Microstructure of a liquid complex (dusty) plasma under shear

The microstructure of a strongly coupled liquid undergoing a shear flow was studied experimentally. The liquid was a shear melted two-dimensional plasma crystal, i.e., a single-layer suspension of micrometer-size particles in a rf discharge plasma. Trajectories of particles were measured using video microscopy. The resulting microstructure was anisotropic, with compressional and extensional axes at around $\pm 45^{\circ}$ to the flow direction. Corresponding ellipticity of the pair correlation function $g({\bf r})$ or static structure factor $S(\bf{k})$ gives the (normalized) shear rate of the flow.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Localized whistlers in magnetized spin quantum plasmas

The nonlinear propagation of electromagnetic (EM) electron-cyclotron waves (whistlers) along an external magnetic field, and their modulation by electrostatic small but finite amplitude ion-acoustic density perturbations are investigated in a uniform quantum plasma with intrinsic spin of electrons. The effects of the quantum force associated with the Bohm potential and the combined effects of the classical as well as the spin-induced ponderomotive forces (CPF and SPF respectively) are taken into consideration. The latter modify the local plasma density in a self-consistent manner. The coupled modes of wave propagation is shown to be governed by a modified set of nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger-Boussinesq-like equations which admit exact solutions in form of stationary localized envelopes. Numerical simulation reveals the existence of large-scale density fluctuations that are self-consistently created by the localized whistlers in a strongly magnetized high density plasma. The conditions for the modulational instability (MI) and the value of its growth rate are obtained. Possible applications of our results, e.g., in strongly magnetized dense plasmas and in the next generation laser-solid density plasma interaction experiments are discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures; To appear in Physical Review E (2010

Methodological Advancements for Characterising Protein Side Chains by NMR Spectroscopy

The surface of proteins is covered by side chains of polar amino acids that are imperative for modulating protein functionality through the formation non-covalent intermolecular interactions. However, despite their tremendous importance, the unique structures of protein side chains require tailored approaches for investigation by NMR spectroscopy, and so have traditionally been understudied compared to the protein backbone. Here, we review substantial recent methodological advancements within NMR spectroscopy to address this issue. Specifically, we consider advancements that provide new insight into methyl-bearing side chains, show the potential of using non-natural amino acids, and reveal the actions of charged side chains. Combined, the new methods promise unprecedented characterisations of side chains that will further elucidate protein function

Instability and Evolution of Nonlinearly Interacting Water Waves

We consider the modulational instability of nonlinearly interacting two-dimensional waves in deep water, which are described by a pair of two-dimensional coupled nonlinear Schroedinger equations. We derive a nonlinear dispersion relation. The latter is numerically analyzed to obtain the regions and the associated growth rates of the modulational instability. Furthermore, we follow the long term evolution of the latter by means of computer simulations of the governing nonlinear equations and demonstrate the formation of localized coherent wave envelopes. Our results should be useful for understanding the formation and nonlinear propagation characteristics of large amplitude freak waves in deep water.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Physical Review Letter

Nonlinear wave interactions in quantum magnetoplasmas

Nonlinear interactions involving electrostatic upper-hybrid (UH), ion-cyclotron (IC), lower-hybrid (LH), and Alfven waves in quantum magnetoplasmas are considered. For this purpose, the quantum hydrodynamical equations are used to derive the governing equations for nonlinearly coupled UH, IC, LH, and Alfven waves. The equations are then Fourier analyzed to obtain nonlinear dispersion relations, which admit both decay and modulational instabilities of the UH waves at quantum scales. The growth rates of the instabilities are presented. They can be useful in applications of our work to diagnostics in laboratory and astrophysical settings.Comment: 15 pages, to appear in Physics of Plasma

Bound states near a moving charge in a quantum plasma

It is investigated how the shielding of a moving point charge in a one-component fully degenerate fermion plasma affects the bound states near the charge at velocities smaller than the Fermi one. The shielding is accounted for by using the Lindhard dielectric function, and the resulting potential is substituted into the Schr\"odinger equation in order to obtain the energy levels. Their number and values are shown to be primarily determined by the value of the charge and the quantum plasma coupling parameter, while the main effect of the motion is to split certain energy levels. This provides a link between quantum plasma theory and possible measurements of spectra of ions passing through solids.Comment: Published in EPL, see http://epljournal.edpsciences.org/articles/epl/abs/2011/09/epl13478/epl13478.htm

Size, shape and surface chemistry of nano-gold dictate its cellular interactions, uptake and toxicity

Colloidal gold is undoubtedly one of the most extensively studied nanomaterials, with 1000s of different protocols currently available to synthesise gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). While developments in the synthesis of AuNPs have progressed rapidly in recent years, our understanding of their biological impact, with particular respect to the effect of shape, size, surface characteristics and aggregation states, has struggled to keep pace. It is generally agreed that when AuNPs are exposed to biological systems, these parameters directly influence their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties by influencing AuNPs distribution, circulation time, metabolism and excretion in biological systems. However, the rules governing these properties, and the science behind them, are poorly understood. Therefore, a systematic understanding of the implications of these variables at the nano-bio interface has recently become a topic of major interest. This Review Article attempts to ignite a discussion around the influence of different physico-chemical parameters on biological activity of AuNPs, while focussing on critical aspects of cellular interactions, uptake and cytotoxicity. The review also discusses emerging trends in AuNP uptake and toxicity that are leading to technological advances through AuNP-based therapy, diagnostics and imaging

Characteristic features of anharmonic effects in the lattice dynamics of fcc metals

The dispersion in the entire Brillouin zone and the temperature dependence (right up to the melting temperature) of the anharmonic frequency shift and phonon damping in a number of fcc metals is investigated on the basis of microscopic calculations. It is found that the anharmonic effects depend sharply on the wave vector in the directions $\Gamma$-X, X-W, and $\Gamma$-L and, in contrast to bcc metals, the magnitude of the effects is not due to the softness of the initial phonon spectrum. It is shown that the relative frequency shifts and the phonon damping near melting do not exceed 10-20%. The relative role of various anharmonic processes is examined, and the relation between the results obtained and existing experimental data is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, LaTe

Ferroplasmas: Magnetic Dust Dynamics in a Conducting Fluid

We consider a dusty plasma, in which the dust particles have a magnetic dipole moment. A Hall-MHD type of model, generalized to account for the intrinsic magnetization, is derived. The model is shown to be energy conserving, and the energy density and flux is derived. The general dispersion relation is then derived, and we show that kinetic Alfv\'en waves exhibit an instability for a low temperature and high density plasma. We discuss the implication of our results.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur

Towards a common thread in Complexity: an accuracy-based approach

The complexity of a system, in general, makes it difficult to determine some or almost all matrix elements of its operators. The lack of accuracy acts as a source of randomness for the matrix elements which are also subjected to an external potential due to existing system conditions. The fluctuation of accuracy due to varying system-conditions leads to a diffusion of the matrix elements. We show that, for the single well potentials, the diffusion can be described by a common mathematical formulation where system information enters through a single parameter. This further leads to a characterization of physical properties by an infinite range of single parametric universality classes