Quasi-two-dimensional complex plasma containing spherical particles and their binary agglomerates

A new type of quasi-two-dimensional complex plasma system was observed which consisted of monodisperse microspheres and their binary agglomerations (dimers). The particles and their dimers levitated in a plasma sheath at slightly different heights and formed two distinct sublayers. The sys- tem did not crystallize and may be characterized as disordered solid. The dimers were identified based on their characteristic appearance in defocused images, i.e., rotating interference fringe pat- terns. The in-plane and inter-plane particle separations exhibit nonmonotonic dependence on the discharge pressure which agrees well with theoretical predictions

Capacitively-coupled rf discharge with a large amount of microparticles: spatiotemporal emission pattern and microparticle arrangement

The effect of micron-sized particles on a low-pressure capacitively-coupled rf discharge is studied both experimentally and using numerical simulations. In the laboratory experiments, microparticle clouds occupying a considerable fraction of the discharge volume are supported against gravity with the help of the thermophoretic force. The spatiotemporally resolved optical emission measurements are performed with different arrangements of microparticles. The numerical simulations are carried out on the basis of a one-dimensional hybrid (fluid-kinetic) discharge model describing the interaction between plasma and microparticles in a self-consistent way. The study is focused on the role of microparticle arrangement in interpreting the spatiotemporal emission measurements. We show that it is not possible to reproduce simultaneously the observed microparticle arrangement and emission pattern in the framework of the considered one-dimensional model. This disagreement is discussed and attributed to two-dimensional effects, e.g., radial diffusion of the plasma components

Electron spin relaxation in carbon nanotubes

The long standing problem of inexplicably short spin relaxation in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is examined. The curvature-mediated spin-orbital interaction is shown to induce fluctuating electron spin precession causing efficient relaxation in a manner analogous to the Dyakonov-Perel mechanism. Our calculation estimates longitudinal (spin-flip) and transversal (decoherence) relaxation times as short as 150 ps and 110 ps at room temperature, respectively, along with a pronounced anisotropic dependence. Interference of electrons originating from different valleys can lead to even faster dephasing. The results can help clarify the measured data, resolving discrepancies in the literature.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Rate of steady-state reconnection in an incompressible plasma

The reconnection rate is obtained for the simplest case of 2D symmetric reconnection in an incompressible plasma. In the short note (Erkaev et al., Phys. Rev. Lett.,84, 1455 (2000)), the reconnection rate is found by matching the outer Petschek solution and the inner diffusion region solution. Here the details of the numerical simulation of the diffusion region are presented and the asymptotic procedure which is used for deriving the reconnection rate is described. The reconnection rate is obtained as a decreasing function of the diffusion region length. For a sufficiently large diffusion region scale, the reconnection rate becomes close to that obtained in the Sweet-Parker solution with the inverse square root dependence on the magnetic Reynolds number, determined for the global size of the current sheet. On the other hand, for a small diffusion region length scale, the reconnection rate turns out to be very similar to that obtained in the Petschek model with a logarithmic dependence on the magnetic Reynolds number. This means that the Petschek regime seems to be possible only in the case of a strongly localized conductivity corresponding to a small scale of the diffusion region.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Some exact properties of the gluon propagator

Recent numerical studies of the gluon propagator in the minimal Landau and Coulomb gauges in space-time dimension 2, 3, and 4 pose a challenge to the Gribov confinement scenario. We prove, without approximation, that for these gauges, the continuum gluon propagator $D(k)$ in SU(N) gauge theory satisfies the bound ${d-1 \over d} {1 \over (2 \pi)^d} \int d^dk {D(k) \over k^2} \leq N$. This holds for Landau gauge, in which case $d$ is the dimension of space-time, and for Coulomb gauge, in which case $d$ is the dimension of ordinary space and $D(k)$ is the instantaneous spatial gluon propagator. This bound implies that $\lim_{k \to 0}k^{d-2} D(k) = 0$, where $D(k)$ is the gluon propagator at momentum $k$, and consequently $D(0) = 0$ in Landau gauge in space-time $d = 2$, and in Coulomb gauge in space dimension $d = 2$, but D(0) may be finite in higher dimension. These results are compatible with numerical studies of the Landau-and Coulomb-gauge propagator. In 4-dimensional space-time a regularization is required, and we also prove an analogous bound on the lattice gluon propagator, ${1 \over d (2 \pi)^d} \int_{- \pi}^{\pi} d^dk {\sum_\mu \cos^2(k_\mu/2) D_{\mu \mu}(k) \over 4 \sum_\lambda \sin^2(k_\lambda/2)} \leq N$. Here we have taken the infinite-volume limit of lattice gauge theory at fixed lattice spacing, and the lattice momentum componant $k_\mu$ is a continuous angle $- \pi \leq k_\mu \leq \pi$. Unexpectedly, this implies a bound on the {\it high-momentum} behavior of the continuum propagator in minimum Landau and Coulomb gauge in 4 space-time dimensions which, moreover, is compatible with the perturbative renormalization group when the theory is asymptotically free.Comment: 13 page

The ice-limit of Coulomb gauge Yang-Mills theory

In this paper we describe gauge invariant multi-quark states generalising the path integral framework developed by Parrinello, Jona-Lasinio and Zwanziger to amend the Faddeev-Popov approach. This allows us to produce states such that, in a limit which we call the ice-limit, fermions are dressed with glue exclusively from the fundamental modular region associated with Coulomb gauge. The limit can be taken analytically without difficulties, avoiding the Gribov problem. This is llustrated by an unambiguous construction of gauge invariant mesonic states for which we simulate the static quark--antiquark potential.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figure

Effect of Anode Dielectric Coating on Hall Thruster Operation

An interesting phenomenon observed in the near-anode region of a Hall thruster is that the anode fall changes from positive to negative upon removal of the dielectric coating, which is produced on the anode surface during the normal course of Hall thruster operation. The anode fall might affect the thruster lifetime and acceleration efficiency. The effect of the anode coating on the anode fall is studied experimentally using both biased and emissive probes. Measurements of discharge current oscillations indicate that thruster operation is more stable with the coated anode

New modelling technique for improving crop model performance - Application to the GLAM model

Crop models simulate growth and development and they are often used for climate change applications. However, they have a variable skill in the simulation of crop responses to extreme climatic events. Here, we present a new dynamic crop modelling method for simulating the impact of abiotic stresses. The Simultaneous Equation Modelling for Annual Crops (SEMAC) uses simultaneous solution of the model equations to ensure internal model consistency within daily time steps; something that is not always guaranteed in the usual sequential method. The SEMAC approach is implemented in GLAM, resulting in a new model version (GLAM-Parti). The new model shows a clear improvement in skill under water stress conditions and it successfully simulates the acceleration of leaf senescence in response to drought. We conclude that SEMAC is a promising crop modelling technique that might be applied to a range of models