The structure of fluids with impurities

The influence of dilute impurities on the structure of a fluid solvent is investigated theoretically. General arguments, which do not rely on particular models, are used to derive an extension of the Ornstein-Zernike form for the solvent structure factor at small scattering vectors. It is shown that dilute impurities can influence the solvent structure only if they are composed of ions with significantly different sizes. Non-ionic impurities or ions of similar size are shown to not alter the solvent structure qualitatively. This picture is compatible with available experimental data. The derived form of the solvent structure factor is expected to be useful to infer information on the impurity-solvent interactions form measured scattering intensities

Phase behavior of ionic liquid crystals

Bulk properties of ionic liquid crystals are investigated using density functional theory. The liquid crystal molecules are represented by ellipsoidal particles with charges located in their center or at their tails. Attractive interactions are taken into account in terms of the Gay-Berne pair potential. Rich phase diagrams involving vapor, isotropic and nematic liquid, as well as smectic phases are found. The dependence of the phase behavior on various parameters such as the length of the particles and the location of charges on the particles is studied

Bulk and interfacial properties of binary hard-platelet fluids

Interfaces between demixed fluid phases of binary mixtures of hard platelets are investigated using density-functional theory. The corresponding excess free energy functional is calculated within a fundamental measure theory adapted to the Zwanzig model, in which the orientations of the particles of rectangular shape are restricted to three orthogonal orientations. Density and orientational order parameter profiles at interfaces between coexisting phases as well as the interfacial tension are determined. A density inversion, oscillatory density profiles, and a Fisher-Widom line have been found in a mixture of large thin and small thick platelets. The lowest interfacial tension corresponds to the mean bulk orientation of the platelets being parallel to the interface. For a mixture of large and small thin platelets, complete wetting of an isotropic-nematic interface by a second nematic phase is found.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Relaxation dynamics in fluids of platelike colloidal particles

The relaxation dynamics of a model fluid of platelike colloidal particles is investigated by means of a phenomenological dynamic density functional theory. The model fluid approximates the particles within the Zwanzig model of restricted orientations. The driving force for time-dependence is expressed completely by gradients of the local chemical potential which in turn is derived from a density functional -- hydrodynamic interactions are not taken into account. These approximations are expected to lead to qualitatively reliable results for low densities as those within the isotropic-nematic two-phase region. The formalism is applied to model an initially spatially homogeneous stable or metastable isotropic fluid which is perturbed by switching a two-dimensional array of Gaussian laser beams. Switching on the laser beams leads to an accumulation of colloidal particles in the beam centers. If the initial chemical potential and the laser power are large enough a preferred orientation of particles occurs breaking the symmetry of the laser potential. After switching off the laser beams again the system can follow different relaxation paths: It either relaxes back to the homogeneous isotropic state or it forms an approximately elliptical high-density core which is elongated perpendicular to the dominating orientation in order to minimize the surface free energy. For large supersaturations of the initial isotropic fluid the high-density cores of neighboring laser beams of the two-dimensional array merge into complex superstructures.Comment: low-resolution figures due to file size restrictions, revised versio

Transport and dynamical properties of inertial ratchets

In this paper we discuss the dynamics and transport properties of a massive particle, in a time dependent periodic potential of the ratchet type, with a dissipative environment. The directional currents and characteristics of the motion are studied as the specific frictional coefficient varies, finding that the stationary regime is strongly dependent on this parameter. The maximal Lyapunov exponent and the current show large fluctuations and inversions, therefore for some range of the control parameter, this inertial ratchet could originate a mass separation device. Also an exploration of the effect of a random force on the system is performed.Comment: PDF, 16 pages, 7 figure

Nonequilibrium steady states in fluids of platelike colloidal particles

Nonequilibrium steady states in an open system connecting two reservoirs of platelike colloidal particles are investigated by means of a recently proposed phenomenological dynamic density functional theory [M. Bier and R. van Roij, Phys. Rev. E 76, 021405 (2007)]. The platelike colloidal particles are approximated within the Zwanzig model of restricted orientations, which exhibits an isotropic-nematic bulk phase transition. Inhomogeneities of the local chemical potential generate a diffusion current which relaxes to a nonvanishing value if the two reservoirs coupled to the system sustain different chemical potentials. The relaxation process of initial states towards the steady state turns out to comprise two regimes: a smoothening of initial steplike structures followed by an ultimate relaxation of the slowest diffusive mode. The position of a nonequilibrium interface and the particle current of steady states depend nontrivially on the structure of the reservoirs due to the coupling between translational and orientational degrees of freedom of the fluid

Ecosystem size-induced environmental fluctuations affect the temporal dynamics of community assembly mechanisms

Understanding processes that determine community membership and abundance is important for many fields from theoretical community ecology to conservation. However, spatial community studies are often conducted only at a single timepoint despite the known influence of temporal variability on community assembly processes. Here we used a spatiotemporal study to determine how environmental fluctuation differences induced by mesocosm volumes (larger volumes were more stable) influence assembly processes of aquatic bacterial metacommunities along a press disturbance gradient. By combining path analysis and network approaches, we found mesocosm size categories had distinct relative influences of assembly process and environmental factors that determined spatiotemporal bacterial community composition, including dispersal and species sorting by conductivity. These processes depended on, but were not affected proportionately by, mesocosm size. Low fluctuation, large mesocosms primarily developed through the interplay of species sorting that became more important over time and transient priority effects as evidenced by more time-delayed associations. High fluctuation, small mesocosms had regular disruptions to species sorting and greater importance of ecological drift and dispersal limitation indicated by lower richness and higher taxa replacement. Together, these results emphasize that environmental fluctuations influence ecosystems over time and its impacts are modified by biotic properties intrinsic to ecosystem size

Feasiblity study for a 34 GHz (Ka band) gyroamplifier

The feasibility of using a gyroklystron power tube as the final amplifier in a 400 kW CW 34 GHz transmitter on the Goldstone Antenna is investigated. A conceptual design of the gyroklystron and the transmission line connecting it with the antenna feed horn is presented. The performance characteristics of the tube and transmission line are compared to the transmitter requirements for a deep space radar system. Areas of technical risk for a follow-on hardware development program for the gyroklystron amplifier and overmoded transmission line components are discussed

A random walker on a ratchet

We analyze a model for a walker moving on a ratchet potential. This model is motivated by the properties of transport of motor proteins, like kinesin and myosin. The walker consists of two feet represented as two particles coupled nonlinearly through a bistable potential. In contrast to linear coupling, the bistable potential admits a richer dynamics where the ordering of the particles can alternate during the walking. The transitions between the two stable states on the bistable potential correspond to a walking with alternating particles. We distinguish between two main walking styles: alternating and no alternating, resembling the hand-over-hand and the inchworm walking in motor proteins, respectively. When the equilibrium distance between the two particles divided by the periodicity of the ratchet is an integer, we obtain a maximum for the current, indicating optimal transport.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Separation quality of a geometric ratchet

We consider an experimentally relevant model of a geometric ratchet in which particles undergo drift and diffusive motion in a two-dimensional periodic array of obstacles, and which is used for the continuous separation of particles subject to different forces. The macroscopic drift velocity and diffusion tensor are calculated by a Monte-Carlo simulation and by a master-equation approach, using the correponding microscopic quantities and the shape of the obstacles as input. We define a measure of separation quality and investigate its dependence on the applied force and the shape of the obstacles