Monte Carlo simulations of oscillations, chaos and pattern formation in heterogeneous catalytic reactions

Experimental studies employing surface science methods indicate that kinetic oscillations, chaos, and pattern formation in heterogeneous catalytic reactions often result from the interplay of rapid chemical reaction steps and relatively slow complementary processes such as oxide formation or adsorbate-induced surface restructuring. In general, the latter processes should be analysed in terms of theory of phase transitions. Therefore, the conventional mean-field reaction–diffusion equations widely used to describe oscillations in homogeneous reactions are strictly speaking not applicable. Under such circumstances, application of the Monte Carlo method becomes almost inevitable. In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of employing this technique and show what can be achieved in this way. Attention is focused on Monte Carlo simulations of CO oxidation on (1 0 0) and (1 1 0) single-crystal Pt and polycrystal Pt, Pd and Ir surfaces and of NO reduction by CO and H₂ on Pt(1 0 0). CO oxidation on supported nanometre-sized catalyst particles and NO reduction on composite catalysts are also discussed. The results show that with current computer facilities the MC technique has become an effective tool for analysing temporal oscillations and pattern formation on the nanometre scale in catalytic reactions occurring on both single crystals and supported particles.     

New Crystalline Lasers on the Base of Monoclinic KR(W04)2:Ln3+ Tungstates (R=Y and Ln)

Monoclinic KY(WO₄)₂:Pr₃₊, Tm₃₊:KY(WO₄)₂:Er₃₊, Yb₃₊ single crystals are grown by low-gradient Czochralski technique. Stimulated emission at 1.0223μm wavelength in the new lasing ¹D₂→³F₃ channel of Pr³⁺ ions in KY(WO₄)₂ at room temperature under Xe-flashlamp pumping is excited. Full sets of Stark-level energies for Pr₃₊ ions in KY(WO₄)2 and KGd(WO₄)₂ crystals at 77 K are determined. 4f²-4f² intensity-transitions for the KY(WO₄)₂:Pr³⁺ are analyzed preliminarily. All observed at present and earlier one-micron Pr³⁺-ion, induced transitions in the ¹D₂→³F₃ and ¹D₂→³F₄ channels are identified. In yttrium and gadolinium sensitized-tungstates a two-micron (³H₄→³H₆) low-threshold generation of Tm³⁺ ions at cryogenic temperatures is achieved.All authors cooperate with the Joint Open Laboratory for Laser Crystals and Precise Laser Systems at the Institute of Crystallography and Institute of Laser Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences.     

Boundary convergence of vector-valued pseudocontinuable functions

In the first part of the paper we discuss a multi-dimensional analogue of the well-known construction by D. Clark that allows one to study families of spectral measures of perturbations of the model contraction. In the second part we present extensions of the relevant results on the boundary behavior of pseudocontinuable functions. We show that, although the most direct analogue of the scalar theorem on the existence of boundary values for pseudocontinuable functions with respect to Clark measures fails in the non-scalar situation, suitable vector-valued versions of such results can be found.     

On Bounded Solutions of the Emden-Fowler Equation in a Semi-cylinder

Bounded solutions of the Emden-Fowler equation in a semi-cylinder are considered. For small solutions the asymptotic representations at infinity are derived. It is shown that there are large solutions whose behavior at infinity is different. These solutions are constructed when some inequalities between the dimension of the cylinder and the homogeneity of the nonlinear term are fulfilled. If these inequalities are not satisfied then it is proved, for the Dirichlet problem, that all bounded solutions tend to zero and have the same asymptotics as small solutions.     

On Some Properties of the Behavior of Linear Extensions of Dynamical Systems on a Torus under Perturbation of Phase Variables

We investigate classes of linear extensions of dynamical systems on a torus for which the Lyapunov functions exist for an arbitrary flow on the torus. Linear extensions for which the Lyapunov functions exist only with varying coefficients are considered separately. We investigate the problem of preservation of regularity under perturbation of phase variables.     

Dual-band negative index metamaterial: double negative at 813 nm and single negative at 772 nm

This work is concerned with the experimental demonstration of a dual-band negative index metamaterial. The sample is double negative (showing both a negative effective permeability and a negative effective permittivity) for linearly polarized light with a wavelength between 799 and 818 nm, and the real part of its refractive index is approximately -1.0 at 813 nm. The ratio of -Re(n)/Im(n) is close to 1.3 at 813 nm. For an orthogonal polarization, the same sample also exhibits a negative refractive index in the visible (at 772 nm). The spectroscopic measurements of the material are in good agreement with the results obtained from a finite-element electromagnetic solver for the actual geometry of the fabricated sample at both polarizations.     

The Most Unstable Profiles of a Plane-Parallel Flow in a Channel

It is well known (after Rayleigh) that a plan-parallel flow in a channel can be unstable only if the basic velocity profile U(z) possesses inflection points. The profile determines (via the Rayleigh equation) the maximal increment c _i of small perturbations and 'eigenvalues' c (see Equation (1)). The increment and the imaginary parts c _i of the eigenvalues c provide a quantitative characterization of the basic stability properties of the flow. Here we find some best possible bounds for these values. The bounds are determined by the following parameters: wave number ; enstrophy of the basic flow; width of the channel L. A similar approach can be applied to models of atmosphere, ocean, plasma etc.