2,363 research outputs found
Effects of semiclassical spiral fluctuations on hole dynamics
We investigate the dynamics of a single hole coupled to the spiral
fluctuations related to the magnetic ground states of the antiferromagnetic
J_1-J_2-J_3 Heisenberg model on a square lattice. Using exact diagonalization
on finite size clusters and the self consistent Born approximation in the
thermodynamic limit we find, as a general feature, a strong reduction of the
quasiparticle weight along the spiral phases of the magnetic phase diagram. For
an important region of the Brillouin Zone the hole spectral functions are
completely incoherent, whereas at low energies the spectral weight is
redistributed on several irregular peaks. We find a characteristic value of the
spiral pitch, Q=(0.7,0.7)\pi, for which the available phase space for hole
scattering is maximum. We argue that this behavior is due to the non trivial
interference of the magnon assisted and the free hopping mechanism for hole
motion, characteristic of a hole coupled to semiclassical spiral fluctuations.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Selfconsistent hybridization expansions for static properties of the Anderson impurity model
By means of a projector-operator formalism we derive an approximation based
on a self consistent hybridization expansion to study the ground state
properties of the Anderson Impurity model. We applied the approximation to the
general case of finite Coulomb repulsion , extending previous work with the
same formalism in the infinite- case. The treatment provides a very accurate
calculation of the ground state energy and their related zero temperature
properties in the case in which is large enough, but still finite, as
compared with the rest of energy scales involved in the model. The results for
the valence of the impurity are compared with exact results that we obtain from
equations derived using the Bethe ansatz and with a perturbative approach. The
magnetization and magnetic susceptibility is also compared with Bethe ansatz
results. In order to do this comparison, we also show how to regularize the
Bethe ansatz integral equations necessary to calculate the impurity valence,
for arbitrary values of the parameters.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure
Spin polaron in the J1-J2 Heisenberg model
We have studied the validity of the spin polaron picture in the frustrated
J1-J2 Heisenberg model. For this purpose, we have computed the hole spectral
functions for the Neel, collinear, and disordered phases of this model, by
means of the self-consistent Born approximation and Lanczos exact
diagonalization on finite-size clusters. We have found that the spin polaron
quasiparticle excitation is always well defined for the magnetically ordered
Neel and collinear phases, even in the vicinity of the magnetic quantum
critical points, where the local magnetization vanishes. As a general feature,
the effect of frustration is to increase the amplitude of the multimagnon
states that build up the spin polaron wave function, leading to the reduction
of the quasiparticle coherence. Based on Lanczos results, we discuss the
validity of the spin polaron picture in the disordered phase.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figure
Cl electrosorption on Ag(100): Lateral interactions and electrosorption valency from comparison of Monte Carlo simulations with chronocoulometry experiments
We present Monte Carlo Simulations using an equilibrium lattice-gas model for
the electrosorption of Cl on Ag(100) single-crystal surfaces. Fitting the
simulated isotherms to chronocoulometry experiments, we extract parameters such
as the electrosorption valency gamma and the next-nearest-neighbor lateral
interaction energy phi_nnn. Both coverage-dependent and coverage independent
gamma were previously studied assuming a constant phi_nnn [I. Abou Hamad, Th.
Wandlowski, G. Brown, P.A. Rikvold, J. Electroanal. Chem. 554-555 (2003) 211].
Here, a self-consistent, entirely electrostatic picture of the lateral
interactions with a coverage-dependent phi_nnn is developed, and a relationship
between phi_nnn and gamma is investigated for Cl on Ag(100).Comment: Accepted for publication in Electrochimica Acta, 10 pages, 7 figures,
2 tables and an appendi
Comparison Between the Effects of Different Sources of Dietary Fiber on Blood Lipid Profile in Rats
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different sources of dietary fiber on serum lipids and lipoproteins in Sprague-Dawley rats, namely total cholesterol (TC), Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high–density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) triglyceride (TG), and (HDL-C/LDL-C) ratio. The experimental diets included casein diet, untreated wheat bran diet, soaked wheat bran diet, Arabic white bread diet, lupine diet, chickpea and pectin diet. Each group of rats (6/group) was fed one of the seven prepared diets for 6 weeks. Untreated wheat bran has hypercholesterolemic effect since it significantly (p<0.05) increased TC, LDL-C and decreased HDL-C values as compared with treated bran diets. The soaking process lowered significantly (p<0.05) TC and LDL-C levels in comparison with casein diet. Chickpea diet had higher significant value of HDL-C than soaked wheat bran and lupine diets. However, it was not significantly different from casein and untreated wheat bran diet. In addition, Chickpea diet had a significantly higher HDL-C value than pectin diet. The values of HDL-C of the Lupine diet are not significantly different (p>0.05) from casein and pectin diets, but it has also decreased LDL-C. White bread was found to have no hypocholesterolemic effect in comparison with treated brans groups and control group; it raised TG, TC and LDL-C levels. Pectin had a similar behavior in a remarkable decrease blood TC and LDL-C cholesterol. White bread was found to have no hypocholesterolemic effect in comparison with treated brans groups and control group; it raised TG, TC and LDL-C levels. It is concluded that the behavior of cereals and legumes varies in its effect on cholesterol–lowering ability. Preparation of wheat bran foods by soaking improve some physiological characteristics of insoluble fibers, particularly lowering total cholesterol TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-C). Keywords: Dietary fiber, Arabic bread, Wheat bran, Soaking, Chickpea, Lupine, Pectin, Lipoproteins, Rat
Understanding Nanopore Window Distortions in the Reversible Molecular Valve Zeolite RHO
Molecular valves are becoming popular for potential biomedical applications.
However, little is known concerning their performance in energy and
environmental areas. Zeolite RHO shows unique pore deformations upon changes in
hydration, cation siting, cation type, or temperature-pressure conditions. By
varying the level of distortion of double eight-rings, it is possible to
control the adsorption properties, which confer a molecular valve behavior to
this material. We have employed interatomic potentials-based simulations to
obtain a detailed atomistic view of the structural distortion mechanisms of
zeolite RHO, in contrast with the averaged and space group restricted
information provided by diffraction studies. We have modeled four
aluminosilicate structures, containing Li, Na, K, Ca, and
Sr cations. The distortions of the three different zeolite rings are
coupled, and the six- and eight-membered rings are largely flexible. A large
dependence on the polarizing power of the extra-framework cations and with the
loading of water has been found for the minimum aperture of the eight-membered
rings that control the nanovalve effect. The calculated energy barriers for
moving the cations across the eight-membered rings are very high, which
explains the experimentally observed slow kinetics of the phase transition as
well as the appearance of metastable phases
Effects of lateral diffusion on morphology and dynamics of a microscopic lattice-gas model of pulsed electrodeposition
The influence of nearest-neighbor diffusion on the decay of a metastable
low-coverage phase (monolayer adsorption) in a square lattice-gas model of
electrochemical metal deposition is investigated by kinetic Monte Carlo
simulations. The phase-transformation dynamics are compared to the
well-established Kolmogorov-Johnson-Mehl-Avrami theory. The phase
transformation is accelerated by diffusion, but remains in accord with the
theory for continuous nucleation up to moderate diffusion rates. At very high
diffusion rates the phase-transformation kinetic shows a crossover to
instantaneous nucleation. Then, the probability of medium-sized clusters is
reduced in favor of large clusters. Upon reversal of the supersaturation, the
adsorbate desorbs, but large clusters still tend to grow during the initial
stages of desorption. Calculation of the free energy of subcritical clusters by
enumeration of lattice animals yields a quasi-equilibrium distribution which is
in reasonable agreement with the simulation results. This is an improvement
relative to classical droplet theory, which fails to describe the
distributions, since the macroscopic surface tension is a bad approximation for
small clusters.Comment: Minor corrections and modifications. 15 pages with 10 figures.
Accepted for publication in the Journal of Chemical Physics, see
http://jcp.aip.org/jcp
Energy and Exergy Investigation of a Solar Air Heater for Different Absorber Plate Configurations
Efficiency Of Using Steel End Caps In Improving The Post-Fire Flexural Behavior Of Frp Reinforced Concrete Beams
The use of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars as an alternative to traditional steel
reinforcement helps overcoming durability problems in reinforced concrete structures.
The behavior of FRP-RC structures is satisfactory at only low temperatures, hence the
application of combustible FRP materials in commercial, industrial and residential
buildings, where the possibility of fire occurrence is relatively high, can be dangerous.
Further research to evaluate and enhance the performance of FRP-RC structures under
fire conditions is required. In this study, the effect of high temperatures on the
mechanical properties of FRP/Steel bars, bond behavior between FRP/Steel bars and
concrete, and the flexural response of concrete beams with different types of FRP bar
reinforcement was investigated in much details. A new steel-end-caps technique was
proposed aiming to improve anchorage of embedded FRP bars in concrete. For that
FRP/Steel bars, plain concrete, pullout and beam specimens (with and without steel
end caps) were prepared and then cured for 28 days and later tested before and after
subjected to elevated temperatures of up to 500°C. Concrete and FRP bars suffered
significant reductions in their mechanical properties due to exposure to high
temperatures. Bond strength between FRP bars and concrete had decreased upon
exposure to temperature in the range of 125 to 325°C, with the reduction reaching as
high as 85%. These reductions were reflected negatively in the behavior of heated
FRP-RC beams hence cracking load, ultimate load capacity, stiffness and total
absorbed energy were reduced by as high as 89%, 81%, 79%, and 70%, respectively
whereas mid-span deflections and ductility indices were increased noticeably by as
high as 50% and 94%, respectively. Attaching steel end caps to the ends of FRP bars
had improved their bond strength with concrete before and after exposure to high
temperatures of up to 325oC. Consequently, the flexural performance of FRP-RC
beams with end-cap anchorage was improved where the cracking load, ultimate load
capacity, stiffness, deflection at ultimate load, and total absorbed energy were
increased to reach as high as (124%, 208%, 225%, 196%, and 453%) and (33%, 123%,
58%, 216% and 215%) before and after heating up to 500°C, respectively, compared
with that of control beams without end anchorage. Based on the experimental results,
an analytical model was proposed to predict the behavior of the ascending part of bondslip
relation between the different FRP bars and concrete under high temperatures.
Another theoretical method was also proposed to predict the theoretical ultimate load
capacity of FRP-RC beams. The predictions of the two models were in an excellent
agreement with the experimental results
Energy and Exergy Investigation of a Solar Air Heater for Different Absorber Plate Configurations
- …