Heitler-London model for acceptor-acceptor interactions in doped semiconductors

The interactions between acceptors in semiconductors are often treated in qualitatively the same manner as those between donors. Acceptor wave functions are taken to be approximately hydrogenic and the standard hydrogen molecule Heitler-London model is used to describe acceptor-acceptor interactions. But due to valence band degeneracy and spin-orbit coupling, acceptor states can be far more complex than those of hydrogen atoms, which brings into question the validity of this approximation. To address this issue, we develop an acceptor-acceptor Heitler-London model using single-acceptor wave functions of the form proposed by Baldereschi and Lipari, which more accurately capture the physics of the acceptor states. We calculate the resulting acceptor-pair energy levels and find, in contrast to the two-level singlet-triplet splitting of the hydrogen molecule, a rich ten-level energy spectrum. Our results, computed as a function of inter-acceptor distance and spin-orbit coupling strength, suggest that acceptor-acceptor interactions can be qualitatively different from donor-donor interactions, and should therefore be relevant to the control of two-qubit interactions in acceptor-based qubit implementations, as well as the magnetic properties of a variety of p-doped semiconductor systems. Further insight is drawn by fitting numerical results to closed-form energy-level expressions obtained via an acceptor-acceptor Hubbard model.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, text revised, figure quality improved, additional references adde

Compressed food components to minimize storage space

Compressed food products to minimize storage space for military application

Stability and error analysis of a splitting method using Robin–Robin coupling applied to a fluid–structure interaction problem

We analyze a splitting method for a canonical fluid structure interaction problem. The splittling method uses a Robin-Robin boundary condition, explicit strategy. We prove the method is stable and, furthermore, we provide an error estimate that shows the error at the final time T is O( √ T ∆t) where ∆t is the time step

Analytical treatments of micro-channel and micro-capillary flows

This paper was presented at the 3rd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2011), which was held at the Makedonia Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki in Greece. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Italian Union of Thermofluiddynamics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Thessaly, IPEM, the Process Intensification Network, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Heat Transfer Society, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group, and the Energy Institute.Extensive work in the field of micro-channel and micro-capillary flows using the extended Navier-Stokes equations are carried out in this paper by taking the diffusive mass transport into account and provided the basis for analytical treatments of these flows. The results are compared with experimental results for micro-channels and showed good agreement. It is found that a characteristic pressure is useful to explain the comparisons. In addition, the work on micro-channel flows is extended to micro-capillary flows, to provide analytical treatments of this class of flows. The analytical results show similar behavior to that of micro-channel flows. Comparisons between the analytical results and experimental findings are also presented and discussed by introducing the characteristic pressure

Treatments of flows through micro-channels based on the Extended Navier-Stokes-Equations

This paper was presented at the 3rd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2011), which was held at the Makedonia Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki in Greece. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Italian Union of Thermofluiddynamics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Thessaly, IPEM, the Process Intensification Network, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Heat Transfer Society, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group, and the Energy Institute.The paper briefly refers to the present treatments of micro-channel flows that are based on the existing Navier-Stokes-Equations and the employment of wall-slip boundary conditions. The Maxwell slip velocity is employed for this purpose. This theoretical treatment is questioned. It is shown by the authors that the existing Navier-Stokes-Equations are incomplete. They do not contain terms for the self diffusion of mass. Introducing these terms yields the extended Navier-Stokes-Equations that allow micro-channel flows to be treated without the assumption of Maxwellian slip velocities at the wall. A pressure driven slip velocity occurs at the wall and it results as part of the solution for flows in micro-channels by the “Extended Navier-Stokes Equations”. Using these equations, analytical treatments of micro-channel flows are presented. Good agreement with existing experimental results is obtained

Quadrupolar interactions between acceptor pairs in p-doped semiconductors

We consider the interaction between acceptor pairs in doped semiconductors in the limit of large inter-acceptor separation relevant for low doping densities. Modeling individual acceptors via the spherical model of Baldereschi and Lipari, we calculate matrix elements of the quadrupole tensor between the four degenerate ground states and show that the acceptor has a nonzero quadrupole moment. As a result, the dominant contribution to the large-separation acceptor-acceptor interaction comes from direct (charge-density) terms rather than exchange terms. The quadrupole is the leading nonzero moment, so the electric quadrupole-quadrupole interaction dominates for large separation. We calculate the matrix elements of the quadrupole-quadrupole interaction Hamiltonian in a product-state basis and diagonalize, obtaining a closed-form expression for the energies and degeneracies of the sixteen-state energy spectrum. All dependence on material parameters enters via an overall prefactor, resulting in surprisingly simple and universal results. This simplicity is due, in part, to a mathematical happenstance, the nontrivial vanishing of a particular Wigner 6-j symbol. Results are relevant to the control of two-qubit interactions in quantum computing implementations based on acceptor spins, as well as calculations of the thermodynamic properties of insulating p-type semiconductors.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, as published in PR

Electrochemical Biosensors: Recommended Definitions and Classification

Two Divisions of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), namely Physical Chemistry (Commission I.7 on Biophysical Chemistry, formerly Steering Committee on Biophysical Chemistry) and Analytical Chemistry (Commission V.5 on Electroanalytical Chemistry), have prepared recommendations on the definition, classification and nomenclature related to electrochemical biosensors; these recommendations could, in the future, be extended to other types of biosensors. An electrochemical biosensor is a self-contained integrated device, which is capable of providing specific quantitative or semi-quantitative analytical information using a biological recognition element (biochemical receptor) which is retained in direct spatial contact with an electrochemical transduction element. Because of their ability to be repeatedly calibrated, we recommend that a biosensor should be clearly distinguished from a bioanalytical system, which requires additional processing steps, such as reagent addition. A device which is both disposable after one measurement, i.e. single use, and unable to monitor the analyte concentration continuously or after rapid and reproducible regeneration should be designated a single-use biosensor. Biosensors may be classified according to the biological specificity-conferring mechanism or, alternatively, the mode of physicochemical signal transduction. The biological recognition element may be based on a chemical reaction catalysed by, or on an equilibrium reaction with, macromolecules that have been isolated, engineered or present in their original biological environment. In the latter case, equilibrium is generally reached and there is no further, if any, net consumption of analyte(s) by the immobilized biocomplexing agent incorporated into the sensor. Biosensors may be further classified according to the analytes or reactions that they monitor: direct monitoring of analyte concentration or of reactions producing or consuming such analytes; alternatively, an indirect monitoring of inhibitor or activator of the biological recognition element (biochemical receptor) may be achieved. A rapid proliferation of biosensors and their diversity has led to a lack of rigour in defining their performance criteria. Although each biosensor can only truly be evaluated for a particular application, it is still useful to examine how standard protocols for performance criteria may be defined in accordance with standard IUPAC protocols or definitions. These criteria are recommended for authors, referees and educators and include calibration characteristics (sensitivity, operational and linear concentration range, detection and quantitative determination limits), selectivity, steady-state and transient response times, sample throughput, reproducibility, stability and lifetime

Lidocaine and bupivacaine as part of multimodal pain management in a C57BL/6J laparotomy mouse model

While the use of local anesthesia as part of multimodal pain management is common practice in human and veterinarian surgery, these drugs are not applied routinely in rodent surgery. Several recommendations on the use of local anesthesia exist, but systematic studies on their efficacy and side effects are lacking. In the present study, male and female C57BL/6J mice were subjected to a sham vasectomy or a sham embryo transfer, respectively. We tested whether a mixture of subcutaneously injected Lidocaine and Bupivacaine in combination with systemic Paracetamol applied via drinking water results in superior pain relief when compared to treatment with local anesthesia or Paracetamol alone. We applied a combination of methods to assess behavioral, emotional, and physiological changes indicative of pain. Voluntary Paracetamol intake via drinking water reached the target dosage of 200 mg/kg in most animals. Local anesthesia did not lead to obvious side effects such as irregular wound healing or systemic disorders. No relevant sex differences were detected in our study. Sevoflurane anesthesia and surgery affected physiological and behavioral measurements. Surprisingly, Paracetamol treatment alone significantly increased the Mouse Grimace Scale. Taken together, mice treated with a combination of local anesthesia and systemic analgesia did not show fewer signs of post-surgical pain or improved recovery compared to animals treated with either local anesthesia or Paracetamol