9,580 research outputs found
Comparison of Dissipative Particle Dynamics and Langevin thermostats for out-of-equilibrium simulations of polymeric systems
In this work we compare and characterize the behavior of Langevin and
Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) thermostats in a broad range of
non-equilibrium simulations of polymeric systems. Polymer brushes in relative
sliding motion, polymeric liquids in Poiseuille and Couette flows, and
brush-melt interfaces are used as model systems to analyze the efficiency and
limitations of different Langevin and DPD thermostat implementations. Widely
used coarse-grained bead-spring models under good and poor solvent conditions
are employed to assess the effects of the thermostats. We considered
equilibrium, transient, and steady state examples for testing the ability of
the thermostats to maintain constant temperature and to reproduce the
underlying physical phenomena in non-equilibrium situations. The common
practice of switching-off the Langevin thermostat in the flow direction is also
critically revisited. The efficiency of different weight functions for the DPD
thermostat is quantitatively analyzed as a function of the solvent quality and
the non-equilibrium situation.Comment: 12 pages, introduction improved, references added, to appear in Phys.
Rev.
Probing the Light Pseudoscalar Window
Very light pseudoscalars can arise from the symmetry-breaking sector in many
extensions of the Standard Model. If their mass is below 200 MeV, they can be
long-lived and have interesting phenomenology. We discuss the experimental
constraints on several models with light pseudoscalars, including one in which
the pseudoscalar is naturally fermiophobic. Taking into account the stringent
bounds from rare K and B decays, we find allowed parameter space in each model
that may be accessible in direct production experiments. In particular, we
study the photoproduction of light pseudoscalars at Jefferson Lab and conclude
that a beam dump experiment could explore some of the allowed parameter space
of these models.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figure
Supernova Simulations with Boltzmann Neutrino Transport: A Comparison of Methods
Accurate neutrino transport has been built into spherically symmetric
simulations of stellar core collapse and postbounce evolution. The results of
such simulations agree that spherically symmetric models with standard
microphysical input fail to explode by the delayed, neutrino-driven mechanism.
Independent groups implemented fundamentally different numerical methods to
tackle the Boltzmann neutrino transport equation. Here we present a direct and
detailed comparison of such neutrino radiation-hydrodynamical simulations for
two codes, Agile-Boltztran of the Oak Ridge-Basel group and Vertex of the
Garching group. The former solves the Boltzmann equation directly by an
implicit, general relativistic discrete angle method on the adaptive grid of a
conservative implicit hydrodynamics code with second-order TVD advection. In
contrast, the latter couples a variable Eddington factor technique with an
explicit, moving-grid, conservative high-order Riemann solver with important
relativistic effects treated by an effective gravitational potential. The
presented study is meant to test both neutrino radiation-hydrodynamics
implementations and to provide a data basis for comparisons and verifications
of supernova codes to be developed in the future. Results are discussed for
simulations of the core collapse and post-bounce evolution of a 13 solar mass
star with Newtonian gravity and a 15 solar mass star with relativistic gravity.Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures, revised version, to appear in Ap
On the Formation of Copper Linear Atomic Suspended Chains
We report high resolution transmission electron microscopy and classical
molecular dynamics simulation results of mechanically stretching copper
nanowires conducting to linear atomic suspended chains (LACs) formation. In
contrast with some previous experimental and theoretical work in literature
that stated that the formation of LACs for copper should not exist our results
showed the existence of LAC for the [111], [110], and [100] crystallographic
directions, being thus the sequence of most probable occurence.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Ballistic transport, chiral anomaly and emergence of the neutral electron - hole plasma in graphene
The process of coherent creation of particle - hole excitations by an
electric field in graphene is quantitatively described using a dynamic "first
quantized" approach. We calculate the evolution of current density, number of
pairs and energy in ballistic regime using the tight binding model. The series
in electric field strength up to third order in both DC and AC are
calculated. We show how the physics far from the two Dirac points enters
various physical quantities in linear response and how it is related to the
chiral anomaly. The third harmonic generation and the imaginary part of
conductivity are obtained. It is shown that at certain time scale
the physical behaviour dramatically changes and the
perturbation theory breaks down. Beyond the linear response physics is explored
using an exact solution of the first quantized equations. While for small
electric fields the I-V curve is linear characterized by the universal minimal
resistivity %, at the conductivity grows
fast. The copious pair creation (with rate ), analogous to Schwinger's
electron - positron pair creation from vacuum in QED, leads to creation of the
electron - hole plasma at ballistic times of order . This process is
terminated by a relaxational recombination.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures
Observation of a parity oscillation in the conductance of atomic wires
Using a scanning tunnel microscope or mechanically controlled break
junctions, atomic contacts of Au, Pt and Ir are pulled to form chains of atoms.
We have recorded traces of conductance during the pulling process and averaged
these for a large amount of contacts. An oscillatory evolution of conductance
is observed during the formation of the monoatomic chain suggesting a
dependence on even or odd numbers of atoms forming the chain. This behaviour is
not only present in the monovalent metal Au, as it has been previously
predicted, but is also found in the other metals which form chains suggesting
it to be a universal feature of atomic wires
Reproducibility of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) assessment in endometrial cancer
Aims Lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) in endometrial cancer (EC) is an important prognostic variable impacting on a patient's individual recurrence risk and adjuvant treatment recommendations. Recent work has shown that grading the extent of LVSI further improves its prognostic strength in patients with stage I endometrioid EC. Despite this, there is little information on the reproducibility of LVSI assessment in EC. Therefore, we designed a study to evaluate interobserver agreement in discriminating true LVSI from LVSI mimics (Phase I) and reproducibility of grading extent of LVSI (Phase II). Methods and results Scanned haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides of endometrioid EC (EEC) with a predefined possible LVSI focus were hosted on a website and assessed by a panel of six European gynaecological pathologists. In Phase I, 48 H&E slides were included for LVSI assessment and in Phase II, 42 H&E slides for LVSI grading. Each observer was instructed to apply the criteria for LVSI used in daily practice. The degree of agreement was measured using the two-way absolute agreement average-measures intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Reproducibility of LVSI assessment (ICC = 0.64, P < 0.001) and LVSI grading (ICC = 0.62, P < 0.001) in EEC was substantial among the observers. Conclusions Given the good reproducibility of LVSI, this study further supports the important role of LVSI in decision algorithms for adjuvant treatment
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