A Langevin equation for the rates of currency exchange based on the Markov analysis

We propose a method for analyzing the data for the rates of exchange of various currencies versus the U.S. dollar. The method analyzes the return time series of the data as a Markov process, and develops an effective equation which reconstructs it. We find that the Markov time scale, i.e., the time scale over which the data are Markov-correlated, is one day for the majority of the daily exchange rates that we analyze. We derive an effective Langevin equation to describe the fluctuations in the rates. The equation contains two quantities, D⁽¹⁾ and D⁽²⁾, representing the drift and diffusion coefficients, respectively. We demonstrate how the two coefficients are estimated directly from the data, without using any assumptions or models for the underlying stochastic time series that represent the daily rates of exchange of various currencies versus the U.S. dollar.     

Fissile radionuclides in thyroid of the inhabitants of the gomel region in belarus and peculiarities of their distribution

Severe radiation damages with the following substitution of connective tissue are the effect of high doses in microvolumes of the thyroid. Calcium, strontium and uranium deposited into these sections was more as compared to a normal tissue of the thyroid. An estimation of the microdistribution of fissile radionuclides was carried out using the method of fragmental radiography. The analysis of tracks done visually using a microscope magnification of 300 revealed the local density of fission fragments up to 10³ mm⁻². The irradiation of the surrounded cells which contain the hidden genetic damages, initiated by radioiodine, does not exclude their possible promoter role in thyroid cancerogenesis.     

Molecular-Dynamics Method for the Simulation of Grain-Boundary Migration

A molecular-dynamics method for the simulation of the intrinsicmigration behavior of individual, flat grain boundaries is introducedand validated. A constant driving force for grain-boundary migrationis generated by imposing an anisotropic elastic strain on a bicrystalsuch that the elastic-energy densities in its two halves aredifferent. For the model case of a large-planar-unit-cell, high-angle(001) twist boundary in Cu we show that an elastic strain of1%–4% is sufficient to drive thecontinuous, viscous movement of the boundary at temperatures wellbelow the melting point. The driving forces thus generated (at thehigh end of the experimentally accessible range) enable aquantitative evaluation of the migration process during the timeframe of 10^-9 s typically accessible bymolecular-dynamics simulation. For this model high-angle grainboundary we demonstrate that (a) the drift velocity is, indeed,proportional to the applied driving force thus enabling us todetermine the boundary mobility, (b) the activation energy forgrain-boundary migration is distinctly lower than that forgrain-boundary self-diffusion or even self-diffusion in the melt and(c) in agreement with earlier simulations the migration mechanisminvolves the collective reshuffling during local disordering(melting) of small groups of atoms and subsequentresolidification onto the other crystal.     

Optical decoherence and persistent spectral hole burning in Er:LiNbO3

Developing new resonant optical materials for spatial-spectral holography and quantum information applications requires detailed knowledge of the decoherence and population relaxation dynamics for the quantum states involved in the optical transitions, motivating the need for fundamental material studies. We report recent progress in studying these properties in erbium-doped lithium niobate at liquid helium temperatures. The influence of temperature, applied magnetic fields, measurement timescale, and dopant concentration were probed using photon echo spectroscopy and time-resolved spectral hole burning on the 1532 nm transition of Er³⁺:LiNbO₃. Effects of spectral diffusion due to interactions between Er³⁺ ions and between the Er³⁺ ion and ⁷Li and ⁹³Nb nuclear spins in the host lattice were observed. In addition, long-lived persistent spectral storage of seconds to minutes was observed due to non-equilibrium population redistribution among superhyperfine states.     

Defects,phase transitions and dynamical disorder in superionic protonic conductors H3OUO2PO4 · 3H2O and CsHSO4

Specific properties of the hydrogen bond and protons appear to be responsible for the formation of the quasi-liquid state of conducting ions and the resulting superionic behaviour. This state is reached by successive phase transitions involving the mobile species and their interactions with a more or less rigid framework. H₃OUO₂PO₄ · 3H₂O (HUP) and CsHSO₄ can be considered as models of wet and dry superionic conduction, respectively. Interactions between static effects and dynamical disorder as well as the coupling between sublattices are discussed in relation to results obtained by calorimetry, impedance spectroscopy (up to 10 GHz), vibrational spectroscopy and quasi-elastic neutron scattering.     

Phase transformations and structural characteristics of AL–Cu–Co(–Si) decagonal phase

The phase transformations and structural characteristics of the Al-Cu-Co-Si alloy have been studied by neutron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The Al₆₅Cu_17.5Co_17.5 decagonal phase is stable in the temperature range between 973 K and 1350 K. At the low-temperature end, it relaxes to a microcrystalline approximant structure. At the high-temperature end, it melts directly into liquid. Two distinct orthorhombic phases are identified in the Al₆₃Cu_17.5Co_17.5Si₂ microcrystalline structure. They are composed of several structure units that can also construct the Penrose tiling. Because of lack of units, a single orthorhombic phase cannot undergo the transformation towards the high-temperature decagonal phase. An analysis of the orientation relationships between the CsCl and orthorhombic phases leads to the definition of Penrose tiling-like subnetworks inside the orthorhombic unit cells so that these orthorhombic phases can be regarded as the periodic patchworks of quasiperiodic subnetworks.     

Small angle neutron scattering study of doxorubicin-surfactant complexes encapsulated in block copolymer micelles

Self-assembling behaviour of block copolymers and their ability to evade the immune system through polyethylene oxide stealth makes it an attractive candidate for drug encapsulation. Micelles formed by polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide- polyethylene oxide triblock copolymers (PEO-PPO-PEO), pluronic P123, have been employed for encapsulating the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride. The binding affinity of doxorubicin within the micelle carrier is enhanced through complex formation of drug and anionic surfactant, aerosol OT (AOT). Electrostatic binding of doxorubicin with negatively charged surfactants leads to the formation of hydrophobic drug-surfactant complexes. Surfactant-induced partitioning of the anti-cancer drug into nonpolar solvents such as chloroform is investigated. SANS measurements were performed on pluronic P123 micelles in the presence of drug-surfactant complex. No significant changes in the structure of the micelles are observed upon drug encapsulation. This demonstrates that surfactant- drug complexes can be encapsulated in block copolymer micelles without disrupting the structure of aggregates.      

Design of the low energy beam transport line for the China spallation neutron source

The design of the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) low-energy beam transport (LEBT) line, which locates between the ion source and the radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ), has been completed with the TRACE3D code. The design aims at perfect matching, primary chopping, a small emittance growth and sufficient space for beam diagnostics. The line consists of three solenoids, three vacuum chambers, two steering magnets and a pre-chopper. The total length of LEBT is about 1.74 m. This LEBT is designed to transfer 20 mA of H-pulsed beam from the ion source to the RFQ. An induction cavity is adopted as the pre-chopper.The electrostatic octupole steerer is discussed as a candidate. A four-quadrant aperture for beam scraping and beam position monitoring is designed.