Steps and facets at the surface of soft crystals

We consider the shape of crystals which are soft in the sense that their elastic modulus μ is small compared to their surface tension γ, more precisely μa < γ where a is the lattice spacing. We show that their surface steps penetrate inside the crystal as edge dislocations. As a consequence, these steps are broad with a small energy which we calculate. We also calculate the elastic interaction between steps a distance d apart, which is a 1/d ² repulsion. We finally calculate the roughening temperatures of successive facets in order to compare with the remarkable shapes of lyotropic crystals recently observed by Pieranski et al. [#!Pieranski!#,#!EPJ!#]. Good agreement is found. Received 25 June 2001     

Accurate calculation of the scattering length for the cooling of hydrogen atoms by lithium atoms

An improved ab initio calculation has been performed for the potential for the LiH a ³Σ⁺ state, using two very large basis sets. The Basis Set Superposition Error (BSSE) correction has been determined for both basis sets and the non-Born-Oppenheimer correction estimated to be negligible. The best potential is approximately 10% deeper than the previous estimate. Vibrational energies and scattering lengths have been calculated for ^6,7LiH(D) with both potentials, with and without the BSSE correction, and also with an estimated potential expected to bracket the true potential. The ⁷LiH scattering length is estimated to be (45 ± 4)a₀ and hence the low-energy cross-section in the best a ³Σ⁺ potential is about half that calculated previously. Enhanced cooling by ⁷Li of trapped H atoms remains feasible. Received 30 April 2001     

ELECTRON TRANSPORT BEHAVIOURS IN THE NITROGEN DIRECT CURRENT GLOW DISCHARGE

A Monte Carlo simulation is presented to describe the electron transport behaviours in the nitrogen direct current glow discharge. The energy and angular distributions of the electrons at different positions of the cathode dark space are calculated; their energy and density distribution features throughout the entire discharge are discussed. The influence of molecular vibrational excitation, typical for electron－molecule collisions, has been studied and the elementary process of active species generation has been illustrated. The simulated results reveal that, in the cathode dark space, the high-energy electrons are mainly forward scattering and behave as a high-energy ‘electron beam'. The sharp increase of the number of secondary electrons plays an important role in producing active species at the interface between the cathode dark space and the negative glow region. The vibrational excitation enhances the energy loss of electrons in the negative glow region.     

Entangling atoms in photonic crystals

We propose a method for entangling a system of two-level atoms in photonic crystals. The atoms are assumed to move in void regions of a photonic crystal. The interaction between the atoms is mediated either via a defect mode or via a resonant dipole-dipole interaction. We show that these interactions can produce pure entangled atomic states. We analyze the problem with parameters typical for currently existing photonic crystals and Rydberg atoms and we show that the atoms can emerge from photonic crystals in entangled states. Depending on the linear dimensions of the crystal we estimate that a pair of atoms entangled in a photonic crystal can be separated by tens of centimeters. Receive 11 June 1999 and Received in final form 4 October 1999     

The correlation length of commodity markets 1. Empirical evidence

It is a common belief nowadays that the world economy is fairly well “integrated”. Yet, this belief often turns out to be in contradiction with empirical evidence. As a matter of fact the way distant markets interact is a question that has largely been ignored by economists. In this series of two papers we examine the role that space, that is to say geographical distance, plays in the economics of commodity markets. The first of these papers presents the empirical evidence while the second develops a theoretical framework. The empirical enquiry discloses several noteworthy features, e.g. (i) with respect to spatial interaction there is a sharp contrast between stock markets and commodity markets. While there is almost perfect spatial arbitrage in the first case, this is not true for commodity markets. (ii) In spite of their chaotic behavior in the course of time commodity prices display well defined spatial patterns, (iii) as in statistical physics and fluid dynamics interactions can be described in terms of correlation length. The correlation length of a set of markets is seen to increase along with the number of transactions; it also increases when transport costs decline as was the case during the “transportation revolution” of the mid-nineteenth century. Using the notion of correlation length one is able to give a quantitative meaning to the otherwise ill-defined concept of market integration. Received 17 May 1999 and Received in final form 31 May 1999     

Triplet-triplet transfer of electronic energy upon nonequilibrium vibrational excitation of triplet molecules

The specific features of the triplet-triplet (T-T) transfer of electronic excitation energy in a gas phase upon nonequilibrium vibrational excitation of the triplet molecules of a donor were studied for an anthraquinone-diacetyl donor-acceptor pair using the time-resolved slow fluoresence of anthraquinone and sensitized phosphorescence of diacetyl. It is shown that in the gas phase, which allows regular control of the number of collisions, competition between the processes of T-T transfer and intermolecular vibrational relaxation is observed for nanosecond time resolution. The T-T transfer rate for the molecular system investigated exceeded the rate of intermolecular vibrational relaxation k_V in the triplet state T₁ of the donor. The effectiveness of the T-T transfer of energy by vibrationally excited molecules turned out to be higher than the effectiveness of transfer by thermalized ones, but even the highest of them was much less than unity. An increase in the equilibrium temperature of vapors led to a decrease in the effectiveness of transfer for both vibrationally excited and thermalized triplet molecules, thus indicating the importance of the collisional complex in the intermolecular process studied. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 4, pp. 474–479, July–August, 2000.     

Development of copolymer of CR-39 with high sensitivity to low let particles

Several types of copolymers of CR-39 were prepared to find its usefulness as a nuclear track detector of high sensitivity. Track responses of these copolymers were investigated by irradiating energetic ions from proton through Ar. The copolymer of CR-39 monomer with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) shows higher sensitivity than that of pure CR-39 for low LET particles such as protons. Preliminary results are reported for the track responses of copolymers (CR-39/NIPAAm) with various contents of NIPAAm as well as the etching properties.     

Influence of oxygen on the ion-assisted regrowth of deposited Si layers

Summary The ion-assisted regrowth of chemical-vapour deposited Si films onto (100) Si substrates is reported. The regrowth was induced by a 600 keV Kr⁺⁺ beam at doses in the range (2·10¹⁵÷6·10¹⁵)/cm² and at a dose rate of 1·10¹²/cm²s. The target temperature was set at 450°C. During irradiations the crystal-amorphous interface velocity was measuredin situ by monitoring the reflectivity of a He-Ne laser light focused onto the sample surface. After irradiation some samples were also analysed by Rutherford backscattering in combination with the channelling effect and by transmission electron microscopy. The growth rate of deposited layers depends on the cleaning procedure performed prior to deposition,i.e on the total amount of oxygen present at the deposited layer/substrate interface. Moreover, twinned material is observed in the recrystallized layers and its concentration is strongly dependent on substrate cleaning. These phenomena are explained in terms of a decrease in the ion-assisted growth rate in the presence of high oxygen concentrations. The data are discussed and compared with those obtained during pure thermal annealing. To speed up publication, the authors of this paper has agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

Linear absorbing boundary conditions for surface water wave propagation

Summary The meaning of linear absorbing boundary conditions for periodic water waves in elliptical approaches is discussed. It is found that the direction of propagation of the waves must be known for reliable boundary conditions and that the energy dissipation of waves running parallel to a boundary in general cannot be modelled in the framework of a linear theory. Work presented at the Euromech Colloquium 240 on ?Dispersive waves in dissipative fluids?, Bologna, August 30–September 2, 1988.     

Electrical conductivity in very anisotropic conductors and semiconductors

Summary For very anisotropic metallic and semiconducting systems it is shown that the electrical conductivity in the direction of high effective mass decreases as the number of electrons in the conduction band grows. In the other directions the conductivity behaves normally.

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Riassunto Si mostra che, per sistemi semiconduttori e metallici anisotropi, la conduttività elettrica nella direzione di massa altamente efficace diminuisce all'aumentare del numero di elettroni nella banda di conduzione. Nelle altre direzioni la conduttività si comporta normalmente.

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Резюме Для очень анизотропных металлических и полупроводниковых систем показывается, что электропропроводность в направлении большой эффективной массы уменьшается, когда число электронов в зоне проводимости увеличивается. В других направлениях проводимость ведет себя нормальным образом.