The Critical Attractive Random Polymer in Dimension One

A polymer chain with attractive and repulsive forces between the building blocks is modeled by attaching a weight e ^– for every self-intersection and e ^/(2d) for every self-contact to the probability of an n-step simple random walk on ^d , where , >0 are parameters. It is known that for d=1 and > the chain collapses down to finitely many sites, while for d=1 and < it spreads out ballistically. Here we study for d=1 the critical case = corresponding to the collapse transition and show that the end-to-end distance runs on the scale _n = (log n)^–1/4. We describe the asymptotic shape of the accordingly scaled local times in terms of an explicit variational formula and prove that the scaled polymer chain occupies a region of size _n times a constant. Moreover, we derive the asymptotics of the partition function.     

A new determination of the γπ → ππ anomalous amplitude via πe<Superscript>-</Superscript> → π<Superscript>-</Superscript>e<Superscript>-</Superscript>π<Superscript>0</Superscript> data

We discuss the reaction π^-e^- → π^-e^-π⁰ with the purpose of obtaining information on the γπ → ππ anomalous amplitude _3π. We compare a full calculation at (p⁶) in chiral perturbation theory and various phenomenological predictions with the existing data of Amendolia et al. By integrating our theory results using Monte Carlo techniques, we obtain σ = 2.05 nb at (p⁶) and σ = 2.17 nb after including the dominant electromagnetic correction. Both results are in good agreement with the experimental cross-section of σ = (2.11±0.47) nb. On the basis of the ChPT results one would extract from the experimental cross-section as amplitudes _3π^(0)extr = (9.9±1.1) GeV^-3 and _3π^(0)extr = (9.6±1.1) GeV^-3, respectively, which have to be compared with the low-energy theorem _3π = e/(4π²F_π³) = 9.72GeV^-3. We emphasize the need for new data to allow for a comparison of experimental and theoretical distributions and to obtain _3π with smaller uncertainty.     

Power law polydispersity and fractal structure of hyperbranched polymers

Using the complementary approaches of Flory theory and the overlap function, we study the molecular weight distribution and conformation of hyperbranched polymers formed by the melt polycondensation of A-R_N0-B_{f - 1} monomers in their reaction bath close to the mean field gel point p_A = 1, where p_A is the fraction of reacted A groups. Here , N₀ is the degree of polymerisation of the linear spacer linking the A group and the f-1 B groups and condensation occurs exclusively between the A and B groups. For , we assume that the number density of hyperbranched polymers with degree of polymerisation N generally obeys the scaling form and we explicitly show that this scaling assumption is correct in the mean field regime (here N_l is the largest characteristic degree of polymerisation and the function cuts off the power law sharply for ). We find the upper critical dimension for this system is d_c = 4, so that for the mean field values for the polydispersity exponent and fractal dimension apply: , d_f = 4. For d = 3, mean field theory is still correct for where is the Ginzburg point; for , mean field theory applies on small mass scales N<N_c but breaks down on larger mass scales N>N_c where is a cross-over mass. Within the Ginzburg zone (i.e., d<d_c, ), we show that the hyperbranched chains on mass scales N>N_c are non-Gaussian with fractal dimension given by d_f = d (for d = 2,3,4). Our results are qualitatively different from those of the percolation model and indicate that the polycondensation of AB_f-1, unlike polymer gelation, is not described by percolation theory. Instead many of our results are similar to those for a monodisperse melt of randomly branched polymers, a consequence of the fact that so that polydispersity is irrelevant for excluded volume screening in hyperbranched polymer melts.Received: 15 December 2003, Published online: 2 March 2004PACS: 82.35.-x Polymers: properties; reactions; polymerization - 05.70.Jk Critical point phenomena     

Finite- N effects for ideal polymer chains near a flat impenetrable wall

This paper addresses the statistical mechanics of ideal polymer chains next to a hard wall. The principal quantity of interest, from which all monomer densities can be calculated, is the partition function, G _N(z) , for a chain of N discrete monomers with one end fixed a distance z from the wall. It is well accepted that in the limit of infinite N , G _N(z) satisfies the diffusion equation with the Dirichlet boundary condition, G _N(0) = 0 , unless the wall possesses a sufficient attraction, in which case the Robin boundary condition, G _N(0) = - G _N ^′(0) , applies with a positive coefficient, . Here we investigate the leading N ^-1/2 correction, G _N(z) . Prior to the adsorption threshold, G _N(z) is found to involve two distinct parts: a Gaussian correction (for z aN ^1/2 with a model-dependent amplitude, A , and a proximal-layer correction (for z a described by a model-dependent function, B(z) .     

Polymer translocation in a double-force arrangement

Using Langevin dynamics simulations, we investigate the translocation dynamics of an externally driven polymer chain through a nanopore, where a pulling force F is exerted on the first monomer whilst there is an opposing force F _E < F within the pore. Such a double-force arrangement has been proposed recently to allow better dynamical control of the translocation process in order to sequence biopolymers. We find that in the double-force arrangement translocation becomes slower as compared to the case under a single monomer pulling force of magnitude F - F _E , but scaling of the translocation time as a function of the chain length ∼ N ² does not change. The waiting time (m) for monomer m to exit the pore is found to be a monotonically increasing function of the bead number almost until m N , which indicates relatively well-defined slowing down and control of the chain velocity during translocation. We also study the waiting time distributions for the beads in the chain, and characterize in detail fluctuations in the bead positions and their transverse position coordinates during translocation. These data should be useful in estimating position-dependent sequencing errors in double-force experiments.     

Transverse energy per charged particle at relativistic energies from a statistical model with expansion

Transverse-energy and charged-particle pseudorapidity densities at midrapidity and their ratio, dE_T/d|_mid/dN_ch/d|_mid, are evaluated in a statistical model with longitudinal and transverse flows for the wide range of colliders, from AGS to RHIC at = 200 GeV. Evaluations are done at freeze-out parameters obtained from independent fits to observed particle yields and p_T spectra. Decays of hadron resonances are treated thoroughly and are included in derivations of dE_T/d|_mid and dN_ch/d|_mid. The predictions of the model agree well with the experimental data. However, some (explicable) overestimation of the ratio has been observed.     

On integrability of generalized Veronese curves of distributions

Given a 1-parameter family of 1-forms γ(t) = γ₀+tγ₁+ ···+tⁿψ_n, consider the condition dγ(t)γ(t) = 0 (of integrability for the annihilated by γ(t) distribution w(t)). We prove that in order that this condition is satisfied for any t it is sufficient that it is satisfied for N = n + 3 different values of t (the corresponding implication for N = 2n + 1 is obvious). In fact we give a stronger result dealing with distributions of higher codimension. This result is related to the so-called Veronese webs and can be applied in the theory of bihamiltonian structures.     

The extraction of total cross section from

We report on the first measurement of the differential cross section of -meson photoproduction for the d(γ,pK⁺K⁻)n exclusive reaction channel. The experiment was performed using a tagged-photon beam and the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at Jefferson Lab. A combined analysis using data from the d(γ,pK⁺K⁻)n channel and those from a previous publication on coherent production on the deuteron has been carried out to extract the −N total cross section, σ_N. The extracted −N total cross section favors a value above 20 mb. This value is larger than the value extracted using vector-meson dominance models for photoproduction on the proton.     

Mechanical instabilities of bubble clusters between parallel walls

We have carried out a systematic study of buckling-like mechanical instabilities in simple two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) symmetric foam clusters sandwiched between parallel planar walls. These instabilities occur when the wall separation w is reduced below a critical value, w^*, for which the foam surface energy E reaches its minimum, E^*. The clusters under investigation consist of either a single bubble, or of twin bubbles of fixed equal sizes (areas A in 2D or volumes V in 3D), which are either free to slide or pinned at the confining walls. We have numerically obtained w^* for both free and pinned 2D and 3D clusters. Furthermore, we have calculated the buckled configurations of 2D twin bubbles, either free or pinned, and of 3D free twin bubbles, whose energy is independent of w and equal to the minimum energy E^* of the unbuckled state. Finally, we have also predicted the critical w_t^* at which the terminal configurations under extension of 2D and 3D single and twin bubbles are realised. Experimental illustrations of these transitions under compression and extension are presented. Our results, together with others from the literature, suggest that a bubble cluster bounded by two parallel walls is stable only if the normal force it exerts on the walls is attractive, i.e., if dE/dw > 0; clusters that cause repulsion between the walls are unstable. We correlate this with the distribution of film orientations: films in a stable cluster cannot be too parallel to the confining walls; rather, their average tilt must be larger than for a random distribution of film orientations.     

On the spectrum of a random walk on the discrete Heisenberg group and the norm of Harper''s operator

Harper's operator is the self-adjoint operator on defined by

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. We first show that the determination of the spectrum of the transition operator on the Cayley graph of the discrete Heisenberg group in its standard presentation, is equivalent to the following upper bond on the norm of H_θ,: H_{θ,≤ 2(1 + √2 + cos(2πθ))}. We then prove this bound by reducing it to a problem on periodic Jacobi matrices, viewing H_θ, as the image of H_θ = U_θ + _θ^* + V_θ + V_θ^* in a suitable representation of the rotation algebra A_θ. We also use powers of H_θ to obtain various upper and lower bounds on H_θ = maxH_θ,. We show that “Fourier coefficients” of H_θ^k in A_θ have a combinatorial interpretation in terms of paths in the square lattice ². This allows us to give some applications to asymptotics of lattice paths combinatorics.     

Comparative Regge analysis of Λ,ΣΛ(1520) and Θ<Superscript>+</Superscript> production in γp,πp and pp reactions

Using the Quark-Gluon Strings Model --combined with Regge phenomenology-- we perform a comparative analysis of Λ, Σ⁰, Λ(1520) and Θ⁺ production in binary reactions induced by photon, pion and proton beams on the nucleon. We find that the existing experimental data on the γp↦K⁺Λ differential and total cross-sections can be described very well by the model for photon energies 1-16 GeV and - t < 2 GeV² assuming a dominant contribution of the K^* Regge trajectory. Moreover, using the same parameters we also reproduce the total γp↦K⁺Σ⁰ and γp↦K⁺Λ(1520) cross-sections suggesting a “universality” of the Regge model. In order to check the consistency of the approach we evaluate the differential and total cross-sections for the reaction π^-p↦K⁰Λ which is also found to be dominated by the K^* Regge trajectory. Using the apparent “universality” of the Regge model we extend our scheme to the analysis of the binary reactions γp↦¯⁰Θ⁺, π^-p↦K^-Θ⁺ and pp↦Σ⁺Θ⁺ as well as the exclusive and inclusive Θ⁺ production in the reactions pp↦p¯⁰Θ⁺ and pp↦Θ⁺X. Our detailed studies demonstrate that Θ⁺ production does not follow the “universality” principle, thus suggesting an essentially different internal structure of the exotic baryon relative to conventional hyperons or hyperon resonances.     

Pentaquarks

I discuss the recent experimental and theoretical developments following the discovery of the Θ⁺ pentaquark – an exotic baryon resonance observed by several experiments, and Ξ^*−− reported by NA49. I focus on the theoretical interpretation of the data, on the predictions for related exotic states, and on several unresolved questions: Why some experiments observe the pentaquarks and others do not, the apparently extremely narrow width of the Θ⁺, and the determination of its parity. I also discuss the proposed heavy-quark pentaquarks – , which are expected to be extremely narrow or even stable against strong decays. H1 recently reported the observation of a possible Θ_c candidate in D^*−p channel. Pentaquarks are also being searched for in e⁺ e⁻ and γγ in the LEP data and at B-factories.     

Crossover scaling function for the free energy

A cubic field, coupling tos|s|², inn-component spin models induces a bicritical crossover fromn-isotropic to Ising like (m=1) critical behaviour for 1<n<, but to classical behaviour in the limitn. By following the analysis of Nelson and Domany, the bicritical scaling function for the free energy ind dimensions is obtained correct to order =4–d and for general (m,n). The mechanism responsible for the breakdown of hyperscaling in the classical behaviour is discussed.     

How to compute the thermal quarkonium spectral function from first principles?

In the limit of a high temperature T and a large quark-mass M, implying a small gauge coupling g, the heavy quark contribution to the spectral function of the electromagnetic current can be computed systematically in the weak-coupling expansion. We argue that the scale hierarchy relevant for addressing the disappearance (“melting”) of the resonance peak from the spectral function reads MT>g²M>gTg⁴M, and review how the heavy scales can be integrated out one-by-one, to construct a set of effective field theories describing the low-energy dynamics. The parametric behaviour of the melting temperature in the weak-coupling limit is specified.     

Diffusion in layered random flows,polymers, electrons in random potentials,and spin depolarization in random fields

Several related models are studied in a common framework. We first reconsider the model of Matheron and de Marsilly for (anomalous) tracer dispersion in a stratified porous medium. In each horizontal layer the flow velocity is constant, parallel to the layer, and depends randomly on the vertical coordinate z. This model is mapped onto ad=1 localization problem in a random potential and, equivalently, onto ad=1 polymer. At larget theaveraged distribution of horizontal displacementsx takes the scaling form [P(x, t, z=0)]=at ^–5/4 Q(bxt ^–3/4), whereQ(y) is independent of the details of the model.Q(y),a, andb are obtained exactly for a large class of models. From the Lifschitz tails of the localization problem we find in the regionxt ^3/4, i.e.,y, thatQ(y)¦y¦ exp(–C¦y¦^4/3). We also obtain exactly ind=1 the scaling functions for the local and total average magnetization of spins diffusing in a random magnetic field, by mapping onto a polymer problem, as well as the average local concentration for diffusion in the presence of random sources and sinks. These mappings are then used to study higher-dimensional extensions of these models.     

Weak violation of universality for polyelectrolyte chains: Variational theory and simulations

A variational approach is considered to calculate the free energy and the conformational properties of a polyelectrolyte chain in d dimensions. We consider in detail the case of pure Coulombic interactions between the monomers, when screening is not present, in order to compute the end-to-end distance and the asymptotic properties of the chain as a function of the polymer chain length N. We find R≃N ^ν(log N)^γ, where ν = and λ is the exponent which characterizes the long-range interaction U∝ 1/r ^λ. The exponent γ is shown to be non-universal, depending on the strength of the Coulomb interaction. We check our findings by a direct numerical minimization of the variational energy for chains of increasing size 2⁴ < N < 2¹⁵. The electrostatic blob picture, expected for small enough values of the interaction strength, is quantitatively described by the variational approach. We perform a Monte Carlo simulation for chains of length 2⁴ < N < 2¹⁰. The non-universal behavior of the exponent γ previously derived within the variational method is also confirmed by the simulation results. Non-universal behavior is found for a polyelectrolyte chain in d = 3 dimension. Particular attention is devoted to the homopolymer chain problem, when short-range contact interactions are present. Received 8 August 2000 and Received in final form 19 December 2000     

Principal Fibrations from Noncommutative Spheres

We construct noncommutative principal fibrations S_θ⁷→S_θ⁴ which are deformations of the classical SU(2) Hopf fibration over the four sphere. We realize the noncommutative vector bundles associated to the irreducible representations of SU(2) as modules of coequivariant maps and construct corresponding projections. The index of Dirac operators with coefficients in the associated bundles is computed with the Connes-Moscovici local index formula. “The algebra inclusion is an example of a not-trivial quantum principal bundle.”     

The effects of thermal annealing on the relaxation of rubbing-induced birefringence in polystyrene

We have conducted a systematic study on the effects of post rubbing annealing on the relaxation of rubbing-induced birefringence of polystyrene. It is found that annealing at T₀ only affects the relaxation up to T₀ + T_Lag, where T_Lag is proportional to the logarithm of the annealing time t_A. A theoretical model based on the distribution of relaxation times due to the individual birefringence elements is proposed. To remove its contribution to the net birefringence each element must overcome an energy barrier E = (317 + 1.17ξ)×10³ J/mol, and therefore must have a characteristic relaxation time τ which depends on temperature T and a barrier height which ranges from 340.4 kJ/mol to 445.7 kJ/mol. The relaxation of birefringence is expressed by the equation NB(T, t) = N(ξ)e^-t/τ(T,ξ)dξ, in which both the relaxation time τ(T,ξ) and the distribution function N(ξ) can be extracted from experimental data. The predictions of the model agree well with all the experimental results presented in this work. The differences and similarities of the relaxation of birefringence with respect to the physical aging of quenched PS are discussed. In particular, similarities in terms of the general temperature lag phenomena are noted.     

Resonances and the Weinberg-Tomozawa 56-baryon-35-meson interaction

Vector meson degrees of freedom are incorporated into the Weinberg-Tomozawa (WT) meson-baryon chiral Lagrangian by using a scheme which relies on spin-flavor SU(6) symmetry. The corresponding Bethe-Salpeter approximation successfully reproduces previous SU(3)-flavor WT results for the lowest-lying s-wave negative-parity baryon resonances, and it also provides some information on the dynamics of the heavier ones. Moreover, it also predicts the existence of an isoscalar spin-parity ^- K^*N bound state (strangeness +1) with a mass around 1.7-1.8GeV, unstable through K^* decay. Neglecting d-wave KN decays, this state turns out to be quite narrow ( Γ≤15MeV) and it might provide clear signals in reactions like γp→ˉ⁰ pK ⁺ π ^- by looking at the three-body pK ⁺ π ^- invariant mass.