Lorentz-boosted evanescent waves

Polarization, spin, and helicity are important properties of electromagnetic waves. It is commonly believed that helicity is invariant under the Lorentz transformations. This is indeed so for plane waves and their localized superpositions. However, this is not the case for evanescent waves, which are well-defined only in a half-space, and are characterized by complex wave vectors. Here we describe transformations of evanescent electromagnetic waves and their polarization/spin/helicity properties under the Lorentz boosts along the three spatial directions.     

Experimental modeling of percolation of molten iron through polycrystalline olivine matrix at 2.0–5.5 GPa and 1600°C

The present work was aimed to understand the role of light elements for the penetration of Fe melt through the olivine matrix at high P–T parameters. We studied the mechanism of Fe melt percolation through the olivine matrix, whose interstices are filled with carbon and sulfur. The experiments were performed using a ‘split-sphere’ type multi-anvil high pressure apparatus at pressures 2.0 and 5.5?GPa and a temperature of 1600°C. It was demonstrated that the Fe melt penetrated through the olivine matrix at a relatively high rates in the presence of carbon or sulfur in the interstices. The percolation occurs due to fast dissolution of the light elements into Fe melt and filling of these interstices by the melt.     

Spreadsheets to calculate P–V–T relations,thermodynamic and thermoelastic properties of silicates in the MgSiO3–MgO system

Modified equations of state (EoS) of forsterite, wadsleyite, ringwoodite, akimotoite, bridgmanite and post-perovskite based on the Helmholtz free energy are described using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. The equations of state were set up by joint analysis of reference experimental data and can be used to calculate thermodynamic and thermoelastic parameters and P–V–T properties of the Mg-silicates. We used Visual Basic for Applications module in Microsoft Excel and presented a simultaneous calculation of full set of thermodynamic and thermoelastic functions using only T–P and T–V data as input parameters. Phase transitions in the MgSiO₃–MgO system play an important role in the interpretation of the seismic boundaries of the upper Earth’s mantle and in the D″ layer. Therefore, proposed EoSes of silicates in the MgSiO₃–MgO system have clear geophysical implications. The developed software will be interesting to specialists who are engaged to study the mantle mineralogy and Earth’s interior.     

Calculation of off‐resonance Raman scattering intensities with parametric models

The paper reviews applications of parametric models for calculations of the Raman scattering intensity of materials with the main emphasis on the performance of the bond polarizability model. The use of the model in studies of polymers, aluminosilicates, and nanostructures is discussed and the existing sets of electro‐optical parameters as well as their transferability are analyzed. The paper highlights the interplay between the first‐principles and parametric approaches to the Raman intensity calculations and suggests further developments in this field. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Localization on Quantum Graphs with Random Edge Lengths

The spectral properties of the Laplacian on a class of quantum graphs with random metric structure are studied. Namely, we consider quantum graphs spanned by the simple ${\mathbb Z^d}$ -lattice with δ-type boundary conditions at the vertices, and we assume that the edge lengths are randomly independently identically distributed. Under the assumption that the coupling constant at the vertices does not vanish, we show that the operator exhibits the Anderson localization near the spectral edges situated outside a certain forbidden set.     

Multiple metamagnetic transitions in the magnetic refrigerant La(Fe,Si)13Hx

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on thermally and field-induced first-order magnetic phase transitions is studied in the La(Fe,Si)_(13)-type compounds. A peculiar series of consecutive field-induced transitions is realized using a distinct combination of hydrostatic pressure and negative pressure created by the interstitial insertion of hydrogen. The pressure-induced discontinuous magnetization jumps result in an enhanced cooling power, thus opening up the possibility to exploit in full the magnetocaloric potential of this compound class.     

Revisiting infinite lattice sums with the periodic fast multipole method

The evaluation of lattice sums as well as stress lattice sums encountered in the periodic fast multipole method is reinvestigated. Simple, accurate, and efficient recurrence expressions for such sums following the ideas of the renormalization method are derived. The first few nonzero lattice sum terms in a three-dimensional cubic lattice are computed and given in Tables. The practical considerations accompanying the computation of the sums such as convergence and accuracy are discussed.     

Common pathway for the red chromophore formation in fluorescent proteins and chromoproteins

The mechanism of the chromophore maturation in members of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) family such as DsRed and other red fluorescent and chromoproteins was analyzed. The analysis indicates that the red chromophore results from a chemical transformation of the protonated form of the GFP-like chromophore, not from the anionic form, which appears to be a dead-end product. The data suggest a rational strategy to achieve the complete red chromophore maturation utilizing substitutions to favor the formation of the neutral phenol in GFP-like chromophore. Our approach to detect the neutral chromophore form expands the application of fluorescent timer proteins to faster promoter activities and more spectrally distinguishable fluorescent colors. Light sensitivity found in the DsRed neutral form, resulting in its instant transformation to the mature red chromophore, could be exploited to accelerate the fluorescence acquisition.     

Superelectrophilic activation of polyfunctional organic compounds using zeolites and other solid acids

Zeolites and other available solid acids have been successfully applied to initiate reactions, which were earlier recognised to involve superelectrophilic intermediates and thus required excess of superacids to be carried out.