Mapping of dissipative particle dynamics in fluctuating hydrodynamics simulations

Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) is a novel particle method for mesoscale modeling of complex fluids. DPD particles are often thought to represent packets of real atoms, and the physical scale probed in DPD models are determined by the mapping of DPD variables to the corresponding physical quantities. However, the non-uniqueness of such mapping has led to difficulties in setting up simulations to mimic real systems and in interpreting results. For modeling transport phenomena where thermal fluctuations are important (e.g., fluctuating hydrodynamics), an area particularly suited for DPD method, we propose that DPD fluid particles should be viewed as only 1) to provide a medium in which the momentum and energy are transferred according to the hydrodynamic laws and 2) to provide objects immersed in the DPD fluids the proper random "kicks" such that these objects exhibit correct fluctuation behaviors at the macroscopic scale. We show that, in such a case, the choice of system temperature and mapping of DPD scales to physical scales are uniquely determined by the level of coarse-graining and properties of DPD fluids. We also verified that DPD simulation can reproduce the macroscopic effects of thermal fluctuation in particulate suspension by showing that the Brownian diffusion of solid particles can be computed in DPD simulations with good accuracy

Accelerating charging dynamics in sub-nanometer pores

Having smaller energy density than batteries, supercapacitors have exceptional power density and cyclability. Their energy density can be increased using ionic liquids and electrodes with sub-nanometer pores, but this tends to reduce their power density and compromise the key advantage of supercapacitors. To help address this issue through material optimization, here we unravel the mechanisms of charging sub-nanometer pores with ionic liquids using molecular simulations, navigated by a phenomenological model. We show that charging of ionophilic pores is a diffusive process, often accompanied by overfilling followed by de-filling. In sharp contrast to conventional expectations, charging is fast because ion diffusion during charging can be an order of magnitude faster than in bulk, and charging itself is accelerated by the onset of collective modes. Further acceleration can be achieved using ionophobic pores by eliminating overfilling/de-filling and thus leading to charging behavior qualitatively different from that in conventional, ionophilic pores

Correlated two-photon scattering in cavity optomechanics

We present an exact analytical solution of the two-photon scattering in a cavity optomechanical system. This is achieved by solving the quantum dynamics of the total system, including the optomechanical cavity and the cavity-field environment, with the Laplace transform method. The long-time solution reveals detailed physical processes involved as well as the corresponding resonant photon frequencies. We characterize the photon correlation induced in the scattering process by calculating the two-photon joint spectrum of the long-time state. Clear evidence for photon frequency anti-correlation can be observed in the joint spectrum. In addition, we calculate the equal-time second-order correlation function of the cavity photons. The results show that the radiation pressure coupling can induce photon blockade effect, which is strongly modulated by the phonon sideband resonance. In particular, we obtain an explicit expression of optomechanical coupling strength determining these sideband modulation peaks based on the two-photon resonance condition.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

What if pulsars are born as strange stars?

The possibility and the implications of the idea, that pulsars are born as strange stars, are explored. Strange stars are very likely to have atmospheres with typical mass of $\sim 5\times 10^{-15}M_\odot$ but bare polar caps almost throughout their lifetimes, if they are produced during supernova explosions. A direct consequence of the bare polar cap is that the binding energies of both positively and negatively charged particles at the bare quark surface are nearly infinity, so that the vacuum polar gap sparking scenario as proposed by Ruderman & Sutherland should operate above the cap, regardless of the sense of the magnetic pole with respect to the rotational pole. Heat can not accumulate on the polar cap region due to the large thermal conductivity on the bare quark surface. We test this ``bare polar cap strange star'' (BPCSS) idea with the present broad band emission data of pulsars, and propose several possible criteria to distinguish BPCSSs from neutron stars.Comment: 31 pages in Latex. Accepted by AstroParticle Physic

Electrical fixing of photorefractive holograms in Sr0.75Ba0.25Nb2O6

Photorefractive holograms stored in Sr0.75Ba0.25Nb2O6 crystals are electrically fixed at room temperature. The fixed holograms can be read out directly or after a positive-voltage pulse is applied that can dramatically enhance the diffraction efficiency. Single gratings as well as images are recorded and fixed