Collective dynamics of interacting molecular motors

The collective dynamics of N interacting processive molecular motors are considered theoretically when an external force is applied to the leading motor. We show, using a discrete lattice model, that the force-velocity curves strongly depend on the effective dynamic interactions between motors and differ significantly from those of a simple approach where the motors equally share the force. Moreover, they become essentially independent of the number of motors if N is large enough (N> or approximately 5 for conventional kinesin). We show that a two-state ratchet model has a very similar behavior to that of the coarse-grained lattice model with effective interactions. The general picture is unaffected by motor attachment and detachment events.     

Adiabatic three-wave volume hologram: large efficiency independent of grating strength and polarization

A transmission hologram with two volume gratings is considered in the regime of wave A diffracted into wave B via an intermediate weakly excited wave C. In analogy to the phenomenon of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage in nonlinear optics, this new scheme demonstrates diffraction efficiency with low sensitivity to the hologram's strength. A theory of three-wave adiabatic coupling has been developed and explored analytically. Numerical results show an example of a coupling profile that preserves high diffraction efficiency with almost no dependence on the hologram's strength, including the suppressed influence of polarization.     

Measurement of the 214Po half-life by the DEVIS track setup

Measurement of the ²¹⁴Po half-life with the DEVIS track setup at the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (ITEP, Moscow) by means of a procedure based on determining lifetimes of individual nuclei is described. The value obtained for the ²¹⁴Po half-life is 163.8 ± 3.0 µs. The possibility of reaching the accuracy of the measurements that is required for testing the statement that the decay of some nuclei has a nonexponential character and the source intensity necessary for this are discussed.     

Structure of Charged Poly(propylene imine) Dendrimers: Theoretical Investigation

A mean‐field model for charged dendrimers has been elaborated and applied to Astramol dendrimers of 5^th generation in salt‐free solution. The free energy of a dendrimer molecule was minimized with respect to the dendrimer size and to the profile of counterion distribution. The model of highly stretched freely jointed chain was used to describe the elasticity of long branches, the dissociated groups were assumed to be localized mostly on the periphery of the molecule, and the electrostatic interactions were described in the Poisson‐Boltzmann approximation. It was found that the osmotic pressure of counterions leads to moderate expansion of dendrimer molecules upon charging, and a significant fraction of counterions is localized within the dendrimer molecule under typical experimental conditions.

The schematic structure of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers for the 4^th generation.     

Investigation of double-beta decay at the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (ITEP, Moscow)

Investigation of neutrinoless double-beta (2β0ν) decay is presently being considered as one of the most important problems in particle physics and cosmology Interest in the problem was quickened by the observation of neutrino oscillations. The results of oscillation experiments determine the mass differences between different neutrino flavors, and the observation of neutrinoless decay may fix the absolute scale and the hierarchy of the neutrino masses. Investigation of 2β0ν decay is the most efficient method for solving the problem of whether the neutrino is a Dirae or a Majorana particle, Physicists from the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (ITEP, Moscow) have been participating actively in solving this problem. They initiated and pioneered the application of semiconductor detectors manufactured from enriched germanium to searches for the double-beta decay of ⁷⁶Ge. Investigations with ⁷⁶Ge provided the most important results. At present, ITEP physicists are taking active part in four very large projects, GERDA. Majorana, EXO, and NEMO, which are capable of recording 2β0ν decay at a Majorana neutrino mass of 〈m _ν〉 ≈ 10^?2 eV.     

Free-space terminator and coherent broadband blackbody interferometry

We propose a free-space terminator and broadband interferometry based on a coherent blackbody effect in an ultrathin nonreflecting metallic layer in the microwave to infrared domains. A frequency-insensitive device consisting of a metallic layer in a ring (Sagnac) interferometer can be used for autocorrelation measurements of extremely broad EM spectra.     

Quasielastic neutrino and antineutrino scattering total cross-sections,axial-vector form-factor

Experimental results on the study of quasielastic reactionsv _μ n→μ ^? p and \(\bar v_u p \to \mu ^ + n\) in the energy range 3–30 GeV are presented in this paper. Spark chamber detector with Al filters has been exposed to the wide-band neutrino and antineutrino beams at Serpukhov. Neutrino and antineutrino data have been used to reconstruct the behaviour of axial-vector form-factorF _A (Q ²). We measured the total cross-sections as a function of energy. The parameterM _A =(1.00±0.04) GeV/c² has been determined under the assumption of the dipole parametrization and CVC hypothesis. Upper limit for the second class currents was estimated.     

Crystallographic analysis of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>2 → <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>19′ martensite transformation in titanium nickelide

A phenomenological theory of martensite transformation is used to determine (select) the mechanism of B2 → B19′ transformation. The most realistic mechanism corresponds to the minimum additional rotation of a martensite plate needed to maintain the invariance of the habit plane. Equal values of the macroscopic shear direction and extent, the habit plane, the deformation for the invariant lattice, and the general deformation of shape are obtained for four different deformations. However, the supplementary rotation for each option is different. The minimum angle of rotation is observed for deformation by a martensite transformation with {21-1}B2 plane shear in the 〈-11-1〉 direction.     

Crystallographic analysis of martensitic transformation in an iron-nickel alloy with twinned martensite

A variant of the crystallographic theory of martensitic transformations is proposed, based on a mechanism of lattice deformation in which the angle of rotation of a martensite plate is reduced to a minimum. In an iron-nickel alloy with twinned martensite, the least angle of rotation corresponds to the deformation of the austenite lattice by shear on the (111) plane in the $\left[ {11\bar 2} \right]$ direction proposed by Kurdyumov and Sachs as the first shear in the two-shear theory of martensite formation in steel.