arXiv subjects

N. I. Lebovka

Publications and source records attributed to N. I. Lebovka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Percolation connectivity in deposits obtained using competitive random sequential adsorption of binary disk mixtures

Connectedness percolation phenomena in the two-dimensional (2D) packing of binary mixtures of disks with different diameters were studied numerically. The packings were produced using random sequential adsorption (RSA) model with simultaneous deposition of disks. The ratio of the particle diameters was varied within the range $D=1$-$10$, and the selection probability of the small disks was varied within the range 0-1. A core-shell structure of the particles was assumed for the analysis of connectivity. The packing coverages in a jamming state for different components, connectivities through small, large and both types of disks, the behavior of electrical conductivity were analyzed. The observed complex effects were explained accounting for the formation of conductive "bridges" from small disks in pores between large disks.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2016

Influence of defects on the effective electrical conductivity of a monolayer produced by random sequential adsorption of linear $k$-mers onto a square lattice

The effect of defects on the behavior of electrical conductivity in a monolayer produced by the random sequential adsorption of linear $k$-mers (particles occupying $k$ adjacent sites) onto a square lattice is studied by means of a Monte Carlo simulation. The $k$-mers are deposited on the substrate until a jamming state is reached, i.e. a state where no one additional particle can be placed because the presented voids are too small or of inappropriate shapes. The presence of defects in the lattice (impurities) and of defects in the $k$-mers with concentrations of $d_l$ and $d_k$, respectively, is assumed. The defects in the lattice are distributed randomly before deposition and these lattice sites are forbidden for the deposition of $k$-mers. The defects on the $k$-mers are distributed randomly. The sites filled with $k$-mers have high electrical conductivity whereas the empty sites, and the sites filled by either types of defect have a low electrical conductivity, i.e., a high-contrast is assumed. We examined isotropic (both the possible orientations of a particle are equiprobable) and anisotropic (all particles are aligned along one given direction, $y$) deposition. To calculate the effective electrical conductivity, the monolayer was presented as a random resistor network (RRN) and the Frank--Lobb algorithm was used. The effects of the concentrations of defects $d_l$ and $d_k$ on the electrical conductivity for the values of $k = 2^n$, where $n =1,2,\dots, 5$, were studied. Increase of both the $d_l$ and $d_k$ parameters values resulted in decreases in the value of $σ$ and the suppression of percolation. Moreover, for anisotropic deposition the electrical conductivity along the $y$ direction was noticeably larger than in the perpendicular direction, $x$. Phase diagrams in the ($d_l, d_k$)-plane for different values of $k$ were obtained.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2014

Jamming and percolation of parallel squares in single-cluster growth model

This work studies the jamming and percolation of parallel squares in a single-cluster growth model. The Leath-Alexandrowicz method was used to grow a cluster from an active seed site. The sites of a square lattice were occupied by addition of the equal size $k \times k$ squares (E-problem) or a mixture of $k \times k$ and $m \times m$ ($m \leqslant k$) squares (M-problem). The larger $k \times k$ squares were assumed to be active (conductive) and the smaller $m \times m$ squares were assumed to be blocked (non-conductive). For equal size $k \times k$ squares (E-problem) the value of $p_j = 0.638 \pm 0.001$ was obtained for the jamming concentration in the limit of $k\rightarrow\infty$. This value was noticeably larger than that previously reported for a random sequential adsorption model, $p_j = 0.564 \pm 0.002$. It was observed that the value of percolation threshold $p_{\mathrm{c}}$ (i.e., the ratio of the area of active $k \times k$ squares and the total area of $k \times k$ squares in the percolation point) increased with an increase of $k$. For mixture of $k \times k$ and $m \times m$ squares (M-problem), the value of $p_{\mathrm{c}}$ noticeably increased with an increase of $k$ at a fixed value of $m$ and approached 1 at $k\geqslant 10m$. This reflects that percolation of larger active squares in M-problem can be effectively suppressed in the presence of smaller blocked squares.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2013

Electro-stimulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeasts by Pulsed Electric Field and its effect on fermentation performance

The batch fermentation process, inoculated by pulsed electric field (PEF) treated wine yeasts (S. cerevisiae Actiflore F33), was studied. PEF treatment was applied to the aqueous yeast suspensions (0.12 % wt.) at the electric field strengths of E=100 and 6000 V/cm using the same pulse protocol (number of pulses of n=1000, pulse duration of ti=100 mks, and pulse repetition time of dt=100 ms). Electro-stimulation was confirmed by the observed growth of electrical conductivity of suspensions. The fermentation was running at 30°C for 150 hours in an incubator with synchronic agitation. The obtained results clearly evidence the positive impact of PEF treatment on the batch fermentation process. Electro-stimulation resulted in improvement of such process characteristics as mass losses, consumption of soluble matter content (°Brix) and synthesis of proteins. It also resulted in a noticeable acceleration of consumption of sugars at the initial stage of fermentation in the lag phase. At the end of the lag phase (t=40 hours), consumption of fructose in samples with electrically activated inocula exceeded fructose consumption in samples with control inocula by 2.33 times when it was activated at E=100 V/cm and by 3.98 times after treatment at E=6000 V/cm. At the end of the log phase (120 hours of fermentation), 30% mass reduction was reached in samples with PEF-treated inocula (E=6000 V/cm), whereas the same mass reduction of the control sample required approximately, 20 hours of extra fermentation. The possible mechanisms of electro-stimulation are also discussed in details.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2013

Sedimentation stability and aging of aqueous dispersions of Laponite in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

This work discusses the sedimentation stability and aging of aqueous suspension of Laponite in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The concentration of Laponite was fixed at the constant level $C_l=2$ %wt, which corresponds to the threshold between equilibrium gel IG$_1$ and repulsive gel IG$_2$ phases. The concentration of CTAB $C_s$ was within 0-0.3 %wt. In the presence of CTAB the Laponite aqueous suspensions were unstable against sedimentation and they separated out into upper and bottom layers (U- and B-layers, respectively). The dynamic light scattering technique revealed that the addition of CTAB even at rather small concentration, $C_s=0.0164$ %wt ($0.03 CEC$), induced noticeable changes in the aging dynamics of U-layer, and it was explained by equilibration of CTAB molecules that were initially non-uniformly distributed between different Laponite particles. Accelerated stability analysis by means of analytical centrifugation with rotor speed $ω=500-4000$ rpm revealed three sedimentation regimes: continuous (I, $C_s<0.14$ %wt), zone-like (II, $0.14 0.2$ %wt). It was demonstrated that B-layer was "soft" in the zone-like regime. The increase of $ω$ resulted in its supplementary compressing and the collapse of "soft" sediment above certain critical centrifugal acceleration.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2013

Anomalous selective reflection in cholesteryl oleyl carbonate - nematic 5CB mixtures and effects of their doping by single-walled carbon nanotubes

Liquid crystalline (LC) mixtures of cholesteryl oleyl carbonate (COC) and 4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB), as well as dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (NTs) in these mixtures, were studied by means of selective reflection measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical microscopy. The relative mass of COC in a mixture X was varied between 0.4 and 1.0, the temperature range of measurements was between 284 K and 314 K, and concentration of NTs was fixed at 0.1 %. Two important anomalies were noted: (1) the cholesteric to smectic-A transition temperature increased on dilution of COC by non-smectogenic 5CB in the concentration range 0.8<X<1, and (2) the reciprocal pitch vs. 5CB concentration dependence was essentially linear, in contrast to behaviour commonly observed in nematic-cholesteric mixtures. A model of molecular arrangement in the mixtures, accounting for the possibility of integration of 5CB dimers and monomers between COC molecules and presumably explaining the experimental data, was proposed. The helical pitch of the cholesteric mixtures remained practically unchanged upon doping by NTs, and only slight widening of the selective reflection peaks was noted. The obtained results allow considering the COC+5CB mixtures as promising matrices for composite materials on the basis of liquid crystals and carbon nanotubes.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2013

Effects of partial charge-transfer solute -- solvent interactions in absorption spectra of aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous and alcoholic solutions

A method for study of charge-transfer interactions between solute molecules and solvent based on the comparison of the ratios of spectral shifts of different electronic transitions in solute molecules in chemically inert solvent is proposed. The method is applicable to molecules that do not change their dipole moment on excitation. As an example, a presence of charge transfer interactions in higher electronic states of aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene) dissolved in water and alcohols was demonstrated.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2013

LC nanocomposites: induced optical singularities, managed nano/micro structure, and electrical conductivity

Microstructure, phase transitions, electrical conductivity, and optical and electrooptical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (NTs), dispersed in the cholesteric liquid crystal (cholesteryl oleyl carbonate, COC), nematic 5CB and their mixtures, were studied in the temperature range between 255 K and 363 K. The relative concentration X=COC/(COC+5CB)was varied within 0.0-1.0. The concentration $C_p$ of NTs was varied within 0.01-5% wt. The value of X affected agglomeration and stability of NTs inside COC+5CB. High-quality dispersion, exfoliation, and stabilization of the NTs were observed in COC solvent ("good" solvent). From the other side, the aggregation of NTs was very pronounced in nematic 5CB solvent ("bad" solvent). The dispersing quality of solvent influenced the percolation concentration $C_p$, corresponding to transition between the low conductive and high conductive states: e.g., percolation was observed at $C_p=1%$ and $C_p=0.1%$ for pure COC and 5CB, respectively. The effects of thermal pre-history on the heating-cooling hysteretic behavior of electrical conductivity were studied. The mechanism of dispersion of NTs in COC+5CB mixtures is discussed. Utilization of the mixtures of "good" and "bad" solvents allowed fine regulation of the dispersion, stability and electrical conductivity of LC+NTs composites. The mixtures of COC and 5CB were found to be promising for application as functional media with controllable useful chiral and electrophysical properties.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2011

Complex light with optical singularities induced by nanocomposites

The nonocomposites on the base of long (5-10 $μ$m, ${o}$-MWCNTs) and short (2 $μ$m, ${m}$-MWCNTs) multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) hosted by nematic 5CB were investigated in details by means of polarizing microscopy, studies of electrical conductivity and electro-optical behaviour. The spontaneous self-organization of MWCNTs was observed and investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The simple Smoluchowski approach was used for estimation of the half-time of aggregation. It was shown that aggregation process includes two different stages: fast, resulting in formation of loose aggregates (${L}$-aggregates) and slow, resulting in formation of compacted aggregates (${C}$-aggregates). Both ${L}$- and ${C}$- aggregates possess extremely ramified fractal borders. Formation of the percolation structures was observed for ${o}$-MWCNTs at $C=C_p\approx$ 0.0025-0.05 % wt and for $m$-MWCNTs at $C=C_p\approx$ 0.005-0.25 % wt. A physical model describing formation of $C$-aggregates with captured 5CB molecules inside was proposed. It shows good agreement with experimentally measured characteristics. It was shown that MWCNTs strongly affect the structural organization of LC molecules captured inside the MWCNT skeleton and of interfacial LC layers in the vicinity of aggregate borders. Moreover, the structure of the interfacial layer, as well as its birefringence, drastically changed when the applied electric voltage exceeded the Freedericksz threshold. Finally, formation of the inversion walls between branches of the neighbouring MWCNT aggregates was observed and discussed for the first time.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2009

Percolation of the aligned dimers on a square lattice

Percolation and jamming phenomena are investigated for anisotropic sequential deposition of dimers (particles occupying two adjacent adsorption sites) on a square lattice. The influence of dimer alignment on the electrical conductivity was examined. The percolation threshold for deposition of dimers was lower than for deposition of monomers. Nevertheless, the problem belongs to the universality class of random percolation. The lowest percolation threshold (pc = 0.562) was observed for isotropic orientation of dimers. It was higher (pc = 0.586) in the case of dimers aligned strictly along one direction. The state of dimer orientation influenced the concentration dependence of electrical conductivity. The proposed model seems to be useful for description of the percolating properties of anisotropic conductors.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2009

Self-organized composites of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and nematic liquid crystal 5CB: Optical singularities and percolation behavior in electrical conductivity

This work discusses optical singularities and electrical conductivity behavior in a thin electrooptical cell filled with composites including multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and nematic liquid crystal (LC). The MWCNTs with high aspect ratio $L/d\approx 300\div1000$ and nematic LC 5CB (4-pentyl-4-0-cyanobiphenyl) were used. The composites were prepared by introduction of MWCNTs ($0.0001\div0.1$ % wt) into LC solvent with subsequent sonication. The increase of MWCNT concentration (between $0.005\div0.05$ % wt) resulted in self-organization of MWCNTs and formation of micron-sized aggregates with fractal boundaries. The visually observed formation of spanning MWCNT networks near the percolation threshold at ~0.025 % wt was accompanied with transition from non-conductive to conductive state and generation of optical singularities. The observed effects were explained by the strong interactions between MWCNTs and LC medium and planar orientation of 5CB molecules near the lateral surface of MWCNTs. It was speculated that optical singularities arose as a results of interaction of an incident laser beam with LC perturbed interfacial shells covering the MWCNT clusters. Behavior of the interfacial shell thickness in external electric field and in the vicinity of the nematic to isotropic transition was discussed.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

Temperature dependence of phenanthrene cavity radius in apolar solvents and in water

Phenanthrene, a three ring aromatic hydrocarbon, is used as a model substance for study of intermolecular interactions in dilute solutions of organic solvents and water by spectroscopic method. Temperature dependencies of shift of the S$_2\leftarrow$S$_0$ spectrum of phenanthrene dissolved in apolar solvents and in liquid water are studied in this work. The spectroscopic data are used for analysis of the cavity radius $R$ for phenanthrene molecule in solvents. It is shown that the value of $R$ increases with temperature in organic solvents. In contrast, for water solution, the value of $R$ initially grows with temperature increase (in the interval of 273.3-296 K), but becomes constant at higher temperatures. The changes of water structure in the neighbourhood of a phenanthrene molecule and probable hypothesis about causes of $R$ value constancy in high-temperature region are discussed. Conclusion about strengthening of the water structure in an aqueous cage with phenanthrene molecule inside is done.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2003

On the origin of the deviation from the first order kinetics in inactivation of microbial cells by pulsed electric fields

A computer model was developed for estimation of the kinetics of microbial inactivation by pulsed electric field. The model is based on the electroporation theory of individual membrane damage, where spherical cell geometry and distribution of cell sizes are assumed. The variation of microbial cell sizes was assumed to follow a statistical probability distribution of the Gaussian type. Surviving kinetics was approximated by Weibull equation. The dependencies of two Weibull parameters (shape \textit{n} and time $τ$, respectively) versus electric field intensity E and width of cell diameters distribution was studied.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2003

Percolation in deposits for competitive models in (1+1)-dimensions

The percolation behaviour during the deposit formation, when the spanning cluster was formed in the substrate plane, was studied. Two competitive or mixed models of surface layer formation were considered in (1+1)-dimensional geometry. These models are based on the combination of ballistic deposition (BD) and random deposition (RD) models or BD and Family deposition (FD) models. Numerically we find, that for pure RD, FD or BD models the mean height of the percolation deposit $\bar h$ grows with the substrate length $L$ according to the generalized logarithmic law $\bar h\propto (\ln (L))^γ$, where $γ=1.0$ (RD), $γ=0.88\pm 0.020$ (FD) and $γ=1.52\pm 0.020$ (BD). For BD model, the scaling law between deposit density $p$ and its mean height $\bar h$ at the point of percolation of type $p-p_\infty \propto \bar h^{-1/ν_h}$ are observed, where $ν_h =1.74\pm0.02$ is a scaling coefficient. For competitive models the crossover, %in $h$ versus $L$ corresponding to the RD or FD -like behaviour at small $L$ and the BD-like behaviour at large $L$ are observed.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2003

Interparticle interaction and structure of deposits for competitive model in (2+1)- dimensions

A competitive (2+1)-dimensional model of deposit formation, based on the combination of random sequential absorption deposition (RSAD), ballistic deposition (BD) and random deposition (RD) models, is proposed. This model was named as RSAD$_{1-s}$(RD$_f$BD$_{1-f}$)$_s$. It allows to consider different cases of interparticle interactions from complete repulsion between near-neighbors in the RSAD model ($s=0$) to sticking interactions in the BD model ($s=1, f=0$) or absence of interactions in the RD model ($s=1$, $f=0$). The ideal checkerboard ordered structure was observed for the pure RSAD model ($s=0$) in the limit of $h \to \infty$. Defects in the ordered structure were observed at small $h$. The density of deposit $p$ versus system size $L$ dependencies were investigated and the scaling parameters and values of $p_\infty=p(L=\infty)$ were determined. Dependencies of $p$ versus parameters of the competitive model $s$ and $f$ were studied. We observed the anomalous behaviour of the eposit density $p_\infty$ with change of the inter-particle repulsion, which goes through minimum on change of the parameter $s$. For pure RSAD model, the concentration of defects decreases with $h$ increase in accordance with the critical law $ρ\propto h^{-χ_{RSAD}}$, where $χ_{RSAD} \approx 0.119 \pm 0.04$.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2002

Percolation in Models of Thin Film Depositions

We have studied the percolation behaviour of deposits for different (2+1)-dimensional models of surface layer formation. The mixed model of deposition was used, where particles were deposited selectively according to the random (RD) and ballistic (BD) deposition rules. In the mixed one-component models with deposition of only conducting particles, the mean height of the percolation layer (measured in monolayers) grows continuously from 0.89832 for the pure RD model to 2.605 for the pure RD model, but the percolation transition belong to the same universality class, as in the 2- dimensional random percolation problem. In two- component models with deposition of conducting and isolating particles, the percolation layer height approaches infinity as concentration of the isolating particles becomes higher than some critical value. The crossover from 2d to 3d percolation was observed with increase of the percolation layer height.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2000

Damage of cellular material under simultaneous application of pressure and pulsed electric field

Influence of pulsed electric field (PEF) simultaneous to pressure treatment on moisture expression from fine-cut cellular raw material has been investigated. Dependencies of specific conductivity $σ$, liquid yield $Y$, instantaneous flow rate $v$ and qualitative juice characteristics at different modes of PEF treatment are discussed. Three main consolidation phases were observed in a case of mechanical expression. A unified approach is proposed for liquid yield data analysis allowing to reduce the data scattering caused by differences in the quality of samples. Simultaneous application of pressure and PEF treatment allows to reveal a passive form of electrical damage. Pressure provokes the damage of defected cells, enhances diffusion migration of moisture in porous cellular material and depresses the cell resealing processes. PEF application at a moment when a sample specific electrical conductivity reaches minimum and pressure achieves its constant value seemed to be the most optimal.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2000

Correlated percolation patterns in PEF damaged cellular material

We present results of numerical and experimental investigation of the electric breakage of a cellular material in pulsed electric fields (PEF). The numerical model simulates the conductive properties of a cellular material by a two-dimensional array of biological cells. The application of an external field in the form of the idealised square pulse sequence with a pulse duration $t_{i}$, and a pulse repetition time $Δt$ is assumed. The simulation model includes the known mechanisms of temporal and spatial evolution of the conductive properties of different microstructural elements in a tissue. The kinetics of breakage at different values of electric field strength $E$, $t_{i}$ and $Δt$ was studied in experimental investigation. We propose the hypothesis for the nature of tissue properties evolution after PEF treatment and consider this phenomena as a correlated percolation, which is governed by two key processes: resealing of cells and moisture transfer processes inside the cellular structure. The breakage kinetics was shown to be very sensitive to the repetition times $Δt$ of the PEF treatment. We observed correlated percolation patterns in a case when $Δt$ exceeds the characteristic time of the processes of moisture transfer and random percolation patterns in other cases. The long-term mode of the pulse repetition times in PEF treatment allows us to visualize experimentally the macroscopic percolation channels in the sample.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗