Carbonization of coal pitch with additives

The ability of organic and inorganic additives (polyethylene terephthalate, titanium dioxide, finely disperse carbon, petroleum bitumen) to reduce the carcinogenic impact of coal-pitch carbonization is studied. Additives may reduce the quantity of pitch sublimates and their content of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Some additives are able to reduce the benz[a]pyrene content in the exhaust gases, but its complete elimination is impossible, since benz[a]pyrene is a natural product of the high-temperature pyrolysis of organic materials. For this reason, additions of petroleum products to coal pitch cannot reduce the benz[a]pyrene emissions in the exhaust gases. © 2013 Allerton Press, Inc

Super Landau Models on Odd Cosets

We construct d=1 sigma models of the Wess-Zumino type on the SU(n|1)/U(n) fermionic cosets. Such models can be regarded as a particular supersymmetric extension (with a target space supersymmetry) of the classical Landau model, when a charged particle possesses only fermionic coordinates. We consider both classical and quantum models, and prove the unitarity of the quantum model by introducing the metric operator on the Hilbert space of the quantum states, such that all their norms become positive-definite. It is remarkable that the quantum n=2 model exhibits hidden SU(2|2) symmetry. We also discuss the planar limit of these models. The Hilbert space in the planar n=2 case is shown to carry SU(2|2) symmetry which is different from that of the SU(2|1)/U(1) model.Comment: 1 + 33 pages, some typos correcte

Presure-Induced Superconducting State of Antiferromagnetic CaFe2_2As2_2

The antiferromagnet CaFe$_2$As$_2$ does not become superconducting when subject to ideal hydrostatic pressure conditions, where crystallographic and magnetic states also are well defined. By measuring electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility under quasi-hydrostatic pressure, however, we find that a substantial volume fraction of the sample is superconducting in a narrow pressure range where collapsed tetragonal and orthorhombic structures coexist. At higher pressures, the collapsed tetragonal structure is stabilized, with the boundary between this structure and the phase of coexisting structures strongly dependent on pressure history. Fluctuations in magnetic degrees of freedom in the phase of coexisting structures appear to be important for superconductivity.Comment: revised (6 pages, 5 figures) - includes additional experimental result

Emergent states in heavy electron materials

We obtain the conditions necessary for the emergence of various low temperature ordered states (local moment antiferromagnetism, unconventional superconductivity, quantum criticality, and Landau Fermi liquid behavior) in Kondo lattice materials by extending the two-fluid phenomenological theory of heavy electron behavior to incorporate the concept of hybridization effectiveness. We use this expanded framework to present a new phase digram and consistent physical explanation and quantitative description of measured emergent behaviors such as the pressure variation of the onset of local moment antiferromagnetic ordering at T_N, the magnitude of the ordered moment, the growth of superconductivity within that ordered state, the location of a quantum critical point, and of a delocalization line in the pressure/temperature phase diagram at which local moments have disappeared and the heavy electron Fermi surface has grown to its maximum size. We apply our model to CeRhIn_5 and a number of other heavy electron materials and find good agreement with experiment.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Asymmetric double-well potential for single atom interferometry

We consider the evolution of a single-atom wavefunction in a time-dependent double-well interferometer in the presence of a spatially asymmetric potential. We examine a case where a single trapping potential is split into an asymmetric double well and then recombined again. The interferometer involves a measurement of the first excited state population as a sensitive measure of the asymmetric potential. Based on a two-mode approximation a Bloch vector model provides a simple and satisfactory description of the dynamical evolution. We discuss the roles of adiabaticity and asymmetry in the double-well interferometer. The Bloch model allows us to account for the effects of asymmetry on the excited state population throughout the interferometric process and to choose the appropriate splitting, holding and recombination periods in order to maximize the output signal. We also compare the outcomes of the Bloch vector model with the results of numerical simulations of the multi-state time-dependent Schroedinger equation.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Reducing the carcinogenic impact of pitch processing

Diverse opinions exist regarding the properties of benz[a]pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coal pitch and their carcinogenic impact. Current concepts regarding chemical carcinogenesis and the development of occupational sickness are outlined. Information is presented relating to the reduction in the carcinogenic impact of coal pitch and its processing products. It is shown that the content of benz[a]pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coal pitch, its sublimates, and atmospheric emissions may be reduced by means of various additives. However, it is probably impossible to eliminate benz[a]pyrene emission completely, since it is an unavoidable product of the high-temperature pyrolysis of organic materials. © 2013 Allerton Press, Inc