Study of the peak effect phenomenon in single crystals of 2H-NbSe2

The weakly pinned single crystals of the hexagonal 2H-NbSe₂ compound have emerged as prototypes for determining and characterizing the phase boundaries of the possible order-disorder transformations in the vortex matter. We present here a status report based on the ac and dc magnetization measurements of the peak effect phenomenon in three crystals of 2H-NbSe₂, in which the critical current densities vary over two orders of magnitude. We sketch the generic vortex phase diagram of a weakly pinned superconductor, which also utilizes theoretical proposals. We also establish the connection between the metastability effects and pinning.     

Shaping Solid-State Supramolecular Cavities: Chemically Induced Accordionlike Movement of gamma-Zirconium Phosphate Containing Polyethylenoxide Pillars

The hydrophilic oxygen atoms of polyethylenoxide chains inserted as pillars in gamma-zirconium phosphate form hydrogen bonds with the acid groups of the host. As a result the pillars are almost perpendicular to the gamma layers. Upon changing the pH level of the supernatant solution the hydrogen bonds are broken and the pillars become almost perpendicular to the layers (shown schematically). Thus there is a reversible enlargement-shortening of the interlayer space.     

On the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili Equation and Associated Constraints

The initial-boundary-value problem for the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation in infinite space is considered. When formulated as an evolution equation, found that a symmetric integral is the appropriate choice in the nonlocal term; namely, . If one simply chooses , then an infinite number of constraints on the initial data in physical space are required, the first being . The conserved quantities are calculated, and it is shown that they must be suitably regularized from those that have been used when the constraints are imposed.     

Resonant non-linear vibrations in continuous systems—I. Undamped case

A method is presented for obtaining periodic solutions to forced oscillations of non-linear systems governed by equations of the form u_ss?u_yy?εf(u,u,_y,u_yy…,s) = 0. The method is presented by application to the equation u_ss?u_yy?εu²_yu_yy= 0 which governs the vibrations of a soil layer that is free on the top surface and is forced harmonically at the bedrock. It is shown that unlike the ODE case (Duffing equation), the PDE requires an infinite number of periodicity conditions to correctly characterize the resonant region and these conditions lead to an infinite number of branches in the dispersion spectrum. Calculations indicate that these branches tend to an envelope curve. The uniform approach presented by Millmann and Keller is discussed in order to determine in what sense it can be viewed as an effective approximation for the fundamental mode.     

Applications of Slowly Varying Nonlinear Dispersive Wave Theories

Previous theories for the slow dispersion of singly periodic and multiply periodic nonlinear wavetrains are applied to various examples. Stability of the solution with respect to large scale variations and possible shocks in the wave properties (frequency, wavenumber, and amplitude) are discussed. The general approach is also used to analyze certain aperiodic waves.     

Carrier-envelope phase slip of ultrashort dispersion-managed solitons

The carrier-envelope phase slip of an ultrashort pulse circulating in a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser is analyzed. The laser cavity is modeled by a dispersion- and nonlinearity-managed nonlinear Schr?dinger equation. The combined contributions to the phase slip induced by nonlinear phase and nonlinear dispersion are found to approach zero for strong dispersion maps. The dependence of the slip on third-order dispersion is found as well. The analytical results are verified using numerical simulations.