Non-analytical power law correction to the Einstein-Hilbert action: gravitational wave propagation

We analyze the features of the Minkowskian limit of a particular non-analytical f(R) model, whose Taylor expansion in the weak field limit does not hold, as far as gravitational waves (GWs) are concerned. We solve the corresponding Einstein equations and we find an explicit expression of the modified GWs as the sum of two terms, i.e. the standard one and a modified part. As a result, GWs in this model are not transverse, and their polarization is different from that of General Relativity. The velocity of the GW modified part depends crucially on the parameters characterizing the model, and it mostly results much smaller than the speed of light. Moreover, this investigation allows one to further test the viability of this particular f(R) gravity theory as far as interferometric observations of GWs are concerned.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure

Phase field modeling of electrochemistry II: Kinetics

The kinetic behavior of a phase field model of electrochemistry is explored for advancing (electrodeposition) and receding (electrodissolution) conditions in one dimension. We described the equilibrium behavior of this model in [J. E. Guyer, W. J. Boettinger, J.A. Warren, and G. B. McFadden, ``Phase field modeling of electrochemistry I: Equilibrium'', cond-mat/0308173]. We examine the relationship between the parameters of the phase field method and the more typical parameters of electrochemistry. We demonstrate ohmic conduction in the electrode and ionic conduction in the electrolyte. We find that, despite making simple, linear dynamic postulates, we obtain the nonlinear relationship between current and overpotential predicted by the classical ``Butler-Volmer'' equation and observed in electrochemical experiments. The charge distribution in the interfacial double layer changes with the passage of current and, at sufficiently high currents, we find that the diffusion limited deposition of a more noble cation leads to alloy deposition with less noble species.Comment: v3: To be published in Phys. Rev. E v2: Attempt to work around turnpage bug. Replaced color Fig. 4a with grayscale 13 pages, 7 figures in 10 files, REVTeX 4, SIunits.sty, follows cond-mat/030817

Threshold Resonant Structure of the 232Th Neutron-Induced Fission Cross Section

The structures observed in the sub-threshold neutron-induced fission of ^{232}Th were investigated employing a recent developed model. Theoretical single-particle excitations of a phenomenological two-humped barrier are determined by solving a system of coupled differential equations for the motion along the optimal fission path. A rather good agreement with experimental data was obtained using a small number of independent parameters. It is predicted that the structure at 1.4 and 1.6 MeV is mainly dominated by spin 3/2 partial cross-section with small admixture of spin 1/2, while the structure at 1.7 MeV is given by a large partial cross section of spin 5/2.Comment: 17 pages 11 figure

Understanding light quanta: First quantization of the free electromagnetic field

The quantization of the electromagnetic field in vacuum is presented without reference to lagrangean quantum field theory. The equal time commutators of the fields are calculated from basic principles. A physical discussion of the commutators suggest that the electromagnetic fields are macroscopic emergent properties of more fundamental physical system: the photons

The Statistics of the Points Where Nodal Lines Intersect a Reference Curve

We study the intersection points of a fixed planar curve $\Gamma$ with the nodal set of a translationally invariant and isotropic Gaussian random field \Psi(\bi{r}) and the zeros of its normal derivative across the curve. The intersection points form a discrete random process which is the object of this study. The field probability distribution function is completely specified by the correlation G(|\bi{r}-\bi{r}'|) = . Given an arbitrary G(|\bi{r}-\bi{r}'|), we compute the two point correlation function of the point process on the line, and derive other statistical measures (repulsion, rigidity) which characterize the short and long range correlations of the intersection points. We use these statistical measures to quantitatively characterize the complex patterns displayed by various kinds of nodal networks. We apply these statistics in particular to nodal patterns of random waves and of eigenfunctions of chaotic billiards. Of special interest is the observation that for monochromatic random waves, the number variance of the intersections with long straight segments grows like $L \ln L$, as opposed to the linear growth predicted by the percolation model, which was successfully used to predict other long range nodal properties of that field.Comment: 33 pages, 13 figures, 1 tabl

Analyzing capacitance-voltage measurements of vertical wrapped-gated nanowires

The capacitance of arrays of vertical wrapped-gate InAs nanowires are analyzed. With the help of a Poisson-Schr"odinger solver, information about the doping density can be obtained directly. Further features in the measured capacitance-voltage characteristics can be attributed to the presence of surface states as well as the coexistence of electrons and holes in the wire. For both scenarios, quantitative estimates are provided. It is furthermore shown that the difference between the actual capacitance and the geometrical limit is quite large, and depends strongly on the nanowire material.Comment: 15 pages, 6 Figures included, to appear in Nanotechnolog

Membrane amplitude and triaxial stress in twisted bilayer graphene deciphered using first-principles directed elasticity theory and scanning tunneling microscopy

Twisted graphene layers produce a moir\'e pattern (MP) structure with a predetermined wavelength for given twist angle. However, predicting the membrane corrugation amplitude for any angle other than pure AB-stacked or AA-stacked graphene is impossible using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) due to the large supercell. Here, within elasticity theory we define the MP structure as the minimum energy configuration, thereby leaving the height amplitude as the only unknown parameter. The latter is determined from DFT calculations for AB and AA stacked bilayer graphene in order to eliminate all fitting parameters. Excellent agreement with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) results across multiple substrates is reported as function of twist angle.Comment: to appear in Phys. Rev.

Constraint-preserving boundary treatment for a harmonic formulation of the Einstein equations

We present a set of well-posed constraint-preserving boundary conditions for a first-order in time, second-order in space, harmonic formulation of the Einstein equations. The boundary conditions are tested using robust stability, linear and nonlinear waves, and are found to be both less reflective and constraint preserving than standard Sommerfeld-type boundary conditions.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, accepted in CQ

Atmosphere Resource Recovery and Environmental Monitoring Trace Contaminant Control Through FY 2012

Trace contaminant control has been a concern of spacecraft designers and operators from early in the progression of manned spaceflight. Significant technological advancement has occurred since the first designs were implemented in the 1960s, culminating in the trace contaminant control system currently in use aboard the International Space Station as part of the atmosphere revitalization system