$${f(\mathcal R)}$$ quantum cosmology

We have quantized a flat cosmological model in the context of the metric models, using the causal Bohmian quantum theory. The equations are solved and then we have obtained how the quantum corrections influence the classical equations.     

Speeds of sound and isothermal compressibility of ternary liquid systems: Application of Flory’s statistical theory and hard sphere models

Speeds of sound and densities of three ternary liquid systems namely, toluene + n-heptane + n-hexane (I), cyclohexane + n-heptane + n-hexane (II) and n-hexane + n-heptane + n-decane (III) have been measured as a function of the composition at 298.15 K at atmospheric pressure. The experimental isothermal compressibility has been evaluated from measured values of speeds of sound and density. The isothermal compressibility of these mixtures has also been computed theoretically using different models for hard sphere equations of state and Flory’s statistical theory. Computed values of isothermal compressibility have been compared with experimental findings. A satisfactory agreement has been observed. The superiority of Flory’s statistical theory has been established quite reasonably over hard sphere models.      

Probabilistic signatures of spatiotemporal intermittency in the coupled sine circle map lattice

The phase diagram of the coupled sine circle map system exhibits a variety of interesting phenomena including spreading regions with spatiotemporal intermittency, non-spreading regions with spatial intermittency, and coherent structures termed solitons. A spreading to non-spreading transition is seen in the system. A cellular automaton version of the coupled system maps the spreading to non-spreading transition to a transition from a probabilistic to a deterministic cellular automaton. The solitonic sector of the system shows spatiotemporal intermittency with soliton creation, propagation and absorption. A probabilistic cellular automaton mapping is set up for this sector which can identify each one of these phenomena.      

Note on Generalized Quantum Gates and Quantum Operations

Recently, Gudder proved that the set of all generalized quantum gates coincides the set of all contractions in a finite-dimensional Hilbert space (S. Gudder, Int. J. Theor. Phys. 47:268–279, 2008). In this note, we proved that the set of all generalized quantum gates is a proper subset of the set of all contractions on an infinite dimensional separable Hilbert space ℋ. Meanwhile, we proved that the quantum operation deduced by an isometry is an extreme point of the set of all quantum operations on ℋ. This subject is supported by NSF of China (10571113).     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles with different sizes

Silver nanoparticles with different sizes (7, 29, and 89 nm mean values) were synthesized using gallic acid in an aqueous chemical reduction method. The nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectroscopy; the antibacterial activity was assessed using the standard microdilution method, determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. From the microscopies studies (TEM) we observed that silver nanoparticles have spherical (7 and 29 nm) and pseudospherical shape (89 nm) with a narrow size distribution. The sizes of the silver nanoparticles were controlled by varying some experimental conditions. It was found that the antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles varies when their size diminishes.     

Quantum Mechanics and Imprecise Probability

An extension of the Born rule, the quantum typicality rule, has recently been proposed [B. Galvan in Found. Phys. 37:1540–1562 (2007)]. Roughly speaking, this rule states that if the wave function of a particle is split into non-overlapping wave packets, the particle stays approximately inside the support of one of the wave packets, without jumping to the others. In this paper a formal definition of this rule is given in terms of imprecise probability. An imprecise probability space is a measurable space endowed with a set of probability measures ℘. The quantum formalism and the quantum typicality rule allow us to define a set of probabilities on (X ^T ,ℱ), where X is the configuration space of a quantum system, T is a time interval and ℱ is the σ-algebra generated by the cylinder sets. Thus, it is proposed that a quantum system can be represented as the imprecise stochastic process , which is a canonical stochastic process in which the single probability measure is replaced by a set of measures. It is argued that this mathematical model, when used to represent macroscopic systems, has sufficient predictive power to explain both the results of the statistical experiments and the quasi-classical structure of the macroscopic evolution.     

Characterization of the surface of positive electrodes for Li-ion batteries using 7Li MAS NMR

The growth and evolution of the interphase, due to contact with the ambient atmosphere or electrolyte, are followed using ⁷Li magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) in the case of two materials amongst the most promising candidates for positive electrodes for lithium batteries: LiFePO₄ and LiMn_0.5Ni_0.5O₂. The use of appropriate experimental conditions to acquire the NMR signal allows observing only the «diamagnetic» lithium species at the surface of the grains of active material. The reaction of LiMn_0.5Ni_0.5O₂ with the ambient atmosphere or LiPF₆ (1 M in Ethylene Carbonated/DiMéthyl Carbonate (EC/DMC)) electrolyte is extremely fast and leads to an important amount of lithium-containing diamagnetic species compared to what can be observed in the case of LiFePO₄. The two studied materials display a completely different surface chemistry in terms of reactivity and/or kinetics of the surface towards electrolyte. Moreover, these results show that MAS NMR is a very promising tool to monitor phenomena taking place at the interface between electrode and electrolyte.     

Physical characteristics of polyimide films for flexible sensors

Physical characteristics of polyimide films, including optical, micro/nano mechanical, and thermophysical characteristics were investigated using a photometric, a nanoindentation, and a thermomechanical analyzer for applications in flexible sensors. Experimental results show that UV light cannot transmit into the polyimide films. The transmittances, with a maximum of about 86%, at VIS and near IR lights decrease with increasing PI film thicknesses. The mechanical characteristics were determined using tensile, bending moment, and nanoindentation testing. The stress–strain curve approximated bilinear characteristics, the load–unload bending moment exhibited hysteresis, and nanoindentation generated elastic energy dissipation in the loading–unloading region. Nanoindentation showed an almost uniform hardness and a reduced Young’s modulus of about 0.181±0.03 and 3.21±0.06 GPa, respectively, when the penetrating depth was more than about 2 μm. Thermophysical characteristics were greatly influenced on 8.3 and 25 μm specimens due to the higher relaxation of thin PI films. The thermal expansion remained steady when the thickness was over 50 μm. The results show that PI films have potential in flexible sensing and higher temperature fabrication.     

Nonlinear wave interactions in patterned Silica and AlGaAs waveguides

We study nonlinear interactions between discrete optical solitons that propagate in different regimes of diffraction, and the nonlinear scattering of dispersive waves by local optical potentials. It is well known in optics that when linear coherent waves meet, they interfere without interactions. Linear waves also scatter through local optical structures not exchanging any power with the guided modes of these structures. As a focusing Kerr nonlinearity is present, such linearly-inhibited phenomena can exist. Our studies are performed in silica and AlGaAs nonlinear waveguides, excited by ultra-short pulses in the near infrared. Presented at 9-th International Workshop on Nonlinear Optics Applications, NOA 2007, May 17–20, 2007, Świnoujście, Poland     

A point source analytical model of inverse pulsed laser deposition

A simple analytical model for inverse pulsed laser deposition is proposed. In the model the motion of the evaporated material is assumed to emerge as from a point source located above the surface of evaporation at some distance. The obtained thickness profiles of inverse deposited films agree well with those calculated by the test particle Monte Carlo method. The proposed approach has been applied for analysis of experimental data on inverse pulsed laser deposition of graphite in nitrogen atmosphere with nanosecond pulses of laser fluences between 1 and 7 J/cm². The model describes well the thickness profiles and pressure dependence of film growth rate for inverse deposition.