A
bstract
We study the
η
-invariant of a Dirac operator on a manifold with boundary subject to local boundary conditions with the help of heat kernel methods. In even dimensions, we relate this ...invariant to
η
-invariants of a boundary Dirac operator, while in odd dimension, it is expressed through the index of boundary operators. We stress the necessity of the strong ellipticity condition for the applicability of our methods. We show that the Witten-Yonekura boundary conditions are not strongly elliptic, though they are very close to strongly elliptic ones.
Fascinating optical properties governed by extremely confined excitons have been so far observed in 2D crystals like monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides. These materials, however, are ...limited for production by epitaxial methods. Besides, they are not suitable for the development of optoelectronics for the challenging deep-ultraviolet spectral range. Here, we present a single monolayer of GaN in AlN as a heterostructure fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy, which provides extreme 2D confinement of excitons, being ideally suited for light generation in the deep-ultraviolet. Optical studies in the samples, supplemented by a group-theory analysis and first-principle calculations, make evident a giant enhancement of the splitting between the dark and bright excitons due to short-range electron–hole exchange interaction that is a fingerprint of the strongly confined excitons. The practical significance of our results is in the observation of the internal quantum yield of the room-temperature excitonic emission as high as ∼75% at 235 nm.
Tungsten oxide was electrochemically deposited from a metastable acidic solution of isopolytungstate on glassy carbon electrodes coated by the films of a conducting polymer ...poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT). The formation of PEDOT/WO3 composite films during electrochemical deposition of tungsten oxide into the polymer matrix was gravimetrically monitored by EQCM. The morphology of WO3 deposits was studied using SEM, TEM and EDX analysis, including element mapping and depth concentration profile of main elements. SEM and TEM images of PEDOT/WO3 composites show disperse distribution of WO3 precipitates in the porous matrix of PEDOT, possessing high surface area and pore volume, effective for charge transport. Electrochemical behavior of PEDOT/WO3 was investigated in 0.5 M H2SO4 by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge method and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The WO3 component in the obtained PEDOT/WO3 composite electrodes exhibited high specific capacitance of 689 F g−1 in the potential range −0.3–0.0 V. The work presents a simple approach for the synthesis of PEDOT/WO3 composites with high values of specific capacitance. The obtained results indicate that PEDOT/WO3 composite could be a promising electrode material for supercapacitor applications.
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•Synthesis of PEDOT/WO3 composites with very fast pseudocapacitive response.•Monitoring of mass change during the synthesis of PEDOT/WO3 composite.•Composite electrodes exhibited high specific capacitance of 689 F g−1•High rate of charge transfer without diffusion limitations up to 0,4 V/s scan rate.
Abstract
We present the results of the χ2 minimization model fitting technique applied to optical and near-infrared photometric and radial velocity data for a sample of nine fundamental and three ...first overtone classical Cepheids in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). The near-infrared photometry (JK filters) was obtained by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) public survey ‘VISTA near-infrared Y, J, K
s survey of the Magellanic Clouds system’ (VMC). For each pulsator, isoperiodic model sequences have been computed by adopting a non-linear convective hydrodynamical code in order to reproduce the multifilter light and (when available) radial velocity curve amplitudes and morphological details. The inferred individual distances provide an intrinsic mean value for the SMC distance modulus of 19.01 mag and a standard deviation of 0.08 mag, in agreement with the literature. Moreover, the intrinsic masses and luminosities of the best-fitting model show that all these pulsators are brighter than the canonical evolutionary mass–luminosity relation (MLR), suggesting a significant efficiency of core overshooting and/or mass-loss. Assuming that the inferred deviation from the canonical MLR is only due to mass-loss, we derive the expected distribution of percentage mass-loss as a function of both the pulsation period and the canonical stellar mass. Finally, a good agreement is found between the predicted mean radii and current period–radius (PR) relations in the SMC available in the literature. The results of this investigation support the predictive capabilities of the adopted theoretical scenario and pave the way for the application to other extensive data bases at various chemical compositions, including the VMC Large Magellanic Cloud pulsators and Galactic Cepheids with Gaia parallaxes.
Shear-induced segregation, by particle size, is known in the flow of colloids and granular media, but is unexpected at the atomic level in the deformation of solid materials, especially at room ...temperature. In nanoscale wear tests of an Fe-based bulk metallic glass at room temperature, without significant surface heating, we find that intense shear localization under a scanned indenter tip can induce strong segregation of a dilute large-atom solute (Y) to planar regions that then crystallize as a Y-rich solid solution. There is stiffening of the material, and the underlying chemical and structural effects are characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The key influence of the soft Fe-Y interatomic interaction is investigated by ab-initio calculation. The driving force for the induced segregation, and its mechanisms, are considered by comparison with effects in other sheared media.
The problem of significant extension of the band of the transionospheric radio channel to the maximum possible values is solved to improve the efficiency of satellite communication systems. Hardware ...and software are created to suppress the group delay dispersion using methods of data mining for experimental diagnostics of a transionospheric communication line. Algorithms and tools for intelligent sensory diagnostics of wideband radio channels with adaptation to dispersion variability are developed. In the absence of adaptation, it is possible to create radio channels of undistorted transmission with a bandwidth ratio of no greater than 4.5%, while adaptation to dispersion variability makes it possible to increase the bandwidth ratio to 11.5%. The greatest bandwidth ratio (20–25%) for dispersion-free transmission can be achieved with the aid of adaptive inverse filtering of the channel frequency response in combination with such intelligent methods as equalization with error, machine learning of channel equalizer, and big data processing.
Sediment samples from 53 stations of the southwestern Chukchi sea were investigated to the spatial distributions and assess the state of trace metals contamination using ecological indices. The mean ...concentrations (mg kg−1) in sediments were: Cr (70.5), Ni (41.0), Cu (16.5), Zn (82.7), As (15.90), Cd (0.27), Pb (15.96), Hg (32.0 μg kg−1). The spatial distribution pattern of trace metals was similar with maximum values in the northern of the Chukchi Sea in the outer shelf sediments, while the high values of Cd were noted at stations located in the southern part of the sea where a strong influence of the Pacific waters penetrating through the Bering Strait. The ecological indices indicated no signs of anthropogenic pollution in the study sediments of the Chukchi Sea. Received data are of value for detecting and tracking future chemical changes in the sediments of the Chukchi sea, particularly in light of environmental changes.
•Trace metals were examined in sediments from the southwestern Chukchi sea.•Baseline data for the surface sediments of the Chukchi Sea•Geochemical data highlight enrichments in Cd in in the southern part of the sea.•All trace metals showed a low ecological risk index.
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