34,059 research outputs found
Ionic profiles close to dielectric discontinuities: Specific ion-surface interactions
We study, by incorporating short-range ion-surface interactions, ionic
profiles of electrolyte solutions close to a non-charged interface between two
dielectric media. In order to account for important correlation effects close
to the interface, the ionic profiles are calculated beyond mean-field theory,
using the loop expansion of the free energy. We show how it is possible to
overcome the well-known deficiency of the regular loop expansion close to the
dielectric jump, and treat the non-linear boundary conditions within the
framework of field theory. The ionic profiles are obtained analytically to
one-loop order in the free energy, and their dependence on different
ion-surface interactions is investigated. The Gibbs adsorption isotherm, as
well as the ionic profiles are used to calculate the surface tension, in
agreement with the reverse Hofmeister series. Consequently, from the
experimentally-measured surface tension, one can extract a single adhesivity
parameter, which can be used within our model to quantitatively predict hard to
measure ionic profiles.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure
Structure of a liquid crystalline fluid around a macroparticle: Density functional theory study
The structure of a molecular liquid, in both the nematic liquid crystalline
and isotropic phases, around a cylindrical macroparticle, is studied using
density functional theory. In the nematic phase the structure of the fluid is
highly anisotropic with respect to the director, in agreement with results from
simulation and phenomenological theories. On going into the isotropic phase the
structure becomes rotationally invariant around the macroparticle with an
oriented layer at the surface.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figues. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Magnetic Instability in Strongly Correlated Superconductors
Recently a new phenomenological Hamiltonian has been proposed to describe the
superconducting cuprates. This so-called Gossamer Hamiltonian is an apt model
for a superconductor with strong on-site Coulomb repulsion betweenthe
electrons. It is shown that as one approaches half-filling the Gossamer
superconductor, and hence the superconducting state, with strong repulsion is
unstable toward an antiferromagnetic insulator an can undergo a quantum phase
transition to such an insulator if one increases the on-site Coulomb repulsion
Two-Stage Rotational Disordering of a Molecular Crystal Surface: C60
We propose a two-stage mechanism for the rotational surface disordering phase
transition of a molecular crystal, as realized in C fullerite. Our
study, based on Monte Carlo simulations, uncovers the existence of a new
intermediate regime, between a low temperature ordered state,
and a high temperature disordered phase. In the intermediate
regime there is partial disorder, strongest for a subset of particularly
frustrated surface molecules. These concepts and calculations provide a
coherent understanding of experimental observations, with possible extension to
other molecular crystal surfaces.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Effect of mixing and spatial dimension on the glass transition
We study the influence of composition changes on the glass transition of
binary hard disc and hard sphere mixtures in the framework of mode coupling
theory. We derive a general expression for the slope of a glass transition
line. Applied to the binary mixture in the low concentration limits, this new
method allows a fast prediction of some properties of the glass transition
lines. The glass transition diagram we find for binary hard discs strongly
resembles the random close packing diagram. Compared to 3D from previous
studies, the extension of the glass regime due to mixing is much more
pronounced in 2D where plasticization only sets in at larger size disparities.
For small size disparities we find a stabilization of the glass phase quadratic
in the deviation of the size disparity from unity.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, Phys. Rev. E (in print
Towards a working density-functional theory for polymers: First-principles determination of the polyethylene crystal structure
Equilibrium polyethylene crystal structure, cohesive energy, and elastic
constants are calculated by density-functional theory applied with a recently
proposed density functional (vdW-DF) for general geometries [Phys. Rev. Lett.
92, 246401 (2004)] and with a pseudopotential-planewave scheme. The vdW-DF with
its account for the long-ranged van der Waals interactions gives not only a
stabilized crystal structure but also values of the calculated lattice
parameters and elastic constants in quite good agreement with experimental
data, giving promise for successful application to a wider range of polymers.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Ab initio investigation of intermolecular interactions in solid benzene
A computational strategy for the evaluation of the crystal lattice constants
and cohesive energy of the weakly bound molecular solids is proposed. The
strategy is based on the high level ab initio coupled-cluster determination of
the pairwise additive contribution to the interaction energy. The
zero-point-energy correction and non-additive contributions to the interaction
energy are treated using density functional methods. The experimental crystal
lattice constants of the solid benzene are reproduced, and the value of 480
meV/molecule is calculated for its cohesive energy
The WAY theorem and the quantum resource theory of asymmetry
The WAY theorem establishes an important constraint that conservation laws
impose on quantum mechanical measurements. We formulate the WAY theorem in the
broader context of resource theories, where one is constrained to a subset of
quantum mechanical operations described by a symmetry group. Establishing
connections with the theory of quantum state discrimination we obtain optimal
unitaries describing the measurement of arbitrary observables, explain how
prior information can permit perfect measurements that circumvent the WAY
constraint, and provide a framework that establishes a natural ordering on
measurement apparatuses through a decomposition into asymmetry and charge
subsystems.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure
Uncertain inference using interval probability theory
AbstractThe use of interval probability theory (IPT) for uncertain inference is demonstrated. The general inference rule adopted is the theorem of total probability. This enables information on the relevance of the elements of the power set of evidence to be combined with the measures of the support for and dependence between each item of evidence. The approach recognises the importance of the structure of inference problems and yet is an open world theory in which the domain need not be completely specified in order to obtain meaningful inferences. IPT is used to manipulate conflicting evidence and to merge evidence on the dependability of a process with the data handled by that process. Uncertain inference using IPT is compared with Bayesian inference
Pathogen disgust sensitivity changes according to the perceived harshness of the environment
Much research has explored behaviours that are linked with disgust sensitivity. Few studies, however, have been devoted to understanding how fixed or variable disgust sensitivity is. We therefore aimed to examine whether disgust sensitivity can change with the environment by repeatedly testing students whose environment was not changing as well as student cadets undergoing intensive training at an army camp. We found that an increase in the perceived harshness of the environment was associated with a decrease in pathogen disgust sensitivity. Our results support the idea that disgust sensitivity is malleable depending on the environment. More specifically, we propose that in a harsh environment, where survival may be more difficult, pathogen disgust sensitivity may decrease to allow the consumption of available resources.PostprintPeer reviewe
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