Do binary hard disks exhibit an ideal glass transition?

We demonstrate that there is no ideal glass transition in a binary hard-disk mixture by explicitly constructing an exponential number of jammed packings with densities spanning the spectrum from the accepted amorphous glassy state to the phase-separated crystal. Thus the configurational entropy cannot be zero for an ideal amorphous glass, presumed distinct from the crystal in numerous theoretical and numerical estimates in the literature. This objection parallels our previous critique of the idea that there is a most-dense random (close) packing for hard spheres [Torquato, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 2064 (2000)10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2064].     

Corrected Mean-Field Model for Random Sequential Adsorption on Random Geometric Graphs

A notorious problem in mathematics and physics is to create a solvable model for random sequential adsorption of non-overlapping congruent spheres in the d-dimensional Euclidean space with \(d\ge 2\). Spheres arrive sequentially at uniformly chosen locations in space and are accepted only when there is no overlap with previously deposited spheres. Due to spatial correlations, characterizing the fraction of accepted spheres remains largely intractable. We study this fraction by taking a novel approach that compares random sequential adsorption in Euclidean space to the nearest-neighbor blocking on a sequence of clustered random graphs. This random network model can be thought of as a corrected mean-field model for the interaction graph between the attempted spheres. Using functional limit theorems, we characterize the fraction of accepted spheres and its fluctuations.     

Dense packing of binary and polydisperse hard spheres

The packing of binary and polydisperse unimodal and bimodal ensembles of hard spheres in the limit of high pressure is studied using a sequential addition algorithm. Upon fixing the number of particles, and their size distribution, the average (maximum) packing fraction is determined for systems of up to 20 000 particles. The structures obtained correspond to amorphous states close to the dense random close packing density. Binary distributions obtained are denser than the equivalent monodisperse distribution and agree with the theoretical prediction for an infinite size ratio limit. Unimodal normal and lognormal polydisperse distributions obtained compare favourably with available simulation and experimental data. Results for bimodal lognormal distributions are presented. In all cases it is seen how an increase in polydispersity increases the packing fraction of the system. The results can be employed to gain insight into optimal formulations for dense emulsions.     

Low-temperature thermal conductivity of an opal + epoxy-resin nanocomposite

The thermal conductivity of an opal + epoxy-resin nanocomposite under 100% filling of first-order opal voids by epoxy resin was measured in the range 5–100 K. For T < T₀ (T₀ is the temperature at which the thermal conductivity of epoxy resin becomes equal to that of amorphous SiO₂ opal spheres, with inclusion of their porosity associated with second-and third-order voids), the thermal conductivity of the opal + epoxy-resin nanocomposite undergoes a sharp decrease, which is qualitatively accounted for by the appearance of Kapitsa heat resistance at the contacts between the amorphous opal spheres and epoxy resin.     

Choice of Efficient Linear Scale and Generalized Description of Internal Heat Transfer Coefficient in Porous Structures

The expedience of using the ratio of inertial β and viscous α hydraulic coefficients of a fluid flow in porous structures as the characteristic linear scale, when generalizing the experimental data on internal heat transfer in porous media, is shown. It is demonstrated that the correlation Nu = A · Pe, with both criteria based on β/α ratio, most efficiently describes the experimental data for a wide set of ordered and disordered porous structures, including sintered spheres, network materials, sintered felt and cellular foams of high porosity. The coefficient A depends on porosity and is equal to 0.004 for spheres, networks and felts, and 0.0004 for foams. For any specific case the values of α and β coefficients can be readily obtained from testing materials under consideration, control samples, or full-scale articles.     

Morphology and statistical statics of simple microclusters

In this paper we discuss the statics of small assemblies of soft, rare-gas type atoms (N=4 to 13) interacting under simple two-body central forces such as the Lennard-Jones and Morse type. Our main concern is to characterize the problem of isomer multiplicity in small packed structures and to devise practical algorithms for the discovery of a representative majority, if not all, stable soft-packing structures for clusters of atoms in the above size-range.

We illustrate one such possible ‘Aufbau algorithm’ by demonstrating the existence of no less than 988 distinct, stable minimum configurations for 13 Lennard-Jones atoms and of correspondingly smaller numbers in the range N=7 to 12. The minimal structures obtained may be classified broadly into ‘crystallographic’ and ‘non-crystallographic’ types, the latter predominating among those of greatest binding energy.

A surprising result is that, when the softer (α=3) Morse potential is used, the great majority of the Lennard-Jones minima are not supported and only a much smaller class of distinct structures survive. Moreover, broadly speaking, crystallographic configurations are favoured by the softer potential, in confirmation of the intuitive view that relatively hard potentials dispose to amorphous structure.

These results, representing the probable structures of free condensation nuclei near 0 K, provide an interesting statistical morphology for small nuclei, as well as being a necessary first step in the construction of a statistical thermodynamics valid at finite temperatures.     

Statistical mechanics of random paths on disordered lattices

The dependence of the universality class on the statistical weight of unrestricted random paths is explicitly shown both for deterministic and statistical fractals such as the incipient infinite percolation cluster. Equally weighted paths (ideal chain) and kinetically generated paths (random walks) belong, in general, to different universality classes. For deterministic fractals exact renormalization group techniques are used. Asymptotic behaviors for the end-to-end distance ranging from power to logarithmic (localization) laws are observed for the ideal chain. In all these cases, random walks in the presence of nonperfect traps are shown to be in the same universality class of the ideal chain. Logarithmic behavior is reflected insingular renormalization group recursions. For the disordered case, numerical transfer matrix techniques are exploited on percolation clusters in two and three dimensions. The two-point correlation function scales with critical exponents not obeying standard scaling relations. The distribution of the number of chains and the number of chains returning to the starting point are found to be well approximated by a log-normal distribution. The logmoment of the number of chains is found to have an essential type of singularity consistent with the log-normal distribution. A non-self-averaging behavior is argued to occur on the basis of the results.     

Electromagnetic properties of random material

This work addresses the relationship between grain properties and the permeability and permittivity spectra of non-crystalline materials or aerosols.

The scattered multipolar fields about a single sphere are related to the polarizability of a random collection of such spheres. Using the Clausius-Mossotti relation the effective permeability and permittivity spectra of an amorphous material is determined for arbitrary permittivity and permeability of the individual spheres, packing density, and sphere size. Although the author considers the spectra over a range where the product of the external wavevector and sphere radius is kept small, typically less than one-tenth, the product of the internal wavevector and sphere radius is unconstrained and seen to have a large effect on predicted spectra.

The result is a variety of possible spectral types which include resonances, relaxations and certain complex. conglomerate spectra that have been measured and far which no direct explanation is otherwise available.     

The structure and composition of novel electrodeposited Sn–Fe and Sn–Co–Fe alloys from a flow circulation cell system

This study involved the use of a flow circulation cell, using varying circulation rates as a room temperature process (20°C). Mössbauer and XRD analysis were conducted to ascertain whether amorphous or microcrystalline structures could be obtained at 20°C using a range of current densities. Amorphous or microcrystalline structures of Sn–Fe and Sn–Co–Fe have potentially important industrial applications for energy efficient cells, for use as high performance electrodes in lithium batteries, as environmentally acceptable corrosion resistant materials and are derived from an energy efficient environmentally friendly electrolyte process which would be acceptable as an industrial process. $^{\it 57}Fe$ and $^{\it 119}Sn$ Mössbauer investigations supported by XRD analysis confirmed that the room temperature flow circulation cell gave rise to previously unknown non-equilibrium amorphous structures which do not occur in the corresponding thermally prepared alloys as shown in the thermal equilibrium diagrams. Mössbauer analysis shows these alloys to be both amorphous and ferromagnetic. It is shown that the flow circulation cell used at 20°C based on the environmentally friendly gluconate bath reported gives amorphous based Sn–Fe and Sn–Co–Fe alloys over a useful range of current densities facilitated by using a range of circulation rates.     

非晶空心碳球的制备及生长机制

采用射频等离子体增强化学气相沉积技术,在CH4/H2的气氛中合成了非晶空心碳球.利用SEM,TEM,拉曼光谱对样品的形貌、成分和结构进行了表征.非晶空心碳球的直径在100～800nm之间,分布在弯曲的碳纳米管丛中.非晶空心碳球的生长机制可能为膨胀生长.     

Interaction dynamics of bright solitons in linearly coupled asymmetric systems

In this research work, composite media based on metamaterials including random distribution of spherical nanoparticles in a polymeric foam host are suggested to achieve negative effective refractive index in the visible spectrum. For this purpose structures including single, two and three layer spherical particles are investigated. Based on simulation results, media including single layer spheres (metallic and dielectric particles) and two layer nanospheres (core–shell particles consist of metallic core and dielectric shell) based on superposition of nanoparticles with different sizes and fill fractions are proposed for desired result. In this work, to obtain optimized band with negative RI media, superposition of three layer nanoparticles and doped semiconductor are designed.

     

Electromagnetic properties of random material

Abstract

This work addresses the relationship between grain properties and the permeability and permittivity spectra of non-crystalline materials or aerosols.

The scattered multipolar fields about a single sphere are related to the polarizability of a random collection of such spheres. Using the Clausius–Mossotti relation the effective permeability and permittivity spectra of an amorphous material is determined for arbitrary permittivity and permeability of the individual spheres, packing density, and sphere size. Although the author considers the spectra over a range where the product of the external wavevector and sphere radius is kept small, typically less than one-tenth, the product of the internal wavevector and sphere radius is unconstrained and seen to have a large effect on predicted spectra.

The result is a variety of possible spectral types which include resonances, relaxations and certain complex. conglomerate spectra that have been measured and far which no direct explanation is otherwise available.     

Dense and nearly jammed random packings of freely jointed chains of tangent hard spheres

Dense packings of freely jointed chains of tangent hard spheres are produced by a novel Monte Carlo method. Within statistical uncertainty, chains reach a maximally random jammed (MRJ) state at the same volume fraction as packings of single hard spheres. A structural analysis shows that as the MRJ state is approached (i) the radial distribution function for chains remains distinct from but approaches that of single hard sphere packings quite closely, (ii) chains undergo progressive collapse, and (iii) a small but increasing fraction of sites possess highly ordered first coordination shells.     

A statistical approach to the serial condensation of amorphous clusters

Summary A numerical simulation is proposed of extended closepacked systems of hard spheres obtained by serial deposition. The process takes into account a random contribution to the growth of the aggregate; in this way, without using relaxation potential methods, it was possible to reproduce, even for large systems, the splitting of the second peak in the pair correlation function, evidenced both by experimental arrangements of hard spheres and by measurements on amorphous alloys.

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Riassunto Si presenta un metodo di simulazione numerica per la generazione di una struttura amorfa compatta basato sulla deposizione in sequenza di sfere rigide identiche. Il processo di crescita dell’aggregato è basato su criteri probabilitisci ed ha permesso di riprodurre, senza dover ricorrere a tecniche di rilassamento, lo sdoppiamento del secondo picco della funzione di correlazione delle coppie, presente sia nelle misure su metalli amorfi che negli aggregati sperimentali di sfere rigide.

     

Dense packing in the monodisperse hard-sphere system: A numerical study

We report a numerical study of the close packing of monodisperse hard spheres. The close packings of hard spheres are produced by the Lubachesky-Stillinger (LS) compression algorithm and span the range from the disordered states to the ordered states. We provide quantitative evidence for the claim that the density and structural order of the arrested close packing can be determined by the compression rate, i.e., with slower rates producing denser and more ordered structures. Through deeply analyzing the structure of the resulting arrested close packings, a transition region has been identified in the plane of density and reciprocal compression rate, in between what have been historically thought of as amorphous and crystalline packings. We also find clear system size dependences in studying the structural properties of the packings from the disordered ones to the ordered ones. These detailed investigations, on the structure of the arrested close packings, may provide a link between the glassy states and the crystalline states in the hard spheres.     

非晶态合金与氢相互作用的研究进展

非晶态合金在力学性能、耐磨耐蚀性、磁性等方面比传统晶态合金具有显著优势,是一类有优良应用前景的新型结构与功能材料.非晶态合金与氢相互作用可以产生很多有趣的物理化学现象和应用.本文从物理基础和材料应用两个方面评述非晶态合金和氢相互作用的研究进展,在物理基础研究方面,从氢在非晶态合金中的存在状态出发,讨论氢在非晶态合金中的溶解、分布、占位和扩散等相关物理问题,进而分析氢对非晶态合金的热稳定性、磁性、内耗、氢脆等的影响.在材料应用研究方面,对非晶态储氢合金、非晶态合金氢功能膜、吸氢改善非晶态合金的塑性和玻璃形成能力、氢致非晶化、利用非晶态合金制备纳米储氢材料等方面的研究进展进行评述.最后总结并展望有关非晶态合金与氢相互作用的研究和应用.     

Chaotic behaviors and toroidal/spherical attractors generated by discontinuous dynamics

This paper reports a class of chaotic attractors with toroidal or spherical patterns. These attractors look like spheres or tori, but they are not exactly on the two-dimensional toroidal/spherical surfaces. Discontinuous structures are taken in the considered system to produce easily various chaotic tori/spheres with different input functions. Moreover, controlling the shape of these chaotic attractors can be realized by adjusting some parameters with the help of Fourier series. The underlying chaos-generation mechanism is also explored briefly.     

Exact Moments of Curvature Measures in the Boolean Model

Curvature measures are important for the characterization of spatial structures since many physical phenomena depend essentially on the geometry of spatial configurations. Curvature-weighted correlation functions can be defined and calculated explicitly within the Boolean model. This standard model in statistical physics generates random geometries by overlapping grains (spheres, sticks) each with arbitrary location and orientation. A general decomposition relation for characteristic functions of submanifolds based on Chern's differential kinematic formula is used to obtain exact expressions for mean values and second order moments of curvature integrals, i.e., of Minkowski functionals. An exact relation for the canonical and grand-canonical second order moments of the morphological Minkowski measures can be derived based only on thermodynamic arguments. The results are applied on the morphological thermodynamics of complex fluids where specific heats are expressed in terms of curvature moments.     

急冷Al-Si-Ge合金超导电性的研究

本文研究了热处理对急冷Al-8.3at%Si-8.5at%Ge合金的微观结构及超导电性的影响。结构分析表明,液态淬火的样品由两相组成:过饱和α-Al(Si,Ge)固溶体基体和Al,Si,Ge的非晶球体,后者在基体中相互连接,构成连续通路。经过100℃/50h热处理后,非晶球体尺寸缩小,不再构成连续通路,并在其中析出弥散的Si(Ge)微晶。热处理后的样品的电阻-温度及电阻-磁场转变曲线上均出现两次正常-超导转变。它可以用样品中存在两个超导相的模型予以解释。 关键词：     

Equidistribution of Random Walks on Spheres

We study the equidistribution on spheres of the n-step transition probabilities of random walks on graphs. We give sufficient conditions for this property being satisfied and for the weaker property of asymptotical equidistribution. We analyze the asymptotical behaviour of the Green function of the simple random walk on ² and we provide a class of random walks on Cayley graphs of groups, whose transition probabilities are not even asymptotically equidistributed.