Computer simulation of crystallization kinetics with non-Poisson distributed nuclei

The influence of non-uniform distribution of nuclei on crystallization kinetics of amorphous materials is investigated. This case cannot be described by the well-known Johnson-Mehl-Avrami (JMA) equation, which is only valid under the assumption of a spatially homogeneous nucleation probability. The results of computer simulations of crystallization kinetics with nuclei distributed according to a cluster and a hardcore distribution are compared with JMA kinetics. The effects of the different distributions on the so-called Avrami exponent $n$ are shown. Furthermore, we calculate the small-angle scattering curves of the simulated structures which can be used to distinguish experimentally between the three nucleation models under consideration.Comment: 14 pages including 7 postscript figures, uses epsf.sty and ioplppt.st

Radiation damage in lithium-counterdoped n/p silicon solar cells

Lithium counterdoped n+/p silicon solar cells were irradiated with 1 MV electrons and their post irradiation performance and low temperature annealing properties were compared to that of the 0.35 ohm cm control cells. Cells fabricated from float zone and Czochralski grown silicon were investigated. It was found that the float zone cells exhibited superior radiation resistance compared to the control cells, while no improvement was noted for the Czochralski grown cells. Room temperature and 60 C annealing studies were conducted. The annealing was found to be a combination of first and second order kinetics for short times. It was suggested that the principal annealing mechanism was migration of lithium to a radiation induced defect with subsequent neutralization of the defect by combination with lithium. The effects of base lithium gradient were investigated. It was found that cells with negative base lithium gradients exhibited poor radiation resistance and performance compared to those with positive or no lithium gradients; the latter being preferred for overall performance and radiation resistance

Easy implementable algorithm for the geometric measure of entanglement

We present an easy implementable algorithm for approximating the geometric measure of entanglement from above. The algorithm can be applied to any multipartite mixed state. It involves only the solution of an eigenproblem and finding a singular value decomposition, no further numerical techniques are needed. To provide examples, the algorithm was applied to the isotropic states of 3 qubits and the 3-qubit XX model with external magnetic field.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Incommensurate Charge Order Phase in Fe2OBO3 due to Geometrical Frustration

The temperature dependence of charge order in Fe2OBO3 was investigated by resistivity and differential scanning calorimetry measurements, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and synchrotron x-ray scattering, revealing an intermediate phase between room temperature and 340 K, characterized by coexisting mobile and immobile carriers, and by incommensurate superstructure modulations with temperature-dependent propagation vector (1/2,0,tau). The incommensurate modulations arise from specific anti-phase boundaries with low energy cost due to geometrical charge frustration.Comment: 4 p., 5 fig.; v2: slightly expanded introduction + minor changes. PRL in prin

Extending the generalized Chaplygin gas model by using geometrothermodynamics

We use the formalism of geometrothermodynamics (GTD) to derive fundamental thermodynamic equations that are used to construct general relativistic cosmological models. In particular, we show that the simplest possible fundamental equation, which corresponds in GTD to a system with no internal thermodynamic interaction, describes the different fluids of the standard model of cosmology. In addition, a particular fundamental equation with internal thermodynamic interaction is shown to generate a new cosmological model that correctly describes the dark sector of the Universe and contains as a special case the generalized Chaplygin gas model.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures. Section added: Basics aspects of geometrothermodynamic

Matter-Wave Decoherence due to a Gas Environment in an Atom Interferometer

Decoherence due to scattering from background gas particles is observed for the first time in a Mach-Zehnder atom interferometer, and compared with decoherence due to scattering photons. A single theory is shown to describe decoherence due to scattering either atoms or photons. Predictions from this theory are tested by experiments with different species of background gas, and also by experiments with different collimation restrictions on an atom beam interferometer.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted to PR

Reconstruction and architecture of medullosan pteridosperms (Pennsylvanian)

A new reconstruction of the architecture of medullosan pteridosperms is proposed on the basis of three stems preserved as compression-impression fossils: one from the Southern Anthracite Coal Field of Pennsylvania (lower part of Llewellyn Formation, Pennsylvania, Westphalian D) probably belonging to Alethopteris foliage; a second stem from the roof shale of the Eagle coal bed (Kanawha Formation, Middle Pennsylvanian, Westphalian B) of West Virginia, associated with Neuropteris foliage; and a third reported from the Stephanian of Commentry, France, in connection with Odontopteris foliage. The diameters of the Llewellyn, Eagle, and Commentry stems are 17 cm, 13 cm, and 6.5 cm, respectively. All three stems bear remnants of petioles up to several centimeters in length. The petolar remnants indicate that the living leaves grew upward at an angle of 30 - 60 degrees from the vertical, a growth habit that is common in present day tropical plants with similar overall architecture. Leaves drooped only when they were dying. After decay they broke off and left short petiolar remnants bent downward. The Llewellyn and Eagle stems represent plants with thick, straight stems, whereas the Commentry specimen shows a thin and slightly curved stem