Counterions at charge-modulated substrates

We consider counterions in the presence of a single planar surface with a spatially inhomogeneous charge distribution using Monte-Carlo simulations and strong-coupling theory. For high surface charges, multivalent counterions, or pronounced substrate charge modulation the counterions are laterally correlated with the surface charges and their density profile deviates strongly from the limit of a smeared-out substrate charge distribution, in particular exhibiting a much increased laterally averaged density at the surface.Comment: 7 page

Micro-bias and macro-performance

We use agent-based modeling to investigate the effect of conservatism and partisanship on the efficiency with which large populations solve the density classification task--a paradigmatic problem for information aggregation and consensus building. We find that conservative agents enhance the populations' ability to efficiently solve the density classification task despite large levels of noise in the system. In contrast, we find that the presence of even a small fraction of partisans holding the minority position will result in deadlock or a consensus on an incorrect answer. Our results provide a possible explanation for the emergence of conservatism and suggest that even low levels of partisanship can lead to significant social costs.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Wigner-Crystal Formulation of Strong-Coupling Theory for Counter-ions Near Planar Charged Interfaces

We present a new analytical approach to the strong electrostatic coupling regime (SC), that can be achieved equivalently at low temperatures, high charges, low dielectric permittivity etc. Two geometries are analyzed in detail: one charged wall first, and then, two parallel walls at small distances, that can be likely or oppositely charged. In all cases, one type of mobile counter-ions only is present, and ensures electroneutrality (salt free case). The method is based on a systematic expansion around the ground state formed by the two-dimensional Wigner crystal(s) of counter-ions at the plate(s). The leading SC order stems from a single-particle theory, and coincides with the virial SC approach that has been much studied in the last 10 years. The first correction has the functional form of the virial SC prediction, but the prefactor is different. The present theory is free of divergences and the obtained results, both for symmetrically and asymmetrically charged plates, are in excellent agreement with available data of Monte-Carlo simulations under strong and intermediate Coulombic couplings. All results obtained represent relevant improvements over the virial SC estimates. The present SC theory starting from the Wigner crystal and therefore coined Wigner SC, sheds light on anomalous phenomena like the counter-ion mediated like-charge attraction, and the opposite-charge repulsion

Non-Local Product Rules for Percolation

Despite original claims of a first-order transition in the product rule model proposed by Achlioptas et al. [Science 323, 1453 (2009)], recent studies indicate that this percolation model, in fact, displays a continuous transition. The distinctive scaling properties of the model at criticality, however, strongly suggest that it should belong to a different universality class than ordinary percolation. Here we introduce a generalization of the product rule that reveals the effect of non-locality on the critical behavior of the percolation process. Precisely, pairs of unoccupied bonds are chosen according to a probability that decays as a power-law of their Manhattan distance, and only that bond connecting clusters whose product of their sizes is the smallest, becomes occupied. Interestingly, our results for two-dimensional lattices at criticality shows that the power-law exponent of the product rule has a significant influence on the finite-size scaling exponents for the spanning cluster, the conducting backbone, and the cutting bonds of the system. In all three cases, we observe a continuous variation from ordinary to (non-local) explosive percolation exponents.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Production of exotic charmonium in γγ\gamma \gamma interactions at hadronic colliders

In this paper we investigate the Exotic Charmonium (EC) production in $\gamma \gamma$ interactions present in proton-proton, proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) energies as well as for the proposed energies of the Future Circular Collider (FCC). Our results demonstrate that the experimental study of these processes is feasible and can be used to constrain the theoretical decay widths and shed some light on the configuration of the considered multiquark states.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables. v2: Revised version published in Physical Review

Universal reduction of pressure between charged surfaces by long-wavelength surface charge modulation

We predict theoretically that long-wavelength surface charge modulations universally reduce the pressure between the charged surfaces with counterions compared with the case of uniformly charged surfaces with the same average surface charge density. The physical origin of this effect is the fact that surface charge modulations always lead to enhanced counterion localization near the surfaces, and hence, fewer charges at the midplane. We confirm the last prediction with Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: 8 pages 1 figure, Europhys. Lett., in pres

Dinâmica da matéria orgânica na recuperação de clareiras da floresta amazônica.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a dinâmica da matéria orgânica e da biomassa microbiana em áreas de reflorestamento com 0, 1, 2, 4 e 10 anos de idade realizados na província petrolífera do rio Urucu, localizada no município de Coari, região central do Estado do Amazonas