Influence of image forces on charge-dipole interaction in two-layered systems.

Interaction between a fixed point electric charge Q and a freely rotating point electric dipole with the magnitude P pinned near a plane interface between two dispersionless insulators with different dielectric permittivities ɛ1 and ɛ2 has been considered. It was shown that, as a result of this interaction and the interaction of the dipole with the polarization charges induced at the interface by the charge Q and the dipole itself, there arise regions where the dipole can possess either one or two equilibrium orientations. The spatial distributions of the electrostatic dipole energy Wtotal under the combined action of the charge Q and the induced interface polarization charges, as well as the equilibrium dipole orientations (orientation maps), the boundaries between the regions with different numbers of dipole orientations, and their evolution with the variation of problem parameters (the charge and dipole magnitudes, the mismatch between ɛ1 and ɛ2, and the charge-interface distance) were calculated.

Electrostatic image force energy for charges in three-layer structures: exact formulas and their approximations.

The problem of image force energy() in three-layer plane structures, whereis the coordinate perpendicular to the layers, has been reconsidered. In the classical electrostatic limit, where the dielectric permittivitiesof all structure components (= 1, 2, 3) are constants, the exact general dependences() were obtained for each layer and any-combination in terms of the Lerch transcendent function. For certain combinations of, an ion adsorption minimum was found to arise in one of the covers far from the interlayer.

Electric dipole image forces in three-layer systems: The classical electrostatic model.

General exact analytical expressions have been derived for the image force energy W(Z, φ) of a point dipole in a classical three-layer system composed of dispersionless media with arbitrary constant dielectric permittivities ε. Here, i = 1-3 is the layer number, and Z and φ are the dipole coordinate and orientation angle, respectively. It was found that the long-range asymptotics W(Z→∞,φ) in both covers (i = 1, 3) are reached unexpectedly far from the interlayer (i = 2).

Orientation of adsorbed polar molecules (dipoles) in external electrostatic field.

A model is proposed in the framework of classical electrostatics to describe the behavior of an adsorbed polar molecule near the plane interface between two insulators under the action of an external electrostatic field. The molecule is considered as a permanent point dipole that polarizes the interface and interacts with it through electrostatic image forces. The latter and the applied field try to reorient the dipole in a competitive manner.

Quasiparticle conductance-voltage characteristics for break junctions involving d-wave superconductors: charge-density-wave effects.

Quasiparticle tunnel conductance-voltage characteristics (CVCs), [Formula: see text], were calculated for break junctions (BJs) made up of layered d-wave superconductors partially gapped by charge-density waves (CDWs). The current is assumed to flow in the ab-plane of electrodes. The influence of CDWs is analyzed by comparing the resulting CVCs with CVCs calculated for BJs made up of pure d-wave superconductors with relevant parameters.

Influence of the spatially inhomogeneous gap distribution on the quasiparticle current in c-axis junctions involving d-wave superconductors with charge density waves.

The quasiparticle tunnel current J(V) between the superconducting ab-planes along the c-axis and the corresponding conductance [Formula: see text] were calculated for symmetric junctions composed of disordered d-wave layered superconductors partially gapped by charge density waves (CDWs). Here, V is the voltage. Both the checkerboard and unidirectional CDWs were considered.

The phase diagram for coexisting d-wave superconductivity and charge-density waves: cuprates and beyond.

Phase diagrams of d-wave superconductivity characterized by an order parameter Δ coexisting with charge-density waves (CDWs) characterized by an order parameter Σ were constructed for the two-dimensional Fermi surface (FS) appropriate to, e.g., cuprates.

New method for deciphering free energy landscape of three-state proteins.

We have developed a new simulation method to estimate the distance between the native state and the first transition state and the distance between the intermediate state and the second transition state of a protein which mechanically unfolds via intermediates. Assuming that the end-to-end extension DeltaR is a good reaction coordinate to describe the free energy landscape of proteins subjected to an external force, we define the midpoint extension DeltaR(*) between two transition states from either constant force or constant loading rate pulling simulations. In the former case, DeltaR(*) is defined as a middle point between two plateaus in the time-dependent curve of DeltaR, while, in the latter one, it is a middle point between two peaks in the force-extension curve.

Excess nonspecific Coulomb ion adsorption at the metal electrode/electrolyte solution interface: role of the surface layer.

Excess ion adsorption gamma induced by the polarization image forces in the system of a metal electrode/symmetric electrolyte solution separated by an insulating interlayer has been calculated. The adopted theoretical scheme involves the Coulomb Green's function in a three-layer system with sharp interfaces and specular reflection at them. The influence of the spatial dispersion of the dielectric permittivities epsilon(i)(k) in all the three media on the image force energy W(im) and the adsorption gamma has been analyzed, where k is the wave vector.