Discrete element modelling of large soil deformations under heavy vehicles

This paper addresses the challenges of creating realistic models of soil for simulations of heavy vehicles on weak terrain. We modelled dense soils using the discrete element method with variable parameters for surface friction, normal cohesion, and rolling resistance. To find out what type of soils can be represented, we measured the internal friction and bulk cohesion of over 100 different virtual samples. To test the model, we simulated rut formation from a heavy vehicle with different loads and soil strengths. We conclude that the relevant space of dense frictional and frictional-cohesive soils can be represented and that the model is applicable for simulation of large deformations induced by heavy vehicles on weak terrain.     

Influence of weak groups on polyelectrolyte mobilities

The ionization of dissociable groups in weak polyelectrolytes does not occur in a homogenous fashion. Monomer connectivity imposes constraints on the localization of the dissociated (charged) monomers that affect the local electric potential. As a result, the mean bare charge along a weak polyelectrolyte can vary depending on the proximity to topological features (e.g. presence of crosslinks or dangling ends). Using reaction‐ensemble Monte‐Carlo simulations we calculate the dissociation inhomogeneities for a few selected PE configurations, linear, rod‐like, flexible four‐arm star, and a star with stiff arms. An ensemble preaverage is used to obtain the annealed bare charge profile for these different polymer configurations. Using molecular dynamics simulations within a Lattice‐Boltzman fluid, we investigate how the electrophoretic mobility is affected by the bare charge inhomogeneities arising from the annealed weak polyelectrolytes. Surprisingly, the mobility obtained for the situations corresponding to the predicted charge profile for annealed weak polyelectrolytes are not significantly different than the mobility obtained when all the monomers have an identical charge (under the constraint that the total polyelectrolyte bare charge is the same). This is also true for the stiff rod‐like variants where conformational changes induced from the localization of the monomer charges are negligible. In salty solutions, we find that counterions are affected by the electric potential modulations induced by the topological features. Since the counterions crowd in regions where the electric potential caused by the dissociated monomers is highest, they wash‐out the bare charge inhomogeneities and contribute to a more uniform effective backbone charge.     

Analysis of a micro–macro acceleration method with minimum relative entropy moment matching

We analyse convergence of a micro–macro acceleration method for the simulation of stochastic differential equations with time-scale separation. The method alternates short bursts of path simulations with the extrapolation of macroscopic state variables forward in time. After extrapolation, a new microscopic state is constructed, consistent with the extrapolated macroscopic state, that minimises the perturbation caused by the extrapolation in a relative entropy sense. We study local errors and numerical stability of the method to prove its convergence to the full microscopic dynamics when the extrapolation time step tends to zero and the number of macroscopic state variables tends to infinity.     

Characterization of dynamical measurement's uncertainty in a two-qubit system coupled with bosonic reservoirs

We study the dynamical characteristics of the entropy-based uncertainty with regard to a pair of incompatible measurements under a bipartite qubit-system suffering from quantum decoherence induced by hierarchical environments. How non-Markovian and Markovian environments affect the dynamical behaviors of the measurement's uncertainty is revealed. We prove that the measured uncertainty of interest demonstrates a non-monotonic behavior, viz., the amount will increase initially and subsequently oscillate periodically with the growth of time in a non-Markovian regime; On the contrary, the uncertainty will inflate firstly and monotonically decrease in a Markovian regime. Noteworthily, we put forward a simple and feasible strategy to suppress the damping of the system and hence be good for decreasing the magnitude of the uncertainty, by virtue of optimal combination of pre-weak measurements and post-filtering operations. Furthermore, we explore the applications of the uncertainty relation investigated on entanglement witness and channel capacity.     

Influence of Side‐Chain Composition on Polythiophene Properties and Supramolecular Assembly of Anionic Polythiophene Derivatives

A series of 10 polythiophene derivatives is reported, in which each polymer has a different percentage of carboxylic acid‐bearing repeat units. The properties of these polymers are explored under acidic conditions, where the carboxylic acid moieties remain neutral, and under basic conditions, where the carboxylic acid units become anionic carboxylates. The properties that are examined for both solutions and films include UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and red‐edge optical band gaps. All the properties studied are strongly dependent both on protonation state and percentage of carboxylic acid/carboxylate side chains along the polymer backbone. The anionic form of each polythiophene derivative was also used in layer‐by‐layer film deposition with a cationic phosphonium polyelectrolyte. The film growth process was studied by spectroscopic techniques to assess the influence of side‐chain composition on the film growth and optical properties. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019     

Interpreting weak value amplification with a toy realist model

Constructing an ontology for quantum theory is challenging, in part due to measurement back-action. The Aharonov-Albert-Vaidman weak measurement formalism provides a method to predict measurement results (weak values) when back-action is negligible. The weak value appears analogous to a classical conditional mean, yet can be complex and unbounded. We study weak values in the context of a recent quantum optical experiment involving two-photon interactions. The results of the experiment are reinterpreted within a realist ‘stochastic optics’ model of light. We show that the conditional means of the intensities in the model correspond to the experimentally observed weak values and study the breakdown of the model outside the experimentally probed regime in the limit where the weak value predicts ‘anomalous’ results.     

聚电解质型正渗透汲取液

聚电解质作为正渗透汲取液具有渗透压高、溶质反向渗透、易于回收等特点,符合理想正渗透汲取液的要求。此外,多种分离方法诸如纳滤、超滤和热处理可用于其回收,使得聚电解质型汲取液成为诸如氯化钠等的传统无机汲取液的理想代替物。近年来关于聚电解质型汲取液的研究日益增加,而聚电解质型汲取液较无机型汲取液有许多独特的性质,应对相关研究进展予以总结。本文以聚电解质的化学结构分类对其研究进展进行了概述。重点总结了不同种类聚电解质的分子量、渗透压、黏度等性质,以及正渗透过程的水通量及溶质反向渗透情况,同时还介绍了相应的正渗透机理。最后,探讨和总结了各类汲取液的特点,并展望了未来的研究方向。