A parity conserving dimer model with infinitely many absorbing states

We propose and study a model where, for the first time, two aspects are present: parity conservation and infinitely many absorbing states. Whereas steady-state simulations show that the static critical behaviour is not affected by the presence of multiple absorbing configurations, the influence of the initial state associated with the presence of slowly decaying memory effects is clearly displayed in time dependent simulations. We report results of a detailed investigation of the dependence of critical spreading exponents on the initial particle density.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures.p

Roper Electroproduction Amplitudes in a Chiral Confinement Model

A description of the Roper using the chiral chromodielectric model is presented and the transverse $A_{1/2}$ and the scalar $S_{1/2}$ helicity amplitudes for the electromagnetic Nucleon--Roper transition are obtained for small and moderate $Q^2$. The sign of the amplitudes is correct but the model predictions underestimate the data at the photon point. Our results do not indicate a change of sign in any amplitudes up to $Q^2\sim1$ GeV$^2$. The contribution of the scalar meson excitations to the Roper electroproduction is taken into account but it turns out to be small in comparison with the quark contribution. However, it is argued that mesonic excitations may play a more prominent role in higher excited states.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, uses World Scientific macros. Talk presented at EMI2001 in Osaka, Japa

N^* electroproduction amplitudes in a model with dynamical confinement

The Roper resonance is described in a chiral version of the chromodielectric model as a cluster of three quarks in radial-orbital configuration (1s)$^2$(2s)$^1$, surrounded by $\pi$ and $\sigma$-meson clouds and by a chromodielectric field which assures quark dynamical confinement. Radial profiles for all fields are determined self-consistently for each baryon. Transverse $A_{1/2}$ and scalar $S_{1/2}$ helicity amplitudes for the nucleon-Roper transition are calculated. The contribution of glueball and $\sigma$-meson vibrations is estimated; although small for N(1440), the $\sigma$ contribution can be large for N(1710).Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, uses elsevier macro

Abrasion of flat rotating shapes

We report on the erosion of flat linoleum "pebbles" under steady rotation in a slurry of abrasive grit. To quantify shape as a function of time, we develop a general method in which the pebble is photographed from multiple angles with respect to the grid of pixels in a digital camera. This reduces digitization noise, and allows the local curvature of the contour to be computed with a controllable degree of uncertainty. Several shape descriptors are then employed to follow the evolution of different initial shapes toward a circle, where abrasion halts. The results are in good quantitative agreement with a simple model, where we propose that points along the contour move radially inward in proportion to the product of the radius and the derivative of radius with respect to angle

Excitonic effects in the optical properties of CdSe nanowires

Using a first-principle approach beyond density functional theory we calculate the electronic and optical properties of small diameter CdSe nanowires.Our results demonstrate how some approximations commonly used in bulk systems fail at this nano-scale level and how indispensable it is to include crystal local fields and excitonic effects to predict the unique optical properties of nanowires. From our results, we then construct a simple model that describes the optical gap as a function of the diameter of the wire, that turns out to be in excellent agreement with experiments for intermediate and large diameters.Comment: submitte