arXiv subjects

Zhao Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Zhao Wang.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Effect of size distribution on the adhesion of nanoscale asperities

We study the effect of asperity size on the adhesion properties of metal contact using atomistic simulations. The simulated size effect of individual nanoscale asperityies is applied to macroscopic rough surfaces by introducing a curvature radius distribution to a continuum-mechanics-based contact model. Our results indicate that the contact adhesion can be optimized by changing the curvature radius distribution of the asperity summits.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Steiner diameter, maximum degree and size of a graph

The Steiner diameter $sdiam_k(G)$ of a graph $G$, introduced by Chartrand, Oellermann, Tian and Zou in 1989, is a natural generalization of the concept of classical diameter. When $k=2$, $sdiam_2(G)=diam(G)$ is the classical diameter. The problem of determining the minimum size of a graph of order $n$ whose diameter is at most $d$ and whose maximum is $\ell$ was first introduced by Erdös and Rényi. Recently, Mao considered the problem of determining the minimum size of a graph of order $n$ whose Steiner $k$-diameter is at most $d$ and whose maximum is at most $\ell$, where $3\leq k\leq n$, and studied this new problem when $k=3$. In this paper, we investigate the problem when $n-3\leq k\leq n$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2017

The Steiner 4-diameter of a graph

The Steiner distance of a graph, introduced by Chartrand, Oellermann, Tian and Zou in 1989, is a natural generalization of the concept of classical graph distance. For a connected graph $G$ of order at least $2$ and $S\subseteq V(G)$, the \emph{Steiner distance} $d_G(S)$ among the vertices of $S$ is the minimum size among all connected subgraphs whose vertex sets contain $S$. Let $n,k$ be two integers with $2\leq k\leq n$. Then the \emph{Steiner $k$-eccentricity $e_k(v)$} of a vertex $v$ of $G$ is defined by $e_k(v)=\max \{d(S)\,|\,S\subseteq V(G), \ |S|=k, \ and \ v\in S \}$. Furthermore, the \emph{Steiner $k$-diameter} of $G$ is $sdiam_k(G)=\max \{e_k(v)\,|\, v\in V(G)\}$. In 2011, Chartrand, Okamoto and Zhang showed that $k-1\leq sdiam_k(G)\leq n-1$. In this paper, graphs with $sdiam_4(G)=3,4,n-1$ are characterized, respectively.

math.CO↗

arXiv2016

Role of force-constant difference in phonon scattering by nano-precipitates in PbTe

We study the effect of nanoscale precipitates on lattice thermal conduction in thermoelectric PbTe using a combination of ab-initio phonon calculations and molecular dynamics. We take into account the effects of mass difference and change in force constants, and find an enhanced influence of the latter with increased precipitate concentration. As a consequence, our inclusion of the change in force constants in the calculation affords a smaller predicted optimal nano-precipitate size that minimizes the thermal conductivity. These results suggest that the phonon scattering by nanoprecipitates in thermoelectric composites could be stronger than previously thought.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Atomistic mechanisms governing structural stability change of zinc antimony thermoelectrics

The structural stability of thermoelectric materials is a subject of growing importance for their energy harvesting applications. Here, we study the microscopic mechanisms governing the structural stability change of zinc antimony at its working temperature, using molecular dynamics combined with experimental measurements of the electrical and thermal conductivity. Our results show that the temperature-dependence of the thermal and electrical transport coefficients is strongly correlated with a structural transition. This is found to be associated with a relaxation process, in which a group of Zn atoms migrates between interstitial sites. This atom migration gradually leads to a stabilizing structural transition of the entire crystal framework, and then results in a more stable crystal structure of $β-$ Zn4Sb3 at high temperature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Diffusive versus displacive contact plasticity of nanoscale asperities: Temperature- and velocity-dependent strongest size

We predict a strongest size for the contact strength when asperity radii of curvature decrease below ten nanometers. The reason for such strongest size is found to be correlated with the competition between the dislocation plasticity and surface diffusional plasticity. The essential role of temperature is calculated and illustrated in a comprehensive asperity size-strengthtemperature map taking into account the effect of contact velocity. Such a map should be essential for various phenomena related to nanoscale contacts such as nanowire cold welding, self-assembly of nanoparticles and adhesive nano-pillar arrays, as well as the electrical, thermal and mechanical properties of macroscopic interfaces.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Optimizing phonon scattering by nanoprecipitates in lead chalcogenides

We calculate the thermal conductivity of PbTe and PbS with seven different types of nanoprecipitates using an ab-initio-based Boltzmann transport approach. We find that precipitates with realistic size distributions can reduce the thermal conductivity well below the predictions of theoretical models assuming a single precipitate size.We explore the question of how to tune this distribution to reduce the thermal conductivity even further. The predicted minimum value is strongly correlated with the phonon spectrum of the host material and with the mass density difference between the host and the inclusions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Mechanisms governing phonon scattering by topological defects in graphene nanoribbons

Understanding phonon scattering by topological defects in graphene is of particular interest for thermal management in graphene-based devices. We present a study that quantifies the roles of the different mechanisms governing defect phonon scattering by comparing the effects of ten different defect structures using molecular dynamics. Our results show that phonon scattering is mainly influenced by mass density difference, with general trends governed by the defect formation energy and typical softening behaviors in the phonon density of state. The phonon scattering cross-section is found to be far larger than that geometrically occupied by the defects. We also show that the lattice thermal conductivity can be reduced by a factor of up to ~30 in the presence of the grain boundaries formed by these defects.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Experimental Trapped-ion Quantum Simulation of the Kibble-Zurek dynamics in momentum space

The Kibble-Zurek mechanism is the paradigm to account for the nonadiabatic dynamics of a system across a continuous phase transition. Its study in the quantum regime is hindered by the requisite of ground state cooling. We report the experimental quantum simulation of critical dynamics in the transverse-field Ising model by a set of Landau-Zener crossings in pseudo-momentum space, that can be probed with high accuracy using a single trapped ion. We test the Kibble-Zurek mechanism in the quantum regime in the momentum space and find the measured scaling of excitations is in accordance with the theoretical prediction.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Interval minors of complete multipartite graphs

Interval minors of bipartite graphs were introduced by Jacob Fox in the study of Stanley-Wilf limits. Recently, Mohar, Rafiey, Tayfeh-Rezaie and Wu investigated the maximum number of edges in $K_{k,\ell}$-interval minor free bipartite graphs when $k=2$ and $k=3$. In this paper, we investigate the maximum number of edges in $K_{k,\ell}$-interval minor free bipartite graphs for general $k$ and $\ell$. We also study the maximum number of edges in $K_{\ell_1,\ell_2,\cdots,\ell_t}$-interval minor free multipartite graphs.

math.CO↗

arXiv2015

Secure Degrees of Freedom of Wireless X Networks Using Artificial Noise Alignment

The problem of transmitting confidential messages in $M \times K$ wireless X networks is considered, in which each transmitter intends to send one confidential message to every receiver. In particular, the secure degrees of freedom (SDOF) of the considered network are studied based on an artificial noise alignment (ANA) approach, which integrates interference alignment and artificial noise transmission. At first, an SDOF upper bound is derived for the $M \times K$ X network with confidential messages (XNCM) to be $\frac{K(M-1)}{K+M-2}$. By proposing an ANA approach, it is shown that the SDOF upper bound is tight when $K=2$ for the considered XNCM with time/frequency varying channels. For $K \geq 3$, it is shown that SDOF of $\frac{K(M-1)}{K+M-1}$ can be achieved, even when an external eavesdropper is present. The key idea of the proposed scheme is to inject artificial noise into the network, which can be aligned in the interference space at receivers for confidentiality. Moreover, for the network with no channel state information at transmitters, a blind ANA scheme is proposed to achieve SDOF of $\frac{K(M-1)}{K+M-1}$ for $K,M \geq 2$, with reconfigurable antennas at receivers. The proposed method provides a linear approach to secrecy coding and interference alignment.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2015

Proper connection number and graph products

A path $P$ in an edge-colored graph $G$ is called \emph{a proper path} if no two adjacent edges of $P$ are colored the same, and $G$ is \emph{proper connected} if every two vertices of $G$ are connected by a proper path in $G$. The \emph{proper connection number} of a connected graph $G$, denoted by $pc(G)$, is the minimum number of colors that are needed to make $G$ proper connected. In this paper, we study the proper connection number on the lexicographical, strong, Cartesian, and direct product and present several upper bounds for these products of graphs.

math.CO↗

arXiv2015

Monochromatic connectivity and graph products

The concept of monochromatic connectivity was introduced by Caro and Yuster. A path in an edge-colored graph is called a \emph{monochromatic path} if all the edges on the path are colored the same. An edge-coloring of $G$ is a \emph{monochromatic connection coloring} ($MC$-coloring, for short) if there is a monochromatic path joining any two vertices in $G$. The \emph{monochromatic connection number}, denoted by $mc(G)$, is defined to be the maximum number of colors used in an $MC$-coloring of a graph $G$. In this paper, we study the monochromatic connection number on the lexicographical, strong, Cartesian and direct product and present several upper and lower bounds for these products of graphs.

math.CO↗

arXiv2014

Synaptotagmin 7 Functions as a Ca2+-sensor for Synaptic Vesicle Replenishment

Synaptotagmin (syt) 7 is one of three syt isoforms found in all metazoans; it is ubiquitously expressed, yet its function in neurons remains obscure. Here, we resolved Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent synaptic vesicle (SV) replenishment pathways, and found that syt 7 plays a selective and critical role in the Ca2+-dependent pathway. Mutations that disrupt Ca2+-binding to syt 7 abolish this function, suggesting that syt 7 functions as a Ca2+-sensor for replenishment. The Ca2+-binding protein calmodulin (CaM) has also been implicated in SV replenishment, and we found that loss of syt 7 was phenocopied by a CaM antagonist. Moreover, we discovered that syt 7 binds to CaM in a highly specific and Ca2+-dependent manner; this interaction requires intact Ca2+-binding sites within syt 7. Together, these data indicate that a complex of two conserved Ca2+-binding proteins, syt 7 and CaM, serve as a key regulator of SV replenishment in presynaptic nerve terminals.

q-bio.NC↗

arXiv2014

Higher Derivative Corrections to O-plane Actions: NS-NS Sector

We classify all possible two- and four-derivative couplings of bulk NS-NS sector fields to a single Op-plane which are compatible with diffeomorphism invariance and B-field gauge invariance. This is applicable to type IIA or IIB superstrings or to the bosonic string. We then consider this general action in various classes of backgrounds that admit a U(1) isometry and determine the constraints on the couplings from consistency with T-duality. We show that this consistency requires the two-derivative action to vanish, and the entire non-linear four-derivative action is fixed up to one overall constant which can be determined by comparison with a two-point scattering amplitude. The resulting action is consistent with all previously computed couplings.

hep-th↗

arXiv2012

Degrees of Freedom of Multi-hop MIMO Broadcast Networks with Delayed CSIT

We study the sum degrees of freedom (DoF) of a class of multi-layer relay-aided MIMO broadcast networks with delayed channel state information at transmitters (CSIT). In the assumed network a K-antenna source intends to communicate to K single-antenna destinations, with the help of N-2 layers of K full-duplex single-antenna relays. We consider two practical delayed CSIT feedback scenarios. If the source can obtain the CSI feedback signals from all layers, we prove the optimal sum DoF of the network to be K/(1+1/2+...+1/K). If the CSI feedback is only within each hop, we show that when K=2 the optimal sum DoF is 4/3, and when K >= 3 the sum DoF 3/2 is achievable. Our results reveal that the sum DoF performance in the considered class of N-layer MIMO broadcast networks with delayed CSIT may depend not on N, the number of layers in the network, but only on K, the number of antennas/terminals in each layer.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2011

Diameter dependence of SiGe nanowire thermal conductivity

We theoretically compute the thermal conductivity of SiGe alloy nanowires as a function of nanowire diameter, alloy concentration, and temperature, obtaining a satisfactory quantitative agreement with experimental results. Our results account for the weaker diameter dependence of the thermal conductivity recently observed in Si$_{1-x}$Ge$_x$ nanowires ($x<0.1$), as compared to pure Si nanowires. We also present calculations in the full range of alloy concentrations, $0 \leq x \leq 1$, which may serve as a basis for comparison with future experiments on high alloy concentration nanowires.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2011

Periodic ripples in suspended graphene

We study the mechanism of wrinkling of suspended graphene, by means of atomistic simulations. We argue that the structural instability under edge compression is the essential physical reason for the formation of periodic ripples in graphene. The ripple wavelength and out-of-plane amplitude are found to obey 1/4-power scaling laws with respect to edge compression. Our results also show that parallel displacement of the clamped boundaries can induce periodic ripples, with oscillation amplitude roughly proportional to the 1/4 power of edge displacement. The results are fundamental to graphene's applications in electronics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗