Negative linear compressibility of generic rotating rigid triangles

The compressibility properties of systems consisting of generic rotating rigid triangles are analyzed and discussed.It is shown that these systems which are usually associated with auxeticity can exhibit strongly anisotropic properties for certain conformations, which may give rise to the anomalous property of negative linear compressibility(NLC), that is, the system with particular geometry will expand along one direction when loaded hydrostatically. It is also shown that through carefully choosing the geometric features(i.e. the dimensions and the alignment of the rotating triangles as well as the angles between them) and the direction along which the linear compressibility is measured, one may control the magnitude and range of the NLC. All this provides a novel but effective method of manufacturing the systems which can be tailored to achieve particular values of NLC to fit particular practical applications.     

Negative compressibility property in hinging open-cell Kelvin structure

A new three-dimensional(3 D) cellular model based on hinging open-cell Kelvin structure is proposed for its negative compressibility property. It is shown that this model has adjustable compressibility and does exhibit negative compressibility for some certain conformations. And further study shows that the images of compressibility are symmetrical about the certain lines, which indicates that the mechanical properties of the model in the three axial directions are interchangeable and the model itself has a certain geometric symmetry. A comparison of the Kelvin model with its anisotropic form with the dodecahedron model shows that the Kelvin model has stronger negative compressibility property in all three directions.Therefore, a new and potential method to improve negative compressibility property can be derived by selecting the system type with lower symmetry and increasing the number of geometric parameters.     

Emergent biaxiality in nematic microflows illuminated by a laser beam

Anisotropic fluids (e.g. liquid crystals) offer a remarkable promise as optofluidic materials owing to the directional, tunable, and coupled interactions between the material, flow, and the optical fields. Here we present a comprehensive in silico treatment of this anisotropic interaction by performing nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. We quantify the response of a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) undergoing a Poiseuille flow in the Stokes regime, while being illuminated by a laser beam incident perpendicular to the flow direction. We adopt a minimalistic model to capture the interactions, accounting for two features: first, the laser heats up the NLC locally; and second, the laser polarises the NLC and exerts an optical torque that tends to reorient molecules of the nematic phase. Because of this reorientation the liquid crystal exhibits small regions of biaxiality, where the nematic director is one symmetry axis and the axis of rotation for the reorientation of the molecules is the other one. We find that the relative strength of the viscous and the optical torques mediates the flow-induced response of the biaxial regions, thereby tuning the emergence, shape and location of the regions of enhanced biaxiality. The mechanistic framework presented here promises experimentally tractable routes toward novel optofluidic applications based on material-flow-light interactions.     

Effective permittivity and permeability of one-dimensional dielectric photonic crystal within a band gap

We take a finite dielectric photonic crystal as a homogeneous slab and have extracted the effective parameters. Our systematic study shows that the effective permittivity or permeability of dielectric photonic crystal is negative within a band gap region. This means that the band gap might act as ε-negative materials （ENMs） with ε 〈 0 and μ 〉 0, or μ-negative materials （MNMs） with ε 〉 0 and μ 〈 0. Moreover the effective parameters sensitively rely on size, surface termination, symmetry, etc. The effective parameters can be used to design full transmission tunnelling modes and amplify evanescent wave. Several cases are studied and the results show that dielectric photonic band gap can indeed mimic a single negative material （ENM or MNM） under some restrictions.     

High-resolution photorefractive gratings in nematic liquid crystals sandwiched with photoconductive polymer film

Photorefractive gratings with high grating resolution were observed in the 20 μm thick low-molar-mass nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cell with a separate photoconductive (PC) poly(N-vinylcarbazole) layer. An orientational grating with a grating spacing of 1.9 μm was produced. It is believed that a space–charge field with small fringe spacing forms in the PC layer and its evanescent component penetrates into the NLC layer. The penetrated evanescent field drives the NLC to reorient, and consequently the orientational grating forms. The model indicates that the modulated field exists in several hundred nanometers near the surface, and thus the orientational grating is not full of the NLC film, which is consistent with the observed phenomena of the multiple diffractions. Besides, asymmetric two-beam coupling of 11.2% was achieved for the grating with a grating spacing of 1.9 μm, and a net gain coefficient of larger than 62 cm⁻¹ was obtained.     

基于矩形谐振环的新型复合周期结构左手材料研究

通过实验及仿真研究了基于矩形谐振环的新型三角形和三矩形开口谐振环金属线复合周期结构左手材料.仿真研究了以金属铜三角谐振环和三矩形谐振环（SRRs）为基本单元的周期结构负磁导率材料,结果显示两种谐振环均能产生很好的谐振效果,即能产生负磁导率;设计、制作并实验和仿真研究了三角谐振环和三矩形谐振环金属线复合周期结构左手材料,实验结果分别在9.5—13.3GHz和9.8—12.5GHz出现良好的负折射效应,与仿真结果具有较好的一致性.该研究对新型周期结构左手材料的研究、设计和研制具有重要的科学意义和应用前景. 关键词： 左手材料 负折射 三角形谐振环 三矩形谐振环     

Integral equation for the angular distribution function of an anisotropic fluid taking account of short-range order in a quasichemical approximation

An integral equation for the one-particle angular distribution function of nonspherical molecules is formulated on the basis of the thermodynamically closed system of equations obtained earlier for the occupation numbers of a multicomponent mixture of molecules with internal degrees of freedom. It is shown that this equation goes over into a known equation of Vlasov-Onsager type for large coordination numbers (for strongly elongated molecules), and yields a known rigorous result which does not contain a phase transition into the anisotropic state in the one-dimensional case. The criterion for such a transition is formulated in the form of an eigenvalue problem for the kernel of the equation obtained. In the case of single-axis molecules, an explicit expression is given for its kernel which takes account of the anisotropy in both the attraction and repulsion as well as the finite compressibility of the substance. For a binary liquid-crystal mixture, an equation is obtained in explicit analytic form within the framework of the XYZ-model for the transition line of an isotropic fluid (IF) into a nematic liquid crystal (NLC), which agrees with experiment for individual NLC. Formulas are hence obtained for a computation of the parameters of the interaction anisotropy in terms of the IF-NLC transition line parameters, and also specific results for para-azoxyanisole (PAA).Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 114–118, September, 1977.The author is grateful to V. K. Semenchenko for kindly providing the necessary publications of experimental material and to B. U. Chotchaev for assistance in processing the results of the experiment.     

Relation between Tolman length and isothermal compressibility for simple liquids

The Tolman length δ 0 of a liquid with a plane surface has attracted increasing theoretical attention in recent years,but the expression of Tolman length in terms of observable quantities is still not very clear.In 2001,Bartell gave a simple expression of Tolman length δ 0 in terms of isothermal compressibility.However,this expression predicts that Tolman length is always negative,which is contrary to the results of molecular dynamics simulations(MDS) for simple liquids.In this paper,this contradiction is analyzed and the reason for the discrepancy in the sign is found.In addition,we introduce a new expression of Tolman length in terms of isothermal compressibility for simple fluids not near the critical points under some weak restrictions.The Tolman length of simple liquids calculated by using this formula is consistent with that obtained using MDS regarding the sign.     

Singular variation property of elastic constants of piezoelectric ceramics shunted to negative capacitance

Piezoelectric shunt damping has been widely used in vibration suppression, sound absorption, noise elimination, etc.In such applications, the variant elastic constants of piezoelectric materials are the essential parameters that determine the performances of the systems, when piezoelectric materials are shunted to normal electrical elements, i.e., resistance,inductance and capacitance, as well as their combinations. In recent years, many researches have demonstrated that the wideband sound absorption or vibration suppression can be realized with piezoelectric materials shunted to negative capacitance. However, most systems using the negative-capacitance shunt circuits show their instabilities in the optimal condition, which are essentially caused by the singular variation properties of elastic constants of piezoelectric materials when shunted to negative capacitance. This paper aims at investigating the effects of negative-capacitance shunt circuits on elastic constants of a piezoelectric ceramic plate through theoretical analyses and experiments, which gives an rational explanation for why negative capacitance shunt circuit is prone to make structure instable. First, the relationships between the elastic constants c_(11), c_(33), c_(55) of the piezoelectric ceramic and the shunt negative capacitance are derived with the piezoelectric constitutive law theoretically. Then, an experimental setup is established to verify the theoretical results through observing the change of elastic constant c_(55) of the shunted piezoelectric plate with the variation of negative capacitance.The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical analyses, which reveals that the instability of the shunt damping system is essentially caused by the singular variation property of the elastic constants of piezoelectric material shunted to negative capacitance.     

Optical bistability of the director field of the dendrimer-doped nematic liquid crystal

It was found that the second-generation carbosilane dendrimers with statistically distributed terminal aliphatic and azobenzene fragments induce negative orientational nonlinearity in nematic liquid crystals (NLC) (the NLC director turns perpendicular to the light field, decreasing the refractive index of an extraordinary wave). The light-induced Freedericksz transition in planar oriented NLCs is the first-order orientational phase transition characterized by a wide bistability region.     

左手材料的反射特性与负折射率行为

利用平板波导法研究了不同入射角度下周期排列开口谐振环负磁导率材料、周期排列金属杆负介电常数材料以及左手材料微波反射特性，并利用劈尖法研究了左手材料的负折射特性.实验结果表明：负磁导率材料反射率曲线形成反射峰，其对应的反射峰频率与材料的谐振频率一致；负介电常数材料反射率接近0dB；左手材料出现单个反射较小的反射峰，其峰值反射率随入射角度的增大而变大，即反射能力增强，且反射峰与透射峰有相对频移.劈尖法测量还表明，左手材料在9800MHz频率附近出现负折射现象，其折射率n为-0.796. 关键词： 左手材料 反射 负折射率     

L-band polarization-controlled multiple dissipative solitons generation in a normal dispersion fiber ring laser

A polarization-controlled multiple dissipative solitons generation in a normal dispersion fiber ring laser operating in L-band is demonstrated. The fiber laser is passively mode-locked with nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) technique. Depending on the rotations of the PCs, the number of the pulses circulating in the laser cavity can be tuned from 1 to 4. The experimental results suggest that the generation of multiple pulses is caused by the soliton shaping of dispersive waves induced by the variations of spectral filtering effect.     

Microscopic measurement of the linear compressibilities of two-dimensional fatty acid mesophases

The linear compressibility of two-dimensional fatty acid mesophases has been determined by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. The unit cell parameters of the , , , S and phases of behenic acid and of the phase of myristic acid were determined as a function of surface pressure and temperature. Surface pressure versus molecular area isotherms were reconstructed from these measurements, and the linear compressibility (relative distortion along a given direction for a two-dimensional isotropic applied stress) was determined both in the sample plane and in a plane normal to the aliphatic chain director (transverse plane). The linear compressibilities range over two orders of magnitude from 0.1 to 10 m/N and are distributed depending on their magnitude in 4 different sets which we are able to associate with different molecular mechanisms. The largest compressibilities (10 m/N) are observed in the tilted phases. They are apparently independent on the chain length and could be related to the reorganization of the headgroup hydrogen-bounded network, whose role should be revalued. Intermediate compressibilities are observed in phases with quasi long-range order (directions normal to the molecular tilt in the or phases, S phase, and could be related to the ordering of these phases. The lowest compressibilities are observed in the solid untilted phase and for one direction of the S and phases. They are similar to the compressibility of crystalline polymers and correspond to the interactions between methyl groups in the crystal. Finally, negative compressibilities are observed in the transverse plane for the and phases and can be traced to subtle reorganizations upon untilting. Received: 29 July 1997 / Revised: 14 October 1997 / Accepted: 23 October 1997     

Study of acoustic parameters of binary mixtures of a nonpolar liquid with polar liquid at different frequencies

The densities (ρ) and ultrasonic velocities (C) of binary mixture of diisopropyl ether (DIPE) and bromobenzene (BB) have been measured at different frequencies (1 MHz, 3 MHz and 5 MHz) over the entire range of mole fraction of diisopropyl ether (DIPE) at temperature 303 K. The intermolecular free length (L _f ), isentropic compressibility (β), acoustic impedance (Z) and excess values of isentropic compressibility (β ^E ) and acoustic impedance (Z^E) have been computed using values of ultrasonic velocity (C) and density (ρ). The ultrasonic velocity, intermolecular free length are positive whereas the excess values of isentropic compressibility and acoustic impedance are negative over the entire composition range of DIPE which indicates presence of specific interactions between unlike molecules. The results are discussed in the light of intermolecular interactions occurring in the mixtures.      

Control of extraordinary light transmission through perforated metal films using liquid crystals

We calculate the effective dielectric tensor of a metal film penetrated by cylindrical holes filled with a nematic liquid crystal (NLC). We assume that the director of the NLC is parallel to the film, and that its direction within the plane can be controlled by a static magnetic field, via the Freedericksz effect. To calculate the effective dielectric tensor, we consider both randomly distributed holes (using a Maxwell-Garnett approximation) and a square lattice of holes (using a Fourier technique). Both the holes and the lattice constant of the square lattice are assumed small compared to the wavelength. The films are found to exhibit extraordinary light transmission at special frequencies related to the surface plasmon resonances of the composite film. Furthermore, the frequencies of peak transmission are found to be substantially split when the dielectric in the holes is anisotropic. For typical NLC parameters, the splitting is of order 5–10% of the metal plasma frequency. Thus, the extraordinary transmission can be controlled by a static magnetic or electric field whose direction can be rotated to orient the director of the NLC. Finally, as a practical means of producing the NLC-filled holes, we consider the case where the entire perforated metal film is dipped into a pool of NLC, so that all the holes are filled with the NLC, and there are also homogeneous slabs of NLC on both sides of the film. The transmission in this geometry is shown to have similar characteristics to that in which the NLC-filled screen is placed in air.     

向列型液晶中简并四波混频相位共轭的理论研究

研究向列型液晶中由光致分子重取向引起的简并四波混频光学相位共轭现象,着重讨论液晶薄膜厚度d、探测光与一泵浦光之间的夹角θ_ω以及光的入射面和液晶指向矢之间的夹角β对相位共轭光产生效率的影响.     

Relation between the microscopic and macroscopic descriptions of the effect of a solid-substrate surface on a homeotropically aligned nematic liquid crystal

A simple microscopic mean-field model is proposed for a homeotropically aligned planar nematic liquid crystal (NLC) in contact with a solid-substrate surface. The intermolecular interaction in the NLC is simulated with the anisotropic McMillan potential, and the orienting effect of the substrate surface on the molecules in the NLC is described as that of an external field acting only on the first surface molecular layer of the sample. This model is used to describe the deformation of the director field of the sample caused by the external field and to determine the anchoring strength coefficient W, which is employed to macroscopically describe the orienting effect of the solid substrate on the NLC. The dependence of this coefficient on the strength of the short-range orienting field of the substrate surface used in the proposed microscopic model is found, and a unique correspondence between W and the profile of the orientational order parameter near the substrate surface is established. The temperature dependence of the anchoring strength coefficient is derived and found to agree well with experimental data for the MBBA NLC.     

Density Functional Theory Study of Mn+1AXn Phases: A Review

M_n+1AX_n phases (MAX phases for short with M: transition metal, A: A group elements, X: C or N, and n = 1–3) have attracted considerable attention due to the unique combination of the ceramic- and metal-like properties. The density functional theory (DFT) has emerged as a powerful theoretical approach that complements experimental testing and serves as a predictive tool in the identification and characterization of MAX phases. After the beginning with a brief introduction of the MAX phase and DFT, we review the DFT study on this class of materials, including crystal structure, electronic structure, point defects, lattice dynamics, and related properties, phase stability, compressibility, and elastic properties. Comparison between the theoretical values and available experimental ones shows that they are in decent agreement for most part, especially in the lattice constants, elastic properties, and compressibility. This article is concluded with an outlook of future research on DFT study of MAX phases, major challenges to be met and possible solutions in some cases.     

Effect of frequency on acoustic parameters in a binary mixture of polar liquids

The densities (α) and ultrasonic velocities (C) of binary mixtures of a polar liquid like acetone and toluene have been measured at different frequencies (lMHz, 3MHz and 5MHz) over the entire range of mole fraction of acetone at temperature 303.16k. The intermolecular free length (L _f ), isentropic compressibility (β), acoustic impedance (Z), excess values of isentropic compressibility (β ^E ) and acoustic impedance (Z ^E ) have been computed using values of ultrasonic velocity (C) and density (α). The ultrasonic velocity (C), intermolecular free length (L _f ) and excess values of isentropic compressibility are positive whereas excess values of acoustic impedance is negative for the entire composition range which indicates the specific interaction between unlike molecules. The results are discussed in the light of intermolecular interactions occurring in the solutions.     

Unexpected high stiffness of Ag and Au nanoparticles

We studied the compressibility of silver (10 nm) and gold (30 nm) nanoparticles, n-Ag and n-Au, suspended in a methanol-ethanol mixture by x-ray diffraction (XRD) with synchrotron radiation at pressures up to 30 GPa. Unexpectedly for that size, the nanoparticles show a significantly higher stiffness than the corresponding bulk materials. The bulk modulus of n-Au, K(0)=290(8) GPa, shows an increase of ca. 60% and is in the order of W or Ir. The structural characterization of both kinds of nanoparticles by XRD and high-resolution electron microscopy identified polysynthetic domain twinning and lamellar defects as the main origin for the strong decrease in compressibility.