Thermalization of electron–positron plasma with quantum degeneracy

The non-equilibrium electron–positron–photon plasma thermalization process is studied using relativistic Boltzmann solver, taking into account quantum corrections both in non-relativistic and relativistic cases. Collision integrals are computed from exact QED matrix elements for all binary and triple interactions in the plasma. It is shown that in non-relativistic case (temperatures $k_{B}T\le 0.3m_e{c}^2$) binary interaction rates dominate over triple ones, resulting in establishment of the kinetic equilibrium prior to final relaxation towards the thermal equilibrium, in agreement with the previous studies. On the contrary, in relativistic case (final temperatures $k_{B}T\ge 0.3m_e{c}^2$) triple interaction rates are fast enough to prevent the establishment of kinetic equilibrium. It is shown that thermalization process strongly depends on quantum degeneracy in initial state, but does not depend on plasma composition.     

Photoluminescence decay dynamics of silver/porous-silicon nanocomposites formed by metal-assisted etching

We investigate the photoluminescence (PL) properties of silver/porous-silicon (Ag/PSi) nanocomposites prepared by metal-assisted etching in ${\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{O}/\mathrm{HF}$ solution, on the basis of steady-state and time-resolved PL spectroscopy measurements. The PL intensity and peak position are strongly dependent on the ${\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{O}$ concentration. Time-resolved PL measurements reveal that the nonradiative rate decreases with an increase in the ${\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{O}$ concentration for the Ag/PSi nanocomposites. It is found from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements that the decrease in the nonradiative rate is caused by the formation of ${\mathrm{SiO}}_2$ layers on the PSi surfaces. Further, the number of light-emitting Si nanocrystals in the nanocomposites, which is estimated from the PL decay rate and PL intensity, increases with the ${\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{O}$ concentration. From the wavelength dependence of the PL decay rate, it is found that the nonradiative rate is considerably dispersive, i.e., the shorter the wavelength, the higher the nonradiative rate.     

Effects of photon field on heat transport through a quantum wire attached to leads

We theoretically investigate photo-thermoelectric transport through a quantum wire in a photon cavity coupled to electron reservoirs with different temperatures. Our approach, based on a quantum master equation, allows us to investigate the influence of a quantized photon field on the heat current and thermoelectric transport in the system. We find that the heat current through the quantum wire is influenced by the photon field resulting in a negative heat current in certain cases. The characteristics of the transport are studied by tuning the ratio, $?{\omega }_{\gamma }/k_{\mathrm{B}}\mathrm{\Delta }T$, between the photon energy, $?{\omega }_{\gamma }$, and the thermal energy, $k_{\mathrm{B}}\mathrm{\Delta }T$. The thermoelectric transport is enhanced by the cavity photons when $k_{\mathrm{B}}\mathrm{\Delta }T>?{\omega }_{\gamma }$. By contrast, if $k_{\mathrm{B}}\mathrm{\Delta }T<?{\omega }_{\gamma }$, the photon field is dominant and a suppression in the thermoelectric transport can be found in the case when the cavity-photon field is close to a resonance with the two lowest one-electron states in the system. Our approach points to a new technique to amplify thermoelectric current in nano-devices.     

Estimation of cosmological parameters,stability analysis and energy conditions in viable modified gravity

In the present paper, we have investigated the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) model in viable f(R, T) gravity with f(R, T) function proposed as $f(R,T)=R+\xi T^{1/2},$ where ξ is an arbitrary constant, R is the scalar curvature and T is the trace of stress energy tensor. Defining the scale factor, the field equations are solved numerically and the energy conditions are analyzed. Further, determining Hubble parameter and deceleration parameter, their present values are estimated. Furthermore, 57 redshift data (42 redshift data from Supernova Cosmology project and 15 redshift data from Calán/ Tolono Supernova survey) are used to estimate the age of the universe and to find the best fit curves for luminosity distance and apparent magnitude.     

Superconductivity in transuranium elements and compounds

We present here an overview of the properties of transuranium superconductors, but also of the (non-superconducting) transuranium analogues of uranium superconductors. We briefly review superconductivity in actinide elements and uranium compounds and focus in particular on the ${\text{PuTX}}_5$ ($T=\text{Co},\text{Rh}$; $\text{X}=\text{Ga},\text{In}$) series, the largest superconducting system in actinides and ${\text{NpPd}}_5{\text{Al}}_2$, the so far unique neptunium superconductor. The effects of chemical substitution, ageing and pressure on the properties of transuranium superconductors are also discussed.     

Pressure controllable phase transition in MoTe2 by the interlayer band occupancy

High pressure can effectively control the phase transition of MoTe₂ in experiment, but the mechanism is still unclear. In this work, we show by first-principles calculations that the phase transition is suppressed and $1T^{\prime }$ phase becomes more stable under high pressure, which originates from the pressure-induced change of the interlayer band occupancies near the Fermi energy. Specifically, the interlayer states of $1T^{\prime }$ phase tend to be fully occupied under high pressure, while they keep partially occupied for the $T_d$ phase. The increase of the band occupancies makes the $1T^{\prime }$ phase more favorable in energy and prevents the structure changing from $1T^{\prime }$ to $T_d$ phase. Moreover, we also analyze the superconductivity under high pressure based on BCS theory by calculating the density of states and phonon spectra. Our results may shed some light on understanding the relationship between the interlayer band occupancy and crystal stability of MoTe₂ under high pressures.     

The antiferromagnetic transition for the square-lattice Potts model

We solve in this paper the problem of the antiferromagnetic transition for the Q-state Potts model (defined geometrically for Q generic using the loop/cluster expansion) on the square lattice. This solution is based on the detailed analysis of the Bethe ansatz equations (which involve staggered source terms of the type “real” and “anti-string”) and on extensive numerical diagonalization of transfer matrices. It involves subtle distinctions between the loop/cluster version of the model, and the associated RSOS and (twisted) vertex models. The essential result is that the twisted vertex model on the transition line has a continuum limit described by two bosons, one which is compact and twisted, and the other which is not, with a total central charge $c=2-\frac{6}{t}$, for $\sqrt{Q}=2\cos \frac{\pi }{t}$. The non-compact boson contributes a continuum component to the spectrum of critical exponents. For Q generic, these properties are shared by the Potts model. For Q a Beraha number, i.e., $Q=4{\cos }^2\frac{\pi }{n}$ with n integer, and in particular Q integer, the continuum limit is given by a “truncation” of the two boson theory, and coincides essentially with the critical point of parafermions $Z_{n-2}$.Moreover, the vertex model, and, for Q generic, the Potts model, exhibit a first-order critical point on the transition line—that is, the antiferromagnetic critical point is not only a point where correlations decay algebraically, but is also the locus of level crossings where the derivatives of the free energy are discontinuous. In that sense, the thermal exponent of the Potts model is generically equal to $\nu =\frac{1}{2}$. Things are however profoundly different for Q a Beraha number. In this case, the antiferromagnetic transition is second order, with the thermal exponent determined by the dimension of the ${\psi }_1$ parafermion, $\nu =\frac{t-2}{2}$. As one enters the adjacent “Berker–Kadanoff” phase, the model flows, for t odd, to a minimal model of CFT with central charge $c=1-\frac{6}{(t-1)t}$, while for t even it becomes massive. This provides a physical realization of a flow conjectured long ago by Fateev and Zamolodchikov in the context of $Z_N$ integrable perturbations.Finally, though the bulk of the paper concentrates on the square-lattice model, we present arguments and numerical evidence that the antiferromagnetic transition occurs as well on other two-dimensional lattices.     

On spacelike hypersurfaces of constant sectional curvature lorentz manifolds

Let $x:M^n\to {\overline{M}}^{n+1}$ be an n-dimensional spacelike hypersurface of a constant sectional curvature Lorentz manifold $\overline{M}$. Based on previous work of S. Montiel, L. Alías, A. Brasil and G. Colares studied what can be said about the geometry of M when $\overline{M}$ is a conformally stationary spacetime, with timelike conformal vector field K. For example, if $M^n$ has constant higher order mean curvatures $H_r$ and $H_{r+1}$, they concluded that $M^n$ is totally umbilical, provided $H_{r+1}\ne 0$ on it. If div($K$) does not vanish on $M^n$ they also proved that $M^n$ is totally umbilical, provided it has, a priori, just one constant higher order mean curvature.In this paper, we compute $L_r(S_r)$ for such an immersion, and use the resulting formula to study both r-maximal spacelike hypersurfaces of $\overline{M}$, as well as, in the presence of a constant higher order mean curvature, constraints on the sectional curvature of M that also suffice to guarantee the umbilicity of M. Here, by $L_r$ we mean the linearization of the second order differential operator associated to the r-th elementary symmetric function $S_r$ on the eigenvalues of the second fundamental form of x.     

Experimental determination of interfacial energy for solid Al in the Al-Sn-Mg eutectic system with Bridgman-type apparatus

The equilibrated grain boundary groove shape of solid Al in equilibrium with Al-Sn-Mg eutectic liquid was observed by using a Bridgman type directional solidification apparatus. The ratio of the thermal conductivity of the equilibrated liquid to the thermal conductivity of solid Al has been obtained as 0.91. In addition, the average Gibbs-Thomson coefficient, $\bar{\mathrm{\Gamma }}=(4.20\pm 0.35)\times {10}^{-8}\mathrm{Km}$, the solid-liquid interfacial energy, ${\sigma }_{SL}=180.68\pm 23.48\text{mJ}/{\text{m}}^2$ and the grain boundary energy, ${\sigma }_{GB}=309.30\pm 29.47\text{mJ}/{\text{m}}^2$, in the Al/Al-Sn-Mg system have been calculated from the measured grain boundary shapes.