Surface wetting of liquid nanodroplets: droplet-size effects

The spreading of liquid nanodroplets of different initial radii R0 is studied using molecular dynamics simulation. Results for two distinct systems, Pb on Cu(111), which is nonwetting, and a coarse-grained polymer model, which wets the surface, are presented for Pb droplets ranging in size from approximately 55,000 to 220,000 atoms and polymer droplets ranging in size from approximately 200,000 to 780 000 monomers. In both cases, a precursor foot precedes the spreading of the main droplet. This precursor foot spreads as r(2)(f)(t) = 2D(eff)t with an effective diffusion constant that exhibits a droplet-size dependence D(eff) approximately R(1/2)(0). The radius of the main droplet r(b)(t) approximately R(4/5)(0) is in agreement with kinetic models for the cylindrical geometry studied.     

Peculiar scaling of self-avoiding walk contacts

The nearest neighbor contacts between the two halves of an N-site lattice self-avoiding walk offer an unusual example of scaling random geometry: for N-->infinity they are strictly finite in number but their radius of gyration R(c) is power law distributed proportional to R(-tau)(c), where tau>1 is a novel exponent characterizing universal behavior. A continuum of diverging length scales is associated with the R(c) distribution. A possibly superuniversal tau = 2 is also expected for the contacts of a self-avoiding or random walk with a confining wall.     

Large deviation function for the eden model and universality within the one-dimensional kardar-parisi-zhang class

It has been recently conjectured that for large systems, the shape of the central part of the large deviation function of the growth velocity would be universal for all the growth systems described by the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation in 1+1 dimension. One signature of this universality would be that the ratio of cumulants R(t)=[(c)](2)/[(c)(c)] would tend towards a universal value 0.415 17ellipsis as t tends to infinity, provided periodic boundary conditions are used. This has recently been questioned by Stauffer. In this paper we summarize various numerical and analytical results supporting this conjecture, and report in particular some numerical measurements of the ratio R(t) for the Eden model.     

Charged axially symmetric solution and energy in teleparallel theory equivalent to general relativity

An exact charged solution with axial symmetry is obtained in the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity. The associated metric has the structure function G(ξ)=1-ξ²-2mAξ³-q²A²ξ⁴. The fourth order nature of the structure function can make calculations cumbersome. Using a coordinate transformation we get a tetrad whose metric has the structure function in a factorizable form (1-ξ²)(1+r₊Aξ)(1+r_-Aξ) with r_± as the horizons of Reissner–Nordström space-time. This new form has the advantage that its roots are now trivial to write down. Then, we study the singularities of this space-time. Using another coordinate transformation, we obtain a tetrad field. Its associated metric yields the Reissner–Nordström black hole. In calculating the energy content of this tetrad field using the gravitational energy-momentum, we find that the resulting form depends on the radial coordinate! Using the regularized expression of the gravitational energy-momentum in the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity we get a consistent value for the energy.     

Amplification in one-dimensional random active medium near the lasing threshold

We studied the transmittance of a random amplifying medium near the lasing threshold by using the convergence criterion proposed by Nam and Zhang [Phys. Rev. B 66 73101, 2002] that allows separating the physical solutions of the time-independent Maxwell equations from the unphysical ones and describing critical size L _c of a random system in statistical terms. We found that the dependence of the critical gain ∈ ^″ _c (at which the lasing threshold occurs) as a function of number of layers is configuration-dependent and thus the lasing condition for random media is described by means of the probability of finding of physical solutions and evaluated by averaging over the ensemble of random configurations. By employing this approach we inspect the validity of the two-parameter scaling model by Zhang [Phys. Rev. B 52 7960, 1995], according to which the behavior of the random system with gain is described by relation 1/ξ = 1/ξ ₀ + 1/l _g, where ξ and ξ ₀ are localization length with and without gain, respectively, and l _g = 2/ω∈ ^″, is gain length, where ∈ ^″ is imaginary part of the dielectric constant that represents gain. We show that the range of validity of this relation depends on the ratio of both lengths and also affects the slope of the ln Λ_c(q) (where Λ_c ≡ L _c/ξ ₀ is normalized critical size and q ^?1 ≡ l _g/ξ ₀ is dimensionless gain length). We extend the study of the relation for the critical size L _c by inspecting the dependence of the slope of the ln Λ_c(q) on the strength of the randomness. We interpret its behavior in terms of the statistical properties of the localized states. Namely, by studying of the variance of the Lyapunov exponent λ (the inverse of the localization length ξ ₀) we have found that the slope of the ln Λ_c(q)) reflects the transition between two different regimes of localization with Anderson and Lifshits-like behavior that is known to be indicated by peak in var(λ). We discuss the generalization of two-parameter scaling model by implementing revisited single parameter scaling (SPS) theory by Deych et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 84 2678, 2000] which allows describing non-SPS regime in terms of a new scale l _s.

     

New vortex-matter size effect observed in Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8 + delta)

The vortex-matter 3D to 2D phase transition is studied in micron-sized Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8 + delta) single crystals using local Hall magnetization measurements. At a given temperature, the second magnetization peak, the signature of a possible 3D--2D vortex phase transition, disappears for samples smaller than a critical length. We suggest that this critical length should be equated with the 2D vortex lattice ab-plane correlation length R(2D)(c). The magnitude and temperature dependence of R(2D)(c) agree well with Larkin-Ovchinnikov collective pinning theory.     

Search for diphoton events with large missing transverse energy in 6.3 fb(-1) of pp collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

We report a search for diphoton events with large missing transverse energy produced in pp collisions at √s=1.96 TeV. The data were collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider and correspond to 6.3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity. The observed missing transverse energy distribution is well described by the standard model prediction, and 95% C.L. limits are derived on two realizations of theories beyond the standard model. In a gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking scenario, the breaking scale Λ is excluded for Λ<124 TeV. In a universal extra dimension model including gravitational decays, the compactification radius R(c) is excluded for R(c)(-1)<477 GeV.     

Replica field theory for a polymer in random media

In this paper we revisit the problem of a (non-self-avoiding) polymer chain in a random medium which was previously investigated by Edwards and Muthukumar (EM) [J. Chem. Phys. 89, 2435 (1988)]. As noticed by Cates and Ball (CB) [J. Phys. (France) 49, 2009 (1988)] there is a discrepancy between the predictions of the replica calculation of EM and the expectation that in an infinite medium the quenched and annealed results should coincide (for a chain that is free to move) and a long polymer should always collapse. CB argued that only in a finite volume one might see a "localization transition" (or crossover) from a stretched to a collapsed chain in three spatial dimensions. Here we carry out the replica calculation in the presence of an additional confining harmonic potential that mimics the effect of a finite volume. Using a variational scheme with five variational parameters we derive analytically for d<4 the result R approximately (g|ln &mgr;|)(-1/(4-d)) approximately (g ln V)(-1/(4-d)), where R is the radius of gyration, g is the strength of the disorder, &mgr; is the spring constant associated with the confining potential, and V is the associated effective volume of the system. Thus the EM result is recovered with their constant replaced by ln V as argued by CB. We see that in the strict infinite volume limit the polymer always collapses, but for finite volume a transition from a stretched to a collapsed form might be observed as a function of the strength of the disorder. For d<2 and for large V>V' approximately exp(g(2/(2-d))L((4-d)/(2-d))) the annealed results are recovered and R approximately (Lg)(1/(d-2)), where L is the length of the polymer. Hence the polymer also collapses in the large L limit. The one-step replica symmetry breaking solution is crucial for obtaining the above results.     

Superscaling of percolation on rectangular domains

For percolation on (RL)xL two-dimensional rectangular domains with a width L and aspect ratio R, we propose that the existence probability of the percolating cluster E(p)(L,epsilon,R) as a function of L, R, and deviation from the critical point epsilon can be expressed as F(epsilonL(y(t))R(a)), where y(t) identical with1/nu is the thermal scaling power, a is a new exponent, and F is a scaling function. We use Monte Carlo simulation of bond percolation on square lattices to test our proposal and find that it is well satisfied with a=0.14(1) for R>2. We also propose superscaling for other critical quantities.     

固体表面液滴铺展与润湿接触线的移动分析

液滴在固体表面上的铺展行为与润湿特性对许多工业生产过程的研究具有重要意义.根据液滴在光滑表面上的受力情况,建立了液滴平壁铺展的动力学模型.应用润滑近似方法和二维Navier-Stokes方程,建立了液滴沿理想表面铺展的动量和连续性方程.根据建立的方程,应用数值解法求解并详细分析了液滴在铺展过程中膜厚、接触线铺展半径以及铺展速度随时间的变化关系.研究结果表明:液滴的铺展过程可分为扩展和收缩两个阶段,铺展过程伴随着表面能、动能以及各种势能的相互转化,液滴最终的铺展半径大小由固体基面固有的润湿特性所决定;液滴在铺展过程中出现的"坍塌效应"与弯曲液面处的Laplace压力差有关;铺展半径随时间变化的标定律近似满足"1/7"次方标度律.     

SiC表面圆环槽边缘效应实验研究

基于固体边缘效应,对碳化硅(SiC)表面激光加工圆环形沟槽的润湿特性进行实验研究,通过分析去离子水在圆环槽上的润湿性能及其在边缘处的铺展行为,获得了环槽深度与环槽宽度对液滴在边缘处最大表观接触角的影响规律.结果表明,SiC圆环槽阻碍液滴铺展,光滑基体表面上接触角为70°,激光加工圆环槽深度为290μm,宽度为1 mm时...     

Wilson ratio of a Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid in a spin-1/2 Heisenberg ladder

Using micromechanical force magnetometry, we have measured the magnetization of the strong-leg spin-1/2 ladder compound (C(7)H(10)N)(2)CuBr(2) at temperatures down to 45 mK. Low-temperature magnetic susceptibility as a function of field exhibits a maximum near the critical field H(c) at which the magnon gap vanishes, as expected for a gapped one-dimensional antiferromagnet. Above H(c) a clear minimum appears in the magnetization as a function of temperature, as predicted by theory. In this field region, the susceptibility in conjunction with our specific-heat data yields the Wilson ratio R(W). The result supports the relation R(W)=4K, where K is the Tomonaga-Luttinger-liquid parameter.     

液滴撞击液膜过程的格子Boltzmann方法模拟

本文采用格子Boltzmann方法对液滴撞击液膜过程进行了研究, 主要考察了雷诺数(Re)、韦伯数(We)、相对液膜厚度 (h) 以及表面张力 (σ) 等物理参数对界面运动过程的影响. 首先, 随着Re数和We数的增加, 可以明显观察到液滴撞击液膜过程中形成的皇冠状水花以及卷吸现象; 当Re数较大时, 液体会发生飞溅, 由液体飞溅形成的小液滴则会继续下落, 并与液膜再次发生碰撞. 其次, 当相对液膜厚度较小时, 液滴撞击液膜并最终导致液膜断裂; 然而随着相对液膜厚度的增大, 尽管撞击过程溅起的液体会越来越多, 但是液膜并不会发生断裂. 再次, 随着表面张力的增大, 界面变形阻力增大, 撞击过程中产生的界面形变也逐渐减弱. 最后还发现皇冠(由液滴溅起形成)半径r 随时间满足r/(2R) ≈ α√Ut/(2R), 这一结果与已有结论是一致的.     

Electron release of fare-gas atomic clusters under an intense laser pulse

Calculating the energy absorption of atomic clusters as a function of the laser pulse length T we find a maximum for a critical T(*). We show that T(*) can be linked to an optimal cluster radius R(*). The existence of this radius can be attributed to the enhanced ionization mechanism originally discovered for diatomic molecules. Our findings indicate that enhanced ionization should be operative for a wide class of rare-gas clusters. From a simple Coulomb-explosion ansatz, we derive an analytical expression relating the maximum energy release to a suitably scaled expansion time which can be expressed with the pulse length T(*).     

Screened electrostatics of charged particles on a water droplet

We study the electrostatic properties of charged particles trapped at an interface in a water-in-oil microemulsion. The electrostatic potential and the counterion distribution in the water droplet are given in terms of the ratio of the Debye screening length κ^-1 and the droplet radius R. In the limit R→∞ we recover the well-known results for a flat interface. Finite-size corrections are obtained in terms of the small parameter 1/κR. Part of the counterions spread along the interface and form a charged layer of one Debye length thickness. In particular, there is a uniform surface charge contribution. We derive explicit expressions for the electric field, the mobile charge density, and the charge-induced pressure on the interface.     

Stark resonances in disordered systems

We study further the metastable behavior of Metropolis dynamics for the two-dimensional nearest neighbor ferromagnetic Ising model, with positive and small external field, in the limit as the temperature vanishes (see [NS]). We focus on the typical features of the escape (nucleation) from the (metastable) configuration with all spins –1, to the (stable) configuration with all spins +1. Using the reversibility of the process as the main tool, we prove (for the discrete time version of the model) that the first step of a typical escaping path is the time reverse of a typical time evolution of a shrinking subcritical rectangular droplet, which is one slice smaller than a critical droplet. This subcritical droplet then evolves in a time of order 1 to a critical droplet, which finally grows with features described in [NS].Work partially supported by the Brazilian CNPq and by the American NSF, under grant DMS91-00725     

Sharp signature of a dx2-y2 quantum critical point in the Hall coefficient of cuprate superconductors

We study the behavior of the Hall coefficient, R(H), in a system exhibiting dx(2)(-y(2)) density-wave order in a regime in which the carrier concentration, x, is tuned to approach a quantum critical point at which the order is destroyed. At the mean-field level, we find that n(Hall)=1/R(H) evinces a sharp signature of the transition. There is a kink in n(Hall) at the critical value of the carrier concentration, x(c); as the critical point is approached from the ordered side, the slope of n(Hall) diverges. Hall transport experiments in the cuprates, at high magnetic fields sufficient to destroy superconductivity, should reveal this effect.     

Double and triple ionization of silver clusters by electron impact

The production of silver cluster cations Ag(n)(2+) (for several selected sizes in the range n = 39-119) and Ag(n)(3+) (for n = 58, 61, 67) by electron impact ionization of neutral precursors has been studied. The scaling of appearance energies with cluster radius follows the metallic droplet model but, curiously, with a slope which is estimated to be quite different from the literature values for single ionization, Ag(n)(+), as well as for the appearance of smaller Ag(n)(2+) ions. It is also found that as the electron energy increases, the yield of high-charge cations grows faster than that of singly-charged Ag(n)(+). This behavior is consistent with the power-law dependence of post-threshold ionization. The mechanisms involved in multiple ionization phenomena in clusters of noble metals are not yet fully understood and call for further experimental and theoretical examination.     

Magnetoresistance anisotropy of a one-dimensional superconducting niobium strip

We investigated confinement effects on the resistive anisotropy of a superconducting niobium strip with a rectangular cross section. When its transverse dimensions are comparable to the superconducting coherence length, the angle dependent magnetoresistances at a fixed temperature can be scaled as R(theta,H) = R(H/Hctheta) where Hctheta =Hc0(cos2theta + gamma(-2)sin2theta)(-1/2) is the angular dependent critical field, gamma is the width to thickness ratio, and Hc0 is the critical field in the thickness direction at theta=0 degrees . The results can be understood in terms of the anisotropic diamagnetic energy for a given field in a one-dimensional superconductor.     

PdTe: a strongly coupled superconductor

We report the electrical transport, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties of polycrystalline PdTe which exhibits superconductivity below 4.5 K. Using the measured values for the lower (H(c1)) and upper (H(c2)) critical fields, and the specific heat C(p), we estimate the thermodynamic critical field H(c)(0), coherence length ξ(0), penetration depth λ(0), and the Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ. Compared with band structure calculations, the density of states at the Fermi level is enhanced due to electron-phonon coupling with λ(ep) = 1.4. Furthermore, the large values of ΔC(p)/γ(n)T(c) and 2Δ(0)/k(B)T(c) suggest that PdTe is a strongly coupled superconductor.