Glassy dynamics in asymmetric binary mixtures of hard-spheres

The binary hard-sphere mixture is one of the simplest representations of a many-body system with competing time and length scales. This model is relevant to fundamentally understand both the structural and dynamical properties of materials, such as metallic melts, colloids, polymers and bio-based composites. It also allows us to study how different scales influence the physical behavior of a multicomponent glass-forming liquid; a question that still awaits a unified description. In this contribution, we report on distinct dynamical arrest transitions in highly asymmetric binary colloidal mixtures, namely, a single glass of big particles, in which the small species remains ergodic, and a double glass with the simultaneous arrest of both components. When the mixture approaches any glass transition, the relaxation of the collective dynamics of both species becomes coupled. In the single glass domain, spatial modulations occur due to the structure of the large spheres, a feature not observed in the two-glass domain. The relaxation of the \emph{self} dynamics of small and large particles, in contrast, become decoupled at the boundaries of both transitions; the large species always displays dynamical arrest, whereas the small ones appear arrested only in the double glass. Thus, in order to obtain a complete picture of the distinct glassy states, one needs to take into account the dynamics of both species

Transpiration of a Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest in Yucatan, Mexico

The study of forest hydrology and its relationships with climate requires accurate estimates of water inputs, outputs, and changes in reservoirs. Evapotranspiration is frequently the least studied component when addressing the water cycle; thus, it is important to obtain direct measurements of evaporation and transpiration. This study measured transpiration in a tropical dry deciduous forest in Yucatán (Mexico) using the thermal dissipation method (Granier-type sensors) in representative species of this vegetation type. We estimated stand transpiration and its relationship with allometry, diameter-at-breast-height categories, and previously published equations. We found that transpiration changes over time, being higher in the rainy season. Estimated daily transpiration ranged from 0.562 to 0.690 kg m–2 d–1 in the late dry season (April–May) and from 0.686 to 1.29 kg m–2 d–1 in the late rainy season (September–October), accounting for up to 51% of total evapotranspiration in the rainy season. These daily estimates are consistent with previous reports for tropical dry forests and other vegetation types. We found that transpiration was not species-specific; diameter at breast height (DBH) was a reliable way of estimating transpiration because water use was directly related to allometry. Direct measurement of transpiration would increase our ability to accurately estimate water availability and assess the responses of vegetation to climate change

Transpiration of a Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest in Yucatan, Mexico

The study of forest hydrology and its relationships with climate requires accurate estimates of water inputs, outputs, and changes in reservoirs. Evapotranspiration is frequently the least studied component when addressing the water cycle; thus, it is important to obtain direct measurements of evaporation and transpiration. This study measured transpiration in a tropical dry deciduous forest in Yucatán (Mexico) using the thermal dissipation method (Granier-type sensors) in representative species of this vegetation type. We estimated stand transpiration and its relationship with allometry, diameter-at-breast-height categories, and previously published equations. We found that transpiration changes over time, being higher in the rainy season. Estimated daily transpiration ranged from 0.562 to 0.690 kg m–2 d–1 in the late dry season (April–May) and from 0.686 to 1.29 kg m–2 d–1 in the late rainy season (September–October), accounting for up to 51% of total evapotranspiration in the rainy season. These daily estimates are consistent with previous reports for tropical dry forests and other vegetation types. We found that transpiration was not species-specific; diameter at breast height (DBH) was a reliable way of estimating transpiration because water use was directly related to allometry. Direct measurement of transpiration would increase our ability to accurately estimate water availability and assess the responses of vegetation to climate change

Hydrogeophysical Evaluation of the Karst Aquifer near the Western Edge of the Ring of Cenotes, Yucatán Peninsula

In this work, electrical resistivity tomography was carried out together with physical hydrogeology techniques to evaluate the karst aquifer in the northwest region of the Yucatán Peninsula in a study area near the western edge of the Ring of Cenotes of the Chicxulub Crater. In addition, based on a systematic compilation of open-access data of water levels reported for the peninsular aquifer, maps of groundwater isolines and groundwater flows were generated using IDW interpolation, Empirical Bayesian Kriging, and the Flow Net method. From these results, a shallow aquifer is observed, with the presence of heterogeneities such as possible dissolution conduits and/or flooded caverns, approximately 20 m below ground level, formed by the dissolution processes of limestone rocks. On a regional scale, the geomorphological influence of the Ring of Cenotes on groundwater flows was observed. In general, the flow directions observed from these maps coincide with those conceptualized for this region of the peninsular aquifer. Nevertheless, some differences were observed depending on the interpolation method used. Our results contribute to hydrogeological studies carried out in the periphery of this ring, where the vulnerability of the aquifer to anthropogenic contamination has been highlighted due to the intrinsic features of the karst environment

Self-consistent generalized Langevin equation theory of the dynamics of multicomponent atomic liquids

A fundamental challenge of the theory of liquids is to understand the similarities and differences in the macroscopic dynamics of both colloidal and atomic liquids, which originate in the (Newtonian or Brownian) nature of the microscopic motion of their constituents. Starting from the recently discovered long-time dynamic equivalence between a colloidal and an atomic liquid that share the same interparticle pair potential, in this work we develop a self-consistent generalized Langevin equation theory for the dynamics of equilibrium multicomponent atomic liquids, applicable as an approximate but quantitative theory describing the long-time diffusive dynamical properties of simple equilibrium atomic liquids. When complemented with a Gaussian-like approximation, this theory is also able to provide a reasonable representation of the passage from a ballistic to diffusive behavior. We illustrate the applicability of the resulting theory with three particular examples, namely, a monodisperse and a polydisperse monocomponent hard-sphere liquid and a highly size-asymmetric binary hard-sphere mixture. To assess the quantitative accuracy of our results, we perform event-driven molecular dynamics simulations, which corroborate the general features of the theoretical predictions