Self-dual Chern–Simons Vortices on Bounded Domains

In this Letter we consider the Abelian Chern–Simons vortices on a bounded simply connected domain. We establish the existence of solutions for the self-duality equations. We prove the uniqueness of solutions when all the vortex points are equal and the domain is star-shaped. We also show the radial symmetry of solutions on balls centered at the vortex point.     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble polyimides containing trifluoromethyl groups in their backbone

A series of polyimides were synthesized from 2,2‐Bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane, 2,2‐bis(3‐amino‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐hexafluoropropane, and 4,4′‐oxydianiline by chemical imidization. The effects of the diamine ratios on the properties of the films were evaluated through the study of their thermal, electrical, and morphological properties. All the polymers exhibited better solubility in most of the organic solvents and hence were easily processable. Polyimides with more 2,2‐bis(3‐amino‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐hexafluoropropane exhibited better solubility and a low refractive index, which is highly desired for microelectronic applications. The dielectric constant and birefringence were strongly dependent on the fluorine content. With an increase in the fluorine substitution, both the dielectric constant and birefringence decreased. All the polymers exhibited high thermal stability (>400 °C). The absence of crystalline melting in differential scanning calorimetry and broad wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction patterns revealed the amorphous nature of the polymers, which was due to the presence of bulky CF₃ groups and hinged ether linkages of the diamine component. The residual stress values decreased with an increase in the 4,4′‐oxydianiline content, and the results were in agreement with the dielectric constant. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4303–4312, 2004     

Coverage dependent magnetic properties of Co chain-coated carbon nanotube

Magnetic properties of Co chain-coated carbon nanotube (CNT) were investigated using a first-principles calculation. Binding energy between Co chain and CNT increased with the coverage ratio, and the adsorption of Co chains on CNT enhanced the conductance channel. Total magnetic moment of Co chains coated on CNT increased with the coverage ratio, while the magnetic moment per Co atom decreased due to spin flip of majority spin states in Co atoms. Spin polarization at the Fermi level of the Co chains was calculated to converge to that of bulk fcc Co.     

Surface morphologies of anthracene single crystals grown from vapor phase

The morphologies and lattice structures of anthracene single crystals grown from the vapor phase were investigated using optical microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction analysis. Common morphologies with hexagonal large planes were observed irrespective of crystal size. The observation of certain surface morphologies with a phase contrast microscopy revealed that the spiral steps originated from screw dislocations present on the (0 0 1) planes. Moreover, the center and edge of the (0 0 1) planes had large curvatures, similar to hills. Resultantly, quarter-monolayer (ML) steps were observed on the large and flat planes between both hills.     

Adsorbed state and vibrational excitation of N2 on Pd(110)

High-resolution vibrational electron energy loss spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy have been used to study the interactions of nitrogen with the Pd(110) surface. At 120 K, N₂ is chemisorbed molecularly on the Pd(110) surface, and the (2 × 1)-N₂ structure is formed. Most probably, the N₂ molecules are chemisorbed in the on-top sites of the bulk-like Pd(110) surface in the upright-linear structure. The Pd---N₂ bond energy is estimated to be ˜ 6 kcal/mol. The Pd---N₂ and N---N stretching vibrations of N₂ admolecules on Pd(110) are observed at 30 and 278 meV, respectively. The primary-energy dependence and angle dependence of their excitation cross sections agree reasonably well with the prediction of the dipole theory. The electron beam-induced effects are briefly discussed.     

Paying the Price for Sugar and Spice: Shifting the Analytical Lens in Equity Research

The analytical stance taken by equity researchers in education, the methodologies employed, and the interpretations that are drawn from data all have an enormous impact on the knowledge that is produced about sources of inequality. In the 1970s and 1980s, a great deal of interest was given to the issue of women's and girls' underachievement in mathematics. This prompted numerous different research projects that investigated the extent and nature of the differences between girls' and boys' achievement and offered reasons why such disparities occurred. This work contributed to a discourse on gender and mathematics that flowed through the media channels and into schools, homes, and the workplace. In this article, I consider some of the scholarship on gender and mathematics, critically examining the findings that were produced and the influence they had. In the process, I propose a fundamental tension in research on equity, as scholars walk a fine and precarious line between lack of concern on the one hand and essentialism on the other. I argue in this article that negotiating that tension may be the most critical role for equity researchers as we move into the future.     

Effect of biotransformation on multispecies plume evolution and natural attenuation

Biological transformation of volatile organic compounds is one of the key factors that influence contaminant-plume evolution and thus natural attenuation. In this study we investigate the effect of biological transformation on the transport of contaminants in the aqueous and gaseous phases. The analysis includes the study of the effect of density-driven advection of contaminants in the gaseous phase on multiphase and multispecies flow, fate and transport modeling in the subsurface. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and its two byproducts, dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride, are analyzed as the target contaminants. Our results indicate that density-driven advection of the gaseous phase, which is initiated by evaporation of TCE as a nonaqueous phase liquid, increases the downward and also the lateral migration of TCE within the unsaturated zone. This process also influences the location of high-concentration zones of the byproducts of TCE in the unsaturated and the saturated zones. Biotransformation of TCE contributes to the reduction of dissolved TCE plume development as expected. The daughter byproducts, which are introduced into the subsurface system, show distinct transport patterns as they are affected by their independent degradation kinetics and density-driven advection. These observations, which are based on our simulation results for biotransformation and transport of TCE and its byproducts, are useful in evaluating the natural attenuation processes, its potential health hazards and also the evaluation of potential plume development at contaminated sites.     

Strong visible PL from the nc-Si thin film by Ni silicide mediated crystallization

We studied the growth of nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) thin film exhibiting a strong room temperature photoluminescence (PL) at 1.81–2.003 eV. The amorphous silicon was crystallized by Ni silicide mediated crystallization (Ni SMC) and then Secco-etched to exhibit the PL. The PL peak energy and intensity increase with increasing the metal density on the a-Si because of the reduction in the grain size down to 2 nm. The photoluminescence energy and peak intensity depend strongly on the Secco etch time because the grain size is reduced by etching the grain boundaries.     

Contractibility of Efficient Frontier of Simply Shaded Sets

In finite dimensional Euclidean space, we prove the contractibility of the efficient frontier of simply shaded sets. This work extends the result of Peleg [7], which confirms the contractibility of the efficient frontier in the convex case.