On the identity of types of Roncus diocletiani Ćurčić, Dimitrijević & Rađa and Archaeoroncus tenuis (Hadži) (Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisiidae) from Croatia

Five years ago, Ćurčić et al. (2008) described two new pseudoscorpions: Roncus diocletiani Ćurčić, Dimitrijević and Rađa (from Croatia) and R. orjensis Ćurčić, Dimitrijević and Rađa (from Montenegro). The pseudoscorpions studied were mounted on slides with gum-chloral medium. They are deposited in the collection of the Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia and in the collection of the Natural History Museum, 21000 Split, Croatia. It has been shown that only the male of R. diocletiani belongs to the nominal species, while the female of the same taxon belongs to Archaeoroncus tenuis (Hadži). Therefore, the “allotype male” of R. diocletiani is actually a holotype of this species, while the “holotype” of R. diocletiani becomes a paratype of A. tenuis. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038

On two new cave species of Pseudoscorpions (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones) from Herzegovina and Dalmatia

A careful analysis of samples of pseudoscorpions (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones) from two underground habitats, one near Trebinje (Herzegovina) and the other from the National Park Paklenica (Croatia), has yielded two species of the genus Roncus L. Koch new to science, Roncus tribunus n. sp. and R. argyrunti n. sp. Both new species are described thoroughly, illustrated, and diagnosed. Some biogeographical and evolutionary characteristics of the two taxa are briefly discussed. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038

Biodiversity of Roncus L. Koch in Montenegro - Roncus teutae n. sp. from Mt. Orjen (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones)

A single species of Roncus L. Koch, 1873, which was collected in the Baretina Lokva on Mt. Orjen, Montenegro, is new to science (R. teutae n. sp.) and described herein. Its diagnostic characters are illustrated and their distribution is provided. The possible establishment of this species of Roncus is presented briefly in view of the importance and analysis of its diagnostic characters. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038

A new cave pseudoscorpion from Dalmatia - Microchthonius tragurion n. sp. (Chthoniidae, Pseudoscorpiones)

A new eyeless pseudoscorpion, Microchthonius tragurion n. sp., from a cave in Blizna Donja (near Trogir), from the Jama kod Gomilje Pit, Dalmatia, is described. This new false scorpion differs from all other congeners. There exists a probability that this new taxon is a relict of a tropical fauna incorporating the once northern and tropical area, now representing the subtropical part of the Mediterranean. Morphometric ratios, figures and linear measurements of the new taxon are presented in detail. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038

A new Pseudoscorpion from Bosnia: Roncus bosniensis n. sp. (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones)

A new species of troglobitic false scorpion, Roncus bosniensis n. sp. (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones), is described from inside an underground habitat, the Jama Pored Puta Pit, nr. Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The analyzed pseudoscorpion proves to differ from all other congeners, but is closest to R. hajnehaj Ćurčić & Dimitrijević. It is possible that the subterranean pseudoscorpion analyzed represents a relict of an old tropical faunal pattern of the Mediterranean. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038

One hundred millipede species in Serbia (Arthropoda: Myriapoda: Diplopoda)

The millipede fauna of Serbia consists of 100 species, 44 genera, 16 families and 7 orders. The most abundant are families Julidae (41 species or 41%) and Polydesmidae (22 species or 22%). Of the total number, 27 species (27%) are endemic to Serbia, while 18 (18%) are endemic to the Balkan Peninsula. All registered species can be related to 15 zoogeographical categories. Glomeris klugii Brandt, 1833 (Glomerida: Glomeridae), Cibiniulus phlepsii (Verhoeff, 1897) (Julida: Blaniulidae), Brachyiulus bagnalli (Brolemann, 1924), Megaphyllum carniolense (Verhoeff, 1897), Typhloiulus incurvatus Verhoeff, 1899, Xestoiulus luteus (Attems, 1951) (all Julida: Julidae), and Polydesmus renschi Schubart, 1934 (Polydesmida: Polydesmidae) represent new records for the diplopod fauna of Serbia. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038

A new cave diplopod of the genus Brachydesmus heller, 1858 from southwest Serbia (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Polydesmidae)

A new cave polydesmid, Brachydesmus sjenicae n. sp. is described from Ledena Pećina Cave, in southwest Serbia. The new taxon belongs to the vermosanus-group of species. Relationships with congeners are briefly discussed. The distribution map and key is given for all currently known taxa belonging to this group of species. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038

Radiative charge transfer lifetime of the excited state of (NaCa)+^+

New experiments were proposed recently to investigate the regime of cold atomic and molecular ion-atom collision processes in a special hybrid neutral-atom--ion trap under high vacuum conditions. The collisional cooling of laser pre-cooled Ca$^+$ ions by ultracold Na atoms is being studied. Modeling this process requires knowledge of the radiative lifetime of the excited singlet A$^1\Sigma^+$ state of the (NaCa)$^+$ molecular system. We calculate the rate coefficient for radiative charge transfer using a semiclassical approach. The dipole radial matrix elements between the ground and the excited states, and the potential curves were calculated using Complete Active Space Self-Consistent field and M\"oller-Plesset second order perturbation theory (CASSCF/MP2) with an extended Gaussian basis, 6-311+G(3df). The semiclassical charge transfer rate coefficient was averaged over a thermal Maxwellian distribution. In addition we also present elastic collision cross sections and the spin-exchange cross section. The rate coefficient for charge transfer was found to be $2.3\times 10^{-16}$ cm$^3$/sec, while those for the elastic and spin-exchange cross sections were found to be several orders of magnitude higher ($1.1\times 10^{-8}$ cm$^3$/sec and $2.3\times 10^{-9}$ cm$^3$/sec, respectively). This confirms our assumption that the milli-Kelvin regime of collisional cooling of calcium ions by sodium atoms is favorable with the respect to low loss of calcium ions due to the charge transfer.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures; v.2 - conceptual change

Quantum saturation and condensation of excitons in Cu2_2O: a theoretical study

Recent experiments on high density excitons in Cu$_2$O provide evidence for degenerate quantum statistics and Bose-Einstein condensation of this nearly ideal gas. We model the time dependence of this bosonic system including exciton decay mechanisms, energy exchange with phonons, and interconversion between ortho (triplet-state) and para (singlet-state) excitons, using parameters for the excitonic decay, the coupling to acoustic and low-lying optical phonons, Auger recombination, and ortho-para interconversion derived from experiment. The single adjustable parameter in our model is the optical-phonon cooling rate for Auger and laser-produced hot excitons. We show that the orthoexcitons move along the phase boundary without crossing it (i.e., exhibit a ``quantum saturation''), as a consequence of the balance of entropy changes due to cooling of excitons by phonons and heating by the non-radiative Auger two-exciton recombination process. The Auger annihilation rate for para-para collisions is much smaller than that for ortho-para and ortho-ortho collisions, explaining why, under the given experimental conditions, the paraexcitons condense while the orthoexcitons fail to do so.Comment: Revised to improve clarity and physical content 18 pages, revtex, figures available from G. Kavoulakis, Physics Department, University of Illinois, Urban