Some exact solutions of the Dirac equation in the Kasner space-time

The exact solutions of the covariant generalization of the Dirac equation are obtained in the Kasner space-time for two types of coordinates, cartesian coordinates and cylindrical ones. The tetrads for both cases are constructed on the basis of a global quasicartesian coordinate systems that allows one to get rid of coordinate effects connected with the rotation of the local frame under transition of the triad from one space-time point to another. The possibility of plane and cylindrical spinor waves in the Kasner space-time is proved.     

Quantum subdiffusion with two- and three-body interactions

We study the dynamics of a few-quantum-particle cloud in the presence of two- and three-body interactions in weakly disordered one-dimensional lattices. The interaction is dramatically enhancing the Anderson localization length ξ ₁ of noninteracting particles. We launch compact wave packets and show that few-body interactions lead to transient subdiffusion of wave packets, m ₂ ~ t ^α , α< 1, on length scales beyond ξ ₁. The subdiffusion exponent is independent of the number of particles. Two-body interactions yield α ≈ 0.5 for two and three particles, while three-body interactions decrease it to α ≈ 0.2. The tails of expanding wave packets exhibit exponential localization with a slowly decreasing exponent. We relate our results to subdiffusion in nonlinear random lattices, and to results on restricted diffusion in high-dimensional spaces like e.g. on comb lattices.     

On the Minimal Number of Even Submatrices of 0-1 Matrices

An asymptotic formula for the minimum possible number of even p x q submatrices of an m x n 0-1 matrix A is obtained. It is shown that if Ais considered random and pq is even, then the distributionof the number of the even p x q submatricesof A is highly skewed to the right, the left endpointof the distribution being very close to its mean, while its rightendpoint is twice the mean. A relation to Turán numbersis indicated.     

High-frequency asymptotic expansions of a backscattering cross-section and an HH/VV polarization ratio for smooth two-dimensional surfaces

High-frequency asymptotic expansions of electrical and magnetic fields are obtained at a perfectly conducting smooth 2D surface illuminated by a plane incident wave in two cases of TE and TM polarization. Corrections to the geometrical optics backscattering HH and VV cross-sections are derived and the polarization ratio HH/VV is estimated for the specular points of a general form. It is shown that the coefficient of the first term in this series ∼ 1/k² depends not only on the local surface curvature radius at the specular reflecting points,but also on higher derivatives up to the sixth order.

For backscattering from a statistically rough surface, averaging over surface random derivatives at the specular points was performed. It was shown that for statistically uniform (stationary on space variables) random surfaces, the polarization ratio HH/VV (dB) is positive on average and proportional to ∼ 1/k²     

Radar backscattering from Gerstner's sea surface wave

In the framework of a two-scale scattering model, radar backscattering from the rough sea surface was considered. The sea surface was modelled as a superposition of a nonlinear, large-scale Gerstner's wave and small-scale resonant Bragg scattering ripples. The zero-order diffracted field was found by a geometrical optics approach, with shadowing taken into account, and by an 'exact' solution of the diffraction problem obtained numerically. For vertical and horizontal polarizations, the spatial distribution of specific scattering cross sections along the large-scale wave was obtained. The spatially averaged specific backscattering cross sections, as well as the mean Doppler frequency shifts at both polarizations, obtained by the geometrical optics approach are compared with those obtained by using the 'exact' solution of the large-scale diffraction problem. The roles of shadowing and multiple wave scattering processes are discussed, and qualitative explanations of the difference between these two approaches are given.     

In situ, time-resolved normal incidence reflectance spectroscopy of polycrystalline platinum microelectrodes in aqueous electrolytes

In situ normal incidence reflectance spectra of polycrystalline Pt microelectrodes have been monitored as a function of the applied potential in aqueous 0.5 M H(2)SO(4) using a He-Ne laser source (633 nm) and a beam splitter/microscope objective arrangement. Data recorded during voltammetric cycles in Ar-purged solutions revealed a linear correlation between the normalized change in reflectance, DeltaR/R = (R(s) - R(ref))/R(ref) (where R(s) and R(ref) are the light intensities measured by the detector at the sampling, s, and reference potentials, ref, respectively), and the extent of oxidation of the Pt surface over a wide coverage range. Reflectance spectra were also collected in CO-saturated 0.5 M H(2)SO(4) during chronocoulometric measurements involving judiciously selected limits for both the potential step and duty cycle parameters. Analysis of these results made it possible to extract contributions to the current derived from oxide formation during oxidation of adsorbed and bulk CO, based strictly on the optical response.