Reply to Comments of Steuernagel on the Afshar's Experiment

We respond to criticism of our paper "Paradox in Wave-Paricle Duality for Non-Perturbative Measurements". We disagree with Steuernagel's derivation of the visibility of the Afshar experiment. To calculate the fringe visibility, Steuernagel utilizes two different experimental situations, i.e. the wire grid in the pattern minima and in the pattern maxima. In our assessment, this proceduere cannot lead to the correct result for the complementarity properties of wave-particle in one particular experimental set-up

Organic chemistry on Titan

Observations of nonequilibrium phenomena on the Saturn satellite Titan indicate the occurrence of organic chemical evolution. Greenhouse and thermal inversion models of Titan's atmosphere provide environmental constraints within which various pathways for organic chemical synthesis are assessed. Experimental results and theoretical modeling studies suggest that the organic chemistry of the satellite may be dominated by two atmospheric processes: energetic-particle bombardment and photochemistry. Reactions initiated in various levels of the atmosphere by cosmic ray, Saturn wind, and solar wind particle bombardment of a CH4 - N2 atmospheric mixture can account for the C2-hydrocarbons, the UV-visible-absorbing stratospheric haze, and the reddish color of the satellite. Photochemical reactions of CH4 can also account for the presence of C2-hydrocarbons. In the lower Titan atmosphere, photochemical processes will be important if surface temperatures are sufficiently high for gaseous NH3 to exist. Hot H-atom reactions initiated by photo-dissociation of NH3 can couple the chemical reactions of NH3 and CH4 and produce organic matter

Proceedings from the ECFIN Workshop "The budgetary implications of structural reforms" - Brussels, 2 December 2005

Most of the reforms discussed within the framework of the Lisbon strategy will benefit public finances in the long term. However, in the short-term, there could a trade-off between some structural reforms and budgetary discipline. This possible tension between reforms and fiscal discipline was identified by academic economists as a possible drawback of the Stability and Growth Pact since its inception.budgetary discipline, Stability and Growth Pact, Lisbon strategy, fiscal discipline, Deroose, Flores, Turrini

Graphene to Graphane: A Theoretical Study

Graphane is a two-dimensional system consisting of a single layer of fully saturated (sp$^3$ hybridization) carbon atoms. In an ideal graphane structure C-H bonds exhibit an alternating pattern (up and down with relation to the plane defined by the carbon atoms). In this work we have investigated using \textit{ab initio} and reactive molecular dynamics simulations the role of H frustration (breaking the H atoms up and down alternating pattern) in graphane-like structures. Our results show that significant percentage of uncorrelated H frustrated domains are formed in the early stages of the hydrogenation process leading to membrane shrinkage and extensive membrane corrugations. These results also suggest that large domains of perfect graphane-like structures are unlikely to be formed, H frustrated domains are always present.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure