Symmetry limited directions

Optical activity is observable in any direction for crystals belonging to the two cubic enantiomorphic classes 23 and 432, but, in general, optical activity can only be observed in certain symmetry limited directions. For example, optical activity in the other enantiomorphic classes is only readily observed in a direction fairly close to an optic axis. This is because the different refractive indices that apply to light polarised vertically and horizontally masks the effect in directions further from an optic axis. In the non-enantiomorphic groups, no optical activity is found along an inversion axis or perpendicular to a mirror plane. Thus no optical activity occurs along the optic axis... 

Assuming symmetry of vj and V2 with respect to mid-surface at = 0), the velocity components, given by Equation (5.70), are integrated to obtain flow rates in the lateral directions within the limits of the thin layer as... 

The orientation of linear rotators in space is defined by a single vector directed along a molecular axis. The orientation of this vector and the angular momentum may be specified within the limits set by the uncertainty relation. In a rarefied gas angular momentum is well conserved at least during the free path. In a dense liquid it is a molecule s orientation that is kept fixed to a first approximation. Since collisions in dense gas and liquid change the direction and rate of rotation too often, the rotation turns into a process of small random walks of the molecular axis. Consequently, reorientation of molecules in a liquid may be considered as diffusion of the symmetry axis in angular space, as was first done by Debye [1],... 

This velocity profile is commonly called drag flow. It is used to model the flow of lubricant between sliding metal surfaces or the flow of polymer in extruders. A pressure-driven flow—typically in the opposite direction—is sometimes superimposed on the drag flow, but we will avoid this complication. Equation (8.51) also represents a limiting case of Couette flow (which is flow between coaxial cylinders, one of which is rotating) when the gap width is small. Equation (8.38) continues to govern convective diffusion in the flat-plate geometry, but the boundary conditions are different. The zero-flux condition applies at both walls, but there is no line of symmetry. Calculations must be made over the entire channel width and not just the half-width. 

The final expression is the classical limit, valid above a certain critical temperature, which, however, in practical cases is low (i.e. 85 K for H2, 3 K for CO). For a homonuclear or a symmetric linear molecule, the factor a equals 2, while for a het-eronuclear molecule cr=l (Tab. 3.1). This symmetry factor stems from the indistinguishable permutations the molecule may undergo due to the rotation and actually also involves the nuclear partition function. The symmetry factor can be estimated directly from the symmetry of the molecule. 

As indicated in Section 3.4, the integral of an odd function, taken between symmetric limits, is equal to zero. More generally, the integral of a function that is not symmetric with respect to all operations of the appropriate point group will vanish. Thus, if the integrand is composed of a product of functions, each of which belongs to a particular irreducible representation, the overall symmetry is given by the direct product of these irreducible representations. 

Such an approach is conceptually different from the continuum description of momentum transport in a fluid in terms of the NS equations. It can be demonstrated, however, that, with a proper choice of the lattice (viz. its symmetry properties), with the collision rules, and with the proper redistribution of particle mass over the (discrete) velocity directions, the NS equations are obeyed at least in the incompressible limit. It is all about translating the above characteristic LB features into the physical concepts momentum, density, and viscosity. The collision rules can be translated into the common variable viscosity, since colliding particles lead to viscous behavior indeed. The reader interested in more details is referred to Succi (2001). 

A second choice to be made relates to the size of the flow domain. It may be worthwhile to limit the calculational job by reducing the size of the flow domain, e.g., by identifying an axis or plane of symmetry, or, in a cylindrical vessel with baffles mounted on the wall, due to periodicity in the azimuthal direction. Commercial software accomplishes these choices by means of symmetry cells and cyclic cells, respectively although such choices reduce the size of the simulation, they may eliminate the possibility of finding the real (asymmetric, unstable, or transient) 3-D flow field. The presence of feed pipes or drain or withdrawal pipes may also make the use of symmetry or cyclic cells impossible. Again, this issue only plays a role in RANS-type simulations. 

Therefore, whenever we introduce symmetries into our systems, we risk observing behavior that is inconsistent with that observed when these symmetries are absent. Because opposing surfaces are almost always incommensurate unless they are prepared specifically, it will be important to avoid symmetries in simulations as much as possible. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to make two surfaces incommensurate in simulations, particularly when the interface is composed of two identical crystalline surfaces. These difficulties arise from the fact that only a limited number of geometries conform to the periodic boundary conditions in the lateral direction. Each geometry needs to be analyzed separately... 

The recent versions of the slow motion approach were applied to direct fitting of experimental data for a series of Ni(II) complexes of varying symmetry (97). An example of an experimental data set and a fitted curve is shown in Fig. 9. Another application of the slow-motion approach is to provide benchmark calculations against which more approximate theoretical tools can be tested. As an example of work of this kind, we wish to mention the paper by Kowalewski et al. (98), studying the electron spin relaxation effects in the vicinity and beyond the Redfield limit. 

Any study of colloidal crystals requires the preparation of monodisperse colloidal particles that are uniform in size, shape, composition, and surface properties. Monodisperse spherical colloids of various sizes, composition, and surface properties have been prepared via numerous synthetic strategies [67]. However, the direct preparation of crystal phases from spherical particles usually leads to a rather limited set of close-packed structures (hexagonal close packed, face-centered cubic, or body-centered cubic structures). Relatively few studies exist on the preparation of monodisperse nonspherical colloids. In general, direct synthetic methods are restricted to particles with simple shapes such as rods, spheroids, or plates [68]. An alternative route for the preparation of uniform particles with a more complex structure might consist of the formation of discrete uniform aggregates of self-organized spherical particles. The use of colloidal clusters with a given number of particles, with controlled shape and dimension, could lead to colloidal crystals with unusual symmetries [69]. 

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