Repulsive Nature Research Articles

Multicriticality of two-dimensional class-D disordered topological superconductors

A generic two-dimensional disordered topological superconductor in symmetry class D exhibits rich phenomenology and multiple phases: diffusive thermal metal (DTM), Anderson insulator (AI), and thermal quantum Hall (TQH) phase (a topological superconductor). We numerically investigate the phase diagram of a lattice model of such class D superconductor, specifically focusing on transitions between the phases and the associated universal critical behaviors. We confirm the existence of a tricritical point and its repulsive nature at the point on the phase diagram where the three phases meet. We characterize the critical behaviors at various critical points and the tricritical point using numerical evaluation of the localization length, the conductance (or conductivity), and the density of states. We conclude that the two metal-insulator transitions (DTM-TQH and DTM-AI) belong to the same universality class, whereas the tricritical point (TCP) represents a distinct universality class.

Dilatonic (Anti-)de Sitter black holes and Weak Gravity Conjecture

Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory with non-trivial dilaton potential is known to admit asymptotically flat and (Anti-)de Sitter charged black hole solutions. We investigate the conditions for the presence of horizons as function of the parameters mass M, charge Q and dilaton coupling strength α. We observe that there is a value of α which separate two regions, one where the black hole is Reissner-Nordström-like from a region where it is Schwarzschild-like. We find that for de Sitter and small non-vanishing α, the extremal case is not reached by the solution. We also discuss the attractive or repulsive nature of the leading long distance interaction between two such black holes, or a test particle and one black hole, from a world-line effective field theory point of view. Finally, we discuss possible modifications of the Weak Gravity Conjecture in the presence of both a dilatonic coupling and a cosmological constant.

The repulsive Casimir-type forces in binary mixture of weakly interacting Bose–Einstein condensates gases

Within the framework of the quantum field theory (QFT) in the one-loop approximation, we investigate the Casimir-type effect in a mixture of two-component weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) gases confined between two parallel plates at zero temperature. The Casimir-type forces in the miscible state of BECs for different boundary conditions (BCs) are discovered and compared to each other. The repulsive nature of the Casimir-type force in BECs is defined for the first time. Our calculations are finished in both grand canonical ensemble (GCE) and canonical ensemble (CE).

Impact of Ni alloying on Fe-C martensite ageing: an atomistic investigation

We propose a computational investigation of Ni-alloying impact on Fe-C martensite ageing, at the atomic scale. Using the Climbing Image Nudged Elastic Band technique, we showed the repulsive nature of Ni-C pairwise interactions in α-iron, and demonstrated that Ni alloying lowers the migration energies and force dipole tensor components associated to an interstitial carbon in α-iron. Computed values of pairwise interactions, migration energies and dipole components were used to implement a Kinetic Monte-Carlo approach. We found that Ni alloying: (i) has negligible impact on martensite thermodynamical stability, (ii) accelerates ageing kinetics, by increasing carbon diffusivity.

Thin-shell wormhole from ABGB–de Sitter black holes

A thin shell wormhole is constructed utilizing the cut and paste technique from ABGB–de Sitter black hole derived by Matyjasek et al. The surface stress localized at the wormhole throat is determined using Darmois–Israel formalism. We examine the attractive and repulsive nature of the thin shell wormhole on which cosmological constant [Formula: see text] has a significant effect. For the fixed values of charge [Formula: see text] and mass [Formula: see text], the attractiveness of the wormhole decreases with increasing [Formula: see text]. We calculate the total amount of exotic matter in the shell, which is not much affected by [Formula: see text]. For the construction of the wormhole in de Sitter universe, the regular black holes have to be heavily charged with a light mass to minimize the amount of required exotic matter. The stability of the wormhole solution is explored by considering a general equation of state in the form of linear perturbation. The stability regions are shown in the figures.

Insights into the effect of polymer functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in the design of flexible strain sensor

In the background of designing a polymer nanocomposite based flexible strain sensors, homogenized dispersion of nanofillers remain challenging due to the trade-off between upholding of inherent characteristics of nanofillers and stable dispersion of nanofillers in the polymer matrix. This study provides an approach of balancing the stable dispersion of nanofillers and maintain the inherent characteristics of nanofibers by the method of polymer functionalization. Herein, two oppositely charged polymers polystyrene sulfonate sodium salt (PSS) and poly-diallyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride (PDDA) are used separately to functionalize the multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and it dispersed in poly (vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) polymer matrix to get flexible nanocomposite strain sensor to investigate both electrical conductivity and the gauge factor. PSS functionalized CNT (PSS-CNT) shows better dispersion than the PDDA-CNT in PVDF matrix. Besides, the electrical conductivity of PVDF/PSS-CNT (0.44 ± 0.02 Scm−1) is about 28 times higher than the PVDF/PDDA-CNT, and the gauge factor of PVDF/PSS-CNT (9.8 ± 0.3) is 2-fold higher than the PVDF/PDDA-CNT. The stable dispersion of PSS-CNT is due to the repulsive nature existing between the individual CNTs caused by the attachment of charged polymer functional groups as same as intrinsic functional groups of the pristine CNT. This work signifies the role of synergy between the charged particles in the functional groups and charged nature of the filler influencing the performance of flexible strain sensors. The detailed investigation using various techniques reveals significance of selection of suitable polymers for functionalization by showing its influence in the context of designing the high-performance flexible strain sensor.

Hyperbolically symmetric static fluids: A general study

We carry on a comprehensive study on static fluid distributions endowed with hyperbolical symmetry. Their physical properties are analyzed in detail. The energy density appears to be necessarily negative, which suggests that any possible application of this kind of fluids requires extreme physical conditions where quantum effects are expected to play an important role. Also, it is found that the fluid distribution cannot fill the region close to the center of symmetry. Such a region may be represented by a vacuum cavity around the center. A suitable definition of mass function, as well as the Tolman mass are explicitly calculated. While the former is positive defined, the latter is negative in most cases, revealing the repulsive nature of gravitational interaction. A general approach to obtain exact solutions is presented and some exact analytical solutions are exhibited.

A coarse-grained xDLVO model for colloidal protein-protein interactions.

Colloidal protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of attractive and repulsive nature modulate the solubility of proteins, their aggregation, precipitation and crystallization. Such interactions are very important for many biotechnological processes, but are complex and hard to control, therefore, difficult to be understood in terms of measurements alone. In diluted protein solutions, PPIs can be estimated from the osmotic second virial coefficient, B22, which has been calculated using different methods and levels of theory. The most popular approach is based on the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory and its extended versions, i.e. xDLVO. Despite much efforts, these models are not fully quantitative and must be fitted to experiments, which limits their predictive value. Here, we report an extended xDLVO-CG model, which extends existing models by a coarse-grained representation of proteins and the inclusion of an additional ion-protein dispersion interaction term. We demonstrate for four proteins, i.e. lysozyme (LYZ), subtilisin (Subs), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and immunoglobulin (IgG1), that semi-quantitative agreement with experimental values without the need to fit to experimental B22 values. While most likely not the final step in the nearly hundred years of research in PPIs, xDLVO-CG is a step towards predictive PPIs calculations that are transferable to different proteins.

Electrical conductivity of poly(vinyl alcohol)/carbon nanotube multilayer thin films: Influence of sodium polystyrene sulfonate mediated carbon nanotube dispersion

AbstractThis investigation was aimed to enhance the dispersibility of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) using sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Na‐PSS) polyelectrolyte. Subsequently, electrically conducting, multi‐layer thin films are prepared utilizing layer by layer assembly method with poly(vinyl alcohol) as a host matrix. The highest extent of MWCNT dispersion was observed in MWCNT:Na‐PSS ratio of 1:9 (wt/wt), which was estimated from UV‐Vis spectroscopic analysis. Zeta potential measurements of Na‐PSS modified MWCNT dispersion showed large negative potentials ranging from −52 to −64 mV in the most stable pH range of 4 to 10, suggesting the colloidal stability is due to the long‐range repulsive nature of electrostatic interactions from negatively charged sulfonate groups. Complementary molecular dynamics simulations showed that adsorption of Na‐PSS imparts a large negative potential to the carbon nanotube surface, which increases with an increase in Na‐PSS concentration. The multi‐layer thin film of (1:9) MWCNT:Na‐PSS exhibited a DC electrical conductivity of 2.96 × 102 S/m.

Structural, spectroscopic and computational investigations on (4,6-dimethyl-benzofuran-3-yl)-acetic acid hydrazide

The present work investigates structural and spectroscopic characteristics of (4,6-dimethyl-benzofuran-3-yl)-acetic acid hydrazide (4DBAH) through different spectroscopic methods (Infrared, Raman, and NMR) and quantum chemical computations. The quantum chemical computations are done with adequate level of theory using B3LYP from density functional with 6–311++G(d,p) basis set. Conformational analysis is performed to identify the structure corresponding to local minima and local maxima from the potential energy surface (PES).The theoretically simulated and Raman wavenumbers are compared with experimental data. The complete wavenumber assignments are accomplished by the potential energy distribution (PED) of individual vibrational modes. The experimental 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts are investigated and then compared with computed NMR data. The AIM and NCI analysis gives more insights into the nature of different types of interactions, both attractive and repulsive nature present in the molecule. In addition, several analyses such as NBO, NLO, FMO, MEP and thermodynamic properties have also been conducted to determine the nature of the 4DBAH.

UV Photodissociation of Halothane in a Focused Molecular Beam: Space-Speed Slice Imaging of Competitive Bond Breaking into Spin-Orbit-Selected Chlorine and Bromine Atoms.

A molecular beam of halothane (2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane) is focused by a hexapolar electrostatic field and photolyzed by UV laser radiation at 234 nm. Angular and speed distributions of chlorine and bromine photofragments emitted from halothane are measured for both spin-orbit states independently. Although the dissociation energy of the C-Cl bond is larger than that of C-Br, the relative yield of Cl to Br was found to be approximately 2. Measured speed and angular distributions of atomic fragments show distinct kinetic energy release and scattering characteristics: for bromine, observed fast and aligned fragments exhibit a signature of a direct mode of dissociation for the C-Br bond, via the electronically excited potential energy surface denoted nσ*(C-Br), of repulsive nature; for chlorine, a variation in the features is observed for the dissociation pathway through nσ*(C-Cl), from a modality similar to the bromine case, leading to fragments with appreciable kinetic energy release and pronounced directionality, to a modality involving slow products, nearly isotopically distributed. The origin of this behavior can be attributed to nonadiabatic interaction operating between the nσ*(C-Br) and nσ*(C-Cl) surfaces. These results are not only relevant for a detailed understanding of adiabatic versus diabatic coupling mechanisms in the manifold of excited states populated by photon absorption, but they also point out the possibility of selectively inducing specific dissociation pathways, even when involving energetically unfavorable outcomes, such as, in this case, the prevailing rupture of the stronger C-Cl bond against that of the weaker C-Br bond.

Morris–Thorne wormhole with Karmarkar condition

In this paper, we construct a wormhole shape function by using Karmarkar condition. We observe that our proposed shape function connects two asymptotically flat regions, which shows the existence of Morris–Thorne traversable wormhole. Moreover, we also represent the embedding diagram in three-dimensional Euclidean space which can be extended from throat to infinity. Further, the Null and Weak energy conditions are discussed in detail. With this shape function, the anisotropic factor exhibits a repulsive nature at the throat. We support all the analysis of this work through graphical representation. It is concluded that our proposed model fulfills all the necessary conditions and shows the existence of exotic matter in the formulism of wormhole geometry in the context of General Relativity.

On the repulsive interaction between localised vegetation patches in scarce environments

Fragmentation followed by desertification in water-limited resources and/or nutrient-poor ecosystems is a major risk to the biological productivity of vegetation. By using the vegetation interaction-redistribution model, we analyse the interaction between localised vegetation patches. Here we show analytically and numerically that the interaction between two or more patches is always repulsive. As a consequence, only a single localised vegetation patch is stable, and other localised bounded states or clusters of them are unstable. Following this, we discuss the impact of the repulsive nature of the interaction on the formation and the selection of vegetation patterns in fragmented ecosystems.

Optical interference effects on the Casimir-Lifshitz force in multilayer structures

The Casimir-Lifshitz force ${F}_{(C\ensuremath{-}L)}$ between planar objects when one of them is stratified at the nanoscale is herein investigated. Layering results in optical interference effects that give rise to a modification of the optical losses, which, as stated by the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, should affect the Casimir-Lifshitz interaction. On these grounds, we demonstrate that, by nanostructuring the same volume of dielectric materials in diverse multilayer configurations, it is possible to access ${F}_{(C\ensuremath{-}L)}$ of attractive or repulsive nature, even getting canceled, at specific separation distances.

D-brane interaction, the open string pair production and its enhancement plus its possible detection

This review article reports the recent studies, based on a series of publications by one of the present authors along with his collaborators, regarding the interaction between two D-branes, the open string pair production and its possible enhancement in Type II superstring theories. Specifically, computed is the interaction amplitude between two D-branes, placed parallel at a separation, with each carrying a general worldvolume constant flux, and discussed are the amplitude properties, say, the repulsive or attractive nature of the interaction. When at least one of the D-branes carries an electric flux, the interaction amplitude can have an imaginary part, reflecting the instability of the underlying system via the open string pair production. The decay rate and the pair production rate are both computed. In addition, the enhancement of the latter is found when the added electric and magnetic fluxes are correlated in both magnitude and direction in a certain manner. In particular, when one of the branes is D3 and the other is D1, the corresponding pair production rate becomes large enough to be tested in an earthbound laboratory. Note that the pair production rate is related to the brane separation along the direction transverse to both branes, therefore, to the extra-dimensions with respect to the brane observer. So if the underlying string theory is relevant and the D3 can be taken as our own 4-dimensional world, measuring, say, the electric current due to the pair production and comparing it against the added electric and magnetic fields to see if the measurements agree with the prediction of the computations. This can be used to verify the existence of extra-dimensions. Further, this provides also a potential new means to test the underlying string theory without the need of compactifying it to four dimensions.

Subpicosecond HI elimination in the 266 nm photodissociation of branched iodoalkanes.

The 266 nm photodissociation dynamics of 1-iodopropane and 2-iodopropane were studied using photofragment translational energy spectroscopy using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization and electron impact ionization detection of products. The photochemistry of 1-iodopropane was found to be similar to that of iodomethane and iodoethane, with dominant production of I*(2P1/2), and no evidence (<0.21%) for HI + alkene formation. Significantly different behavior was observed for 2-iodopropane, with dominant production of ground state I(2P3/2), and a HI yield >10.5%. The anisotropy (β) parameters for all channels approached the limiting value of 2.0, indicating that 1,2-HI elimination occurs on subpicosecond timescales, like direct C-I bond fission, following excitation to 3Q0. The HI translational energy and angular distributions were similar to those for I(2P3/2), suggesting that motion of the heavy I atom in HI is largely derived from the repulsive nature of the 1Q1 surface correlating to R + I with the light H atom picked up by ground state I late in the exit channel producing highly vibrationally excited HI.

Study of water absorption characteristics of waste plastics and GFRP composites

Abstract This study is based on the water absorption characteristics of Fiberglass reinforced and waste plastics filled hybrid polymer Composites. The fiberglass reinforced polymer Composites are mostly used in the making of boats making, car bodies, etc. As it is subjected to be in contact with water and salty atmosphere for the most of the days, it must have an enhanced water repulsive nature. Moisture absorption property is affected by the addition of fillers and reinforcement materials. This study reveals the optimized selection and composition of the reinforcements and fillers at which the composite exhibits a better water repulsive characteristics. For the making of composite, spray layup process is followed and the moisture absorption nature of the specimens are tested as per the ASTM standards. For optimization MINITAB17 software is utilized and the specimens are produced as per the L9 orthogonal array design in Taguchi method. The results were then optimized to get the minimum moisture absorption property. The optimized results show that the specimen with E type glass fibre, 55 wt℅ of glass fibre composition and 25 wt℅ of plastic waste particulate fillers and remaining binders have minimal water absorption characteristics. The results reveal that the selection of the glass fibre and percentage of the fillers added has more influence on the moisture absorption property of the composites

Symmetry-protected spin gaps in quantum wires

This work shows that a strongly correlated phase which is gapped to collective spin excitations but gapless to charge fluctuations emerges as a universal feature in one-dimensional fermionic systems obeying certain symmetries. Namely, nanowires interacting via Coulomb repulsion which are symmetric under time-reversal and spatial inversion symmetry exhibit spin gaps whenever one pair of spin-degenerate subbands is occupied and an arbitrarily weak spin-orbit interaction is present. This general result is independent of the details of the one-dimensional confinement, the fermionic spin or nature of the spin-orbit interaction. In narrow-gap semiconductors, this gap may be of order 10 \textmu eV. This strongly correlated phase may be identified both via an anomalous $h/2e$ flux periodicity in Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and $2e$ periodic Coulomb blockade, features which reflect the existence of fermionic pairing despite the absence of superconductivity and the repulsive nature of the interaction.

Anomalous optical forces in PT-symmetric waveguides.

Evanescently coupled passive waveguides experience optical forces of attractive or repulsive nature, depending on the mode of operation. Here we explore the optical forces between parity-time-symmetric coupled waveguides, with balanced levels of gain and loss. We find that, besides the diagonal stress components that result in a pressure normal to the surface of the waveguides, this system exhibits an off-diagonal stress component that creates a shear along the propagation direction. In addition, for a critical value of balanced gain and loss, the normal pressure can be reduced to zero. These anomalous optical forces are related to the unusual power flow in coupled active-passive channels, and open interesting opportunities for microfluidics and micro-optomechanical systems.

Casimir friction between a magnetic and a dielectric material in the nonretarded limit

The repulsive nature of the static Casimir force between two half-spaces, one perfectly dielectric and the other purely magnetic, has been known since Boyer's work [T. H. Boyer, Phys. Rev. A {\bf 9}, 2078 (1974)]. We here analyze the corresponding friction force in the magnetodielectric case. Our main method is that of quantum mechanical statistical mechanics. The basic model we introduce is a harmonic oscillator model: an electric dipole oscillating in the $x$ direction and a magnetic one oscillating in the $y$ direction, while their separation is in the $z$ direction. This is then extended to particles with isotropic polarizabilities. We evaluate the friction force in a variety of cases: force between moving particles, between a moving particle and a half-plane, and between half-spaces sliding against each other. At the end explicit results are obtained both for finite and zero temperatures. We restrict ourselves to the nonretarded limit.