2,838 research outputs found
Energetics of intrinsic point defects in ZrSiO
Using first principles calculations we have studied the formation energies,
electron and hole affinities, and electronic levels of intrinsic point defects
in zircon. The atomic structures of charged interstitials, vacancies, Frenkel
pairs and anti-site defects are obtained. The limit of high concentration of
point defects, relevant for the use of this material in nuclear waste
immobilization, was studied with a variable lattice relaxation that can
simulate the swelling induced by radiation damage. The limit of low
concentration of defects is simulated with larger cells and fixed lattice
parameters. Using known band offset values at the interface of zircon with
silicon, we analyze the foreseeable effect of the defects on the electronic
properties of zircon used as gate in metal-oxide-semiconductor devices.Comment: preprint 16 pages, 4 figures, and 5 table
Trajectory-dependent energy loss for swift He atoms axially scattered off a silver surface
Angle- and energy-loss- resolved distributions of helium atoms grazingly
scattered from a Ag(110) surface along low indexed crystallographic directions
are investigated considering impact energies in the few keV range. Final
projectile distributions are evaluated within a semi-classical formalism that
includes dissipative effects due to electron-hole excitations through a
friction force. For mono-energetic beams impinging along the ,
and directions, the model predicts the presence of
multiple peak structures in energy-loss spectra. Such structures provide
detailed information about the trajectory-dependent energy loss. However, when
the experimental dispersion of the incident beam is taken into account, these
energy-loss peaks are completely washed out, giving rise to a smooth
energy-loss distribution, in fairly good agreement with available experimental
data
Global ocean storage of anthropogenic carbon
48 páginas, 7 figuras, 7 tablas. -- S. Kathiwala ... et al.-- Proyecto CarbochangeThe global ocean is a significant sink for anthropogenic carbon (Cant), absorbing roughly a third of human CO2 emitted over the industrial period. Robust estimates of the magnitude and variability of the storage and distribution of Cant in the ocean are therefore important for understanding the human impact on climate. In this synthesis we review observational and model-based estimates of the storage and transport of Cant in the ocean. We pay particular attention to the uncertainties and potential biases inherent in different inference schemes. On a global scale, three data based estimates of the distribution and inventory of Cant are now available. While the inventories are found to agree within their uncertainty, there are considerable differences in the spatial distribution. We also present a review of the progress made in the application of inverse and data-assimilation techniques which combine ocean interior estimates of Cant with numerical ocean circulation models. Such methods are especially useful for estimating the air-sea flux and interior transport of Cant, quantities that are otherwise difficult to observe directly. However, the results are found to be highly dependent on modeled circulation, with the spread due to different ocean models at least as large as that from the different observational methods used to estimate Cant. Our review also highlights the importance of repeat measurements of hydrographic and biogeochemical parameters to estimate the storage of Cant on decadal timescales in the presence of the variability in circulation that is neglected by other approaches. Data-based Cant estimates provide important constraints on ocean forward models, which exhibit both broad similarities and regional errors relative to the observational fields. A compilation of inventories of Cant gives us a "best" estimate of the global ocean inventory of anthropogenic carbon in 2010 of 155 Pg C with an uncertainty of ±20%. This estimate includes a broad range of values suggesting that a combination of approaches is necessary in order to achieve a robust quantification of the ocean sink of anthropogenic CO2.Peer reviewe
Controlling the nature of a charged impurity in a bath of Feshbach dimers
We theoretically study the dynamics of a trapped ion that is immersed in an
ultracold gas of weakly bound atomic dimers created by a Feshbach resonance.
Using quasi-classical simulations, we find a crossover from dimer dissociation
to molecular ion formation depending on the binding energy of the dimers. The
location of the crossover strongly depends on the collision energy and the
time-dependent fields of the Paul trap. Deeply bound dimers lead to fast
molecular ion formation, with rates approaching the Langevin collision rate
cms. The kinetic energies
of the created molecular ions have a median below mK, such that they will
stay confined in the ion trap. We conclude that interacting ions and Feshbach
molecules may provide a novel approach towards the creation of ultracold
molecular ions with applications in precision spectroscopy and quantum
chemistry.Comment: 9 pages and 12 figures including appendice
Chiral extrapolation of light resonances from one and two-loop unitarized Chiral Perturbation Theory versus lattice results
We study the pion mass dependence of the rho(770) and f_0(600) masses and
widths from one and two-loop unitarized Chiral Perturbation Theory. We show the
consistency of one-loop calculations with lattice results for the M_rho, f_pi
and the isospin 2 scattering length a_20.Then, we develop and apply the
modified Inverse Amplitude Method formalism for two-loop ChPT. In contrast to
the f_0(600), the rho(770) is rather sensitive to the two-loop ChPT parameters
--our main source of systematic uncertainty. We thus provide two-loop
unitarized fits constrained by lattice information on M_rho, f_pi, by the qqbar
leading 1/N_c behavior of the rho and by existing estimates of low energy
constants. These fits yield relatively stable predictions up to m_pi\simeq
300-350 MeV for the rho coupling and width as well as for all the f_0(600)
parameters. We confirm, to two-loops, the weak m_pi dependence of the rho
coupling and the KSRF relation, and the existence of two virtual f_0(600) poles
for sufficiently high m_pi. At two loops one of these poles becomes a bound
state when m_pi is somewhat larger than 300 MeV.Comment: 15 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Juncus emmanuelis
This species is endemic to a small area in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, with subpopulations scattered in approximately 16 localities. It is assessed as Endangered (EN B2ab(ii,iii,iv)) because it has an Area of Occupancy (AOO) of less than 500 km2 and shows signs of severe fragmentation due to the ongoing transformation of its specific habitat of sandy soils with an impermeable underlayer in temporary pools, as a result of several ongoing major threats associated with intensive agricultural activities. Based on this information, a continuing decline in the AOO, habitat quality and number of subpopulations has been inferred. Additional research and conservation action is needed for this species
Zannichellia contorta
This species is native to southern, central and eastern Spain, with an old record from the Atlas Mountains in northern Morocco requiring confirmation. The species is very sensitive to eutrophication and deterioration of water quality. The Area of Occupancy (AOO) has been estimated to be less than 500 km2 based on confirmed records and knowledge that its habitat is in continuous decline and at least 40% of the known localities have disappeared, especially in southern Spain. Moreover, an ongoing continuing decline in AOO, habitat quality and number of subpopulations of this species due to the increase in nutrients concentration from waters of the streams where it lives, which stops its growth, has been observed. The same process of habitat deterioration is happening in central and eastern Spain. The population of this species is severely fragmented with more than half of its subpopulations being isolated with no exchange possibilities and suspected to have reached no viable levels. It therefore qualifies to be listed in the category Endangered (EN B2ab(ii,iii,iv)) in the Mediterranean region. Resource and habitat protection and site management are needed. Other recommended conservation measures are ex situ conservation, population and distribution research, and habitat and population monitoring
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