Comments on ‘A New Model for Viscous Dissipation in Porous Media Across a Range of Permeability Values’, Transport in Porous Media 53, 117–122, 2003

Transport in Porous Media -     

Oblique-basis shell-model calculations

A one-dimensional harmonic oscillator in a box is used to introduce the oblique-basis concept. The method is extended to the nuclear shell model by combining traditional spherical shell model states, which yield a diagonal representation of the usual single-particle interaction, with SU(3) shell model collective configurations that track deformation. An application to ²⁴Mg, using the realistic two-body interaction of Wildenthal, is used to explore the validity of this mixed-mode shell-model scheme. The theory is also applied to lower pf-shell nuclei, ^44–48Ti and ⁴⁸Cr, using the Kuo-Brown-3 interaction. These nuclei show strong SU(3) symmetry breaking due mainly to the single-particle spin-orbit splitting. Nevertheless, the results also show that yrast band B(E2) values are insensitive to fragmentation of SU(3) symmetry. Specifically, the quadrupole collectivity as measured by B(E2) strengths remains high even though the SU(3) symmetry is rather badly broken. The results suggest that an oblique-basis mixed-mode shell-model theory may be useful in situations where competing degrees of freedom dominate the dynamics.     

Event-by-event net charge fluctuations

We present analyses of event-by-event dynamical net charge fluctuations measured in 130 and 200 GeV Au+Au collisions with the STAR detector. The dynamical net charge fluctuations are evaluated using the ν _+-,dyn observable. Dynamical fluctuations measured in Au+Au collisions at 130 and 200 GeV are finite, and exceed charge conservation limits. They deviate from a perfect 1/N scaling and provide an indication that the collision dynamics varies with collision centrality.     

Low-threshold interband cascade lasers operating above room temperature

Mid-IR type-II interband cascade lasers were demonstrated in pulsed mode at temperatures up to 325 K and in continuous mode up to 200 K. At 80 K, the threshold current density was 8.9 A/cm² and a continuous wave output power of 140 mW/facet was obtained.     

Properties of backscattered particles produced by protons of energy above 1 TeV in an iron absorber

Backscattered-particle production is studied by means of a detailed simulation of cascade processes in a dense medium. The energy dependence of the albedo and the spatial and angular distributions of various components of this flux are analyzed.     

Modeling of the structure and electronic structure of condensed phases of small fullerenes C<Subscript>28</Subscript> and Zn@C<Subscript>28</Subscript>

A comparative analysis of the stability factors and electronic structure of two possible crystalline forms of small fullerene C₂₈ and endohedral fullerene Zn@C₂₈ with diamond and lonsdaleite structures is performed using a cluster model. Atoms of elements that, when placed inside C₂₈ cages, have no significant effect on the stability of free small-fullerene molecules are shown to be able to dramatically change the electronic properties and reactivity of the C₂₈ skeleton and to be favorable for forming small-fullerene crystalline modifications, which are covalent crystals. In contrast, if the presence of foreign atoms inside C₂₈ cages stabilizes the isolated nanoparticles, then molecular crystals (such as C₆₀ fullerites) are formed due to weak van der Waals forces.     

Special points for calculating integrals over the primitive cell of a periodic system

A method is proposed for constructing appropriate sets of special points in the Brillouin zone in which the extended unit cell method is used with a subsequent shift from the center of the reduced Brillouin zone. The proposed method offers several advantages over the commonly used Monkhorst-Pack method. The difference in the construction of sets of special points for the direct and reciprocal lattices is discussed for crystals belonging to a nonsymmorphic space group. The cases of a planar square lattice and an fcc lattice are considered to illustrate general results.     

Calculation of the vortex pinning energy in a long periodically modulated Josephson contact

An analytical method for evaluating the Josephson and magnetic energies of a vortex, as well as the vortex pinning energy and its components, in a long periodically modulated Josephson contact is suggested. The method allows one to take into account the variation of the vortex shape with the position of the vortex. The results obtained with this method are much closer to those of exact computer analysis compared with results of the conventional techniques. The discrepancy between the exact shape of the vortex and a function obtained by solving a differential equation approximating the exact difference equation is studied.