Efficient stream distributions in radiative transfer theory

This paper discusses a new, computationally-efficient method for approximating the integro-differential equation of radiative transfer with a finite set of coupled differential equations for discrete streams. The method uses recommended spatial distributions of streams that are quite different from those typically used in that they are based on the symmetry of several regular Platonic solids. To facilitate the use of such distributions, an explicit, one- parameter relationship between the physical radiance and the abstract stream is formulated. The parameter is used to determine the minimum number of streams required in the radiative transfer model. Accuracy and computational efficiency are shown to be served best by choosing a stream distribution that is invariant to a large number of three space rotations. For various values of the above-mentioned parameter, the resulting recommended stream distribution is shown to be more computationally efficient than more conventional stream distributions. Finally, the incorporation of polarization in the stream definition is described.     

Electrophoresis of human salivary proteins: response to natural stimulation

Human saliva was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the response to different natural stimuli investigated. Serva Blue R revealed pink/violet-staining proteins ("lumicarmines"). These intensified following stimulation but in an unpredictable and sometimes disproportionate manner, causing pattern changes. This variable response undermines their potential forensic value for suspect identification.     

Backward photoproduction of ϱ° and f between 2.8 GeV and 4.8 GeV

A measurement of backward photoproduction of charged pion pairs on protons is reported. The pion pair mass spectrum shows strong ?° and f production. Data are presented on the u and s dependence for ?^O and f, together with the decay polarisation for the ?^O.     

Measurement of the fragmentation of hadronic systems of different flavour and colour selected by lepton pairs

A lepton-pair trigger was used to select a hadronic system in different flavour and colour states: properties of the transformation of this system into hadrons were measured in terms of charge flow, multiplicity distribution, and fragmentation function. It is observed that, while the effects of flavour are clearly seen, the colour degrees of freedom are not observed in the region of low p_T.     

Selective synthesis of the C3v isomer of C60h18

[chemical structure: see text]. C60H18 has been produced by hydrogenation of C60 at 100 bar H2 pressure and 673 K for 10 h. We have investigated the crude material without any purification by use of 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectroscopy and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. We show that the crude material consists of 95% of the C3v isomer of C60H18.     

Metamagnetic phase transition of the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg icosahedron

The observation of hysteresis effects in single molecule magnets like Mn12-acetate has initiated ideas of future applications in storage technology. The appearance of a hysteresis loop in such compounds is an outcome of their magnetic anisotropy. In this Letter we report that magnetic hysteresis occurs in a spin system without any anisotropy, specifically where spins mounted on the vertices of an icosahedron are coupled by antiferromagnetic isotropic nearest-neighbor Heisenberg interaction giving rise to geometric frustration. At T = 0 this system undergoes a first-order metamagnetic phase transition at a critical field Bc between two distinct families of ground state configurations. The metastable phase of the system is characterized by a temperature and field dependent survival probability distribution.     

Geometric nature of the environment-induced Berry phase and geometric dephasing

We investigate the geometric phase or Berry phase acquired by a spin half which is both subject to a slowly varying magnetic field and weakly coupled to a dissipative environment (either quantum or classical). We study how this phase is modified by the environment and find that the modification is of a geometric nature. While the original Berry phase (for an isolated system) is the flux of a monopole field through the loop traversed by the magnetic field, the environment-induced modification of the phase is the flux of a quadrupolelike field. We find that the environment-induced phase is complex, and its imaginary part is a geometric contribution to dephasing. Its sign depends on the direction of the loop. Unlike the Berry phase, this geometric dephasing is gauge invariant for open paths of the magnetic field.     

Competing spin phases in geometrically frustrated magnetic molecules

We identify a class of zero-dimensional classical and quantum Heisenberg spin systems exhibiting anomalous behavior in an external magnetic field B similar to that found for the geometrically frustrated kagome lattice of classical spins. Our calculations for the isotropic Heisenberg model show the emergence of a pronounced minimum in the differential susceptibility dM/dB at B(sat)/3 as the temperature T is raised from 0 K for structures based on corner-sharing triangles, specifically the octahedron, cuboctahedron, and icosidodecahedron. As the first experimental evidence we note that the giant Keplerate magnetic molecule {Mo(72)Fe(30)} (Fe(3+) ions on the 30 vertices of an icosidodecahedron) exhibits this behavior. For low T when B approximately B(sat)/3 two competing families of spin configurations exist of which one behaves magnetically "stiff" leading to a reduction of dM/dB.