Velocity spectrum for non-Markovian Brownian motion in a periodic potential

Non-Markovian Brownian motion in a periodic potential is studied by means of an electronic analogue simulator. Velocity spectra, the Fourier transforms of velocity autocorrelation functions, are obtained for three types of random force, that is, a white noise, an Ornstein—Uhlenbeck process, and a quasimonochromatic noise. The analogue results are in good agreement both with theoretical ones calculated with the use of a matrix-continued-fraction method, and with the results of digital simulations. An unexpected extra peak in the velocity spectrum is observed for Ornstein-Uhlenbeck noise with large correlation time. The peak is attributed to a slow oscillatory motion of the Brownian particle as it moves back and forth over several lattice spaces. Its relationship to an approximate Langevin equation is discussed.     

Stochastic resonance in perspective

Summary We outline the historical development of stochastic resonance (SR), a phenomenon in which the signal and/or the signal-to-noise ratio in a nonlinear system increase with increasing intensity of noise. We discuss basic theoretical ideas explaining and describing SR, and we review some revealing experimental data that place SR within the wider context of statistical physics. We emphasize the close relationship of SR to some effects that are well known in condensed-matter physics. Paper presented at the International Workshop ?Fluctuations in Physics and Biology: Stochastic Resonance, Signal Processing and Related Phenomena?, Elba, 5–10 June 1994.     

Über Silicid- und Germanidchalkogenide des Thoriums

On Thorium Silicide and Germanide Chalcogenides The compounds ThSiS, ThSiSe, ThSiTe, ThGeS, ThGeSe, and ThGeTe were synthetized from the elements at temperatures ranging from 800 to 1050°C. For structural X-ray investigation single crystals of the compound ThGeS were grown. ThGeS is tetragonal, space group I4/mmm with a = 3.9411(7), c = 17.1395(40) Å, and Z = 4. In order to refine the structure parameters intensity measurements were carried out by means of a four-circle single crystal diffractometer. By indexing the Debye-Scherrer diagrams the remaining ternary thorium chalcogenides were proved to be isostructural with ThGeS. This structure type is identical with the anti-Ti₂Bi-type structure and closely related to the PbFCl structure in the sense of a transposition structure. The interatomic distances, the relations to comparable structures and possible reasons for the formation of the anti-Ti₂Bi-type structure by ternary chalcogenides of the actinides are discussed.     

Enhanced coding for exponentially distributed signals using suprathreshold stochastic resonance

Our previous work on stochastic resonance (SR) in threshold based systems proved that the SR effect is dependent on the nature of the input signal distribution; more specifically, for certain types of signal distribution SR is not observed [Das A, Stocks NG, Nikitin A, Hines EL. Quantifying stochastic resonance in a single threshold detector for random aperiodic signals. Fluctuation Noise Lett 2004;4:L247–65]. Here we show that suprathreshold stochastic resonance (SSR) – a novel and distinct form of SR – removes this limitation and hence leads to the conclusion that SSR can probably enhance the transmission of signals of any distribution and amplitude. SSR effects are studied in a parallel array of identical nonlinear threshold based devices. A double exponential signal distribution is chosen because this distribution did not demonstrate conventional SR effects in a single threshold device [Das A, Stocks NG, Nikitin A., Hines EL. Quantifying Stochastic resonance in a single threshold detector for random aperiodic signals. Fluctuation and Noise Letters 2004;4:L247-L265.]. SSR as a possible mechanism for enhancing transmission of speech signals in the human ear is also discussed.     

STEREOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE 1-CHLORO-1- PHENYL-2,5-DIMETHYL-2-PHOSPHOLENIUM ION AND DERIVED OXIDE AND PHOSPHINE

Abstract

The cycloaddition of phenylphosphonous dichloride and trans, trans-2,4-hexadiene, or the addition of chlorine to trans-1-phenyl-cis-2,5-dimethyl-3-phospholene, gave 1-chloro-1-phenyl-2,5-dimethyl-2-phospholenium chloride. This compound shows no evidence in its ³¹P and ¹H nmr spectra for the existence of cis, trans isomers, yet on hydrolysis or dehalogenation with magnesium the resulting oxide and phosphine, respectively, are seen to be isomer mixtures. This phenomenon is explained by a rapid equilibration of the cis, trans form of the I-chloro ion through a pentacovalent species. Structures of the oxides and phosphines were assigned by ¹H and ¹³C nmr relations. The 1-phenyl-cis-2,5-dimethyl-3-phospholenium ion and related compounds were also characterized.     

Applying forces to elastic network models of large biomolecules using a haptic feedback device

Elastic network models of biomolecules have proved to be relatively good at predicting global conformational changes particularly in large systems. Software that facilitates rapid and intuitive exploration of conformational change in elastic network models of large biomolecules in response to externally applied forces would therefore be of considerable use, particularly if the forces mimic those that arise in the interaction with a functional ligand. We have developed software that enables a user to apply forces to individual atoms of an elastic network model of a biomolecule through a haptic feedback device or a mouse. With a haptic feedback device the user feels the response to the applied force whilst seeing the biomolecule deform on the screen. Prior to the interactive session normal mode analysis is performed, or pre-calculated normal mode eigenvalues and eigenvectors are loaded. For large molecules this allows the memory and number of calculations to be reduced by employing the idea of the important subspace, a relatively small space of the first M lowest frequency normal mode eigenvectors within which a large proportion of the total fluctuation occurs. Using this approach it was possible to study GroEL on a standard PC as even though only 2.3% of the total number of eigenvectors could be used, they accounted for 50% of the total fluctuation. User testing has shown that the haptic version allows for much more rapid and intuitive exploration of the molecule than the mouse version.     

Darstellung und Kristallstruktur von HfOS

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of HfOS On attempts to prepare binary and ternary hafnium sulfides a small quantity of single crystals was obtained which could be identified as HfOS. The new compound is cubic, space group P2₁3 with a = 5.6824(6) Å. It is isostructural with the cubic form o ZrOS. In order to refine the structure parameters intensity measurements were carried out by means of a four-circle single crystal diffractometer.     

Water-soluble porphyrin detection in a pure-silica photonic crystal fiber

Aqueous solutions of the water-soluble porphyrin 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinatomanganese(III) acetate were inserted into the holes of a photonic crystal fiber, and the porphyrin absorption bands were identified. Results were obtained for three concentrations. The porphyrins in water show no surface interactions with the silica walls of the capillary channels. We discuss the implications for future hybrid electronic and photonic fiber devices.