Statistical Self-Similarity of One-Dimensional Growth Processes

For one-dimensional growth processes we consider the distribution of the height above a given point of the substrate and study its scale invariance in the limit of large times. We argue that for self-similar growth from a single seed the universal distribution is the Tracy-Widom distribution from the theory of random matrices and that for growth from a flat substrate it is some other, only numerically determined distribution. In particular, for the polynuclear growth model in the droplet geometry the height maps onto the longest increasing subsequence of a random permutation, from which the height distribution is identified as the Tracy-Widom distribution.Comment: 11 pages, iopart, epsf, 2 postscript figures, submitted to Physica A, in an Addendum the distribution for the flat case is identified analyticall

Dynamics of the sol-gel transition in organic-inorganic nanocomposites

Two different techniques have been used to follow the gelation of photochromic organic-inorganic nanocomposites. The variations of molecular and macromolecular motions in these complex systems have been analyzed. Photo-correlation spectroscopy probes the formation of the gel network. Forced Rayleigh scattering experiences the microstructure of the mixtures via the measurement of the translational diffusion coefficient of entrapped photoreactive targets. In the different mixtures, a drop of the network mobility could be observed around the sol to gel conversion, while the entrapped molecules do not experience the macroscopic transition

Photochromic organic-inorganic nanocomposites as holograpahic storage media

This paper describes the properties of some new organic-inorganic photochromic layers. They are based on a hybrid organic-inorganic matrix in which tungsten heteropolyoxometallates (SiW12O404-, PW12O403-) are entrapped in a network obtained from the reaction of 3-glycidoxy-propyltrimethoxysilane. The high homogeneity of these materials on the nanoscale leads to transparent monoliths and layers of controlled thicknesses up to 40 µm. The optical properties of the blend are emphasised and the construction of amplitude gratings in the materials by two-wave-mixing experiments is described. The results of the optical experiments and the comparison with the theoretical background are used as a model for photochromic holographic storage processes

Scaling Limit for the Space-Time Covariance of the Stationary Totally Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process

The totally asymmetric simple exclusion process (TASEP) on the one-dimensional lattice with the Bernoulli \rho measure as initial conditions, 0<\rho<1, is stationary in space and time. Let N_t(j) be the number of particles which have crossed the bond from j to j+1 during the time span [0,t]. For j=(1-2\rho)t+2w(\rho(1-\rho))^{1/3} t^{2/3} we prove that the fluctuations of N_t(j) for large t are of order t^{1/3} and we determine the limiting distribution function F_w(s), which is a generalization of the GUE Tracy-Widom distribution. The family F_w(s) of distribution functions have been obtained before by Baik and Rains in the context of the PNG model with boundary sources, which requires the asymptotics of a Riemann-Hilbert problem. In our work we arrive at F_w(s) through the asymptotics of a Fredholm determinant. F_w(s) is simply related to the scaling function for the space-time covariance of the stationary TASEP, equivalently to the asymptotic transition probability of a single second class particle.Comment: 53 pages, 4 figures, Latex2e; Fixed a numerical prefactor in the scaling function (1.10

The Sol-gel process for nano-technologies : new nanocomposites with interesting optical and mechanical properties

Various nanocomposite systems have been synthesized by sol-gel routes. For this reason, prefabricated nanoparticles (SiO2 sols or boehmite powder) have been dispersed after surface modification in sol-gel-derived organically modified or polymeric ligand matrices. In all cases, a significant effect on dispersibility by surface modification could be observed. After curing, the mechanical or optical properties depend strongly on the dispersion and surface modification. Using these results, composites to be used in chip coupling and as hard coatings on polycarbonate and CR 39 have been developed

Universal Distributions for Growth Processes in 1+1 Dimensions and Random Matrices

We develop a scaling theory for KPZ growth in one dimension by a detailed study of the polynuclear growth (PNG) model. In particular, we identify three universal distributions for shape fluctuations and their dependence on the macroscopic shape. These distribution functions are computed using the partition function of Gaussian random matrices in a cosine potential.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, RevTeX, revised version, accepted for publication in PR

Superdiffusivity of the 1D lattice Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation

The continuum Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation in one dimension is lattice discretized in such a way that the drift part is divergence free. This allows to determine explicitly the stationary measures. We map the lattice KPZ equation to a bosonic field theory which has a cubic anti-hermitian nonlinearity. Thereby it is established that the stationary two-point function spreads superdiffusively.Comment: 21 page

Porous silicon formation and electropolishing

Electrochemical etching of silicon in hydrofluoride containing electrolytes leads to pore formation for low and to electropolishing for high applied current. The transition between pore formation and polishing is accompanied by a change of the valence of the electrochemical dissolution reaction. The local etching rate at the interface between the semiconductor and the electrolyte is determined by the local current density. We model the transport of reactants and reaction products and thus the current density in both, the semiconductor and the electrolyte. Basic features of the chemical reaction at the interface are summarized in law of mass action type boundary conditions for the transport equations at the interface. We investigate the linear stability of a planar and flat interface. Upon increasing the current density the stability flips either through a change of the valence of the dissolution reaction or by a nonlinear boundary conditions at the interface.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure

Replication of Norovirus in Cell Culture Reveals a Tropism for Dendritic Cells and Macrophages

Noroviruses are understudied because these important enteric pathogens have not been cultured to date. We found that the norovirus murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) infects macrophage-like cells in vivo and replicates in cultured primary dendritic cells and macrophages. MNV-1 growth was inhibited by the interferon-αβ receptor and STAT-1, and was associated with extensive rearrangements of intracellular membranes. An amino acid substitution in the capsid protein of serially passaged MNV-1 was associated with virulence attenuation in vivo. This is the first report of replication of a norovirus in cell culture. The capacity of MNV-1 to replicate in a STAT-1-regulated fashion and the unexpected tropism of a norovirus for cells of the hematopoietic lineage provide important insights into norovirus biology