Graphite C-axis thermal conductivity

This paper models the c$c$-axis thermal conductivity of thin graphite layers taking into account phonon confinement. A Debye model is used to calculate graphite c$c$-axis thermal conductivity, which is found to be 4 orders of magnitude smaller than in the graphite basal plane. This reduced thermal conductivity is promising for devices with improved thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT$ZT$, and thermal conduction along graphite c$c$-axis. Results of graphite thermal conductivity in the basal plane are also presented and discussed. These calculations have been done for ideal graphite structures that are a few monolayers thick, free of defects, and free of boundary scattering processes. To achieve the low calculated values of thermal conductivity, it will be necessary to fabricate high-quality graphite structures; this will pose significant fabrication challenges.     

Exact solution of the XXX Gaudin model with generic open boundaries

The XXX Gaudin model with generic integrable open boundaries specified by the most general non-diagonal reflecting matrices is studied. Besides the inhomogeneous parameters, the associated Gaudin operators have six free parameters which break the U(1)$U\left(1\right)$-symmetry. With the help of the off-diagonal Bethe ansatz, we successfully obtained the eigenvalues of these Gaudin operators and the corresponding Bethe ansatz equations.     

A centrality measure for communication ability in weighted network

This paper proposes a new node centrality measurement in a weighted network, the communication centrality, which is inspired by Hirsch’s h$h$-index. We investigated the properties of the communication centrality, and proved that the distribution of the communication centrality has the power-law upper tail in weighted scale-free networks. Relevant measures for node and network are discussed as extensions. A case study of a scientific collaboration network indicates that the communication centrality is different from other common centrality measures and other h$h$-type indexes. Communication centrality displays moderate correlation with other indexes, and contains a well-balanced mix of other centrality measures and cannot be replaced by any of them.     

Cross sections for (d–t) neutron interaction with germanium isotopes

The cross sections for (n,x)$(n,x)$ reactions with Ge isotopes were measured at (d–t) neutron energies around 14 MeV with the activation technique using metal discs of natural composition. Calculations of detector efficiency, incident neutron spectrum and correction factors were performed with the Monte Carlo technique (MCNP4C code). Cross sections data are presented for ⁷⁰Ge(n,2n$n,2n$)⁶⁹Ge, ⁷⁴Ge(n,α$n,\alpha$)^71mZn, ⁷⁶Ge(n,2n$n,2n$)^75(m + g)Ge, ⁷⁰Ge(n,p$n,p$)⁷⁰Ga and ⁷²Ge(n,2n$n,2n$)^71gGe reactions. The cross section results for ⁷²Ge(n,2n$n,2n$)^71gGe reaction were reported for the first time. Some other cross sections were obtained with higher precision, including the ⁷⁰Ge(n,p$n,p$)⁷⁰Ga reaction. Theoretical calculations of excitation functions were performed with the TALYS-1.0 code and compared with the experimental cross section values. Data were included in the EXFOR database.     

Theory of extreme correlations using canonical Fermions and path integrals

The  t$t$–J$J$  model is studied using a novel and rigorous mapping of the Gutzwiller projected electrons, in terms of canonical electrons. The mapping has considerable similarity to the Dyson–Maleev transformation relating spin operators to canonical Bosons. This representation gives rise to a non Hermitian quantum theory, characterized by minimal redundancies. A path integral representation of the canonical theory is given. Using it, the salient results of the extremely correlated Fermi liquid (ECFL) theory, including the previously found Schwinger equations of motion, are easily rederived. Further, a transparent physical interpretation of the previously introduced auxiliary Greens function and the ‘caparison factor’, is obtained.     

On classes of non-Gaussian asymptotic minimizers in entropic uncertainty principles

In this paper we revisit the Bialynicki-Birula and Mycielski uncertainty principle and its cases of equality. This Shannon entropic version of the well-known Heisenberg uncertainty principle can be used when dealing with variables that admit no variance. In this paper, we extend this uncertainty principle to Rényi entropies. We recall that in both Shannon and Rényi cases, and for a given dimension n$n$, the only case of equality occurs for Gaussian random vectors. We show that as n$n$ grows, however, the bound is also asymptotically attained in the cases of n$n$-dimensional Student-t$t$ and Student-r$r$ distributions. A complete analytical study is performed in a special case of a Student-t$t$ distribution. We also show numerically that this effect exists for the particular case of a n$n$-dimensional Cauchy variable, whatever the Rényi entropy considered, extending the results of Abe and illustrating the analytical asymptotic study of the Student-t$t$ case. In the Student-r$r$ case, we show numerically that the same behavior occurs for uniformly distributed vectors. These particular cases and other ones investigated in this paper are interesting since they show that this asymptotic behavior cannot be considered as a “Gaussianization” of the vector when the dimension increases.     

Measurements of magnetostriction of paramagnetic Fe–Mo–Cu–B metallic glasses

Magnetostriction of amorphous Fe₇₉Mo₈Cu₁B₁₂, (Fe₁₂Co₁)₇₉Mo₈Cu₁B₁₂ and (Fe₉Co₁)₇₉Mo₈Cu₁B₁₂ prepared by planar flow casting was measured using a direct method. The results indicate that magnetostriction in parallel (_λ∥)$({\lambda }_{\parallel })$ and perpendicular (_λ⊥)$({\lambda }_{\perp })$ directions of applied magnetic field is linearly dependent on magnetic field. In order to determine the influences of chemical composition and the conditions of sample preparation the magnetostriction of pure BCC-Fe, Cu and Mo were also measured. Samples containing Co with Curie temperatures slightly above room temperatures were shown to exhibit a hybrid magnetostriction behaviour with both ferromagnetic and paramagnetic features.     

The method of increments—a wavefunction-based ab initio correlation method for solids

An overview of wavefunction-based correlation methods generalised for the application to solids is presented. Those methods based on a preceding Hartree–Fock treatment explicitly calculate the many-body wavefunction in contrast to the density-functional theory which relies on the ground-state density of the system. This review focus on the so-called method of increments where the correlation energy of the solid is expanded in terms of localised orbitals or of a group of localised orbitals. The method of increments is applied to a great variety of materials, from covalent semiconductors to ionic insulators, from large band-gap materials like diamond to the half-metal α$\alpha$-tin, from large molecules like fullerenes over polymers, graphite to three-dimensional solids. Rare-gas crystals where the binding is van der Waals like are treated as well as solid mercury, where the metallic binding is entirely due to correlation. Strongly correlated systems are examined and the correlation driven metal–insulator transition is described at an ab initio level.     

Superconnections and index theory

We investigate index theory in the context of Dirac operators coupled to superconnections. In particular, we prove a local index theorem for such operators, and for families of such operators. We investigate η$\eta$-invariants and prove an APS theorem, and construct a geometric determinant line bundle for families of such operators, computing its curvature and holonomy in terms of familiar index theoretic quantities.     

Off-diagonal Bethe ansatz solution of the XXX spin chain with arbitrary boundary conditions

Employing the off-diagonal Bethe ansatz method proposed recently by the present authors, we exactly diagonalize the XXX spin chain with arbitrary boundary fields. By constructing a functional relation between the eigenvalues of the transfer matrix and the quantum determinant, the associated T–Q$T\text{–}Q$ relation and the Bethe ansatz equations are derived.     

The phenomenology of Dvali–Gabadadze–Porrati cosmologies

Cosmologists today are confronted with the perplexing reality that the universe is currently accelerating in its expansion. Nevertheless, the nature of the fuel that drives today's cosmic acceleration is an open and tantalizing mystery. There exists the intriguing possibility that the acceleration is not the manifestation of yet another mysterious ingredient in the cosmic gas tank (dark energy), but rather our first real lack of understanding of gravity itself, and even possibly a signal that there might exist dimensions beyond that which we can currently observe. The braneworld model of Dvali, Gabadadze and Porrati (DGP) is a theory where gravity is altered at immense distances by the excruciatingly slow leakage of gravity off our three-dimensional Universe and, as a modified-gravity theory, has pioneered this line of investigation. I review the underlying structure of DGP gravity and those phenomenological developments relevant to cosmologists interested in a pedagogical treatment of this intriguing model.     

Electrodynamics of a generalized charged particle in doubly special relativity framework

In the present paper, dynamics of generalized charged particles are studied in the presence of external electromagnetic interactions. This particular extension of the free relativistic particle model lives in Non-Commutative κ$\kappa$-Minkowski space–time, compatible with Doubly Special Relativity, that is motivated to describe Quantum Gravity effects. Furthermore we have also considered the electromagnetic field to be dynamical and have derived the modified forms of Lienard–Wiechert like potentials for these extended charged particle models. In all the above cases we exploit the new and extended form of κ$\kappa$-Minkowski algebra where electromagnetic effects are incorporated in the lowest order, in the Dirac framework of Hamiltonian constraint analysis.     

Nanobuffering property of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles in aqueous solution

In the present study, the buffering effect of magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) dispersed in an aqueous solution on the local pH$pH$ value is investigated. It manifests itself in the fact that when some amount of acid or base is added to the solution then the solution near the nanoparticles surface becomes, respectively, less acidic and less alkaline than it is expected. It is the result of both the local electrostatic field, which represents the electric double layer at the surface of magnetic nanoparticles and the magnetic field around the nanoparticles. The magnetite nanoparticles exhibit very low toxicity and they are becoming increasingly important for new biomedical applications related to their effects on chemical reactions in body tissues and cells. The question arises, how strong are these effects at the nanoscale? The strength of the buffering property of magnetite nanoparticles is investigated both theoretically and experimentally by the direct measurement of the local pH$pH$ value of a magnetic nanoparticles suspension. The theoretical model is based on stochastic equations describing the ions diffusing in the neighborhood of the electric double layer of the magnetic material. The electric double layer is modeled with the help of the Poisson–Boltzmann model. It is directly shown that both the electrostatic field and the magnetic field are responsible for the observed local changes of the pH$pH$ value with respect to the bulk pH$pH$ value.     

Ranking the spreading influence in complex networks

Identifying the node spreading influence in networks is an important task to optimally use the network structure and ensure the more efficient spreading in information. In this paper, by taking into account the shortest distance between a target node and the node set with the highest k$k$-core value, we present an improved method to generate the ranking list to evaluate the node spreading influence. Comparing with the epidemic process results for four real networks and the Barabási–Albert network, the parameterless method could identify the node spreading influence more accurately than the ones generated by the degree k$k$, closeness centrality, k$k$-shell and mixed degree decomposition methods. This work would be helpful for deeply understanding the node importance of a network.     

Wireless energy transfer between anisotropic metamaterials shells

The behavior of strongly coupled Radial Photonic Crystals shells is investigated as a potential alternative to transfer electromagnetic energy wirelessly. These sub-wavelength resonant microstructures, which are based on anisotropic metamaterials, can produce efficient coupling phenomena due to their high quality factor. A configuration of selected constitutive parameters (permittivity and permeability) is analyzed in terms of its resonant characteristics. The coupling to loss ratio between two coupled resonators is calculated as a function of distance, the maximum (in excess of 300) is obtained when the shells are separated by three times their radius. Under practical conditions an 83% of maximum power transfer has been also estimated.