20,675 research outputs found
Generalized-ensemble Monte carlo method for systems with rough energy landscape
We present a novel Monte Carlo algorithm which enhances equilibrization of
low-temperature simulations and allows sampling of configurations over a large
range of energies. The method is based on a non-Boltzmann probability weight
factor and is another version of the so-called generalized-ensemble techniques.
The effectiveness of the new approach is demonstrated for the system of a small
peptide, an example of the frustrated system with a rugged energy landscape.Comment: Latex; ps-files include
Collective chemotactic dynamics in the presence of self-generated fluid flows
In micro-swimmer suspensions locomotion necessarily generates fluid motion,
and it is known that such flows can lead to collective behavior from unbiased
swimming. We examine the complementary problem of how chemotaxis is affected by
self-generated flows. A kinetic theory coupling run-and-tumble chemotaxis to
the flows of collective swimming shows separate branches of chemotactic and
hydrodynamic instabilities for isotropic suspensions, the first driving
aggregation, the second producing increased orientational order in suspensions
of "pushers" and maximal disorder in suspensions of "pullers". Nonlinear
simulations show that hydrodynamic interactions can limit and modify
chemotactically-driven aggregation dynamics. In puller suspensions the dynamics
form aggregates that are mutually-repelling due to the non-trivial flows. In
pusher suspensions chemotactic aggregation can lead to destabilizing flows that
fragment the regions of aggregation.Comment: 4 page
Run-and-tumble particles with hydrodynamics: sedimentation, trapping and upstream swimming
We simulate by lattice Boltzmann the nonequilibrium steady states of
run-and-tumble particles (inspired by a minimal model of bacteria), interacting
by far-field hydrodynamics, subject to confinement. Under gravity, hydrodynamic
interactions barely perturb the steady state found without them, but for
particles in a harmonic trap such a state is quite changed if the run length is
larger than the confinement length: a self-assembled pump is formed. Particles
likewise confined in a narrow channel show a generic upstream flux in
Poiseuille flow: chiral swimming is not required
Traveling-wave deceleration of SrF molecules
We report on the production, deceleration and detection of a SrF molecular
beam. The molecules are captured from a supersonic expansion and are
decelerated in the X state. We demonstrate the removal
of up to 40% of the kinetic energy with a 2 meter long modular traveling-wave
decelerator. Our results demonstrate a crucial step towards the preparation of
ultracold gases of heavy diatomic molecules for precision spectroscopy
The whole and its parts : why and how to disentangle plant communities and synusiae in vegetation classification
Most plant communities consist of different structural and ecological subsets, ranging from cryptogams to different tree layers. The completeness and approach with which these subsets are sampled have implications for vegetation classification. Non‐vascular plants are often omitted or sometimes treated separately, referring to their assemblages as “synusiae” (e.g. epiphytes on bark, saxicolous species on rocks). The distinction of complete plant communities (phytocoenoses or holocoenoses) from their parts (synusiae or merocoenoses) is crucial to avoid logical problems and inconsistencies of the resulting classification systems. We here describe theoretical differences between the phytocoenosis as a whole and its parts, and outline consequences of this distinction for practise and terminology in vegetation classification. To implement a clearer separation, we call for modifications of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature and the EuroVegChecklist. We believe that these steps will make vegetation classification systems better applicable and raise the recognition of the importance of non‐vascular plants in the vegetation as well as their interplay with vascular plants
Multicanonical Recursions
The problem of calculating multicanonical parameters recursively is
discussed. I describe in detail a computational implementation which has worked
reasonably well in practice.Comment: 23 pages, latex, 4 postscript figures included (uuencoded
Z-compressed .tar file created by uufiles), figure file corrected
Orion Pad Abort 1 Crew Module Mass Properties Test Approach and Results
The Flight Loads Laboratory at the Dryden Flight Research Center conducted tests to measure the inertia properties of the Orion Pad Abort 1 (PA-1) Crew Module (CM). These measurements were taken to validate analytical predictions of the inertia properties of the vehicle and assist in reducing uncertainty for derived aero performance coefficients to be calculated post-launch. The first test conducted was to determine the Ixx of the Crew Module. This test approach used a modified torsion pendulum test setup that allowed the suspended Crew Module to rotate about the x axis. The second test used a different approach to measure both the Iyy and Izz properties. This test used a Knife Edge fixture that allowed small rotation of the Crew Module about the y and z axes. Discussions of the techniques and equations used to accomplish each test are presented. Comparisons with the predicted values used for the final flight calculations are made. Problem areas, with explanations and recommendations where available, are addressed. Finally, an evaluation of the value and success of these techniques to measure the moments of inertia of the Crew Module is provided
Evidence for the double degeneracy of the ground-state in the 3D spin glass
A bivariate version of the multicanonical Monte Carlo method and its
application to the simulation of the three-dimensional Ising spin glass
are described. We found the autocorrelation time associated with this
particular multicanonical method was approximately proportional to the system
volume, which is a great improvement over previous methods applied to
spin-glass simulations. The principal advantage of this version of the
multicanonical method, however, was its ability to access information
predictive of low-temperature behavior. At low temperatures we found results on
the three-dimensional Ising spin glass consistent with a double
degeneracy of the ground-state: the order-parameter distribution function
converged to two delta-function peaks and the Binder parameter
approached unity as the system size was increased. With the same density of
states used to compute these properties at low temperature, we found their
behavior changing as the temperature is increased towards the spin glass
transition temperature. Just below this temperature, the behavior is consistent
with the standard mean-field picture that has an infinitely degenerate ground
state. Using the concept of zero-energy droplets, we also discuss the structure
of the ground-state degeneracy. The size distribution of the zero-energy
droplets was found to produce the two delta-function peaks of .Comment: 33 pages with 31 eps figures include
Are Simple Real Pole Solutions Physical?
We consider exact solutions generated by the inverse scattering technique,
also known as the soliton transformation. In particular, we study the class of
simple real pole solutions. For quite some time, those solutions have been
considered interesting as models of cosmological shock waves. A coordinate
singularity on the wave fronts was removed by a transformation which induces a
null fluid with negative energy density on the wave front. This null fluid is
usually seen as another coordinate artifact, since there seems to be a general
belief that that this kind of solution can be seen as the real pole limit of
the smooth solution generated with a pair of complex conjugate poles in the
transformation. We perform this limit explicitly, and find that the belief is
unfounded: two coalescing complex conjugate poles cannot yield a solution with
one real pole. Instead, the two complex conjugate poles go to a different
limit, what we call a ``pole on a pole''. The limiting procedure is not unique;
it is sensitive to how quickly some parameters approach zero. We also show that
there exists no improved coordinate transformation which would remove the
negative energy density. We conclude that negative energy is an intrinsic part
of this class of solutions.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure
Hydrodynamic attraction of swimming microorganisms by surfaces
Cells swimming in confined environments are attracted by surfaces. We measure
the steady-state distribution of smooth-swimming bacteria (Escherichia coli)
between two glass plates. In agreement with earlier studies, we find a strong
increase of the cell concentration at the boundaries. We demonstrate
theoretically that hydrodynamic interactions of the swimming cells with solid
surfaces lead to their re-orientation in the direction parallel to the
surfaces, as well as their attraction by the closest wall. A model is derived
for the steady-state distribution of swimming cells, which compares favorably
with our measurements. We exploit our data to estimate the flagellar propulsive
force in swimming E. coli
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