A model for a non-minimally coupled scalar field interacting with dark matter

In this work we investigate the evolution of a Universe consisted of a scalar field, a dark matter field and non-interacting baryonic matter and radiation. The scalar field, which plays the role of dark energy, is non-minimally coupled to space-time curvature, and drives the Universe to a present accelerated expansion. The non-relativistic dark matter field interacts directly with the dark energy and has a pressure which follows from a thermodynamic theory. We show that this model can reproduce the expected behavior of the density parameters, deceleration parameter and luminosity distance.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures. To appear in Brazilian Journal of Physic

Integrated controls and health monitoring for chemical transfer propulsion

NASA is reviewing various propulsion technologies for exploring space. The requirements are examined for one enabling propulsion technology: Integrated Controls and Health Monitoring (ICHM) for Chemical Transfer Propulsion (CTP). Functional requirements for a CTP-ICHM system are proposed from tentative mission scenarios, vehicle configurations, CTP specifications, and technical feasibility. These CTP-ICHM requirements go beyond traditional reliable operation and emergency shutoff control to include: (1) enhanced mission flexibility; (2) continuously variable throttling; (3) tank-head start control; (4) automated prestart and post-shutoff engine check; (5) monitoring of space exposure degradation; and (6) product evolution flexibility. Technology development plans are also discussed

A candidate architecture for monitoring and control in chemical transfer propulsion systems

To support the exploration of space, a reusable space-based rocket engine must be developed. This engine must sustain superior operability and man-rated levels of reliability over several missions with limited maintenance or inspection between flights. To meet these requirements, an expander cycle engine incorporating a highly capable control and health monitoring system is planned. Alternatives for the functional organization and the implementation architecture of the engine's monitoring and control system are discussed. On the basis of this discussion, a decentralized architecture is favored. The trade-offs between several implementation options are outlined and future work is proposed

Orthorhombic Phase of Crystalline Polyethylene: A Monte Carlo Study

In this paper we present a classical Monte Carlo simulation of the orthorhombic phase of crystalline polyethylene, using an explicit atom force field with unconstrained bond lengths and angles and periodic boundary conditions. We used a recently developed algorithm which apart from standard Metropolis local moves employs also global moves consisting of displacements of the center of mass of the whole chains in all three spatial directions as well as rotations of the chains around an axis parallel to the crystallographic c-direction. Our simulations are performed in the NpT ensemble, at zero pressure, and extend over the whole range of temperatures in which the orthorhombic phase is experimentally known to be stable (10 - 450 K). In order to investigate the finite-size effects in this extremely anisotropic crystal, we used different system sizes and different chain lengths, ranging from C_12 to C_96 chains, the total number of atoms in the super-cell being between 432 and 3456. We show here the results for structural parameters, such as the orthorhombic cell parameters a,b,c, and the setting angle of the chains, as well as internal parameters of the chains, such as the bond lengths and angles. Among thermodynamic quantities, we present results for thermal expansion coefficients, elastic constants and specific heat. We discuss the temperature dependence of the measured quantities as well as the related finite-size effects. In case of lattice parameters and thermal expansion coefficients, we compare our results to those obtained from other theoretical approaches as well as to some available experimental data. We also suggest some possible ways of extending this study.Comment: 27 pages, RevTex, 24 figures, submitted to Journal of Chemical Physic

Do crossover functions depend on the shape of the interaction profile?

We examine the crossover from classical to non-classical critical behaviour in two-dimensional systems with a one-component order parameter. Since the degree of universality of the corresponding crossover functions is still subject to debate, we try to induce non-universal effects by adding interactions with a second length scale. Although the crossover functions clearly depend on the range of the interactions, they turn out to be remarkably robust against further variation of the interaction profile. In particular, we find that the earlier observed non-monotonic crossover of the effective susceptibility exponent occurs for several qualitatively different shapes of this profile.Comment: 7 pages + 4 PostScript figures. Accepted for publication in Europhysics Letters. Also available as PDF file at http://www.cond-mat.physik.uni-mainz.de/~luijten/erikpubs.htm

Polymer Brushes in Cylindrical Pores: Simulation versus Scaling Theory

The structure of flexible polymers endgrafted in cylindrical pores of diameter D is studied as a function of chain length N and grafting density \sigma, assuming good solvent conditions. A phenomenological scaling theory, describing the variation of the linear dimensions of the chains with \sigma, is developed and tested by Molecular Dynamics simulations of a bead-spring model.Comment: 35 pages, 38 figure

Orientational correlations and the effect of spatial gradients in the equilibrium steady state of hard rods in 2D : A study using deposition-evaporation kinetics

Deposition and evaporation of infinitely thin hard rods (needles) is studied in two dimensions using Monte Carlo simulations. The ratio of deposition to evaporation rates controls the equilibrium density of rods, and increasing it leads to an entropy-driven transition to a nematic phase in which both static and dynamical orientational correlation functions decay as power laws, with exponents varying continuously with deposition-evaporation rate ratio. Our results for the onset of the power-law phase agree with those for a conserved number of rods. At a coarse-grained level, the dynamics of the non-conserved angle field is described by the Edwards-Wilkinson equation. Predicted relations between the exponents of the quadrupolar and octupolar correlation functions are borne out by our numerical results. We explore the effects of spatial inhomogeneity in the deposition-evaporation ratio by simulations, entropy-based arguments and a study of the new terms introduced in the free energy. The primary effect is that needles tend to align along the local spatial gradient of the ratio. A uniform gradient thus induces a uniformly aligned state, as does a gradient which varies randomly in magnitude and sign, but acts only in one direction. Random variations of deposition-evaporation rates in both directions induce frustration, resulting in a state with glassy characteristics.Comment: modified version, Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Pion-less effective field theory for atomic nuclei and lattice nuclei

We compute the medium-mass nuclei $^{16}$O and $^{40}$Ca using pionless effective field theory (EFT) at next-to-leading order (NLO). The low-energy coefficients of the EFT Hamiltonian are adjusted to experimantal data for nuclei with mass numbers $A=2$ and $3$, or alternatively to results from lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at an unphysical pion mass of 806 MeV. The EFT is implemented through a discrete variable representation in the harmonic oscillator basis. This approach ensures rapid convergence with respect to the size of the model space and facilitates the computation of medium-mass nuclei. At NLO the nuclei $^{16}$O and $^{40}$Ca are bound with respect to decay into alpha particles. Binding energies per nucleon are 9-10 MeV and 30-40 MeV at pion masses of 140 MeV and 806 MeV, respectively.Comment: 26 page

Kinetics of Phase Separation in Thin Films: Simulations for the Diffusive Case

We study the diffusion-driven kinetics of phase separation of a symmetric binary mixture (AB), confined in a thin-film geometry between two parallel walls. We consider cases where (a) both walls preferentially attract the same component (A), and (b) one wall attracts A and the other wall attracts B (with the same strength). We focus on the interplay of phase separation and wetting at the walls, which is referred to as {\it surface-directed spinodal decomposition} (SDSD). The formation of SDSD waves at the two surfaces, with wave-vectors oriented perpendicular to them, often results in a metastable layered state (also referred to as ``stratified morphology''). This state is reminiscent of the situation where the thin film is still in the one-phase region but the surfaces are completely wet, and hence coated with thick wetting layers. This metastable state decays by spinodal fluctuations and crosses over to an asymptotic growth regime characterized by the lateral coarsening of pancake-like domains. These pancakes may or may not be coated by precursors of wetting layers. We use Langevin simulations to study this crossover and the growth kinetics in the asymptotic coarsening regime.Comment: 39 pages, 19 figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.