Autoionization of an ultracold Rydberg gas through resonant dipole coupling

We investigate a possible mechanism for the autoionization of ultracold Rydberg gases, based on the resonant coupling of Rydberg pair states to the ionization continuum. Unlike an atomic collision where the wave functions begin to overlap, the mechanism considered here involves only the long-range dipole interaction and is in principle possible in a static system. It is related to the process of intermolecular Coulombic decay (ICD). In addition, we include the interaction-induced motion of the atoms and the effect of multi-particle systems in this work. We find that the probability for this ionization mechanism can be increased in many-particle systems featuring attractive or repulsive van der Waals interactions. However, the rates for ionization through resonant dipole coupling are very low. It is thus unlikely that this process contributes to the autoionization of Rydberg gases in the form presented here, but it may still act as a trigger for secondary ionization processes. As our picture involves only binary interactions, it remains to be investigated if collective effects of an ensemble of atoms can significantly influence the ionization probability. Nevertheless our calculations may serve as a starting point for the investigation of more complex systems, such as the coupling of many pair states proposed in [P.J. Tanner et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 043002 (2008)].     

Complete rotation hypersurfaces with Hk constant in space forms

In this paper we classify all complete rotation hypersurfaces withH _k constant in ⁿ⁺¹ andH ⁿ⁺¹, is the normalizedk-th symmetric function of the principal curvatures. Partial results are also given forH ⁿ⁺¹.Partially supported by DGAPA-UNAM, México, CONACYT, México, under Project 1068P, and CNPp, Brazil.     

A generalization of the fast LUP matrix decomposition algorithm and applications

We show that any m × n matrix A, over any field, can be written as a product, LSP, of three matrices, where L is a lower triangular matrix with l's on the main diagonal, S is an m × n matrix which reduces to an upper triangular matrix with nonzero diagonal elements when the zero rows are deleted, and P is an n × n permutation matrix. Moreover, L, S, and P can be found in O(m^α?1n) time, where the complexity of matrix multiplication is O(m^α). We use the LSP decomposition to construct fast algorithms for some important matrix problems. In particular, we develop O(m^α?1n) algorithms for the following problems, where A is any m × n matrix: (1) Determine if the system of equations $\text{A}\text{x}\text{=}\text{b}$ (where $\text{b}$ is a column vector) has a solution, and if so, find one such solution. (2) Find a generalized inverse, $\text{A}{}^1$, of A (i.e., $\text{AA}{}^1\text{A = A}$). (3) Find simultaneously a maximal independent set of rows and a maximal independent set of columns of A.     

Generation of single-crystalline domain in nano-scale silicon pillars by near-field short pulsed laser

We observe laser-induced grain morphology change in silicon nanopillars under a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) environment. We couple the TEM with a near-field scanning optical microscopy pulsed laser processing system. This novel combination enables immediate scrutiny on the grain morphologies that the pulsed laser irradiation produces. We find unusual transformation of the tip of the amorphous or polycrystalline silicon pillar into a single crystalline domain via melt-mediated crystallization. On the basis of the three-dimensional finite difference simulation result and the dark field TEM data, we propose that the creation of the distinct single crystalline tip originates from the dominant grain growth initiated at the apex of the non-planar liquid–solid interface. Our microscopic observation provides a fundamental basis for laser-induced conversion of amorphous nanostructures into coarse-grained crystals.     

Bypass high-performance liquid chromatography for purification of trace analytes

Stability constants of binary Fe(III)-methylcysteine, Cr(III)-methylcysteine and mixed Fe(III)-methylcysteine-cysteine, Cr(III)-methylcysteine-cysteine complexes have been determined by paper electrophoresis at 0.1 M ionic strength and a temperature of 35 degrees C. The stability constants of Fe(III)-methylcysteine-cysteine and Cr(III)-methylcysteine-cysteine mixed complexes were found to be 6.00 +/- 0.07 and 5.05 +/- 0.15 (logarithm of stability constant values), respectively.     

Low-molecular-weight organoiodine and organobromine compounds released by polar macroalgae--the influence of abiotic factors

The influence of temperature, light, salinity and nutrient availability on the release of volatile halogenated hydrocarbons was investigated in the Antarctic red macroalgal species Gymnogongrus antarcticus Skottsberg. Compared to standard culture condition, an increase in the release rates of iodocompounds was generally found for the exposure of the alga to altered environmental conditions. Macroalgae exhibited higher release rates after adaptation for two months to the changed factors, than after short-term exposure. Monitoring the release rates during a 24 h incubation period (8.25 h light, 15.75 h darkness) showed that changes between light and dark periods had no influence on the release of volatile halocarbons. Compounds like bromoform and 1-iodobutane exhibited constant release rates during the 24 h period. The formation mechanisms and biological role of volatile organohalogens are discussed. Although marine macroalgae are not considered to be the major source of biogenically-produced volatile organohalogens, they contribute significantly to the bromine and iodine cycles in the environment. Under possible environmental changes like global warming and uncontrolled entrophication of the oceans their significance may be increase.