Nonequilibrium thermodynamics and fluctuation relations for small systems

In this review, we give a retrospect of the recent progress in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and thermodynamics in small dynamical systems. For systems with only a few number of particles, fluctuations and nonlinearity become significant and contribute to the nonequilibrium behaviors of the systems, hence the statistical properties and thermodynamics should be carefully studied. We review recent developments of this topic by starting from the Gallavotti–Cohen fluctuation theorem, and then to the Evans–Searles transient fluctuation theorem, Jarzynski free-energy equality, and the Crooks fluctuation relation. We also investigate the nonequilibrium free energy theorem for trajectories involving changes of the heat bath temperature and propose a generalized free-energy relation. It should be noticed that the non-Markovian property of the heat bath may lead to the violation of the free-energy relation.     

水稻秸秆接力处理过程中的红外光谱研究

作物秸秆就地焚烧已经和正在引起严重的大气污染,土壤微生物对作物秸秆的较难分解是作物秸秆农业利用的主要限制因子之一。文章采用傅里叶红外光谱(FTIR)分析技术对水稻秸秆接力处理(化学水解—微生物培养)过程进行了研究,分析探讨了接力处理的化学机理。由红外光谱的分析可见,经过接力处理,水稻秸秆半纤维素和纤维素大大降低,C／N比也降低到适合微生物生长的范围,硅元素的含量也降低,水溶性的物质含量升高,其结果与化学分析的结果一致。文章提出的水稻秸秆接力处理方法能为作物秸秆的农业利用提供有效途径。     

低温液体管路输送中几个问题的分析

对低温液体传输过程中气体置换、预冷过程、竖直管道中间歇泉现象、盲支管填充时和阀门开启时的不稳定现象作了较详细分析,指出了其可能造成的危害,并提出了相应的解决方法。     

Multi-frequency harmonic arrays: initial experience with a novel transducer concept for nonlinear contrast imaging

Nonlinear contrast imaging modes such as second harmonic imaging (HI) and subharmonic imaging (SHI) are increasingly important for clinical applications. However, the performance of currently available transducers for HI and SHI is significantly constrained by their limited bandwidth. To bypass this constraint, a novel transducer concept termed multi-frequency harmonic transducer arrays (MFHA's) has been designed and a preliminary evaluation has been conducted. The MFHA may ultimately be used for broadband contrast enhanced HI and SHI with high dynamic range and consists of three multi-element piezo-composite sub-arrays (A-C) constructed so the center frequencies are 4f(A) = 2f(B) = f(C) (specifically 2.5/5.0/10.0 MHz and 1.75/3.5/7.0 MHz). In principle this enables SHI by transmitting on sub-array C receiving on B and, similarly, from B to A as well as HI by transmitting on A receiving on B and, likewise, from B to C. Initially transmit and receive pressure levels of the arrays were measured with the elements of each sub-array wired in parallel. Following contrast administration, preliminary in vitro HI and SHI signal-to-noise ratios of up to 40 dB were obtained. In conclusion, initial design and in vitro characterization of two MFHA's have been performed. They have an overall broad frequency bandwidth of at least two octaves. Due to the special design of the array assembly, the SNR for HI and SHI was comparable to that of regular B-mode and better than commercially available HI systems. However, further research on multi-element MFHA's is required before their potential for in vivo nonlinear contrast imaging can be assessed.     

Generalized Bethe ansatz solution of a one-dimensional asymmetric exclusion process on a ring with blockage

We present a model for a one-dimensional anisotropic exclusion process describing particles moving deterministically on a ring of lengthL with a single defect, across which they move with probability 0 p 1. This model is equivalent to a two-dimensional, six-vertex model in an extreme anisotropic limit with a defect line interpolating between open and periodic boundary conditions. We solve this model with a Bethe ansatz generalized to this kind of boundary condition. We discuss in detail the steady state and derive exact expressions for the currentj, the density profilen(x), and the two-point density correlation function. In the thermodynamic limitL the phase diagram shows three phases, a low-density phase, a coexistence phase, and a high-density phase related to the low-density phase by a particle-hole symmetry. In the low-density phase the density profile decays exponentially with the distance from the boundary to its bulk value on a length scale . On the phase transition line diverges and the currentj approaches its critical valuej _c = p as a power law,j _c – j ^–1/2. In the coexistence phase the width of the interface between the high-density region and the low-density region is proportional toL ^1/2 if the density f 1/2 and=0 independent ofL if = 1/2. The (connected) two-point correlation function turns out to be of a scaling form with a space-dependent amplitude n(x₁, x₂) =A(x₂)A ^Ke^–r/ withr = x ₂ –x ₁ and a critical exponent = 0.     

New formulation of restricted growth processes

We present a new formulation of a class of growth models-those which evolve according to an exclusion process. This formulation is based upon a transformation of the probability distribution function which involves Grassmann variables. This method is very general and enables one to derive an exact stochastic differential equation for the model of interest. We describe this method using the traffic model as an example.     

Detecting positive feedback in multivariate time series: The case of metal prices and US inflation

The objective of this paper is to examine causality and feedback relationships between primary commodity prices and US inflation. To this end, the bivariate noisy Mackey–Glass process recently developed by Kyrtsou and Labys [Evidence for chaotic dependence between US inflation and commodity prices, J. Macroecon. 28(1) (2006) 256–266] has been applied to assess this relationship. Results obtained support evidence in favour of causality, which can help to identify the influences of speculative price behaviour on inflation.     

A non-thermal chemical synthesis of hydrophilic and amorphous cobalt oxide films for supercapacitor application

Present work explored a room temperature, simple and low cost chemical route for the preparation of hydrophilic cobalt oxide films from alkaline cobalt chloride (CoCl₂:6H₂O) and double distilled water precursor solutions. As-deposited cobalt oxide films showed amorphous nature, which is one of the prime requirements for supercapacitor, as confirmed from X-ray diffraction studies. Changes in direct band gap energy and electrical resistivity of as-deposited cobalt oxide films were confirmed after annealing. Spherical grains of about 40-50 nm diameters were uniformly distributed over the substrate surface. Surface wettability studied in contact with liquid interface, showed hydrophilic nature as water contact angle was <90°. Finally, presence of cobalt-oxygen covalent bond was observed from Raman shift experiment.     

Nd:YAG laser synthesis of nanostructural V2O5 from vanadium oxide sols: Morphological and structural characterizations

Vanadium oxide thin films were prepared by sol-gel method, then subjected to Nd:YAG laser (CW, 1064 nm) radiation. The characteristics of the films were changed by varying the intensity of the laser radiation. The nanocrystalline films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD revealed that above 102 W/cm² the original xerogel structure disappears and above 129 W/cm² the films become totally polycrystalline with an orthorhombic structure. From TEM observations, we can see that due to laser radiation, the originally fibrillar-like particles disappear and irregular shaped, layer structured V₂O₅ particles are created. From XPS spectra we can conclude that due to laser radiation the O/V ratio increased with higher intensities.     

标量介子f0(980)光生过程γp→pf0(980)的研究

轻标量介子性质研究是当今中高能核物理研究中的热点问题之一,特别是质量低于1 GeV的标量介子f₀（980）的内部结构一直存在争议,至今未达成共识。基于前人的研究结果,运用有效拉氏量方法,对f₀（980）粒子的光生过程γp→pf₀（980）进行了更深入的理论研究。探讨了两种传播子形式下得矢量介子ρ和ω交换的贡献,第一种是选择雷吉传播子,第二种是选择普通费曼传播子。第二种形式的微分散射截面理论结果与现有实验数据符合比第一种形式的结果好。基于此,计算了两种形式的总截面,两种形式给出的理论结果相差很大。另外,给出了γp→pf₀（980）→pπ+π-过程的π+π-不变质量分布的理论预言,发现π+π-不变质量分布对于f₀（980）于K-K的耦合常数（g_f0KK）有很强的依赖关系,不同的g_f0KK给出明显不同的π+π-不变质量分布。将来相关实验数据可以验证这些理论预言,并对矢量介子传播子形式和耦合常数g_f0KK做出限制,加深人们对f₀（980）粒子的认识。We study the scalar meson f0(980) in the γp→pf0(980) reaction within an effective Lagrangian approach. Based on previous studies, we calculate the differential cross sections of this reaction. We take two types of the propagators of vector mesons ρ and ω, one is the Regge form, the other one is the normal Feynman propagator. It is found that our theoretical results for the differential cross sections with the Feynman propagator are in agreement with the current experimental data. For the total cross sections, the results with the two types of propagator are much different. On the other hand, we predict the π+π- invariant mass distribution of the γp→pf0(980)→pπ+π- reaction. We find that the π+π- invariant mass distribution depends sensitively on the value of the coupling constant gf0KK. We hope that the future experiments can test our model calculation and give further constraints on the value of gf0KK and also the nature of f0(980).