19,311 research outputs found
Non-universal coarsening and universal distributions in far-from equilibrium systems
Anomalous coarsening in far-from equilibrium one-dimensional systems is
investigated by simulation and analytic techniques. The minimal hard core
particle (exclusion) models contain mechanisms of aggregated particle
diffusion, with rates epsilon<<1, particle deposition into cluster gaps, but
suppressed for the smallest gaps, and breakup of clusters which are adjacent to
large gaps. Cluster breakup rates vary with the cluster length x as kx^alpha.
The domain growth law x ~ (epsilon t)^z, with z=1/(2+alpha) for alpha>0, is
explained by a scaling picture, as well as the scaling of the density of double
vacancies (at which deposition and cluster breakup are allowed) as 1/[t(epsilon
t)^z]. Numerical simulations for several values of alpha and epsilon confirm
these results. An approximate factorization of the cluster configuration
probability is performed within the master equation resulting from the mapping
to a column picture. The equation for a one-variable scaling function explains
the above results. The probability distributions of cluster lengths scale as
P(x)= 1/(epsilon t)^z g(y), with y=x/(epsilon t)^z. However, those
distributions show a universal tail with the form g(y) ~ exp(-y^{3/2}), which
disagrees with the prediction of the independent cluster approximation. This
result is explained by the connection of the vacancy dynamics with the problem
of particle trapping in an infinite sea of traps and is confirmed by
simulation.Comment: 30 pages (10 figures included), to appear in Phys. Rev.
High harmonic generation from Bloch electrons in solids
We study the generation of high harmonic radiation by Bloch electrons in a
model transparent solid driven by a strong mid-infrared laser field. We solve
the single-electron time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation (TDSE) using a
velocity-gauge method [New J. Phys. 15, 013006 (2013)] that is numerically
stable as the laser intensity and number of energy bands are increased. The
resulting harmonic spectrum exhibits a primary plateau due to the coupling of
the valence band to the first conduction band, with a cutoff energy that scales
linearly with field strength and laser wavelength. We also find a weaker second
plateau due to coupling to higher-lying conduction bands, with a cutoff that is
also approximately linear in the field strength. To facilitate the analysis of
the time-frequency characteristics of the emitted harmonics, we also solve the
TDSE in a time-dependent basis set, the Houston states [Phys. Rev. B 33, 5494
(1986)], which allows us to separate inter-band and intra-band contributions to
the time-dependent current. We find that the inter-band and intra-band
contributions display very different time-frequency characteristics. We show
that solutions in these two bases are equivalent under an unitary
transformation but that, unlike the velocity gauge method, the Houston state
treatment is numerically unstable when more than a few low lying energy bands
are used
Mapping the interface between the Local and Loop I bubbles using Stromgren photometry
The Sun is located inside an extremely low density region of quite irregular
shape called the Local Bubble. Close to the Local Bubble, there is an even
larger cavity known as Loop I. A ring-like feature observed in X-ray and HI has
been proposed as the contour of the bubbles interaction zone around 70 pc. Our
goal is to identify the interface between the Local and Loop I Bubbles and
discuss the ring's existence using Stromgren uvbyH\beta data. We have used the
uvbyH\beta data of the General Catalogue of Photometric Data, covering the
region defined by the Galactic coordinates: 250\degr <= l <= 50\degr and
-60\degr <= b <= 60\degr to obtain E(b-y) colour excess and distances. The
final sample is composed of 4346 stars located up to 500 pc from the Sun.
The expected transition to E(b-y) ~ 0.070 - 0.100 mag, corresponding to the
ring's column density, occurs on the western part of the ring at d = 110 +/- 20
pc, whereas on the eastern side it is not clearly seen before d = 280 +/- 50
pc. Near the Galactic plane the presence of the dark clouds is clearly
established by E(b-y) >= 0.100 mag on the western side at about 100 - 150 pc
and about 120 - 180 pc on the eastern side. In the southernmost part of the
ring the reddening remains very low, typically E(b-y) = 0.020 in all its
extension, except towards the Mensa constellation where a possible transition
is observed at d = 200 +/- 20 pc. In the northernmost part the colour excess
increases with distance in a gradual way, such that 0.020 <= E(b-y) <= 0.040
mag becomes predominant only after d=120 +/-15 pc.
If the ring really exists the colour excess distribution indicates that it is
very fragmented and distorted. However, the different characteristics of the
reddening inside and along the ring do not support the existence of a ring.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
Aproveitamento de várzeas.
Distribuição das várzeas. Natureza dos problemas em várzeas. Caracterização dos principais solos de várzeas. Recuperação de várzeas. Modificações ambientais. Conclusões. Necessidade de pesquisas futuras
Brachial Artery Constriction during Brachial Artery Reactivity Testing Predicts Major Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Women with Suspected Myocardial Ischemia: Results from the NHLBI-Sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) Study
Background:Limited brachial artery (BA) flow-mediated dilation during brachial artery reactivity testing (BART) has been linked to increased cardiovascular risk. We report on the phenomenon of BA constriction (BAC) following hyperemia.Objectives:To determine whether BAC predicts adverse CV outcomes and/or mortality in the women's ischemic Syndrome Evaluation Study (WISE). Further, as a secondary objective we sought to determine the risk factors associated with BAC.Methods:We performed BART on 377 women with chest pain referred for coronary angiography and followed for a median of 9.5 years. Forearm ischemia was induced with 4 minutes occlusion by a cuff placed distal to the BA and inflated to 40mm Hg > systolic pressure. BAC was defined as >4.8% artery constriction following release of the cuff. The main outcome was major adverse events (MACE) including all-cause mortality, non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure.Results:BA diameter change ranged from -20.6% to +44.9%, and 41 (11%) women experienced BAC. Obstructive CAD and traditional CAD risk factors were not predictive of BAC. Overall, 39% of women with BAC experienced MACE vs. 22% without BAC (p=0.004). In multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, BAC was a significant independent predictor of MACE (p=0.018) when adjusting for obstructive CAD and traditional risk factors.Conclusions:BAC predicts almost double the risk for major adverse events compared to patients without BAC. This risk was not accounted for by CAD or traditional risk factors. The novel risk marker of BAC requires further investigation in women. © 2013 Sedlak et al
Simulations of Time-Resolved X-Ray Diffraction in Laue Geometry
A method of computer simulation of Time-Resolved X-ray Diffraction (TRXD) in
asymmetric Laue (transmission) geometry with an arbitrary propagating strain
perpendicular to the crystal surface is presented. We present two case studies
for possible strain generation by short-pulse laser irradiation: (i) a
thermoelastic-like analytic model; (ii) a numerical model including effects of
electron-hole diffusion, Auger recombination, deformation potential and thermal
diffusion. A comparison with recent experimental results is also presented.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figure
Optical probing of ultrafast electronic decay in Bi and Sb with slow phonons
Illumination with laser sources leads to the creation of excited electronic states of particular symmetries, which can drive isosymmetric vibrations. Here, we use a combination of ultrafast stimulated and cw spontaneous Raman scattering to determine the lifetime of A(1g) and E-g electronic coherences in Bi and Sb. Our results both shed new light on the mechanisms of coherent phonon generation and represent a novel way to probe extremely fast electron decoherence rates. The E-g state, resulting from an unequal distribution of carriers in three equivalent band regions, is extremely short lived. Consistent with theory, the lifetime of its associated driving force reaches values as small as 2 (6) fs for Bi (Sb) at 300 K. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.04740
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