4,020 research outputs found
Properties of discrete breathers in graphane from ab initio simulations
A density functional theory (DFT) study of the discrete breathers (DBs) in
graphane (fully hydrogenated graphene) was performed. To the best of our
knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the existence of DBs in a
crystalline body from the first-principle simulations. It is found that the DB
is a robust, highly localized vibrational mode with one hydrogen atom
oscillating with a large amplitude along the direction normal to the graphane
plane with all neighboring atoms having much smaller vibration amplitudes. DB
frequency decreases with increase in its amplitude, and it can take any value
within the phonon gap and can even enter the low-frequency phonon band. The
concept of DB is then used to propose an explanation to the recent experimental
results on the nontrivial kinetics of graphane dehydrogenation at elevated
temperatures.Comment: 20.07.14 Submitted to PhysRev
Densovirus induces winged morphs in asexual clones of the rosy apple aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea
Winged morphs of aphids are essential for their dispersal and survival. We discovered that the production of the winged morph in asexual clones of the rosy apple aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea, is dependent on their infection with a DNA virus, Dysaphis plantaginea densovirus (DplDNV). Virus-free clones of the rosy apple aphid, or clones infected singly with an RNA virus, rosy apple aphid virus (RAAV), did not produce the winged morph in response to crowding and poor plant quality. DplDNV infection results in a significant reduction in aphid reproduction rate, but such aphids can produce the winged morph, even at low insect density, which can fly and colonize neighboring plants. Aphids infected with DplDNV produce a proportion of virus-free aphids, which enables production of virus-free clonal lines after colonization of a new plant. Our data suggest that a mutualistic relationship exists between the rosy apple aphid and its viruses. Despite the negative impact of DplDNV on rosy apple aphid reproduction, this virus contributes to their survival by inducing wing development and promoting dispersal
Stability of Nonlinear Normal Modes in the FPU- Chain in the Thermodynamic Limit
All possible symmetry-determined nonlinear normal modes (also called by
simple periodic orbits, one-mode solutions etc.) in both hard and soft
Fermi-Pasta-Ulam- chains are discussed. A general method for studying
their stability in the thermodynamic limit, as well as its application for each
of the above nonlinear normal modes are presented
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