4,945 research outputs found
Recent Results on the Decay of Metastable Phases
We review some aspects of current knowledge regarding the decay of metastable
phases in many-particle systems. In particular we emphasize recent theoretical
and computational developments and numerical results regarding homogeneous
nucleation and growth in kinetic Ising and lattice-gas models. An introductory
discussion of the droplet theory of homogeneous nucleation is followed by a
discussion of Monte Carlo and transfer-matrix methods commonly used for
numerical study of metastable decay, including some new algorithms. Next we
discuss specific classes of systems. These include a brief discussion of recent
progress for fluids, and more exhaustive considerations of ferromagnetic Ising
models ({\it i.e.}, attractive lattice-gas models) with weak long-range
interactions and with short-range interactions. Whereas weak-long-range-force
(WLRF) models have infinitely long-lived metastable phases in the
infinite-range limit, metastable phases in short-range-force (SRF) models
eventually decay, albeit extremely slowly. Recent results on the finite-size
scaling of metastable lifetimes in SRF models are reviewed, and it is pointed
out that such effects may be experimentally observable.Comment: 34 pages, LaTex, 8 ps figs. on request, preprint FSU-SCRI-94-6
Scenarios of domain pattern formation in a reaction-diffusion system
We performed an extensive numerical study of a two-dimensional
reaction-diffusion system of the activator-inhibitor type in which domain
patterns can form. We showed that both multidomain and labyrinthine patterns
may form spontaneously as a result of Turing instability. In the stable
homogeneous system with the fast inhibitor one can excite both localized and
extended patterns by applying a localized stimulus. Depending on the parameters
and the excitation level of the system stripes, spots, wriggled stripes, or
labyrinthine patterns form. The labyrinthine patterns may be both connected and
disconnected. In the the stable homogeneous system with the slow inhibitor one
can excite self-replicating spots, breathing patterns, autowaves and
turbulence. The parameter regions in which different types of patterns are
realized are explained on the basis of the asymptotic theory of instabilities
for patterns with sharp interfaces developed by us in Phys. Rev. E. 53, 3101
(1996). The dynamics of the patterns observed in our simulations is very
similar to that of the patterns forming in the ferrocyanide-iodate-sulfite
reaction.Comment: 15 pages (REVTeX), 15 figures (postscript and gif), submitted to
Phys. Rev.
Near-field optical spectroscopy and microscopy of self-assembled GaNâAlN nanostructures
The spatial distribution and emission properties of small clusters of GaNquantum dots in an AlN matrix are studied using high-resolution electron and optical microscopy. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals near vertical correlation among the GaNdots due to a sufficiently thin AlN spacer layer thickness, which allows strain induced stacking. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopy show lateral coupling due to a surface roughness of âŒ50â60nm. Near-field photoluminescence in the illumination mode (both spatially and spectrally resolved) at 10K revealed emission from individual dots, which exhibits size distribution of GaNdots from localized sites in the stacked nanostructure. Strong spatial localization of the excitons is observed in GaNquantum dots formed at the tip of self-assembled hexagonal pyramid shapes with six [101ÂŻ1ÂŻ] facets
Evolution of embryonic developmental period in the marine bird families Alcidae and Spheniscidae: roles for nutrition and predation?
Background: Nutrition and predation have been considered two primary agents of selection important in theevolution of avian life history traits. The relative importance of these natural selective forces in the evolution of avianembryonic developmental period (EDP) remain poorly resolved, perhaps in part because research has tended to focuson a single, high taxonomic-level group of birds: Order Passeriformes. The marine bird families Alcidae (auks) andSpheniscidae (penguins) exhibit marked variation in EDP, as well as behavioural and ecological traits ultimately linkedto EDP. Therefore, auks and penguins provide a unique opportunity to assess the natural selective basis of variation in akey life-history trait at a low taxonomic-level. We used phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate the relativeimportance of behavioural and ecological factors related to nutrition and predation in the evolution of avian EDP.Results: Three behavioural and ecological variables related to nutrition and predation risk (i.e., clutch size, activitypattern, and nesting habits) were significant predictors of residual variation in auk and penguin EDP based on modelspredicting EDP from egg mass. Species with larger clutch sizes, diurnal activity patterns, and open nests hadsignificantly shorter EDPs. Further, EDP was found to be longer among birds which forage in distant offshore waters,relative to those that foraged in near shore waters, in line with our predictions, but not significantly so.Conclusion: Current debate has emphasized predation as the primary agent of selection driving avian life historydiversification. Our results suggest that both nutrition and predation have been important selective forces in theevolution of auk and penguin EDP, and highlight the importance of considering these questions at lower taxonomicscales. We suggest that further comparative studies on lower taxonomic-level groups will continue to constructivelyinform the debate on evolutionary determinants of avian EDP, as well as other life history parameters
Optimizing the second-order optical nonlinearities of organic molecules: asymmetric cyanines and highly polarized polyenes
e recently reported that there is an optimal combination of donor and acceptor strengths for a given molecular length and bridge structure that maximizes (beta) . For this combination, there is the correct degree of bond length alternation and asymmetry in the molecule. Our recent findings suggest that molecules that can be viewed as asymmetric cyanines with relatively small amounts of bond length alternation are nearly optimal. In this manner, we have identified molecules with nonlinearities many times that of conventional chromophores for a given length. In this paper, we will present a new computational analysis that allows the correlation of bond length alternation with hyperpolarizabilities and will present EFISH data on simple donor-acceptor polyene chromophores
Computational Sensitivity Investigation of Hydrogel Injection Characteristics for Myocardial Support
Biomaterial injection is a potential new therapy for augmenting ventricular mechanics after myocardial infarction (MI). Recent in vivo studies have demonstrated that hydrogel injections can mitigate the adverse remodeling due to MI. More importantly, the material properties of these injections influence the efficacy of the therapy. The goal of the current study is to explore the interrelated effects of injection stiffness and injection volume on diastolic ventricular wall stress and thickness. To achieve this, finite element models were constructed with different hydrogel injection volumes (150 ”L and 300 ”L), where the modulus was assessed over a range of 0.1 kPa to 100 kPa (based on experimental measurements). The results indicate that a larger injection volume and higher stiffness reduce diastolic myofiber stress the most, by maintaining the wall thickness during loading. Interestingly, the efficacy begins to taper after the hydrogel injection stiffness reaches a value of 50 kPa. This computational approach could be used in the future to evaluate the optimal properties of the hydrogel
The complications of âhiring a hubbyâ: gender relations and the commoditisation of home maintenance in New Zealand
This paper examines the commoditization of traditionally male domestic tasks through interviews with handymen who own franchises in the company âHire a Hubbyâ in New Zealand and homeowners who have paid for home repair tasks to be done. Discussions of the commoditization of traditionally female tasks in the home have revealed the emotional conflicts of paying others to care as well as the exploitative and degrading conditions that often arise when work takes place behind closed doors. By examining the working conditions and relationships involved when traditionally male tasks are paid for, this paper raises important questions about the valuing of reproductive labour and the production of gendered identities. The paper argues that while working conditions and rates of pay for âhubbiesâ are better than those for people undertaking commoditized forms of traditionally female domestic labour, the negotiation of this work is still complex and implicated in gendered relations and identities. Working on the home was described by interviewees as an expression of care for family and a performance of the ârightâ way to be a âKiwi blokeâ and a father. Paying others to do this labour can imply a failure in a duty of care and in the performance of masculinity
Low Cost and Compact Quantum Cryptography
We present the design of a novel free-space quantum cryptography system,
complete with purpose-built software, that can operate in daylight conditions.
The transmitter and receiver modules are built using inexpensive off-the-shelf
components. Both modules are compact allowing the generation of renewed shared
secrets on demand over a short range of a few metres. An analysis of the
software is shown as well as results of error rates and therefore shared secret
yields at varying background light levels. As the system is designed to
eventually work in short-range consumer applications, we also present a use
scenario where the consumer can regularly 'top up' a store of secrets for use
in a variety of one-time-pad and authentication protocols.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, to be published in New Journal of Physic
Convective Fingering of an Autocatalytic Reaction Front
We report experimental observations of the convection-driven fingering
instability of an iodate-arsenous acid chemical reaction front. The front
propagated upward in a vertical slab; the thickness of the slab was varied to
control the degree of instability. We observed the onset and subsequent
nonlinear evolution of the fingers, which were made visible by a {\it p}H
indicator. We measured the spacing of the fingers during their initial stages
and compared this to the wavelength of the fastest growing linear mode
predicted by the stability analysis of Huang {\it et. al.} [{\it Phys. Rev. E},
{\bf 48}, 4378 (1993), and unpublished]. We find agreement with the thickness
dependence predicted by the theory.Comment: 11 pages, RevTex with 3 eps figures. To be published in Phys Rev E,
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