Shear induced phase transition in PbO under high pressure

We have studied the structural behavior of lead monoxide (PbO) as a function of pressure via angular dispersive X-ray diffraction employing two different pressure transmitting media that were quasi-hydrostatic (N₂) and non-hydrostatic (MgO), respectively. Besides litharge (-PbO) and massicot (β-PbO), which are both stable at ambient pressure, there is an orthorhombic γ-PbO phase which appears upon application of pressure to -PbO. We have found that the orthorhombic γ-PbO phase is favored by shear stress under non-hydrostatic conditions. -PbO shows strong anisotropy in compressibility. The a-axis is rather incompressible with a linear stiffness coefficient of K_a0=540(30) GPa whereas the c-axis stiffness is K_c0=25(1) GPa. The bulk modulus of -PbO is K₀=23.1(3) GPa and its derivative .     

Extended Hydrodynamics from Enskog’s Equation for a Two-Dimensional System General Formalism

Balance equations are derived from Enskog’s kinetic equation for a two-dimensional system of hard disks using Grad’s moment expansion method. This set of equations constitute an extended hydrodynamics for moderately dense bi-dimensional fluids. The set of independent hydrodynamic fields in the present formulations are: density, velocity, temperature and also—following Grad’s original idea—the symmetric and traceless pressure tensor p _ij and the heat flux vector q ^k . An approximation scheme similar in spirit to one made by Grad in his original work is made. Once the hydrodynamics is derived it is used to discuss the nature of a simple one-dimensional heat conduction problem. It is shown that, not too far from equilibrium, the nonequilibrium pressure in this case only depends on the density, temperature and heat flux vector. PACS: 51.10.+y, 05.20.Jj, 44.10.+i, 05.70.Ln     

Nuclear Physics in Norway, 1933–1955

In the late 1940s and the 1950s, Norwegian nuclear scientists, engineers, and administrators were deeply split over their nation’s goals, organization, politics, and tools for research in nuclear physics. One faction was determined to build a nuclear reactor in Norway, while another fiercely opposed the reactor plans and focused on particle accelerators. The first faction comprised scientific entrepreneurs and research technologists, the second academic scientists, most of whom began their research careers in nuclear physics in the 1930s. To understand this conflict, I trace the development of nuclear research in Norway from the early 1930s to the mid-1950s, placing it within an international context. Roland Wittje is working on his habilitation thesis in the History of Science Unit at the University of Regensburg, Germany.     

Polymer and surface roughness effects on the drag crisis for falling spheres

We make time resolved velocity measurements of steel spheres in free fall through liquid using a continuous ultrasound technique. We explore two different ways to induce large changes in drag on the spheres: 1) a small quantity of viscoelastic polymer added to water and 2) altering the surface of the sphere. Low concentration polymer solutions and/or a pattern of grooves in the sphere surface induce an early drag crisis, which may reduce drag by more than 50% compared to smooth spheres in pure water. On the other hand, random surface roughness and/or high concentration polymer solutions reduce drag progressively and suppress the drag crisis. We also present a qualititative argument which ties the drag reduction observed in low concentration polymer solutions to the Weissenberg number and normal stress difference.     

高压下MgO的热弹性研究

利用第一原理平面波赝势方法和广义梯度近似研究了广泛温度和压强范围内MgO的热弹性特性．MgO从低压NaCl到高压CsCl结构的相变压强为397 GPa，表明它在地球内部不会发生相变．在压强上升到150 GPa时，MgO的绝热弹性模量跟0 GPa时的实验值和其他赝势在高压下的计算结果基本一致．从0 GPa上升到20 GPa时，MgO的各向异性逐渐减小；在20?150 GPa时绝对值逐渐增大．MgO明显地违背了Cauchy条件，反应出非中心多体力是重要的．另外，MgO的热力学参量与实验也符合的很好．     

Investigation of the phase transition at the nematic liquid crystal-wall interface within nonextensivity

In this study, the nematic-isotropic phase transition is investigated for a sample in the shape of a slab of thickness d, using nonextensive formalism. The interaction potential is written as the sum of the direct interaction of a given nematic molecule with the substrate and of its incomplete interaction with the other nematic molecules due to the presence of the limiting surface. In this framework, we show the effects of the nonextensivity on the nematic-isotropic transition at the nematic-wall interface. The generalized model can shed light on the properties of nematic liquid crystal confined in small-scale structures.     

Cellular automata for the spreading of technologies in socio-economic systems

We introduce an agent-based model for the spreading of technological developments in socio-economic systems where the technology is mainly used for the collaboration/interaction of agents. Agents use products of different technologies to collaborate with each other which induce costs proportional to the difference of technological levels. Additional costs arise when technologies of different providers are used. Agents can adopt technologies and providers of their interacting partners in order to reduce their costs leading to microscopic rearrangements of the system. Analytical calculations and computer simulations revealed that starting from a random configuration of different technological levels a complex time evolution emerges where the spreading of advanced technologies and the overall technological progress of the system are determined by the amount of advantages more advanced technologies provide, and by the structure of the social environment of agents. We show that agents tend to form clusters of identical technological level with a power law size distribution. When technological progress arises, the spreading of technologies in the system can be described by extreme order statistics.     

Limit theorems in financial market models

Invariance principle states that a scaled simple random walk converges to the standard Brownian motion.In this article, we present a discrete time stochastic process, which reflects a microstructure of market dynamics, and prove a convergence to a scaling limit process with a drift term and a jump term. These terms are derived from a macroscopic condition on volumes traded in some time intervals. The mathematical tools for obtaining our results are Dobrushin-Hryniv theory and the method of cluster expansion developed in mathematical studies of statistical mechanics.     

连续锁模Nd∶YVO4激光器实现1 GHz高频输出

LD抽运全固体Nd∶YVO4激光器在连续锁模状态运转下获得了高达1 GHz的重复频率.实验中采用半导体可饱和吸收镜作为锁模元件.利用透过率只有0.8%的输出镜以及可获得较小抽运光斑的2 WLD作为抽运源来优化激光器设计,有效地抑制了调Q锁模状态的运转.低的激光器振荡阈值(35 mW)和连续锁模阈值(0.8 W)显示了饱和吸收体低的插入损耗和激光器合理的设计.在最大抽运1.6 W 时获得了210 mW的平均输出功率.     

Microstructure characterization of porous silicon as studied by positron annihilation measurements at low temperatures and high vacuum

Atomic scale properties of thin porous silicon (PSi) layers, characterized by the formation of positronium, are investigated using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy in the temperature range 20-300 K under 10⁻⁷ Torr vacuum. The longest orthopositronium as well as the shortest parapositronium components are found to have quite low intensities in the thin layer at room temperature. It is also found that at temperatures ≤240 K, these two components do not show up in the spectrum. The reason for this absence of the longest lifetime component is suggested.