On the Modeling of Droplet Evaporation on Superhydrophobic Surfaces

When a drop of water is placed on a rough surface, there are two possible extreme regimes of wetting: the one called Cassie-Baxter (CB) with air pockets trapped underneath the droplet and the one characterized by the homogeneous wetting of the surface, called the Wenzel (W) state. A way to investigate the transition between these two states is by means of evaporation experiments, in which the droplet starts in a CB state and, as its volume decreases, penetrates the surface's grooves, reaching a W state. Here we present a theoretical model based on the global interfacial energies for CB and W states that allows us to predict the thermodynamic wetting state of the droplet for a given volume and surface texture. We first analyze the influence of the surface geometric parameters on the droplet's final wetting state with constant volume, and show that it depends strongly on the surface texture. We then vary the volume of the droplet keeping fixed the geometric surface parameters to mimic evaporation and show that the drop experiences a transition from the CB to the W state when its volume reduces, as observed in experiments. To investigate the dependency of the wetting state on the initial state of the droplet, we implement a cellular Potts model in three dimensions. Simulations show a very good agreement with theory when the initial state is W, but it disagrees when the droplet is initialized in a CB state, in accordance with previous observations which show that the CB state is metastable in many cases. Both simulations and theoretical model can be modified to study other types of surface.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figure

Interplay between superconductivity and itinerant magnetism in underdoped Ba1−x_{1-x}Kx_xFe2_2As2_2 (x=x= 0.2) probed by the response to controlled point-like disorder

The response of superconductors to controlled introduction of point-like disorder is an important tool to probe their microscopic electronic collective behavior. In the case of iron-based superconductors (IBS), magnetic fluctuations presumably play an important role in inducing high temperature superconductivity. In some cases, these two seemingly incompatible orders coexist microscopically. Therefore, understanding how this unique coexistence state is affected by disorder can provide important information about the microscopic mechanisms involved. In one of the most studied pnictide family, hole-doped Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$ (BaK122), this coexistence occurs over a wide range of doping levels, 0.16~$\lesssim x \lesssim$~0.25. We used relativistic 2.5 MeV electrons to induce vacancy-interstitial (Frenkel) pairs that act as efficient point-like scattering centers. Upon increasing dose of irradiation, the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ decreases dramatically. In the absence of nodes in the order parameter this provides a strong support for a sign-changing $s_{\pm}$ pairing. Simultaneously, in the normal state, there is a strong violation of the Matthiessen's rule and a decrease (surprisingly, at the same rate as $T_c$) of the magnetic transition temperature $T_{sm}$, which indicates the itinerant nature of the long-range magnetic order. Comparison of the hole-doped BaK122 with electron-doped Ba(Fe$_x$Co$_{1-x}$)$_2$As$_2$ (FeCo122) with similar $T_{sm}\sim$110~K, $x=$0.02, reveals significant differences in the normal states, with no apparent Matthiessen's rule violation above $T_{sm}$ on the electron-doped side. We interpret these results in terms of the distinct impact of impurity scattering on the competing itinerant antiferromagnetic and $s_{\pm}$ superconducting orders

An infrared diagnostic for magnetism in hot stars

Magnetospheric observational proxies are used for indirect detection of magnetic fields in hot stars in the X-ray, UV, optical, and radio wavelength ranges. To determine the viability of infrared (IR) hydrogen recombination lines as a magnetic diagnostic for these stars, we have obtained low-resolution (R~1200), near-IR spectra of the known magnetic B2V stars HR 5907 and HR 7355, taken with the Ohio State Infrared Imager/Spectrometer (OSIRIS) attached to the 4.1m Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope. Both stars show definite variable emission features in IR hydrogen lines of the Brackett series, with similar properties as those found in optical spectra, including the derived location of the detected magnetospheric plasma. These features also have the added advantage of a lowered contribution of stellar flux at these wavelengths, making circumstellar material more easily detectable. IR diagnostics will be useful for the future study of magnetic hot stars, to detect and analyze lower-density environments, and to detect magnetic candidates in areas obscured from UV and optical observations, increasing the number of known magnetic stars to determine basic formation properties and investigate the origin of their magnetic fields.Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication in A&

Alterações na matéria orgânica e nas características químicas de um Podzol hidromórfico sob pastagens cultivadas no Pantanal Sul-Mato-Grossense.

Estudou-se uma cronosseqüência de introdução de pastagens cultivadas em áreas com 10 e 20 anos de implantação, tendo uma área de Cerrado intacto como referência. Coletaram-se amostras até 40cm de profundidade ao longo de dois transectos, para cálculo dos estoques de C e N e determinações químicas. Também abriram-se trincheiras e coletaram-se amostras de solo até 1m de profundidade, para estudo das variações nos conteúdos de C e N no perfil. Após 10 anos de cultivo, o solo apresentou aumento no teor de bases trocáveis e na capacidade de troca catiônica, e diminuição da acidez. Entretanto, após 20 anos, os teores de bases trocáveis e a capacidade de troca catiônica diminuíram e a acidez aumentou, indicando tendência do sistema de retornar ao equilíbrio antigo. O fósforo apresentou diminuição nos teores em função do cultivo, porém, após 20 anos de cultivo os seus teores ainda eram satisfatórios. Observaram-se redução de 28% no conteúdo de C na camada de 0-40cm na área sob pastagem de 20 anos e alteração na proporção relativa das frações húmicas. No Cerrado intacto e na pastagem de 20 anos predominou a fração ácido fúlvico; sob pastagem de 10 anos, humina. Não se observou diferença significativa nos conteúdos de nitrogênio entre as áreas estudadas.bitstream/item/37423/1/BP29.pd

13C e a Dinâmica do carbono orgânico do solo em Pastagem cultivada no Pantanal Sul-mato-grossense.

O regime cíclico de cheias do Pantanal ocasiona épocas críticas de disponibilidade de forragens nativas, base alimentar do rebanho bovino de corte, principal atividade econômica da região. Isso tem levado a alterações no sistema de produção tradicional, através da introdução de pastagens cultivadas, principalmente em "cordilheiras". A substituição da vegetação nativa por sistemas cultivados pode modificar as características físicas e químicas do solo, bem como da matéria orgânica, tanto do ponto de vista quantitativo como qualitativo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as alterações na matéria orgânica de um solo ESPODOSSOLO FERROCÁRBICO Hidromórfico decorrentes da introdução de Brachiaria decumbens, em área de cerrado não inundável na sub-região da Nhecolândia, Pantanal Mato-Grossense, através da técnica do 13C. As amostragens foram realizadas numa fazenda da sub-região da Nhecolândia (porção sul do cone aluvial do rio Taquari) MS, em áreas de pastagem cultivada com 10 e 20 anos de implantação e de vegetação nativa, constituída por cerrado, sobre solos ESPODOSSOLO FERROCÁRBICO Hidromórfico. Foram abertas trincheiras no topo do terreno de cada área, com 1,5 m de profundidade, e coletadas amostras de solo até 1 m de profundidade (0-10, 10-20 cm e a partir daí, de 20 em 20 cm). Foram feitas as seguintes determinações: carbono orgânico para todas as amostras; densidade aparente para amostras até 40 cm de profundidade; e 13C para amostras das camadas 0-10 e 10-20 cm. Foi observado que o conteúdo da matéria orgânica do solo, expresso em tC/ha, com a introdução da pastagem aumentou 55% para a camada de 0-40 cm, após 20 anos de cultivo, sendo que 29% do carbono do solo, na camada 0-20 cm, foi originário da vegetação nativa. A incorporação anual de carbono no solo pela pastagem foi estimada em 1,0 t/ha.bitstream/CPAP/55921/1/BP74.pdfFormato Eletrônico

Stellar population gradients in Seyfert 2 galaxies. Northern sample

We use high signal-to-noise ratio long-slit spectra in the 3600-4700A range of the twenty brightest northern Seyfert 2 galaxies to study the variation of the stellar population properties as a function of distance from the nucleus. In order to characterize the stellar population and other continuum sources (e.g. featureless continuum FC) we have measured equivalent widths Ws of six absorption features, four continuum colours and their radial variations, and performed spectral population synthesis as a function of distance from the nucleus. About half the sample has CaIIK and G-band W values smaller at the nucleus than at 1 kpc from it, due to a younger population and/or FC. The stellar population synthesis shows that, while at the nucleus, 75% of the galaxies present contribution > 20% of ages younger or equal than 100Myr and/or of a FC, this proportion decreases to 45% at 3 kpc. In particular, 55% of the galaxies have contribution > 10% of the 3 Myr/FC component (a degenerate component in which one cannot separate what is due to a FC or to a 3 Myr stellar population) at the nucleus, but only 25% of them have this contribution at 3 kpc. As reference, the stellar population of 10 non-Seyfert galaxies, spanning the Hubble types of the Seyfert (from S0 to Sc) was also studied. A comparison between the stellar population of the Seyferts and that of the non-Seyferts shows systematic differences: the contribution of ages younger than 1 Gyr is in most cases larger in the Seyfert galaxies than in non-Seyferts, not only at the nucleus but up to 1 kpc from it.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figures, MNRAS in pres

Water balance climatology under conditions of future climate scenarios in the Pantanal Nhecolândia, Brazil.

The objective of this work is to investigate the behavior of water conditions due to global warming analyzing future water availability for the Pantanal Sul Mato-grossense.(Embrapa Gado de Corte. Documentos, 216). Coordenador Roberto Giolo de Almeida. II SIGEE. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 01 dez. 2016

Optical and Near Infrared Study of the Cepheus E outflow, a very low excitation object

We present images and spectra of the Cepheus E (Cep E) region at both optical and infrared wavelengths. Only the brightest region of the southern lobe of the Cep E outflow reveals optical emission, suggesting that the extinction close to the outflow source plays an important r\^ole in the observed difference between the optical and IR morphologies. Cep E is a unique object since it provides a link between the spectroscopic properties of the optical Herbig-Haro (HH) objects and those of deeply embedded outflows.Comment: Accepted Astron. J., 8 files: paper, tables plus 6 figure