opto-mechanical phase shifters consisting of waveguides and non-signal carrying control beams is investigated thoroughly and a formula determining the physical limitations has been proposed. Suggested formulation is not only beneficial to determine physical strength of the system but also advantageous to guess the response of the output to the fabrication errors. In the iterative analysis of cantilever and double-clamped beam geometrical configurations, the stability condition is revealed under the strong inter-dependence of the system parameters such as input power, device length and waveguide separation. Numerical calculations involving effective index modifications and opto-mechanic movements show that well-known cantilever beams are unstable and inadequate to generate φ = 180° phase difference, while double-clamped beam structures can be utilized to build functional devices. Ideal operation conditions are also presented in terms of both the device durability and the controllability of phase evolution.

Interstitial atoms enable joint twinning and transformation induced plasticity in strong and ductile high-entropy alloys.

PubMed

Li, Zhiming; Tasan, Cemal Cem; Springer, Hauke; Gault, Baptiste; Raabe, Dierk

2017-01-12

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) consisting of multiple principle elements provide an avenue for realizing exceptional mechanical, physical and chemical properties. We report a novel strategy for designing a new class of HEAs incorporating the additional interstitial element carbon. This results in joint activation of twinning- and transformation-induced plasticity (TWIP and TRIP) by tuning the matrix phase's instability in a metastable TRIP-assisted dual-phase HEA. Besides TWIP and TRIP, such alloys benefit from massive substitutional and interstitial solid solution strengthening as well as from the composite effect associated with its dual-phase structure. Nanosize particle formation and grain size reduction are also utilized. The new interstitial TWIP-TRIP-HEA thus unifies all metallic strengthening mechanisms in one material, leading to twice the tensile strength compared to a single-phase HEA with similar composition, yet, at identical ductility.

Binary Phase Behavior of Saturated-Unsaturated Mixed-Acid Triacylglycerols-A Review.

PubMed

Zhang, Lu; Ueno, Satoru; Sato, Kiyotaka

2018-06-01

Most natural lipids contain a complex mixture of individual triacylglycerols (TAGs). An in-depth knowledge of the mixing behavior of TAGs is necessary for the rational design and engineering of food materials. The binary phase diagram of TAGs is a simplified model that can be explored to help foster an understanding of the phase behavior of complex fats and oils. This article reviews recent research on the binary phase behavior of saturated-unsaturated mixed-acid TAGs, with special emphasis on the stearicunsaturated and palmitic-unsaturated diacid TAGs. The occurrence of polymorphic forms and mutual solubility of TAG mixtures are strongly related to the glycerol conformation of the saturated-oleic diacid TAGs; it appears to be most influenced by the chain-length mismatch in saturated-elaidic diacid TAGs. In addition, the polymorphism of pure enantiomers and racemic mixture of chiral TAGs was also reviewed, while the effect of chirality on mixing behavior was discussed.

An approach for generating trajectory-based dynamics which conserves the canonical distribution in the phase space formulation of quantum mechanics. II. Thermal correlation functions.

PubMed

Liu, Jian; Miller, William H

2011-03-14

We show the exact expression of the quantum mechanical time correlation function in the phase space formulation of quantum mechanics. The trajectory-based dynamics that conserves the quantum canonical distribution-equilibrium Liouville dynamics (ELD) proposed in Paper I is then used to approximately evaluate the exact expression. It gives exact thermal correlation functions (of even nonlinear operators, i.e., nonlinear functions of position or momentum operators) in the classical, high temperature, and harmonic limits. Various methods have been presented for the implementation of ELD. Numerical tests of the ELD approach in the Wigner or Husimi phase space have been made for a harmonic oscillator and two strongly anharmonic model problems, for each potential autocorrelation functions of both linear and nonlinear operators have been calculated. It suggests ELD can be a potentially useful approach for describing quantum effects for complex systems in condense phase.

Unified Phase Diagram for Iron-Based Superconductors.

PubMed

Gu, Yanhong; Liu, Zhaoyu; Xie, Tao; Zhang, Wenliang; Gong, Dongliang; Hu, Ding; Ma, Xiaoyan; Li, Chunhong; Zhao, Lingxiao; Lin, Lifang; Xu, Zhuang; Tan, Guotai; Chen, Genfu; Meng, Zi Yang; Yang, Yi-Feng; Luo, Huiqian; Li, Shiliang

2017-10-13

High-temperature superconductivity is closely adjacent to a long-range antiferromagnet, which is called a parent compound. In cuprates, all parent compounds are alike and carrier doping leads to superconductivity, so a unified phase diagram can be drawn. However, the properties of parent compounds for iron-based superconductors show significant diversity and both carrier and isovalent dopings can cause superconductivity, which casts doubt on the idea that there exists a unified phase diagram for them. Here we show that the ordered moments in a variety of iron pnictides are inversely proportional to the effective Curie constants of their nematic susceptibility. This unexpected scaling behavior suggests that the magnetic ground states of iron pnictides can be achieved by tuning the strength of nematic fluctuations. Therefore, a unified phase diagram can be established where superconductivity emerges from a hypothetical parent compound with a large ordered moment but weak nematic fluctuations, which suggests that iron-based superconductors are strongly correlated electron systems.

Metallic phases from disordered (2+1)-dimensional quantum electrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goswami, Pallab; Goldman, Hart; Raghu, S.

2017-06-01

Metallic phases have been observed in several disordered two-dimensional (2D) systems, including thin films near superconductor-insulator transitions and quantum Hall systems near plateau transitions. The existence of 2D metallic phases at zero temperature generally requires an interplay of disorder and interaction effects. Consequently, experimental observations of 2D metallic behavior have largely defied explanation. We formulate a general stability criterion for strongly interacting, massless Dirac fermions against disorder, which describe metallic ground states with vanishing density of states. We show that (2+1)-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (QED3) with a large, even number of fermion flavors remains metallic in the presence of weak scalar potential disorder due to the dynamic screening of disorder by gauge fluctuations. We also show that QED3 with weak mass disorder exhibits a stable, dirty metallic phase in which both interactions and disorder play important roles.

Structural, electronic and vibrational properties of few-layer 2H-and 1T-TaSe 2

DOE PAGES

Yan, Jia -An; Dela Cruz, Mack A.; Cook, Brandon G.; ...

2015-11-16

Two-dimensional metallic transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are of interest for studying phenomena such as charge-density wave (CDW) and superconductivity. Few-layer tantalum diselenides (TaSe 2) are typical metallic TMDs exhibiting rich CDW phase transitions. However, a description of the structural, electronic and vibrational properties for different crystal phases and stacking configurations, essential for interpretation of experiments, is lacking. We present first principles calculations of structural phase energetics, band dispersion near the Fermi level, phonon properties and vibrational modes at the Brillouin zone center for different layer numbers, crystal phases and stacking geometries. Evolution of the Fermi surfaces as well as themore » phonon dispersions as a function of layer number reveals dramatic dimensionality effects in this CDW material. Lastly, our results indicate strong electronic interlayer coupling, detail energetically possible stacking geometries, and provide a basis for interpretation of Raman spectra.« less

Acid-Base Electronic Properties in the Gas Phase: Permanent Electric Dipole Moments of a Photoacidic Substrate.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleisher, Adam J.; Morgan, Philip J.; Pratt, David W.

2009-06-01

The permanent electric dipole moments of two conformers of 2-naphthol (2HN) in their ground and electronically excited states have been experimentally determined by Stark-effect measurements in a molecular beam. When in solution, 2HN is a weak base in the S{_0} state and a strong acid in the S{_1} state. Using sequential solvation of the cis-2HN photoacid with the base ammonia, we have begun to approach condensed phase acid-base interactions with gas phase rotational resolution. Our study, void of bulk solvent perturbations, is of importance to the larger community currently describing aromatic biomolecule and "super" photoacid behavior via theoretical modeling and condensed phase solvatochromism. [2] A. Weller. Prog. React. Kinet. 5, 273 (1970). [3] D. F. Plusquellic, X. -Q. Tan, and D. W. Pratt. J. Chem. Phys. 96, 8026 (1992).

Weak phase stiffness and nature of the quantum critical point in underdoped cuprates

DOE PAGES

Yildirim, Yucel; Ku, Wei

2015-11-02

We demonstrate that the zero-temperature superconducting phase diagram of underdoped cuprates can be quantitatively understood in the strong binding limit, using only the experimental spectral function of the “normal” pseudogap phase without any free parameter. In the prototypical (La 1–xSr x) 2CuO 4, a kinetics-driven d-wave superconductivity is obtained above the critical doping δ c ~ 5.2%, below which complete loss of superfluidity results from local quantum fluctuation involving local p-wave pairs. Near the critical doping, an enormous mass enhancement of the local pairs is found responsible for the observed rapid decrease of phase stiffness. Lastly, a striking mass divergencemore » is predicted at δ c that dictates the occurrence of the observed quantum critical point and the abrupt suppression of the Nernst effects in the nearby region.« less

Dynamically generated patterns in dense suspensions of active filaments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prathyusha, K. R.; Henkes, Silke; Sknepnek, Rastko

2018-02-01

We use Langevin dynamics simulations to study dynamical behavior of a dense planar layer of active semiflexible filaments. Using the strength of active force and the thermal persistence length as parameters, we map a detailed phase diagram and identify several nonequilibrium phases in this system. In addition to a slowly flowing melt phase, we observe that, for sufficiently high activity, collective flow accompanied by signatures of local polar and nematic order appears in the system. This state is also characterized by strong density fluctuations. Furthermore, we identify an activity-driven crossover from this state of coherently flowing bundles of filaments to a phase with no global flow, formed by individual filaments coiled into rotating spirals. This suggests a mechanism where the system responds to activity by changing the shape of active agents, an effect with no analog in systems of active particles without internal degrees of freedom.

Amplitude analysis of the B+/--->phiK*(892)+/- decay.

PubMed

Aubert, B; Bona, M; Boutigny, D; Karyotakis, Y; Lees, J P; Poireau, V; Prudent, X; Tisserand, V; Zghiche, A; Garra Tico, J; Grauges, E; Lopez, L; Palano, A; Eigen, G; Stugu, B; Sun, L; Abrams, G S; Battaglia, M; Brown, D N; Button-Shafer, J; Cahn, R N; Groysman, Y; Jacobsen, R G; Kadyk, J A; Kerth, L T; Kolomensky, Yu G; Kukartsev, G; Lopes Pegna, D; Lynch, G; Mir, L M; Orimoto, T J; Ronan, M T; Tackmann, K; Wenzel, W A; del Amo Sanchez, P; Hawkes, C M; Watson, A T; Held, T; Koch, H; Lewandowski, B; Pelizaeus, M; Schroeder, T; Steinke, M; Walker, D; Asgeirsson, D J; Cuhadar-Donszelmann, T; Fulsom, B G; Hearty, C; Mattison, T S; McKenna, J A; Khan, A; Saleem, M; Teodorescu, L; Blinov, V E; Bukin, A D; Druzhinin, V P; Golubev, V B; Onuchin, A P; Serednyakov, S I; Skovpen, Yu I; Solodov, E P; Todyshev, K Yu; Bondioli, M; Curry, S; Eschrich, I; Kirkby, D; Lankford, A J; Lund, P; Mandelkern, M; Martin, E C; Stoker, D P; Abachi, S; Buchanan, C; Foulkes, S D; Gary, J W; Liu, F; Long, O; Shen, B C; Zhang, L; Paar, H P; Rahatlou, S; Sharma, V; Berryhill, J W; Campagnari, C; Cunha, A; Dahmes, B; Hong, T M; Kovalskyi, D; Richman, J D; Beck, T W; Eisner, A M; Flacco, C J; Heusch, C A; Kroseberg, J; Lockman, W S; Schalk, T; Schumm, B A; Seiden, A; Williams, D C; Wilson, M G; Winstrom, L O; Chen, E; Cheng, C H; Fang, F; Hitlin, D G; Narsky, I; Piatenko, T; Porter, F C; Andreassen, R; Mancinelli, G; Meadows, B T; Mishra, K; Sokoloff, M D; Blanc, F; Bloom, P C; Chen, S; Ford, W T; Hirschauer, J F; Kreisel, A; Nagel, M; Nauenberg, U; Olivas, A; Smith, J G; Ulmer, K A; Wagner, S R; Zhang, J; Gabareen, A M; Soffer, A; Toki, W H; Wilson, R J; Winklmeier, F; Zeng, Q; Altenburg, D D; Feltresi, E; Hauke, A; Jasper, H; Merkel, J; Petzold, A; Spaan, B; Wacker, K; Brandt, T; Klose, V; Kobel, M J; Lacker, H M; Mader, W F; Nogowski, R; Schubert, J; Schubert, K R; Schwierz, R; Sundermann, J E; Volk, A; Bernard, D; Bonneaud, G R; Latour, E; Lombardo, V; Thiebaux, Ch; Verderi, M; Clark, P J; Gradl, W; Muheim, F; Playfer, S; Robertson, A I; Xie, Y; Andreotti, M; Bettoni, D; Bozzi, C; Calabrese, R; Cecchi, A; Cibinetto, G; Franchini, P; Luppi, E; Negrini, M; Petrella, A; Piemontese, L; Prencipe, E; Santoro, V; Anulli, F; Baldini-Ferroli, R; Calcaterra, A; de Sangro, R; Finocchiaro, G; Pacetti, S; Patteri, P; Peruzzi, I M; Piccolo, M; Rama, M; Zallo, A; Buzzo, A; Contri, R; Lo Vetere, M; Macri, M M; Monge, M R; Passaggio, S; Patrignani, C; Robutti, E; Santroni, A; Tosi, S; Chaisanguanthum, K S; Morii, M; Wu, J; Dubitzky, R S; Marks, J; Schenk, S; Uwer, U; Bard, D J; Dauncey, P D; Flack, R L; Nash, J A; Nikolich, M B; Panduro Vazquez, W; Tibbetts, M; Behera, P K; Chai, X; Charles, M J; Mallik, U; Meyer, N T; Ziegler, V; Cochran, J; Crawley, H B; Dong, L; Eyges, V; Meyer, W T; Prell, S; Rosenberg, E I; Rubin, A E; Gao, Y Y; Gritsan, A V; Guo, Z J; Lae, C K; Denig, A G; Fritsch, M; Schott, G; Arnaud, N; Béquilleux, J; Davier, M; Grosdidier, G; Höcker, A; Lepeltier, V; Le Diberder, F; Lutz, A M; Pruvot, S; Rodier, S; Roudeau, P; Schune, M H; Serrano, J; Sordini, V; Stocchi, A; Wang, W F; Wormser, G; Lange, D J; Wright, D M; Bingham, I; Chavez, C A; Forster, I J; Fry, J R; Gabathuler, E; Gamet, R; Hutchcroft, D E; Payne, D J; Schofield, K C; Touramanis, C; Bevan, A J; George, K A; Di Lodovico, F; Menges, W; Sacco, R; Cowan, G; Flaecher, H U; Hopkins, D A; Paramesvaran, S; Salvatore, F; Wren, A C; Brown, D N; Davis, C L; Allison, J; Barlow, N R; Barlow, R J; Chia, Y M; Edgar, C L; Lafferty, G D; West, T J; Yi, J I; Anderson, J; Chen, C; Jawahery, A; Roberts, D A; Simi, G; Tuggle, J M; Blaylock, G; Dallapiccola, C; Hertzbach, S S; Li, X; Moore, T B; Salvati, E; Saremi, S; Cowan, R; Dujmic, D; Fisher, P H; Koeneke, K; Sciolla, G; Sekula, S J; Spitznagel, M; Taylor, F; Yamamoto, R K; Zhao, M; Zheng, Y; Mclachlin, S E; Patel, P M; Robertson, S H; Lazzaro, A; Palombo, F; Bauer, J M; Cremaldi, L; Eschenburg, V; Godang, R; Kroeger, R; Sanders, D A; Summers, D J; Zhao, H W; Brunet, S; Côté, D; Simard, M; Taras, P; Viaud, F B; Nicholson, H; De Nardo, G; Fabozzi, F; Lista, L; Monorchio, D; Sciacca, C; Baak, M A; Raven, G; Snoek, H L; Jessop, C P; LoSecco, J M; Benelli, G; Corwin, L A; Honscheid, K; Kagan, H; Kass, R; Morris, J P; Rahimi, A M; Regensburger, J J; Wong, Q K; Blount, N L; Brau, J; Frey, R; Igonkina, O; Kolb, J A; Lu, M; Rahmat, R; Sinev, N B; Strom, D; Strube, J; Torrence, E; Gagliardi, N; Gaz, A; Margoni, M; Morandin, M; Pompili, A; Posocco, M; Rotondo, M; Simonetto, F; Stroili, R; Voci, C; Ben-Haim, E; Briand, H; Calderini, G; Chauveau, J; David, P; Del Buono, L; de la Vaissière, Ch; Hamon, O; Leruste, Ph; Malclès, J; Ocariz, J; Perez, A; Gladney, L; Biasini, M; Covarelli, R; Manoni, E; Angelini, C; Batignani, G; Bettarini, S; Carpinelli, M; Cenci, R; Cervelli, A; Forti, F; Giorgi, M A; Lusiani, A; Marchiori, G; Mazur, M A; Morganti, M; Neri, N; Paoloni, E; Rizzo, G; Walsh, J J; Haire, M; Biesiada, J; Elmer, P; Lau, Y P; Lu, C; Olsen, J; Smith, A J S; Telnov, A V; Baracchini, E; Bellini, F; Cavoto, G; D'Orazio, A; del Re, D; Di Marco, E; Faccini, R; Ferrarotto, F; Ferroni, F; Gaspero, M; Jackson, P D; Li Gioi, L; Mazzoni, M A; Morganti, S; Piredda, G; Polci, F; Renga, F; Voena, C; Ebert, M; Hartmann, T; Schröder, H; Waldi, R; Adye, T; Castelli, G; Franek, B; Olaiya, E O; Ricciardi, S; Roethel, W; Wilson, F F; Aleksan, R; Emery, S; Escalier, M; Gaidot, A; Ganzhur, S F; Hamel de Monchenault, G; Kozanecki, W; Vasseur, G; Yèche, Ch; Zito, M; Chen, X R; Liu, H; Park, W; Purohit, M V; Wilson, J R; Allen, M T; Aston, D; Bartoldus, R; Bechtle, P; Berger, N; Claus, R; Coleman, J P; Convery, M R; Dingfelder, J C; Dorfan, J; Dubois-Felsmann, G P; Dunwoodie, W; Field, R C; Glanzman, T; Gowdy, S J; Graham, M T; Grenier, P; Hast, C; Hryn'ova, T; Innes, W R; Kaminski, J; Kelsey, M H; Kim, H; Kim, P; Kocian, M L; Leith, D W G S; Li, S; Luitz, S; Luth, V; Lynch, H L; MacFarlane, D B; Marsiske, H; Messner, R; Muller, D R; O'Grady, C P; Ofte, I; Perazzo, A; Perl, M; Pulliam, T; Ratcliff, B N; Roodman, A; Salnikov, A A; Schindler, R H; Schwiening, J; Snyder, A; Stelzer, J; Su, D; Sullivan, M K; Suzuki, K; Swain, S K; Thompson, J M; Va'vra, J; van Bakel, N; Wagner, A P; Weaver, M; Wisniewski, W J; Wittgen, M; Wright, D H; Yarritu, A K; Yi, K; Young, C C; Burchat, P R; Edwards, A J; Majewski, S A; Petersen, B A; Wilden, L; Ahmed, S; Alam, M S; Bula, R; Ernst, J A; Jain, V; Pan, B; Saeed, M A; Wappler, F R; Zain, S B; Bugg, W; Krishnamurthy, M; Spanier, S M; Eckmann, R; Ritchie, J L; Ruland, A M; Schilling, C J; Schwitters, R F; Izen, J M; Lou, X C; Ye, S; Bianchi, F; Gallo, F; Gamba, D; Pelliccioni, M; Bomben, M; Bosisio, L; Cartaro, C; Cossutti, F; Della Ricca, G; Lanceri, L; Vitale, L; Azzolini, V; Lopez-March, N; Martinez-Vidal, F; Milanes, D A; Oyanguren, A; Albert, J; Banerjee, Sw; Bhuyan, B; Hamano, K; Kowalewski, R; Nugent, I M; Roney, J M; Sobie, R J; Back, J J; Harrison, P F; Ilic, J; Latham, T E; Mohanty, G B; Pappagallo, M; Band, H R; Chen, X; Dasu, S; Flood, K T; Hollar, J J; Kutter, P E; Pan, Y; Pierini, M; Prepost, R; Wu, S L; Neal, H

2007-11-16

We perform an amplitude analysis of B+/--->phi(1020)K*(892)+/- decay with a sample of about 384 x 10(6) BB[over ] pairs recorded with the BABAR detector. Overall, twelve parameters are measured, including the fractions of longitudinal fL and parity-odd transverse f perpendicular amplitudes, branching fraction, strong phases, and six parameters sensitive to CP violation. We use the dependence on the Kpi invariant mass of the interference between the JP=1(-) and 0+ Kpi components to resolve the discrete ambiguity in the determination of the strong and weak phases. Our measurements of fL=0.49+/-0.05+/-0.03, f perpendicular=0.21+/-0.05+/-0.02, and the strong phases point to the presence of a substantial helicity-plus amplitude from a presently unknown source.

Tunable band alignment in two-phase-coexistence Nb3O7F nanocrystals with enhanced light harvesting and photocatalytic performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhen; Huang, Fei; Feng, Xin; Yan, Aihua; Dong, Haiming; Hu, Miao; Li, Qi

2018-06-01

A two-phase-coexistence technique offers intriguing variables to maneuver novel and enhanced functionality in a single-component material. Most importantly, new band alignment and perfect interfaces between two phases can strongly affect local photoelectronic properties. However, previous efforts to achieve two-phase coexistence were mainly restricted to specific systems and methods. Here we demonstrate a phase-transition route to acquire two-phase-coexistence niobium oxyfluoride (Nb3O7F) nanocrystals for the first time. Based on key distinguishing features of the experimental results and theoretical analysis, the phase transition of Nb3O7F involves an organic/inorganic hybrid, heat treating, Al-doping, lattice deformation and structural rearrangement. The band gap can be effectively tuned from 3.03 eV to 2.84 eV, and the VBM can be tuned from 1.49 eV to 1.69 eV according to the phase proportion. Benefiting from uniform nanocrystal size, tunable band alignment and an optimized interfacial structure, the two-phase coexistence markedly enhances visible-light harvesting and the photocatalytic performance of Nb3O7F nanocrystals. The results not only demonstrate an opportunity to explore two-phase coexistence of novel nanocrystals, but also illustrate the role of two-phase coexistence in achieving enhanced photoelectronic properties.

Tunable band alignment in two-phase-coexistence Nb3O7F nanocrystals with enhanced light harvesting and photocatalytic performance.

PubMed

Li, Zhen; Huang, Fei; Feng, Xin; Yan, Aihua; Dong, Haiming; Hu, Miao; Li, Qi

2018-06-01

A two-phase-coexistence technique offers intriguing variables to maneuver novel and enhanced functionality in a single-component material. Most importantly, new band alignment and perfect interfaces between two phases can strongly affect local photoelectronic properties. However, previous efforts to achieve two-phase coexistence were mainly restricted to specific systems and methods. Here we demonstrate a phase-transition route to acquire two-phase-coexistence niobium oxyfluoride (Nb 3 O 7 F) nanocrystals for the first time. Based on key distinguishing features of the experimental results and theoretical analysis, the phase transition of Nb 3 O 7 F involves an organic/inorganic hybrid, heat treating, Al-doping, lattice deformation and structural rearrangement. The band gap can be effectively tuned from 3.03 eV to 2.84 eV, and the VBM can be tuned from 1.49 eV to 1.69 eV according to the phase proportion. Benefiting from uniform nanocrystal size, tunable band alignment and an optimized interfacial structure, the two-phase coexistence markedly enhances visible-light harvesting and the photocatalytic performance of Nb 3 O 7 F nanocrystals. The results not only demonstrate an opportunity to explore two-phase coexistence of novel nanocrystals, but also illustrate the role of two-phase coexistence in achieving enhanced photoelectronic properties.

Thermodynamics of a dilute XX chain in a field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Timonin, P. N., E-mail: pntim@live.ru

Gapless phases in ground states of low-dimensional quantum spin systems are rather ubiquitous. Their peculiarity is a remarkable sensitivity to external perturbations due to permanent criticality of such phases manifested by a slow (power-low) decay of pair correlations and the divergence of the corresponding susceptibility. A strong influence of various defects on the properties of the system in such a phase can then be expected. Here, we consider the influence of vacancies on the thermodynamics of the simplest quantum model with a gapless phase, the isotropic spin-1/2 XX chain. The existence of the exact solution of this model gives amore » unique opportunity to describe in detail the dramatic effect of dilution on the gapless phase—the appearance of an infinite series of quantum phase transitions resulting from level crossing under the variation of a longitudinal magnetic field. We calculate the jumps in the field dependences of the ground-state longitudinal magnetization, susceptibility, entropy, and specific heat appearing at these transitions and show that they result in a highly nonlinear temperature dependence of these parameters at low T. Also, the effect of enhancement of the magnetization and longitudinal correlations in the dilute chain is established. The changes of the pair spin correlators under dilution are also analyzed. The universality of the mechanism of the quantum transition generation suggests that similar effects of dilution can also be expected in gapless phases of other low-dimensional quantum spin systems.« less

Radiation-based near-field thermal rectification with phase transition materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yue; Basu, Soumyadipta; Wang, Liping

2013-10-01

The capability of manipulating heat flow has promising applications in thermal management and thermal circuits. In this Letter, we report strong thermal rectification effect based on the near-field thermal radiation between silicon dioxide (SiO2) and a phase transition material, vanadium dioxide (VO2), separated by nanometer vacuum gaps under the framework of fluctuational electrodynamics. Strong coupling of surface phonon polaritons between SiO2 and insulating VO2 leads to enhanced near-field radiative transfer, which on the other hand is suppressed when VO2 becomes metallic, resulting in thermal rectification. The rectification factor is close to 1 when vacuum gap is at 1 μm and it increases to almost 2 at sub-20-nm gaps when emitter and receiver temperatures are set to 400 and 300 K, respectively. Replacing bulk SiO2 with a thin film of several nanometers, rectification factor of 3 can be achieved when the vacuum gap is around 100 nm.

Magnetism and local symmetry breaking in a Mott insulator with strong spin orbit interactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lu, L.; Song, M.; Liu, W.

2017-02-09

Study of the combined effects of strong electronic correlations with spin-orbit coupling (SOC) represents a central issue in quantum materials research. Predicting emergent properties represents a huge theoretical problem since the presence of SOC implies that the spin is not a good quantum number. Existing theories propose the emergence of a multitude of exotic quantum phases, distinguishable by either local point symmetry breaking or local spin expectation values, even in materials with simple cubic crystal structure such as Ba 2NaOsO 6. Experimental tests of these theories by local probes are highly sought for. Our local measurements designed to concurrently probemore » spin and orbital/lattice degrees of freedom of Ba 2NaOsO 6 provide such tests. As a result, we show that a canted ferromagnetic phase which is preceded by local point symmetry breaking is stabilized at low temperatures, as predicted by quantum theories involving multipolar spin interactions.« less