Theory of interfacial phase transitions in surfactant systems

The spin-1 Ising model, which is equivalent to the three-component lattice gas model, is used to study wetting transitions in three-component surfactant systems consisting of an oil, water, and a nonionic surfactant. Phase equilibria, interfacial profiles, and interfacial tensions for three-phase equilibrium are determined in mean field approximation, for a wide range of temperature and interaction parameters. Surfactant interaction parameters are found to strongly influence interfacial tensions, reducing them in some cases to ultralow values. Interfacial tensions are used to determine whether the middle phase, rich in surfactant, wets or does not wet the interface between the oil-rich and water-rich phases. By varying temperature and interaction parameters, a wetting transition is located and found to be of the first order. Comparison is made with recent experimental results on wetting transitions in ternary surfactant systems.This paper is dedicated to J. K. Percus in honor of his 65th birthday.     

Images of a Bose-Einstein condensate in position and momentum space

In the Bogoliubov theory, a condensate initially prepared in its ground state described by a stationary Bogoliubov vacuum and later perturbed by a time-dependent potential or interaction strength evolves into a time-dependent excited state which is a dynamical Bogoliubov vacuum. The dynamical vacuum has a simple diagonal form in a time-dependent orthonormal basis of single-particle modes. This diagonal representation leads to a Gaussian probability distribution for possible density-measurement outcomes in position and momentum space.     

Analogue of a spin flop phase transition for an array of magnetic moments with dipole interaction

In a two-dimensional array of magnetic moments with planar magnetization and relatively weak anisotropy in the basal plane, a stepwise phase transition is induced by an external magnetic field parallel to the easy axis of the system. This transition is similar to the spin flop phase transition in weakly anisotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnets with the significant difference that it is accompanied by the rearrangement of the sublattice structure of the magnet; i.e., it can be interpreted as a topological transition. The transition should manifest itself for arrays of submicron magnetic particles (magnetic dots) on nonmagnetic substrates, which have recently become the object of intensive research.     

Luminescence investigations of the GaP-based dilute nitride Ga(NAsP) material system

Multi-quantum well heterostructures (MQWHs) of the novel Ga(NAsP)/GaP material system have been grown, pseudomorphically strained to GaP-substrate. The crystalline perfection is verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For As-concentrations in excess of about 70%, a direct band structure and adequate luminescence efficiency for laser device application is observed. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) investigations show the influence of carrier localisation and non-radiative recombination processes typical for dilute nitride materials. With rising N content in the active material, the emission wavelength shifts towards longer wavelength, leading to Ga(NAs)/GaP MQW structures with photon energies below the indirect band gap of silicon (Si). At the same time the luminescence intensity drops due to an increase in non-radiative carrier traps and/or structural degradation.     

Double-layer structural-acoustic coupling for cylindrical shell by using a combination of WDA and BIE

This work formulates the double-layer structural-acoustic coupling problem for cylindrical shell by using a combination of the wave-number domain approach (WDA) and the boundary integral equation (BIE). Expressions for the spectral radial velocity of the outer surface of a finite fluid-filled/submerged (FFS) cylindrical thin shell are formulated by means of the transfer matrix equation in wave-number domain. It is shown that the spectral variables on the inner surface of the shell are related to those on the outer surface of the shell. The far field sound radiation from this kind of shell is numerically evaluated for various fluid cases. An experimental verification is performed, and a good correlation between the theoretical results and the experimental results shows that the theoretical study work in this paper is correct.     

Non-linear Stability of Modulated Fronts¶for the Swift–Hohenberg Equation

We consider front solutions of the Swift–Hohenberg equation ∂ _t u= -(1+ ∂ _x ²)² u + ɛ² u -u ³. These are traveling waves which leave in their wake a periodic pattern in the laboratory frame. Using renormalization techniques and a decomposition into Bloch waves, we show the non-linear stability of these solutions. It turns out that this problem is closely related to the question of stability of the trivial solution for the model problem ∂ _t u(x,t) = ∂ _x ² u (x,t)+(1+tanh(x-ct))u(x,t)+u(x,t) ^p with p>3. In particular, we show that the instability of the perturbation ahead of the front is entirely compensated by a diffusive stabilization which sets in once the perturbation has hit the bulk behind the front. Received: 23 February 2001 / Accepted: 27 August 2001     

Cosmic dust and our origins

The small solid particles in the space between the stars provide the surfaces for the production of many simple and complex molecules. Processes involving the effects of ultraviolet irradiation of the thin (hundredth micron) mantles are shown to produce a wide range of molecules and ions also seen in comets. Some of the more complex ones inferred from laboratory experiments are expected to play an important role in the origin of life. An outline of the chemical evolution of interstellar dust as observed and as studied in the laboratory is presented. Observations of comets are shown to provide substantial evidence for their being fluffy aggregates of interstellar dust as it was in the protosolar nebula, i.e. the interstellar cloud which collapsed to form the solar system. The theory that comets may have brought the progenitors of life to the earth is summarized.     

A MODEL OF TROPICAL MARINE RESERVE‐FISHERY LINKAGES

ABSTRACT. The excessive and unsustainable exploitation of our marine resources has led to the promotion of marine reserves as a fisheries management tool. Marine reserves, areas in which fishing is restricted or prohibited, can offer opportunities for the recovery of exploited stock and fishery enhancement. In this paper we examine the contribution of fully protected tropical marine reserves to fishery enhancement by modeling marine reserve‐fishery linkages. The consequences of reserve establishment on the long‐run equilibrium fish biomass and fishery catch levels are evaluated. In contrast to earlier models this study highlights the roles of both adult (and juvenile) fish migration and larval dispersal between the reserve and fishing grounds by employing a spawner‐recruit model. Uniform larval dispersal, uniform larval retention and complete larval retention combined with zero, moderate and high fish migration scenarios are analyzed in turn. The numerical simulations are based on Mombasa Marine National Park, Kenya, a fully protected coral reef marine reserve comprising approximately 30% of former fishing grounds. Simulation results suggest that the establishment of a fully protected marine reserve will always lead to an increase in total fish biomass. If the fishery is moderately to heavily exploited, total fishery catch will be greater with the reserve in all scenarios of fish and larval movement. If the fishery faces low levels of exploitation, catches can be optimized without a reserve but with controlled fishing effort. With high fish migration from the reserve, catches are optimized with the reserve. The optimal area of the marine reserve depends on the exploitation rate in the neighboring fishing grounds. For example, if exploitation is maintained at 40%, the ‘optimal’ reserve size would be 10%. If the rate increases to 50%, then the reserve needs to be 30% of the management area in order to maximize catches. However, even in lower exploitation fisheries (below 40%), a small reserve (up to 20%) provides significantly higher gains in fish biomass than losses in catch. Marine reserves are a valuable fisheries management tool. To achieve maximum fishery benefits they should be complemented by fishing effort controls.