58 research outputs found
Full counting statistics of strongly non-Ohmic transport through single molecules
We study analytically the full counting statistics of charge transport
through single molecules, strongly coupled to a weakly damped vibrational mode.
The specifics of transport in this regime - a hierarchical sequence of
avalanches of transferred charges, interrupted by "quiet" periods - make the
counting statistics strongly non-Gaussian. We support our findings for the
counting statistics as well as for the frequency-dependent noise power by
numerical simulations, finding excellent agreement.Comment: 4+ pages, 2 figures; minor changes, version published in Phys. Rev.
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Probability distribution function of dipolar field in two-dimensional spin ensemble
We theoretically determine the probability distribution function of the net
field of the random planar structure of dipoles which represent polarized
particles. At small surface concentrations c of the point dipoles this
distribution is expressed in terms of special functions. At the surface
concentrations of the dipoles as high as 0.6 the dipolar field obey the
Gaussian law. To obtain the distribution function within transitional region
c<0.6, we propose the method based on the cumulant expansion. We calculate the
parameters of the distributions for some specific configurations of the
dipoles. The distribution functions of the ordered ensembles of the dipoles at
the low and moderate surface concentrations have asymmetric shape with respect
to distribution medians. The distribution functions allow to calculate various
physical parameters of two-dimensional interacting nanoparticle ensembles.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure
On the nature of gravitational forces
In this paper I show how the statistics of the gravitational field is changed
when the system is characterized by a non-uniform distribution of particles. I
show how the distribution functions W(dF/dt) giving the joint probability that
a test particle is subject to a force F and an associated rate of change of F
given by dF/dt, are modified by inhomogeneity. Then I calculate the first
moment of dF/dt to study the effects of inhomogenity on dynamical friction.
Finally I test, by N-Body simulations, that the theoretical W(F) and dF/dt
describes correctly the experimental data and I find that the stochastic force
distribution obtained for the evolved system is in good agreement with theory.
Moreover, I find that in an inhomogeneous background the friction force is
actually enhanced relative to the homogeneous case
Renormalized cluster expansion of the microfield distribution in a strongly coupled two-component plasmas
The electric microfield distribution (MFD) at an impurity ion is studied for
two-component (TCP) electron-ion plasmas using molecular dynamics simulation
and theoretical models. The particles are treated within classical statistical
mechanics using an electron-ion Coulomb potential regularized at distances less
than the de Broglie length to take into account quantum-diffraction effects.
Corrections to the potential-of-mean-force exponential (PMFEX) approximation
recently proposed for MFD in a strongly coupled TCP [Phys. Rev. E 72, 036403
(2005)] are obtained and discussed. This has been done by a generalization of
the standard Baranger-Mozer and renormalized cluster expansion techniques
originally developed for the one-component plasmas to the TCPs. The results
obtained for a neutral point are compared with those from molecular dynamics
simulations. It is shown that the corrections do not help to improve the PMFEX
approximation for a TCP with low ionic charge Z. But starting with Z > 5 the
PMFEX model is substantially improved and the agreement with numerical
simulations is excellent. We have also found that with increasing coupling the
PMFEX approximation becomes invalid to predict the MFD at a neutral point while
its corrected version agrees satisfactory with the simulations.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Physical Review
Statistics of the gravitational force in various dimensions of space: from Gaussian to Levy laws
We discuss the distribution of the gravitational force created by a
Poissonian distribution of field sources (stars, galaxies,...) in different
dimensions of space d. In d=3, it is given by a Levy law called the Holtsmark
distribution. It presents an algebraic tail for large fluctuations due to the
contribution of the nearest neighbor. In d=2, it is given by a marginal
Gaussian distribution intermediate between Gaussian and Levy laws. In d=1, it
is exactly given by the Bernouilli distribution (for any particle number N)
which becomes Gaussian for N>>1. Therefore, the dimension d=2 is critical
regarding the statistics of the gravitational force. We generalize these
results for inhomogeneous systems with arbitrary power-law density profile and
arbitrary power-law force in a d-dimensional universe
Imagining transitions in old age through the visual matrix method: thinking about what is hard to bear
Dominant discourses of ageing are often confined to what is less painful to think about and therefore idealise or denigrate ageing and later life. We present findings from an exploratory psychosocial study, in a Nordic context into three later-life transitions: from working life to retirement, from mental health to dementia, and from life to death. Because, for some, these topics are hard to bear, and therefore defended against and routinely excluded from everyday awareness, we used a method led by imagery and affect - the Visual Matrix - to elicit participants’ free associative personal and collective imagination. Through analysis of data extracts, on the three transitions, we illustrate oscillations between defending against the challenges of ageing and realism in facing the anxieties it can provoke. A recurring theme includes the finality of individual life and the inter-generational continuity, which together link life and death, hope and despair, separation and connectedness
Statistical mechanics of two-dimensional vortices and stellar systems
The formation of large-scale vortices is an intriguing phenomenon in
two-dimensional turbulence. Such organization is observed in large-scale
oceanic or atmospheric flows, and can be reproduced in laboratory experiments
and numerical simulations. A general explanation of this organization was first
proposed by Onsager (1949) by considering the statistical mechanics for a set
of point vortices in two-dimensional hydrodynamics. Similarly, the structure
and the organization of stellar systems (globular clusters, elliptical
galaxies,...) in astrophysics can be understood by developing a statistical
mechanics for a system of particles in gravitational interaction as initiated
by Chandrasekhar (1942). These statistical mechanics turn out to be relatively
similar and present the same difficulties due to the unshielded long-range
nature of the interaction. This analogy concerns not only the equilibrium
states, i.e. the formation of large-scale structures, but also the relaxation
towards equilibrium and the statistics of fluctuations. We will discuss these
analogies in detail and also point out the specificities of each system.Comment: Chapter of the forthcoming "Lecture Notes in Physics" volume:
``Dynamics and Thermodynamics of Systems with Long Range Interactions'', T.
Dauxois, S. Ruffo, E. Arimondo, M. Wilkens Eds., Lecture Notes in Physics
Vol. 602, Springer (2002
Purification, Characterization, and Gene Sequence of Michiganin A, an Actagardine-Like Lantibiotic Produced by the Tomato Pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis
Members of the actinomycete genus Clavibacter are known to produce antimicrobial compounds, but so far none of these compounds has been purified and characterized. We have isolated an antimicrobial peptide, michiganin A, from the tomato pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, using ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by cation-exchange and reversed-phase chromatography steps. Upon chemical derivatization of putative dehydrated amino acids and lanthionine bridges by alkaline ethanethiol, Edman degradation yielded sequence information that proved to be sufficient for cloning of the gene by a genome-walking strategy. The mature unmodified peptide consists of 21 amino acids, SSSGWLCTLTIECGTIICACR. All of the threonine residues undergo dehydration, and three of them interact with cysteines via thioether bonds to form methyllanthionine bridges. Michiganin A resembles actagardine, a type B lantibiotic with a known three-dimensional structure, produced by Actinoplanes liguriae, which is a filamentous actinomycete. The DNA sequence of the gene showed that the michiganin A precursor contains an unusual putative signal peptide with no similarity to well-known secretion signals and only very limited similarity to the (only two) available leader peptides of other type B lantibiotics. Michiganin A inhibits the growth of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, the causal agent of ring rot of potatoes, with MICs in the low nanomolar range. Thus, michiganin A may have some potential in biological control of potato ring rot
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