55 research outputs found
Acoustic resonances in microfluidic chips: full-image micro-PIV experiments and numerical simulations
We show that full-image micro-PIV analysis in combination with images of
transient particle motion is a powerful tool for experimental studies of
acoustic radiation forces and acoustic streaming in microfluidic chambers under
piezo-actuation in the MHz range. The measured steady-state motion of both
large 5 um and small 1 um particles can be understood in terms of the acoustic
eigenmodes or standing ultra-sound waves in the given experimental
microsystems. This interpretation is supported by numerical solutions of the
corresponding acoustic wave equation.Comment: RevTex, 10 pages, 9 eps figures; NOTE first authors changed his name
to S. Melker Hagsater in the published versio
Statistical properties of power-law random banded unitary matrices in the delocalization-localization transition regime
Power-law random banded unitary matrices (PRBUM), whose matrix elements decay
in a power-law fashion, were recently proposed to model the critical statistics
of the Floquet eigenstates of periodically driven quantum systems. In this
work, we numerically study in detail the statistical properties of PRBUM
ensembles in the delocalization-localization transition regime. In particular,
implications of the delocalization-localization transition for the fractal
dimension of the eigenvectors, for the distribution function of the eigenvector
components, and for the nearest neighbor spacing statistics of the eigenphases
are examined. On the one hand, our results further indicate that a PRBUM
ensemble can serve as a unitary analog of the power-law random Hermitian matrix
model for Anderson transition. On the other hand, some statistical features
unseen before are found from PRBUM. For example, the dependence of the fractal
dimension of the eigenvectors of PRBUM upon one ensemble parameter displays
features that are quite different from that for the power-law random Hermitian
matrix model. Furthermore, in the time-reversal symmetric case the nearest
neighbor spacing distribution of PRBUM eigenphases is found to obey a
semi-Poisson distribution for a broad range, but display an anomalous level
repulsion in the absence of time-reversal symmetry.Comment: 10 pages + 13 fig
Adiabatic population transfer via multiple intermediate states
This paper discusses a generalization of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage
(STIRAP) in which the single intermediate state is replaced by intermediate
states. Each of these states is connected to the initial state \state{i} with
a coupling proportional to the pump pulse and to the final state \state{f}
with a coupling proportional to the Stokes pulse, thus forming a parallel
multi- system. It is shown that the dark (trapped) state exists only
when the ratio between each pump coupling and the respective Stokes coupling is
the same for all intermediate states. We derive the conditions for existence of
a more general adiabatic-transfer state which includes transient contributions
from the intermediate states but still transfers the population from state
\state{i} to state \state{f} in the adiabatic limit. We present various
numerical examples for success and failure of multi- STIRAP which
illustrate the analytic predictions. Our results suggest that in the general
case of arbitrary couplings, it is most appropriate to tune the pump and Stokes
lasers either just below or just above all intermediate states.Comment: 14 pages, two-column revtex style, 10 figure
Chaos assisted tunnelling with cold atoms
In the context of quantum chaos, both theory and numerical analysis predict
large fluctuations of the tunnelling transition probabilities when irregular
dynamics is present at the classical level. We consider here the
non-dissipative quantum evolution of cold atoms trapped in a time-dependent
modulated periodic potential generated by two laser beams. We give some precise
guidelines for the observation of chaos assisted tunnelling between invariant
phase space structures paired by time-reversal symmetry.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. E ; 16 pages, 13 figures; figures of better
quality can be found at http://www.phys.univ-tours.fr/~mouchet
Nonlinear level crossing models
We examine the effect of nonlinearity at a level crossing on the probability
for nonadiabatic transitions . By using the Dykhne-Davis-Pechukas formula,
we derive simple analytic estimates for for two types of nonlinear
crossings. In the first type, the nonlinearity in the detuning appears as a
{\it perturbative} correction to the dominant linear time dependence. Then
appreciable deviations from the Landau-Zener probability are found to
appear for large couplings only, when is very small; this explains why the
Landau-Zener model is often seen to provide more accurate results than
expected. In the second type of nonlinearity, called {\it essential}
nonlinearity, the detuning is proportional to an odd power of time. Then the
nonadiabatic probability is qualitatively and quantitatively different from
because on the one hand, it vanishes in an oscillatory manner as the
coupling increases, and on the other, it is much larger than . We
suggest an experimental situation when this deviation can be observed.Comment: 9 pages final postscript file, two-column revtex style, 5 figure
Scattering Theory of Photon-Assisted Electron Transport
The scattering matrix approach to phase-coherent transport is generalized to
nonlinear ac-transport. In photon-assisted electron transport it is often only
the dc-component of the current that is of experimental interest. But
ac-currents at all frequencies exist independently of whether they are measured
or not. We present a theory of photon-assisted electron transport which is
charge and current conserving for all Fourier components of the current. We
find that the photo-current can be considered as an up- and down-conversion of
the harmonic potentials associated with the displacement currents. As an
example explicit calculations are presented for a resonant double barrier
coupled to two reservoirs and capacitively coupled to a gate. Two experimental
situations are considered: in the first case the ac-field is applied via a
gate, and in the second case one of the contact potentials is modulated. For
the first case we show that the relative weight of the conduction sidebands
varies with the screening properties of the system. In contrast to the
non-interacting case the relative weights are not determined by Bessel
functions. Moreover, interactions can give rise to an asymmetry between
absorption and emission peaks. In the contact driven case, the theory predicts
a zero-bias current proportional to the asymmetry of the double barrier. This
is in contrast to the discussion of Tien and Gordon which, in violation of
basic symmetry principles, predicts a zero-bias current also for a symmetric
double barrier.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, REVTE
Ecological Impacts of the Space Shuttle Program at John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida
The Space Shuttle Program was one of NASAs first major undertakings to fall under the environmental impact analysis and documentation requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Space Shuttle Program activities at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the associated Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) contributed directly and indirectly to both negative and positive ecological trends in the region through the long-term, stable expenditure of resources over the 40 year program life cycle. These expenditures provided support to regional growth and development in conjunction with other sources that altered land use patterns, eliminated and modified habitats, and contributed to cultural eutrophication of the Indian River Lagoon. At KSC, most Space Shuttle Program related actions were conducted in previously developed facilities and industrial areas with the exception of the construction of the shuttle landing facility (SLF) and the space station processing facility (SSPF). Launch and operations impacts were minimal as a result of the low annual launch rate. The majority of concerns identified during the NEPA process such as potential weather modification, acid rain off site, and local climate change did not occur. Launch impacts from deposition of HCl and particulates were assimilated as a result of the high buffering capacity of the system and low launch and loading rates. Metals deposition from exhaust deposition did not display acute impacts. Sub-lethal effects are being investigated as part of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulatory process. Major positive Space Shuttle Program effects were derived from the adequate resources available at the Center to implement the numerous environmental laws and regulations designed to enhance the quality of the environment and minimize impacts from human activities. This included reduced discharges of domestic and industrial wastewater, creation of stormwater management systems, remediation of past contamination sites, implementation of hazardous waste management systems, and creation of a culture of sustainability. Working with partners such as the USFWS and the St Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), wetlands and scrub restoration and management initiatives were implemented to enhance fish and wildlife populations at the Center. KSC remains the single largest preserve on the east coast of Florida in part due to NASAs commitment to stewardship. Ongoing Ecological Program projects are directed at development of information and knowledge to address future KSC management questions including the transition to a joint government and commercial launch facility, enhanced habitat management requirements for wetlands and scrub, potential impacts of emerging contaminants, and adaptation to climate change including projected sea level rise over the next 50-75 years
Atom Optics Quantum Pendulum
We explain the dynamics of cold atoms, initially trapped and cooled in a
magneto-optic trap, in a monochromatic stationary standing electromagnetic wave
field. In the large detuning limit the system is modeled as a nonlinear quantum
pendulum. We show that wave packet evolution of the quantum particle probes
parametric regimes in the quantum pendulum which support classical period,
quantum mechanical revival and super revival phenomena. Interestingly, complete
reconstruction in particular parametric regime at quantum revival times is
independent of potential height.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure
Chromium removal from aqueous solution by a PEI-silica nanocomposite
It is essential and important to determine the adsorption mechanism as well as removal efficiency when using an adsorption technique to remove toxic heavy metals from wastewater. In this research, the removal efficiency and mechanism of chromium removal by a silica-based nanoparticle were investigated. A PEI-silica nanoparticle was synthesized by a one-pot technique and exhibited uniformly well-dispersed PEI polymers in silica particles. The adsorption capacity of chromium ions was determined by a batch adsorption test, with the PEI-silica nanoparticle having a value of 183.7 mg/g and monolayer sorption. Adsorption of chromium ions was affected by the solution pH and altered the nanoparticle surface chemically. First principles calculations of the adsorption energies for the relevant adsorption configurations and XPS peaks of Cr and N showed that Cr(VI), [HCrO4](-) is reduced to two species, Cr(III), CrOH2+ and Cr3+, by an amine group and that Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions are adsorbed on different functional groups, oxidized N and NH3+
Substrate inhibition in the heterogeneous catalyzed aldol condensation: A mechanistic study of supported organocatalysts
In this study, we demonstrate how materials science can be combined with the established methods of organic chemistry to find mechanistic bottlenecks and redesign heterogeneous catalysts for improved performance. By using solid-state NMR, infrared spectroscopy, surface and kinetic analysis, we prove the existence of a substrate inhibition in the aldol condensation catalyzed by heterogeneous amines. We show that modifying the structure of the supported amines according to the proposed mechanism dramatically enhances the activity of the heterogeneous catalyst. We also provide evidence that the reaction benefits significantly from the surface chemistry of the silica support, which plays the role of a co-catalyst, giving activities up to two orders of magnitude larger than those of homogeneous amines. This study confirms that the optimization of a heterogeneous catalyst depends as much on obtaining organic mechanistic information as it does on controlling the structure of the support
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