929 research outputs found
Liquid transport generated by a flashing field-induced wettability ratchet
We develop and analyze a model for ratchet-driven macroscopic transport of a
continuous phase. The transport relies on a field-induced dewetting-spreading
cycle of a liquid film with a free surface based on a switchable, spatially
asymmetric, periodic interaction of the liquid-gas interface and the substrate.
The concept is exemplified using an evolution equation for a dielectric liquid
film under an inhomogeneous voltage. We analyse the influence of the various
phases of the ratchet cycle on the transport properties. Conditions for maximal
transport and the efficiency of transport under load are discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Magnetic Monopoles in Field Theory and Cosmology
The existence of magnetic monopoles is predicted by many theories of particle
physics beyond the Standard Model. However, in spite of extensive searches,
there is no experimental or observational sign of them. I review the role of
magnetic monopoles in quantum field theory and discuss their implications for
particle physics and cosmology. I also highlight their differences and
similarities with monopoles found in frustrated magnetic systems, and discuss
how experiments carried out in these systems could help us understand the
physics of fundamental monopoles.Comment: 15 pages, no figures. Based on a talk given at the discussion meeting
"Emergent magnetic monopoles in frustrated magnetic systems" at the Kavli
Royal Society International Centre, 17-18 October 2011. To be published in
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
The Black Hole Binary Nova Scorpii 1994 (GRO J1655-40): An improved chemical analysis
The chemical analysis of secondary stars of low mass X-ray binaries provides
an opportunity to study the formation processes of compact objects, either
black holes or neutron stars. Following the discovery of overabundances of
-elements in the HIRES/Keck spectrum of the secondary star of Nova
Scorpii 1994 (Israelian et al. 1999), we obtained UVES/VLT high-resolution
spectroscopy with the aim of performing a detailed abundance analysis of this
secondary star. Using a -minimization procedure and a grid of synthetic
spectra, we derive the stellar parameters and atmospheric abundances of O, Mg,
Al, Ca, Ti, Fe and Ni, using a new UVES spectrum and the HIRES spectrum.The
abundances of Al, Ca, Ti, Fe and Ni seem to be consistent with solar values,
whereas Na, and especially O, Mg, Si and S are significantly enhanced in
comparison with Galactic trends of these elements. A comparison with
spherically and non-spherically symmetric supernova explosion models may
provide stringent constraints to the model parameters as mass-cut and the
explosion energy, in particular from the relative abundances of Si, S, Ca, Ti,
Fe and Ni. Most probably the black hole in this system formed in a hypernova
explosion of a 30--35 \Msun progenitor star with a mass-cut in the range 2--3.5
\Msun. However, these models produce abundances of Al and Na almost ten times
higher than the observed values.Comment: New Accepted version for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Table 2: Correcte
Symmetries shape the current in ratchets induced by a bi-harmonic force
Equations describing the evolution of particles, solitons, or localized
structures, driven by a zero-average, periodic, external force, and invariant
under time reversal and a half-period time shift, exhibit a ratchet current
when the driving force breaks these symmetries. The bi-harmonic force
does
it for almost any choice of and , provided and are
two co-prime integers such that is odd. It has been widely observed, in
experiments in Josephson-junctions, photonic crystals, etc., as well as in
simulations, that the ratchet current induced by this force has the shape
for
small amplitudes, where depends on the damping ( if
there is no damping, and for overdamped systems). We rigorously
prove that this precise shape can be obtained solely from the broken symmetries
of the system and is independent of the details of the equation describing the
system.Comment: 4 page
Electronic structure and bond competition in the polar magnet PbVO
Density functional electronic structure studies of tetragonal PbVO are
reported. The results show a an important role for both Pb 6 - O 2 and V
- O bonding, with an interplay between these. This is discussed in
relation to the possibility of obtaining magnetoelectric behavior.Comment: 5 page
Fractional Equations of Curie-von Schweidler and Gauss Laws
The dielectric susceptibility of most materials follows a fractional
power-law frequency dependence that is called the "universal" response. We
prove that in the time domain this dependence gives differential equations with
derivatives and integrals of noninteger order. We obtain equations that
describe "universal" Curie-von Schweidler and Gauss laws for such dielectric
materials. These laws are presented by fractional differential equations such
that the electromagnetic fields in the materials demonstrate "universal"
fractional damping. The suggested fractional equations are common (universal)
to a wide class of materials, regardless of the type of physical structure,
chemical composition or of the nature of the polarization.Comment: 11 pages, LaTe
Saltatory drift in a randomly driven two-wave potential
Dynamics of a classical particle in a one-dimensional, randomly driven
potential is analysed both analytically and numerically. The potential
considered here is composed of two identical spatially-periodic saw-tooth-like
components, one of which is externally driven by a random force. We show that
under certain conditions the particle may travel against the averaged external
force performing a saltatory unidirectional drift with a constant velocity.
Such a behavior persists also in situations when the external force averages
out to zero. We demonstrate that the physics behind this phenomenon stems from
a particular behavior of fluctuations in random force: upon reaching a certain
level, random fluctuations exercise a locking function creating points of
irreversibility which the particle can not overpass. Repeated (randomly) in
each cycle, this results in a saltatory unidirectional drift. This mechanism
resembles the work of an escapement-type device in watches. Considering the
overdamped limit, we propose simple analytical estimates for the particle's
terminal velocity.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures; appearing in Journal of Physics: Condensed
Matter, special issue on Molecular Motors and Frictio
A model for luminescence of localized state ensemble
A distribution function for localized carriers,
, is proposed by solving a
rate equation, in which, electrical carriers' generation, thermal escape,
recapture and radiative recombination are taken into account. Based on this
distribution function, a model is developed for luminescence from localized
state ensemble with a Gaussian-type density of states. The model reproduces
quantitatively all the anomalous temperature behaviors of localized state
luminescence. It reduces to the well-known band-tail and luminescence quenching
models under certain approximations.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure
Infrared phonon dynamics of multiferroic BiFeO3 single crystal
We discuss the first infrared reflectivity measurement on a BiFeO3 single
crystal between 5 K and room temperature. The 9 predicted ab-plane E phonon
modes are fully and unambiguously determined. The frequencies of the 4 A1
c-axis phonons are found. These results settle issues between theory and data
on ceramics. Our findings show that the softening of the lowest frequency E
mode is responsible for the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant,
indicating that the ferroelectric transition in BiFeO3 is soft-mode driven.Comment: 5 pages (figures included
Active nematics on a substrate: giant number fluctuations and long-time tails
We construct the equations of motion for the coupled dynamics of order
parameter and concentration for the nematic phase of driven particles on a
solid surface, and show that they imply (i) giant number fluctuations, with a
standard deviation proportional to the mean and (ii) long-time tails in the autocorrelation of the particle velocities in dimensions
despite the absence of a hydrodynamic velocity field. Our predictions can be
tested in experiments on aggregates of amoeboid cells as well as on layers of
agitated granular matter.Comment: Submitted to Europhys Lett 26 Aug 200
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