The formation of pitted features on the international simple glass during dynamic experiments at alkaline pH

The forward rate of dissolution of the International Simple Glass (ISG) was determined under alkaline conditions at 40 °C using the Single Pass Flow Through (SPFT) method. Forward rates were consistent with those obtained in the literature for this glass composition. The formation of altered gel layers and surface pits was observed on the surface of glass particles, especially at the very highest pH values, despite the application of high flow rates to prevent the build-up of solubility limiting phases. These features could be attributed to preferential localized dissolution at sites with a higher alkali concentration or from a separate, less durable, vitreous phase. These results may indicate that surface pit and altered gel formation occurs under the forward rate of dissolution as imposed by the SPFT method, particularly for simplified borosilicate glass materials

Contacts and Edge State Equilibration in the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

We develop a simple kinetic equation description of edge state dynamics in the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE), which allows us to examine in detail equilibration processes between multiple edge modes. As in the integer quantum Hall effect (IQHE), inter-mode equilibration is a prerequisite for quantization of the Hall conductance. Two sources for such equilibration are considered: Edge impurity scattering and equilibration by the electrical contacts. Several specific models for electrical contacts are introduced and analyzed. For FQHE states in which edge channels move in both directions, such as $\nu=2/3$, these models for the electrical contacts {\it do not} equilibrate the edge modes, resulting in a non-quantized Hall conductance, even in a four-terminal measurement. Inclusion of edge-impurity scattering, which {\it directly} transfers charge between channels, is shown to restore the four-terminal quantized conductance. For specific filling factors, notably $\nu =4/5$ and $\nu=4/3$, the equilibration length due to impurity scattering diverges in the zero temperature limit, which should lead to a breakdown of quantization for small samples at low temperatures. Experimental implications are discussed.Comment: 14 pages REVTeX, 6 postscript figures (uuencoded and compressed

Quantized Thermal Transport in the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

We analyze thermal transport in the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE), employing a Luttinger liquid model of edge states. Impurity mediated inter-channel scattering events are incorporated in a hydrodynamic description of heat and charge transport. The thermal Hall conductance, $K_H$, is shown to provide a new and universal characterization of the FQHE state, and reveals non-trivial information about the edge structure. The Lorenz ratio between thermal and electrical Hall conductances {\it violates} the free-electron Wiedemann-Franz law, and for some fractional states is predicted to be {\it negative}. We argue that thermal transport may provide a unique way to detect the presence of the elusive upstream propagating modes, predicted for fractions such as $\nu=2/3$ and $\nu=3/5$.Comment: 6 pages REVTeX, 2 postscript figures (uuencoded and compressed

Soluble `Supersymmetric' Quantum XY Model

We present a `supersymmetric' modification of the $d$-dimensional quantum rotor model whose ground state is exactly soluble. The model undergoes a vortex-binding transition from insulator to metal as the rotor coupling is varied. The Hamiltonian contains three-site terms which are relevant: they change the universality class of the transition from that of the ($d+1$)--- to the $d$-dimensional classical XY model. The metallic phase has algebraic ODLRO but the superfluid density is identically zero. Variational wave functions for single-particle and collective excitations are presented.Comment: 12 pages, REVTEX 3.0, IUCM93-00

Resonant Tunneling Between Quantum Hall Edge States

Resonant tunneling between fractional quantum Hall edge states is studied in the Luttinger liquid picture. For the Laughlin parent states, the resonance line shape is a universal function whose width scales to zero at zero temperature. Extensive quantum Monte Carlo simulations are presented for $\nu = 1/3$ which confirm this picture and provide a parameter-free prediction for the line shape.Comment: 14 pages , revtex , IUCM93-00

Transport of Surface States in the Bulk Quantum Hall Effect

The two-dimensional surface of a coupled multilayer integer quantum Hall system consists of an anisotropic chiral metal. This unusual metal is characterized by ballistic motion transverse and diffusive motion parallel (\hat{z}) to the magnetic field. Employing a network model, we calculate numerically the phase coherent two-terminal z-axis conductance and its mesoscopic fluctuations. Quasi-1d localization effects are evident in the limit of many layers. We consider the role of inelastic de-phasing effects in modifying the transport of the chiral surface sheath, discussing their importance in the recent experiments of Druist et al.Comment: 9 pages LaTex, 9 postscript figures included using eps

Synthesis of simulant ‘lava-like’ fuel containing materials (LFCM) from the Chernobyl reactor Unit 4 meltdown

A preliminary investigation of the synthesis and characterization of simulant ‘lava-like’ fuel containing materials (LFCM), as low activity analogues of LFCM produced by the melt down of Chernobyl Unit 4. Simulant materials were synthesized by melting batched reagents in a tube furnace at 1500 °C, under reducing atmosphere with controlled cooling to room temperature, to simulate conditions of lava formation. Characterization using XRD and SEM-EDX identified several crystalline phases including ZrO2, UOx and solid solutions with spherical metal particles encapsulated by a glassy matrix. The UOX and ZrO2 phase morphology was very diverse comprising of fused crystals to dendritic crystallites from the crystallization of uranium initially dissolved in the glass phase. This project aims to develop simulant LFCM to assess the durability of Chernobyl lavas and to determine the rate of dissolution, behavior and evolution of these materials under shelter conditions

Weyl group multiple Dirichlet series constructed from quadratic characters

We construct multiple Dirichlet series in several complex variables whose coefficients involve quadratic residue symbols. The series are shown to have an analytic continuation and satisfy a certain group of functional equations. These are the first examples of an infinite collection of unstable Weyl group multiple Dirichlet series in greater than two variables.Comment: incorporated referee's comment

SUE: A Special Purpose Computer for Spin Glass Models

The use of last generation Programmable Electronic Components makes possible the construction of very powerful and competitive special purpose computers. We have designed, constructed and tested a three-dimensional Spin Glass model dedicated machine, which consists of 12 identical boards. Each single board can simulate 8 different systems, updating all the systems at every clock cycle. The update speed of the whole machine is 217ps/spin with 48 MHz clock frequency. A device devoted to fast random number generation has been developed and included in every board. The on-board reprogrammability permits us to change easily the lattice size, or even the update algorithm or the action. We present here a detailed description of the machine and the first runs using the Heat Bath algorithm.Comment: Submitted to Computer Physics Communications, 19 pages, 5 figures, references adde

Phase diagram of d=4 Ising Model with two couplings

We study the phase diagram of the four dimensional Ising model with first and second neighbour couplings, specially in the antiferromagnetic region, by using Mean Field and Monte Carlo methods. From the later, all the transition lines seem to be first order except that between ferromagnetic and disordered phases in a region including the first-neighbour Ising transition point.Comment: Latex file and 4 figures (epsfig required). It replaces the preprint entitled "Non-classical exponents in the d=4 Ising Model with two couplings". New analysis with more statistical data is performed. Final version to appear in Phys. Lett.