On the Semiclassical Propagator for Any One-Dimensional Admissible Potential

This paper shows that by choosing suitably the general fundamental invariantI=f(I₁) as a new canonical momentum, we can find the semiclassical propagator for any one-dimensional admissible potential, whereIis a certain function of the fundamental invariantI₁. We apply this method to the case of quartic potential and point out few applications of the propagator for this potential.     

Body-centered-cubic Ni and its magnetic properties

The body-centered-cubic (bcc) phase of Ni, which does not exist in nature, has been achieved as a thin film on GaAs(001) at 170 K via molecular beam epitaxy. The bcc Ni is ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature of 456 K and possesses a magnetic moment of 0.52+/-0.08 micro(B)/atom. The cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy of bcc Ni is determined to be +4.0x10(5) ergs x cm(-3), as opposed to -5.7x10(4) ergs x cm(-3) for the naturally occurring face-centered-cubic (fcc) Ni. This sharp contrast in the magnetic anisotropy is attributed to the different electronic band structures between bcc Ni and fcc Ni, which are determined using angle-resolved photoemission with synchrotron radiation.     

Exponential decay lifetimes of excitons in individual single-walled carbon nanotubes

The dynamics of excitons in individual semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes was studied using time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL decay from tubes of the same (n,m) type was found to be monoexponential, however, with lifetimes varying between less than 20 and 200 ps from tube to tube. Competition of nonradiative decay of excitons is facilitated by a thermally activated process, most likely a transition to a low-lying optically inactive trap state that is promoted by a low-frequency phonon mode.     

Berry phase correction to electron density of states in solids

Liouville's theorem on the conservation of phase-space volume is violated by Berry phase in the semiclassical dynamics of Bloch electrons. This leads to a modification of the phase-space density of states, whose significance is discussed in a number of examples: field modification of the Fermi-sea volume, connection to the anomalous Hall effect, and a general formula for orbital magnetization. The effective quantum mechanics of Bloch electrons is also sketched, where the modified density of states plays an essential role.     

Entropy production of Brownian macromolecules with inertia

We investigate the nonequilibrium steady-state thermodynamics of single Brownian macromolecules with inertia under feedback control in an isothermal ambient fluid. With the control being represented by a velocity-dependent external force, we find such an open system can have a negative entropy production rate, and we develop a mesoscopic theory consistent with the second law. We propose an equilibrium condition and define a class of external force, which includes the transverse Lorentz force, leading to equilibrium.     

On the interconversion pathway of HBO<-->BOH

The potential energy surfaces have been constructed for the 1A', 3A', and 3A" states of HBO by using the multireference perturbation theory with the basis set cc-pVTZ (6d,10f). Two stationary points and a transition state have been characterized on all the three surfaces, which are in good agreement with available experiments and previous calculations. The interconversion pathways from metastable boron hydroxide BOH to the considerably more stable HBO are expounded based on the nature of the surfaces.     

First principles calculation of anomalous Hall conductivity in ferromagnetic bcc Fe

We perform a first principles calculation of the anomalous Hall effect in ferromagnetic bcc Fe. Our theory identifies an intrinsic contribution to the anomalous Hall conductivity and relates it to the k-space Berry phase of occupied Bloch states. This dc conductivity has the same origin as the well-known magneto-optical effect, and our result accounts for experimental measurement on Fe crystals with no adjustable parameters.     

Direct ab initio dynamics study on the rate constants and kinetics isotope effects of CH(3)O+H-->CH(2)O+H(2) reaction

We present a direct ab initio dynamics study of thermal rate constants of the hydrogen abstraction reaction of CH(3)O+H-->CH(2)O+H(2). The unrestricted Becke's half-and-half hybrid functional using the Lee-Yang-Parr correlation functional with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence double-zeta basis set, the unrestricted quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence double-zeta basis set, and the unrestricted quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions with a triples contribution with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence triple-zeta basis set methods were employed to optimize the structures and to calculate frequencies for all stationary points. Minimum energy paths were obtained by the unrestricted Becke's half-and-half hybrid functional using the Lee-Yang-Parr correlation functional and the unrestricted quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions with the same Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence double-zeta basis set levels of theory. No barrier is found at the unrestricted Becke's half-and-half hybrid functional using the Lee-Yang-Parr correlation functional with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence double-zeta basis set level of theory in contrast to a small barrier of 1.43 kcal mol(-1) at the unrestricted quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence double-zeta basis set level of theory. In particular, the barrier vanishes as the energies along the minimum energy path MEP are refined at the unrestricted quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions with a triples contribution with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence triple-zeta basis set level of theory. Smaller barriers of 0.47 and 0.17 kcal mol(-1) were obtained at the unrestricted quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions with a triples contribution with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence triple-zeta basis set and the unrestricted quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions with a triples contribution with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence triple-zeta basis set based on the geometries at the unrestricted quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence triple-zeta basis set levels of theory, respectively. The forward rate constants are evaluated with the canonical variational transition state theory in the temperature range of 300-2500 K. The calculated forward rate constants at the unrestricted quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions with a triples contribution with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence triple-zeta basis set based on the geometries at the unrestricted quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions with Dunning's correlation consistent polarized valence double-zeta basis set level of theory are in good agreement with the available experimental data. The kinetic isotope effects are estimated.     

Controlling of explicit internal signal stochastic resonance by external signal

Explicit internal signal stochastic resonance (EISSR) is investigated in a model of energy transduction of molecular machinery when noise is added to the region of oscillation in the presence of external signal (ES). It is found that EISSR could be controlled, i.e., enhanced or suppressed by adjusting frequency (omega(e)) and amplitude (A) of ES, and that there exits an optimal frequency for ES, which makes EISSR strength reach the maximum. Meanwhile, a critical amplitude (A(c)) is found, which is a threshold of occurrence of EISSR. Finally, the difference and similarity between EISSR and IISSR (implicit internal signal stochastic resonance) are discussed.     

Phase-shifting windowed Fourier ridges for determination of phase derivatives

Determination of the phase or phase derivative from interferometric fringe patterns is an important task in optical interferometry. The use of wavelet ridges was recently shown to be an effective method for phase retrieval from a single fringe pattern. One necessary requirement in this method is the need for carrier frequency. In cases when carrier frequency is not available, the novel phase-shifting windowed Fourier ridges method can be used. Phase derivatives with the proper sign can be directly retrieved even in the presence of noise. An application for curvature determination from speckle shearographic fringes demonstrates the effectiveness of the method.