Spin-Peierls states of quantum antiferromagnets on the CaV4O9Ca V_4 O_9 lattice

We discuss the quantum paramagnetic phases of Heisenberg antiferromagnets on the 1/5-depleted square lattice found in $Ca V_4 O_9$. The possible phases of the quantum dimer model on this lattice are obtained by a mapping to a quantum-mechanical height model. In addition to the ``decoupled'' phases found earlier, we find a possible intermediate spin-Peierls phase with spontaneously-broken lattice symmetry. Experimental signatures of the different quantum paramagnetic phases are discussed.Comment: 9 pages; 2 eps figure

Post-Collision Interaction with Wannier electrons

A theory of the Post-Collision Interaction (PCI) is developed for the case when an electron atom impact results in creation of two low-energy Wannier electrons and an ion excited into an autoionizing state. The following autoionization decay exposes the Wannier pair to the influence of PCI resulting in variation of the shape of the line in the autoionization spectrum. An explicit dependence of the autoionization profile on the wave function of the Wannier pair is found. PCI provides an opportunity to study this wave function for a wide area of distancesComment: 33 pages, Latex, IOP style, and 3 figures fig1.ps, fig2.ps, fig3.p

Bivariate galaxy luminosity functions in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Bivariate luminosity functions (LFs) are computed for galaxies in the New York Value-Added Galaxy Catalogue, based on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4. The galaxy properties investigated are the morphological type, inverse concentration index, Sérsic index, absolute effective surface brightness (SB), reference frame colours, absolute radius, eClass spectral type, stellar mass and galaxy environment. The morphological sample is flux limited to galaxies with r < 15.9 and consists of 37 047 classifications to an rms accuracy of ± half a class in the sequence E, S0, Sa, Sb, Sc, Sd, Im. These were assigned by an artificial neural network, based on a training set of 645 eyeball classifications. The other samples use r < 17.77 with a median redshift of z∼ 0.08, and a limiting redshift of z < 0.15 to minimize the effects of evolution. Other cuts, for example in axis ratio, are made to minimize biases. A wealth of detail is seen, with clear variations between the LFs according to absolute magnitude and the second parameter. They are consistent with an early-type, bright, concentrated, red population and a late-type, faint, less concentrated, blue, star-forming population. This bimodality suggests two major underlying physical processes, which in agreement with previous authors we hypothesize to be merger and accretion, associated with the properties of bulges and discs, respectively. The bivariate luminosity–SB distribution is fit with the Chołoniewski function (a Schechter function in absolute magnitude and Gaussian in SB). The fit is found to be poor, as might be expected if there are two underlying processes

Bulk and edge correlations in the compressible half-filled quantum Hall state

We study bulk and edge correlations in the compressible half-filled state, using a modified version of the plasma analogy. The corresponding plasma has anomalously weak screening properties, and as a consequence we find that the correlations along the edge do not decay algebraically as in the Laughlin (incompressible) case, while the bulk correlations decay in the same way. The results suggest that due to the strong coupling between charged modes on the edge and the neutral Fermions in the bulk, reflected by the weak screening in the plasma analogue, the (attractive) correlation hole is not well defined on the edge. Hence, the system there can be modeled as a free Fermi gas of {\em electrons} (with an appropriate boundary condition). We finally comment on a possible scenario, in which the Laughlin-like dynamical edge correlations may nevertheless be realized.Comment: package now includes the file epsfig.sty, needed to incorporate properly the 8 magnificent figure

Condensation of `composite bosons' in a rotating BEC

We provide evidence for several novel phases in the dilute limit of rotating BECs. By exact calculation of wavefunctions and energies for small numbers of particles, we show that the states near integer angular momentum per particle are best considered condensates of composite entities, involving vortices and atoms. We are led to this result by explicit comparison with a description purely in terms of vortices. Several parallels with the fractional quantum Hall effect emerge, including the presence of the Pfaffian state.Comment: 4 pages, Latex, 3 figure

Numerical Modelling and Experimental Validation of Twin-Screw Expander

Positive displacement machines have been identified as appropriate expanders for small-scale power generation systems such as Organic Rankine Cycles (ORCs). Screw expanders can operate with good efficiency in working fluids under both dry and two-phase conditions. Detailed understanding of the fluid expansion process is required to optimise the machine design and operation for specific applications, and accurate design tools are therefore essential. Using experimental data for air expansion, both CFD and chamber models have been applied to investigate the influence of port flow and leakage on the expansion process. Both models are shown to predict pressure variation and power output with good accuracy. The validated chamber model is then used to identify the optimal volume ratio and rotational speed for experimental conditions

Optimisation of power generation cycles using saturated liquid expansion to maximise heat recovery

The use of two-phase screw expanders in power generation cycles can achieve an increase in the utilisation of available energy from a low-temperature heat source when compared with more conventional single-phase turbines. The efficiency of screw expander machines is sensitive to expansion volume ratio, which, for given inlet and discharge pressures, increases as the expander inlet vapour dryness fraction decreases. For single-stage screw machines with low inlet dryness, this can lead to underexpansion of the working fluid and low isentropic efficiency. The cycle efficiency can potentially be improved by using a two-stage expander, consisting of a machine for low-pressure expansion and a smaller high-pressure machine connected in series. By expanding the working fluid over two stages, the built-in volume ratios of the two machines can be selected to provide a better match with the overall expansion process, thereby increasing the efficiency. The mass flow rate though both stages must be matched, and the compromise between increasing efficiency and maximising power output must also be considered. This study is based on the use of a rigorous thermodynamic screw machine model to compare the performance of single- and two-stage expanders. The model allows optimisation of the required intermediate pressure in the two-stage expander, along with the built-in volume ratio of both screw machine stages. The results allow specification of a two-stage machine, using either two screw machines or a combination of high-pressure screw and low-pressure turbine, in order to achieve maximum efficiency for a particular power output. For the low-temperature heat recovery application considered in this paper, the trilateral flash cycle using a two-stage expander and the Smith cycle using a high-pressure screw and low-pressure turbine are both predicted to achieve a similar overall conversion efficiency to that of a conventional saturated vapour organic Rankine cycle

Optimisation of two-stage screw expanders for waste heat recovery applications

It has previously been shown that the use of two-phase screw expanders in power generation cycles can achieve an increase in the utilisation of available energy from a low temperature heat source when compared with more conventional single-phase turbines. However, screw expander efficiencies are more sensitive to expansion volume ratio than turbines, and this increases as the expander inlet vapour dryness fraction decreases. For singlestage screw machines with low inlet dryness, this can lead to under expansion of the working fluid and low isentropic efficiency for the expansion process. The performance of the cycle can potentially be improved by using a two-stage expander, consisting of a low pressure machine and a smaller high pressure machine connected in series. By expanding the working fluid over two stages, the built-in volume ratios of the two machines can be selected to provide a better match with the overall expansion process, thereby increasing efficiency for particular inlet and discharge conditions. The mass flow rate though both stages must however be matched, and the compromise between increasing efficiency and maximising power output must also be considered. This research uses a rigorous thermodynamic screw machine model to compare the performance of single and two-stage expanders over a range of operating conditions. The model allows optimisation of the required intermediate pressure in the two- stage expander, along with the rotational speed and built-in volume ratio of both screw machine stages. The results allow the two-stage machine to be fully specified in order to achieve maximum efficiency for a required power output

The X-ray Properties of the Nearby Star-Forming Galaxy IC 342: The XMM-Newton View

We present the X-ray properties of IC342 using XMM-Newton. Thirty-five sources are detected coincident with the disk of IC342 (more than tripling the number known), of which ~31 are likely to be intrinsic to IC342. This population shows a range of spectral properties and has an X-ray luminosity function slope and infrared luminosity comparable to that of starburst galaxies such as M82 and the Antennae, while its relative lack of extended X-ray emission is similar to the properties of quiescent spirals. We do detect long-term variability between this observation and the 1991 ROSAT and 1993/2000 ASCA observations for five sources. Notably, the second most luminous source IC342 X-2 is is found to be in its the lowest luminosity state observed for X-2 to date, although the slope of the spectrum is intermediate between the previously observed low/hard and high/soft states. IC342 X-1, on the other hand, is found to be in an identical state to that observed in 2000 with ASCA. Assuming X-1 is in an anomalous very high (VH) state, then either (1) X-1 has remained in this state between 2000 and 2002, and is therefore the longest duration VH-state binary ever observed, or (2) it was simply caught in a VH state by chance in both the 2000 ASCA and 2002 XMM-Newton observations. We have also confirmed the ROSAT HRI result that the nucleus of IC342 is made up of both point-like and extended emission. The relative fluxes of the two spectral components suggest that the nucleus is complex, with a soft extended component contributing approximately half of the total luminosity. (Abridged)Comment: AJ in press (December 2003), 9 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, emulateapj.cls use