Substituent effects on gas‐phase homolytic Fe–N bond energies of m‐G‐C6H4NHFe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5) and m‐G‐C6H4N(COMe)Fe(CO)2(η5‐C5H5) studied using density functional theory methods

One of the most fundamental properties in chemistry is the bond dissociation energy, the energy required to break a specific bond of a molecule. In this paper, the Fe–N homolytic bond dissociation energies [ΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s] of 2 series of (meta‐substituted anilinyl)dicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) iron [m‐G‐C₆H₄NHFp ( 1 )] and (meta‐substituted α‐acetylanilinyl)dicarbonyl(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) iron [m‐G‐C₆H₄N(COMe)Fp ( 2 )] were studied using density functional theory methods with large basis sets. In this study, Fp is (η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂, and G is NO₂, CN, COMe, CO₂Me, CF₃, Br, Cl, F, H, Me, MeO, and NMe₂. The results show that Tao‐Perdew‐Staroverov‐Scuseria, Minnesota 2006, and Becke's power‐series ansatz from 1997 with dispersion corrections functionals can provide the best price/performance ratio and accurate predictions of ΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s. The ΔΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s ( 1 and 2 ) conform to the captodative principle. The polar effects of the meta‐substituents show the dominant role to the magnitudes of ΔΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s. σ_α· and σ_c· values for meta‐substituents are all related to polar effects. Spin‐delocalization effects of the meta‐substituents in ΔΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s are small but not necessarily zero. RE plays an important role in determining the net substituent effects on ΔH_homo(Fe–N)'s. Insight from this work may help the design of more effective catalytic processes.     

Delimiting the Unconceived

It has been argued in Dawid (String theory and the scientific method, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, [4]) that physicists at times generate substantial trust in an empirically unconfirmed theory based on observations that lie beyond the theory’s intended domain. A crucial role in the reconstruction of this argument of “non-empirical confirmation” is played by limitations to scientific underdetermination. The present paper discusses the question as to how generic the role of limitations to scientific underdetermination really is. It is argued that assessing such limitations is essential for generating trust in any theory’s predictions, be it empirically confirmed or not. The emerging view suggests that empirical and non-empirical confirmation are more closely related to each other than one may expect at first glance.     

Equivalent Theories and Changing Hamiltonian Observables in General Relativity

Change and local spatial variation are missing in Hamiltonian general relativity according to the most common definition of observables as having 0 Poisson bracket with all first-class constraints. But other definitions of observables have been proposed. In pursuit of Hamiltonian–Lagrangian equivalence, Pons, Salisbury and Sundermeyer use the Anderson–Bergmann–Castellani gauge generator G, a tuned sum of first-class constraints. Kucha? waived the 0 Poisson bracket condition for the Hamiltonian constraint to achieve changing observables. A systematic combination of the two reforms might use the gauge generator but permit non-zero Lie derivative Poisson brackets for the external gauge symmetry of General Relativity. Fortunately one can test definitions of observables by calculation using two formulations of a theory, one without gauge freedom and one with gauge freedom. The formulations, being empirically equivalent, must have equivalent observables. For de Broglie-Proca non-gauge massive electromagnetism, all constraints are second-class, so everything is observable. Demanding equivalent observables from gauge Stueckelberg–Utiyama electromagnetism, one finds that the usual definition fails while the Pons–Salisbury–Sundermeyer definition with G succeeds. This definition does not readily yield change in GR, however. Should GR’s external gauge freedom of general relativity share with internal gauge symmetries the 0 Poisson bracket (invariance), or is covariance (a transformation rule) sufficient? A graviton mass breaks the gauge symmetry (general covariance), but it can be restored by parametrization with clock fields. By requiring equivalent observables, one can test whether observables should have 0 or the Lie derivative as the Poisson bracket with the gauge generator G. The latter definition is vindicated by calculation. While this conclusion has been reported previously, here the calculation is given in some detail.     

Pulsation of black holes

The Hawking–Penrose singularity theorem states that a singularity forms inside a black hole in general relativity. To remove this singularity one must resort to a more fundamental theory. Using a corrected dynamical equation arising in loop quantum cosmology and braneworld models, we study the gravitational collapse of a perfect fluid sphere with a rather general equation of state. In the frame of an observer comoving with this fluid, the sphere pulsates between a maximum and a minimum size, avoiding the singularity. The exterior geometry is also constructed. There are usually an outer and an inner apparent horizon, resembling the Reissner–Nordström situation. For a distant observer the horizon crossing occurs in an infinite time and the pulsations of the black hole quantum “beating heart” are completely unobservable. However, it may be observable if the black hole is not spherical symmetric and radiates gravitational wave due to the quadrupole moment, if any.     

Boosted cylindrical magnetized Kaluza–Klein wormhole

In this work, we consider a vacuum solution of Kaluza–Klein theory with cylindrical symmetry. We investigate the physical properties of the solution as viewed in four dimensional spacetime, which turns out to be a stationary, cylindrical wormhole supported by a scalar field and a magnetic field oriented along the wormhole. We then apply a boost to the five dimensional solution along the extra dimension, and perform the Kaluza–Klein reduction. As a result, we show that the new solution is still a wormhole with a radial electric field and a magnetic field stretched along the wormhole throat.     

Extreme gravity tests with gravitational waves from compact binary coalescences: (I) inspiral–merger

The observation of the inspiral and merger of compact binaries by the LIGO/Virgo collaboration ushered in a new era in the study of strong-field gravity. We review current and future tests of strong gravity and of the Kerr paradigm with gravitational-wave interferometers, both within a theory-agnostic framework (the parametrized post-Einsteinian formalism) and in the context of specific modified theories of gravity (scalar–tensor, Einstein–dilaton–Gauss–Bonnet, dynamical Chern–Simons, Lorentz-violating, and extra dimensional theories). In this contribution we focus on (i) the information carried by the inspiral radiation, and (ii) recent progress in numerical simulations of compact binary mergers in modified gravity.     

Motion of charged particles in a NUTty Einstein–Maxwell spacetime and causality violation

We investigate the motion of electrically charged test particles in spacetimes with closed timelike curves, a subset of the black hole or wormhole Reissner–Nordström-NUT spacetimes without periodic identification of time. We show that, while in the wormhole case there are closed worldlines inside a potential well, the wordlines of initially distant charged observers moving under the action of the Lorentz force can never close or self-intersect. This means that for these observers causality is preserved, which is an instance of our weak chronology protection criterion.     

The Maximum Amplitude of Dust-Acoustic Waves in Dusty Plasma with Vortex-Like Ions

Theoretical investigations are carried out for the properties of small amplitude dust-acoustic solitary waves in plasmas consisting of extremely massive, high negatively charged inertial dust grains, Boltzmann distributed electrons and trapped ions, for one-dimensional case and three-dimensional case. An energy integral equation involving the Sagdeev potential is derived. The dependence of the critical Mach number corresponding to maximum amplitude on other parameters is obtained. It is observed that the magnitude of the external magnetic field has no effect on the amplitude of the solitary waves.     

Automatic dispersion,long-term stability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in high concentration electrolytes

Nanoparticles have been known as the useful materials in working fluids for petroleum industry. But the stabilization of nano-scaled materials in water-based working fluids at high salinities is still a big challenge. In this study, we successfully prepared the anionic polymer/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) composites by covalently wrapping of MWNTs with poly (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) to improve the stability of MWNTs in high concentration electrolytes. The PSS/MWNTs composites can automatically disperse in salinity up to 15 wt% NaCl and API brines (8 wt% NaCl?+?2 wt% CaCl₂). Hydrodynamic diameters of composites were measured as a function of ionic strength and API brines by dynamic light scattering (DLS). By varying the concentration of brines, hydrodynamic diameter of PSS/MWNTs composites in brines fluctuated between 545?±?110 nm for 14 days and 673?±?171 nm for 30 days. Above results showed that PSS/MWNTs could be well stable in high salts solutions for a long period of time. After wrapped with PSS, the diameters of nanotubes changed from 30?~?40 to ~?430 nm, the thickness of wrapped polymer is about ~?400 nm by analysis of morphologies. The zeta potentials of PSS/MWNTs composites in various salinity of brines kept at approximately ??41?~???52 mV. Therefore, the well dispersion of PSS/MWNTs in high salinity is due to large negative charges of poly (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), which provide enough electrostatic repulsion and steric repulsion to hinder compression of electric double layer caused by high concentration electrolytes.     

Performance enhancement of the power penalty in DWDM FSO communication using DPPM and OOK modulation

This paper presents the design and performance enhancement of the power penalty (PP) in a dense wavelength division multiplexing based on free space optical communication (FSOC) link using digital pulse position modulation (DPPM) and on–off keying (OOK) modulation. Such a system has a high performance, low cost, robust and power efficient, reliable, excessive flexibility, and higher data rate for access networks. The system performance is evaluated for an 8-channel wavelength-division-multiplexing for hybrid fiber FSOC system at 2.5 Gbps on widely accepted modulation schemes under various atmospheric turbulence (AT) regimes conditions. The performance of system is introduced in terms of PP, bit-error rate (BER), transmission distance and the average received optical power. The numerical results shows that the improvement of the PP using DPPM modulation of 0.2–3.0 dB for weak turbulence (WT) regimes for BER of 10^?6 and above 20, 25 dB for strong turbulence (ST) regimes are reported for BER of 10^?6 and 10^?9, as respectively (depending on the AT level). Further, we develop of improvement the PP caused by multiple-access interference about 6.686 dB which is predicted for target BER of 10^?9 in WT and 1 dB at target BER of 10^?6 in ST when the 8 user are active on the system of optical network units. Additionally, the optical power budget and margin losses of a system are calculated with different link length. The proposed approach of DPPM merges superiority with higher enhancement of PP about 0.8 dB for BER equal 10^?9 at FSO link length l_fso?=?2000 m compared to OOK at 1 dB for WT. An improvement of 2 dB is observed using the DPPM scheme over an OOK due to capability of detect pulses under background noise conditions with increased receiver sensitivity.