The Mixed State of Charge-Density-Wave in a Ring-Shaped Single Crystals

Charge-density-wave (CDW) phase transition in a ring-shaped crystals, recently synthesized by Tanda et al. [Nature, 417, 397 (2002)], is studied based on a mean-field-approximation of Ginzburg-Landau free energy. It is shown that in a ring-shaped crystals CDW undergoes frustration due to the curvature (bending) of the ring (geometrical frustration) and, thus, forms a mixed state analogous to what a type-II superconductor forms under a magnetic field. We discuss the nature of the phase transition in the ring-CDW in relation to recent experiments.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Pyrolysis-Catalytic-Dry Reforming of Waste Plastics and Mixed Waste Plastics for Syngas Production

The CO2 dry reforming of various types of waste plastics (LDPE, HDPE, PS, PET, and PP) and a simulated mixture of the different waste plastics was investigated over a Ni–Co–Al catalyst using a two-stage reactor. The first stage pyrolyzed the plastics, and the second stage involved catalytic-dry reforming of the product pyrolysis gases with CO2. The introduction of CO2 without a catalyst markedly increased the dry reforming reaction and significantly improved the production of H2/CO synthesis gas (syngas). The introduction of the Ni–Co–Al catalyst further significantly improved the production of syngas. LDPE produced the highest yield of syngas at 154.7 mmolsyngas g–1plastic from the pyrolysis-catalytic-dry reforming process. The order of syngas production for the different plastics was LDPE < HDPE < PP < PS < PET. The syngas yield from the processing of the simulated waste plastic mixture was 148.6 7 mmolsyngas g–1plastic which reflected the high content of the linear polyalkene plastics (LDPE, HDPE, PP) in the simulated waste plastic mixture

Infinite Layer LaNiO(2): Ni(1+)is not Cu(2+)

The Ni ion in LaNiO$_2$ has the same formal ionic configuration $3d^9$ as does Cu in isostructural CaCuO$_2$, but it is reported to be nonmagnetic and probably metallic whereas CaCuO$_2$ is a magnetic insulator. From ab initio calculations we trace its individualistic behavior to (1) reduced $3d-2p$ mixing due to an increase of the separation of site energies ($\epsilon_d - \epsilon_p$) of at least 2 eV, and (2) important Ni $3d(3z^2-r^2)$ mixing with La $5d(3z^2-r^2)$ states that leads to Fermi surface pockets of La $5d$ character that hole-dope the Ni 3d band.Correlation effects do not appear to be large in LaNiO$_2$. However, ad hoc increase of the intraatomic repulsion on the Ni site (using the LDA+U method) is found to lead to a novel correlated state: (i) the transition metal $d(x^2-y^2)$ and $d(3z^2-r^2)$ states undergo consecutive Mott transitions, (ii) their moments are antialigned leading (ideally) to a "singlet" ion in which there are two polarized orbitals, and (iii) mixing of the upper Hubbard $3d(3z^2-r^2)$ band with the La $5d(xy)$ states leaves considerable transition metal 3d character in a band pinned to the Fermi level. The magnetic configuration is more indicative of a Ni$^{2+}$ ion in this limit, although the actual charge changes little with U.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

An Eco-Morphological Examination of Tiller and Stolon Dynamics in a \u3cem\u3eZoysia japonica\u3c/em\u3e Sward

Japanese lawn grass (Zoysia japonica), which dominates in grazed semi-natural grasslands in Japan, is being reconsidered recently, because of its high adaptability to poorer conditions and its aggressive creeping habit in open fields. Zoysia has a unique potential for indeterminate multiple-node generation in the stolon tip and differential tiller formation at two tillering sites of every multiple-node (Ta in the bottom node and Tb in the mid-part), so that it displays contrasting behaviour in stolon extension and aerial tiller production in various situations (Ito et al., 2003). In this study, we examined the population structure of various tillering modules of Zoysia clones in a dense sward

Goddard Robotic Telescope - Optical Follow-up of GRBs and Coordinated Observations of AGNs -

Since it is not possible to predict when a Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) will occur or when Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) flaring activity starts, follow-up/monitoring ground telescopes must be located as uniformly as possible all over the world in order to collect data simultaneously with Fermi and Swift detections. However, there is a distinct gap in follow-up coverage of telescopes in the eastern U.S. region based on the operations of Swift. Motivated by this fact, we have constructed a 14" fully automated optical robotic telescope, Goddard Robotic Telescope (GRT), at the Goddard Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory. The aims of our robotic telescope are 1) to follow-up Swift/Fermi GRBs and 2) to perform the coordinated optical observations of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) AGN. Our telescope system consists of off-the-shelf hardware. With the focal reducer, we are able to match the field of view of Swift narrow instruments (20' x 20'). We started scientific observations in mid-November 2008 and GRT has been fully remotely operated since August 2009. The 3 sigma upper limit in a 30-second exposure in the R filter is ~15.4 mag; however, we can reach to ~18 mag in a 600-second exposures. Due to the weather condition at the telescope site, our observing efficiency is 30-40% on average.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in ASR special issue on Neutron Stars and Gamma Ray Burst

Detection of high k turbulence using two dimensional phase contrast imaging on LHD

High k turbulence, up to 30 cm(-1), can be measured using the two dimensional CO₂ laser phase contrast imaging system on LHD. Recent hardware improvements and experimental results are presented. Precise control over the lens positions in the detection system is necessary because of the short depth of focus for high k modes. Remote controllable motors to move optical elements were installed, which, combined with measurements of the response to ultrasound injection, allowed experimental verification and shot-to-shot adjustment of the object plane. Strong high k signals are observed within the first 100-200 ms after the initial electron cyclotron heating (ECH) breakdown, in agreement with gyrotron scattering. During later times in the discharge, the entire k spectrum shifts to lower values (although the total amplitude does not change significantly), and the weaker high k signals are obscured by leakage of low k components at low frequency, and detector noise, at high frequency

PV System With Reconnection to Improve Output Under Nonuniform Illumination

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are often nonuniformly illuminated owing to shadows of neighboring buildings, trees, clouds, etc. In order to reduce the effect of shadows on solar panels, we propose the concept of a PV system with reconnection; this system consists of PV arrays that can be reconnected to minimize the mismatch loss, depending on the output of each of its module, measured at regular time intervals. In this study, the relationship between the output improvement with reconnection and the switching interval is shown. For a 3-kW PV system, under conditions of cloudlessness and cloudiness, a sharp difference in the output improvement relative to the switching interval is not observed. However, under the condition of shading, the output improvement sharply decreases relative to the switching interval; the output improvement at a 1-min switching interval is 0.15 kWh·h (+22.4%). For the 90-kW building-integrated photovoltaic system, during the summer solstice, a sharp difference in the output improvement relative to the switching interval is not observed. However, during the vernal equinox and winter solstice, when a large area of the PV system is shaded for a long period of time, the output improvement sharply decreases relative to the switching interval. The output improvement at a 1-min switching interval is 6.5 kWh·d (+2.9%) during the vernal equinox and 2.3 kWh·d (+3.7%) during winter solstice