1,425 research outputs found
Giant water clusters: where are they from?
A new mechanism for the formation and destruction of giant water clusters
described in the literature is proposed. We have earlier suggested that the
clusters are associates of liquid crystal spheres (LCS), each of which is
formed around a seed particle, a micro-crystal of sodium chloride. In this
paper, we show that the ingress of LCS in water from the surrounding air is
highly likely. When a certain threshold of the ionic strength of a solution is
exceeded (for example, in the process of evaporation of a portion of water),
the LCS begin to melt, passing into free water, and the salt crystals dissolve,
ensuring re-growth of larger crystals as a precipitate on the substrate. A
schematic diagram of the dynamics of phase transitions in water containing LCS
during evaporation is proposed.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, 29 reference
Semimetallic molecular hydrogen at pressure above 350 GPa
According to the theoretical predictions, insulating molecular hydrogen
dissociates and transforms to an atomic metal at pressures P~370-500 GPa. In
another scenario, the metallization first occurs in the 250-500 GPa pressure
range in molecular hydrogen through overlapping of electronic bands. The
calculations are not accurate enough to predict which option is realized. Here
we show that at a pressure of ~360 GPa and temperatures <200 K the hydrogen
starts to conduct, and that temperature dependence of the electrical
conductivity is typical of a semimetal. The conductivity, measured up to 440
GPa, increases strongly with pressure. Raman spectra, measured up to 480 GPa,
indicate that hydrogen remains a molecular solid at pressures up to 440 GPa,
while at higher pressures the Raman signal vanishes, likely indicating further
transformation to a good molecular metal or to an atomic state
An analytic model of rotationally inelastic collisions of polar molecules in electric fields
We present an analytic model of thermal state-to-state rotationally inelastic
collisions of polar molecules in electric fields. The model is based on the
Fraunhofer scattering of matter waves and requires Legendre moments
characterizing the "shape" of the target in the body-fixed frame as its input.
The electric field orients the target in the space-fixed frame and thereby
effects a striking alteration of the dynamical observables: both the phase and
amplitude of the oscillations in the partial differential cross sections
undergo characteristic field-dependent changes that transgress into the partial
integral cross sections. As the cross sections can be evaluated for a field
applied parallel or perpendicular to the relative velocity, the model also
offers predictions about steric asymmetry. We exemplify the field-dependent
quantum collision dynamics with the behavior of the Ne-OCS() and
Ar-NO() systems. A comparison with the close-coupling calculations
available for the latter system [Chem. Phys. Lett. \textbf{313}, 491 (1999)]
demonstrates the model's ability to qualitatively explain the field dependence
of all the scattering features observed
Low temperature phase diagram of hydrogen at pressures up to 380 GPa. A possible metallic phase at 360 GPa and 200 K
Two new phases of hydrogen have been discovered at room temperature in Ref.1:
phase IV above 220 GPa and phase V above ~270 GPa. In the present work we have
found a new phase VI at P~360 GPa and T<200 K. This phase is likely metallic as
follows from the featureless Raman spectra, a strong drop in resistance, and
absence of a photoconductive response. We studied hydrogen at low temperatures
with the aid of Raman, infrared absorption, and electrical measurements at
pressures up to 380 GPa, and have built a new phase diagram of hydrogen.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figure
Spectroscopy of HS: evidence of a new energy scale for superconductivity
The discovery of a superconducting phase in sulfur hydride under high
pressure with a critical temperature above 200 K has provided a new impetus to
the search for even higher . Theory predicted and experiment confirmed
that the phase involved is HS with Im-3m crystal structure. The observation
of a sharp drop in resistance to zero at , its downward shift with
magnetic field and a Meissner effect confirm superconductivity but the
mechanism involved remains to be determined. Here, we provide a first optical
spectroscopy study of this new superconductor. Experimental results for the
optical reflectivity of HS, under high pressure of 150 GPa, for several
temperatures and over the range 60 to 600 meV of photon energies, are compared
with theoretical calculations based on Eliashberg theory using DFT results for
the electron-phonon spectral density F(). Two significant
features stand out: some remarkably strong infrared active phonons at
160 meV and a band with a depressed reflectance in the superconducting state in
the region from 450 meV to 600 meV. In this energy range, as predicted by
theory, HS is found to become a better reflector with increasing
temperature. This temperature evolution is traced to superconductivity
originating from the electron-phonon interaction. The shape, magnitude, and
energy dependence of this band at 150 K agrees with our calculations. This
provides strong evidence of a conventional mechanism. However, the unusually
strong optical phonon suggests a contribution of electronic degrees of freedom.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. Main manuscript and supplementary informatio
The space physics environment data analysis system (SPEDAS)
With the advent of the Heliophysics/Geospace System Observatory (H/GSO), a complement of multi-spacecraft missions and ground-based observatories to study the space environment, data retrieval, analysis, and visualization of space physics data can be daunting. The Space Physics Environment Data Analysis System (SPEDAS), a grass-roots software development platform (www.spedas.org), is now officially supported by NASA Heliophysics as part of its data environment infrastructure. It serves more than a dozen space missions and ground observatories and can integrate the full complement of past and upcoming space physics missions with minimal resources, following clear, simple, and well-proven guidelines. Free, modular and configurable to the needs of individual missions, it works in both command-line (ideal for experienced users) and Graphical User Interface (GUI) mode (reducing the learning curve for first-time users). Both options have âcrib-sheets,â user-command sequences in ASCII format that can facilitate record-and-repeat actions, especially for complex operations and plotting. Crib-sheets enhance scientific interactions, as users can move rapidly and accurately from exchanges of technical information on data processing to efficient discussions regarding data interpretation and science. SPEDAS can readily query and ingest all International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP)-compatible products from the Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF), enabling access to a vast collection of historic and current mission data. The planned incorporation of Heliophysics Application Programmerâs Interface (HAPI) standards will facilitate data ingestion from distributed datasets that adhere to these standards. Although SPEDAS is currently Interactive Data Language (IDL)-based (and interfaces to Java-based tools such as Autoplot), efforts are under-way to expand it further to work with python (first as an interface tool and potentially even receiving an under-the-hood replacement). We review the SPEDAS development history, goals, and current implementation. We explain its âmodes of useâ with examples geared for users and outline its technical implementation and requirements with software developers in mind. We also describe SPEDAS personnel and software management, interfaces with other organizations, resources and support structure available to the community, and future development plans.Published versio
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