The smoothness of the universe

We study the evolution of primordial fluctuations in the Big Bang in the context of grand unified theories of elementary particle interactions. We show that dissipation due to grand unified viscosity strongly damps rotational modes of all frequencies, compressional modes of all except very low frequencies, and radiative modes of high frequencies. The damping mainly occurs at temperatures > 10¹⁵GeV, and does not significantly increase the entropy. Compressional modes which originate at high temperatures and have very low frequencies persist down to much lower temperatures and could eventually evolve into galaxies.     

Primordial fluctuations and non-Gaussianities in multifield Dirac-Born-Infeld inflation

We study Dirac-Born-Infeld inflation models with multiple scalar fields. We show that the adiabatic and entropy modes propagate with a common effective sound speed and are thus amplified at the sound horizon crossing. In the small sound speed limit, we find that the amplitude of the entropy modes is much higher than that of the adiabatic modes. We show that this could strongly affect the observable curvature power spectrum as well as the amplitude of non-Gaussianities, although their shape remains as in the single-field Dirac-Born-Infeld case.     

Low bias electron scattering in structure-identified single wall carbon nanotubes: role of substrate polar phonons

We have performed temperature-dependent electrical transport measurements on known structure single wall carbon nanotubes at low bias. The experiments show a superlinear increase in nanotube resistivity with temperature, which is in contradiction with the linear dependence expected from nanotube acoustic-phonon scattering. The measured electron mean free path is also much lower than expected, especially at medium to high temperatures (>100 K). A theoretical model that includes scattering due to surface polar phonon modes of the substrates reproduces the experiments very well. The role of surface phonons is further confirmed by resistivity measurements of nanotubes on aluminum nitride.     

Edge-state magnetism in hydrogenated armchair carbon nanotubes

We have investigated the antiferromagnetic edge states in hydrogenated carbon nanotubes by using the density functional theory calculations. The total energy difference between the antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic states, corresponding to the exchange energy gain stabilizing the antiferromagnetic state, changes by an order of magnitude by controlling the hydrogen adsorption pattern and is nearly independent of the nanotube size for a properly chosen pattern, indicating that the antiferromagnetic edge states in the real size nanotubes can be realized at high temperatures. The coexisting zigzag and bearded edges in the hydrogenated CNTs are believed to enhance the exchange energy gain.     

Exact treatment of interface fluctuations in a two-dimensional emulsion

Summary We present a model for a polydisperse ensemble of two-dimensional droplets wich accounts for the effects of arbitrarily large distortions of the droplet shape. Interactions within a droplet include bending rigidity and spontaneous curvature. Interactions between droplets are omitted. Even at high temperatures, the effects of the shape fluctuations on the droplet size distribution remain small, as they are dominated by the contributions from the mixing entropy. In contrast, shape fluctuations lead to a pronounced peak in thermodynamic quantities like specific heat. This peak occurs at temperatures where thermal excitations become of the order of the bending energies of the droplet surface. The fluctuation-dominated regime extends to temperatures far lower than expected from a mean-field calculation. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling, Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Phonon spectrum and interaction between nanotubes in single-walled carbon nanotube bundles at high pressures and temperatures

The Raman spectra of single-walled carbon nanotubes at temperatures up to 730 K and pressures up to 7 GPa have been measured. The behavior of phonon modes and the interaction between nanotubes in bundles have been studied. It has been found that the temperature shift of the vibrational G mode is completely reversible, whereas the temperature shift of radial breathing modes is partially irreversible and the softening of the modes and narrowing of phonon bands are observed. The temperature shift and softening of radial breathing modes are also observed when samples are irradiated by laser radiation with a power density of 6.5 kW/mm². The dependence of the relative frequency Ω/Ω₀ for G ⁺ and G ^? phonon modes on the relative change A ₀/A in the triangular lattice constant of bundles of nanotubes calculated using the thermal expansion coefficient and compressibility coefficient of nanotube bundles shows that the temperature shift of the G mode is determined by the softening of the C-C bond in nanotubes. An increase in the equilibrium distances between nanotubes at the breaking of random covalent C-C bonds between nanotubes in bundles of nanotubes is in my opinion the main reason for the softening of the radial breathing modes.     

Topological Entanglement Entropy from the Holographic Partition Function

We study the entropy of chiral 2+01-dimensional topological phases, where there are both gapped bulk excitations and gapless edge modes. We show how the entanglement entropy of both types of excitations can be encoded in a single partition function. This partition function is holographic because it can be expressed entirely in terms of the conformal field theory describing the edge modes. We give a general expression for the holographic partition function, and discuss several examples in depth, including abelian and non-abelian fractional quantum Hall states, and $p+ip$ superconductors. We extend these results to include a point contact allowing tunneling between two points on the edge, which causes thermodynamic entropy associated with the point contact to be lost with decreasing temperature. Such a perturbation effectively breaks the system in two, and we can identify the thermodynamic entropy loss with the loss of the edge entanglement entropy. From these results, we obtain a simple interpretation of the non-integer ‘ground state degeneracy’ which is obtained in 1+1-dimensional quantum impurity problems: its logarithm is a 2+1-dimensional topological entanglement entropy.     

Entanglement in the Bimodal Jaynes–Cummings Model with the Two-Mode Squeezed Vacuum State

In this paper, we study the interaction between the two-level atom and a bimodal cavity field, namely, two-mode Jaynes–Cummings model when the atom and the modes are initially in the atomic superposition state and two-mode squeezed vacuum state, respectively. For this system we investigate the atomic inversion, linear entropy and atomic Wehrl entropy. We show that there is a connection between all these quantities. Also we prove that the atomic Wehrl entropy exhibits behaviors similar to those of the linear entropy and the von Neumann entropy. Moreover, we show that the bipartite exhibits periodical disentanglement and derive the explicit forms of the states of the atom and the modes at these values of the interaction times.     

Entropy Production in Nonlinear,Thermally Driven Hamiltonian Systems

We consider a finite chain of nonlinear oscillators coupled at its ends to two infinite heat baths which are at different temperatures. Using our earlier results about the existence of a stationary state, we show rigorously that for arbitrary temperature differences and arbitrary couplings, such a system has a unique stationary state. (This extends our earlier results for small temperature differences.) In all these cases, any initial state will converge (at an unknown rate) to the stationary state. We show that this stationary state continually produces entropy. The rate of entropy production is strictly negative when the temperatures are unequal and is proportional to the mean energy flux through the system     

吸附氢分子的振动态及熵的计算

用第一性原理方法研究了H_2在(MgO)_9及(AlN)_(12)团簇上的吸附态、振动模式及熵.分析表明,吸附体系的振动中有六个简正模式可归为氢分子的振动;由于氢分子质量很小,零点能修正对吸附能有重要影响.利用振动配分函数计算了吸附氢分子的熵,表明吸附态H_2的熵主要决定于较低的同相振动的频率,并不完全与吸附强度相关;在标准大气压下70—350 K的温度范围内,吸附H_2的熵与气态H_2的熵之间存在很好的线性关系,吸附后H_2的熵减小约10.2R.     

Low-temperature ozone treatment for carbon nanotube template removal: improving the template-based ALD method

This work addresses the production of stand-alone ceramic nanotubes by the template-based ALD method at low temperature. Nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were coated with ZnO. Afterward, the template removal was evaluated by two different approaches: using oxidation in dry air or in an ozone-rich atmosphere. The samples treated by the two different methods were analyzed by XRD, TEM, SAED, and Raman spectroscopy. The dry air atmosphere requires high temperatures (~?700 °C) for a complete CNT removal; at that temperature, the ZnO tubular shape is completely collapsed due to recrystallization. Under ozone atmosphere, the template can be removed at temperatures as low as 85 °C; this temperature is lower than the ALD preparation temperature (120 °C). The ozone treatment maintains the tubular shape of the ZnO nanostructures. Photocatalytic activity of the ZnO samples was evaluated using the photo-oxidation of Amaranth as probe reaction, showing a higher activity the ZnO nanotubes obtained from the low-temperature ozone treatment than the high-temperature processed materials. The use of ozone for the template removal reinforces the template-based ALD method to produce inorganic nanotubes.     

A Review of Shannon and Differential Entropy Rate Estimation

In this paper, we present a review of Shannon and differential entropy rate estimation techniques. Entropy rate, which measures the average information gain from a stochastic process, is a measure of uncertainty and complexity of a stochastic process. We discuss the estimation of entropy rate from empirical data, and review both parametric and non-parametric techniques. We look at many different assumptions on properties of the processes for parametric processes, in particular focussing on Markov and Gaussian assumptions. Non-parametric estimation relies on limit theorems which involve the entropy rate from observations, and to discuss these, we introduce some theory and the practical implementations of estimators of this type.     

Fano lineshape and phonon softening in single isolated metallic carbon nanotubes

Evolution of G-band modes of single metallic carbon nanotubes with the Fermi level shift is examined by simultaneous Raman and electron transport studies. Narrow Lorentzian line shape and upshifted frequencies are observed near the van Hove singularities. However, all G modes soften and broaden at the band crossing point. The concurrent appearance of an asymmetric Fano line shape at this point indicates that phonon-continuum coupling is intrinsic to single metallic tubes. The apparent Lorentzian line shapes of as-synthesized metallic tubes are induced by O2 adsorption causing the Fermi level shift.     

Antiferromagnetic edge states in carbon nanotubes with hydrogen line defect abundancy

We have investigated the antiferromagnetic edge states in carbon nanotubes with hydrogen line defects by using the density functional theory calculations. As the hydrogen line defects increase, the exchange energy gain stabilizing the antiferromagnetic edge states increases in each graphenic ribbon produced by the line defects, indicating that the antiferromagnetic edge states can be realized at high temperatures regardless of the nanotube size. The exchange energy gain in each ribbon is determined by the ribbon width of the flat ribbon and apparently by the curvature of the curved ribbon. The exchange interaction between the ribbons is seen to be negligibly small even in the presence of a nonmagnetic inter-ribbon interaction that is sensitive to the ribbon width.     

Signatures of irradiation-induced defects in scanning-tunneling microscopy images of carbon nanotubes

Using empirical-potential and tight-binding models, we study the structure and stability of irradiation-induced atomic-scale defects in the walls of carbon nanotubes. We model the temporal evolution of such defects and calculate their lifetimes at various temperatures. We also simulate scanning-tunneling microscopy (STM) images of irradiated nanotubes with such defects. Our simulations indicate that, at low temperatures, the defects live long enough to be detected by STM and that different defects manifest themselves in STM images in different ways, which allows one to distinguish the defects experimentally.     

Dynamic model of super-arrhenius relaxation rates in glassy materials

Super-Arrhenius relaxation rates in glassy materials can be associated with thermally activated rearrangements of increasing numbers of molecules at decreasing temperatures. We explore a model of such a mechanism in which stringlike fluctuations in the neighborhood of shear transformation zones provide routes along which rearrangements can propagate, and the entropy associated with critically long strings allows the rearrangement to be distributed stably in the surrounding material. We further postulate that, at low enough temperatures, these fluctuations are localized on the interfaces between frustration-limited domains, and in this way obtain a modified Vogel-Fulcher formula for the relaxation rate.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopic study for radial vibrational modes in ultra‐thin walled TiO2 nanotubes

The study reports the observation of radial vibrational modes in ultra‐thin walled anatase TiO₂ nanotube powders grown by rapid breakdown anodization technique using resonant Raman spectroscopic study. The as‐grown tubes in the anatase phase are around 2–5 nm in wall thickness, 15–18 nm in diameter and few microns in length. The E_{g(ν1,ν5,ν6)} phonon modes with molecular vibrations in the radial direction are predominant in the resonance Raman spectroscopy using 325 nm He–Cd excitation. Multi‐phonons including overtones and combinational modes of E_{g(ν1,ν5,ν6)} are abundantly observed. Fröhlich interaction owing to electron–phonon coupling in the resonance Raman spectroscopy of ultra‐thin wall nanotubes is responsible for the observation of radial vibrational modes. Finite size with large surface energy in these nanotubes energetically favor only one mode, B_1g(ν4) with unidirectional molecular vibrations in the parallel configuration out of the three Raman modes with molecular vibration normal to the radial modes. Enhanced specific heat with increasing temperatures in these nanotubes as compared to that reported for nanoparticles of similar diameter may possibly be related to the presence of the prominent radial mode along with other energetic phonon mode. The findings elucidate the understanding of total energy landscape for TiO₂ nanotubes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectral characteristics of 2 μm microchip Tm:YVO4 and Tm,Ho:YLF lasers

In this paper, we present experimental results concerning the spectral emission obtained with two microchip lasers emitting in the 2 μm range. We show that high efficiency is achieved in both cases at room temperature. Nevertheless, while Tm:YVO₄ oscillates always on longitudinal modes and may easily be single frequency with high power, Tm:Ho:YLF is always emitting several transverse modes for any pumping conditions with temperatures between 13°C and 35°C. This result is interpreted considering the gain of these two amplifier media and the mode guiding resulting from the thermal properties of the two host materials.     

Self-Assembled CNT-Polymer Hybrids in Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Dispersed Aqueous Triblock Copolymer Solutions

We have carried out scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), electrical conductivity, and ¹H NMR studies as a function of temperature on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) dispersed aqueous triblock copolymer (P123) solutions. The single-walled carbon nanotubes in this system aggregate to form bundles, and the bundles aggregate to form net-like structures. Depending on the temperature and phases of the polymer, this system exhibits three different self-assembled CNT-polymer hybrids. We find CNT-unimer hybrid at low temperatures, CNT-micelle hybrid at intermediate temperatures wherein the polymer micelles are adsorbed in the pores of the CNT nets, and another type of CNT-micelle hybrid at high temperatures wherein the polymer micelles are adsorbed on the surface of the CNT bundles. Our DSC thermogram showed two peaks related to these structural changes in the CNT-polymer hybrids. Temperature dependence of the ¹H NMR chemical shifts of the molecular groups of the polymer and the AC electrical conductivity of the composite also showed discontinuous changes at the temperatures at which the CNT-polymer hybrid’s structural changes are seen. Interestingly, for a higher CNT concentration (0.5 wt.%) in the system, the aggregated polymer micelles adsorbed on the CNTs exhibit cone-like and cube-like morphologies at the intermediate and at high temperatures respectively.     

Statistical Mechanics of a Simplified Bipartite Matching Problem: An Analytical Treatment

We perform an analytical study of a simplified bipartite matching problem in which there exists a constant matching energy, and both heterosexual and homosexual pairings are allowed. We obtain the partition function in a closed analytical form and we calculate the corresponding thermodynamic functions of this model. We conclude that the model is favored at high temperatures, for which the probabilities of heterosexual and homosexual pairs tend to become equal. In the limits of low and high temperatures, the system is extensive, however this property is lost in the general case. There exists a relation between the matching energies for which the system becomes more stable under external (thermal) perturbations. As the difference of energies between the two possible matches increases the system becomes more ordered, while the maximum of entropy is achieved when these energies are equal. In this limit, there is a first order phase transition between two phases with constant entropy.