arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Michael E. Fisher.
Two recent articles by Norman H. March that contain misleading statements concerning 3D Ising models, partly based on earlier erroneous work of Z.D. Zhang, are addressed.
The specific heats of exactly solvable alternating layered planar Ising models with strips of width $m_1$ lattice spacings and ``strong'' couplings $J_1$ sandwiched between strips of width $m_2$ and ``weak'' coupling $J_2$, have been studied numerically to investigate the effects of connectivity and proximity. We find that the enhancements of the specific heats of the strong layers and of the overall or `bulk' critical temperature, $T_c(J_1,J_2;m_1,m_2)$, arising from the collective effects reflect the observations of Gasparini and coworkers in experiments on confined superfluid helium. Explicitly, we demonstrate that finite-size scaling holds in the vicinity of the upper limiting critical point $T_{1c}$ ($\propto J_1/k_B$) and close to the corresponding lower critical limit $T_{2c}$ ($\propto J_2/k_B$) when $m_1$ and $m_2$ increase. However, the residual {\it enhancement}, defined via appropriate subtractions of leading contributions from the total specific heat, is dominated (away from $T_{1c}$ and $T_{2c}$) by a decay factor $1/(m_1+m_2)$ arising from the {\it seams} (or boundaries) separating the strips; close to $T_{1c}$ and $T_{2c}$ the decay is slower by a factor $\ln m_1$ and $\ln m_2$, respectively.
Quantum vortex dynamics in Bose-Einstein condensates or superfluid helium can be informatively described by the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation. Various approximate analytical formulae for a single stationary vortex are recalled and their shortcomings demonstrated. Significantly more accurate two-point [2/2] and [3/3] Pade' approximants for stationary vortex profiles are presented. Two straight, singly quantized, antiparallel vortices, located at a distance d apart, form a vortex dipole, which, in the GP model, can either annihilate or propagate indefinitely as a `solitary wave'. We show, through calculations performed in a periodic domain, that the details and types of behavior displayed by vortex dipoles depend strongly on the initial conditions rather than only on the separation distance (as has been previously claimed). It is found, indeed, that the choice of the initial two-vortex profile (i.e., the modulus of the `effective wave function'), strongly affects the vortex trajectories and the time scale of the process: annihilation proceeds more rapidly when low-energy (or `relaxed') initial profiles are imposed. The initial `circular' phase distribution contours, customarily obtained by multiplying an effective wave function for each individual vortex, can be generalized to explicit elliptical forms specified by two parameters; then by `tuning' the elliptical shape at fixed d, a sharp transition between solitary-wave propagation and annihilation is captured. Thereby, a `phase diagram' for this `AnSol' transition is constructed in the space of ellipticity and separation and various limiting forms of the boundary are discussed.
In a recent paper published in the Philosophical Magazine [Z.-D. Zhang, Phil. Mag. 87, 5309-5419 (2007), arXiv:0705.1045], the author advances a conjectured solution for various properties of the three-dimensional Ising model. Here we disprove the conjecture and point out the flaws in the arguments leading to the conjectured expressions.
By analyzing trajectories of solid hydrogen tracers in superfluid $^4$He, we identify tens of thousands of individual reconnection events between quantized vortices. We characterize the dynamics by the minimum separation distance $δ(t)$ between the two reconnecting vortices both before and after the events. Applying dimensional arguments, this separation has been predicted to behave asymptotically as $δ(t) \approx A(κ|t-t_0|)^{1/2}$, where $κ=h/m$ is the quantum of circulation. The major finding of the experiments and their analysis is strong support for this asymptotic form with $κ$ as the dominant controlling feature, although there are significant event to event fluctuations. At the three-parameter level the dynamics may be about equally well-fit by two modified expressions: (a) an arbitrary power-law expression of the form $δ(t)=B|t-t_0|^α$ and (b) a correction-factor expression $δ(t)=A(κ|t-t_0|)^{1/2}(1+c|t-t_0|)$. In light of possible physical interpretations we regard the correction-factor expression (b), which attributes the observed deviations from the predicted asymptotic form to fluctuations in the local environment and in boundary conditions, as best describing our experimental data. The observed dynamics appear statistically time-reversible, which suggests that an effective equilibrium has been established in quantum turbulence on the time scales investigated. We discuss the impact of reconnection on velocity statistics in quantum turbulence and, as regards classical turbulence, we argue that forms analogous to (b) could well provide an alternative interpretation of the observed deviations from Kolmogorov scaling exponents of the longitudinal structure functions.
To enable the study of criticality in multicomponent fluids, the standard spherical model is generalized to describe an $\ns$-species hard core lattice gas. On introducing $\ns$ spherical constraints, the free energy may be expressed generally in terms of an $\ns\times\ns$ matrix describing the species interactions. For binary systems, thermodynamic properties have simple expressions, while all the pair correlation functions are combinations of just two eigenmodes. When only hard-core and short-range overall attractive interactions are present, a choice of variables relates the behavior to that of one-component systems. Criticality occurs on a locus terminating a coexistence surface; however, except at some special points, an unexpected ``demagnetization effect'' suppresses the normal divergence of susceptibilities at criticality and distorts two-phase coexistence. This effect, unphysical for fluids, arises from a general lack of symmetry and from the vectorial and multicomponent character of the spherical model. Its origin can be understood via a mean-field treatment of an XY spin system below criticality.
By analyzing trajectories of solid hydrogen tracers, we find that the distributions of velocity in decaying quantum turbulence in superfluid $^4$He are strongly non-Gaussian with $1/v^3$ power-law tails. These features differ from the near-Gaussian statistics of homogenous and isotropic turbulence of classical fluids. We examine the dynamics of many events of reconnection between quantized vortices and show by simple scaling arguments that they produce the observed power-law tails.
Processive molecular motors take more-or-less uniformly sized steps, along spatially periodic tracks, mostly forwards but increasingly backwards under loads. Experimentally, the major steps can be resolved clearly within the noise but one knows biochemically that one or more mechanochemical substeps remain hidden in each enzymatic cycle. In order to properly interpret experimental data for back/forward step ratios, mean conditional step-to-step dwell times, etc., a first-passage analysis has been developed that takes account of hidden substeps in $N$-state sequential models. The explicit, general results differ significantly from previous treatments that identify the observed steps with complete mechanochemical cycles; e.g., the mean dwell times $τ_+$ and $τ_-$ prior to forward and back steps, respectively, are normally {\it unequal} although the dwell times $τ_{++}$ and $τ_{--}$ between {\it successive} forward and back steps are equal. Illustrative (N=2)-state examples display a wide range of behavior. The formulation extends to the case of two or more detectable transitions in a multistate cycle with hidden substeps.
We report comprehensive simulations of the critical dynamics of a symmetric binary Lennard-Jones mixture near its consolute point. The self-diffusion coefficient exhibits no detectable anomaly. The data for the shear viscosity and the mutual-diffusion coefficient are fully consistent with the asymptotic power laws and amplitudes predicted by renormalization-group and mode-coupling theories {\it provided} finite-size effects and the background contribution to the relevant Onsager coefficient are suitably accounted for. This resolves a controversy raised by recent molecular simulations.
A symmetrical binary, A+B Lennard-Jones mixture is studied by a combination of semi-grandcanonical Monte Carlo (SGMC) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) methods near a liquid-liquid critical temperature $T_c$. Choosing equal chemical potentials for the two species, the SGMC switches identities (${\rm A} \to {\rm B} \to {\rm A}$) to generate well-equilibrated configurations of the system on the coexistence curve for $T T_c$. A finite-size scaling analysis of the concentration susceptibility above $T_c$ and of the order parameter below $T_c$ is performed, varying the number of particles from N=400 to 12800. The data are fully compatible with the expected critical exponents of the three-dimensional Ising universality class. The equilibrium configurations from the SGMC runs are used as initial states for microcanonical MD runs, from which transport coefficients are extracted. Self-diffusion coefficients are obtained from the Einstein relation, while the interdiffusion coefficient and the shear viscosity are estimated from Green-Kubo expressions. As expected, the self-diffusion constant does not display a detectable critical anomaly. With appropriate finite-size scaling analysis, we show that the simulation data for the shear viscosity and the mutual diffusion constant are quite consistent both with the theoretically predicted behavior, including the critical exponents and amplitudes, and with the most accurate experimental evidence.
Grand canonical simulations designed to resolve critical universality classes are reported for $z$:1 hard-core electrolyte models with diameter ratios $λ{=} a_+/a_- {\lesssim} 6$. For $z {=} 1$ Ising-type behavior prevails. Unbiased estimates of $T_c(λ)$ are within 1% of previous (biased) estimates but the critical densities are $\sim $5 % lower. Ising character is also established for the 2:1 and 3:1 equisized models, along with critical amplitudes and improved $T_c$ estimates. For $z {=} 3$, however, strong finite-size effects reduce the confidence level although classical and O$(n {\geq} 3)$ criticality are excluded.
Precise calculations of the coexistence-curve diameters of a hard-core square-we ll (HCSW) fluid and the restricted primitive model (RPM) electrolyte exhibit mar ked deviations from rectilinear behavior. The HCSW diameter displays a $|t|^{1- alpha}$ singularity that sets in sharply for $|t|\equiv |T-T_c|/T_c\lesssim 10^{-3}$; this compares favorably with extensive data for ${SF}_6$, also reflec ted in C$_2$H$_6$, N$_2$, etc. By contrast, the curvature of the RPM diameter va ries slowly over a wide range $|t|\lesssim 0.1$; this behavior mirrors observati ons for liquid alkali metals, specifically Rb and Cs. Amplitudes for the leading singular terms can be estimated numerically but their values cannot be taken li terally.
Simulations of the Lebowitz length, $ξ_{\text{L}}(T,ρ)$, are reported for t he restricted primitive model hard-core (diameter $a$) 1:1 electrolyte for densi ties $ρ\lesssim 4ρ_c$ and $T_c \lesssim T \lesssim 40T_c$. Finite-size eff ects are elucidated for the charge fluctuations in various subdomains that serve to evaluate $ξ_{\text{L}}$. On extrapolation to the bulk limit for $T\gtrsim 10T_c$ the low-density expansions (Bekiranov and Fisher, 1998) are seen to fail badly when $ρ> {1/10}ρ_c$ (with $ρ_c a^3 \simeq 0.08$). At highe r densities $ξ_{\text{L}}$ rises above the Debye length, $ξ_{\text{D}} \prop to \sqrt{T/ρ}$, by 10-30% (upto $ρ\simeq 1.3ρ_c$); the variation is portrayed fairly well by generalized Debye-Hückel theory (Lee and Fisher, 19 96). On approaching criticality at fixed $ρ$ or fixed $T$, $ξ_{\text{L}}(T, ρ)$ remains finite with $ξ_{\text{L}}^c \simeq 0.30 a \simeq 1.3 ξ_{\text {D}}^c$ but displays a weak entropy-like singularity.
Phase separation and criticality are analyzed in $z$:1 charge-asymmetric ionic fluids of equisized hard spheres by generalizing the Debye-Hückel approach combined with ionic association, cluster solvation by charged ions, and hard-core interactions, following lines developed by Fisher and Levin (1993, 1996) for the 1:1 case (i.e., the restricted primitive model). Explicit analytical calculations for 2:1 and 3:1 systems account for ionic association into dimers, trimers, and tetramers and subsequent multipolar cluster solvation. The reduced critical temperatures, $T_c^*$ (normalized by $z$), \textit{decrease} with charge asymmetry, while the critical densities \textit{increase} rapidly with $z$. The results compare favorably with simulations and represent a distinct improvement over all current theories such as the MSA, SPB, etc. For $z$$\ne$1, the interphase Galvani (or absolute electrostatic) potential difference, $Δϕ(T)$, between coexisting liquid and vapor phases is calculated and found to vanish as $|T-T_c|^β$ when $T\to T_c-$ with, since our approximations are classical, $β={1/2}$. Above $T_c$, the compressibility maxima and so-called $k$-inflection loci (which aid the fast and accurate determination of the critical parameters) are found to exhibit a strong $z$-dependence.
To understand how multivalency influences the reduced critical temperatures, Tce (z), and densities, roce (z), of z : 1 ionic fluids, we study equisized hard-sphere models with z = 1-3. Following Debye, Hueckel and Bjerrum, association into ion clusters is treated with, also, ionic solvation and excluded volume. In good accord with simulations but contradicting integral-equation and field theories, Tce falls when z increases while roce rises steeply: that 80-90% of the ions are bound in clusters near T_c serves to explain these trends. For z \neq 1 interphase Galvani potentials arise and are evaluated.
Individual processive molecular motors, of which conventional kinesin is the most studied quantitatively, move along polar molecular tracks and, by exerting a force ${\bm F} = (F_x,F_y,F_z)$ on a tether, drag cellular cargoes, {\em in vivo}, or spherical beads, {\em in vitro}, taking up to hundreds of nanometer-scale steps. From observations of velocities and the dispersion of displacements with time, under measured forces and controlled fuel supply (typically ATP), one may hope to obtain insight into the molecular motions undergone in the individual steps. In the simplest situation, the load force ${\bm F}$ may be regarded as a scalar resisting force, $F_x < 0$, acting parallel to the track: however, experiments, originally by Gittes {\em et al.} (1996), have imposed perpendicular (or vertical) loads, $F_z > 0$, while more recently Block and coworkers (2002, 2003) and Carter and Cross (2005) have studied {\em assisting} (or reverse) loads, $F_x > 0$, and also sideways (or transverse) loads $F_y \neq 0$.
Predictions of the extended de Gennes-Fisher local-functional theory for the universal scaling functions of interfacial tensions near critical endpoints are compared with experimental data. Various observations of the binary mixture isobutyric acid $+$ water are correlated to facilitate an analysis of the experiments of Nagarajan, Webb and Widom who observed the vapor-liquid interfacial tension as a function of {\it both} temperature and density. Antonow's rule is confirmed and, with the aid of previously studied {\it universal amplitude ratios}, the crucial analytic ``background'' contribution to the surface tension near the endpoint is estimated. The residual singular behavior thus uncovered is consistent with the theoretical scaling predictions and confirms the expected lack of symmetry in $(T-T_c)$. A searching test of theory, however, demands more precise and extensive experiments; furthermore, the analysis highlights, a previously noted but surprising, three-fold discrepancy in the magnitude of the surface tension of isobutyric acid $+$ water relative to other systems.
In simulating continuum model fluids that undergo phase separation and criticality, significant gains in computational efficiency may be had by confining the particles to the sites of a lattice of sufficiently fine spacing, $a_{0}$ (relative to the particle size, say $a$). But a cardinal question, investigated here, then arises, namely: How does the choice of the lattice discretization parameter, $ζ\equiv a/a_{0}$, affect the values of interesting parameters, specifically, critical temperature and density, $T_{\scriptsize c}$ and $ρ_{\scriptsize c}$? Indeed, for small $ζ(\lesssim 4 $-$ 8)$ the underlying lattice can strongly influence the thermodynamic properties. A heuristic argument, essentially exact in $d=1$ and $d=2$ dimensions, indicates that for models with hard-core potentials, both $T_{\scriptsize c}(ζ)$ and $ρ_{\scriptsize c}(ζ)$ should converge to their continuum limits as $1/ζ^{(d+1)/2}$ for $d\leq 3$ when $ζ\to\infty$; but the behavior of the error is highly erratic for $d\geq 2$. For smoother interaction potentials, the convergence is faster. Exact results for $d=1$ models of van der Waals character confirm this; however, an optimal choice of $ζ$ can improve the rate of convergence by a factor $1/ζ$. For $d\geq 2$ models, the convergence of the {\em second virial coefficients} to their continuum limits likewise exhibit erratic behavior which is seen to transfer similarly to $T_{\scriptsize c}$ and $ρ_{\scriptsize c}$; but this can be used in various ways to enhance convergence and improve extrapolation to $ζ= \infty$ as is illustrated using data for the restricted primitive model electrolyte.