Hydrodynamic model for particle size segregation in granular media

We present a hydrodynamic theoretical model for “Brazil nut” size segregation in granular materials. We give analytical solutions for the rise velocity of a large intruder particle immersed in a medium of monodisperse fluidized small particles. We propose a new mechanism for this particle size-segregation due to buoyant forces caused by density variations which come from differences in the local “granular temperature”. The mobility of the particles is modified by the energy dissipation due to inelastic collisions and this leads to a different behavior from what one would expect for an elastic system. Using our model we can explain the size ratio dependence of the upward velocity.     

Black hole formation in c=1 string field theory

A suggestion on how black holes may appear in Das-Jevicki collective field theory is given. We study the behaviour of a “test” particle when energy is sent into the system. A perturbation moving near the potential barrier can create a large-distance black hole geometry where the seeming curvature singularity is at the position of the barrier. In the simplest “static” case the exact D=2 black hole metric emerges.     

Discrete gauge symmetry anomalies

It has been recently argued that quantum gravity effects strongly violate all non-gauge symmetries. This would suggest that all low energy discrete symmetries should be gauge symmetries, either continuous or discrete. Acceptable continuous gauge symmetries are constrained by the condition they should be anomaly free. We show here that any discrete gauge symmetry should also obey certain “discrete anomaly cancellation” conditions. These conditions strongly constrains the massles fermion content of the theory and follow from the “parent” cancellation of the usual continuous gauge anomalies. They have interesting applications in model building. As an example we consider the constraints on the Z_N “generalized matter parities” of the supersymmetric standard model. We show that only a few (including the standard R-parity) are “discrete anomaly free” unless the fermion content of the minimal supersymmetric standard model is enlarged.     

Retrieval of cirrus particle sizes using a split-window technique: a sensitivity study

This paper examines the sensitivity of retrieved ice particle sizes using split-window method to the light scattering program for the single scattering calculation. We find that for randomly oriented hexagonal ice particles the retrieval algorithm using the anomalous diffraction theory (ADT) significantly overestimates the mean effective ice particle sizes, D_ge. The retrieved D_ge based on the geometric optics method (GOM) and Mie theory agrees with reference results within 20% when D_ge<30 μm. Based on the speculation that there is no “tunneling” for complex particles, some recent studies suggest that the ADT is an appropriate method to simulate the absorption coefficient for irregularly shaped particles in the infrared. In this study, however, we find that the overestimation of D_ge due to the ADT is largely caused by the neglect of refraction and reflection processes, instead of by the neglect of “tunneling” in the absorption calculations. By considering complex particle shapes such as aggregates with surface roughness, we further find that the retrieved D_ge based on the GOM is not sensitive to the particle shapes. Note that both ADT and GOM do not consider the “tunneling”, but the retrieved D_ge based on the ADT is about two times larger than those based on the GOM. “Tunneling” plays a significant role in the retrieved D_ge only when the D_ge is larger than 30–35 μm. In this study, we also examine the sensitivities of retrieved D_ge to the ice particle size distributions assumed in the retrieval algorithm and to the errors in the emissivities. It is found that when the D_ge is larger than 30–40 μm, the retrieved D_ge becomes very sensitive to the uncertainties related to the ice particle size distributions and to the errors in cirrus emissivities derived from measurements.     

Completeness of “good” Bethe ansatz solutions of a quantum-group-invariant Heisenberg model

The sl_q(2) quantum-group-invariant Heisenberg model with open boundary conditions is investigated by means of the Bethe ansatz. As is well known, quantum groups for q equal to a root of unity possess a finite number of “good” representations with non-zero q-dimension and “bad” ones with vanishing q-dimension. Correspondingly, the state space of an invariant Heisenberg chain decomposes into “good” and “bad” states. A “good” state may be described by a path of only “good” representations. It is shown that the “good” states are given by all “good” Bethe ansatz solutions with roots restricted to the first periodicity strip, i.e. only positive-parity strings (in the language of Takahashi) are allowed. Applying Bethe's string-counting technique completeness of the “good” Bethe states is proven, i.e. the same number of states is found as the number of all restricted paths on the sl_q(2) Bratteli diagram. It is the first time that a “completeness” proof for an anisotropic quantum-invariant reduced Heisenberg model is performed.     

On the reconstruction of the conduction electron spectrum in metal-oxide superconductors owing to the interaction with coherent atomic displacements

A “pseudospin ferromagnet” model is proposed which describes the interaction of conduction electrons with coherent atomic displacements in metal-oxide high-T_c superconductors (HTSC). Non-quasiparticle states (“pseudospinons”) play an important role in this model. They make an appreciable contribution to thermodynamic and transport properties (e.g., to the linear term in specific heat), although not contributing to the density of states at E_F at T=0. In the superconducting phase, the pseudospinons give rise to gapless superconductivity at finite temperatures. For certain model parameter relations, a new energy scale (“Kondo temperature”) may occur in the electron spectrum near E_F. Using the results obtained, experimental data on the thermopower, nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate and other properties of HTSC are discussed.     

Divisors on elliptic Calabi-Yau 4-folds and the superpotential in F-theory — I

Each smooth elliptic Calabi-Yau 4-fold determines both a three-dimensional physical theory (a compactification of “M-theory”) and a four-dimensional physical theory (using the “F-theory” construction). A key issue in both theories is the calculation of the “superpotential” of the theory, which by a result of Witten is determined by the divisors D on the 4-fold satisfying X( _D = 1. We propose a systematic approach to identify these divisors, and derive some criteria to determine whether a given divisor indeed contributes. We then apply our techniques in explicit examples, in particular, when the base B of the elliptic fibration is a toric variety or a Fano 3-fold.

When B is Fano, we show how divisors contributing to the superpotential are always “exceptional” (in some sense) for the Calabi-Yau 4-fold X. This naturally leads to certain transitions of X, i.e., birational tranformations to a singular model (where the image of D no longer contributes) as well as certain smoothings of the singular model. The singularities which occur are “canonical”, the same type of singularities of a (singular) Weierstrass model. We work out the transitions. If a smoothing exists, then the Hodge numbers change.

We speculate that divisors contributing to the superpotential are always “exceptional” (in some sense) for X, also in M-theory. In fact we show that this is a consequence of the (log)-minimal model algorithm in dimension 4, which is still conjectural in its generality, but it has been worked out in various cases, among which are toric varieties.     

The role of coincidence experiments in studying the nuclear continuum with high-energy electrons and protons

The Lee model of π-nucleon interactions is very simple, and, in a certain case, an exact solution of the problem of a meson scattering on two “nucleons” can be obtained. However, graphs involving crossed pions are absent in that solution. Because such crossed graphs are crucial in determining the form and character of the physical π-nucleus scattering solution, the Lee model should not be used in testing field theories of the pion-nucleus interaction.     

Group-theoretical structure of quantum continuous measurements

The group-theoretical structure of continuous measurements is investigated in the framework of the path-integral phenomenological theory of quantum continuous measurements. The “transversal” group transforming alternative measurement results (outputs) into each other and the “longitudinal” semigroup describing the evolution of a quantum system subject to continuous measurement are introduced as well as their unification in a single semigroup. The resulting group-theoretical scheme generalizes the scheme describing the evolution of a nonrelativistic particle in an external field.     

Percolation model, Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model and localization-delocalization model of spin glass transition: A comparative study

We recast the original results of our percolation model of the spin glass transition into alternative forms so as to reveal some apparent “similarities” with the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model. However, because of the basic difference in the nature of the interactions in the two models, the reason for these “similarities” remains unclear. A close relation between the percolation model of the spin glass transition and the localization-decolization transition is also discussed qualitatively.     

Methane activation over Ag-exchanged ZSM-5 zeolites: A theoretical study

Methane activation catalyzed over Ag-exchanged ZSM-5 zeolites was investigated by using the density functional theory (DFT) with a cluster model. Two different pathways were taken into account in this work: the “alkyl” and the “carbenium” pathways. The activation barriers obtained are 34.09 and 66.63 kcal/mol for the “alkyl” and the “carbenium” pathway, respectively. The calculated results show that the activation barrier of the “alkyl” pathway is smaller than that of “carbenium” pathway. Consequently, the “alkyl” pathway is the preferential reaction pathway. A new mechanism of methane conversion in the presence of ethene was proposed. In the catalytic cycle, the initial step of methane activation proceeds with the “alkyl” pathway and the Ag⁺ cation acts as an acceptor of the methyl group, then ethene reacts with the Ag⁺CH₃⁻ group to form propene. In addition, it is found that the Ag⁺ cations play an important role in the methane activation, compared with the reaction of methane activation over H-ZSM-5.     

Chiral symmetry and the A1 contribution to the nucleon-nucleon interaction

The contribution of A₁ exchange to the nucleon-nucleon potential is studied in a broken chiral symmetric model. The A₁ is treated as a finite-width resonance in the πρ s-wave. Connections between pseudoscalar and pseudovector pion-nucleon coupling in the underlying model lagrangian are studied in detail. It is found that large terms in the NN interaction arising from πρ exchange with pseudoscalar coupling are suppressed by interference with a₁ exchange. With pseudovector coupling there is a suppression of the A₁ exchange by the so-called “seagull” terms in πρ exchange which arise from gauge invariance. The suppression becomes an exact cancellation in the limit of infinite ρ and a₁ masses and exact chiral symmetry. We found that inclusion of the a₁ decay into the πρ state strongly modifies the a₁] exchange potential, suppressing the tensor part but leaving the spin-spin part almost unchanged.     

On the computation of one-loop amplitudes with external fermions in 4D heterotic superstrings

We present the technical tools needed to compute any one-loop amplitude involving external spacetime fermions in a four-dimensional heterotic string model à la Kawai-Lewellen-Tye. As an example, we compute the one-loop three-point amplitude with one “photon” and two external massive fermions (“electrons”). As a check of our computation, we verify that the one-loop contribution to the Anomalous Magnetic Moment vanishes if the model has spacetime supersymmetry, as required by the supersymmetric sum rules.     

Acoustic Analyses of Developmental Changes and Emotional Expression in the Preverbal Vocalizations of Infants

The nonverbal vocal utterances of seven normally hearing infants were studied within their first year of life with respect to age- and emotion-related changes. Supported by a multiparametric acoustic analysis it was possible to distinguish one inspiratory and eleven expiratory call types. Most of the call types appeared within the first two months; some emerged in the majority of infants not until the 5th (“laugh”) or 7th month (“babble”). Age-related changes in acoustic structure were found in only 4 call types (“discomfort cry,” “short discomfort cry,” “wail,” “moan”). The acoustic changes were characterized mainly by an increase in harmonic-to-noise ratio and homogeneity of the call, a decrease in frequency range and a downward shift of acoustic energy from higher to lower frequencies. Emotion-related differences were found in the acoustic structure of single call types as well as in the frequency of occurrence of different call types. A change from positive to negative emotional state was accompanied by an increase in call duration, frequency range, and peak frequency (frequency with the highest amplitude within the power spectrum). Negative emotions, in addition, were characterized by a significantly higher rate of “crying,” “hic” and “ingressive vocalizations” than positive emotions, while positive emotions showed a significantly higher rate of “babble,” “laugh,” and “raspberry.”     

Interfacial waves with free-surface boundary conditions: an approach via a model equation

In a two-fluid system where the lower fluid is bounded below by a rigid bottom and the upper fluid is bounded above by a free surface, two kinds of solitary waves can propagate along the interface and the free surface: classical solitary waves characterized by a solitary pulse or generalized solitary waves with nondecaying oscillations in their tails in addition to the solitary pulse. The classical solitary waves move faster than the generalized solitary waves. The origin of the nonlocal solitary waves can be understood from a physical point of view. The dispersion relation for the above system shows that short waves can propagate at the same speed as a “slow” solitary wave. The interaction between the solitary wave and the short waves creates a nonlocal solitary wave. In this paper, the interfacial-wave problem is reduced to a system of ordinary differential equations by using a classical perturbation method, which takes into consideration the possible resonance between short waves and “slow” solitary waves. In the past, classical Korteweg–de Vries type models have been derived but cannot deal with the resonance. All solutions of the new system of model equations, including classical as well as generalized solitary waves, are constructed. The domain of validity of the model is discussed as well. It is also shown that fronts connecting two conjugate states cannot occur for “fast” waves. For “slow” waves, fronts exist but they have ripples in their tails.     

Comments on “Spectral analysis of thermally stimulated exoelectron emission from glass deposited on metal by argon plasma treatment”

A “spectral analysis” using a fit of a single glow curve only — without kinetic check — does not prove the correctness of the model of Sakurai and Momose [Phys. Lett. A 179 (1993) 55] and thus of parameters estimated on this basis. Contrary to this a “complete analysis” yields three of four parameters directly from the experiment. Two criteria are given to verify the model experimentally.     

Nuclear track radiography of “Hot” aerosol particles

Nuclear track radiography was applied to identify aerosol “hot” particles which contain elements of nuclear fuel and fallout after Chernobyl NPP accident. For the determination of the content of transuranium elements in radioactive aerosols the measurement of the -activity of “hot” particles by SSNTD was used in this work, as well as radiography of fission fragments formed as a result of the reactions (n,f) and (γ,f) in the irradiation of aerosol filters by thermal neutrons and high energy gamma quanta. The technique allowed the sizes and alpha-activity of “hot” particles to be determined without extracting them from the filter, as well as the determination of the uranium content and its enrichment by ²³⁵U, ²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Pu isotopes. Sensitivity of determination of alpha activity by fission method is 5×10⁻⁶ Bq per particle. The software for the system of image analysis was created. It ensured the identification of track clusters on an optical image of the SSNTD surface obtained through a video camera and the determination of size and activity of “hot” particles.     

A U(1) gauge-Higgs system with a radial degree of freedom

The phase diagram of a lattice U(1) gauge-Higgs model is derived without freezing the Higgs field length. For sufficienly small Higgs self-coupling strength, the “confinement” and “Higgs” phases are separated, in contrast to what is observed in the fixed length model.     

Relativistic particle separation by means of transition radiation utilizing multiwire proportional chambers

Investigations have been made on a transition radiation detection system consisting of a series of radiator-wire proportional chamber sandwiches and its feasibility for particle separation. A method for eliminating the “Landau” tail in the ionization distribution of a charged particle is described.     

Atomistic simulations of fluid structure and solvation forces in atomic force microscopy

We describe results of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations modelling an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip immersed in a fluid. Both the tip and the surface are modelled by rigid arrays of atoms. The tip is pyramidal and the surface is the (100) face of a fcc crystal. The focus is on the solvation forces acting on the tip and on the surface and their relation to the structural and dynamic properties of the fluid. Fluid particles in the neighborhood of the tip-surface junction are found to be highly ordered compared to the bulk, as shown by localized variations in the average fluid density. The atomistic nature of the model gives rise to several effects related to the discrete sizes of the fluid, tip, and surface particles which are not observed in continuum-based theories. A number of simulated force-distance curves are presented, along with an analysis of the effect of changing fluid particle size, tip (lateral) position, tip shape, and the lyocompatability of the tip and surface materials. The atomic-scale distribution of fluid-surface forces is examined for various positions of the tip, and the extent to which the fluid can act as a “cushion” by increasing the effective area of the tip-surface interaction is studied. The effect of a fluid on AFM imaging is investigated by generating “fluid images”, which are shown to be comparable in magnitude to the direct tip-surface interaction in the noncontact mode. We compare images generated by defective and defect-free surfaces, and analyse the fluid-tip forces acting in a lateral direction. An image formed from fluid forces acting in the direction of the surface normal does not show the presence of a vacancy, but an image formed from lateral fluid forces does.