Phase-Accuracy Comparisons and Improved Far-Field Estimates for 3-D Edge Elements on Tetrahedral Meshes

Edge-element methods have proved very effective for 3-D electromagnetic computations and are widely used on unstructured meshes. However, the accuracy of standard edge elements can be criticised because of their low order. This paper analyses discrete dispersion relations together with numerical propagation accuracy to determine the effect of tetrahedral shape on the phase accuracy of standard 3-D edge-element approximations in comparison to other methods. Scattering computations for the sphere obtained with edge elements are compared with results obtained with vertex elements, and a new formulation of the far-field integral approximations for use with edge elements is shown to give improved cross sections over conventional formulations.     

A Unified Algebraic Approach to Quantum Theory

Conventional approaches to quantum mechanics are essentially dualistic. This is reflected in the fact that their mathematical formulation is based on two distinct mathematical structures: the algebra of dynamical variables (observables) and the vector space of state vectors. In contrast, coherent interpretations of quantum mechanics highlight the fact that quantum phenomena must be considered as undivided wholes. Here, we discuss a purely algebraic formulation of quantum mechanics. This formulation does not require the specification of a space of state vectors; rather, the required vector spaces can be identified as substructures in the algebra of dynamical variables (suitably extended for bosonic systems). This formulation of quantum mechanics captures the undivided wholeness characteristic of quantum phenomena, and provides insight into their characteristic nonseparability and nonlocality. The interpretation of the algebraic formulation in terms of quantum process is discussed.     

Temperature hysteretic effect and its influence on colossal magnetoresistance of La0.33Nd0.33Ca0.33MnO3

Electrical resistance (R) measurements of a bulk La_0.33Nd_0.33Ca_0.33MnO₃ perovskite in magnetic fields up to 40 kOe have revealed anomalous temperature hysteretic effects both in 0 Oe and 20 kOe magnetic fields. The sharp peak observed in the R vs. T plot indicates the occurrence of metal-to-insulator (M-I) transition at a temperature of T _MI=110 K and 140 K, for cooling and warming paths, respectively. An applied magnetic field of 20 kOe reduces the resistance and shifts T _MI to 160 K and 185 K for cooling and warming, respectively. We have observed a much higher resistance in the cooling path than in the warming path leading to the hysteretic resistance ratio (R _cool/R _warm) of 200 at 110 K and 1.8 at 160 K for 0 Oe and 20 kOe, respectively. Record values of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) have been achieved. The CMR value reaches nearly 99% in the temperature ranges of 90 K to 140 K and 90 K to 170 K for 20 kOe and 40 kOe magnetic fields in the cooling mode, respectively. The observed unusual behavior is attributed to the co-existence of La-rich and Nd-rich domains assumed to be distributed randomly in the compound.     

ac Conductivity of mixed spinel NiAl0.7Cr0.7Fe0.6O4

ac Conductivity measurements are carried out across the metal to insulator transition in NiAl_0.7Cr_0.7Fe_0.6O₄. The low frequency data is analyzed using Summerfield scaling theory for hopping conductivity. The exponent of the scaling behavior has significantly different values in the conducting and insulating regimes. The hopping frequency and the zero frequency conductivity are found to increase with temperature, slowly in the metallic regime and rapidly in the insulating regime.     

A general synthesis of 2-alkoxy-2-phenylpropanoic acids

A preparation of a variety of 2-alkoxy-2-phenylpropanoic acids in two steps is described. Epoxidation of α-methylstyrene with mCPBA in methanol or primary alcohol solvents proceeded with an acid-catalyzed in situ ring opening reaction to give the corresponding 2-alkoxy-2-phenyl-1-propanols in 28-91% yield. Lower yields were realized with secondary (22-58%) and tertiary (14%) alcohols. These alcohols were cleanly oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acids using a mild Heyns' oxidation (O₂, Pt/C) in generally good to excellent yields (25-92%). The derived (S)-α-methylbenzylamide diastereomers are nearly all well separated by capillary GC, and the use of this method to determine the enantiomeric purity of brucine-resolved 2-methoxy-2-phenylpropanoic acid was demonstrated.     

Analysis of an eddy current and micromagnetic model

We consider a coupled eddy current and micromagnetic model describing the behaviour of dynamic electromagnetic phenomena in applications such as disk write heads. We first prove the existence of a weak solution to this nonlinear problem. Then we outline a numerical time-stepping scheme. Since the numerical method requires a nonstandard mixed boundary value eddy current problem to be solved at each time step, we show the existence and uniqueness of a solution for the corresponding eddy current problem. This is accomplished using an image principle and the verification of a suitable Babu?ka–Brezzi condition.     

On the theory of slowing down gracefully

We discuss the transport of a tracer particle through the Bose?CEinstein condensate of a Bose gas. The particle interacts with the atoms in the Bose gas through two-body interactions. In the limiting regime where the particle is very heavy and the Bose gas is very dense, but very weakly interacting (??mean-field limit??), the dynamics of this system corresponds to classical Hamiltonian dynamics. We show that, in this limit, the particle is decelerated by emission of gapless modes into the condensate (Cerenkov radiation). For an ideal gas, the particle eventually comes to rest. In an interacting Bose gas, the particle is decelerated until its speed equals the propagation speed of the Goldstone modes of the condensate. This is a model of ??Hamiltonian friction??. It is also of interest in connection with the phenomenon of ??decoherence?? in quantum mechanics. This note is based on work we have carried out in collaboration with D Egli, I M Sigal and A Soffer.     

Remarks on continuum cardinals on Boolean algebras

We give some results concerning various generalized continuum cardinals. The results answer some natural questions which have arisen in preparing a new edition of 5 . To make the paper self‐contained we define all of the cardinal functions that enter into the theorems here. There are many problems concerning these new functions, and we formulate some of the more important ones.     

Local canted spin behaviour in Co1.4−x Zn x Ge0.4Fe1.2O4 spinels: A macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic study

DC magnetization, neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction (with both polarized and unpolarized neutrons) measurements have been reported for the Co_1.1−x Zn _x Ge_0.1Fe_1.2O₁ spinels with x=0.5, 0.6 and 0.7. Neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction measurements confirm the presence of a long range ferrimagnetic ordering of the local canted spins in these ferrite samples. The observed features of low field magnetization have been explained under the framework of thermally activated domain wall movement of ferrimagnetic arrangement of local canted spins. An important role of magnetic anisotropy (due to the presence of Co²⁺ ions) in establishing the magnetic ordering and domain kinetics in these ferrites has been observed.