Entropy-driven formation of the gyroid cubic phase

We show, by computer simulation, that tapered or pear-shaped particles, interacting through purely repulsive interactions, can freely self-assemble to form the three-dimensionally periodic, gyroid cubic phase. The Ia3d gyroid cubic phase is formed by these particles on both compression of an isotropic configuration and expansion of a smectic A bilayer arrangement. For the latter case, it is possible to identify the steps by which the topological transformation from nonintersecting planes to fully interpenetrating, periodic networks takes place.     

Topological and Steric Constraints to Stabilize Heteroleptic Copper(I) Complexes Combining Phenanthroline Ligands and Phosphines

Heteroleptic copper(I) complexes combining phenanthroline derivatives (NN) and chelating bisphosphine ligands (PP) are an important class of luminescent materials for various applications. Although thermodynamically stable, [Cu(NN)(PP)]⁺ derivatives are also kinetically unstable. As a result, a dynamic ligand-exchange reaction is often observed in solution, leading to a dynamic mixture of heteroleptic and homoleptic complexes. To prevent the formation of the homoleptic species, macrocyclic phenanthroline ligands have been used for the preparation of [Cu(NN)(PP)]⁺ pseudorotaxanes. The topological constraint resulting from the macrocyclic structure of the NN ligand drives the thermodynamic equilibrium towards the exclusive formation of the heteroleptic complex as long as the macrocycle is large and flexible enough to allow for the threading of the PP ligand. Conversely, when the threading is prevented by steric constraints, unprecedented copper(I) complexes with a trigonal coordination geometry are obtained. These results are summarized in the present concept article.     

In memoriam: Boris Dubrovin

Letters in Mathematical Physics -     

Initial interaction of oxygen with aluminium single crystal faces: A LEED,AES and work function study

Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and work function (Kelvin probe) measurements have been used to study the initial interaction of clean Al(111), (100) and (110) surfaces with oxygen at room temperature. The oxidation process was found to be surface orientation dependent, but a common feature has been always observed on the three low-index surfaces: they show two distinct phases, i.e. a chemisorbed phase followed then by an oxidized phase. From analysis of AES, LEED and Kelvin probe results, an adsorption mechanism of O on Al for each surface orientation is proposed.     

Hydrodynamic modes in a gas of magnons

Density waves analogous to second sound are studied in a gas of magnons. Quasiparticle interaction is considered for both equilibrium and non equilibrium thermodynamics. The non equilibrium theory is based on a Boltzmann equation for magnon-magnon scattering. Contrary to the total energy and magnetization, (quasi)-momentum is not strictly conserved. In the hydrodynamic regime, the transport equation is reduced to a set of two coupled equations for the magnetization and the local temperature. For low temperatures these have diffusive and propagating solutions while for high temperatures, where momentum is dissipated by Umklapp processes, the solutions are only diffusive. The magnetization response function and the corresponding spectral function are discussed for various wavenumbers and temperatures.     

Etude de la structure magnetique et de la transition de typr “spin-flop” de Rb2FeF5

The nature of the magnetic interactions in the chain compound Rb₂FeF₅ has been investigated using neutron diffraction and magnetic measurements under high applied fields. Rb₂FeF₅ orders antiferromagnetically at T_N = 8.0 ± 0.5 K; the magnetic structure is of the A_Z + G_X mode and the moment of the Fe³⁺ ion extrapoled to 0K is 3.5 ± 0.2 μ_B, this low value being due to zero-point spin reduction. Within a chain the Fe³⁺ ions are antiferromagnetically coupled with an exchange constant of J/k = ?8.8 K. A spin-flop behavior has been observed and interpreted on the basis of the molecular field theory. The critical field was found to be H_C = 65 kOe at 1.7 K.     

The subconvexity problem for Rankin–Selberg L-functions and equidistribution of Heegner points. II

We prove a general subconvex bound in the level aspect for Rankin–Selberg L-functions associated with two primitive holomorphic or Maass cusp forms over Q. We use this bound to establish the equidistribution of incomplete Galois orbits of Heegner points on Shimura curves associated with indefinite quaternion algebras over Q. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) 11F66, 11F67, 11M41     

Stability of a Cubically Convergent Method for Generalized Equations

In Geoffroy et al, Acceleration of convergence in Dontchev's iterative method for solving variational inclusions Serdica Math. J. 29 (2003), pp. 45–54] we showed the convergence of a cubic method for solving generalized equations of the form 0 ∈ f(x) +- G(x) where f is a function and G stands for a set-valued map. We investigate here the stability of such a method with respect to some perturbations. More precisely, we consider the perturbed equation y ∈ f(x) +- G(x) and we show that the pseudo-Lipschitzness of the map (f +- G)⁻¹ is closely tied to the uniformity of our method in the sense that the attraction region does not depend on small perturbations of the parameter y. Finally, we provide an enhanced version of the convergence theorem established by Geoffroy, et al.     

On the graph of a function in two variables over a finite field

We show that if the number of directions not determined by a pointset of , of size q² is at least p^e q then every plane intersects in 0 modulo p^e+1 points and apply the result to ovoids of the generalised quadrangles and .