Stability of Quasicrystals Composed of Soft Isotropic Particles

Quasicrystals whose building blocks are of mesoscopic rather than atomic scale have recently been discovered in several soft-matter systems. Contrary to metallurgic quasicrystals whose source of stability remains a question of great debate to this day, we argue that the stability of certain soft-matter quasicrystals can be directly explained by examining a coarse-grained free energy for a system of soft isotropic particles. We show, both theoretically and numerically, that the stability can be attributed to the existence of two natural length scales in the pair potential, combined with effective three-body interactions arising from entropy. Our newly gained understanding of the stability of soft quasicrystals allows us to point at their region of stability in the phase diagram, and thereby may help control the self-assembly of quasicrystals and a variety of other desired structures in future experimental realizations.Comment: Revised abstract, more detailed explanations, and better images of the numerical minimization of the free energ

Nonlocal Scalar Quantum Field Theory: Functional Integration, Basis Functions Representation and Strong Coupling Expansion

Nonlocal QFT of one-component scalar field $\varphi$ in $D$-dimensional Euclidean spacetime is considered. The generating functional (GF) of complete Green functions $\mathcal{Z}$ as a functional of external source $j$, coupling constant $g$, and spatial measure $d\mu$ is studied. An expression for GF $\mathcal{Z}$ in terms of the abstract integral over the primary field $\varphi$ is given. An expression for GF $\mathcal{Z}$ in terms of integrals over the primary field and separable Hilbert space (HS) is obtained by means of a separable expansion of the free theory inverse propagator $\hat{L}$ over the separable HS basis. The classification of functional integration measures $\mathcal{D}\left[\varphi\right]$ is formulated, according to which trivial and two nontrivial versions of GF $\mathcal{Z}$ are obtained. Nontrivial versions of GF $\mathcal{Z}$ are expressed in terms of $1$-norm and $0$-norm, respectively. The definition of the $0$-norm generator $\varPsi$ is suggested. Simple cases of sharp and smooth generators are considered. Expressions for GF $\mathcal{Z}$ in terms of integrals over the separable HS with new integrands are obtained. For polynomial theories $\varphi^{2n},\, n=2,3,4,\ldots,$ and for the nonpolynomial theory $\sinh^{4}\varphi$, integrals over the separable HS in terms of a power series over the inverse coupling constant $1/\sqrt{g}$ for both norms ($1$-norm and $0$-norm) are calculated. Critical values of model parameters when a phase transition occurs are found numerically. A generalization of the theory to the case of the uncountable integral over HS is formulated. A comparison of two GFs $\mathcal{Z}$, one in the case of uncountable HS integral and one obtained using the Parseval-Plancherel identity, is given.Comment: 26 pages, 2 figures; v2: significant additions in the text; prepared for the special issue "QCD and Hadron Structure" of the journal Particles; v3: minimal corrections; v4: paragraphs added related to Reviewer comment

Bethe Ansatz solution of a decagonal rectangle triangle random tiling

A random tiling of rectangles and triangles displaying a decagonal phase is solved by Bethe Ansatz. Analogously to the solutions of the dodecagonal square triangle and the octagonal rectangle triangle tiling an exact expression for the maximum of the entropy is found.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, some remarks added and typos correcte

Self-Diffusion in Random-Tiling Quasicrystals

The first explicit realization of the conjecture that phason dynamics leads to self-diffusion in quasicrystals is presented for the icosahedral Ammann tilings. On short time scales, the transport is found to be subdiffusive with the exponent $\beta\approx0.57(1)$, while on long time scales it is consistent with normal diffusion that is up to an order of magnitude larger than in the typical room temperature vacancy-assisted self-diffusion. No simple finite-size scaling is found, suggesting anomalous corrections to normal diffusion, or existence of at least two independent length scales.Comment: 11 pages + 2 figures, COMPRESSED postscript figures available by anonymous ftp to black_hole.physics.ubc.ca directory outgoing/diffuse (use bi for binary mode to transfer), REVTeX 3.0, CTP-TAMU 21/9

Plate Heat-exchangers in Modern Waste Heat Recovery Systems of Hot Blast Stoves and Other Metallurgical Equipment

One of the main factors which defines modern economy is energy efficiency, namely, rationality of use of natural resources, first of all fuel resources, their economic use. Energy saving and energy efficiency improvement should be considered as one of the main sources of future economic growth. Keywords: heat recovery system, economic and ecological effect, plate heatexchangers, ribbed panel, laser welding, ribbed panels, heating uni

Universalities in One-electron Properties of Limit Quasi-periodic Lattices

We investigate one-electron properties of one-dimensional self-similar structures called limit quasi-periodic lattices. The trace map of such a lattice is nonconservative in contrast to the quasi-periodic case, and we can determine the structure of its attractor. It allows us to obtain the three new features of the present system: 1) The multi-fractal characters of the energy spectra are {\it universal}. 2) The supports of the $f(\alpha)$-spectra extend over the whole unit interval, $[0, 1]$. 3) There exist marginal critical states.Comment: 4 pages, 2figure

Exact Solution of an Octagonal Random Tiling Model

We consider the two-dimensional random tiling model introduced by Cockayne, i.e. the ensemble of all possible coverings of the plane without gaps or overlaps with squares and various hexagons. At the appropriate relative densities the correlations have eight-fold rotational symmetry. We reformulate the model in terms of a random tiling ensemble with identical rectangles and isosceles triangles. The partition function of this model can be calculated by diagonalizing a transfer matrix using the Bethe Ansatz (BA). The BA equations can be solved providing {\em exact} values of the entropy and elastic constants.Comment: 4 pages,3 Postscript figures, uses revte

Indirect Estimation of Citizens Willingness to Pay for Past Environmental Damage Elimination: Case Study of Kemerovo City

The paper describes the results of the first attempt in Russia to indirectly estimate Kemerovo city residents willingness to pay for the implementation of projects aimed at past environmental damage elimination and health risk reduction. The study employs choice experiment format incorporated into originally designed questionnaires which were used during the household survey. The analysis of interview results revealed that the majority of population in Kemerovo is concerned about past environmental damage issues; however, aggregated numbers for willingness to pay for the city level appeared to be much lower of those estimated by local authorities as required for project implementation.Данная статья представляет результаты первой в России попытки непрямой оценки готовности населения города Кемерово платить за осуществление мероприятий, направленных на ликвидацию прошлого экологического ущерба (ПЭУ) и снижение риска здоровью. В исследовании применен метод выборных экспериментов, на основе которого были разработаны анкеты и проведен опрос домохозяйств в городе. Анализ результатов выявил существенную обеспокоенность населения вопросами прошлого экологического ущерба, однако значения готовности платить для города в целом оказались существенно ниже сумм, определенных местными властями как необходимые для осуществления проекта по ликвидации ПЭУ

Geoinformation analysis of historical maps over Polotsk region

The article presents the results of application of geoinformation technologies for analysis of historical and modern maps over the territory of Polotsk, Novopolotsk and surrounding area to study dynamics of sociotopographic factors from 18th century up to now