Floating liquid phase in sedimenting colloid-polymer mixtures

Density functional theory and computer simulation are used to investigate sedimentation equilibria of colloid-polymer mixtures within the Asakura-Oosawa-Vrij model of hard sphere colloids and ideal polymers. When the ratio of buoyant masses of the two species is comparable to the ratio of differences in density of the coexisting bulk (colloid) gas and liquid phases, a stable "floating liquid" phase is found, i.e., a thin layer of liquid sandwiched between upper and lower gas phases. The full phase diagram of the mixture under gravity shows coexistence of this floating liquid phase with a single gas phase or a phase involving liquid-gas equilibrium; the phase coexistence lines meet at a triple point. This scenario remains valid for general asymmetric binary mixtures undergoing bulk phase separation.     

Phase transitions between orthogonal and tilted hexatic phases

Tilt-driven phase transitions between hexatic smectic phases: SmF-HexB and reversed HexB-SmF have been studied in compounds belonging to two enaminoketone derivative homologue series. The tilt angle order parameter has been measured and its temperature dependence near the phase transition point has been described by applying mean-field model. For both phase sequences the tricritical points have been observed on phase transition lines in binary mixtures of respective materials having first and second order phase transitions between hexatic phases. Received 21 June 1999     

Inhomogeneous chiral symmetry breaking phases

We investigate inhomogeneous chiral symmetry breaking phases in the phase diagram of the two-flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model, concentrating on phases with one-dimensional modulations. It is found that the first-order transition line in the phase diagram of homogeneous phases gets completely covered by an inhomogeneous phase which is bordered by second-order transition lines. The inhomogeneous phase turns out to be remarkably stable when vector interactions are included.     

相分离液体在玻璃转变过程中的动力学性质(英文)

近年来,相分离动力学一直受到大家的关注,人们从技术和理论角度进行了研究.一个二元系统从混溶温度开始进行快速冷却,这个过程驱使两个相的形成和生长.这种自发生长过程遵从幂规律R(t)∝t~n,R(t)是在t时刻的相分离域尺寸大小,增长指数n是一个重要的量,有效的反映了相分离域的增长机制.但是对于相分离液体的玻璃转变过程的研究相对较少.本文采用分子动力学(MD)模拟方法,提出了一个新的模型——相分离液体来研究玻璃转变过程.相分离在玻璃转变过程中,过冷液体分离为两个相.我们主要研究了体系的动力学不均匀性.发现两个相的动力学性质是不均匀的,两个相的玻璃转变温度是不一样的.分析得出,相分离液体在玻璃转变过程中存在着一个动力学奇异点.说明相分离可能是引起玻璃转变系统动力学奇异性的一个原因.     

Texture transitions in binary mixtures of 6OBAC with compounds of its homologous series

Recently the authors have observed in compounds of the 4,n-alkyloxybenzoic acid series, with the homologous index n ranging from 6 to 9, a texture transition in the nematic range which subdivides the nematic phase in two sub-phases displaying different textures in polarised light analysis. To investigate a persistence of texture transitions in nematic phases, we prepared binary mixtures of 4,6-alkyloxybenzoic acid (6OBAC) with other members (7-, 8-, 9-, 12-, 16OBAC) of its homologous series. Binary mixtures exhibit a broadening in the temperature ranges of both smectic and nematic phases. A nematic temperature range of 75°C is observed. In the nematic phase, in spite of the microscopic disorder introduced by mixing two components, the polarised light optics analysis of the liquid crystal cells reveals a texture transition. In the case of the binary mixture of 6OBAC with 12OBAC and with 16OBAC, that is of compounds with monomers of rather different lengths, the texture transition temperature is not homogeneous in the cell, probably due to a local variation in the relative concentrations of compounds.     

Effect of slow-to-start in the extended BML model with four-directional traffic

In this paper, an extended Biham–Middleton–Levine (BML) model is proposed to simulate complex characteristics of four-directional traffic flow by considering the effect of slow-to-start. The simulation results show that the system does not exhibit a sharp transition from moving phase to jamming phase, which is consistent with the results of the latest studies about the original BML model. Differently from the structure geometric patterns in previous studies, a new phase separation phenomenon, i.e., the coexistence of multiple free flow stripes and multi-local jams, can be observed. The formation mechanisms of typical dynamic patterns are also explored. Furthermore, a mean field analysis for the maximum velocity in the moving phase is obtained, which is in good accordance with simulation results. In addition, an interesting feature is found that this new coexistence phenomenon of two phases is determined only by the effect of slow-to-start and is completely independent of traffic light (only considering red light and green light) period.     

Quantum Phase Transition and Magnetocaloric Effect in a Tetrameric Chain with Three-Spin Interaction

We investigate the quantum phase transition (QPT) and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of a tetrameric chain with three-spin interaction using Green's function theory. The magnetization and gap analysis reveals a variety of quantum phases tuned by magnetic field and three-spin interaction, which can open up an energy gap, giving rise to the occurrence of zero magnetization plateau. However, strong three-spin couplings causing strong frustration will destroy the intermediate 1/2 plateau with emergence of a new gapless phase between two cusps. It favors achieving an enhanced MCE at the critical fields, where the minima of isoentropes as well as the valley-peak structure of Grüneisen ratio, signaling the accumulation of entropy, lead to cooling via adiabatic (de)magnetization processes. It is also found that the temperature dependence of specific heat combined with Grüneisen ratio can testify various quantum phases explicitly.     

Non-equilibrium dynamical phases of the two-atom Dicke model

In this paper, we investigate the non-equilibrium dynamical phases of the two-atom Dicke model, which can be realized in a two species Bose–Einstein condensate interacting with a single light mode in an optical cavity. Apart from the usual non-equilibrium normal and inverted phases, a non-equilibrium mixed phase is possible which is a combination of normal and inverted phase. A new kind of dynamical phase transition is predicted from non-superradiant mixed phase to the superradiant phase which can be achieved by tuning the two different atom–photon couplings. We also show that a dynamical phase transition from the non-superradiant mixed phase to the superradiant phase is forbidden for certain values of the two atom–photon coupling strengths.     

Lifshitz-point behaviour of ferromagnetic superconductors

The critical behaviour of the electromagnetically coupled superconductor magnet system is investigated by means of a generalized mean field theory and a renormalization group analysis. We show that in the presence of a genuine anisotropy in systems with an additional pressure-like parameter (like concentration in pseudo-ternary ferromagnetic superconductors (FMS), e.g. Er_1?x Ho _x Rh₄B₄) the indirect coupling between superconducting and magnetic order parameters (i.e. gauge coupling) can lead to a peculiar kind of critical behaviour characterized by Lifshitz points (LP). These points (quite generally) occur as merging points of three phases: a (magnetically) disordered phase, a homogeneously ordered phase and a modulated phase. In FMS the latter phase may result from exchange screening by supercurrents. This unusual critical behaviour is found in two varieties:

1. a regular LP which may occur on the lower transition line of a reentrant FMS
2. a similar but slightly different critical point which we term modified Lifshitz point (MLP), and which is to be expected at the merging point of the upper and lower superconducting transition lines with the magnetic order disorder transition lines in the (x, T) phase diagrams of FMS's.

     

亚稳中间相的电导和其反常超导相变的机理

我们系统地测得了在低温凝聚InSb膜亚稳中间相的不同结构下其σ(T_a)与温度T的关系,发现相应于某些特定σ(T_a)的相变区,样品超导转变的R(T)曲线出现奇异的反常现象。本文提出一个类半导体相和亚稳金属相的混合态模型来解释这些现象,并且按此模型做了理论计算,理论曲线和实验数值较好地符合。 关键词：     

Three-spin interaction Ising model with a nondegenerate ground state at zero applied field

The field-temperature phase diagram of a two-dimensional, three-spin interaction Ising model is studied using two different methods: mean field approximation and numerical transfer matrix techniques. The former leads to a rather rich phase diagram in which two separate phases with different symmetries can be found, and which presents first-order transition lines, a triple point, and a critical end point, like the solid-liquid-gas phase diagram of a pure compound. The numerical transfer matrix study confirms part of these results, but does not clearly evidence the existence of the less symmetric phase.     

Bose–Fermi mixtures in a three-dimensional optical lattice

Using the dynamical mean-field theory and the Gutzwiller method, we study the Mott transition in Bose–Fermi mixtures confined in a three-dimensional optical lattice and analyze the effect of fermions on the coherence of bosons. We conclude that increasing fermion composition reduces bosonic coherence in the presence of strong Bose–Fermi interactions and under the condition of the integer filling factors for composite fermions, which consist of one fermion and one or more bosonic holes. Various phases of the mixtures have been demonstrated including phase separation of two species, coexisting regions of superfluid bosons and fermionic liquids, and Mott regions in the phase space spanned by the chemical potentials of the bosons and the fermions.     

Exploration of the phase diagram of 5D anisotropic SU(2) gauge theory

In this paper we attempt a non-perturbative study of the five-dimensional, anisotropic SU(2) gauge theory on the lattice using Monte Carlo techniques. Our goal is the exploration of the phase diagram, defining the various phases and the critical boundary lines. Three phases appear, two of them are continuations of the Strong and the Weak coupling phases of pure 4d SU(2) to non-zero coupling β^′${\beta }^{\prime }$ in the fifth transverse direction and they are separated by a crossover transition, while the third phase is a 5D Coulombic phase. We provide evidence that the phase transition between the 5D Coulomb phase and the Weak coupling phase is a second order phase transition. Assuming that this result is not altered when increasing the lattice volume we give a first estimate of the associated critical exponents. This opens the possibility for a continuum effective five-dimensional field theory.     

Equilibrium lines and barriers to phase transitions: the cubic diamond to beta-tin transition in Si from first principles

The phase transition between the cubic diamond (cd) and beta-tin (β-Sn) phases of Si under pressure and the region of interaction of the two phases are studied by first-principles total energy calculations. For a non-vibrating crystal we determine the pressure of the thermodynamic phase transition p(t) = 96 kbar, the Gibbs free energy barrier at p(t) of ΔG = 19.6 mRyd/atom that stabilizes the phases against a phase transition and the finite pressure range in which both phases are stable. We show that the phases in that pressure range are completely described by three equilibrium lines of states along which the structure, the total energy E, the hydrostatic pressure p that would stabilize the structure and the values of G all vary. Two equilibrium lines describe the two phases (denoted the ph-eq line, ph is cd or β-Sn phase); a third line is a line of saddle points of G with respect to structure (denoted the sp-eq line) that forms a barrier of larger G against instability of the metastable ranges of the phase lines. An important conclusion is that the sp-eq line merges with the two ph-eq lines: one end of the sp-eq line merges with the cd-eq line at high pressure, the other end merges with the β-Sn-eq line at low pressure. The mergers end the barrier protecting the metastable ranges of the two ph-eq lines, hence the lines go unstable beyond the mergers. The mergers thus simplify the phase diagram by providing a natural termination to the stable parts of all metastable ranges of the ph-eq lines. Although 96 kbar is lower than the experimental transition pressure, we note that phonon pressure raises the observed transition pressure.     

High-pressure phases of hydrogen cyanide: formation of hydrogenated carbon nitride polymers and layers and their electronic properties

We have performed a set of first-principles simulations to consider the possible phase transitions in molecular crystals of HCN under high pressure. Our calculations reveal several transition paths from the orthorhombic phase to tetragonal and then to triclinic phases. The transitions from the orthorhombic to the tetragonal phases are of the second order, whereas those from the tetragonal to the triclinic phases turn out to be of the first-order type and characterized by an abrupt decrease in volume. Our calculations show that, by adjustment of the temperature and pressure of the HCN molecular crystal, novel layered and polymeric crystals with insulating, semiconducting or metallic properties can be found. Based on our simulation results, two different crystal formation mechanisms are deduced. The stabilities of the predicted structures at ambient pressure are further assessed by performing phonon or MD simulations. In addition, the electron transport properties of the predicted polymers are obtained using the non-equilibrium Green's function technique combined with density functional theory. The results show that the polymers have metallic-like I-V characteristics.     

两种扩展Harper模型的波包动力学

本文通过二次矩M₂(t)和概率分布W_n(t)数值地研究了两种扩展Harper模型的波包动力学,得到了这两种模型中各个相、各条临界线以及三相点的波包扩散情况.对于第一种扩展Harper模型,发现两个金属相中波包是弹道扩散的,在绝缘体相中波包不扩散,而在三相点以及各条临界线上波包是反常扩散的.同时,发现金属相—金属相转变的临界线上的波包动力学行为与金属相—绝缘体相转变的临界线上的相同,但三相点的动力学行为与各临 关键词： 金属绝缘体转变 扩展Harper模型 波包动力学     

A dynamical test of phase transition order: New things in old places or old wine in new bottles

We first discuss nonlinear aspects of phase transition theory applied to a particular liquid crystal phase transition. A simple derivation is given to show how two coupled Goldstone modes (one appearing as gauge fluctuations of the ordered phase) can force a phase transition, against all expectations, to take place discontinuously (theory of Halperin, Lubensky, and Ma)-but the discontinuity may be immeasurably small. Then, we describe a new dynamical test of phase transition order, developed by Cladiset al., that turns out to be more sensitive than x-ray diffraction and adiabatic calorimetry. Quantitative data found by this new method are in excellent agreement with the measurements of adiabatic calorimetry and x-ray diffraction as well as expectations implicit in the predictions of HLM.This is the text of an after-banquet talk given at the CNLS Workshop on the Dynamics of Concentrated Systems.     

‘Guest–host’ effect in liquid crystal mixtures

The most important goal of our research is to show the influence of the ‘guest’ (bent-core mesogen, 1,3-phenyldicarboxylatebis{4-[(4-octylbenzoyl)sulphanyl]phenyl} [IFOS8], banana-shaped liquid crystal [BLC]) on the ‘host’ (calamitic liquid crystal [CLC], (S)-(+)-1-methylheptyloxybiphenyl-(4-n-octylphenyl)thiobenzoate [MHOBS8]), on the stability and the destabilization of the antiferroelectric B2 and the ferroelectric smectic C* (SmC*) phases, and change of the temperature ranges of other phases in the binary liquid crystal mixtures. This work is focused on polymorphism of three new binary liquid crystal mixtures, exhibiting a ‘guest–host’ (guest liquid crystal–host liquid crystal [GH-LC]) effect. MHOBS8 has, among others, a ferroelectric SmC* phase, and IFOS8 assumes the B2 phase with antiferroelectric properties. The observed properties of the mixtures, such as variation of the phase transition temperatures, spontaneous polarization, tilt angle and switching time, are characteristic of a ‘guest–host’ mixture. The influence of BLC on the character of the interactions within the CLC host is discussed, with particular attention paid to electro-optical properties of the GH-LC mixtures.