On the propagation speed of evanescent modes

The group-velocity of evanescent waves (in undersized waveguides, for instance) was theoretically predicted, and has been experimentally verified, to be Superluminal (v_g > c). By contrast, it is known that the precursor speed in vacuum cannot be larger than c. In this paper, by computer simulations based on Maxwell equations only, we show the existence of both phenomena. In other words, we verify the actual possibility of Superluminal group velocities, without violating the so-called (naive) Einstein causality. (Subject classes: General physics, Classical physics, Optics, Special Relativity; PACS nos.: 73.40Gk, 03.80+z, 03.65Bz; Keywords: evanescent waves; tunnelling photons; Hartman effect; group velocity; Superluminal waves; precursors; transient waves; front velocity; Maxwell equations; electromagnetic waves; computer simulations; Special Relativity; Extended Relativity).Comment: plain LaTeX file (14 pages), plus 15 figures in .jp

Extending electron orbital precession to the molecular case: Can orbital alignment be used to observe wavepacket dynamics?

The complexity of ultrafast molecular photoionization presents an obstacle to the modelling of pump-probe experiments. Here, a simple optimized model of atomic rubidium is combined with a molecular dynamics model to predict quantitatively the results of a pump-probe experiment in which long range rubidium dimers are first excited, then ionized after a variable delay. The method is illustrated by the outline of two proposed feasible experiments and the calculation of their outcomes. Both of these proposals use Feshbach 87Rb2 molecules. We show that long-range molecular pump-probe experiments should observe spin-orbit precession given a suitable pump-pulse, and that the associated high-frequency beat signal in the ionization probability decays after a few tens of picoseconds. If the molecule was to be excited to only a single fine structure state state, then a low-frequency oscillation in the internuclear separation would be detectable through the timedependent ionization cross section, giving a mechanism that would enable observation of coherent vibrational motion in this molecule.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, PRA submissio

On the Localized superluminal Solutions to the Maxwell Equations

In the first part of this article the various experimental sectors of physics in which Superluminal motions seem to appear are briefly mentioned, after a sketchy theoretical introduction. In particular, a panoramic view is presented of the experiments with evanescent waves (and/or tunneling photons), and with the "Localized superluminal Solutions" (SLS) to the wave equation, like the so-called X-shaped waves. In the second part of this paper we present a series of new SLSs to the Maxwell equations, suitable for arbitrary frequencies and arbitrary bandwidths: some of them being endowed with finite total energy. Among the others, we set forth an infinite family of generalizations of the classic X-shaped wave; and show how to deal with the case of a dispersive medium. Results of this kind may find application in other fields in which an essential role is played by a wave-equation (like acoustics, seismology, geophysics, gravitation, elementary particle physics, etc.). This e-print, in large part a review, was prepared for the special issue on "Nontraditional Forms of Light" of the IEEE JSTQE (2003); and a preliminary version of it appeared as Report NSF-ITP-02-93 (KITP, UCSB; 2002). Further material can be found in the recent e-prints arXiv:0708.1655v2 [physics.gen-ph] and arXiv:0708.1209v1 [physics.gen-ph]. The case of the very interesting (and more orthodox, in a sense) subluminal Localized Waves, solutions to the wave equations, will be dealt with in a coming paper. [Keywords: Wave equation; Wave propagation; Localized solutions to Maxwell equations; Superluminal waves; Bessel beams; Limited-dispersion beams; Electromagnetic wavelets; X-shaped waves; Finite-energy beams; Optics; Electromagnetism; Microwaves; Special relativity]Comment: LaTeX paper of 37 pages, with 20 Figures in jpg [to be processed by PDFlatex

Recombination dynamics in bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers

The time dependence of magnetic field effects on light absorption by triplet-state and radical ions in quinone-depleted reaction centers of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides strain R-26 has been investigated. Measurements on the time scale of the hyperfine interaction in the radical pair [(BChl)2+. ...BPh-.)] provided kinetic data characterizing the recombination process. The results have been interpreted in terms of a recently proposed model that assumes an intermediate electron acceptor (close site) between the bacteriochlorophyll "special pair" (BChl)2 and the bacteriopheophytin BPh (distant site). Recombination is assumed to proceed through this intermediate acceptor. The experiments led to effective recombination rates for the singlet and triplet channel: k(Seff) = 3.9 . 107 s-1 and k(Teff) = 7.4 . 10(8) s-1. These correspond to recombination rates ks = 1 . 10(1) s-1 and kT = 7.1 . 10(11) s-1 in the close configuration. The upper bound of the effective spin dephasing rate k2eff approximately equal to 1 . 10(9) s-1 is identical with the rate of the electron hopping between the distant site of zero spin exchange interaction and the close site of large interaction. Interpretation of data for the case of direct recombination yields the recombination rates, spin dephasing rate, and exchange interaction in a straightforward way

The effect of beef production system on proximate composition and fatty acid profile of three beef muscles

In this study the effects of animal age combined with feeding regime and the utilisation of a beta-agonist (within a grain-fed system) on proximate composition and fatty acid profile of M. longissimus lumborum (LL), M. biceps femoris (BF), and M. semitendinosus (ST) were determined. Eighty Bonsmara steers consisting of A-age (0 permanent incisors) grain-fed (AC) and grain-fed supplemented with a beta-agonist, zilpaterol (AZ) (n = 20) grass-fed AB-age (1 - 2 permanent incisors; AB) (n = 20), and B-age (3 - 6 permanent incisors; B) (n = 20) animals were used. These four groups are representative of cattle slaughtered in South Africa and were treated as four production systems. The chemical composition of all three muscles showed that zilpaterol increased protein and reduced muscle fat contents of meat. All the muscles of both grass-fed groups (AB and B) had significantly higher content of certain desirable fatty acids (FAs) such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), omega-3 (n-3) FAs, branched chain saturated phytanic acid, and a lower omega-6/omega-3 (n-6/n-3) ratio than the two grain-fed groups (AC and AZ). The FA composition of grain-fed beef muscle was generally not influenced by the use of zilpaterol except for a tendency towards higher n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in beta-agonist produced beef. This was mainly due to higher levels of linoleic acid in LL and ST muscles and higher CLA in BF muscle of AZ animals. Phytanic acid was also higher in BF muscle of the AZ group compared to AC. Differences in animal age among grass-fed animals (AB vs. B) had minimal effect on FA composition of grass-fed beef. We can conclude that differences in FA composition of the three muscles are influenced mainly by feeding regime and less by differences in production factors within feeding regimes.Keywords: Animal age, grain feeding, grass feeding, zilpatero

He 2-104: A link between symbiotic stars and planetary nebulae

Ultraviolet, optical and infrared observations of He 2-104 are presented, and estimates for some of the physical properties of the nebular shell are made. It is argued that He 2-104 is in transition between the D-type symbiotic star and bipolar planetary nebula phases and, as such, represents a link between subclasses of these two types of objects. The model includes a binary system with a Mira variable and a hot, evolved star. Previous mass loss has resulted in the formation of a disk of gas and dust around the whole system, while the hot star has an accretion disk which produces the observed highly ionized emission line spectrum. Emission lines from cooler, lower density gas is also observed to come from the nebula. In addition, matter is flowing out of the system in a direction perpendicular to the disk with a high velocity and is impacting upon the previously-ejected red giant wind and/or the ambient interstellar medium

Field theoretic formulation of a mode-coupling equation for colloids

The only available quantitative description of the slowing down of the dynamics upon approaching the glass transition has been, so far, the mode-coupling theory, developed in the 80's by G\"otze and collaborators. The standard derivation of this theory does not result from a systematic expansion. We present a field theoretic formulation that arrives at very similar mode-coupling equation but which is based on a variational principle and on a controlled expansion in a small dimensioneless parameter. Our approach applies to such physical systems as colloids interacting via a mildly repulsive potential. It can in principle, with moderate efforts, be extended to higher orders and to multipoint correlation functions