Phase transition behavior of hydrogen bonded liquid crystal (6BA)<Subscript>2</Subscript>-(BPy)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Bold">x</Emphasis></Subscript> as studied by <Superscript>2</Superscript>H NMR

The thermal properties and the orientational order of hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.4 and (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.3 (6BA: 4-n-hexylbenzoicacid, BPy: 4,4’-bipyridine) were investigated by DSC and ²H NMR. On cooling, isotropic liquid - liquid crystal phase transition temperatures were T _C= 409 and 405 K for (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.4 and (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.3, respectively. Thermal anomalies in the liquid crystal phase were observed at T _LC1= 402 and T _LC2= 375 K for (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.4 and at T _LC1= 398 and T _LC2= 375 K for (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.3. For (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.4, only the smectic component was created above T _LC1. In addition, the nematic component was created below T _LC1. The nematic component gradually changed to the smectic component with decreasing temperature and only the smectic component was observed below T _LC2. For (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.3, only the nematic component was created above T _LC2. The phase transition from the nematic phase to the smectic phase took place at around T _LC2.     

Rapid viscous flow of a nematic liquid crystal in the vicinity of the nematic-smectic <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> transition

The resistance to shear flow is investigated theoretically for polar liquid crystals, such as 4-n-octyl-4′-and 4-n-octyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyls. It is established that the lowest resistance to shear flow at temperatures in the vicinity of the nematic-smectic A phase transition point T _NA is observed when the nematic director is oriented perpendicular to both the flow velocity vector and the flow velocity gradient. The three Miesowicz shear viscosity coefficients η_i (i=1–3) at temperatures close to the phase transition temperature (tens of millikelvins from T _NA ) and far from this transition are calculated in the framework of the Ericksen-Leslie theory. The decrease in the viscosity coefficients in the order η₂>η₁>η ₃ is explained by the fact that fluctuations of the local smectic order in the nematic phase lead to a singular behavior of the viscosity coefficient η₂, whereas the other two viscosity coefficients η₁ and η₃ are not affected by order parameter fluctuations.     

Dielectric properties of betaine phosphite-betaine phosphate solid-solution crystals in the improper ferroelastic phase

Temperature dependences of dielectric permittivity in the improper ferroelastic phase, including the region of the improper ferroelastic phase transition occurring at T=T_c1, were studied in the betaine phosphite-betaine phosphate solid-solution crystals. At a betaine phosphate (BP) concentration of 10%, the phase transition temperature T_c1 was found to shift toward higher temperatures by about 5 K compared to betaine phosphite (BPI) crystals, where T_c1=355 K. The phase transition remains in the vicinity of the tricritical point. As the BP concentration in BPI is increased, the dielectric anomaly at T=T_c1 weakens substantially compared to pure BPI. The nonlinear temperature dependence of reciprocal dielectric permittivity in the improper ferroelastic phase of BPI_xBP_1?x crystals is described in the concentration region 0.9≤x≤1 in terms of a thermodynamic model taking into account the biquadratic relation of the nonpolar order parameter of the improper ferroelastic phase transition to polarization. The decrease in the ferroelectric phase transition temperature T_c1 (or in the temperature of loss of improper ferroelastic phase stability) with increasing BP concentration in the above limits is due to the decreasing effect of the nonpolar mode on the polar instability, which is accompanied by a weakening of the dielectric anomaly at T=T_c1     

Intuitionistic Quantum Logic of an <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-level System

A decade ago, Isham and Butterfield proposed a topos-theoretic approach to quantum mechanics, which meanwhile has been extended by Döring and Isham so as to provide a new mathematical foundation for all of physics. Last year, three of the present authors redeveloped and refined these ideas by combining the C*-algebraic approach to quantum theory with the so-called internal language of topos theory (Heunen et al. in arXiv:0709.4364). The goal of the present paper is to illustrate our abstract setup through the concrete example of the C*-algebra M _n (?) of complex n×n matrices. This leads to an explicit expression for the pointfree quantum phase space Σ _n and the associated logical structure and Gelfand transform of an n-level system. We also determine the pertinent non-probabilisitic state-proposition pairing (or valuation) and give a very natural topos-theoretic reformulation of the Kochen–Specker Theorem.In our approach, the nondistributive lattice ?(M _n (?)) of projections in M _n (?) (which forms the basis of the traditional quantum logic of Birkhoff and von Neumann) is replaced by a specific distributive lattice \(\mathcal{O}(\Sigma_{n})\) of functions from the poset \(\mathcal{C}(M_{n}(\mathbb{C}))\) of all unital commutative C*-subalgebras C of M _n (?) to ?(M _n (?)). The lattice \(\mathcal{O}(\Sigma_{n})\) is essentially the (pointfree) topology of the quantum phase space Σ _n , and as such defines a Heyting algebra. Each element of \(\mathcal{O}(\Sigma_{n})\) corresponds to a “Bohrified” proposition, in the sense that to each classical context \(C\in\mathcal{C}(M_{n}(\mathbb{C}))\) it associates a yes-no question (i.e. an element of the Boolean lattice ?(C) of projections in C), rather than being a single projection as in standard quantum logic. Distributivity is recovered at the expense of the law of the excluded middle (Tertium Non Datur), whose demise is in our opinion to be welcomed, not just in intuitionistic logic in the spirit of Brouwer, but also in quantum logic in the spirit of von Neumann.     

The effect of impurity on temperature variations in the refractive indices and thickness of TGS crystals

Temperature dependences of optical path difference δΔ_? and the relative changes in thickness δl_?/l of TGS crystals doped with L-valine are studied. Temperature dependences of the relative changes in refractive indices δn_?/(n–1) are calculated. The anisotropy coefficients of refractive indices А_n–1(Т) and linear expansion Аα(Т) are calculated, and a characteristic minimum of these dependences is found near the phase transition temperature.     

On correlators for high multiplicity events

We present the results of the study of the energy correlators K₂(n) and K₃(n) and their ratio R₃(n) as a function of the hadron multiplicity at the LHC. The PYTHIA generator has been used. PYTHIA predicts that R₃(n) is not dependent on multiplicity. K₂(n), K₃(n), and the R₃(n) ratio can be studied at ATLAS.     

A study of the effect of gradual substitution NH<Subscript>4</Subscript> → Cs on phase transitions in NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>LiSO<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystals

Solid solutions in the Cs_x(NH₄)_1?xLiSO₄ (0≤x≤0.35) system are grown and investigated. The birefringence (n_a?n_b) and the heat capacity are measured in the temperature range 100–530 K. The (x-T) phase diagram is constructed. It is demonstrated that the substitution of cesium for ammonium in the NH₄LiSO₄ crystal affects the transition temperatures in such a way that the region of the ferroelectric phase increases and the ferroelastic phase disappears at x>0.22. The character of the high-temperature transition remains unchanged (2β=0.24±0.01 for all compositions), but the birefringence anomaly and enthalpy decrease. As the concentration x increases, the low-temperature transition becomes more similar to a first-order transition: the birefringence jump δn and the temperature hysteresis ΔT increase.     

Diffraction spectra of order–order transition structural states in titanium monoxide

A new class of M_(n?i)X_(n?i) superstructures (n is an integer constant and i is a rational variable) that are formed after incomplete equilibrium second-order order–order phase transitions in solid solutions and in compounds with atom–vacancy ordering is proposed. New superstructures are superpositions of partially disordered M _n ?X _n superstructures of various symmetries in the matrix of the basic crystal structure. The model parameters affecting the positions and intensities of superstructure reflections on diffraction patterns have been studied by example of the high-temperature ordered phase β-TiO of titanium monoxide. It has been shown that the diffraction spectra of the low-symmetric M_(5-i)X_(5-i) superstructure (space group P1m1) and the high-symmetric M₅X₅ superstructure (space group Pm3?m) at certain parameters are identical in the positions of superstructure reflections.     

Zero-sound branches in asymmetric nuclear matter

A polarization operator constructed in the random phase approximation is used to obtain zero-sound excitations in isospin asymmetric nuclear matter (ANM). Two families of the complex solutions ω_sτ(k),τ= p,n are presented. The imaginary part of the solutions corresponds to the damping of the collective mode due to its overlapping with the particle-hole modes and the subsequent emission of a proton (ω_sp(k)) or a neutron (ω_sn(k)). The dependence of the solutions on the asymmetry parameter is studied.     

Generating Function for GL<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>-Invariant Differential Operators in the Skew Capelli Identity

Let Alt _n be the vector space of all alternating n × n complex matrices, on which the complex general linear group GL _n acts by \({x \mapsto gxg^t}\). The aim of this paper is to show that Pfaffian of a certain matrix whose entries are multiplication operators or derivations acting on polynomials on Alt _n provides a generating function for the GL _n -invariant differential operators that play an essential role in the skew Capelli identity, with coefficients the Hermite polynomials.     

The electron energy spectrum and superconducting transition temperature of strongly correlated fermions with three-center interactions

The renormalizations of the fermionic spectrum are considered within the framework of the t-J* model taking into account three-center interactions (H₍₃₎) and magnetic fluctuations. Self-consistent spin dynamics equations for strongly correlated fermions with three-center interactions were obtained to calculate quasi-spin correlators. A numerical self-consistent solution to a system of ten equations was obtained to show that, in the nearest-neighbor approximation, simultaneously including H₍₃₎ and magnetic fluctuations at n>n₁ (n₁ ≈ 0.72 for 2t/U = 0.25) caused qualitative changes in the structure of the energy spectrum. A new Van Hove singularity is then induced in the density of states, and an additional maximum appears in the T_c(n) concentration dependence of the temperature of the transition to the superconducting phase with order parameter symmetry of the d _x ²?y² type.     

Inflation of the early cold Universe filled with a nonlinear scalar field and a nonideal relativistic Fermi gas

We consider a possible scenario for the evolution of the early cold Universe born from a fairly large quantum fluctuation in a vacuum with a size a ₀ ? l _P (where l _P is the Planck length) and filled with both a nonlinear scalar field φ, whose potential energy density U(φ) determines the vacuum energy density λ, and a nonideal Fermi gas with short-range repulsion between particles, whose equation of state is characterized by the ratio of pressure P(n _F ) to energy density ε(n _F ) dependent on the number density of fermions n _F . As the early Universe expands, the dimensionless quantity ν(n _F ) = P(n _F )/ε(n _F ) decreases with decreasing n _F from its maximum value ν_max = 1 for n _F → ∞ to zero for n _F → 0. The interaction of the scalar and gravitational fields, which is characterized by a dimensionless constant ξ, is proportional to the scalar curvature of four-dimensional space R = κ[3P(n _F )–ε(n _F )–4λ] (where κ is Einstein’s gravitational constant), and contains terms both quadratic and linear in φ. As a result, the expanding early Universe reaches the point of first-order phase transition in a finite time interval at critical values of the scalar curvature R = R _c =–μ²/ξ and radius a _c ? a ₀. Thereafter, the early closed Universe “rolls down” from the flat inflection point of the potential U(φ) to the zero potential minimum in a finite time. The release of the total potential energy of the scalar field in the entire volume of the expanding Universe as it “rolls down” must be accompanied by the production of a large number of massive particles and antiparticles of various kinds, whose annihilation plays the role of the Big Bang. We also discuss the fundamental nature of Newton’ gravitational constant G _N .     

Branches of zero sound excitations in asymmetric nuclear matter: The dependence on density

Results from calculating zero sound excitations in isospin asymmetric nuclear matter are presented. A polarization operator constructed in the random phase approximations is used in the calculations. Three branches of the complex solutions ω_sτ(k), τ = p,n,np are presented. The type of branch depends on that of the considered branch damping. An imaginary part of the solution corresponds to the damping of collective excitations due to mixing with the background of noninteracting (1) proton particle–hole pairs (ω _sp (k)), (2) neutron particle–hole pairs (ω _sn (k)), and (3) both proton and neutron particle–hole pairs (ω _snp (k)). The behavior of the solutions upon variations in density depends on the value of the asymmetry parameter.     

Low energy frontier: Physics with polarized cold neutrons

Recent developments in investigations of beta decay of the free neutron are discussed. Measurements of the neutron lifetime τ _n and the electron emission asymmetry A _n are a classic source of determination of the Standard Model parameters G _v , G _A and λ _n . Combined with the results of the muon decay experiments, the nuclear superallowed 0→0 transitions and decays of particles containing heavy quarks, they provide tests of the SM assumptions: the unitarity of the CKM matrix, the number of the neutrino families, or the CVC hypothesis. In contrast, more complex correlations between the spins and the momenta of the emitted particles, (e.g. B _n , D _n , R _n or G _n ), are uniquely sensitive to the so called “Physics beyond the Standard Model”. Thus the question of the right handed bosons, the admixture of the scalar or tensor interaction, with or without time reversal violating terms, may be addressed separately in a dedicated, single experiment. Further development of powerful beams of polarized cold neutrons and sources of ultracold neutrons is imperative for progress in these studies.     

Shape phase transitions in nuclei: Effective order parameters and trajectories

We analyze systematically the effective order parameters in nuclear shape phase transition both in experiments and in the interacting boson model. We find that energy ratios and B(E2) ratios can distinguish the first- from the second-order phase transition in theory above a certain boson number N (about 50), but in experiments, only those quantities, such as E(L ₁ ⁺)/E(0₂ ⁺) and B(E2; (L+2)₁ → L ₁)/B(E2; 2₁ → 0₁), etc., of which the monotonous transitional behavior in the second-order phase transition is broken in the first-order phase transition independent of N, are qualified as the effective order parameters. By implementing the originally proposed effective order parameters and the new ones, we find that the isotones with neutron number N _n = 62 are a trajectory of the secondorder phase transition. In addition, we predict that the transitional behavior of isomer shifts of Xe, Ba isotopes and N _n = 62 isotones is approximately monotonous due to the finiteness of nuclear system.     

Analysis of the refractive indices of lithium niobate at high temperatures

The temperature dependence of the refractive indices of lithium niobate crystals of stoichiometric composition is analyzed. It is shown that, in the region of the ferroelectric phase, the electronic dipole polarizability of oxygen ions significantly depends on the crystal temperature. The difference in the refractive indices Δn = n _e ? n _o in the paraelectric phase at λ = 1200 nm is determined to be 0.036 ± 0.003.     

Fluctuations and a rigorous uncertainty relation of trigonometric operators of the phase and the number of photons of an electromagnetic field for general quantum superpositions of coherent states

The quantum-statistical properties of states of an electromagnetic field of general superpositions of coherent states of the form of N _α,β(α?+e ^iξ β? are investigated. Formulas for the fluctuations (variances) of Hermitian trigonometric phase field operators ? ≡ côs φ, ? ≡ sîn φ (the so-called “Susskind–Glogower operators”) are found. Expressions for the rigorous uncertainty relations (Cauchy inequalities) for operators of the number of photons and trigonometric phase operators, as well as for operators ? and ?, are found and analyzed. The states of amplitude \({N_{\alpha ,\beta }}\left( {\left| {{{\sqrt {ne} }^{i\varphi }}\rangle + {e^{i\xi }}\left| {{{\sqrt {{n_\beta }e} }^{i\varphi }}\rangle } \right.} \right.} \right)\), φ = φ_α = φ_β, and phase \({N_{\alpha ,\beta }}\left( {\left| {{{\sqrt {ne} }^{i{\varphi _\alpha }}}\rangle + {e^{i\xi }}\left| {{{\sqrt {ne} }^{i{\varphi _\beta }}}\rangle } \right.} \right.} \right)\), n = n _α = n _β, superpositions of coherent states are considered separately. The types of quantum superpositions of meso- and macroscales (n _α, n _β » 1) are found for which the sines and/or cosines of the phase of the field can be measured accurately, since, under certain conditions, the quantum fluctuations of these quantities are close to zero. A simultaneous accurate measurement of cosφ and sinφ is possible for amplitude superpositions, while an accurate measurement of one of these trigonometric phase functions is possible in the case of certain phase superpositions. Amplitude superpositions of coherent states with a vacuum state are quantum states of the field with a “maximum” level of the quantum uncertainty both in the case of a mesoscopic scale and in the case of a macroscopic scale of the field with an average number of photons n _α/β ≈ 0, n _β/α » 1.     

Optical investigations of the effect of gradual substitution NH<Subscript>4</Subscript> → Cs on the ferroelastic phase transition in a CsLiSO<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystal

Crystals of Cs_x(NH₄)_1?xLiSO₄ (0.39≤x≤1.0) solid solutions are grown and investigated using polarized light microscopy and measurements of the birefringence in the temperature range 100–530 K. The (x-T) phase diagram of the Cs_x(NH₄)_1?xLiSO₄ solid solutions is constructed. It is demonstrated that, upon substitution of ammonium for cesium in the CsLiSO₄ crystal, the phase transition temperature gradually increases to such a degree that the ferroelastic phase can exist at room temperature. The triple point of intersection of the Pmcn, P2₁cn, and P112₁/n phase boundaries is determined. It is established that the introduction of ammonium in small amounts has an unusually strong effect on the refractive properties and character of the ferroelastic phase transition in the CsLiSO₄ crystal.     

Analytic properties of the effective dielectric constant of a two-dimensional Rayleigh model

Analytic properties of the dimensionless static effective dielectric constant f(p, h) of a two-dimensional Rayleigh model (p is the concentration and h is the ratio of the dielectric constants of components) are considered as a function of the complex variable h. It is shown that the only singularities of the function f(p, h) are first-order poles for real h = h _n < 0 (n = 1, 2, ...) with the condensation point h = ?1, which form an infinite discrete (countable) set. The positions of the first ten poles of the function f(p, h) and the residues at these points are calculated and represented graphically versus the concentration. Based on the results obtained, a pole-type approximate formula is proposed that describes the behavior of the function f(p, h) over a wide range of p and complex h.     

Exchange and correlation in finite-temperature TDDFT

We discuss the finite-temperature generalization of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The theory is directly analogous to that at temperature T = 0. For example, the finite-T TDDFT exchange-correlation kernel f_xc(T, n) in the local density approximation can again be expressed as a density derivative of the exchange correlation potential f_xc(T, n) = [?v_xc(T, n)∕?n]δ(r ? r′), where n = N∕V is the electron number density. An approximation for the kernel f_xc(T, n) is obtained from the finite-T generalization of the retarded cumulant expansion applied to the homogeneous electron gas. Results for f_xc and the loss function are presented for a wide range of temperatures and densities including the warm dense matter regime, where T ≈ T_F, the electron degeneracy temperature. The theory also permits a physical interpretation of the exchange and correlation contributions to the theory.