Alternating current electrical conductivity of high-density polyethylene-carbon nanofiber composites

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)-carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites with good dispersion of fillers in the polymer matrix were melt-compounded in a Haake mixer. The dependences of the alternating current conductivity of such nanocomposites on the filler content, temperature, and DC bias were investigated. The results showed that the electrical conducting behavior of HDPE-CNF nanocomposites can be well characterized by the direct current conductivity ( s_DC \sigma_{{{\rm DC}}}^{} , characteristic frequency (f_c) and critical exponent (s . It was found that s_DC \sigma_{{{\rm DC}}}^{} of percolating HDPE-CNF nanocomposites increases with increasing filler concentration and follows the scaling law of percolation theory. Increasing temperature caused a reduction of s_DC \sigma_{{{\rm DC}}}^{} , leading to the occurrence of positive-temperature-coefficient effect near the melting temperature of HDPE matrix. Application of DC bias led to an increase of s_DC \sigma_{{{\rm DC}}}^{} due to the creation of additional conducting paths within the polymer composites. The characteristic frequency generally followed the same tendency as s_DC \sigma_{{{\rm DC}}}^{} . The s values of percolating composites were slightly higher than those predicted by the percolation theory, indicating the presence of tunneling or hopping conduction in these composites.     

Plasticity and dynamical heterogeneity in driven glassy materials

Many amorphous glassy materials exhibit complex spatio-temporal mechanical response and rheology, characterized by an intermittent stress strain response and a fluctuating velocity profile. Under quasistatic and athermal deformation protocols this heterogeneous plastic flow was shown to be composed of plastic events of various sizes, ranging from local quadrupolar plastic rearrangements to system spanning shear bands. In this paper, through numerical study of a 2D Lennard-Jones amorphous solid, we generalize the study of the heterogeneous dynamics of glassy materials to the finite shear rate ( [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} 1 \neq 0 and temperature case (T 1 \neq 0 . In practice, we choose an effectively athermal limit (T ∼ 0 and focus on the influence of shear rate on the rheology of the glass. In line with previous works we find that the model Lennard-Jones glass follows the rheological behavior of a yield stress fluid with a Herschel-Bulkley response of the form, s \sigma = s_Y \sigma_{{Y}}^{} + c ₁ [(g)\dot]^b \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\beta}}_{} . The global mechanical response obtained through the use of Molecular Dynamics is shown to converge in the limit [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} ? \rightarrow 0 to the quasistatic limit obtained with an energy minimization protocol. The detailed analysis of the plastic deformation at different shear rates shows that the glass follows different flow regimes. At sufficiently low shear rates the mechanical response reaches a shear-rate-independent regime that exhibits all the characteristics of the quasistatic response (finite-size effects, cascades of plastic rearrangements, yield stress, ...). At intermediate shear rates the rheological properties are determined by the externally applied shear rate and the response deviates from the quasistatic limit. Finally at higher shear the system reaches a shear-rate-independent homogeneous regime. The existence of these three regimes is also confirmed by the detailed analysis of the atomic motion. The computation of the four-point correlation function shows that the transition from the shear-rate-dominated to the quasistatic regime is accompanied by the growth of a dynamical cooperativity length scale x \xi that is shown to diverge with shear rate as x \xi μ \propto [(g)\dot]^-n \dot{{\gamma}}^{{-\nu}}_{} , with n \nu ∼ 0.2 -0.3. This scaling is compared with the prediction of a simple model that assumes the diffusive propagation of plastic events.     

Analysis of the $ {\frac{{1}}{{2}}}$+ doubly heavy baryon states with QCD sum rules

In this paper, we study the \frac12 {\frac{{1}}{{2}}} ⁺ doubly heavy baryon states W_QQ \Omega_{{QQ}}^{} and X_QQ \Xi_{{QQ}}^{} by subtracting the contributions from the corresponding \frac12 {\frac{{1}}{{2}}} ^- doubly heavy baryon states with QCD sum rules, and make reasonable predictions for their masses. Those doubly heavy baryon states may be observed at Tevatron, LHCb and PANDA.     

The mixing of scalar mesons and the baryon-baryon interaction

By introducing the mixing of scalar mesons in the chiral SU(3) quark model, we dynamically investigate the baryon-baryon interaction. The hyperon-nucleon and nucleon-nucleon interactions are studied by solving the resonating group method (RGM) equation in a coupled-channel calculation. In our present work, the experimental lightest pseudoscalar p \pi, K,h \eta,h^￠ \eta^{{\prime}}_{} mesons correspond exactly to the chiral nonet pseudoscalar fields p \pi, K,h \eta,h^￠ \eta^{{\prime}}_{} in the chiral SU(3) quark model. The h \eta,h^￠ \eta^{{\prime}}_{} mesons are considered as the mixing of singlet and octet mesons, and the mixing angle q_ps \theta_{{ps}}^{} is taken to be -23^° . For scalar nonet mesons, we suppose that there exists a correspondence between the experimental lightest scalar f ₀(600) , k \kappa , a ₀(980) , f ₀(980) mesons and the theoretical scalar nonet s \sigma , k \kappa , s^￠ \sigma^{{\prime}}_{} , e \epsilon fields in the chiral SU(3) quark model. For scalar mesons, we consider two different mixing cases: one is the ideal mixing and another is the q_s \theta_{s}^{} = 19^° mixing. The masses of the s^￠ \sigma^{{\prime}}_{} and e \epsilon mesons are taken to be 980MeV, which are just the masses of the experimental a ₀(980) , f ₀(980) mesons. The mass of the s \sigma meson is an adjustable parameter and is decided by fitting the binding energy of the deuteron, the masses of 560MeV and 644MeV are obtained for the ideal mixing and the q_s \theta_{s}^{} = 19^° mixing, respectively. We find that, in order to reasonably describe the YN interactions, the mass of the k \kappa meson is near 780MeV for the ideal mixing. However, we must enhance the mass of the k \kappa meson for the q_s \theta_{s}^{} = 19^° mixing, the 1050MeV is favorably used in the present work. The experimental s \sigma and k \kappa scalar mesons are very strange, both have larger widths. Hence, no matter what kind of mixing is considered, all the masses of scalar mesons we used in the present work seem to be consistent with the present PDG information.     

LOCV calculation of nuclear matter with relativistic Hamiltonian

The equation of state of symmetric nuclear matter is calculated using the relativistic Hamiltonian (H_R) with potentials which have been fitted with the N -N scattering data using the relativistic two-body Hamiltonian ( [(v)\tilde]₁₄ \tilde{{v}}_{{14}}^{} and the non-relativistic two-body Hamiltonian, i.e. the Argonne V₁₄ interaction. The boost interaction corrections as well as the relativistic one-body and two-body kinetic energy corrections in cluster expansion energy within the lowest-order-constrained variational method are calculated. It is shown that the relativistic corrections reduce the binding energy by 1.5MeV for [(v)\tilde]₁₄ \tilde{{v}}_{{14}}^{} and AV₁₄ interactions. The symmetric nuclear-matter saturation energy is about -16.43 MeV at r \rho = 0.253 (fm^-3) with [(v)\tilde]₁₄ \tilde{{v}}_{{14}}^{} interaction plus relativistic corrections. Finally, various properties of the symmetric nuclear matter are given and a comparison is made with the other many-body calculations.     

Single flexible and semiflexible polymers at high shear: Non-monotonic and non-universal stretching response

Using Brownian hydrodynamic simulation techniques, we study single polymers in shear. We investigate the effects of hydrodynamic interactions, excluded volume, chain extensibility, chain length and semiflexibility. The well-known stretching behavior with increasing shear rate [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} is only observed for low shear [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} < [(g)\dot]^max \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\max}}_{} , where [(g)\dot]^max \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\max}}_{} is the shear rate at maximum polymer extension. For intermediate shear rates [(g)\dot]^max \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\max}}_{} < [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} < [(g)\dot]^min \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\min}}_{} the radius of gyration decreases with increasing shear with minimum chain extension at [(g)\dot]^min \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\min}}_{} . For even higher shear [(g)\dot]^min \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\min}}_{} < [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} the chain exhibits again shear stretching. This non-monotonic stretching behavior is obtained in the presence of excluded-volume and hydrodynamic interactions for sufficiently long and inextensible flexible polymers, while it is completely absent for Gaussian extensible chains. We establish the heuristic scaling laws [(g)\dot]^max \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\max}}_{} ∼ N ^-1.4 and [(g)\dot]^min \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\min}}_{} ∼ N ^0.7 as a function of chain length N , which implies that the regime of shear-induced chain compression widens with increasing chain length. These scaling laws also imply that the chain response at high shear rates is not a universal function of the Weissenberg number Wi = [(g)\dot] \dot{{\gamma}} t \tau anymore, where t \tau is the equilibrium relaxation time. For semiflexible polymers a similar non-monotonic stretching response is obtained. By extrapolating the simulation results to lengths corresponding to experimentally studied DNA molecules, we find that the shear rate [(g)\dot]^max \dot{{\gamma}}^{{\max}}_{} to reach the compression regime is experimentally realizable.     

Analysis of the X(1835) and related baryonium states with Bethe-Salpeter equation

In this article, we study the mass spectrum of the baryon-antibaryon bound states p [`(p)] \bar{{p}} , S \Sigma [`(S)] \bar{{\Sigma}} , X \Xi [`(X)] \bar{{\Xi}} , L \Lambda [`(L)] \bar{{\Lambda}} , p [`(N)] \bar{{N}}(1440) , S \Sigma [`(S)] \bar{{\Sigma}}(1660) , X \Xi [`(X)]<sup>￠</sup> \bar{{\Xi}}^{{\prime}}_{} and L \Lambda [`(L)] \bar{{\Lambda}}(1600) with the Bethe-Salpeter equation. The numerical results indicate that the p [`(p)] \bar{{p}} , S \Sigma [`(S)] \bar{{\Sigma}} , X \Xi [`(X)] \bar{{\Xi}} , p [`(N)] \bar{{N}}(1440) , S \Sigma [`(S)] \bar{{\Sigma}}(1660) , X \Xi [`(X)]^￠ \bar{{\Xi}}^{{\prime}}_{} bound states maybe exist, and the new resonances X(1835) and X(2370) can be tentatively identified as the p [`(p)] \bar{{p}} and p [`(N)] \bar{{N}}(1440) (or N(1400)[`(p)] \bar{{p}} bound states, respectively, with some gluon constituents, and the new resonance X(2120) may be a pseudoscalar glueball. On the other hand, the Regge trajectory favors identifying the X(1835) , X(2120) and X(2370) as the excited h^￠ \eta^{{\prime}}_{}(958) mesons with the radial quantum numbers n = 3 , 4 and 5, respectively.     

Effect of carbon nanotubes on the isotropic to nematic and the nematic to smectic- A phase transitions in liquid crystal and carbon nanotubes composites

A high-resolution ac-calorimetric study on the weakly first-order isotropic to nematic (I -N and the continuous nematic to smectic-A (N -SmA phase transitions of the liquid crystal octyl-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) doped with well-dispersed multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a function of CNT concentrations is reported. Thermal scans were performed for all samples having CNT weight fraction from f_w \phi_{{w}}^{} = 0.0005 to 0.0060 over a wide temperature range well above and below the two transitions in pure 8CB. Both the I -N and the N -SmA transitions evolve in character and have their transition temperatures qualitatively offset by ∼ 1.10 K lower as compared to that in pure 8CB for all 8CB+CNTs samples. The enthalpy change associated with each phase transition is essentially the same as that of pure 8CB and remains unchanged with increasing f_w \phi_{{w}}^{} . However, there is an evidence that the thermal transport properties of the composites differ from the pure LC upon cooling below a f_w \phi_{{w}}^{} -dependent temperature within the nematic phase. In addition, a new C_p feature is resolved for intermediate f_w \phi_{{w}}^{} samples that appears to be correlated to this onset temperature.     

Analysis of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Y</Emphasis>(4140) and related molecular states with QCD sum rules

In this article, we assume that there exist scalar D^*[`(D)]<sup>*</sup>{D}^{\ast}{\bar {D}}^{\ast}, D<sub>s</sub><sup>*</sup>[`(D)]_s^*{D}_{s}^{\ast}{\bar{D}}_{s}^{\ast}, B^*[`(B)]<sup>*</sup>{B}^{\ast}{\bar {B}}^{\ast} and B<sub>s</sub><sup>*</sup>[`(B)]_s^*{B}_{s}^{\ast}{\bar{B}}_{s}^{\ast} molecular states, and study their masses using the QCD sum rules. The numerical results indicate that the masses are about (250–500) MeV above the corresponding D ^*–[`(D)]<sup>*</sup>{\bar{D}}^{\ast}, D <sub>s</sub> <sup>*</sup>–[`(D)]_s^*{\bar {D}}_{s}^{\ast}, B ^*–[`(B)]<sup>*</sup>{\bar{B}}^{\ast} and B <sub>s</sub> <sup>*</sup>–[`(B)]_s^*{\bar {B}}_{s}^{\ast} thresholds, the Y(4140) is unlikely a scalar D_s^*[`(D)]<sub>s</sub><sup>*</sup>{D}_{s}^{\ast}{\bar{D}}_{s}^{\ast} molecular state. The scalar D<sup>*</sup>[`(D)]^*D^{\ast}{\bar{D}}^{\ast}, D_s^*[`(D)]<sub>s</sub><sup>*</sup>D_{s}^{\ast}{\bar{D}}_{s}^{\ast}, B<sup>*</sup>[`(B)]^*B^{\ast}{\bar{B}}^{\ast} and B_s^*[`(B)]<sub>s</sub><sup>*</sup>B_{s}^{\ast}{\bar{B}}_{s}^{\ast} molecular states maybe not exist, while the scalar D￠<sup>*</sup>[`(D)]^￠*{D'}^{\ast}{\bar{D}}^{\prime\ast}, D_s^￠*[`(D)]<sub>s</sub><sup>￠*</sup>{D}_{s}^{\prime\ast}{\bar{D}}_{s}^{\prime\ast}, B<sup>￠*</sup>[`(B)]^￠*{B}^{\prime\ast}{\bar{B}}^{\prime\ast} and B_s^￠*[`(B)]_s^￠*{B}_{s}^{\prime\ast}{\bar{B}}_{s}^{\prime\ast} molecular states maybe exist.     

Conformational dynamics and internal friction in homopolymer globules: equilibrium vs. non-equilibrium simulations

We study the conformational dynamics within homopolymer globules by solvent-implicit Brownian dynamics simulations. A strong dependence of the internal chain dynamics on the Lennard-Jones cohesion strength e \varepsilon and the globule size N _G is observed. We find two distinct dynamical regimes: a liquid-like regime (for e \varepsilon < e_s \varepsilon_{{\rm s}}^{} with fast internal dynamics and a solid-like regime (for e \varepsilon > e_s \varepsilon_{{\rm s}}^{} with slow internal dynamics. The cohesion strength e_s \varepsilon_{{\rm s}}^{} of this freezing transition depends on N _G . Equilibrium simulations, where we investigate the diffusional chain dynamics within the globule, are compared with non-equilibrium simulations, where we unfold the globule by pulling the chain ends with prescribed velocity (encompassing low enough velocities so that the linear-response, viscous regime is reached). From both simulation protocols we derive the internal viscosity within the globule. In the liquid-like regime the internal friction increases continuously with e \varepsilon and scales extensive in N _G . This suggests an internal friction scenario where the entire chain (or an extensive fraction thereof) takes part in conformational reorganization of the globular structure.     

DN interaction from meson exchange

A model of the DN interaction is presented which is developed in close analogy to the meson-exchange [`(K)] \bar{{K}} N potential of the Jülich group utilizing SU(4) symmetry constraints. The main ingredients of the interaction are provided by vector meson (r \rho , w \omega exchange and higher-order box diagrams involving D <sup>*</sup> N , D D \Delta , and D <sup>*</sup> D \Delta intermediate states. The coupling of DN to the p \pi L<sub>c</sub> \Lambda_{c}^{} and p \pi S<sub>c</sub> \Sigma_{c}^{} channels is taken into account. The interaction model generates the L<sub>c</sub> \Lambda_{c}^{}(2595) -resonance dynamically as a DN quasi-bound state. Results for DN total and differential cross sections are presented and compared with predictions of two interaction models that are based on the leading-order Weinberg-Tomozawa term. Some features of the L<sub>c</sub> \Lambda_{c}^{}(2595) -resonance are discussed and the role of the near-by p \pi S<sub>c</sub> \Sigma_{c}^{} threshold is emphasized. Selected predictions of the orginal [`(K)] \bar{{K}} N model are reported too. Specifically, it is pointed out that the model generates two poles in the partial wave corresponding to the L \Lambda(1405) -resonance.     

A relativistic approach to the equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter

The properties of asymmetric nuclear matter for a wide range of densities and asymmetric parameters are investigated within the lowest-order-constrained variational (LOCV) method by employing the relativistic Hamiltonian with a potential which has been fitted relativistically to N-N phase shifts ( [(v)\tilde]₁₄ \tilde{{v}}_{{14}}^{} and to the AV₁₄interaction. Like our previous work on symmetric nuclear matter, the boost interaction corrections as well as the relativistic one-body and two-body kinetic corrections are calculated. The various properties of asymmetric nuclear matter such as the symmetry energy, the saturation energy and the validity of the a² \alpha^{2}_{} law, etc., are examined. The symmetry energy is reduced by about 7MeV when we use [(v)\tilde]₁₄ \tilde{{v}}_{{14}}^{} instead of its non-relativistic version, i.e. the AV₁₄interaction. The results are compared with other many-body calculations.     

The study of the negative pion production in neutron-proton collisions at beam momenta below 1.8 GeV/c

A detailed investigation of the reaction np ? \rightarrow pp p^- \pi^{{-}}_{} has been carried out using the data obtained with the continuous neutron beam produced by charge exchange scattering of protons off the deuterium target. Partial-wave event-by-event analysis based on the maximum likelihood method was applied to determine contributions of different partial waves to the pion production process. A combined analysis of the np ? \rightarrow pp p^- \pi^{{-}}_{} and pp ? \rightarrow pp p⁰ \pi^{{0}}_{} data measured in the same energy region allows us to determine the contribution of isoscalar partial waves (I = 0 in the momentum range from 1.1 up to 1.8GeV/c . The decay of isoscalar partial waves into the (¹ S ₀)_pp p \pi channel provides us with a good tool for the determination of the pp S -wave scalar scattering length in the final state which was found to be a _pp = - 7.5±0.3 fm.     

From crystal to amorphous: A novel route to unjamming in soft disk packings

Numerical studies on the unjamming packing fraction of bi- and polydisperse disk packings, which are generated through compression of a monodisperse crystal, are presented. In bidisperse systems, a fraction f ₊ = 0.400 up to 0.800 of the total number of particles has their radii increased by D \Delta R , while the rest has their radii decreased by the same amount. Polydisperse packings are prepared by changing all particle radii according to a uniform distribution in the range [- D \Delta R,D \Delta R] . The results indicate that the critical packing fraction is never larger than the value for the initial monodisperse crystal, f₀ \phi_{0}^{} = p \pi/?{12} \sqrt{{12}} , and that the lowest value achieved is approximately the one for random close packing. These results are seen as a consequence of the interplay between the increase in small-small particle contacts and the local crystalline order provided by the large-large particle contacts.     

Dielectric relaxation and ionic conductivity studies of Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>ZnP<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

The complex impedance of the Ag₂ZnP₂O₇ compound has been investigated in the temperature range 419–557 K and in the frequency range 200 Hz–5 MHz. The Z′ and Z′ versus frequency plots are well fitted to an equivalent circuit model. Dielectric data were analyzed using complex electrical modulus M* for the sample at various temperatures. The modulus plot can be characterized by full width at half-height or in terms of a non-exponential decay function f( \textt ) = exp( - \textt/t )^b \phi \left( {\text{t}} \right) = \exp {\left( { - {\text{t}}/\tau } \right)^\beta } . The frequency dependence of the conductivity is interpreted in terms of Jonscher’s law: s( w) = s_\textdc + \textAwⁿ \sigma \left( \omega \right) = {\sigma_{\text{dc}}} + {\text{A}}{\omega^n} . The conductivity σ _dc follows the Arrhenius relation. The near value of activation energies obtained from the analysis of M″, conductivity data, and equivalent circuit confirms that the transport is through ion hopping mechanism dominated by the motion of the Ag⁺ ions in the structure of the investigated material.     

Transversity in hard exclusive electroproduction of pseudoscalar mesons

Estimates for electroproduction of pseudoscalar mesons at small values of skewness are presented. Cross-sections and asymmetries for these processes are calculated within the handbag approach which is based on factorization in hard parton subprocesses and soft generalized parton distributions (GPDs). The latter are constructed from double distributions. Transversity GPDs are taken into account; they are accompanied by twist-3 meson wave functions. For most pseudoscalar-meson channels a combination of ˜_T and [`(E)]_T \bar{{E}}_{T}^{} plays a particularly prominent role. This combination of GPDs, which we constrain by moments obtained from lattice QCD, leads, with the exception of the p⁺ \pi^{+}_{} and h^￠ \eta^{\prime}_{} channels, to large transverse cross-sections.     

Continuum theory of lipid bilayer electrostatics

In order to address the concerns about the applicability of the continuum theory of lipid bilayers, we generalize it by including a film with uniaxial dielectric properties representing the polar head groups of the lipid molecules. As a function of the in-plane dielectric constant k_|| \kappa_{{\Vert}}^{} of this film, we encounter a sequence of different phases. For low values of k_|| \kappa_{{\Vert}}^{} , transmembrane pores have aqueous cores, ions are repelled by the bilayer, and the ion permeability of the bilayer is independent of the ion radius as in the existing theory. For increasing k_|| \kappa_{{\Vert}}^{} , a threshold is reached --of the order of the dielectric constant of water-- beyond which ions are attracted to the lipid bilayer by generic polarization attraction, transmembrane pores collapse, and the ion permeability becomes sensitively dependent on the ion radius, results that are more consistent with experimental and numerical studies of the interaction of ions with neutral lipid bilayers. At even higher values of k_|| \kappa_{{\Vert}}^{} , the ion/pore complexes are predicted to condense in the form of extended arrays. The generalized continuum theory can be tested quantitatively by studies of the ion permeability as a function of salt concentration and co-surfactant concentration.     

Analysis of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Y</Emphasis>(4140) with QCD sum rules

In this article, we assume that there exists a scalar D_s^*[`(D)]<sub>s</sub><sup>*</sup>D_{s}^{\ast}{\bar{D}}_{s}^{\ast} molecular state in the J/ψ φ invariant mass distribution, and we study its mass using the QCD sum rules. The predictions depend heavily on the two criteria (pole dominance and convergence of the operator product expansion) of the QCD sum rules. The value of the mass is about M<sub>Ds<sup>*</sup>[`(D)]s^*</sub>=(4.43±0.16)M_{D_{s}^{\ast}{\bar{D}}_{s}^{\ast}}=(4.43\pm0.16)  GeV, which is inconsistent with the experimental data. The D_s^*[`(D)]_s^*D_{s}^{\ast}{\bar{D}}_{s}^{\ast} is probably a virtual state and is not related to the meson Y(4140). Another possibility, such as a hybrid charmonium, is not excluded.