Optimal dynamical characterization of entanglement

We show that, for experimentally relevant systems, there is an optimal measurement strategy to monitor the time evolution of entanglement under open system dynamics. This suggests an efficient, dynamical characterization of the entanglement of composite, open quantum systems.     

Development and Infrared Applications of Chalcogenide Glass Optical Fibers

Chalcogenide glass fibers based on sulphide, selenide, telluride, and their rare earth doped compositions are being actively pursued both at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. (NRL) and worldwide. Great strides have been made in reducing optical losses using improved chem ical purification techniques, but further improvements are needed in both purification and fiberization technology to attain the theoretical optical losses. Despite this, current singlemode and multimode chalcogenide glass fibers are enabling numerous applications. Some of these applications include laser power delivery, chemical sensing, imaging, scanning near field microscopy spectroscopy, fiber infrared (IR) sources lasers, amplifiers, and optical switches. The authors assert that the research and development of chalcogenide glasses will grow in the foreseeable future, especially with respect to improvements the optical quality of the fibers and the performance of the fibers in existing future applications.     

Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir–Blodgett films of 1-acyl-1,2,4-triazoles

New 1-acyl-1,2,4-triazoles (ATs) with different n-alkyl chain lengths from C2 to C18 were synthesized. ATs with long n-alkyl chains (C12 and larger) are non-charged amphiphilic molecules with a polar triazole head group. The Langmuir isotherms of ATs at the air–water interface with 12 (DoT-C12), 14 (MyT-C14), 16 (PaT-C16) and 18 (StT-C18) carbon atoms in their n-alkyl chains were studied using surface pressure-mean molecular area (π-mmA) measurements. Characteristic for the Langmuir isotherms of PaT-C16 and StT-C-18 was the first sharp increase of the surface pressure at a mmA value of 20 Å² marking a transition of the ATs from the gaseous state with n-alkyl chains already oriented perpendicular to the water surface to a condensed state. The collapse of the monolayers occurred between 20 and 36 mN m⁻¹ with a typical ‘spike’ in the isotherms of MyT-C14, PaT-C16 and StT-C18 which can be assigned to the buckling and subsequent folding of the monolayer. After the collapse point a pseudo-plateau region of slightly increasing surface pressure appeared for all ATs from C12 to C18 indicating a trilayer formation by the roll-over mechanism for MyT-C14, PaT-C16 and StT-C18. Upon further compression the final collapse occurred at π values between 59 and 67 mN m⁻¹. From reversibility studies it was found that the Langmuir isotherms of the ATs were irreversible. The morphology of Langmuir–Blodgett films of ATs transferred onto silicon wafers was studied by atomic force microscopy.     

Hydrogen bond dynamics in crystalline β-9-anthracene carboxylic acid--a combined crystallographic and spectroscopic study

We compare results from single crystal X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy to elucidate the nature of hydrogen bonding in β-9-anthracene carboxylic acid (β-9AC, C(15)H(10)O(2)). The crystallographic studies indicate a disorder for the protons in the cyclic hydrogen bond. This disorder allows the determination of the energy difference between two proton sites along the hydrogen bond. The temperature dependent Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) underpins the crystallographic results. The combination of both methods allows the estimation of a one-dimensional potential curve describing the OH-stretching motion. The dynamical properties of the proton transfer along the hydrogen bond are extracted from this potential. The work presented here has profound implication on future studies of photochemical dynamics of crystalline β-9AC, which can deliver a deeper understanding of the mechanism of photochemical driven molecular machines and the optical and electronic properties of molecular organic semiconductors.     

Wave-function mapping of graphene quantum dots with soft confinement

Using low-temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we map the local density of states of graphene quantum dots supported on Ir(111). Because of a band gap in the projected Ir band structure around the graphene K point, the electronic properties of the QDs are dominantly graphenelike. Indeed, we compare the results favorably with tight binding calculations on the honeycomb lattice based on parameters derived from density functional theory. We find that the interaction with the substrate near the edge of the island gradually opens a gap in the Dirac cone, which implies soft-wall confinement. Interestingly, this confinement results in highly symmetric wave functions. Further influences of the substrate are given by the known moiré potential and a 10% penetration of an Ir surface resonance into the graphene layer.     

On the stability of two-dimensional convection rolls in an infinite Prandtl number fluid with stress-free boundaries

Numerical solutions for two-dimensional convection rolls in a fluid layer of infinite Prandtl number are obtained by the Galerkin method. Stress-free, isothermal boundaries are assumed at the horizontal boundaries of the fluid layer. The stability of the steady solutions with respect to three-dimensional disturbances is analyzed in the Rayleigh number-wave number space. It is found that even for Rayleigh numbers as high as several millions there appears to exist a region of the wavenumber where the convection rolls are stable. This result contrasts with the well known transition to three-dimensional bimodal convection in the presence of no-slip boundaries, but it agrees with simple arguments about the stability of the thermal boundary layers.

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Zusammenfassung Numerische Lösungen für zwei-dimensionale Konvektionsrollen in einer Flüssigkeitsschicht mit unendlicher Prandtlzahl sind gewonnen worden durch Anwendungen der Galerkin-Methode. Es wurden spannungsfreie isotherme Ränder an den Grenzen der horizontalen Flüssigkeitsschicht angenommen. Die Stabilität der stationären Lösungen bezüglich drei-dimensionaler Störungen wurde im Rayleighzahl-Wellenzahl-Raum analysiert. Es wurde gefunden, daß für Rayleighzahlen bis zu einigen Millionen ein Bereich der Wellenzahl existiert, in dem die Konvektionsrollen stabil sind. Dieses Resultat steht im Gegensatz zu dem wohl bekannten Übergang zu bimodaler Konvektion im Fall der festen Ränder, ist aber im Einklang mit einfachen Betrachtungen über die Stabilität der thermischen Grenzschichten.

     

Subharmonic and asymmetric convection rolls

Summary A new class of steady solutions is derived describing convection rolls which do not reflect the symmetry of the physical conditions of the convection layer. As does the class of mixed solutions considered by Segel (1962) and by Knobloch and Guckenheimer (1983) the new class arises from a wavelength doubling bifurcation. The new class is distinguished by a tilt of the convection rolls which gives rise to a finite mean horizontal component of vorticity. An analytic theory is derived for small amplitudes of motion in the case of stress-free boundaries. The theory is extended to higher amplitudes by numerical computations. The new solution shares with the solution of Segel, Knobloch and Guckenheimer the property that it is unstable for large Prandtl numbersP with respect to disturbances which tend to establish the wellknown symmetric solutions, but becomes stable with respect to these disturbances for Prandtl numbers .

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Zusammenfassung Eine neue Klasse von Lösungen wird abgeleitet, welche Konvektionsrollen beschreibt, die nicht der Symmetrie der physikalischen Bedingungen der Schicht entsprechen. Ebenso wie die von Segel (1962) und von Knobloch und Guckenheimer (1983) abgeleitete Klasse von gemischten Lösungen geht die neue Klasse von Lösungen aus einer Verzweigung mit Wellenlängenverdopplung hervor. Die neue Klasse zeigt eine Schrägstellung der Rollen, die zu einer endlichen gemittelten horizontalen Komponente der Wirbelstärke führt. Eine analytische Theorie wird für den Fall kleiner Amplituden der Bewegung bei spannungsfreien Randbedingungen abgeleitet. Durch numerische Rechnungen wird die Theorie zu höheren Amplituden hin erweitert. Die neue Lösung hat mit der Lösung von Segel, Knobloch und Guckenheimer die Eigenschaft gemeinsam, daß sie instabil ist für große PrandtlzahlenP gegenüber Störungen, welche zu den bekannten symmetrischen Lösungen führen; für Prandtlzahlen ist sie aber stabil gegenüber diesen Störungen.

     

The reaction of diphenyllithioarsine with quinones and aromatic ketones: a convenient synthesis of tetraphenyldiarsine

Diphenyllithioarsine is oxidized by aromatic ketones and quinones to tetraphenyldiarsine. These reactions were studied by means of EPR spectroscopy in order to ascertain the course of the reaction. Tetraphenyldiarsine was charcterized by its mass spectrum, PMR spectrum, and conversion to diphenyldimethylarsonium iodide.     

Convection driven zonal flows and vortices in the major planets

The dynamical properties of convection in rotating cylindrical annuli and spherical shells are reviewed. Simple theoretical models and experimental simulations of planetary convection through the use of the centrifugal force in the laboratory are emphasized. The model of columnar convection in a cylindrical annulus not only serves as a guide to the dynamical properties of convection in rotating sphere; it also is of interest as a basic physical system that exhibits several dynamical properties in their most simple form. The generation of zonal mean flows is discussed in some detail and examples of recent numerical computations are presented. The exploration of the parameter space for the annulus model is not yet complete and the theoretical exploration of convection in rotating spheres is still in the beginning phase. Quantitative comparisons with the observations of the dynamics of planetary atmospheres will have to await the consideration in the models of the effects of magnetic fields and the deviations from the Boussinesq approximation.