Low frequency dynamics of disordered XY spin chains and pinned density waves: from localized spin waves to soliton tunneling

A long-standing problem of the low-energy dynamics of a disordered XY spin chain is reexamined. The case of a rigid chain is studied, where the quantum effects can be treated quasiclassically. It is shown that, as the frequency decreases, the relevant excitations change from localized spin waves to two-level systems to soliton-antisoliton pairs. The linear-response correlation functions are calculated. The results apply to other periodic glassy systems such as pinned density waves, planar vortex lattices, stripes, and disordered Luttinger liquids.     

Study of Ca-ATMP precipitation in the presence of magnesium ion

ATMP (aminotri(methylenephosphonic acid)), a phosphonate scale inhibitor used in the petroleum industry, was used as a model scale inhibitor in this study. One of the goals of this work was to determine the range of conditions under which Mg ions, which are formed in reservoir formations containing dolomite, modulate the formation of Ca-ATMP precipitate as a scale inhibitor. The results revealed that the amount of ATMP precipitated decreased with addition of Mg ions in solution at all values of the solution pH. Furthermore, an increase in both the solution pH and the concentration of the divalent cations in solution resulted in a change of the molar ratio of (Ca + Mg) to ATMP in the precipitates. At a low solution pH (pH 1.5), Mg ions had little effect on the composition of the Ca-ATMP precipitate. However, at higher values of the solution pH (pH 4 and 7), the Ca to ATMP molar ratio in the precipitates decreased with increasing concentration of the Mg. Here it was found that Mg ions replaced Ca ions on available reactive sites of ATMP molecules. These results determined the limits of the Mg ion concentration, which affects the precipitation of Ca-ATMP, Mg-ATMP, and (Ca + Mg)-ATMP. The dissolution of the scale inhibitors was studied using a rotating disk reactor. These experiments showed that the total divalent cation molar ratio (Ca + Mg) to ATMP in the precipitates is the primary factor that controls the rate of dissolution (release) of the phosphonate precipitates. The phosphonate precipitate dissolution rates decreased as the molar ratio of divalent cations to ATMP in the precipitates increased.     

The onset of coulomb explosions in polyatomic molecules

With the development of high intensity femtosecond lasers, the ionisation and dissociation dynamics of molecules has become an area of considerable interest. Using the technique of femtosecond laser mass spectrometry (FLMS), the molecules carbon disulphide, pyrimidine, toluene, cyclohexanone and benzaldehyde are studied with pulse widths of 50 fs in the near infrared (IR) wavelength region (790 nm). Results are presented and contrasted for laser beam intensities around 10(15) and 10(16) W cm(-2). For the lower intensities, the mass spectra yield dominant singly charged parent ions. Additionally, the appearance of doubly charged parent ions is evident for carbon disulphide, toluene and benzaldehyde with envelopes of doubly charged satellite species existing in these local regions. Carbon disulphide also reveals a small triply charged component. Such atomic-like features are thought to be a strong fingerprint of FLMS at these intensities. However, upon increasing the laser intensity to approximately 10(16) W cm(-2), parent ion dominance decreases and the appearance of multiply charged atomic species occurs, particularly carbon. This phenomenon has been attributed to Coulomb explosions in which the fast absorption of many photons may produce transient highly ionised parent species which can subsequently blow apart. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamic density of states of two-dimensional GaAs systems near the apparent metal-insulator transition

We perform combined resistivity and compressibility studies of two-dimensional hole and electron systems which show the apparent metal-insulator transition--a crossover in the sign of deltaR/deltaT with changing density. No thermodynamic anomalies have been detected in the crossover region. Instead, despite a tenfold difference in r(s), the compressibility of both electrons and holes is well described by the theory of nonlinear screening of the random potential. We show that the resistivity exhibits a scaling behavior near the percolation threshold found from analysis of the compressibility. Notably, the percolation transition occurs at a much lower density than the crossover.     

Understanding the dissolution of zeolites

Scientific knowledge of how zeolites, a unique classification of microporous aluminosilicates, undergo dissolution in aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions is limited. Understanding the dissolution of zeolites is fundamental to a number of processes occurring in nature and throughout industry. To better understand the dissolution process, experiments were carried out establishing that the Si-to-Al ratio controls zeolite framework dissolution, by which the selective removal of aluminum constrains the removal of silicon. Stoichiometric dissolution is observed for Type 4A zeolite in HCl where the Si-to-Al ratio is equal to 1.0. Framework silicon dissolves completely during Type 4A dissolution and is followed by silicate precipitation. However, for the zeolite analcime which has a Si-to-Al ratio of 2.0 dissolves non-stoichiometrically as the selective removal of aluminum results in partially dissolved silicate particles followed by silicate precipitation. In Type Y zeolite, exhibiting a Si-to-Al ratio of 3.0, there is insufficient aluminum to weaken the structure and cause silicon to dissolve in HCl. Thus, little or no precipitation is observed, and amorphous undissolvable silicate particles remain intact. The initial dissolution rates of Type Y and 4A zeolites demonstrate that dissolution is constrained by the number of available reaction sites, and a selective removal rate parameter is applied to delineate the mechanism of particle dissolution by demonstrating the kinetic influence of the Si-to-Al ratio. Zeolite framework models are constructed and used to undergird the basic dissolution mechanism. The framework models, scanning electron micrographs of partially dissolved crystals, and experimentally measured dissolution rates all demonstrate that a zeolite's Si-to-Al framework ratio plays a universal role in the dissolution mechanism, independent of framework type. Consequently, the unique mechanism of zeolite dissolution has general implications on how petroleum reservoir stimulation treatments should be designed.     

Hydrogenic systems,frequency standards and fundamental constants

Hydrogenic (two-body) systems are the only atomic systems for which uncertainties in calculations of the energy levels approach the current state of the art in frequency measurement. This article discusses progress in the theory and measurement of transition frequencies in hydrogenic systems. These studies have relevance to the determination of fundamental constants and the testing of physical theories, especially quantum electrodynamics. A set of high accuracy calculable frequency standards could also be realized by using hydrogenic systems.