For the calculation of static quantities, such as free energies, phase diagrams and screening masses, the euclidean lattice formulation of finitetemperature quantum fields offers a first-principle approach. For intrinsically real-time correlators, such as the spectral function, no first-principle nonperturbative formulation exists. In the last O(10) years the classical approximation at high tem...

In this work we discuss how and to what extent the thermodynamic concepts and the thermodynamic formalism can be extended to the description of high temperature states of the plasma not necessarily associated with a Boltzmann distribution and with thermal equilibrium.The discussion is based on the “magnetic or electrostatic entropy concept”, an interpretative and predictive tool based on probab...

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Given the wide topic coverage and the sometimes introductory character of the book, it is not helpful that only 21 bibliographic entries are provided for the entire book. The offer of a wider bibliography selection would significantly improve the usefulness of the book, since its topic diversity is likely to require for most readers additional reading on some of the topics. Dr M. Sergio Campoba...

We show that the high-temperature behaviour of the recently proposed confining strings reproduces exactly the correct large-N QCD result, for a large class of trun-cations of the long-range interaction between surface elements.

Recent developments of perturbation theory at finite temperature based on effective field theory methods are reviewed. These methods allow the contributions from the different scales to be separated and the perturbative series to be reorganized. The construction of the effective field theory is shown in detail for φ4 theory and QCD. It is applied to the evaluation of the free energy of QCD at o...

Polybenzimidazole (PBI)-based high-temperature proton exchange membranes (PEMs) offer many advantages that aid in a simplified fuel cell system design. Such benefits include high resistance to fuel impurities (most notably carbon monoxide), fast electrode kinetics, and simplified water and thermal management due to operational temperatures above 120 ◦C.[1] As a result of its intrinsic physicoch...

A human being can live in outer space only in the artificially created environment of a spacecraft. Space vacuum, galactic space radiation, meteorite currents, super-low temperatures outboard give rise in space crew members to a natural feeling of threat to their health and survival. In this connection a high level of psychic tension persists even in a trouble-free space flight due to a natural...

The current work presents an experimental study of catalytically assisted self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) of the tantalum/carbon material system. The effects of controlled amounts of two gas-phase transport agents (carbon dioxide and vaporized iodine) were examined. The gas-phase transport agents resulted in burning velocities 2 to 4 times faster than burning velocities observ...

There is a strong and optimistic commitment by all staff to the school improvement strategy and a clear belief that further improvement is possible. Teachers take responsibility for the changes in their practice required to achieve school targets and are using data on a regular basis to monitor the effectiveness of their own efforts to meet those targets. The school has developed an agenda for ...