6,351 research outputs found
Spinodal instability growth in new stochastic approaches
Are spinodal instabilities the leading mechanism in the fragmentation of a
fermionic system? Numerous experimental indications suggest such a scenario and
stimulated much effort in giving a suitable description, without being
finalised in a dedicated transport model.
On the one hand, the bulk character of spinodal behaviour requires an
accurate treatment of the one-body dynamics, in presence of mechanical
instabilities. On the other hand, pure mean-field implementations do not apply
to situations where instabilities, bifurcations and chaos are present. The
evolution of instabilities should be treated in a large-amplitude framework
requiring fluctuations of Langevin type.
We present new stochastic approaches constructed by requiring a thorough
description of the mean-field response in presence of instabilities. Their
particular relevance is an improved description of the spinodal fragmentation
mechanism at the threshold, where the instability growth is frustrated by the
mean-field resilience.Comment: Conf. proc. IWM2014-EC, Catania, 6-9 May 201
An analytic model for the transition from decelerated to accelerated cosmic expansion
We consider the scenario where our observable universe is devised as a
dynamical four-dimensional hypersurface embedded in a five-dimensional bulk
spacetime, with a large extra dimension, which is the {\it generalization of
the flat FRW cosmological metric to five dimensions}. This scenario generates a
simple analytical model where different stages of the evolution of the universe
are approximated by distinct parameterizations of the {\it same} spacetime. In
this model the evolution from decelerated to accelerated expansion can be
interpreted as a "first-order" phase transition between two successive stages.
The dominant energy condition allows different parts of the universe to evolve,
from deceleration to acceleration, at different redshifts within a narrow era.
This picture corresponds to the creation of bubbles of new phase, in the middle
of the old one, typical of first-order phase transitions. Taking today, we find that the cross-over from deceleration to acceleration
occurs at , regardless of the equation of state in the very
early universe. In the case of primordial radiation, the model predicts that
the deceleration parameter "jumps" from to at . At the present time and the equation of state of the
universe is , in agreement with observations and some
theoretical predictions.Comment: The abstract and introduction are improved and the discussion section
is expanded. A number of references are adde
A generalization of the S-function method applied to a Duffing-Van der Pol forced oscillator
In [1,2] we have developed a method (we call it the S-function method) that
is successful in treating certain classes of rational second order ordinary
differential equations (rational 2ODEs) that are particularly `resistant' to
canonical Lie methods and to Darbouxian approaches. In this present paper, we
generalize the S-function method making it capable of dealing with a class of
elementary 2ODEs presenting elementary functions. Then, we apply this method to
a Duffing-Van der Pol forced oscillator, obtaining an entire class of first
integrals
Magnetic breakdown in a normal-metal - superconductor proximity sandwich
We study the magnetic response of a clean normal-metal slab of finite
thickness in proximity with a bulk superconductor. We determine its free energy
and identify two (meta-)stable states, a diamagnetic one where the applied
field is effectively screened, and a second state, where the field penetrates
the normal-metal layer. We present a complete characterization of the first
order transition between the two states which occurs at the breakdown field,
including its spinodals, the jump in the magnetization, and the latent heat.
The bistable regime terminates at a critical temperature above which the sharp
transition is replaced by a continuous cross-over. We compare the theory with
experiments on normal-superconducting cylinders.Comment: 7 pages Revtex, 3 Postscript figures, needs psfig.te
Description and molecular phylogeny of a new and one known needle nematode of the genus Paralongidorus (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from grapevine in Portugal
A new and a known longidorid nematode, Paralongidorus lusitanicus n. sp. and Paralongidorus plesioepimikis, are described and illustrated from populations extracted from soil associated with grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) from Escaroupim and Pó (central-Western Portugal), respectively. The new needle nematode P. lusitanicus n. sp. is characterised by a very large body size (8072–12,022 μm), an expanded and rounded lip region, ca 30 μm wide, with a clear constriction followed by a depression posterior to the amphidial aperture, amphidial fovea very large (11.0–19.0 μm), stirrup-shaped, with conspicuous slit-like aperture as shown in scanning electron microscopy studies, a very long and flexible odontostyle (180.0–223.0 μm), guiding ring located at 28.0–41.5 μm from anterior end, vulva anterior to the mid-body (34–41%), a dorsally convex-conoid tail with rounded terminus (29–42 μm long), bearing two or three pairs of caudal pores and males common (ratio 1:1.6 females) with spicules ca 80 μm long. Morphological and morphometric traits for P. plesioepimikis fit well with the original description, and is reported for the first time in Portugal. Integrative diagnosis of both species was completed with molecular data obtained using D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rDNA, ITS1-rDNA and partial 18S–rDNA. The phylogenetic relationships of these species with other Paralongidorus spp. using these three molecular markers indicated that P. lusitanicus n. sp. clustered together with other Paralongidorus spp. forming a sister clade with P. plesioepimikis, both of them sharing a large body, long odontostyle, an anteriorly located vulva and an expanded and rounded lip region with a clear constriction followed by a depression posterior to the amphidial aperture
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