Conformal perturbation of off-critical correlators in the 3D Ising universality class

Thanks to the impressive progress of conformal bootstrap methods we have now very precise estimates of both scaling dimensions and OPE coefficients for several 3D universality classes. We show how to use this information to obtain similarly precise estimates for off-critical correlators using conformal perturbation. We discuss in particular the , $< \epsilon (r) \epsilon (0) >$ and two point functions in the high and low temperature regimes of the 3D Ising model and evaluate the leading and next to leading terms in the $s = t r^{\Delta_{t}}$ expansion, where $t$ is the reduced temperature. Our results for $< \sigma (r) \sigma (0) >$ agree both with Monte Carlo simulations and with a set of experimental estimates of the critical scattering function.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Expanded the discussion of Conformal Perturbation Theor

An analytical continuation approach for evaluating emission lineshapes of molecular aggregates and the adequacy of multichromophoric F&#246;rster theory

In large photosynthetic chromophore-protein complexes not all chromophores are coupled strongly, and thus the situation is well described by formation of delocalized states in certain domains of strongly coupled chromophores. In order to describe excitation energy transfer among different domains without performing extensive numerical calculations,one of the most popular techniques is a generalization of Forster theory to multichromophoric aggregates (generalized Forster theory) proposed by Sumi [J.Phys.Chem.B,103,252(1999)] and Scholes and Fleming [J.Phys.Chem.B 104,1854(2000)]. The aim of this paper is twofold. In the first place, by means of analytic continuation and a time convolutionless quantum master equation approach, a theory of emission lineshape of multichromophoric systems or molecular aggregates is proposed. In the second place,a comprehensive framework that allows for a clear,compact and effective study of the multichromophoric approach in the full general version proposed by Jang, Newton and Silbey [Phys. Rev. Lett.,92,218301,(2004)] is developed. We apply the present theory to simple paradigmatic systems and we show: the effectiveness of time-convolutionless techniques in deriving lineshape operators; how the multichromophoric approach can give significant improvements in the determination of energy transfer rates in particular when the systems under study are not the purely Forster regime. The presented scheme allows for an effective implementation of the multichromophoric Forster approach which may be of use for simulating energy transfer dynamics in large photosynthetic aggregates, for which massive computational resources are usually required. Furthermore,our method allows for a systematic comparison of multichromophoric Foster and generalized Forster theories and for a clear understanding of their respective limits of validity

Applications of Jarzynski's relation in lattice gauge theories

Jarzynski's equality is a well-known result in statistical mechanics, relating free-energy differences between equilibrium ensembles with fluctuations in the work performed during non-equilibrium transformations from one ensemble to the other. In this work, an extension of this relation to lattice gauge theory will be presented, along with numerical results for the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge model in three dimensions and for the equation of state in $\mathrm{SU}(2)$ Yang-Mills theory in four dimensions. Then, further applications will be discussed, in particular for the Schr\"odinger functional and for the study of QCD in strong magnetic fields.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, presented at the 34th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2016), 24-30 July 2016, Southampton, U

Jarzynski’s theorem for lattice gauge theory

Jarzynski's theorem is a well-known equality in statistical mechanics, which relates fluctuations in the work performed during a non-equilibrium transformation of a system, to the free-energy difference between two equilibrium ensembles. In this article, we apply Jarzynski's theorem in lattice gauge theory, for two examples of challenging computational problems, namely the calculation of interface free energies and the determination of the equation of state. We conclude with a discussion of further applications of interest in QCD and in other strongly coupled gauge theories, in particular for the Schroedinger functional and for simulations at finite density using reweighting techniques.Comment: 1+29 pages, 2 pdf figures1+29 pages, 2 pdf figures; v2: 1+34 pages, 2 pdf figures: presentation of the theorem proof in section 2 improved with additional details, discussion in sections 3 and 4 expanded, misprints corrected; matches the journal versio

Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid with Liposomes and Crocin Confers Cytoprotection in an Experimental Model of Dry Eye

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial condition caused by tear deficiency and accompanied by ocular surface damage. Recent data support a key role of oxidative and inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of DED. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely used in artificial tears to treat DED by improving ocular hydration and reducing surface friction. Crocin (Cr), the main constituent of saffron, is a renowned compound that exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study was undertaken to assess the viscosity and muco-adhesiveness of a photoactivated formulation with crosslinked HA (cHA), Cr, and liposomes (cHA-Cr-L). Our aim was also to evaluate whether cHA-Cr-L may exert cytoprotective effects against oxidative and inflammatory processes in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). Viscosity was measured using a rotational rheometer, and then the muco-adhesiveness was evaluated. Under hyperosmolarity (450 mOsm), the HCECs were treated with cHA-Cr-L. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using the DCF assay. The combined action of cHA-Cr-L produced a higher viscosity and muco-adhesiveness compared to the control. The anti-inflammatory effect of cHA-Cr-L was achieved through a significant reduction of IL-1beta and TNFalpha (p &lt; 0.001). The results also showed that cHA-Cr-L reduces ROS production under conditions of hyperosmolarity (p &lt; 0.001). We conclude that cHA-Cr-L has potential as a therapeutic agent in DED, which should be further investigated

Critical dynamics in trapped particle systems

We discuss the effects of a trapping space-dependent potential on the critical dynamics of lattice gas models. Scaling arguments provide a dynamic trap-size scaling framework to describe how critical dynamics develops in the large trap-size limit. We present numerical results for the relaxational dynamics of a two-dimensional lattice gas (Ising) model in the presence of a harmonic trap, which support the dynamic trap-size scaling scenario.Comment: 7 page

Experimental and Numerical Study of the Effect of Surface Patterning on the Frictional Properties of Polymer Surfaces

We describe benchmark experiments to evaluate the frictional properties of laser patterned low-density polyethylene as a function of sliding velocity, normal force and humidity. The pattern is a square lattice of square cavities with sub-mm spacing. We find that dynamic friction decreases compared to non-patterned surfaces, since stress concentrations lead to anticipated detachment, and that stick-slip behavior is also affected. Friction increases with humidity, and the onset of stick-slip events occurs in the high humidity regime. Experimental results are compared with numerical simulations of a simplified 2-D spring-block model. A good qualitative agreement can be obtained by introducing a deviation from the linear behavior of the Amontons-Coulomb law with the load, due to a saturation in the effective contact area with pressure. This also leads also to the improvement of the quantitative results of the spring-block model by reducing the discrepancy with the experimental results, indicating the robustness of the adopted simplified approach, which could be adopted to design patterned surfaces with controlled friction properties

Tuning friction with composite hierarchical surfaces

N.M.P. is supported by the European Research Council PoC 2015 “Silkene” No. 693670, by the European Commission H2020 under the Graphene Flagship Core 1 No. 696656 (WP14 “Polymer Nanocomposites”) and FET Proactive “Neurofibres” grant No. 732344. G.C. and F.B. are supported by H2020 FET Proactive “Neurofibres” grant No. 732344

Static and dynamic friction of hierarchical surfaces

N.M.P. was supported by the European Research Council (ERC StG Ideas BIHSNAM Grant No. 279985 and ERC PoC SILKENE Grant No. 693670) and by the European Commission under the Graphene Flagship (WP14 “Polymer nanocomposites”, Grant No. 696656). G.C. and F.B. were supported by BIHSNAM