On the energy transport velocity in a dissipative medium

An exact definition of the group velocity v _g is proposed for a wave process with arbitrary dispersion relation ω = ω′(k) + iω″(k). For the monochromatic approximation, a limit expression v _g (k) is obtained. A condition under which v _g (k) takes the form of the Kuzelev–Rukhadze expression [1] dω′(k)/dk is found. In the general case, it appears that v _g (k) is defined not only by the dispersion relation ω(k), but also by other elements of the initial problem. As applied to the dissipative medium, it is shown that v _g (k) defines the field energy transfer velocity, and this velocity does not exceed thee light speed in vacuum. An expression for the energy transfer velocity is also obtained for the case where the dispersion relation is given in the form k = k′(ω) + ik″(ω) which corresponds to the boundary problem.     

Conformal Mappings and Dispersionless Toda Hierarchy

Let \({\mathfrak{D}}\) be the space consists of pairs (f, g), where f is a univalent function on the unit disc with f(0) = 0, g is a univalent function on the exterior of the unit disc with g(∞) = ∞ and f′(0)g′(∞) = 1. In this article, we define the time variables \({t_n, n\in \mathbb{Z}}\), on \({\mathfrak{D}}\) which are holomorphic with respect to the natural complex structure on \({\mathfrak{D}}\) and can serve as local complex coordinates for \({\mathfrak{D}}\) . We show that the evolutions of the pair (f, g) with respect to these time coordinates are governed by the dispersionless Toda hierarchy flows. An explicit tau function is constructed for the dispersionless Toda hierarchy. By restricting \({\mathfrak{D}}\) to the subspace Σ consists of pairs where \({f(w)=1/\overline{g(1/\bar{w})}}\), we obtain the integrable hierarchy of conformal mappings considered by Wiegmann and Zabrodin [31]. Since every C ¹ homeomorphism γ of the unit circle corresponds uniquely to an element (f, g) of \({\mathfrak{D}}\) under the conformal welding \({\gamma=g^{-1}\circ f}\), the space Homeo _C (S ¹) can be naturally identified as a subspace of \({\mathfrak{D}}\) characterized by f(S ¹) = g(S ¹). We show that we can naturally define complexified vector fields \({\partial_n, n\in \mathbb{Z}}\) on Homeo _C (S ¹) so that the evolutions of (f, g) on Homeo _C (S ¹) with respect to ? _n satisfy the dispersionless Toda hierarchy. Finally, we show that there is a similar integrable structure for the Riemann mappings (f ^?1, g ^?1). Moreover, in the latter case, the time variables are Fourier coefficients of γ and 1/γ ^?1.     

Waves in a superlattice with anisotropic inhomogeneities

Dependences of the dispersion laws and damping of waves in an initially sinusoidal superlattice on inhomogeneities with anisotropic correlation properties are studied for the first time. The period of the superlattice is modulated by the random function described by the anisotropic correlation function K_?(r) that has different correlation radii, k _∥ ^?1 and k _⊥ ^?1 , along the axis of the superlattice z and in the plane xy, respectively. The anisotropy of the correlation is characterized by the parameter λ=1?k_⊥/k_∥ that can change from λ=0 to λ=1 when the correlation wave number k⊥ changes from k_⊥=k_∥ (isotropic 3D inhomogeneities) to k_⊥=0 (1D inhomogeneities). The correlation function of the superlattice K(r) is developed. Its decreasing part goes to the asymptote L that divides the correlation volume into two parts, characterized by finite and infinite correlation radii. The dependences of the width of the gap in the spectrum at the boundary of the Brillouin zone δν and the damping of waves ξ on the value of λ are studied. It is shown that decreasing L leads to the decrease of δν, and increase of ξ, with the increase of λ.     

Chiral and deconfinement phase transitions in QED<Subscript>3</Subscript> with finite gauge boson mass

Based on the experimental observation that there is a coexisting region between the antiferromagnetic (AF) and d-wave superconducting (dSC) phases, the influences of gauge boson mass m _a on chiral symmetry restoration and deconfinement phase transitions in QED₃ are investigated simultaneously within a unified framework, i.e., Dyson–Schwinger equations. The results show that the chiral symmetry restoration phase transition in the presence of the gauge boson mass m _a is a typical second-order phase transition; the chiral symmetry restoration and deconfinement phase transitions are coincident; the critical number of fermion flavors N ^c _f decreases as the gauge boson mass m _a increases, which implies that there exists a boundary that separates the N ^c _f –m _a plane into chiral symmetry breaking/confinement region for (N ^c _f , m _a ) below the boundary and chiral symmetry restoration/deconfinement region for (N ^c _f , m _a ) above it.     

On the nature of the liquid-to-glass transition equation

Within the model of delocalized atoms, it is shown that the parameter δT_g, which enters the glasstransition equation qτ_g = δT_g and characterizes the temperature interval in which the structure of a liquid is frozen, is determined by the fluctuation volume fraction \({f_g} = {\left( {{{\Delta {V_e}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Delta {V_e}} V}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} V}} \right)_{T = {T_g}}}\) frozen at the glass-transition temperature T_g and the temperature T_g itself. The parameter δT_g is estimated by data on f_g and T_g. The results obtained are in agreement with the values of δT_g calculated by the Williams–Landel–Ferry (WLF) equation, as well as with the product qτ_g—the left-hand side of the glass-transition equation (q is the cooling rate of the melt, and τ_g is the structural relaxation time at the glass-transition temperature). Glasses of the same class with f_g ≈ const exhibit a linear correlation between δT_g and T_g. It is established that the currently used methods of Bartenev and Nemilov for calculating δT_g yield overestimated values, which is associated with the assumption, made during deriving the calculation formulas, that the activation energy of the glass-transition process is constant. A generalized Bartenev equation is derived for the dependence of the glass-transition temperature on the cooling rate of the melt with regard to the temperature dependence of the activation energy of the glasstransition process. A modified version of the kinetic glass-transition criterion is proposed. A conception is developed that the fluctuation volume fraction f = ΔV_e/V can be interpreted as an internal structural parameter analogous to the parameter ξ in the Mandelstam–Leontovich theory, and a conjecture is put forward that the delocalization of an active atom—its critical displacement from the equilibrium position—can be considered as one of possible variants of excitation of a particle in the Vol’kenshtein–Ptitsyn theory. The experimental data used in the study refer to a constant cooling rate of q = 0.05 K/s (3 K/min).     

Quantum-Chemical Simulation of the Solvent Effect on Spontaneous Emission of Singlet Oxygen

A molecular simulation of the solvent effect on radiative rate constant k _r of singlet oxygen is carried out. This study included a search for the most probable conformations of the complexes of molecules of singlet oxygen and ten solvents and calculation of dipole moments M of transitions a¹Δ _g –b¹Σ _g ⁺ (M _a–b ) and a¹Δ _g –X³Σ _g ^- (M _a–X ) of the oxygen molecule for them. Averaging of M _a–b by conformations, taking into account the probability of their formation for complexes without atoms with a large atomic number (Cl, S), yields values that, as a rule, correlate well with the behavior of k _r in the experiment. Taking into account the possibility of decreasing the distance (compared to equilibrium) between molecules in a collision complex at room temperature made it possible to achieve satisfactory agreement of the calculated and experimental data also for complexes with CCl₄, C₂Cl₄, and CS₂. The obtained data indicate that a number of factors affect k _r . The correlation of k _r with molecular polarizability in a number of cases is due, on the one hand, to its effect on the strength of dispersion interactions in the complex and, on the other hand, to the fact that it to some extent reflects the position of the upper filled orbitals of the solvent molecule. Both factors affect the degree of mixing of the π orbitals of the singlet oxygen molecule with the orbitals of the solvent molecule, which, as was found earlier, facilitates the activation of the a¹Δ _g –b¹Σ _g ⁺ transition and the borrowing of its intensity by the a¹Δ _g –X³Σ _g ^- transition.     

Dipole moment functions for electronic transitions from ion-pair states of the second tier of molecular iodine

The emission spectra caused by the transitions from the ion-pair states and f0 _g ⁺ and G1_g of the I₂ molecule are obtained by excitation of individual rovibronic levels of the molecule by the method of optical-optical double resonance. The emission spectra from the state F0 _u ⁺ populated due to collisions I₂(f) + I₂(X) are also measured. By modeling the experimental emission spectra, the dipole moment functions for the electronic transitions f _g ⁺ -B0 _u ⁺ , A0 _u ⁺ , and B″0 _u ⁺ ; G1_g-A0 _u ⁺ and B″0 _u ⁺ ; and F0 _u ⁺ -X0 _g ⁺ and a′0 _g ⁺ of the iodine molecule are reconstructed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> theory of the electronic structure and spectra of impurity <Emphasis Type="Italic">nl</Emphasis> ions

The fundamentals of the theory of the electronic structure of impurity clusters and the results of numerical calculations for the iron-, lanthanum-, and actinium-group ions in Me⁺ⁿ: [L]_k clusters are presented. The effects of the interionic distance and ligands in the Me⁺ⁿ: [L]_k clusters on the electronic structure of the nl ^N and nl^N?1n′l′ configurations of the 3d, 4f, and 5f ions are considered. The correspondence between the optical and x-ray spectra of different impurity crystals is also analyzed.     

Calculation of the Cross Sections for Neutron Scattering at Spin Waves in Helimagnets

An analytical dependence of the cross section for the small-angle scattering of polarized neutrons at spin waves in helimagnets formed because of Dzyaloshinskii—Moriya interaction in cubic crystals without an inversion center (the space group is P2₁3) is obtained. It is assumed that the dispersion of spin waves in helimagnets with the wave vector k _s polarized by a magnetic field is larger than the critical field H_C2 of the transition to the ferromagnetic phase and has the form E _q = A(q ? k _s ) + gμ_B(H ? H_С2). It is shown that the cross section for neutron scattering at the two-dimensional map of angles (θ _x , θ _y ) is two circles of the radii θ_C with the centers ±θ _S , corresponding to the Bragg angle of diffraction by a helix oriented along the applied magnetic field H. The radii of these two circles θ_C are directly related to the stiffness of spin waves A of the magnetic system and depends on the applied magnetic field: \(\theta _C^2 = \theta _0^2 - \frac{{g{\mu _B}H}}{{{E_n}}}{\theta _0}\), where \({\theta _0} = \frac{{{h^2}}}{{2A{m_n}}}\) and E _n and m _n are the neutron energy and mass. It is shown that the scattering cross section depends on the neutron polarization, which is evidence of the chiral character of spin waves in the Dzyaloshinskii—Moriya helimagnets even in the completely polarized phase. The cases of neutron scattering at magnons where θ₀ ≤ θ _S and θ _S ≥ θ₀ are considered. The case of neutron scattering at spin waves in helimagnets is compared with analogous scattering at ferromagnets where θ _S → 0.     

Fluorescence quenching of vaporous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by oxygen

The fluorescence quenching by oxygen of vapors of nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with strongly different oxidation potentials 0.44 eV < E _ox < 1.61 eV (anthracene, 9-methylanthracene, 2-aminoanthracene, 9,10-dibromanthracene, pyrene, chrysene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and carbazole) is studied. From the dependences of the fluorescence decay rates and intensities on the oxygen pressure P _O2, the quenching rate constants k _S ^O2 for the excited singlet states S ₁ and the fraction f _S ^O2 of the S ₁ states quenched by oxygen are estimated. At P _O2 = 5 Torr, the k _S ^O2 constants vary from 1.2 × 10⁷ to 3.0 × 10⁵ s^?1 Torr^?1, while the fraction of the quenched excited singlet states changes from 0.1 (fluoranthene) to 0.7 (chrysene) and 0.8 (pyrene). The dependences of k _S ^O2 on the photophysical and electron-donor characteristics of the fluorescing compounds are analyzed. It is shown that, in the gas phase of anthracene and its derivatives, the magnitudes of k _S ^O2 are limited by the rate constants of gas-kinetic collisions k _gk and do not depend on the electron-donor characteristics of fluorophores, while the fraction of quenched states f _S ^O2 changes with the oxidation potential. For compounds with k _S ^O2 < k gk, both the rate constants k _S ^O2 and the fraction of quenched states f _S ^O2 depend on the E _ox of sensitizers, which demonstrates an important role played by the charge-transfer interactions in quenching of the S ₁ states. The dependence of the rate constants k _S ^O2 on the free energy of electron transfer ΔG _et is considered.     

Temperature Dependence of the Thermal Conductivity of a Trapped Dipolar Bose-Condensed Gas

The thermal conductivity of a trapped dipolar Bose condensed gas is calculated as a function of temperature in the framework of linear response theory. The contributions of the interactions between condensed and noncondensed atoms and between noncondensed atoms in the presence of both contact and dipole-dipole interactions are taken into account to the thermal relaxation time, by evaluating the self-energies of the system in the Beliaev approximation. We will show that above the Bose-Einstein condensation temperature (T?>?T _BEC ) in the absence of dipole-dipole interaction, the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity reduces to that of an ideal Bose gas. In a trapped Bose-condensed gas for temperature interval k _B T?<<?n ₀ g _B , E _p ?<<?k _B T (n ₀ is the condensed density and g _B is the strength of the contact interaction), the relaxation rates due to dipolar and contact interactions between condensed and noncondensed atoms change as \( {\tau}_{dd12}^{-1}\propto {e}^{-E/{k}_BT} \) and τ _c12?∝?T ^?5, respectively, and the contact interaction plays the dominant role in the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity, which leads to the T ^?3 behavior of the thermal conductivity. In the low-temperature limit, k _B T?<<?n ₀ g _B , E _p ?>>?k _B T, since the relaxation rate \( {\tau}_{c12}^{-1} \) is independent of temperature and the relaxation rate due to dipolar interaction goes to zero exponentially, the T ² temperature behavior for the thermal conductivity comes from the thermal mean velocity of the particles. We will also show that in the high-temperature limit (k _B T?>?n ₀ g _B ) and low momenta, the relaxation rates \( {\tau}_{c12}^{-1} \) and \( {\tau}_{dd12}^{-1} \) change linearly with temperature for both dipolar and contact interactions and the thermal conductivity scales linearly with temperature.     

Hall-Petch analysis for temperature and strain rate dependent deformation of polycrystalline lead

A dislocation pile-up analysis of the Hall-Petch constant k _ε for the tensile deformation of polycrystalline lead over a wide range of temperature T and at two strain rates has been made. The predicted and experimental Hall-Petch dependencies k _ε ² = f (T) are in good agreement. Lower than predicted k _ε values at very low temperatures are attributed to the high curvature of grain boundaries which experience high localized plasticity and consequent shear banding.     

Parameterization of the spectra of configurations 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>4<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> and 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>5<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> of a phosphorus ion P II. Gyromagnetic ratios

In the one-configuration approximation, in the formalism of irreducible tensor operators, and in the intermediate (real) coupling scheme, numerical values of the fine-structure parameters are determined for the 3p4f and 3p5f highly excited configurations of the P II phosphorus ion with the energy-operator matrix in the LK-coupling approximation. With these values of the fine-structure parameters, the energy-operator matrix is numerically diagonalized in the LS-coupling approximation. The gyromagnetic ratios calculated in both basis sets in the absence of a field are compared with one another, as well as with their vector counterparts and the experimental g-factors available for the 3p4f configuration. The experimental and theoretical g-factors calculated with the LS basis set are in good agreement with the sole exception of the ³ F ₂ level. Note that the calculation of g-factors from the Zeeman splitting in the linear region totally confirmed their agreement with the values calculated in the LS basis set (g _LS ) in the absence of a field. The gyromagnetic ratios are the main objectives of this and previous papers, especially for configurations for which experimental data are absent. Apart from the g-factors, the specific features of Zeeman splitting (the crossings and anticrossings of magnetic components) in the 3p5f configurations were determined. These data are to be compared with results of future experiments. Comparison of gyromagnetic ratios calculated in the intermediate coupling scheme with their vector counterparts showed that most levels of the configurations studied are closer than in the LK-coupling scheme.     

A spectroscopic prism coupler for measuring the refractive indices and thicknesses of dielectric films

A spectroscopic prism coupler is created for measuring refractive indices n_f and thicknesses H_f of dielectric films. The operating principle of the device is based on the simultaneous resonance excitation of several waveguide modes in a film by a focused TE or TM polarized light beam in the geometry of frustrated total internal reflection. Calculations of n_f and H_f are performed using measured angular positions θ_m of dark m-lines in the cross section of the specularly reflected beam. Using obtained angles θ_m, we can calculate effective refractive indices β_m of modes. By solving a set of nonlinear dispersion equations for the modes of a planar waveguide, we can calculate refractive index n_f and thickness H_f of a film. The proposed prism coupler has no moving parts and allows us to measure the optical parameters of films 0.5–10 μm thick in the 400–1100 nm range of wavelengths. The device can also be used as a spectroscopic refractometer for measuring the refractive indices of bulk media. The device is used to measure refractive index and thickness of a SiO film and the refractive index of TF4 glass.     

Formation of the incommensurate ordered phase in TaC<Subscript>y</Subscript> carbide

Structural neutron diffraction studies indicate that only one ordered phase arises after the disorder-order transition in nonstoichiometric cubic tantalum carbide TaC_y. This phase arises in the composition range y = 0.79–0.89 due to long-term annealing with a decrease in temperature from 1600 to 300 K. It is incommensurate in the [1–11]_B1 direction, but it is close to commensurate M₆C₅ structures (C2/m and P3₁ space groups) in mutual arrangement of atoms and vacancies in nonmetallic (1–11)_B1 planes. The disorder-order transition channel that is associated with the formation of the incommensurate superstructure in TaC_y carbide includes two arms k ₅ ⁽⁶⁾ ≈ 0.473b₂ and k ₅ ⁽⁵⁾ = ?k ₅ ⁽⁶⁾ of the {k₅} star and arms of the {k₄} and {k₃} stars. The translation period of the incommensurate phase in the [1–11]_B1 direction is 8.9–9.1 nm, which is larger than that in the commensurate phase M₆C₅ by a factor of about 18.     

Experimental Study and Analysis of Absorption Spectra of Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Ions in Nickel Orthoborate Ni<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The results of studies of the absorption spectra of nickel orthoborate Ni₃(BO₃)₂ in the range of electronic d–d-transitions are reported. The obtained data are analyzed in the framework of the crystal field theory. The Ni²⁺ ions are located in two crystallographically nonequivalent positions 2a and 4f with point symmetry groups C_2h and C₂, respectively, surrounded by six oxygen ions forming deformed octahedra. The absorption spectra exhibit three intense bands corresponding to spin-resolved transitions from the ground state of nickel ion ³A_2g (³F) to the sublevels of the ³T_2g (³F), ³T_1g (³F) and ³T_1g (³P) triplets split by the spinorbit interaction and the rhombic component of the crystal field. At temperatures below 100 K, the spectra exhibit a thin structure, in which phonon-free lines can be distinguished. Comparison of the calculated frequencies of the zero-phonon transitions with the experimental data allows estimating parameters of the crystal field acting on the nickel ions in the 2a- and 4f-positions, as well as the parameters of electrostatic interaction between the 3d electrons and spin-orbit interaction constants.     

Scaling of the conductance and resistance of square lattices with an exponentially wide spectrum of the resistances of links

The conductance G? and \(\overline {{G^{ - 1}}} \) resistance average over realizations of disorder have been calculated for various sizes of square lattices L. In contrast with different direction of change in the two quantities at percolation in lattices with the binary spread of conductances of links (g _i = 0 or 1), it has been found that the mean conductance and resistance of lattices decrease simultaneously with an increase in L in the case of an exponential distribution of local conductances g _i = exp(?kx_i), where x _i ∈ [0,1] are random numbers. When L is smaller than the disorder length L₀ = bk^v, G?(L) and \(\overline {{G^{ - 1}}} \)(L) are proportional to L^?n with n = k/5 and k/6, respectively. A similar behavior is characteristic of the distributions of conductances of links, which simulate a transition between the open and tunneling regimes in semiconducting lattices of antidots created in a two-dimensional electron gas.     

Scattering the Geometry of Weighted Graphs

Given two weighted graphs (X, b_k, m_k), k =?1,2 with b₁ ～ b₂ and m₁ ～ m₂, we prove a weighted L¹-criterion for the existence and completeness of the wave operators W_±(H₂, H₁, I_1,2), where H_k denotes the natural Laplacian in ?²(X, m_k) w.r.t. (X, b_k, m_k) and I_1,2 the trivial identification of ?²(X, m₁) with ?²(X, m₂). In particular, this entails a general criterion for the absolutely continuous spectra of H₁ and H₂ to be equal.     

Quantum yield and rate constant of the singlet <Superscript>1</Superscript>Δ<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis></Subscript> oxygen luminescence in an aqueous medium in the presence of nanoscale inhomogeneities

The quantum yields and lifetimes of photosensitized luminescence of the ¹Δ _g state of singlet oxygen in an aquatic media with a controlled concentration of dielectric anisotropy centers (polyethylene glycol) have been measured using the methods of laser fluorometry. It is established that the quantum yield and the rate constant (k _r ) of the a ¹Δ _g → X ³Σ _g ^- luminescence of ¹O₂ increase as the polymer concentration increases. The effect is analyzed within a general approach involving a relationship between kr and dielectric properties of the medium and is explained by the increased density of photon states and the local field factor in the space around O₂(а ¹Δ _g ).     

Slow light effect with high group index and wideband by saddle-like mode in PC-CROW

Slow light with high group index and wideband is achieved in photonic crystal coupled-resonator optical waveguides (PC-CROWs). According to the eye-shaped scatterers and various microcavities, saddle-like curves between the normalized frequency f and wave number k can be obtained by adjusting the parameters of the scatterers, parameters of the coupling microcavities, and positions of the scatterers. Slow light with decent flat band and group index can then be achieved by optimizing the parameters. Simulations prove that the maximal value of the group index is > 10⁴, and the normalized delay bandwidth product within a new varying range of n _g > 10² or n _g > 10³ can be a new and effective criterion of evaluation for the slow light in PC-CROWs.