22,148 research outputs found
Localization versus subradiance in three-dimensional scattering of light
We study the scattering modes of light in a three-dimensional disordered
medium, in the scalar approximation and above the critical density for Anderson
localization. Localized modes represent a minority of the total number of
modes, even well above the threshold density, whereas spatially extended
subradiant modes predominate. For specific energy ranges however, almost all
modes are localized, yet adjusting accordingly the probe frequency does not
allow to address these only in the regime accessible numerically. Finally,
their lifetime is observed to be dominated by finite-size effects, and more
specifically by the ratio of the localization length to their distance to the
system boundaries.Comment: Add figure comparing localization percentage via frequency, fixed
text, addition of Ioffe-Regel criterion limits, figure axis were normalize
Phase behavior of three-component ionic fluids
We study the phase behavior of solutions consisting of positive and negative
ions of valence z to which a third ionic species of valence Z>z is added. Using
a discretized Debye-Hueckel theory, we analyze the phase behavior of such
systems for different values of the ratio Z/z. We find, for Z/z>1.934, a
three-phase coexistence region and, for Z/z>2, a closed (reentrant) coexistence
loop at high temperatures. We characterize the behavior of these ternary ionic
mixtures as function of charge asymmetry and temperature, and show the complete
phase diagrams for the experimentally relevant cases of Z/z=2 and Z/z=3,
corresponding to addition of divalent and trivalent ions to monovalent ionic
fluids, respectively.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; to appear in the European Physical Journal
Virial expansion for charged colloids and electrolytes
Using a field-theoretic approach, we derive the first few coefficients of the
exact low-density (``virial'') expansion of a binary mixture of positively and
negatively charged hard spheres (two-component hard-core plasma, TCPHC). Our
calculations are nonperturbative with respect to the diameters and
and charge valences and of positive and negative ions.
Consequently, our closed-form expressions for the coefficients of the free
energy and activity can be used to treat dilute salt solutions, where typically
and , as well as colloidal suspensions, where the
difference in size and valence between macroions and counterions can be very
large. We show how to map the TCPHC on a one-component hard-core plasma (OCPHC)
in the colloidal limit of large size and valence ratio, in which case the
counterions effectively form a neutralizing background. A sizable discrepancy
with the standard OCPHC with uniform, rigid background is detected, which can
be traced back to the fact that the counterions cannot penetrate the colloids.
For the case of electrolyte solutions, we show how to obtain the cationic and
anionic radii as independent parameters from experimental data for the activity
coefficient.Comment: 15 page
Counterions at charge-modulated substrates
We consider counterions in the presence of a single planar surface with a
spatially inhomogeneous charge distribution using Monte-Carlo simulations and
strong-coupling theory. For high surface charges, multivalent counterions, or
pronounced substrate charge modulation the counterions are laterally correlated
with the surface charges and their density profile deviates strongly from the
limit of a smeared-out substrate charge distribution, in particular exhibiting
a much increased laterally averaged density at the surface.Comment: 7 page
Evaporation waves in superheated dodecane
We have observed propagating adiabatic evaporation waves in superheated liquid dodecane, C_(12)H_(26). Experiments were performed with a rapid decompression apparatus at initial temperatures of 180–300°C. Saturated dodecane in a tube was suddenly depressurized by rupturing a diaphragm. Motion pictures and still photographic images, and pressure and temperature data were obtained during the evaporation event that followed depressurization. Usually, a front or wave of evaporation started at the liquid free surface and propagated into the undisturbed regions of the metastable liquid. The evaporation wave front moved with a steady mean velocity but the front itself was unstable and fluctuating in character. At low superheats, no waves were observed until a threshold superheat was exceeded. At moderate superheats, subsonic downstream states were observed. At higher superheats, the downstream flow was choked, corresponding to a Chapman–Jouguet condition. At the most extreme superheat tested, a vapour content of over 90% was estimated from the measured data, indicating a nearly complete evaporation wave. Our results are interpreted by modelling the evaporation wave as a discontinuity, or jump, between a superheated liquid state and a two-phase liquid–vapour downstream state. Reasonable agreement is found between the model and observations; however, there is a fundamental indeterminacy that prevents the prediction of the observed wave speeds
Electrostatic Interactions in Strongly-Coupled Soft Matter
Charged soft-matter systems--such as colloidal dispersions and charged
polymers--are dominated by attractive forces between constituent like-charged
particles when neutralizing counterions of high charge valency are introduced.
Such counter-intuitive effects indicate strong electrostatic coupling between
like-charged particles, which essentially results from electrostatic
correlations among counterions residing near particle surfaces. In this paper,
the attraction mechanism and the structure of counterionic correlations are
discussed in the limit of strong coupling based on recent numerical and
analytical investigations and for various geometries (planar, spherical and
cylindrical) of charged objects.Comment: 26 pages, 13 figure
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