Stability of condensate in superconductors

According to the BCS theory the superconducting condensate develops in a single quantum mode and no Cooper pairs out of the condensate are assumed. Here we discuss a mechanism by which the successful mode inhibits condensation in neighboring modes and suppresses a creation of noncondensed Cooper pairs. It is shown that condensed and noncondensed Cooper pairs are separated by an energy gap which is smaller than the superconducting gap but large enough to prevent nucleation in all other modes and to eliminate effects of noncondensed Cooper pairs on properties of superconductors. Our result thus justifies basic assumptions of the BCS theory and confirms that the BCS condensate is stable with respect to two-particle excitations

Microbe-aliphatic hydrocarbon interactions in soil: implications for biodegradation and bioremediation.

Aliphatic hydrocarbons make up a substantial portion of organic contamination in the terrestrial environment. However, most studies have focussed on the fate and behaviour of aromatic contaminants in soil. Despite structural differences between aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, both classes of contaminants are subject to physicochemical processes, which can affect the degree of loss, sequestration and interaction with soil microflora. Given the nature of hydrocarbon contamination of soils and the importance of bioremediation strategies, understanding the fate and behaviour of aliphatic hydrocarbons is imperative, particularly microbe-contaminant interactions. Biodegradation by microbes is the key removal process of hydrocarbons in soils, which is controlled by hydrocarbon physicochemistry, environmental conditions, bioavailability and the presence of catabolically active microbes. Therefore, the aims of this review are (i) to consider the physicochemical properties of aliphatic hydrocarbons and highlight mechanisms controlling their fate and behaviour in soil; (ii) to discuss the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of aliphatic hydrocarbons in soil, with particular attention being paid to biodegradation, and (iii) to briefly consider bioremediation techniques that may be applied to remove aliphatic hydrocarbons from soil