900 research outputs found
A parallel multistate framework for atomistic non-equilibrium reaction dynamics of solutes in strongly interacting organic solvents
We describe a parallel linear-scaling computational framework developed to
implement arbitrarily large multi-state empirical valence bond (MS-EVB)
calculations within CHARMM. Forces are obtained using the Hellman-Feynmann
relationship, giving continuous gradients, and excellent energy conservation.
Utilizing multi-dimensional Gaussian coupling elements fit to CCSD(T)-F12
electronic structure theory, we built a 64-state MS-EVB model designed to study
the F + CD3CN -> DF + CD2CN reaction in CD3CN solvent. This approach allows us
to build a reactive potential energy surface (PES) whose balanced accuracy and
efficiency considerably surpass what we could achieve otherwise. We use our PES
to run MD simulations, and examine a range of transient observables which
follow in the wake of reaction, including transient spectra of the DF
vibrational band, time dependent profiles of vibrationally excited DF in CD3CN
solvent, and relaxation rates for energy flow from DF into the solvent, all of
which agree well with experimental observations. Immediately following
deuterium abstraction, the nascent DF is in a non-equilibrium regime in two
different respects: (1) it is highly excited, with ~23 kcal mol-1 localized in
the stretch; and (2) not yet Hydrogen bonded to the CD3CN solvent, its
microsolvation environment is intermediate between the non-interacting
gas-phase limit and the solution-phase equilibrium limit. Vibrational
relaxation of the nascent DF results in a spectral blue shift, while relaxation
of its microsolvation environment results in a red shift. These two competing
effects result in a post-reaction relaxation profile distinct from that
observed when DF vibration excitation occurs within an equilibrium
microsolvation environment. The parallel software framework presented in this
paper should be more broadly applicable to a range of complex reactive systems.Comment: 58 pages and 29 Figure
Field-Induced Tunneling Ionization and Terahertz-Driven Electron Dynamics in Liquid Water
Liquid water at ambient temperature displays ultrafast molecular motions and
concomitant fluctuations of very strong electric fields originating from the
dipolar H2O molecules. We show that such random intermolecular fields induce
tunnel ionization of water molecules, which becomes irreversible if an external
terahertz (THz) pulse imposes an additional directed electric field on the
liquid. Time-resolved nonlinear THz spectroscopy maps charge separation,
transport and localization of the released electrons on a few-picosecond time
scale. The highly polarizable localized electrons modify the THz absorption
spectrum and refractive index of water, a manifestation of a highly nonlinear
response. Our results demonstrate how the interplay of local electric field
fluctuations and external electric fields allows for steering charge dynamics
and dielectric properties in aqueous systems
Near-field optical imaging and spectroscopy of a coupled quantum wire-dot structure
A coupled GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wire (QWR)-dot sample grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a patterned (311)A GaAs substrate is studied by near-field spectroscopy at a temperature of 10 K with a spectral resolution of 100 ”eV. The two-dimensional potential energy profiles of the sample including localized excitonic states caused by structural disorder are determined in photoluminescence measurements with a spatial resolution of 150 nm. One finds a potential barrier of 20 meV between the quantum wire and the embedding quantum well (QW) on the mesa top of the structure. This is due to local thinning of the GaAs layer. In contrast, the wire-dot interface results free of energy barriers. The spatial variation of the GaAs layer thickness provides information on the growth mechanism determined by lateral diffusion of Ga atoms which is modeled by an analytical model. By performing spatially resolved photoluminescence excitation measurements on this wire-dot structure, we present a method for investigating carrier transport in low-dimensional systems: The dot area is used as an optical marker for excitonic diffusion via QW and QWR states. The two-dimensional (2D) and 1D diffusion coefficients are extracted as a function of the temperature and discussed
Temperature-dependent near-field imaging of delocalized and localized excitons in single quantum wires
Summary form only given. Recent microphotoluminescence studies have shown that the low-temperature emission spectra of semiconductor quantum wires are dominated by localized, quasi-zero-dimensional, excitons. This implies that both the optical and transport properties of such quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) nanostructures are similar to that of a chain of quantum dots. It also hinders the observation of some truly one-dimensional quantum effects, such as the ballistic or diffusive one-dimensional exciton transport, expected in nanostructures containing Q1D excitons that are delocalized over mesoscopic length scales. We present the first experimental evidence for such delocalized excitons in a single quantum wire. A novel coupled quantum wire-dot nanostructure is studied by low temperature near-field photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy
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Reversibly compressible and freestanding monolithic carbon spherogels
We present a versatile strategy to tailor the nanostructure of monolithic carbon aerogels. By use of an aqueous colloidal solution of polystyrene in the sol-gel processing of resorcinol-formaldehyde gels, we can prepare, after supercritical drying and successive carbonization, freestanding monolithic carbon aerogels, solely composed of interconnected and uniformly sized hollow spheres, which we name carbon spherogels. Each sphere is enclosed by a microporous carbon wall whose thickness can be adjusted by the polystyrene concentration, which affects the pore texture as well as the mechanical properties of the aerogel monolith. In this study, we used monodisperse polystyrene spheres of approximately 250 nm diameter, which result in an inner diameter of the final hollow carbon spheres of approximately 200 ± 5 nm due to shrinkage during the carbonization process. The excellent homogeneity of the samples, as well as uniform sphere geometries, are confirmed by small- and angle X-ray scattering. The presence of macropores between the hollow spheres creates a monolithic network with the benefit of being reversibly compressible up to 10% linear strain without destruction. Electrochemical tests demonstrate the applicability of ground and CO2 activated carbon spherogels as electrode materials. © 2019 The Author
Looking at Localized Excitons in Quantum Structures: A Theoretical Description
We present a theory of scanning local optical spectroscopy in quantum structures taking into account structural disorder. The calculated spatially resolved spectra show the individual spectral lines from the exciton states localized by the disordered potential as well as the quasicontinua spectra at positions close to the potential barriers in agreement with the experimental findings
Evaluating Models' Response of Tropical Low Clouds to SST Forcings Using CALIPSO Observations
Recent studies have shown that, in response to a surface warming, the marine tropical low-cloud cover (LCC) as observed by passive-sensor satellites substantially decreases, therefore generating a smaller negative value of the top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) cloud radiative effect (CRE). Here we study the LCC and CRE interannual changes in response to sea surface temperature (SST) forcings in the GISS model E2 climate model, a developmental version of the GISS model E3 climate model, and in 12 other climate models, as a function of their ability to represent the vertical structure of the cloud response to SST change against 10 years of CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) observations. The more realistic models (those that satisfy the observational constraint) capture the observed interannual LCC change quite well ([delta]LCC]/[delta]SST= -3.491.01%K [negative 1 superscript] vs. [delta]LCC/[delta]SST[subscript obs]= -3.590.28%K[negative 1 superscript]) while the others largely underestimate it ([delta]LCC/[delta]SST= -1.321.28%K[negative 1 superscript]). Consequently, the more realistic models simulate more positive shortwave (SW) feedback ([delta]CRE/[delta]SST=2.601.13Wm[negative 2 superscript] K[negative 1 superscript]) than the less realistic models (CRE/SST=0.872.63Wm2K1), in better agreement with the observations ([delta]CRE/[delta]SST[subscript obs]=30.26Wm[negative 2 superscript] K[negative 1 superscript] ), although slightly underestimated. The ability of the models to represent moist processes within the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and produce persistent stratocumulus (Sc) decks appears crucial to replicating the observed relationship between clouds, radiation and surface temperature. This relationship is different depending on the type of low clouds in the observations. Over stratocumulus regions, cloud-top height increases slightly with SST, accompanied by a large decrease in cloud fraction, whereas over trade cumulus (Cu) regions, cloud fraction decreases everywhere, to a smaller extent
Listen to Nice
In describing Humphrey Jenningsâ wartime documentary propaganda film, 'Listen to Britain' (1942), a film with an overtly poetic sensibility and dominantly musical soundtrack, John Corner asserts that âthrough listening to
Britain, we are enabled to properly look at it'. This idea of sound leading our attention to the images has underpinned much of the collaborative
work between composer and sound designer, Geoffrey Cox, and documentary filmmaker, Keith Marley. It is in this context that the article will analyse an extract of A Film About Nice (Marley and Cox 2010), a contemporary
re-imagining of Jean Vigoâs silent documentary, 'A propos de Nice' (1930). Reference will be made throughout to the historical context, and the filmic and theoretical influences that have informed the way music and creative sound design have been used to place emphasis on hearing a place, as much as seeing it
Antithrombotic Treatment Patterns in 10,871 Patients with Newly Diagnosed Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: The GLORIA-AF Registry, Phase II
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