Diameter dependence of SiGe nanowire thermal conductivity

We theoretically compute the thermal conductivity of SiGe alloy nanowires as a function of nanowire diameter, alloy concentration, and temperature, obtaining a satisfactory quantitative agreement with experimental results. Our results account for the weaker diameter dependence of the thermal conductivity recently observed in Si$_{1-x}$Ge$_x$ nanowires ($x<0.1$), as compared to pure Si nanowires. We also present calculations in the full range of alloy concentrations, $0 \leq x \leq 1$, which may serve as a basis for comparison with future experiments on high alloy concentration nanowires.Comment: 3 fig

Quantum Entanglement as a Diagnostic of Phase Transitions in Disordered Fractional Quantum Hall Liquids

We investigate the disorder-driven phase transition from a fractional quantum Hall state to an Anderson insulator using quantum entanglement methods. We find that the transition is signaled by a sharp increase in the sensitivity of a suitably averaged entanglement entropy with respect to disorder -- the magnitude of its disorder derivative appears to diverge in the thermodynamic limit. We also study the level statistics of the entanglement spectrum as a function of disorder. However, unlike the dramatic phase-transition signal in the entanglement entropy derivative, we find a gradual reduction of level repulsion only deep in the Anderson insulating phase.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, including the supplemental material, published in PRL as an Editors' Suggestio

The number of independent sets in a graph with small maximum degree

Let ${\rm ind}(G)$ be the number of independent sets in a graph $G$. We show that if $G$ has maximum degree at most $5$ then $${\rm ind}(G) \leq 2^{{\rm iso}(G)} \prod_{uv \in E(G)} {\rm ind}(K_{d(u),d(v)})^{\frac{1}{d(u)d(v)}}$$ (where $d(\cdot)$ is vertex degree, ${\rm iso}(G)$ is the number of isolated vertices in $G$ and $K_{a,b}$ is the complete bipartite graph with $a$ vertices in one partition class and $b$ in the other), with equality if and only if each connected component of $G$ is either a complete bipartite graph or a single vertex. This bound (for all $G$) was conjectured by Kahn. A corollary of our result is that if $G$ is $d$-regular with $1 \leq d \leq 5$ then $${\rm ind}(G) \leq \left(2^{d+1}-1\right)^\frac{|V(G)|}{2d},$$ with equality if and only if $G$ is a disjoint union of $V(G)/2d$ copies of $K_{d,d}$. This bound (for all $d$) was conjectured by Alon and Kahn and recently proved for all $d$ by the second author, without the characterization of the extreme cases. Our proof involves a reduction to a finite search. For graphs with maximum degree at most $3$ the search could be done by hand, but for the case of maximum degree $4$ or $5$, a computer is needed.Comment: Article will appear in {\em Graphs and Combinatorics

Investigation of transition between spark ignition and controlled auto-ignition combustion in a V6 direct-injection engine with cam profile switching

Controlled auto-ignition (CAI) combustion, also known as Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) can be achieved by trapping residuals with early exhaust valve closure in a direct fuel injection in-cylinder four-stroke gasoline engines (through the employment of low-lift cam profiles). Due to the operating region being limited to low and mid-load operation for CAI combustion with a low-lift cam profile, it is important to be able to operate SI combustion at high-load with a normal cam profile. A 3.0L prototype engine was modified to achieve CAI combustion, using a Cam Profile Switching mechanism which has the capability to switch between high and low-lift cam-profiles. A strategy was used where a high-profile could be used for SI combustion and a low-lift profile was used for CAI combustion. Initial analysis showed that for transitioning from SI to CAI combustion, misfire occurred on the first CAI transitional cycle. Subsequent experiments showed that the throttle opening position and switching time could be controlled avoiding misfire. Further work investigated transitioning at different loads and from CAI to SI combustion

The effect of piston bowl temperature on diesel exhaust emissions

In modern, high-speed, direct injection diesel engines for passenger vehicles, there is extensive impingement of the fuel sprays on to the piston bowl walls. Recent trends towards smaller engine sizes, equipped with high-pressure common-rail fuel injection systems, have tended to increase the spray/piston wall interaction. This paper describes tests carried out in a high-speed direct injection automotive diesel engine, during which the temperature of the piston was increased in a controlled manner between 189 and 227 degrees C while being continuously monitored. The aim of the work was to quantify the effects of piston temperature on pollutant exhaust emissions. The results show a significant reduction in unburned hydrocarbon emission, a significant increase in smoke emission, and no significant change in the emission of oxides of nitrogen. The increase in smoke emission cannot be ascribed to changes in the engine volumetric efficiency or air-fuel ratio. The paper demonstrates that fuel spray deposition on the piston surface was in the form of a thin film that did not experience bulk boiling. A number of suggestions are put forward to help explain the observed changes in exhaust emissions with increasing piston temperature

Imaging the Solar Tachocline by Time-Distance Helioseismology

The solar tachocline at the bottom of the convection zone is an important region for the dynamics of the Sun and the solar dynamo. In this region, the sound speed inferred by global helioseismology exhibits a bump of approximately 0.4% relative to the standard solar model. Global helioseismology does not provide any information on possible latitudinal variations or asymmetries between the Northern and Southern hemisphere. Here, we develop a time-distance helioseismology technique, including surface- and deep-focusing measurement schemes and a combination of both, for two-dimensional tomographic imaging of the solar tachocline that infers radial and latitudinal variations in the sound speed. We test the technique using artificial solar oscillation data obtained from numerical simulations. The technique successfully recovers major features of the simplified tachocline models. The technique is then applied to SOHO/MDI medium-l data and provides for the first time a full two-dimensional sound-speed perturbation image of the solar tachocline. The one-dimensional radial profile obtained by latitudinal averaging of the image is in good agreement with the previous global helioseismology result. It is found that the amplitude of the sound-speed perturbation at the tachocline varies with latitude, but it is not clear whether this is in part or fully an effect of instrumental distortion. Our initial results demonstrate that time-distance helioseismology can be used to probe the deep interior structure of the Sun, including the solar tachocline.Comment: accepted for publication by Ap