2,474 research outputs found
A simple interpretation of quantum mirages
In an interesting new experiment the electronic structure of a magnetic atom
adsorbed on the surface of Cu(111), observed by STM, was projected into a
remote location on the same surface. The purpose of the present paper is to
interpret this experiment with a model Hamiltonian, using ellipses of the size
of the experimental ones, containing about 2300 atoms. The charge distribution
for the different wavefunctions is analyzed, in particular, for those with
energy close to the Fermi energy of copper Ef. Some of them show two symmetric
maxima located on the principal axis of the ellipse but not necessarily at the
foci. If a Co atom is adsorbed at the site where the wavefunction with energy
has a maximum and the interaction is small, the main effect of the
adsorbed atom will be to split this particular wavefunction in two. The total
charge density will remain the same but the local density of states will
present a dip at Ef at any site where the charge density is large enough. We
relate the presence of this dip to the observation of quantum mirages. Our
interpretation suggests that other sites, apart from the foci of the ellipses,
can be used for projecting atomic images and also indicates the conditions for
other non magnetic adsorbates to produce mirages.Comment: 3 pages, 3 Fig
Helicon Plasma Injector and Ion Cyclotron Acceleration Development in the VASIMR Experiment
In the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) radio frequency (rf) waves both produce the plasma and then accelerate the ions. The plasma production is done by action of helicon waves. These waves are circular polarized waves in the direction of the electron gyromotion. The ion acceleration is performed by ion cyclotron resonant frequency (ICRF) acceleration. The Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory (ASPL) is actively developing efficient helicon plasma production and ICRF acceleration. The VASIMR experimental device at the ASPL is called VX-10. It is configured to demonstrate the plasma production and acceleration at the 10kW level to support a space flight demonstration design. The VX-10 consists of three electromagnets integrated into a vacuum chamber that produce magnetic fields up to 0.5 Tesla. Magnetic field shaping is achieved by independent magnet current control and placement of the magnets. We have generated both helium and hydrogen high density (>10(exp 18) cu m) discharges with the helicon source. ICRF experiments are underway. This paper describes the VX-10 device, presents recent results and discusses future plans
Zebrafish as a model for cardiac disease; Cryo-EM structure of native cardiac thin filaments from Danio Rerio.
Actin, tropomyosin and troponin, the proteins that comprise the contractile apparatus of the cardiac thin filament, are highly conserved across species. We have used cryo-EM to study the three-dimensional structure of the zebrafish cardiac thin and actin filaments. With 70% of human genes having an obvious zebrafish orthologue, and conservation of 85% of disease-causing genes, zebrafish are a good animal model for the study of human disease. Our structure of the zebrafish thin filament reveals the molecular interactions between the constituent proteins, showing that the fundamental organisation of the complex is the same as that reported in the human reconstituted thin filament. A reconstruction of zebrafish cardiac F-actin demonstrates no deviations from human cardiac actin over an extended length of 14 actin subunits. Modelling zebrafish homology models into our maps enabled us to compare, in detail, the similarity with human models. The structural similarities of troponin-T in particular, a region known to contain a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 'hotspot', confirm the suitability of zebrafish to study these disease-causing mutations
Crop Growth in Semi-Arid Environments
Methods are presented for analyzing growth and yield of crops when water is limiting and not limiting. Examples are given from collaborative research between ICRISAT and the University of Nottingham, UK, on pearl millet grown in a range of controlled and natural environments
Turbulence and jet-driven zonal flows: Secondary circulation in rotating fluids due to asymmetric forcing
We report on experiments and modeling on a rotating confined liquid that is forced by circumferential jets coaxial with the rotation axis, wherein system-scale secondary flows are observed to emerge. The jets are evenly divided in number between inlets and outlets and have zero net mass transport. For low forcing strengths the sign of this flow depends on the sign of a sloped end cap, which simulates a planetary β plane. For increased forcing strengths the secondary flow direction is insensitive to the slope sign, and instead appears to be dominated by an asymmetry in the forcing mechanism, namely, the difference in radial divergence between the inlet and outlet jet profiles. This asymmetry yields a net radial velocity that is affected by the Coriolis force, inducing secondary zonal flow
Elasticity of Gaussian and nearly-Gaussian phantom networks
We study the elastic properties of phantom networks of Gaussian and
nearly-Gaussian springs. We show that the stress tensor of a Gaussian network
coincides with the conductivity tensor of an equivalent resistor network, while
its elastic constants vanish. We use a perturbation theory to analyze the
elastic behavior of networks of slightly non-Gaussian springs. We show that the
elastic constants of phantom percolation networks of nearly-Gaussian springs
have a power low dependence on the distance of the system from the percolation
threshold, and derive bounds on the exponents.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. E, 10 pages, 1 figur
Capture of particles of dust by convective flow
Interaction of particles of dust with vortex convective flows is under
theoretical consideration. It is assumed that the volume fraction of solid
phase is small, variations of density due to nonuniform distribution of
particles and those caused by temperature nonisothermality of medium are
comparable. Equations for the description of thermal buoyancy convection of a
dusty medium are developed in the framework of the generalized Boussinesq
approximation taking into account finite velocity of particle sedimentation.
The capture of a cloud of dust particles by a vortex convective flow is
considered, general criterion for the formation of such a cloud is obtained.
The peculiarities of a steady state in the form of a dust cloud and backward
influence of the solid phase on the carrier flow are studied in detail for a
vertical layer heated from the sidewalls. It is shown that in the case, when
this backward influence is essential, a hysteresis behavior is possible. The
stability analysis of the steady state is performed. It turns out that there is
a narrow range of governing parameters, in which such a steady state is stable.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, published in Physics of Fluid
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