6,888 research outputs found
Far-infrared edge modes in quantum dots
We have investigated edge modes of different multipolarity sustained by
quantum dots submitted to external magnetic fields. We present a microscopic
description based on a variational solution of the equation of motion for any
axially symmetric confining potential and multipole mode. Numerical results for
dots with different number of electrons whose ground-state is described within
a local Current Density Functional Theory are discussed. Two sum rules, which
are exact within this theory, are derived. In the limit of a large neutral dot
at B=0, we have shown that the classical hydrodynamic dispersion law for edge
waves \omega(q) \sim \sqrt{q \ln (q_0/q)} holds when quantum and finite size
effects are taken into account.Comment: We have changed some figures as well as a part of the tex
Far-infrared edge modes in quantum dots
We have investigated edge modes of different multipolarity sustained by
quantum dots submitted to external magnetic fields. We present a microscopic
description based on a variational solution of the equation of motion for any
axially symmetric confining potential and multipole mode. Numerical results for
dots with different number of electrons whose ground-state is described within
a local Current Density Functional Theory are discussed. Two sum rules, which
are exact within this theory, are derived. In the limit of a large neutral dot
at B=0, we have shown that the classical hydrodynamic dispersion law for edge
waves \omega(q) \sim \sqrt{q \ln (q_0/q)} holds when quantum and finite size
effects are taken into account.Comment: We have changed some figures as well as a part of the tex
Self-avoiding walks on a bilayer Bethe lattice
We propose and study a model of polymer chains in a bilayer. Each chain is
confined in one of the layers and polymer bonds on first neighbor edges in
different layers interact. We also define and comment results for a model with
interactions between monomers on first neighbor sites of different layers. The
thermodynamic properties of the model are studied in the grand-canonical
formalism and both layers are considered to be Cayley trees. In the core region
of the trees, which we may call a bilayer Bethe lattice, we find a very rich
phase diagram in the parameter space defined by the two activities of monomers
and the Boltzmann factor associated to the interlayer interaction between bonds
or monomers. Beside critical and coexistence surfaces, there are tricritical,
bicritical and critical endpoint lines, as well as higher order multicritical
points.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures. Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and
Experiment (in press
On RAF Sets and Autocatalytic Cycles in Random Reaction Networks
The emergence of autocatalytic sets of molecules seems to have played an
important role in the origin of life context. Although the possibility to
reproduce this emergence in laboratory has received considerable attention,
this is still far from being achieved. In order to unravel some key properties
enabling the emergence of structures potentially able to sustain their own
existence and growth, in this work we investigate the probability to observe
them in ensembles of random catalytic reaction networks characterized by
different structural properties. From the point of view of network topology, an
autocatalytic set have been defined either in term of strongly connected
components (SCCs) or as reflexively autocatalytic and food-generated sets
(RAFs). We observe that the average level of catalysis differently affects the
probability to observe a SCC or a RAF, highlighting the existence of a region
where the former can be observed, whereas the latter cannot. This parameter
also affects the composition of the RAF, which can be further characterized
into linear structures, autocatalysis or SCCs. Interestingly, we show that the
different network topology (uniform as opposed to power-law catalysis systems)
does not have a significantly divergent impact on SCCs and RAFs appearance,
whereas the proportion between cleavages and condensations seems instead to
play a role. A major factor that limits the probability of RAF appearance and
that may explain some of the difficulties encountered in laboratory seems to be
the presence of molecules which can accumulate without being substrate or
catalyst of any reaction.Comment: pp 113-12
Scissors modes in triaxial metal clusters
We study the scissors mode (orbital M1 excitations) in small Na clusters,
triaxial metal clusters and and the
close-to-spherical , all described in DFT with detailed ionic
background. The scissors modes built on spin-saturated ground and
spin-polarized isomeric states are analyzed in virtue of both macroscopic
collective and microscopic shell-model treatments. It is shown that the mutual
destruction of Coulomb and the exchange-correlation parts of the residual
interaction makes the collective shift small and the net effect can depend on
details of the actual excited state. The crosstalk with dipole and spin-dipole
modes is studied in detail. In particular, a strong crosstalk with spin-dipole
negative-parity mode is found in the case of spin-polarized states. Triaxiality
and ionic structure considerably complicate the scissors response, mainly at
expense of stronger fragmentation of the strength. Nevertheless, even in these
complicated cases the scissors mode is mainly determined by the global
deformation. The detailed ionic structure destroys the spherical symmetry and
can cause finite M1 response (transverse optical mode) even in clusters with
zero global deformation. But its strength turns out to be much smaller than for
the genuine scissors modes in deformed systems.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure
Twist Mode in Spherical Alkali Metal Clusters
A remarkable orbital quadrupole magnetic resonance, so-called twist mode, is
predicted in alkali metal clusters where it is represented by
low-energy excitations of valence electrons with strong M2 transitions to the
ground state. We treat the twist by both macroscopic and microscopic ways. In
the latter case, the shell structure of clusters is fully exploited, which is
crucial for the considered size region (). The
energy-weighted sum rule is derived for the pseudo-Hamiltonian. In medium and
heavy spherical clusters the twist dominates over its spin-dipole counterpart
and becomes the most strong multipole magnetic mode.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Lett., v.85, n.15,
200
The MeerKAT Fornax Survey
We present the science case and observations plan of the MeerKAT Fornax
Survey, an HI and radio continuum survey of the Fornax galaxy cluster to be
carried out with the SKA precursor MeerKAT. Fornax is the second most massive
cluster within 20 Mpc and the largest nearby cluster in the southern
hemisphere. Its low X-ray luminosity makes it representative of the environment
where most galaxies live and where substantial galaxy evolution takes place.
Fornax's ongoing growth makes it an excellent laboratory for studying the
assembly of clusters, the physics of gas accretion and stripping in galaxies
falling in the cluster, and the connection between these processes and the
neutral medium in the cosmic web.
We will observe a region of 12 deg reaching a projected distance of 1.5
Mpc from the cluster centre. This will cover a wide range of environment
density out to the outskirts of the cluster, where gas-rich in-falling groups
are found. We will: study the HI morphology of resolved galaxies down to a
column density of a few times 1e+19 cm at a resolution of 1 kpc; measure
the slope of the HI mass function down to M(HI) 5e+5 M(sun); and attempt to
detect HI in the cosmic web reaching a column density of 1e+18 cm at a
resolution of 10 kpc.Comment: Proceedings of Science, "MeerKAT Science: On the Pathway to the SKA",
Stellenbosch, 25-27 May 201
Transient evolution of C-type shocks in dusty regions of varying density
Outflows of young stars drive shocks into dusty, molecular regions. Most
models of such shocks assume that they are steady and propagating perpendicular
to the magnetic field. Real shocks often violate both of these assumptions and
the media through which they propagate are inhomogeneous. We use the code
employed previously to produce the first time-dependent simulations of
fast-mode, oblique C-type shocks interacting with density perturbations. We
include a self-consistent calculation of the thermal and ionisation balances
and a fluid treatment of grains. We identify features that develop when a
multifluid shock encounters a density inhomogeneity to investigate whether any
part of the precursor region ever behaves in a quasi-steady fashion. If it does
the shock may be modelled approximately without solving the time-dependent
hydromagnetic equations. Simulations were made for initially steady oblique
C-type shocks encountering density inhomogeneities. For a semi-finite
inhomogeneity with a density larger than the surrounding medium, a transmitted
shock evolves from being J-type to a steady C-type shock on a timescale
comparable to the ion-flow time through it. A sufficiently upstream part of the
precursor of an evolving J-type shock is quasi-steady. The ion-flow timescale
is also relevant for the evolution of a shock moving into a region of
decreasing density. The models for shocks propagating into regions in which the
density increases and then decreases to its initial value cannot be entirely
described in terms of the results obtained for monotonically increasing and
decreasing densities. For the latter model, the long-term evolution to a C-type
shock cannot be approximated by quasi-steady models.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure
Convection regimes and tropical‐midlatitude interactions over the Intra‐American Seas from May to November
A cluster analysis is applied to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration daily outgoing longwave radiation anomaly fields over the Intra‐American Seas, for the May to November rainy season 1980–2009. Seven recurrent convection regimes are identified, each with distinct impacts on local rainfall. Three suppressed‐convection regimes prevailing throughout the season and in particular during the Mid‐Summer Drought are related to transient anticyclonic circulation anomalies and broad drying over the region. The remaining regimes are all related to enhanced convection and cyclonic circulation anomalies over the Caribbean. For one wet regime, the cyclonic anomaly is located over Central America, which increases moisture advection from the eastern Pacific and in turn rainfall over Central and South America to the disadvantage of northern regions of the Caribbean. The three other regimes are associated with a weaker Caribbean Low Level Jet along its southern branch stretching along the South American coast, while its northern branch is strengthened, exposing the Caribbean to more moisture advection from the northeast trade winds, enhancing convection and rainfall locally. These three wet regimes are related to northwestward‐propagating convective cells that can be traced in a composite sense to the southward incursion of baroclinic waves from the midlatitudes, and anticyclonic wave breaking. In addition, their frequencies are found to be higher during phases 1 and 2 of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation, suggesting a connection with easterly waves emanating from African convection. Relationships are shown between these three northwestward‐propagating wet regimes and historical floods in the Caribbean illustrating the potential value of the convective regime approach for ultimately improving regional predictions and disaster early warning on sub‐seasonal scales
A mutate-and-map protocol for inferring base pairs in structured RNA
Chemical mapping is a widespread technique for structural analysis of nucleic
acids in which a molecule's reactivity to different probes is quantified at
single-nucleotide resolution and used to constrain structural modeling. This
experimental framework has been extensively revisited in the past decade with
new strategies for high-throughput read-outs, chemical modification, and rapid
data analysis. Recently, we have coupled the technique to high-throughput
mutagenesis. Point mutations of a base-paired nucleotide can lead to exposure
of not only that nucleotide but also its interaction partner. Carrying out the
mutation and mapping for the entire system gives an experimental approximation
of the molecules contact map. Here, we give our in-house protocol for this
mutate-and-map strategy, based on 96-well capillary electrophoresis, and we
provide practical tips on interpreting the data to infer nucleic acid
structure.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure
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