Mixed Formulations of Bending Problems for Homogeneous Elastic Plates and Beams

Mixed formulations of bending problems for homogeneous plates (beams) are proposed, whose essence is that the deformation of a plate (beam) near its fixed boundary is described by the threedimensional elasticity equations, and the remaining part by the conventional equations of plate (beam) bending. At the interface between these regions, the solutions of these equations are joined. The mixed formulation allows one to describe the threedimensional stress state in the neighborhood of the fixed boundaries of plates (beams) and take into account the complex nature of the fixing conditions. Finiteelement implementation is more efficient for the mixed formulations of plate (beam) bending problems than for the wellknown threedimensional formulations.     

Use of monomer fraction data in the parametrization of association theories

Association theories such as the CPA (cubic-plus-association), NRHB (non-random hydrogen bonding) equations of state and the various variants of SAFT (statistical associating fluid theory) have been extensively applied to phase equilibrium calculations. Such models can also be used for estimating the monomer fraction of hydrogen bonding compounds and their mixtures. Monomer fraction data are obtained from spectroscopic measurements and they are available for a few compounds such as pure water and alcohols as well as for some alcohol–alkane and similar mixtures. These data are useful for an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of association models. The purpose of this work is two-fold: (i) to compare the performance of three models, CPA, NRHB and sPC-SAFT, in predicting the monomer fraction of water, alcohols and mixtures of alcohol-inert compounds and (ii) to investigate whether “improved” model parameters can be obtained if monomer fraction data are included in the parameter estimation together with vapor pressures and liquid densities. The expression “improved” implies parameters which can represent several pure compound properties as well as monomer fraction data for pure compounds and mixtures. The accuracy of experimental monomer fraction data is discussed, as well as the role of monomer fraction data in clarifying which association scheme should be used in these equations of state. The results reveal that the investigated association models (CPA, sPC-SAFT and NRHB) can predict, at least qualitatively correct, monomer fractions of associating compounds and mixtures. Only, small differences are observed between the models. In addition, it has been shown that, using a suitable association scheme, a single set of parameters can describe satisfactorily vapor pressures, liquid densities and monomer fractions of water and alcohols. The 4C scheme is the best choice for water, while for methanol there is small difference between the 2B and 3B association schemes.     

The role of gauge symmetry in spintronics

In this work we employ a field theoretical approach to explain the nature of the non-conserved spin current in spintronics. In particular, we consider the usual U(1) gauge theory for the electromagnetism at classical level in order to obtain the broken continuity equation involving the spin current and spin-transfer torque. Inspired by the recent work of A. Vernes, B. L. Gyorffy and P. Weinberger where they obtain such an equation in terms of relativistic quantum mechanics, we formalize their result in terms of the well known currents of field theory such as the Bargmann–Wigner current and the chiral current. Thus, an interpretation of spintronics is provided in terms of Noether currents (conserved or not) and symmetries of the electromagnetism. In fact, the main result of the present work is that the non-conservation of the spin current is associated with the gauge invariance of physical observables where the breaking term is proportional to the chiral current. Moreover, we generalize their result by including the electromagnetic field as a dynamical field instead of an external one.     

Gravity on a multifractal

Despite their diversity, many of the most prominent candidate theories of quantum gravity share the property to be effectively lower-dimensional at small scales. In particular, dimension two plays a fundamental role in the finiteness of these models of Nature. Thus motivated, we entertain the idea that spacetime is a multifractal with integer dimension 4 at large scales, while it is two-dimensional in the ultraviolet. Consequences for particle physics, gravity and cosmology are discussed.     

On the impact of large amplitude pairing fluctuations on nuclear spectra

The influence of large amplitude pairing fluctuations is investigated in the framework of beyond mean field symmetry conserving configuration mixing calculations. In the numerical application the finite range density dependent Gogny force is used. We investigate the nucleus ⁵⁴Cr with particle number and angular momentum projected wave functions considering the axial quadrupole deformation and the pairing gap degree of freedom as generator coordinates. We find that the effects of the pairing fluctuations increase with the excitation energy and the angular momentum. The self-consistency in the determination of the basis states plays an important role.     

Fisher information description of the classical-quantal transition

We investigate the classical limit of the dynamics of a semiclassical system that represents the interaction between matter and a given field. The concept of Fisher Information measure (F) on using as a quantifier of the process, we find that it adequately describes the transition, detecting the most salient details of the changeover. Used in conjunction with other possible information quantifiers, such as the Normalized Shannon Entropy (H) and the Statistical Complexity (C) by recourse to appropriate planar representations like the Fisher Entropy (F×H) and Fisher Complexity (F×C) planes, one obtains a better visualization of the transition than that provided by just one quantifier by itself. In the evaluation of these Information Theory quantifiers, we used the Bandt and Pompe methodology for the obtention of the corresponding probability distribution.     

Constraints on torsion from the bosonic sector of Lorentz violation and magnetogenesis data

A. Kostelecky et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 100 (2008) 111102], have shown that there is an exceptional sensitivity of spacetime torsion components by coupling it to fermions and constraining it to Lorentz violation. They obtain new constraints on torsion components down to the level of ¹⁰⁻³¹ GeV${10}^{-31}\text{GeV}$. Yet more recently, L.C. Garcia de Andrade [Phys. Lett. B 468 (2011) 28] has shown that the photon sector of Lorentz violation (LV) Lagrangian leads to linear non-standard Maxwell equations where the magnetic field decays slower giving rise to a seed for galactic dynamos. In this paper bounds are placed on torsion based on the magnetogenesis or the origin of magnetic fields in the universe. On a coherence scale of 10 kpc, galactic magnetic fields of the order of some μG yield a torsion primordial field of the order of K⁰≈¹⁰⁻⁴⁸ GeV$K^0\approx {10}^{-48}\text{GeV}$. Just to give an idea of how tiny it is we mention that torsion limit in the Early universe yield K⁰≈¹⁰⁻³¹ GeV$K^0\approx {10}^{-31}\text{GeV}$ had been obtained by V. de Sabbata and C. Sivaram. Good limits were also obtained by B.R. Heckel et al. [Phys. Rev. D 78 (2008) 092006]. In our case the advantage from astro-particle physics point of view, is that a very small seed torsion field is enough to seed galactic dynamo. C. Sivaram limit is obtained from a massive photon electrodynamics [L.C. Garcia de Andrade, C. Sivaram, Ap. Space Sci. 209 (1993) 109] where a gauge invariant electrodynamics is used. Dynamo stars data are able to raise this value of torsion up to ¹⁰⁻³⁴ GeV${10}^{-34}\text{GeV}$ at magnetar atmosphere. From these estimates one notices that they coincide with the ones obtained by A. Kostelecky et al., the difference being basically in the method. The ones here were obtained from magnetogenesis data while theirs were obtained from the Earth laboratory data from polarised electrons. Besides here one used the torsion derivatives while A. Kostelecky et al. uses the constant axial torsion tensor. Another fundamental distinction is that we use bosonic sector of the Lagrangian while they use mainly fermionic sector coupling with torsion.     

Large-scale calculations for hadron spectroscopy

Some recent Monte Carlo calculations for quantum chromodynamics, performed on Euclidean lattices of rather large extent, are reviewed. The purpose of the calculations is to provide accurate determinations of quantities, such as interquark potentials or mass eigenvalues, which are relevant for hadronic spectroscopy. Results obtained in quenched QCD on 16³×32 lattices are illustrated, and a discussion of computational resources and techniques required for the calculations is presented.     

Boundary-value problems and the validity of the Post constraint in modern electromagnetism

When a (frequency-domain) boundary-value problem involving a homogeneous linear material is solved to assess the validity of the Post constraint, a conflict arises between the fundamental differential equations of electromagnetism in the chosen material and a naïve application of the usual boundary conditions. It is shown here that the conflict vanishes when the boundary conditions are properly derived from the fundamental equations, and the validity of the Post constraint in modern macroscopic electromagnetism is thereby reaffirmed.     

On the Conclusive Tests of Local Realism and Pseudoscalar Mesons

Many beautiful experiments have been addressed to test standard quantum mechanics against local realistic models. Even if a strong evidence favouring standard quantum mechanics is emerged, a conclusive experiment is still lacking, because of low detection efficiencies. Recently, experiments based on pseudoscalar mesons have been proposed as a way for obtaining a conclusive experiment. In this paper, we investigate if this result can effectively be obtained. Our conclusions, based on a careful analysis of the proposed set ups, are that this will not be possible due to intrinsic limitations of these kind of experiments.