Bose-Einstein condensation in quantum glasses.

The role of geometrical frustration in strongly interacting bosonic systems is studied with a combined numerical and analytical approach. We demonstrate the existence of a novel quantum phase featuring both Bose-Einstein condensation and spin-glass behavior. The differences between such a phase and the otherwise insulating "Bose glasses" are elucidated.

Methane dehydrogenation on Rh@Cu(111): a first-principles study of a model catalyst.

The issue of tuning the relative height of the first two dehydrogenation barriers of methane (CH(4) --> CH(3) + H and CH(3) --> CH(2) + H) is addressed using density-functional theory. It is shown that the combination of a very active reaction center-such as Rh-with a more inert substrate-such as Cu(111)-may hinder the second dehydrogenation step with respect to the first, thus resulting in the reverse of the natural order of the two barriers' heights.