Electrostatic Structures Research Articles

Fine structures of organic photovoltaic thin films probed by frequency-shift electrostatic force microscopy

The localized charge and electrostatic properties of organic photovoltaic thin films are predominating factors for controlling energy conversion efficiency. The surface potential and electrostatic structures of organic photovoltaic thin films were investigated by frequency shift mode Kelvin force microscopy (KFM) and electrostatic force microscopy (EFM). The KFM images of a poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene]/phenyl-C61-butyric-acid-methyl ester (PCBM) blend thin film reveals that the PCBM domains precipitate as the topmost layer on the thin films. We find fine structures that were not observed in the topography and KFM images. The bias dependence of the EFM images suggests that the EFM contrast reflects the field-induced polarization, indicating the presence of charge trapping sites.

Existence domains of electrostatic solitary structures in the solar wind plasma

Electrostatic solitary waves and double layers are explored in a homogeneous, collisionless, and magnetized three-component plasma composed of hot protons, hot heavier ions (alpha particles, He++), and suprathermal electrons with kappa distribution. The Sagdeev pseudopotential technique is used to study the arbitrary amplitude ion-acoustic solitons and double layers. The effect of various parameters such as the number density of ions, ni0; the spectral index, κ; the Mach numbers, M; and the temperature ratio of ion to the electron σi on the evolution of ion-acoustic solitary waves as well as their existence domains is studied. The transition in the existence domain for slow-ion acoustic solitons from negative solitons/double layers to positive solitons/double layers is found to occur with a variation of the heavier ion temperature. It is observed that the width of the negative potential solitons increases as the amplitude increases, whereas for the positive potential solitons, the width decreases as the amplitude increases. Furthermore, it is found that the limitation on the attainable amplitudes of fast ion-acoustic solitons is attributed to that the number density of protons should remain real valued, while for the slow ion-acoustic solitons, the upper limit is provided by the requirement that the number density of heavier ions should remain real. In the presence of a double layer, the occurrence of the double layer limits the attainable amplitudes of the slow ion-acoustic solitons. The proposed plasma model is relevant to the coherent electrostatic structures observed in the solar wind at 1 AU.

Nonlinear features of electrostatic waves in a plasma with nonthermal-Tsallis distributed electrons

Linear and nonlinear properties of electrostatic waves are investigated in an unmagnetized multicomponent plasma system consisting of cold and hot electrons obeying nonthermal-Tsallis distribution and warm ions using the Sagdeev pseudopotential technique. It is found that such a plasma supports soliton, supersoliton, and double layer structures. Also, the present plasma system supports the coexistence of arbitrary amplitude compressive and rarefactive solitons in a certain region of parameter space. Furthermore, numerical results reveal that the nonthermal-Tsallis distribution of electrons may affect the spatial profiles as well as the nature of the electrostatic nonlinear structures.

Comparative molecular field analysis and molecular docking studies on novel aryl chalcone derivatives against an important drug target cysteine protease in Plasmodium falciparum

The computational studies namely molecular docking simulations and Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) are executed on series of 52 novel aryl chalcones derivatives using Plasmodium falciparum cysteine proteases (falcipain - 2) as vital target. In the present study, the correlation between different molecular field effects namely steric and electrostatic interactions and chemical structures to the inhibitory activities of novel aryl chalcone derivatives is inferred to perceive the major structural prerequisites for the rational design and development of potent and novel lead anti-malarial compound. The apparent binding conformations of all the compounds at the active site of falcipain - 2 and the hydrogen-bond interactions which could be used to modify the inhibitory activities are identified by using Surflex-dock study. Statistically significant CoMFA model has been developed with the cross-validated correlation coefficient (q2) of 0.912 and the non-cross-validated correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.901. Standard error of estimation (SEE) of 0.210, with the optimum number of components is ten. The predictability of the derived model is examined with a test set consists of sixteen compounds and the predicted r2 value is found to be 0.924. The docking and QSAR study results confer crucial suggestions for the optimization of novel 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one derivatives and synthesis of effective anti- malarial compounds.

Electron holes in inhomogeneous magnetic field: Electron heating and electron hole evolution

Electron holes are electrostatic non-linear structures widely observed in the space plasma. In the present paper, we analyze the process of energy exchange between electrons trapped within electron hole, untrapped electrons, and an electron hole propagating in a weakly inhomogeneous magnetic field. We show that as the electron hole propagates into the region with stronger magnetic field, trapped electrons are heated due to the conservation of the first adiabatic invariant. At the same time, the electron hole amplitude may increase or decrease in dependence on properties of distribution functions of trapped and untrapped resonant electrons. The energy gain of trapped electrons is due to the energy losses of untrapped electrons and/or decrease of the electron hole energy. We stress that taking into account the energy exchange with untrapped electrons increases the lifetime of electron holes in inhomogeneous magnetic field. We illustrate the suggested mechanism for small-amplitude Schamel's [Phys. Scr. T2, 228–237 (1982)] electron holes and show that during propagation along a positive magnetic field gradient their amplitude should grow. Neglect of the energy exchange with untrapped electrons would result in the electron hole dissipation with only modest heating factor of trapped electrons. The suggested mechanism may contribute to generation of suprathermal electron fluxes in the space plasma.

Proton imaging of an electrostatic field structure formed in laser-produced counter-streaming plasmas

We report the measurements of electrostatic field structures associated with an electrostatic shock formed in laser-produced counter-streaming plasmas with proton imaging. The thickness of the electrostatic structure is estimated from proton images with different proton kinetic energies from 4.7 MeV to 10.7 MeV. The width of the transition region is characterized by electron scale length in the laser-produced plasma, suggesting that the field structure is formed due to a collisionless electrostatic shock.

Nonlinear low frequency electrostatic structures in a magnetized two-component auroral plasma

Finite amplitude nonlinear ion-acoustic solitons, double layers, and supersolitons in a magnetized two-component plasma composed of adiabatic warm ions fluid and energetic nonthermal electrons are studied by employing the Sagdeev pseudopotential technique and assuming the charge neutrality condition at equilibrium. The model generates supersoliton structures at supersonic Mach numbers regime in addition to solitons and double layers, whereas in the unmagnetized two-component plasma case only, soliton and double layer solutions can be obtained. Further investigation revealed that wave obliqueness plays a critical role for the evolution of supersoliton structures in magnetized two-component plasmas. In addition, the effect of ion temperature and nonthermal energetic electron tends to decrease the speed of oscillation of the nonlinear electrostatic structures. The present theoretical results are compared with Viking satellite observations.

Engineered Cx40 Variants Showed Heterotypic Colocalization and Increased GAP Junctional Coupling with Cx43

The gap junction (GJ) channel provides a low resistance passage for rapid action potential propagation in the heart. Both connexin40 (Cx40) and Cx43 are abundantly expressed in and frequently co-localized between atrial myocytes, possibly forming heterotypic GJ channels. However, conflicting results have been obtained on the functional status of heterotypic Cx40/Cx43 GJs. Here we provide experimental evidence that the docking and formation of heterotypic Cx40/Cx43 GJs can be substantially increased by designing Cx40 variants on the extracellular domains (E1 and E2). Specifically, Cx40 D55N and P193Q, substantially increased the probability to form GJ plaque-like structures at the cell-cell interfaces with Cx43. More importantly, the coupling conductance (Gj) of D55N/Cx43 and P193Q/Cx43 GJ channels are significantly increased from the Gj of Cx40/Cx43. Our homology models indicate that the electrostatic interactions and surface structures at the docking interface are key factors preventing Cx40 from docking to Cx43. Improving heterotypic Gj of these atrial connexins might be potentially useful in improving the coupling and synchronization of the atrial myocardium. Supported by HSFC of Canada.

ON THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MICROBURSTS AND NONLINEAR ELECTRONIC STRUCTURES IN PLANETARY RADIATION BELTS

ABSTRACT Using a dynamical-system approach, we have investigated the efficiency of large-amplitude whistler waves for causing microburst precipitation in planetary radiation belts by modeling the microburst energy and particle fluxes produced as a result of nonlinear wave–particle interactions. We show that wave parameters, consistent with large-amplitude oblique whistlers, can commonly generate microbursts of electrons with hundreds of keV-energies as a result of Landau trapping. Relativistic microbursts (>1 MeV) can also be generated by a similar mechanism, but require waves with large propagation angles θ kB > 50 ° ?> and phase-speeds v Φ ≥ c / 9 ?> . Using our result for precipitating density and energy fluxes, we argue that holes in the distribution function of electrons near the magnetic mirror point can result in the generation of double layers and electron solitary holes consistent in scales (of the order of Debye lengths) to nonlinear structures observed in the radiation belts by the Van Allen Probes. Our results indicate a relationship between nonlinear electrostatic and electromagnetic structures in the dynamics of planetary radiation belts and their role in the cyclical production of energetic electrons ( E ≥ 100 ?> keV) on kinetic timescales, which is much faster than previously inferred.

Obliquely propagating ion-acoustic solitons and supersolitons in four-component auroral plasmas

Arbitrary amplitude nonlinear low frequency electrostatic soliton and supersoliton structures are studied in magnetized four-component auroral plasmas composed of a cold singly charged oxygen-ion fluid, Boltzmann distribution of hot protons and two distinct group of electron species. Using the Sagdeev pseudo-potential technique, the characteristics of obliquely propagating nonlinear structures are investigated analytically and numerically. The model supports the evolution of soliton and supersoliton structures in the auroral acceleration region. Depending on the parametric region, the positive and negative potential solitons coexists at lower Mach numbers, but at higher Mach numbers only negative potential solitons and supersolitons can exist. The presence of hot protons restricted the Mach number of the nonlinear structures to exist only at the subsonic region. The present investigation concurs with the Swedish Viking satellite observations in the auroral region.

Engineered Cx40 variants increased docking and function of heterotypic Cx40/Cx43 gap junction channels

Gap junction (GJ) channels provide low resistance passages for rapid action potential propagation in the heart. Both connexin40 (Cx40) and Cx43 are abundantly expressed in and frequently co-localized between atrial myocytes, possibly forming heterotypic GJ channels. However, conflicting results have been obtained on the functional status of heterotypic Cx40/Cx43 GJs. Here we provide experimental evidence that the docking and formation of heterotypic Cx40/Cx43 GJs can be substantially increased by designed Cx40 variants on the extracellular domains (E1 and E2). Specifically, Cx40 D55N and P193Q, substantially increased the probability to form GJ plaque-like structures at the cell–cell interfaces with Cx43 in model cells. More importantly the coupling conductance (Gj) of D55N/Cx43 and P193Q/Cx43 GJ channels are significantly increased from the Gj of Cx40/Cx43 in N2A cells. Our homology models indicate the electrostatic interactions and surface structures at the docking interface are key factors preventing Cx40 from docking to Cx43. Improving heterotypic Gj of these atrial connexins might be potentially useful in improving the coupling and synchronization of atrial myocardium.

Oblique shock waves in a two electron temperature superthermally magnetized plasma

A study is presented for the oblique propagation of low-frequency ion acoustic (IA) shock waves in a magnetized plasma consisting of cold ions and two temperature superthermally distributed electrons. A nonlinear Korteweg de-Vries-Burger (KdV-Burger) equation is obtained by using the reductive perturbation method (RPM) which governs the dynamics of the IA shock wave. Using the solution of KdV-Burger equation, the characteristics of the IA shock wave have been studied for various plasma parameters. The combined effects of the cold to hot electron temperature ratio ( $\sigma$ ), the density ratio of hot electrons to ions ( $f$ ), the superthermality of cold and hot electrons ( $\kappa_{c}, \kappa_{h}$ ), the strength of the magnetic field ( $\omega_{ci}$ ), and the obliqueness ( $\theta$ ), significantly influence the profile of the shock wave. The findings in the present study could be important for the electrostatic wave structures in the Saturn’s magnetosphere, where two temperature electrons exist with a kappa distribution.

Solitary waves in a self-gravitating opposite polarity dust-plasma medium

A more general and realistic dusty plasma model, namely, self-gravitating opposite polarity dust-plasma system (containing inertial positive and negative dust, and inertialess ions and electrons following Maxwellian distribution) is considered. The possibility for the formation of solitary electrostatic and self-gravitational potential structures in such a dust-plasma system is thoroughly examined. The standard reductive perturbation method, which is valid for small but finite amplitude solitary structures, is employed. The parametric regimes for the existence of solitary electrostatic and self-gravitational potential structures, and their basic properties (viz., polarity, amplitude, width, and speed) are found to be significantly modified by the combined effects of positively charged dust component and self-gravitational field. The applications of the present investigation in different space dusty plasma environments and laboratory dusty plasma devices are briefly discussed.

Solitary structures with ion and electron thermal anisotropy

The formation of electrostatic solitary structures is analysed for a magnetised plasma with ion and electron thermal anisotropies. The ion thermal anisotropy is modelled with the help of the Chew–Goldberger–Low (CGL) double adiabatic equations of state while the electrons are treated as inertia-less species with an anisotropic bi-Maxwellian velocity distribution function. A negative electron thermal anisotropy is found to help form large amplitude solitary structures which are in agreement with observational data.

Nonplanar ion-acoustic shock waves in a multi-ion plasma with nonextensive electrons and positrons

The basic features of ion-acoustic shock waves (IASHWs) in a multi-ion nonextensive plasma (containing positive light ions, negative heavy ions, as well as nonextensive electrons and positrons) have been rigorously investigated in a nonplanar geometry. The standard reductive perturbation method has been employed to derive the Modified Burgers (MB) equation. The combined effects of the electron and positron nonextensivity, and the ion kinematic viscosity significantly have been found to modify the basic properties of these electrostatic shock structures. The properties of the cylindrical and the spherical IASHWs are observed to differ significantly from those of onedimensional planar waves. The findings obtained from this theoretical investigation may be useful in understanding the characteristics of IASHWs both in space and laboratory plasmas.

Effect of nonextensive electrons on dust–ion acoustic wave self-modulation

Nonlinear self-modulation of dust–ion acoustic (DIA) waves is studied in an unmagnetized dusty plasma comprising warm adiabatic ions, arbitrarily charged dust particles, and hot nonextensive q-distributed electrons. By employing the multiple space and time scales perturbation, a nonlinear Schrödinger equation is derived for the evolution of the wave amplitude. The existence along with the stability of wave packets are discussed in the parameter space of two oppositely charged dust and ion temperature over different ranges of the nonextensive parameter q. The growth rate of the modulation instability is also given for different values of the q parameter. It is found that the critical wave number at which the instability sets in increases as the nonextensive parameter q increases. This leads to a wider range (in spatial extension) of the stable envelope solitons. It is also found that the effects of ion temperature and negative (positive) dust concentration significantly modify the criteria for the modulation instability of DIA waves. Our finding should elucidate the nonlinear electrostatic structures that propagate in astrophysical and cosmological plasma scenarios where nonextensive particles exist: such as instellar plasma, stellar polytropes, cosmic radiation, and systems with long-rang interaction.

Modified Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation for a non-uniform electron–positron–ion magnetoplasma with kappa-distributed electrons

We investigate the low-frequency (by comparison with the ion Larmor frequency) electrostatic solitary structures in a spatially non-uniform electron–positron–ion (e–p–i) magnetoplasma with non-Maxwellian electrons. A linear dispersion relation for the obliquely propagating ion acoustic drift wave is derived and it is shown that the non-Maxwellian electron population modifies the dispersion characteristics of the wave under consideration. We also carry out a nonlinear analysis and derive the modified Zakharov–Kuznetsov (MZK) equation for the coupled drift acoustic wave in a non-uniform magnetized plasma. We highlight the differences between the MZK equation and its homogeneous counterpart. We also find the solution of the MZK equation using the tangent hyperbolic method. It is observed that the electron spectral index ${\it\kappa}$, positron concentration, and propagation angle ${\it\alpha}$ alter the structure of the ion acoustic drift solitary waves. The results obtained in this paper may be beneficial to understanding the propagation characteristics of electrostatic drift solitary structures in the interstellar medium and in laboratory experiments where electron–positron plasmas have recently been created by impinging ultra-intense laser pulses on a solid density target at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

Higher-order nonlinear equations for the electron-acoustic waves in a nonextensive electron-positron-ion plasma

A precise theoretical investigation has been made on electron-acoustic (EA) Gardner solitons (GSs) and double layers (DLs) in a four-component plasma system consisting of nonextensive hot electrons and positrons, inertial cold electrons, and immobile positive ions. The well-known reductive perturbation method has been used to derive the Korteweg-de Vries (K-dV), modified K-dV (mK-dV), and Gardner equations along with their solitary wave as well as double layer solutions. It has been found that depending on the plasma parameters, the K-dV solitons and GSs are either compressive or rarefactive, whereas the mK-dV solitons are only compressive, and Gardner DLs are only rarefactive. The analytical comparison among the K-dV solitons, mK-dV solitons, and GSs are also investigated. It has been identified that the basic properties of such EA solitons and EA DLs are significantly modified due to the effects of nonextensivity and other plasma parameters related to plasma particle number densities and to temperature of different plasma species. The results of our present investigation can be helpful for understanding the nonlinear electrostatic structures associated with EA waves in various interstellar space plasma environments and cosmological scenarios (viz. quark-gluon plasma, protoneutron stars, stellar polytropes, hadronic matter, dark-matter halos, etc.)

Imaging of built-in electric field at a p-n junction by scanning transmission electron microscopy.

Precise measurement and characterization of electrostatic potential structures and the concomitant electric fields at nanodimensions are essential to understand and control the properties of modern materials and devices. However, directly observing and measuring such local electric field information is still a major challenge in microscopy. Here, differential phase contrast imaging in scanning transmission electron microscopy with segmented type detector is used to image a p-n junction in a GaAs compound semiconductor. Differential phase contrast imaging is able to both clearly visualize and quantify the projected, built-in electric field in the p-n junction. The technique is further shown capable of sensitively detecting the electric field variations due to dopant concentration steps within both p-type and n-type regions. Through live differential phase contrast imaging, this technique can potentially be used to image the electromagnetic field structure of new materials and devices even under working conditions.

Two-dimensional electrostatic solitary structures in electron–positron plasmas

Due to the inertia symmetry the issue of whether electrostatic solitons may possibly form in pair plasmas has been addressed in a number of papers. Recently we have shown that pair solitons with interlacing electron and positron holes in electron–positron plasmas may form by means of streaming instability based on one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations Jao and Hau (2012 Phys. Rev. E 86 056401). In this paper we present the first simulation results of two-dimensional electrostatic solitons in pair plasmas imbedded in a stationary background magnetic field. It is shown that the features of electrostatic solitary structures may depend on the ratio of to where and denote the electron cyclotron and plasma frequency, respectively. In particular, for weakly magnetized or unmagnetized plasmas with both parallel and transverse electric field with the same order of magnitude may first develop and be dissipated in the nonlinear stage such that electrostatic solitons are unable to form by the streaming instability, while for pair solitons resembling those occurring in one-dimensional simulations may possibly form. Comparisons between linear fluid theory and particle-in-cell simulations are made.