On the Statistical Foundations of Kaluza's Magnetohydrodynamics

The introduction of electromagnetic fields into the Boltzmann equation following a 5D general relativistic approach is considered in order to establish the transport equations for dilute charged fluids in the presence of a weak electromagnetic field. The conserved 5D stress-energy tensor is evaluated using the J\"uttner function for non-degenerate relativistic gases in local equilibrium, and the evolution equations for the local thermodynamic variables are established by means of relativistic kinetic theory. An outline of the possibilities offered by the Kaluza-type approach to MHD is also included.Comment: 10 page

Formation of Nanotwin Networks during High-Temperature Crystallization of Amorphous Germanium

Germanium is an extremely important material used for numerous functional applications in many fields of nanotechnology. In this paper, we study the crystallization of amorphous Ge using atomistic simulations of critical nano-metric nuclei at high temperatures. We find that crystallization occurs by the recurrent transfer of atoms via a diffusive process from the amorphous phase into suitably-oriented crystalline layers. We accompany our simulations with a comprehensive thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of the growth process, which explains the energy balance and the interfacial growth velocities governing grain growth. For the $\langle111\rangle$ crystallographic orientation, we find a degenerate atomic rearrangement process, with two zero-energy modes corresponding to a perfect crystalline structure and the formation of a $\Sigma3$ twin boundary. Continued growth in this direction results in the development a twin network, in contrast with all other growth orientations, where the crystal grows defect-free. This particular mechanism of crystallization from amorphous phases is also observed during solid-phase epitaxial growth of $\langle111\rangle$ semiconductor crystals, where growth is restrained to one dimension. We calculate the equivalent X-ray diffraction pattern of the obtained nanotwin networks, providing grounds for experimental validation