Weak Surface Fields Research Articles

Preferred locations of weak surface field in numerical dynamos with heterogeneous core–mantle boundary heat flux: consequences for the South Atlantic Anomaly

Preferred locations of weak surface field in numerical dynamos with heterogeneous core–mantle boundary heat flux: consequences for the South Atlantic Anomaly

Parameters of radio pulsars in binary systems and globular clusters

The parameters of radio pulsars in binary systems and globular clusters are investigated. It is shown that such pulsars tend to have short periods (of the order of several milliseconds). Themagnetic fields of most of the pulsars considered are weak (surface fields of the order of 108−109 G). This corresponds to the generally accepted view that short-period neutron stars are spun up by angular momentum associated with the stellar wind from a companion. However, the fields at the light cylinders in these objects are two to three orders of magnitude higher than for the main population of single neutron stars. The dependence of the pulse width on the period does not differ from the corresponding dependences for single pulsars, assuming the emission is generated inside the polar cap, at moderate distances from the surface or near the light cylinder. The radio luminosities of pulsars in binary systems do not show the correlation with the rate of loss of rotational energy that is characteristic for single pulsars, probably due to the influence of accreting matter from a companion. Moreover, accretion apparently decreases the power of the emergent radiation, and can explain the observed systematic excess of the radio luminosity of single pulsars compared to pulsars in binary systems. The distributions and dependences presented in the article support generally accepted concepts concerning the processes occurring in binary systems containing neutron stars.

Tricritical wetting in the two-dimensional Ising magnet due to the presence of localized non-magnetic impurities

Fixed vacancies (non-magnetic impurities) are placed along the centre of Ising strips in order to study the wetting behaviour in this confined system, by means of numerical simulations analysed with the aid of finite size scaling and thermodynamic integration methods. By considering strips of size () where short-range competitive surface fields () act along the M-direction, we observe localization–delocalization transitions of the interface between magnetic domains of different orientation (driven by the corresponding surface fields), which are the precursors of the wetting transitions that occur in the thermodynamic limit. By placing vacancies or equivalently non-magnetic impurities along the centre of the sample, we found that for low vacancy densities the wetting transitions are of second order, while by increasing the concentration of vacancies the transitions become of first order. Second- and first-order lines meet in tricritical wetting points (), where and are the magnitude of the surface field and the temperature, respectively. In the phase diagram, tricritical points shift from the high temperature and weak surface field regime at large vacancy densities to the , limit for low vacancy densities. By comparing the locations of the tricritical points with those corresponding to the case of mobile impurities, we conclude that in order to observe similar effects, in the latter the required density of impurities is much smaller (e.g. by a factor 3–5). Furthermore, a proper density of non magnetic impurities placed along the centre of a strip can effectively pin rather flat magnetic interfaces for suitable values of the competing surface fields and temperature.

HUNTING FOR ORPHANED CENTRAL COMPACT OBJECTS AMONG RADIO PULSARS

Central compact objects (CCOs) are a handful of young neutron stars found at the center of supernova remnants (SNRs). They show high thermal X-ray luminosities but no radio emission. Spin-down rate measurements of the three CCOs with X-ray pulsations indicate surface dipole fields much weaker than those of typical young pulsars. To investigate if CCOs and known radio pulsars are objects at different evolutionary stages, we carried out a census of all weak-field (<1e11 G) isolated radio pulsars in the Galactic plane to search for CCO-like X-ray emission. None of the 12 candidates is detected at X-ray energies, with luminosity limits of 1e32-1e34 erg/s. We consider a scenario in which the weak surface fields of CCOs are due to rapid accretion of supernova materials and show that as the buried field diffuses back to the surface, a CCO descendant is expected to leave the P-Pdot parameter space of our candidates at a young age of a few times 10kyr. Hence, the candidates are likely to be just old ordinary pulsars in this case. We suggest that further searches for orphaned CCO, which are aged CCOs with parent SNRs dissipated, should include pulsars with stronger magnetic fields.

Search for surface magnetic fields in Mira stars: first results on χ Cyg

AbstractSo far, surface magnetic fields have never been reported on Mira stars, while observational facilities allowing detection and measurement of weak surface fields through the Zeeman effect have become available. Then, in order to complete the knowledge of the magnetic field and of its influence during the transition from Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) to Planetary Nebulae (PN) stages, we have undertaken a search for magnetic fields at the surface of Miras. We present the first spectropolarimetric observations (performed with the Narval instrument at Télescope Bernard Lyot-TBL, Pic du Midi, France) of the S-type Mira star χ Cyg. We have detected a polarimetric signal in the Stokes V spectra and we have established its Zeeman origin. We claim that it is likely to be related to a weak magnetic field present at the photospheric level and in the lower part of the stellar atmosphere. The origin of this magnetic field is discussed in the framework of shock waves periodically propagating throughout the atmosphere of a Mira.

Central compact objects and their magnetic fields

AbstractCentral compact objects (CCOs) are neutron stars that are found near the center of supernova remnants, and their association with supernova remnants indicates these neutron stars are young (≲ 104 yr). Here we review the observational properties of CCOs and discuss implications, especially their inferred magnetic fields. X-ray timing and spectral measurements suggest CCOs have relatively weak surface magnetic fields (~ 1010 − 1011 G). We argue that, rather than being created with intrinsically weak fields, CCOs are born with strong fields and we are only seeing a weak surface field that is transitory and evolving. This could imply that CCOs are one manifestation in a unified picture of neutron stars.

Surface-field-induced effects on morphologies of lamella-forming diblock copolymers in nanorod arrays

The surface-induced effect on the morphologies of lamella-forming diblock copolymers in nanorod arrays is studied by using the self-consistent field theory. In the simulation study, a rich variety of novel morphologies are observed by variations in the strength of the surface field for the diblock copolymers. Different surface-field-induced effects are examined for the diblock copolymers in the arrays with distinct preferential surfaces. It is observed that the majority-block preferential surfaces have more obvious induced effects than those of minority-block preferential surfaces. The strong surface fields exhibit different behaviours from those observed in the weak surface fields, by which the morphologies possess cylindrical symmetries. Results from this research deepen the knowledge of surface-induced effects in a confinement system, which may aid the fabrication of polymer-based nanomaterials.

Properties of the solvation force of a two-dimensional Ising strip in scaling regimes

We consider the d = 2 Ising strip with surface fields acting on boundary spins. Using the properties of the transfer matrix spectrum we identify two pseudotransition temperatures and show that they satisfy similar scaling relations as expected for real transition temperatures in strips with d>2. The solvation force between the boundaries of the strip is analysed as a function of temperature, surface fields and the width of the strip. For large widths, the solvation force can be described by scaling functions in three different regimes: in the vicinity of the critical wetting temperature of the 2D semi-infinite system, in the vicinity of the bulk critical temperature and in the regime of weak surface fields, where the critical wetting temperature tends towards the bulk critical temperature. The properties of the relevant scaling functions are discussed.

Self-Assembly of AB Diblock Copolymers under Confinement into Topographically Patterned Surfaces

Motivated by recent experiments of copolymer patterning by nanoimprinting, we investigate microphase separation and morphology for symmetric AB diblock copolymers with lamellar structure in bulk, confined between a flat bottom surface and a square-wave top surface by using the self-consistent field theory (SCFT). The efficient and high-order accurate pseudospectral method is adopted to numerically solve the SCFT equations in irregularly shaped domains with the help of the "masking" technique by embedding the confined domains of arbitrary shape within a larger rectangular computational cell. Our simulations reveal that the inverted T-style and trapezoid structures occurring in the relatively strong and weak surface fields, respectively, are following our topographically patterned surface. For neutral walls, when the thickness of the lower section is commensurate with the lamellae period of bulk block copolymers, the topographically patterned surface in this work leads to parallel lamellae, and completely parallel lamellae are favored when both the width and height of the upper section are equal to the lamellae bulk period. Furthermore, the prevalent structures are the parallel lamellae in the upper section combined with the perpendicular lamellae in the lower section. When the walls repel one of the block species, parallel lamellae occur in a wide range of film thicknesses compared to the case of neutral walls. To our knowledge, some new structures, however, such as square and partial square structures and reversed-T and trapezoid structures, have not been reported before under parallel surface confinement. In general, the required structures can be obtained by choosing the proper degree of spatial confinement, characterized by variations of the ratio of film thicknesses to bulk repeat period, and the block-substrate interactions. Moreover, we show that the confinement width of the lower section (or the period of the square wave) plays a critical role in microstructure formation. These findings provide a guide to designing novel microstructures involving symmetric diblock copolymers via topographically patterned surfaces and surface fields, relevant to nanoimprinting.

The pulsar J1852+0040 in Kes 79 and the nature of central compact objects in supernova remnants

A possible model for the pulsar PSR J1852+0040 associated with the supernova remnant Kes 79 and detected in place of a central compact object in this remnant is discussed. The main observational properties of the pulsar can be understood as consequences of its weak surface magnetic field (Bs < 3 × 1011 G) and short rotational period (P ∼ 0.1 s). Its X-ray emission is thermal, and is generated in a small region near the surface of the neutron star due to cooling of the surface as the surface accretes matter from a relict disk surrounding the pulsar. The radio emission is generated in the outer layers of the pulsar magnetosphere by the synchrotron (cyclotron) mechanism. The optical luminosity of J1852+0040 is estimated to be Lopt < 1028 erg/s. If the spectral features in another central compact object, 1E 1207.4+5209, are interpreted as electron cyclotron lines, this provides evidence for a weak surface magnetic field for this neutron star as well (B < 6 × 1010 G). The hypothesis that all central compact objects have weak surface fields makes it possible to explain the number of detected central compact objects, the absence of pulsar-wind nebulae associated with these objects, and the fact that no pulsar has yet been detected at the position of SN 1987a. We suggest that, after the supernova remnant has dissipated, the central compact object becomes a weak X-ray source (XDINS), whose weak emission is also due to the weakness of its magnetic field.

Effects of an outer thin stably stratified layer on planetary dynamos

The presence of outer stably stratified layers in planetary cores has been suggested for Earth, Saturn and Mercury. In this study, we use a 3-D numerical dynamo model to investigate the effects of a thin stable layer surrounding a convecting interior on the produced magnetic field. We find that a stable layer can destabilize the field morphology through a thermal wind that produces unfavorable zonal flows throughout the core. The direction of these zonal flows is prograde in equatorial regions, unlike a model with no stable layer that has retrograde equatorial flows. Our models therefore suggest that the Earth does not have a stable layer since we observe a westward drift as opposed to an eastward drift. For Saturn, we find that due to coupling of the flows in the stable and unstable layers, the layer does not act to shear out the non-axisymmetry in the observed magnetic field, and therefore cannot explain Saturn’s axisymmetric magnetic field. For Mercury, we find that if the stable layer is thin, it can actively produce strong or weak surface fields and not necessarily attenuate smaller scale features through the skin effect.

Monte Carlo Simulations of Cylinder-Forming ABC Triblock Terpolymer Thin Films

We systematically study the cylinder-forming ABC triblock terpolymer thin films using canonical ensemble Monte Carlo simulations. The simulated annealing procedure is applied to the self-assembling process. By judicious choice of the system dimensions, we elaborately investigate the effect of film thickness on the orientation of the cylinders. This confined triblock terpolymer system exhibits different phase behavior under the weak and strong surface fields. In addition, we also investigate the ensemble-averaged chain orientations and relative density profiles.

Self-consistent field study of the alignment by an electric field of a cylindrical phase of block copolymer

Self-consistent field theory is applied to a film of cylindrical-forming block copolymer subject to a surface field which tends to align the cylinders parallel to electrical plates, and to an external electric field tending to align them perpendicular to the plates. The Maxwell equations and self-consistent field equations are solved exactly, numerically, in real space. By comparing the free energies of different configurations, we show that for weak surface fields, the phase of cylinders parallel to the plates makes a direct transition to a phase in which the cylinders are aligned with the field throughout the sample. For stronger surface fields, there is an intermediate phase in which cylinders in the interior of the film, aligned with the field, terminate near the plates. For surface fields which favor the minority block, there is a boundary layer of hexagonal symmetry at the plates in which the monomers favored by the surface field occupy a larger area than they would if the cylinders extended to the surface.

Surface critical behavior in Ising magnets: Exact results

An exact derivation of the surface magnetizations of the two phases m(1)I and m(1)II coexisting below the bulk critical temperature for the semi-infinite two-dimensional Ising ferromagnet subject to a surface field is given. The surface critical behavior of the difference m(1)I - m(1)II is that of the ordinary transition only in a limit of a weak surface field below the wetting temperature.

Logarithmic corrections in the two-dimensional Ising model in a random surface field

In the two-dimensional Ising model weak random surface field is predicted to be a marginally irrelevant perturbation at the critical point. We study this question by extensive Monte Carlo simulations for various strength of disorder. The calculated effective (temperature or size dependent) critical exponents fit with the field-theoretical results and can be interpreted in terms of the predicted logarithmic corrections to the pure system's critical behaviour.

Effects of weak surface fields on the density profiles and adsorption of a confined fluid near bulk criticality

The density profile ρ(z) and Gibbs adsorption Γ of a near-critical fluid confined between two identical planar walls is studied by means of Monte Carlo simulation and by density functional theory for a Lennard-Jones fluid. By reducing the strength of wall–fluid interactions relative to fluid–fluid interactions we observe a crossover from behavior characteristic of the normal surface universality class, strong critical adsorption, to behavior characteristic of a “neutral” wall. The crossover is reminiscent of that which occurs near the ordinary surface transition in Ising films subject to vanishing surface fields. For the “neutral” wall ρ(z), away from the walls, is almost constant throughout the slit capillary and gives rise to a Γ that is constant along the critical isochore. The same “neutral” wall yields a line of capillary coexistence that is almost identical to the bulk coexistence line. In the crossover regime we observe features in ρ(z) similar to those found in the magnetization profile of the critical Ising film subject to weak surface fields, namely two smooth maxima, located away from the walls, which merge into a single maximum at midpoint as the strength of the wall–fluid interaction is reduced or as the distance between walls is decreased. We discuss similarities and differences between the surface critical behavior of fluids and of Ising magnets.

Orientational transitions in a nematic liquid crystal confined by competing surfaces.

The effect of confinement on the orientational structure of a nematic liquid crystal model has been investigated by using a version of density-functional theory. We have focused on the case of a nematic confined by opposing flat surfaces, in slab geometry (slit pore), which favor planar molecular alignment (parallel to the surface) and homeotropic alignment (perpendicular to the surface), respectively. The spatial dependence of the tilt angle of the director with respect to the surface normal has been studied, as well as the tensorial order parameter describing the molecular order around the director. For a pore of given width, we find that, for weak surface fields, the alignment of the nematic director is perpendicular to the surface in a region next to the surface favoring homeotropic alignment, and parallel along the rest of the pore, with a sharp interface separating these regions (S phase). For strong surface fields, the director is distorted uniformly, the tilt angle exhibiting a linear dependence on the distance normal to the surface (L phase). Our calculations reveal the existence of a first-order transition between the two director configurations, which is driven by changes in the surface field strength, and also by changes in the pore width. In the latter case the transition occurs, for a given surface field, between the S phase for narrow pores and the L phase for wider pores. A link between the L-S transition and the anchoring transition observed for the semi-infinite case is proposed.

Critical adsorption in the weak surface field limit.

We study critical adsorption in the small surface field (h(1)) limit using a homologous series of critical liquid mixtures. The experiment data, in the one-phase regime, is accurately described by a universal surface scaling function G+(z/xi(+),z/l(h)) at distance z from the interface with correlation length xi(+) and surface field length l(h) approximately absolute value of (h(1))(-nu/Delta(1)), where h(1) approximately Deltasigma, the surface energy difference between the two components.

Symmetric binary polymer blends confined in thin films between competing walls: Interplay between finite size and wetting behavior

The phase behavior and structure of a symmetric binary polymer blend confined between two hard impenetrable walls is studied, assuming also short range forces between the monomers and the walls. Phenomenological considerations are elaborated with the self-consistent field theory of Gaussian chains, and also some Monte Carlo simulations of the bond-fluctuation model. In the case of “antisymmetric” walls (right wall attracts component A with the same strength as does left wall component B) the phase diagram is symmetric around volume fraction ϕ = 1/2. For very thin films (or very weak surface fields) one finds a single critical point at ϕc = 1/2, as in the bulk. For thicker films, or stronger surface fields, the phase diagram exhibits two critical points and two concomitant coexistence regions, down to a triple point Tt, while below the triple point there is a single coexistence region. When the film thickness D → ∞, the two coexistence regions for T>Tt shrink into the prewetting lines, while Tt approaches the wetting transition temperature. Asymmetric surface forces are also considered, studying the smooth crossover from “ antisymmetric walls” to “ symmetric walls” (that both attract the A component with the same strength). The resulting crossover between capillary-type behavior (i.e., a single critical point of the thin film) and the above behavior with two critical points is analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the behavior of interfaces between coexisting phases.

Symmetric polymer blend confined into a film with antisymmetric surfaces: interplay between wetting behavior and the phase diagram

We study the phase behavior of a symmetric binary polymer blend that is confined in a thin film. The film surfaces interact with the monomers via short-range potentials. We calculate the phase behavior within the self-consistent field theory of Gaussian chains. Over a wide range of parameters we find strong first-order wetting transitions for the semi-infinite system, and the interplay between the wetting/prewetting behavior and the phase diagram in confined geometry is investigated. Antisymmetric boundaries, where one surface attracts the A component with the same strength as the opposite surface attracts the B component, are applied. The phase transition does not occur close to the bulk critical temperature but in the vicinity of the wetting transition. For very thin films or weak surface fields one finds a single critical point at straight phi(c)=1 / 2. For thicker films or stronger surface fields the phase diagram exhibits two critical points and two concomitant coexistence regions. Only below a triple point there is a single two-phase coexistence region. When we increase the film thickness the two coexistence regions become the prewetting lines of the semi-infinite system, while the triple temperature converges toward the wetting transition temperature from above. The behavior close to the tricritical point, which separates phase diagrams with one and two critical points, is studied in the framework of a Ginzburg-Landau ansatz. Two-dimensional profiles of the interface between the laterally coexisting phases are calculated, and the interfacial and line tensions analyzed. The effect of fluctuations and corrections to the self-consistent field theory are discussed.