177 research outputs found
Low-Temperature Orientation Dependence of Step Stiffness on {111} Surfaces
For hexagonal nets, descriptive of {111} fcc surfaces, we derive from
combinatoric arguments a simple, low-temperature formula for the orientation
dependence of the surface step line tension and stiffness, as well as the
leading correction, based on the Ising model with nearest-neighbor (NN)
interactions. Our formula agrees well with experimental data for both Ag and
Cu{111} surfaces, indicating that NN-interactions alone can account for the
data in these cases (in contrast to results for Cu{001}). Experimentally
significant corollaries of the low-temperature derivation show that the step
line tension cannot be extracted from the stiffness and that with plausible
assumptions the low-temperature stiffness should have 6-fold symmetry, in
contrast to the 3-fold symmetry of the crystal shape. We examine Zia's exact
implicit solution in detail, using numerical methods for general orientations
and deriving many analytic results including explicit solutions in the two
high-symmetry directions. From these exact results we rederive our simple
result and explore subtle behavior near close-packed directions. To account for
the 3-fold symmetry in a lattice gas model, we invoke a novel
orientation-dependent trio interaction and examine its consequences.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure
Microscopically-based energy density functionals for nuclei using the density matrix expansion: Implementation and pre-optimization
In a recent series of papers, Gebremariam, Bogner, and Duguet derived a
microscopically based nuclear energy density functional by applying the Density
Matrix Expansion (DME) to the Hartree-Fock energy obtained from chiral
effective field theory (EFT) two- and three-nucleon interactions. Due to the
structure of the chiral interactions, each coupling in the DME functional is
given as the sum of a coupling constant arising from zero-range contact
interactions and a coupling function of the density arising from the
finite-range pion exchanges. Since the contact contributions have essentially
the same structure as those entering empirical Skyrme functionals, a
microscopically guided Skyrme phenomenology has been suggested in which the
contact terms in the DME functional are released for optimization to
finite-density observables to capture short-range correlation energy
contributions from beyond Hartree-Fock. The present paper is the first attempt
to assess the ability of the newly suggested DME functional, which has a much
richer set of density dependencies than traditional Skyrme functionals, to
generate sensible and stable results for nuclear applications. The results of
the first proof-of-principle calculations are given, and numerous practical
issues related to the implementation of the new functional in existing Skyrme
codes are discussed. Using a restricted singular value decomposition (SVD)
optimization procedure, it is found that the new DME functional gives
numerically stable results and exhibits a small but systematic reduction of our
test function compared to standard Skyrme functionals, thus justifying
its suitability for future global optimizations and large-scale calculations.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure
Instabilities in the Nuclear Energy Density Functional
In the field of Energy Density Functionals (EDF) used in nuclear structure
and dynamics, one of the unsolved issues is the stability of the functional.
Numerical issues aside, some EDFs are unstable with respect to particular
perturbations of the nuclear ground-state density. The aim of this contribution
is to raise questions about the origin and nature of these instabilities, the
techniques used to diagnose and prevent them, and the domain of density
functions in which one should expect a nuclear EDF to be stable.Comment: Special issue "Open Problems in Nuclear Structure Theory" of
Jour.Phys.G - accepted. 7 pages, 2 figure
Nuclear energy density functional from chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions
An improved density-matrix expansion is used to calculate the nuclear energy
density functional from chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions. The
two-body interaction comprises long-range one- and two-pion exchange
contributions and a set of contact terms contributing up to fourth power in
momenta. In addition we employ the leading order chiral three-nucleon
interaction with its parameters and fixed in
calculations of nuclear few-body systems. With this input the nuclear energy
density functional is derived to first order in the two- and three-nucleon
interaction. We find that the strength functions and
of the surface and spin-orbit terms compare in the relevant
density range reasonably with results of phenomenological Skyrme forces.
However, an improved description requires (at least) the treatment of the
two-body interaction to second order. This observation is in line with the
deficiencies in the nuclear matter equation of state that remain
in the Hartree-Fock approximation with low-momentum two- and three-nucleon
interactions.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Eur. Phys. J.
Polio Outbreak Response in Ethiopia
Background: Ethiopia had been polio-free for almost four years until December 2004. However, between December 2004 and February 2006, 24 children were paralysed as a result of infection with wild poliovirus imported from the neighbouring country of Sudan. In response, the country has attempted to document the impact of various response measures on the containment of wild poliovirus transmission.
Objectives: This study aims at systematic and epidemiological assessment of the extent of the outbreak, its determinants, and the lessons learned as well as the implications for future control strategies to interrupt wild poliovirus transmission.
Design: A cross-sectional study design with qualitative and quantitative data collection approaches was used to conduct the epidemiologic assessment.
Subjects: All confirmed wild poliovirus cases, and reported acute flaccid paralysis cases in close proximity to the confirmed polio cases were the study subjects. Child caretakers and health service providers were interviewed as part of the investigation.
Results: Between December 2004 and February 2006, eight children from Tigray Regional State, nine children from Amhara Regional State and seven children from Oromia Regional State were paralysed as a result of infection with wild poliovirus type 1. Genetic sequencing demonstrated two separate importations to Ethiopia. Risk factors that may have facilitated spread of the outbreak within the country included gaps in vaccination coverage and interruption of the cold chain system, gaps in acute flaccid paralysis surveillance performance, high population mobility, poor environmental sanitation, crowded living conditions and unsafe drinking water. In response to the outbreak, Ethiopia conducted detailed outbreak investigations within two days of confirmation of the index cases. Large-scale, house-to-house vaccination campaigns were also implemented. As a result, the three regions interrupted the wild poliovirus transmission within the regions within one year of confirmation of the index case.
Conclusion: Outbreak response activities were successful in interrupting the imported wild
poliovirus transmission in Tigray, Amhara and Oromia Regional States of Ethiopia within a oneyear period of time. In Ethiopia, programme strategies should be intensified to contain further spread and prevent future importation of wild poliovirus. Large-scale immunisation campaigns should reach every child, including those isolated by geography, poverty and security. East African Medical Journla Vol. 85 (5) 2008: pp. 222-23
Using the Wigner-Ibach Surmise to Analyze Terrace-Width Distributions: History, User's Guide, and Advances
A history is given of the applications of the simple expression generalized
from the surmise by Wigner and also by Ibach to extract the strength of the
interaction between steps on a vicinal surface, via the terrace width
distribution (TWD). A concise guide for use with experiments and a summary of
some recent extensions are provided.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, reformatted (with revtex) version of refereed
paper for special issue of Applied Physics A entitled "From Surface Science
to Device Physics", in honor of the retirements of Prof. H. Ibach and Prof.
H. L\"ut
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