Tunnelling process between a semiconductor or a metal and a polymer

The tunnelling lifetime of an electron lying in a p-type orbital localised at a given distance from a semiconductor or a metal is calculated by using Bardeen's method. It is then shown that even in the absence of broad bands, the hole injection process from semiconductors and metals into polymers should follow a Fowler-Nordheim dependence, provided that the current is not bulk-limited. In the semiconductor case, the current can be expressed by a fully analytical formula, and by an approximate one in the case of a metal. It is demonstrated that the effective Fowler-Nordheim barrier is not the mere difference between the metal work function or the semiconductor electron affinity and the HOMO level of the polymer, but a simple function of both levels. Received 6 April 2001 and Received in final form 29 May 2001     

Parastatistics and phase transition from a cluster as a fluctuation to a cluster as a distinguishable object

A phase transition of the first kind is a jump of a function, a phase transition of the second kind is a jump of its first derivative, a phase transition of the third kind, a jump of the second derivative. A phase transition from one statistic to another is very gradual, but finally it is as considerable as the phase transition of the first kind. However, we cannot introduce a clearly defined parameter to which this transition corresponds. This is due to the fact that the fluctuations near the critical point are huge, and this violates, in the vicinity of that point, the main law of equilibrium thermodynamics, which asserts that fluctuations are relatively small. The paper describes the transition in the supercritical fluid region of equilibrium thermodynamics from parastatistics to mixed statistics, in which the Boltzmann statistics is realized for long-living clusters. In economics this corresponds to a negative nominal credit rate. Examples of this non-standard situation are presented.     

Solution of a cauchy problem for a diffusion equation in a Hilbert space by a Feynman formula

The Cauchy problem for a class of diffusion equations in a Hilbert space is studied. It is proved that the Cauchy problem in well posed in the class of uniform limits of infinitely smooth bounded cylindrical functions on the Hilbert space, and the solution is presented in the form of the so-called Feynman formula, i.e., a limit of multiple integrals against a gaussian measure as the multiplicity tends to infinity. It is also proved that the solution of the Cauchy problem depends continuously on the diffusion coefficient. A process reducing an approximate solution of an infinite-dimensional diffusion equation to finding a multiple integral of a real function of finitely many real variables is indicated.     

Solving a relativistic quasipotential equation for a superposition of a nonlocal separable and a local quasipotential

Within the relativistic quasipotential approach to quantum field theory, a method is developed for solving a finite-difference quasipotential equation for the case where a total quasipotential describing the interaction of two relativistic spinless particles of unequal masses is a superposition of a nonlocal separable and a local quasipotential. The cases are investigated where the local component of the total interaction—it is assumed to be known—either admits or does not admit the existence of bound states. This makes it possible to obtain an exact expression for the increment of the phase shift, to determine the conditions of the existence of bound states, and to give a generalization of the Levinson theorem.     

Admittance of a groove on a rigid surface under a grazing flow

The problem of sound diffraction by a groove on a rigid surface in the presence of a grazing flow is considered. The input admittance of the groove is calculated, and its real part is shown to be negative.     

Instability of a flat horizontal interface between a thin layer of a ferrofluid and a thin layer of a nonmagnetic liquid in the presence of a vertical magnetic field

An asymptotic analysis of the equations and boundary conditions of fluid dynamics is performed, and a nonlinear model is constructed for the onset of the development of Rosensweig instability in a thin horizontal ferrofluid layer at rest covered with a thin layer of a lighter nonmagnetic liquid. The surface of a nonmagnetized slab is the lower boundary of the ferrofluid, and the interface with a gas is the upper boundary of the nonmagnetic liquid. The pressure in the gas is constant. The instability being considered arises upon the application of a rather strong uniform vertical magnetic field. The proposed model involves five dimensionless parameters. The critical magnetization of the initial ferrofluid layer with a flat upper boundary and the threshold wave number are found. The effect of the governing parameters on the instability region and on the wavelength of the fastest growing mode is studied in the linear formulation of the problem.     

Rigorous solution of a problem for a cylindrical cavity containing a ferrite

Conclusions Equation (6) relates the complex frequency for a TM_nmo mode in a cylindrical cavity to the geometrical parameters, ferrite parameters, and volume and position of the specimen.Formula (6) is a generalization of characteristic equations previously derived [3, 4], which are of great value.The dispersion equation of (6) is of interest in that it allows one to calculate the effects of the dielectric parameters on the cavity, which is of value if a large tuning range is needed.Numerical results are rather laborious to obtain, but some valuable conclusions can be drawn in a relatively simple fashion, as will be shown in a forthcoming paper.     

Resonant tunneling of a wave through a structure that contains a layer with a negative refractive index

We have investigated the transmission ability of a layered structure the central layer of which is made of a “left-handed” material (its refractive index is negative) and is separated by two air slabs from a “right-handed” dielectric medium that surrounds the structure. We consider tunneling of energy fluxes through the structure and determine conditions for the complete (reflectionless) transmission of the power of the incident wave through it. We show that this effect is resonant and is observed when the tangential component of the wave vector of the incident wave coincides with the longitudinal wave vector of one of waveguiding eigenmodes of the left-handed layer.     

The interaction between a disclination in a nematic liquid crystal and a rubbed surface

For the case of a rubbed surface with a finite anisotropic surface tension, a model is developed for the structure and energy of a surface disclination and of an edge disclination near the surface. It is found that there is an energy barrier against detaching a disclination from the surface, and also that there is a critical distance within which a disclination is attracted, and beyond which it is repelled, by the surface. These properties may provide a measurement of the anisotropy of the surface tension.     

Behavior of a free surface of a magnetic fluid containing a magnetizable cylinder

The deformation of the free surface of a magnetic fluid containing a cylinder made of a magnetizable material subjected to a uniform applied magnetic field is analyzed. The statics and dynamics of a magnetic fluid free surface is studied theoretically and experimentally. A discontinuous (jump-like) change of the surface shape is shown to occur when the applied magnetic field gradually increases or decreases. If the applied magnetic field increases and then decreases, a hysteresis of the shape is observed.     

Spontaneous formation of a plasma hole in a rotating magnetized plasma: a giant burgers vortex in a compressible fluid

Spontaneous formation of a cylindrical density cavity, or "plasma hole," has been observed in a rotating magnetized plasma. Density of the plasma hole is one-tenth of that of ambient plasma and is bounded by a steep transition layer of the order of several ion Larmor radii. The flow velocity field associated with the plasma hole is experimentally determined, exhibiting a monopole vortical structure. It is found that the vorticity distribution is localized near the center of the hole and is identified as a Burgers vortex. This is the first experimental observation of a Burgers vortex in a plasma.     

Determination of a response function of a thermocouple using a short acoustic pulse

This paper reports on an experimental technique to determine a response function of a thermocouple using a short acoustic pulse wave. A pulse of 10 ms is generated in a tube filled with 1 bar helium gas. The temperature is measured using the thermocouple. The reference temperature is deduced from the measured pressure on the basis of a laminar oscillating flow theory. The response function of the thermocouple is obtained as a function of frequency below 50 Hz through a comparison between the measured and reference temperatures.     

Entropy of a needle in a haystack

In a quantum search algorithm, the initial state which is a linear superposition of all possible basis states is a separable state. At each iteration, the state becomes more and more entangled until eventually it disentangles and reverts to a separable state consisting of the marked state. It is therefore interesting to study how entanglement changes in a Grover search algorithm.     

Cavitation in a lubrication flow between a moving sphere and a boundary

A heavy sphere is free to move inside a rotating horizontal cylinder filled with viscous liquid. The steady motion is essentially Stokesian, and the sphere rotates at a fixed location with a lubrication layer between the ball and the wall. The symmetry of the flow field suggests there will be no force to balance the normal component of the ball's weight. However, we show that a normal force can arise when a cavitation bubble is present. The bubble size was measured as a function of the cylinder rotation rate and agrees well with a model which uses the force and torque balances on the sphere.     

The added masses of a monopole and a dipole in a narrow pipe

The added masses of a monopole and a dipole placed in a narrow pipe are studied experimentally. It is shown that, when a monopole passes from a free space into a narrow pipe, its added mass decreases, whereas the added mass of a dipole in a similar situation increases. Inside the pipe, for both monopole and dipole radiators, the value of the added mass depends on the radiator position with respect to the pipe wall. If the radiator is at the pipe axis, its added mass is at a minimum; when the radiator moves toward the wall, the added mass increases. This dependence is qualitatively explained using a simple example.     

Radiation from a source near a jet

The problem examined is that of analysing the field of sound radiation caused due to the presence of a source in the immediate neighbourhood of a cylindrical jet in motion. The general analysis is restricted to low Mach number flow and special consideration is given to the high and low frequency limiting behaviour of the sound in the far field. The reflexion coefficient obtained in the high frequency case is exactly the same as that obtained by previous investigators for a source in the neighbourhood of an interface in relative motion [1, 2]. Also predicted here, however, is the existence of a “zone of excess attenuation” surrounding the jet fluid in motion, on both sides, far beyond the location of the acoustic source.     

Formation of a bistructure of a solid in a computer experiment

Molecular-dynamics was used to investigate the structural changes occurring in a three-dimensional solid when the solid is transferred from an amorphous into a crystalline state. Crystal cells of a new type — pentadecahedrons with five square lateral faces and ten regular triangular faces at the vertices of a cell — were found for the first time in a computer experiment. It is shown that a bistructure consisting of crystal cells of different types, including cells with five-fold symmetry axes, are stable in the solid. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1919–1924 (October 1998)     

Conductance of a junction between a normal metal and a Berezinskii superconductor

The conductance of a junction between a normal metal and a superconductor having the symmetry proposed by Berezinskii is studied theoretically. The main feature of this symmetry is the odd frequency dependence of the anomalous Green’s function, which makes possible the s-wave triplet superconducting state (the Berezinskii superconductor). The Andreev reflection (which links positive and negative energies) is sensitive to the energetic symmetry; as a result, the conductance of the junction involving the Berezinskii superconductor is qualitatively different from the case of a conventional superconductor. Experimentally, the obtained results can be employed to test the possibility of the Berezinskii superconductivity proposed for Na _x CoO₂ and to identify the odd-ω component predicted for superconductor-ferromagnet systems.     

Diffusion over a saddle with a langevin equation

The diffusion problem over a saddle is studied using a multidimensional Langevin equation. An analytical solution is derived for a quadratic potential and the probability to pass over the barrier deduced. A very simple solution is given for the one-dimensional problem and a general scheme is shown for higher dimensions.     

Interaction of a premixed flame with a liquid fuel film on a wall

In piston engines and in gas turbines, the injection of liquid fuel often leads to the formation of a liquid film on the combustor wall. If a flame reaches this zone, undesired phenomena such as coking may occur and diminish the lifetime of the engine. Moreover, the effect of such an interaction on maximum wall heat fluxes, flame quenching, and pollutant formation is largely unknown. This paper presents a numerical study of the interaction of a premixed flame with a cold wall covered with a film of liquid fuel. Simulations show that the presence of the film leads to a very rich zone at the wall in which the flame cannot propagate. As a result, the flame wall distance remains larger with liquid fuel than it is for a dry wall, and maximum heat fluxes are smaller. The nature of the interaction of flame wall interaction with a liquid fuel is also different from the classical flame/dry wall interaction: it is controlled mainly by chemical mechanisms and not by the thermal quenching effect observed for flames interacting with dry walls: the existence of a very rich zone created above the liquid film is the main mechanism controlling quenching.