1,602 research outputs found
Phase Behavior of Colloidal Superballs: Shape Interpolation from Spheres to Cubes
The phase behavior of hard superballs is examined using molecular dynamics
within a deformable periodic simulation box. A superball's interior is defined
by the inequality , which provides a
versatile family of convex particles () with cube-like and
octahedron-like shapes as well as concave particles () with
octahedron-like shapes. Here, we consider the convex case with a deformation
parameter q between the sphere point (q = 1) and the cube (q = 1). We find that
the asphericity plays a significant role in the extent of cubatic ordering of
both the liquid and crystal phases. Calculation of the first few virial
coefficients shows that superballs that are visually similar to cubes can have
low-density equations of state closer to spheres than to cubes. Dense liquids
of superballs display cubatic orientational order that extends over several
particle lengths only for large q. Along the ordered, high-density equation of
state, superballs with 1 < q < 3 exhibit clear evidence of a phase transition
from a crystal state to a state with reduced long-ranged orientational order
upon the reduction of density. For , long-ranged orientational order
persists until the melting transition. The width of coexistence region between
the liquid and ordered, high-density phase decreases with q up to q = 4.0. The
structures of the high-density phases are examined using certain order
parameters, distribution functions, and orientational correlation functions. We
also find that a fixed simulation cell induces artificial phase transitions
that are out of equilibrium. Current fabrication techniques allow for the
synthesis of colloidal superballs, and thus the phase behavior of such systems
can be investigated experimentally.Comment: 33 pages, 14 figure
SB9: The Ninth Catalogue of Spectroscopic Binary Orbits
The Ninth Catalogue of Spectroscopic Binary Orbits
(http://sb9.astro.ulb.ac.be) continues the series of compilations of
spectroscopic orbits carried out over the past 35 years by Batten and
collaborators. As of 2004 May 1st, the new Catalogue holds orbits for 2,386
systems. Some essential differences between this catalogue and its predecessors
are outlined and three straightforward applications are presented: (1)
Completeness assessment: period distribution of SB1s and SB2s; (2) Shortest
periods across the H-R diagram; (3) Period-eccentricity relation.Comment: Accepte for publication in A&A, 6 pages, 6 figure
Continuous Commissioning of a Central Chilled Water & Hot Water System
A central chilled water / hot water system
provides cooling / heating energy from central utility
plants to multiple customers (buildings) through
campus distribution loops. To effectively transport
the chilled water and hot water to the buildings and
control the flow, several types of bypass schemes are
used, including air handling unit coil bypass, pump
bypass, building loop bypass, distribution loop
bypass, and central utility plant decoupling. Most of
the bypass schemes are designed to provide comfort
to each building without regard for the loop pumping
requirements. Continuous Commissioning of the
building and campus loops is necessary to ensure
adequate water flow to each building and reduce the
overall pumping energy required for both the campus
loops and the building loops. Some optimization of
the plant chiller 1 boiler operation is also necessary
and beneficial. In general, through Continuous
Commissioning, chilled water and hot water loop
temperature differences will be improved, leading to
reduced chilled water and hot water flow rates. This
will save pumping energy and improve chiller/boiler
efficiancy
Unusual magnetic-field dependence of partially frustrated triangular ordering in manganese tricyanomethanide
Manganese tricyanomethanide, Mn[C(CN)3]2, consists of two interpenetrating
three-dimensional rutile-like networks. In each network, the tridentate C(CN)3-
anion gives rise to superexchange interactions between the Mn2+ ions (S=5/2)
that can be mapped onto the "row model" for partially frustrated triangular
magnets. We present heat capacity measurements that reveal a phase transition
at T_N = 1.18K, indicative of magnetic ordering. The zero-field magnetically
ordered structure was solved from neutron powder diffraction data taken between
0.04 and 1.2 K. It consists of an incommensurate spiral with a temperature
independent propagation vector Q=(2Q 0 0)=(+/-0.622 0 0), where different signs
relate to the two different networks. This corresponds to (+/-0.311 +/-0.311 0)
in a quasi-hexagonal representation. The ordered moment mu=3.3mu_B is about 2/3
of the full Mn2+ moment. From the values of T_N and Q, the exchange parameters
J/k = 0.15 K and J'/J = 0.749 are estimated. The magnetic-field dependence of
the intensity of the Bragg reflection, measured for external fields
H||Q, indicates the presence of three different magnetic phases. We associate
them with the incommensurate spiral (H < 13.5 kOe), an intermediate phase (13.5
kOe 16 kOe)
proposed for related compounds. For increasing fields, Q continuously
approaches the value 1/3, corresponding to the commensurate magnetic structure
of the fully frustrated triangular lattice. This value is reached at H_c = 19
kOe. At this point, the field-dependence reverses and Q adopts a value of 0.327
at 26 kOe, the highest field applied in the experiment. Except for H_c, the
magnetic ordering is incommensurate in all three magnetic phases of
Mn[C(CN)3]2.Comment: accepted for publication in J. Phys.: Condens. Matte
Annual variability in the seasonal cycles of chlorophyll, nutrients and zooplankton on the North-West European continental shelf
Seasonal cycles of salinity, nutrients, chlorophyll and zooplankton at 8 locations on the West-European shelf were analysed with respect to their timing and magnitude in the period 1980-1984. A late spring bloom with low chlorophyll values (2-4 mg.m-³) is observed in the Irish Sea, off the Scottish east coast and the Channel entrance. An early spring bloom and relatively high chlorophyll values (7-12 mg.m-³) are found in the southern Bight and the Skagerrak, whereas a late spring bloom with high chlorophyll concentrations (24 mg.m-³) is found along the Dutch and Belgian coast. In contrast to the other regions, the peak of the phytoplankton cycle in the German Bight (Helgoland) occurs in the summer period instead of the spring period. The peak in the yearly abundance of copepods shifts from May-June in the south to July-August in the north of the shelf. In the Irish Sea and the Channel entrance two seasonal copepods peaks are observed. The January nitrate values in Irish Sea, the southern Bight and the Skagerrak are about 20 % higher than those in the Atlantic input signal in the Channel entrance and east off Scotland. The January DIP values in these regions are comparable to those of the input signal, but the Irish Sea forms an exception here the level is increased by 10-20%. If compared with the Atlantic input signal the January values for nitrate and DIP at the Dutch and Belgium coast are about 10 and 4, and in the German Bight (Helgoland) 4 and 3 times higher, respectively. At most sites changes in the seasonal cycles of chorophyll coincide with changes in nutrient concentrations, wheras the maximum level of the seasonal signal is related to the nutrient levels
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Fabrication of an Active Electronic Device Using a Hetero-bimetallic Coordination Polymer
A nickel(II)/lead(II) coordination polymer [(NCS)Pb(H2O)LNi(NCS)]n {H2L=N,N′-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)propane-1,3-diamine} has been synthesized and characterized. The band gap (3.18 eV) calculated from Tauc’s plot suggests the semiconducting nature of the complex. The material has a photosensitivity of 5.76, indicating its applicability in the fabrication of photosensitive devices. The complex has been successfully applied in a technologically challenging thin-film photosensitive Schottky device
SB9: The ninth catalogue of spectroscopic binary orbits
The Ninth Catalogue of Spectroscopic Binary Orbits (http://sb9.astro.ulb.ac.be) continues the series of compilations of spectroscopic orbits carried out over the past 35 years by Batten and collaborators. As of 2004 May 1st, the new Catalogue holds orbits for 2386 systems. Some essential differences between this catalogue and its predecessors are out-lined and three straightforward applications are presented: (1) completeness assessment: period distribution of SB1s and SB2s; (2) shortest periods across the H-R diagram; (3) period-eccentricity relation.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica
The HgMn Binary Star Phi Herculis: Detection and Properties of the Secondary and Revision of the Elemental Abundances of the Primary
Observations of the Mercury-Manganese star Phi Herculis with the Navy
Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI) conclusively reveal the previously
unseen companion in this single-lined binary system. The NPOI data were used to
predict a spectral type of A8V for the secondary star Phi Her B. This
prediction was subsequently confirmed by spectroscopic observations obtained at
the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. Phi Her B is rotating at 50 +/-3
km/sec, in contrast to the 8 km/sec lines of Phi Her A. Recognizing the lines
from the secondary permits one to separate them from those of the primary. The
abundance analysis of Phi Her A shows an abundance pattern similar to those of
other HgMn stars with Al being very underabundant and Sc, Cr, Mn, Zn, Ga, Sr,
Y, Zr, Ba, Ce, and Hg being very overabundant.Comment: Accepted to ApJ, 45 pages, 11 figure
Electronic Structure of Transition-Metal Dicyanamides Me[N(CN)] (Me = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu)
The electronic structure of Me[N(CN)] (Me=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu)
molecular magnets has been investigated using x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES)
and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as theoretical
density-functional-based methods. Both theory and experiments show that the top
of the valence band is dominated by Me 3d bands, while a strong hybridization
between C 2p and N 2p states determines the valence band electronic structure
away from the top. The 2p contributions from non-equivalent nitrogen sites have
been identified using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering spectroscopy with the
excitation energy tuned near the N 1s threshold. The binding energy of the Me
3d bands and the hybridization between N 2p and Me 3d states both increase in
going across the row from Me = Mn to Me = Cu. Localization of the Cu 3d states
also leads to weak screening of Cu 2p and 3s states, which accounts for shifts
in the core 2p and 3s spectra of the transition metal atoms. Calculations
indicate that the ground-state magnetic ordering, which varies across the
series is largely dependent on the occupation of the metal 3d shell and that
structural differences in the superexchange pathways for different compounds
play a secondary role.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, 2 table
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