Neutron diffraction studies of the negative thermal expansion in a layered indium selenide crystal

The neutron diffraction patterns have been analyzed for a layered single crystal and a powder of the γ-polytype of indium selenide in the temperature range 10–300 K. In the temperature range 10–50 K, the excitation of bending vibrations due to the charge density waves changes the phonon spectrum and gives rise to a negative thermal expansion in the plane of layers, i.e., α_‖c = −2.2 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, which is characteristic of two-dimensional structures. The average (over the range T = 50–300 K) coefficients of thermal expansion along the principal crystallographic directions have been calculated: $ \bar \alpha _{ \bot c} $ \bar \alpha _{ \bot c} = 10.48 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ and $ \bar \alpha _{\parallel c} $ \bar \alpha _{\parallel c} = 12.97 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, which agree with the X-ray diffraction data previously obtained by the authors at T = 290 K.     

Most dangerous slip direction in face-centered cubic silver crystals under (111)〈$$ \bar 2 $$〉 shear deformation

Using computer simulation, the failure mechanism of an fcc silver crystal under (111)〈$ \bar 2 $ \bar 2 〉 shear deformation is studied and the direction of unstable atomic displacement under the conditions of dynamic stability violation is determined. It is shown that the most dangerous direction of atomic motion, which makes the crystal structurally unstable, does not completely coincide with the 〈$ \bar 2 $ \bar 2 〉 direction lying in the (111) plane and has a component normal to the [111] direction.     

Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy study of adsorption of C<Subscript>60</Subscript>F<Subscript>36</Subscript> molecules on the 7 × 7-Si(111) surface

Spatially resolved images of an individual C₆₀F₃₆ fluorofullerene molecules on Si(111)-7 × 7 surface have been obtained by means of scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). The presence of isomers with different symmetry (T, C ₃, C ₁) has been revealed in STM investigation of initial adsorption stage of C₆₀F₃₆ on silicon surface Si(111)-(7 × 7). The adsorbed fluorofullerene molecule can occupy any adsorption site of silicon surface (corner site, faulted half, unfaulted half) that indicates for strong molecule-substrate interaction. The HOMO-LUMO gap of the adsorbed C₆₀F₃₆ molecules have been estimated from current image tunneling spectroscopy (CITS) and z(V) with engaged feedback measurements. The value of HOMO-LUMO gap observed experimentally was 3 eV. The C₆₀F₃₆ molecules adsorption on Si(111)-(7 × 7) surface was stable and kept equilibrium configuration during several hours.     

Confinement singularities in two-pion decays of mesons

We consider as an example the two-pion decay of the ρ meson, the ³ S ₁ q $ \bar q $ \bar q state of the constituent quarks—the decay being determined by the transition q $ \bar q $ \bar q → ππ contains information about confinement interactions. One can specify in this decay two types of transitions: (i) the bremsstrahlung radiation of a pion q → q + π (or $ \bar q $ \bar q → $ \bar q $ \bar q + π) with a subsequent fusion q $ \bar q $ \bar q → π, and (ii) the direct transition q $ \bar q $ \bar q → ππ. We demonstrate how in the amplitudes of the corresponding transitions the quark singularities have to disappear, i.e., what is the way the quark confinement at relatively short distances can be realized. We calculate and estimate the contributions of processes with bremsstrahlung radiation of the pion and of the direct transition q $ \bar q $ \bar q → ππ. The estimates demonstrate that the processes involving the direct transition q $ \bar q $ \bar q → ππ are necessary, but they cannot be determined unambiguously by the decay ρ(775) → ππ. We conclude that for the determination of the q $ \bar q $ \bar q → ππ transition more complete data on the resonance decays into the ππ channels are needed than those available at the moment.     

Low-dimensional nanostructures and fullerene films on semiconductor surface

The morphology and atomic structures of C₆₀ fullerene films on a Bi(0001)/Si(111)-7 × 7 surface and adsorption of fluorofullerene C₆₀F _x molecules on a Si(111)-7 × 7 surface have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and low-energy electron microscopy under ultra high-vacuum conditions. It has been shown that initial nucleation of C₆₀ islands on the surface of an epitaxial Bi film occurs on double steps and domain boundaries, while tunnel spectra do not exhibit any significant charge transfer to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital states. Fluorofullerene molecules allow local (at the nanoscale level) modification of Si surface through local etching.     

Initial stage of the adsorption of fluorofullerene molecules on Si surface

Spatially resolved images of an individual C₆₀F₁₈ fluorofullerene molecule on Si(100) − 2 × 1 surface have been obtained using scanning tunneling microscopy. Scanning tunneling microscopy results and ab initio calculations show that the fluorofullerene molecules interact with the Si(100) − 2 × 1 surface with F atoms pointing down towards the surface. The adsorption energy of a C₆₀F₁₈ molecule on Si(100) − 2 × 1 surface is ∼12.1 eV, which is much higher than the adsorption energy of the same molecule on Si(111) − 7 × 7 surface (6.65 eV). C₆₀F₁₈ molecules are located in the troughs in-between the dimer rows occupying the four-dimer site on Si(100) − 2 × 1 surface.     

Directed flow of identified particles from Au+Au collisions at RHIC

We present the measurement of directed flow (v ₁) for the identified particles, namely, Λ, $ \bar \Lambda $ \bar \Lambda and K _s ⁰, as a function of rapidity and centrality in Au+Au collisions at $ \sqrt {s_{NN} } $ \sqrt {s_{NN} } = 200 GeV and 62.4 GeV. The measurement is based on the run IV data obtained by the STAR experiment at RHIC. In order to enhance event plane resolution, we use tracks reconstructed from the Forward Time Projection Chambers (FTPCs), together with the sideward deflection of spectator neutrons measured by the STAR’s Shower Maximum Detector at Zero Degree Calorimeters (ZDC-SMDs). We find that for 200 GeV, proton and antiproton v ₁ is less than 1%, the K _s ⁰ Λ, $ \bar \Lambda $ \bar \Lambda v ₁ is less than 2%; for 62 GeV, proton v ₁ is less than 1% and antiproton is less than 2%, v ₁ for K _s ⁰, Λ, $ \bar \Lambda $ \bar \Lambda is less than 2% in Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV.     

Designing Klod detector prototypes and results of their experimental tests

The projected KLOD facility is intended for finding and investigating the ultrarare decay K _L ⁰ → π⁰ν$ \bar \nu $ \bar \nu ; its branching ratio predicted by the Standard Model is Br = (3.0 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹¹. Designing and testing the prototype of the decay-volume veto system and beam veto calorimeter, which are the most important detectors of the facility, are considered. It is shown that the proposed beam veto calorimeter is able to detect γ rays with a high efficiency at the neutron flux of 300 MHz.     

Vorticity waves in problems of hydrodynamic stability

The known problem of flow transition near a circular cylinder at Re = 40 from a symmetrical form to the Karman vortex street can be considered as the problem of vortex wave development and intensification. Development of three bundles of vortex waves of low intensity is observed in a wake of a cylinder; these bundles are easily visualized as the structures of relative vorticity $ \bar \Omega $ \bar \Omega = Ω(t ₁) − Ω(t ₀): difference of vorticity Ω at two time moments, t ₀ being fixed. In the field of $ \bar \Omega $ \bar \Omega the alternating structure of quadrupoles is characterized by linear parameter l = h/d: the ratio of the width of the central bundle of vortex waves to the distance between the centers of quadrupoles of a “single sign”. When l = 0.281 is achieved, which coincides with the value of the same parameter of a stable Karman street, the transition from symmetrical streamlining by viscous incompressible liquid to the vortex street occurs.     

Effect of the orientation of strain axes on the creep in Ni<Subscript>3</Subscript>Ge alloy single crystals

The creep in Ni₃Ge alloy single crystals with strain axis orientations of [001], [$ \bar 1 $ \bar 1 39], [$ \bar 2 $ \bar 2 34], and [$ \bar 1 $ \bar 1 22] was investigated. It was found that changes in strain axis orientation that lead to cubic slip increase the creep resistance of Ni₃Ge alloy single crystals.     

Coupling running through the looking-glass of dimensional reduction

The dimensional reduction, in a form of transition from four to two dimensions, was used in the 90s of the past century in a context of the HE Regge scattering. Recently, it has got a new impetus in quantum gravity where it opens the way to renormalizability and finite short-distance behaviour. We consider a QFT model gφ⁴ with running coupling defined in both domains of different dimensionality; the $ \bar g $ \bar g (q ²) evolutions being duly correlated at the reduction scale q ∼ M. Beyond this scale, in the deep UV 2-dimensional region, the running coupling does not increase any more. Instead, it slightly decreases and tends to a finite value $ \bar g $ \bar g ₂(∞) < $ \bar g $ \bar g ₂(M ²) from above. As a result, the global evolution picture looks quite peculiar and proposes a base for the modified scenario of gauge couplings behavior with UV fixed points provided by dimensional reduction instead of leptoquarks.     

Symmetry analysis of ordered phases of the lower tungsten carbide W2C

The channels of disorder-order phase transitions through which there can arise orthorhombic (space group Pbcn) β′-W₂C, rhombohedral (space group P $ \bar 3 $ \bar 3 m1)β″-W₂C, and trigonal (space group P $ \bar 3 $ \bar 3 1m)ɛ-W₂C superstructures of the disordered lower hexagonal carbide β-W₂C have been determined. The distribution functions of carbon atoms in the superstructures under consideration have been calculated, and the physically admissible sequence of transformations associated with the ordering of the lower carbide β-W₂C that occur with a decrease in the temperature has been established.     

Internal waves in a compressible two-layer model atmosphere: Hamiltonian description

We consider slow, compared to the speed of sound, motions of an ideal compressible fluid (gas) in a gravitational field in the presence of two isentropic layers with a small specific-entropy difference between them. Assuming the flow to be potential in each of the layers (v _{1, 2} = ▿ϕ_{1, 2}) and neglecting the acoustic degrees of freedom (div($ \bar \rho $ \bar \rho (z)▿ϕ_{1, 2}) ≈ 0, where $ \bar \rho $ \bar \rho (z) is the average equilibrium density), we derive the equations of motion for the boundary in terms of the shape of the surface z = η(x, y, t) itself and the difference between the boundary values of the two velocity field potentials: ψ(x, y, t) = ψ₁ − ψ₂. We prove the Hamilto nian structure of the derived equations specified by a Lagrangian of the form ℒ = ∫$ \bar \rho $ \bar \rho (η)η _t ψdxdy − ℋ{η, ψ}. The system under consideration is the simplest theoretical model for studying internal waves in a sharply stratified atmosphere in which the decrease in equilibrium gas density due to gas compressibility with increasing height is essentially taken into account. For plane flows, we make a generalization to the case where each of the layers has its own constant potential vorticity. We investigate a system with a model dependence $ \bar \rho $ \bar \rho (z) ∝ e ^−2αz with which the Hamiltonian ℋ{η, ψ} can be represented explicitly. We consider a long-wavelength dynamic regime with dispersion corrections and derive an approximate nonlinear equation of the form u _t + auu _x − b[−$ \hat \partial _x^2 $ \hat \partial _x^2 + α²]^1/2 u _x = 0 (Smith’s equation) for the slow evolution of a traveling wave.     

Properties of neutral charmed mesons in <Emphasis Type="Italic">pA</Emphasis> interactions at 70 GeV

The results of data handling for the E-184 experiment involving the irradiation of the active target, consisting of carbon, silicon, and lead plates by a 70-GeV proton beam are presented. When the two-prong neutral charmed meson decay signal was selected and the cross section for charm production at a near-threshold energy was estimated (σ(c $ \bar c $ \bar c ) = 7.1 ± 2.4(stat.) ± 1.4(syst.) μb/nucleon), some properties of D ⁰ and $ \bar D^0 $ \bar D^0 were investigated. These include the atomic-weight dependence of the cross section on the target mass number (its A dependence); the differential cross sections dσ/dp _t ² and dσ/dx _F; and the dependence of the parameter α on x _F, p _t ², and p _lab. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of the FRITIOF7.02 program.     

Mixing parameters of η and η′ mesons

Mixing angles of η and η′ mesons are obtained in the scheme of octet-singlet mixing θ_η = −15.4°, θ′_η = −17.9°, and in the scheme connected with expansion in the quark basis $ \bar q $ \bar q q − $ \bar s $ \bar s s φ = 39.3°. The constants gV _ηγ, g _η′ V _γ of radiative decays η′ → V _γ and V → ηγ (V ≡ ρ, ω, φ) and the ratios of constants of weak decays of η and η′ mesons are calculated. The numerical values that were found are in agreement with the experimental data.     

Ternary thallium-based semimetal chalcogenides Tl-V-VI<Subscript>2</Subscript> as a new class of three-dimensional topological insulators

The results of the theoretical investigation of the bulk and surface electronic structures of Tl-V-VI₂ compounds, where V is the Bi or Sb semimetal and VI is the Se or Te chalcogen, are reported. It has been shown that these compounds are three-dimensional topological insulators. Both a topologically protected surface state, which forms a Dirac cone at the $ \bar \Gamma $ \bar \Gamma point, and occupied surface states, which are localized in the band gap, are present on the surface of these compounds.     

Two-photon decays of pseudotensor mesons <Emphasis Type="Italic">π</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript>(1670), <Emphasis Type="Italic">π</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript>(2250), and <Emphasis Type="Italic">π</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript>(2510)

In terms of relativistic and gauge-invariant spectral-integral technique, we calculate amplitude for the π ₂ → γγ decay as a three-step transition π ₂ → q $ \bar q $ \bar q (2⁻⁺) → γ + q $ \bar q $ \bar q (1⁻⁻) → γγ. Using wave functions of the q $ \bar q $ \bar q components of photon (hep-ph/0406320) and those of pseudotensor mesons π ₂(1670), π ₂(2000), π ₂(2250), and π ₂(2510) (hep-ph/0511109), we obtain the following values for partial widths: Γ _{π2(1670)→γγ} = 0.072 ± 0.007 keV, Γ _{π2(2000)→γγ} = 0.037 ± 0.004 keV, Γ _{π2(2250)→γγ} = 0.027 ± 0.003 keV, and Γ _{π2(2510)→γγ} = 0.022 ± 0.002 keV. In the calculations, we use the momentum operator expansion, and, in this connection, discuss the problem of nilpotent operators inherent in the considered amplitude. It should be emphasized that measurement of two-photon decays of the π ₂ states can give valuable information about the long-range quark-antiquark forces which, as one may guess, are related to the quark confinement.     

The model-independent analysis indications for spectroscopy of scalar mesons. Proof for the K0* (900)

In a model-independent approach the data on ππ → ππ, K $ \bar K $ \bar K , ηη, ηη′ in the I ^G J ^PC = 0⁺0⁺⁺ channel and on the Kπ scattering in the $ I\left( {J^P } \right) = \frac{1} {2}\left( {0^ + } \right) $ I\left( {J^P } \right) = \frac{1} {2}\left( {0^ + } \right) channel are analyzed jointly for studying the status and QCD nature of the f ₀- and the K*₀-mesons. It is shown that in the 1500-MeV region, there are two states, wide (interpreted as a glueball) and narrow (q $ \bar q $ \bar q ). In the Kπ-scattering data analysis, the proof for the K*₀(900) is given.     

Electronic transport through a contact of a correlated quantum wire with leads of higher dimension

We study theoretically electronic transport through a contact of a quantum wire with 2D or 3D leads and find that if the contact is not smooth and adiabatic then the conduction is strongly suppressed below a threshold voltage V _T , while above V _T the dc current $ \bar I $ \bar I is accompanied by coherent oscillations of frequency f = $ \bar I $ \bar I /e. The effect is related to interelectronic repulsion and interaction of dc current with the Friedel oscillations near a sharp contact. In short conducting channels of length L < L ₀ ≅ ℏV _F /eV _T and at high temperatures T > T ₀ ≅ eV _T /k _B the effect is destroyed by fluctuations.     

Spontaneous breakdown of $$ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $$ symmetry in the complex Coulomb potential

The $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} symmetry of the Coulomb potential and its solutions are studied along trajectories satisfying the $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} symmetry requirement. It is shown that with appropriate normalization constant the general solutions can be chosen $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} -symmetric if the L parameter that corresponds to angular momentum in the Hermitian case is real. $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} symmetry is spontaneously broken, however, for complex L values of the form L = −1/2 + iλ. In this case the potential remains $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} -symmetric, while the two independent solutions are transformed to each other by the $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} operation and at the same time, the two series of discrete energy eigenvalues turn into each other’s complex conjugate.