The Cyprus Institute

About: The Cyprus Institute is a other organization based out in Nicosia, Cyprus. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Aerosol & Environmental science. The organization has 418 authors who have published 1252 publications receiving 32586 citations.

Ultrafast Dynamics of Localized and Delocalized Polaron Transitions in P3HT/PCBM Blend Materials: The Effects of PCBM Concentration

Abstract: Nowadays, organic solar cells have the interest of engineers for manufacturing flexible and low cost devices. The considerable progress of this nanotechnology area presents the possibility of investigating new effects from a fundamental science point of view. In this letter we highlight the influence of the concentration of fullerene molecules on the ultrafast transport properties of charged electrons and polarons in P3HT/PCBM blended materials which are crucial for the development of organic solar cells. Especially, we report on the femtosecond dynamics of localized (P2at 1.45 eV) and delocalized (DP2at 1.76 eV) polaron states of P3HT matrix with the addition of fullerene molecules as well as the free-electron relaxation dynamics of PCBM-related states. Our study shows that as PCBM concentration increases, the amplified exciton dissociation at bulk heterojunctions leads to increased polaron lifetimes. However, the increase in PCBM concentration can be directly related to the localization of polarons, creating thus two competing trends within the material. Our methodology shows that the effect of changes in structure and/or composition can be monitored at the fundamental level toward optimization of device efficiency.

Magnetic Phase Transition in Spark-Produced Ternary LaFeSi Nanoalloys.

Abstract: Using the magnetocaloric effect in nanoparticles holds great potential for efficient refrigeration and energy conversion. The most promising candidate materials for tailoring the Curie temperature to room temperature are rare-earth-based magnetic nanoalloys. However, only few high-nuclearity lanthanide/transition-metal nanoalloys have been produced so far. Here we report, for the first time, the observation of magnetic response in spark-produced LaFeSi nanoalloys. The results suggest that these nanoalloys can be used to exploit the magnetocaloric effect near room temperature; such a finding can lead to the creation of unique multicomponent materials for energy conversion, thus helping toward the realization of a sustainable energy economy.

A new marine biogenic emission: methane sulfonamide (MSAM), dimethyl sulfide (DMS), and dimethyl sulfone (DMSO 2 ) measured in air over the Arabian Sea

Abstract: . We present the first ambient measurements of a new marine emission methane sulfonamide (MSAM: CH5NO2S ), along with dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl sulfone ( DMSO2 ) over the Arabian Sea. Two shipborne transects (W → E, E → W) were made during the AQABA (Air Quality and Climate Change in the Arabian Basin) measurement campaign. Molar mixing ratios in picomole of species per mole of air (throughout this paper abbreviated as ppt) of DMS were in the range of 300–500 ppt during the first traverse of the Arabian Sea (first leg) and 100–300 ppt on the second leg. On the first leg DMSO2 was always below 40 ppt and MSAM was close to the limit of detection. During the second leg DMSO2 was between 40 and 120 ppt and MSAM was mostly in the range of 20–50 ppt with maximum values of 60 ppt. An analysis of HYSPLIT back trajectories combined with calculations of the exposure of these trajectories to underlying chlorophyll in the surface water revealed that most MSAM originates from the Somalia upwelling region, known for its high biological activity. MSAM emissions can be as high as one-third of DMS emissions over the upwelling region. This new marine emission is of particular interest as it contains both sulfur and nitrogen, making it potentially relevant to marine nutrient cycling and marine atmospheric particle formation.

Magnetic monopole plasma phase in (2+1)d compact quantum electrodynamics with fermionic matter

Abstract: We present the first evidence from lattice simulations that the magnetic monopoles in three-dimensional compact quantum electrodynamics (${\mathrm{cQED}}_{3}$) with ${N}_{f}=2$ and ${N}_{f}=4$ four-component fermion flavors are in a plasma phase. The evidence is based mainly on the divergence of the monopole susceptibility (polarizability) with the lattice size at weak gauge couplings. A weak four-Fermi term added to the ${\mathrm{cQED}}_{3}$ action enabled simulations with massless fermions. The exact chiral symmetry of the interaction terms forbids symmetry breaking lattice discretization counterterms to appear in the theory's effective action. It is also shown that the scenario of a monopole plasma does not depend on the strength of the four-Fermi coupling. Other observables such as the densities of isolated dipoles and monopoles and the so-called specific heat show that a crossover from a dense monopole plasma to a dilute monopole gas occurs at strong couplings. The implications of our results on the stability of $U(1)$ spin liquids in two spatial dimensions are also discussed.

Electromagnetic form factors of the Ω - in lattice QCD

Abstract: We present results on the omega baryon (${\ensuremath{\Omega}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) electromagnetic form factors using ${N}_{f}=2+1$ domain-wall fermion configurations for three pion masses in the range of about 350 to 300 MeV We compare results obtained using domain-wall fermions with those of a mixed-action (hybrid) approach, which combines domain-wall valence quarks on staggered sea quarks, for a pion mass of about 350 MeV We pay particular attention in the evaluation of the subdominant electric quadrupole form factor to sufficient accuracy to exclude a zero value, by constructing a sequential source that isolates it from the dominant form factors The ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ magnetic moment, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{{\ensuremath{\Omega}}^{\ensuremath{-}}}$, and the electric charge and magnetic radius, $⟨{r}_{E0/M1}^{2}⟩$, are extracted for these pion masses The electric quadrupole moment is determined for the first time using dynamical quarks