Two features at the two-dimensional freezing transitions

We studied the two-dimensional freezing transitions in monolayers of microgel colloidal spheres with short-ranged repulsions in video-microscopy experiments, and monolayers of hard disks, and Yukawa particles in simulations. These systems share two common features at the freezing points: (1) the bimodal distribution profile of the local orientational order parameter; (2) the two-body excess entropy, s(2), reaches -4.5±0.5?k(B). Both features are robust and sensitive to the freezing points, so that they can potentially serve as empirical freezing criteria in two dimensions. Compared with the conventional freezing criteria, the first feature has no finite-size ambiguities and can be resolved adequately with much less statistics; and the second feature can be directly measured in macroscopic experiments without the need for microscopic information.     

Harmonic <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-forms on Hadamard manifolds with finite total curvature

In the present note, the geometric structures and topological properties of harmonic p-forms on a complete noncompact submanifold \(M^{n}(n\ge 4)\) immersed in Hadamard manifold \(N^{n+m}\) are discussed, where \(M^{n}\) and \(N^{n+m}\) are assumed to have flat normal bundle and pure curvature tensor, respectively. Firstly, under the assumption that \(M^{n}\) satisfies the \((\mathcal {P}_\rho )\) property (i.e., the weighted Poincaré inequality holds on \(M^{n}\)) and the \((p,n-p)\)-curvature of \(N^{n+m}\) is not less than a given negative constant, using Moser iteration, the space of all \(L^{2}\) harmonic p-forms on \(M^{n}\) is proven to have finite dimensions if \(M^{n}\) has finite total curvature. Furthermore, if the total curvature is small enough or \(M^{n}\) has at most Euclidean volume growth, two vanishing theorems are, respectively, established for harmonic p-forms. Note that the two vanishing theorems extend several previous results obtained by H. Z. Lin.     

Configurational temperatures and interactions in charge-stabilized colloid

A system's temperature can be expressed in terms of its constituents' instantaneous positions rather than their momenta. Such configurational temperature definitions offer substantial benefits for experimental studies of soft condensed matter systems, most notably their applicability to overdamped systems whose instantaneous momenta may not be accessible. We demonstrate that the configurational temperature formalism can be derived from the classical hypervirial theorem, and introduce a hierarchy of hyperconfigurational temperature definitions, which are particularly well suited for experimental studies. We then use these analytical tools to probe the electrostatic interactions in monolayers of charge-stabilized colloidal spheres confined by parallel glass surfaces. The configurational and hyperconfigurational temperatures, together with a thermodynamic sum rule, provide previously lacking self-consistency tests for interaction measurements based on digital video microscopy, and thereby cast light on controversial reports of confinement-induced like-charge attractions. We further introduce a method to determine unknown parameters in a model potential by using consistency of the configurational and hyperconfigurational temperatures as a set of constraints. This approach, in principle, also should provide the basis for a model-free estimation of the pair potential.     

Bifurcations of an epidemic model with non-monotonic incidence rate of saturated mass action

In this paper, we study the bifurcations of an epidemic model with non-monotonic incidence rate of saturated mass action, which describes the psychological effects of the community on certain serious diseases when the number of infective is getting larger. By carrying out the bifurcation analysis of the model, we show that there exist some values of the model parameters such that numerous kinds of bifurcation occur for the model, such as Hopf bifurcation, Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation.     

Damage of a high-energy solid propellant and its effects on combustion

In order to improve the safety of high-energy solid propellants, a study is carried out for the effects of damage on the combustion of the NEPE (Nitrate Ester Plasticized Polyether) propellant. The study includes: (1) to introduce damage into the propellants by means of a large-scale drop-weight apparatus; (2) to observe microstructural variations of the propellant with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and then to characterize the damage with density measurements; (3) to investigate thermal decomposition; (4) to carry out closed-bomb tests. The NEPE propellant can be considered as a viscoelastic material. The matrices of damaged samples are severely degraded, but the particles are not. The results of the thermal decomposition and closed-bomb tests show that the microstructural damage in the propellant affects its decomposition and burn rate.     

Modeling and simulation of a novel vertical actuator based on electrowetting on dielectric

A novel vertical actuator based on electrowetting on dielectric （EWOD） was designed, analyzed and simulated. Modeling results indicated that the vertical driving force of the actuator obeyed a second order polynomial of applied voltage, which was verified by Covent_ware 2006. As a resuit, the vertical driving force of the EWOD actuator with a 1.1 nL droplet and a 1.75 μm thick polymer was about 0.5 μN under an applied voltage 100V which was comparable to that of the electrostatic actuators. Moreover, the noise from plane forces we analyzed and simulated was very low. Therefore, we made a conclusion that the EWOD actuator can be used in MEMS transducer.     

MECHANISMS UNDERLYING TWO KINDS OF SURFACE EFFECTS ON ELASTIC CONSTANTS

Recently, people are confused with two opposite variations of elastic modulus with decreasing size of nano scale sample： elastic modulus either decreases or increases with decreasing sample size. In this paper, based on intermolecular potentials and a one dimensional model, we provide a unified understanding of the two opposite size effects. Firstly, we analyzed the microstructural variation near the surface of an fcc nanofilm based on the Lennard-Jones potential. It is found that the atomic lattice near the surface becomes looser in comparison with the bulk, indicating that atoms in the bulk are located at the balance of repulsive forces, and the elastic moduli decrease with the decreasing thickness of the film accordingly. In addition, the decrease in moduli should be attributed to both the looser surface layer and smaller coordination number of surface atoms. Furthermore, it is found that both looser and tighter lattice near the surface can appear for a general pair potential and the governing mechanism should be attributed to the surplus of the nearest force to all other long range interactions in the pair potential. Surprisingly, the surplus can be simply expressed by a sum of the long range interactions and the sum being positive or negative determines the looser or tighter lattice near surface respectively. To justify this concept, we examined ZnO in terms of Buckingham potential with long range Coulomb interactions. It is found that compared to its bulk lattice, the ZnO lattice near the surface becomes tighter, indicating the atoms in the bulk are located at the balance of attractive forces, owing to the long range Coulomb interaction. Correspondingly, the elastic modulus of one-dimensional ZnO chain increases with decreasing size. Finally, a kind of many-body potential for Cu was examined. In this case, the surface layer becomes tighter than the bulk and the modulus increases with deceasing size, owing to the long range repulsive pair interaction, as well as the cohesive many-body interaction caused by the electron redistribution.     

力学几落几起,源于生活之树长青

力学是以宏观世界为主要对象,研究力和运动的关系的一门学问．从古至今,不断有人深入钻研力学,成就大事业,如牛顿,拉格朗日,冯．卡门,钱学森等．可能是因为这些对象和现象大多是普通人都能看得见,摸得着的．所以,也不断有人否认,抹杀力学,甚至扼杀力学,使力学的发展受阻．但是,生活这棵常青之树,催生了力学,更繁荣着力学． 聪明的阿基米德（公元前２８７～公元前２１２）奠定了静力学的基础,堪称力学的先驱．他在洗澡盆里洗澡时悟出了浮力的原理,并用来为叙拉古的亥厄洛王测量黄金王冠真伪的故事,脍炙人口．但是,他竟然…     

Colloidal electroconvection in a thin horizontal cell. II. Bulk electroconvection of water during parallel-plate electrolysis

We recently have reported [J. Chem. Phys. 122, 164701 (2005)] a family of electroconvective patterns that arise when charge-stabilized colloidal dispersions are driven by constant (dc) vertical electric fields. Competition between gravity and electrokinetic forces acting on the individual spheres in this system leads to the formation of highly organized convective instabilities involving hundreds of spheres. Here, we report a distinct class of electroconvective patterns that emerge in confined aqueous dispersions at higher biases. These qualitatively resemble the honeycomb and labyrinthine patterns formed during thermally driven Rayleigh-Benard convection, but arise from a distinct mechanism. Unlike the localized colloidal electroconvective patterns observed at lower biases, moreover, these system-spanning patterns form even without dispersed colloidal particles. Rather, they appear to result from an underlying electroconvective instability during electrolysis in the parallel plate geometry. This contrasts with recent theoretical results suggesting that simple electrolytes are linearly stable against electroconvection.     

Promotion of the oxygen evolution performance of Ni–Fe layered hydroxides via the introduction of a proton-transfer mediator anion

Developing efficient catalysts with high durability and activity for the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is imperative for sustainable energy conversion technologies,including hydrogen generation and CO₂ reduction,as well as other electrochemical energy storage systems.To this end,a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism for the water oxidation reaction is vital.Herein,a surfactant,nonafluoro-1-butanesulfonate(FBS),was introduced into Ni-Fe layered double hydroxide(Ni Fe-FBS/CFP)via electrochemical deposition on the surface of a carbon fiber paper(CFP)substrate.The as-prepared Ni Fe-FBS/CFP electrode exhibited excellent catalytic activities for OER compared to the Ni-Fe layered double hydroxide based electrode(Ni Fe-LDH/CFP),an excellent stability of 15 h,and an ultralow Tafel slope of 25.8 m V dec-1.Furthermore,by combining the results of p H-dependent kinetics investigations,chemical probing,proton inventory studies,and isotopic and atom-protontransfer measurements,it was observed that a proton-transfer process controls the reaction rates of both the Ni Fe-LDH and Ni Fe-FBS catalysts,and the residual sulfonate groups serve as proton transfer mediator to accelerate the proton transfer rate.