Sylwester J. Rzoska

Bio: Sylwester J. Rzoska is an academic researcher from Polish Academy of Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Dielectric & Liquid crystal. The author has an hindex of 33, co-authored 216 publications receiving 3570 citations. Previous affiliations of Sylwester J. Rzoska include University of Silesia in Katowice & Silesian University.

Complex dynamics of isotropic 4-cyano-4-n-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) in linear and nonlinear dielectric relaxation studies.

Abstract: A comprehensive presentation of the temperature evolution of ``linear'' and ``nonlinear'' dielectric relaxation in the isotropic phase of nematic liquid crystalline compound 5CB (4-cyano-4-n-pentylbiphenyl) is given. The ``nonlinear'' relaxation is related to the strong pretransitional rise in the lifetime of prenematic fluctuations. The ``linear'' relaxation has a clear non-Debye and non-Arrhenius form. In the immediate vicinity of the nematic clearing point it shows a weak pretransitional anomaly. Results obtained coincide with the complex liquid relaxation pattern found in transient grating optical Kerr effect studies [A. Sengupta and M. D. Fayer, J. Chem. Phys. 102, 4193 (1995); R. Torre et al., Philos. Mag. A 77, 645 (1997)]. The striking similarity to the behavior found in critical, binary mixtures suggests the extension of the ``fluidlike'' hypothesis for the isotropic-nematic transition to dynamic phenomena in the isotropic phase [P. K. Mukherjee. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 10, 9191 (1998)]. The presence of both glassy and fluidlike features in isotropic 5CB coincides with the recent results of simulation analysis for the system of hard ellipsoids by Latz et al. [Phys. Rev. E 62, 5173 (2000)] and with the novel general picture for liquid-liquid transitions proposed by Tanaka [Phys. Rev. E 62, 6968 (2000)].

Inactivation and sublethal injury of Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua by high hydrostatic pressure in model suspensions and beetroot juice

Abstract: Cells exposed to different physical and chemical treatments, including high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), suffer from injuries that could be reversible in food materials when stored. Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua cells suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (model suspensions), and acidified beetroot juice were subjected to a pressure of 400 MPa at a temperature of 20°C for up to 10 min. The difference between the viable and non-injured cells was used to estimate the number of injured survivors.The reduction in E. coli cell number was 3.4–4.1 log after 10 min pressurization in model suspensions and 6.2 log in beetroot juice. Sublethally injured cells in PBS accounted for up to 2.7 log after 10 min HHP treatment and 0.8 log in beetroot juice. The reduction in L. innocua cell number after 10 min pressure treatment reached from 3.8 to 4.8 log, depending on the initial concentration in model suspensions. Among the surviving L. innocua cells, even up to 100% were injured. L. innocua cells were comp...

A new application of the nonlinear dielectric method for studying relaxation processes in liquids

Abstract: The measurement setup for studying changes of electric permittivity induced in liquids by a strong electric field nonlinear dielectric effect, (NDE) is presented. The construction is based on the idea of frequency modulation of an LC generator (with an inductance L and a capacitance C in resonant circuit), proposed by Malecki [J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. II 72, 104 (1976)]. The strong electric field is applied in the form of rectangular pulses (typically 1–4 ms). The setup enables measurements in a broad range of frequencies (80 kHz–12 MHz) and contains a new calibrating system, minimizing the influence of systematic error on the measured NDE values. We also indicate menthol as a standard, reference liquid in NDE studies. New applications of the NDE technique for studying relaxation processes in critical solution are also presented. They are based on the time resolved analysis of NDE decay after switching off the strong electric field.

The liquid-glass and liquid-liquid transitions of TPP at elevated pressure.

Abstract: We studied the polyamorphism of the liquid triphenyl phosphite by means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy at ambient and elevated (p=500 MPa) pressures. The effect of pressure on fragility, liquid-liquid phase transition, and its kinetics is discussed in relation to the two-order-parameter model proposed by Tanaka. The experimental evidence in support of this model is presented.

Pressure effect on the smectic-A-isotropic phase transition.

Abstract: We examine the effect of pressure on the smectic-A-isotropic phase transition within the Landau phenomenological theory. The influence of pressure on the smectic-A-isotropic phase transition is discussed by varying the coupling between the orientational and the translational order parameter. The transition is found to be of first order even at elevated pressure. The pressure dependence nonlinear dielectric effect in the isotropic phase of the smectic-A-isotropic transition is calculated. The theoretical results are in good qualitative agreement with available experimental results.

Classification of secondary relaxation in glass-formers based on dynamic properties.

Abstract: Dynamic properties, derived from dielectric relaxation spectra of glass-formers at variable temperature and pressure, are used to characterize and classify any resolved or unresolved secondary relaxation based on their different behaviors. The dynamic properties of the secondary relaxation used include: (1) the pressure and temperature dependences; (2) the separation between its relaxation time τβ and the primary relaxation time τα at any chosen τα; (3) whether τβ is approximately equal to the independent (primitive) relaxation time τ0 of the coupling model; (4) whether both τβ and τ0 have the same pressure and temperature dependences; (5) whether it is responsible for the “excess wing” of the primary relaxation observed in some glass-formers; (6) how the excess wing changes on aging, blending with another miscible glass-former, or increasing the molecular weight of the glass-former; (7) the change of temperature dependence of its dielectric strength Δeβ and τβ across the glass transition temperature Tg; ...

Supercooled dynamics of glass-forming liquids and polymers under hydrostatic pressure

Abstract: An intriguing problem in condensed matter physics is understanding the glass transition, in particular the dynamics in the equilibrium liquid close to vitrification Recent advances have been made by using hydrostatic pressure as an experimental variable These results are reviewed, with an emphasis in the insight provided into the mechanisms underlying the relaxation properties of glass-forming liquids and polymers