A mathematical model of the response of the semicircular canal and otolith to vestibular system rotation under gravity

A mathematical model of the system composed of two sensors, the semicircular canal and the sacculus, is suggested. The model is described by three lines of blocks, each line of which has the following structure: a biomechanical block, a mechanoelectrical transduction mechanism, and a block describing the hair cell ionic currents and membrane potential dynamics. The response of this system to various stimuli (head rotation under gravity and falling) is investigated. Identification of the model parameters was done with the experimental data obtained for the axolotl (Ambystoma tigrinum) at the Institute of Physiology, Autonomous University of Puebla, Mexico. Comparative analysis of the semicircular canal and sacculus membrane potentials is presented. __________ Translated from Fundamentalnaya i Prikladnaya Matematika, Vol. 11, No. 7, pp. 207–220, 2005.     

Testing exponentiality against a class of alternatives which includes the RNBUE distributions based on the empirical laplace transform

A scale-free test for exponentiality is proposed which is consistent within an extended set of models, including, but not limited to, the “renewal new better than used in expectation” (RNBUE) class of life distributions. The limiting null distribution of the test statistics is derived, and the approximate local Bahadur efficiency is calculated for several families of alternatives. Finite-sample properties of the proposed procedures are investigated via simulation. Bibliography: 24 titles. __________ Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov POMI, Vol. 339, 2006, pp. 63–77.     

Temporal compression of nanosecond laser pulses using coherent control

We present a study of the temporal compression of nanosecond laser pulses resulting from the coherent control peculiarities of the propagation dynamics in a regime of electromagnetically induced transparency. We describe the general theoretical framework and discuss the crucial conditions required in order to experimentally realize such a temporal compression scheme. A proof-of-concept experimental realization of a scheme of this type in a sample of hot sodium vapors is currently being implemented: we describe in detail the experimental setup designed for this purpose.     

Direct observation of charge-carrier capture in an array of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots

In this work, charge-carrier capture by an array of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots was directly observed for the first time by capacitance recharge. It is proposed to process the obtained transient-capture data by a similar method to that used for emission, by the box-car method. The capture activation energies are determined and compared with the emission activation energies.     

Distortions of the magnetic structure of a thin antiferromagnetic layer in magnetic field

Distortions induced by an external magnetic field in the magnetic structure of a thin layer of a uniaxial collinear antiferromagnet with rough surfaces are studied using computer simulation. It is shown that, under certain conditions, the presence of atomic steps at the layer surfaces causes the antiferromagnetic layer to break up into domains. The character and magnitude of distortions are found for an arbitrary ratio of the distance between atomic steps to the order parameter correlation length. Original Russian Text ? A.I. Morosov, I.A. Morosov, A.S. Sigov, 2007, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2007, Vol. 49, No. 7, pp. 1228–1235.     

On the relationship between the ionization potential and the work function: Metals

A relationship is analyzed between the ionization energy of atoms I and the work function φ of a metal composed of these atoms. The transition energy ∑=I?φ is assumed to be the sum of kinetic K and coulombic C contributions. Contribution K is calculated in the framework of a model of uniform gas of quasi-free electrons, and C is determined from experimental values of Σ. Calculations performed for a wide range of metals have shown that the dimensionless coefficients determining the Coulombic contribution C differ insignificantly between various groups of metals. The relationships obtained have been used for determining the work function of binary alloys.     

Relaxing local modes and the theory of low-frequency Raman scattering in glasses

Raman scattering in glasses is investigated theoretically. The experimental Raman spectra of glasses exhibit a low-frequency peak (at ～10 cm^?1) that, as a rule, is attributed to vibrational modes of nanometer-sized structural units (nanocrystallites). It is established that the elastic moduli of nanocrystallites must necessarily be dependent on their sizes due to the Laplace pressure effect. A theory of the low-frequency peak is constructed using a realistic size distribution function of nanocrystallites with allowance made for the Laplace pressure effect and the dissipation of vibrational energy. Within this theory, the shape of the low-frequency peak and its evolution with temperature can be analyzed quantitatively. The proposed approach offers a physical interpretation of the experimental data and provides insight into the relation of the characteristic nanocrystallite sizes to the elastic moduli and surface tension coefficients of materials.