Most downloaded papers of 2015

By Jennifer Sanders on January 4, 2016

As Rebecca discussed in her Friday post What are we looking forward to in 2016?, it’s been rather a successful year for the Journal of Physics series of journals, and there’s much to look forward to in 2016. But what were JPhys readers downloading in 2015? Let’s have a look for each of the journals.

JPhysA

First up is a popular Topical Review, Johannes M Henn’s “Lectures on differential equations for Feynman integrals” in which he discusses developments in computation of Feynman integrals using differential equations (DE). Of particular note is the fact this review assumes no prior knowledge of the subject as well as outlining a number of approaches for Feynman integrals and DEs.

P L Krapivsky’s research paper “Mass exchange processes with input” also proved well-read. Krapivsky investigates a system of interacting clusters which evolve through mass exchange, looking specifically at localized input, which, it turns out, is simpler than homogeneous input.

JPhysB

Many were interested in A Mari et al‘s study of quantum optomechanical piston engines, in which two different models are examined. A temperature gradient induces oscillations of a mechanical resonator. Thermodynamically-speaking, these can be viewed as nanoscale analogues of macroscopic piston engines. Who doesn’t like the sound of that?! The models can be applied in energy-efficient nanotechnology as well as laboratory testing.

We couldn’t have this post without featuring some lasers of some description (my favourite!) and in this Fast Track Communication, D Dimitrovski et al show experimentally and theoretically how circularly polarized laser pulses can create the presence of low-energy photoelectrons in naphthalene molecules. The results highlight the importance of the dipole induced in the molecular cation in order to create such low-energy electrons.

JPCM

In their paper “The physical size of transcription factors is key to transcriptional regulation in chromatin domains”, Kazuhiro Maeshima et al employed Monte Carlo simulations to determine the physical size limit of DNA transcription factors which can enter domains of chromatin in order to read the genetic information stored therein. The results have implications for various DNA transaction mechanisms including DNA replication and repair/combination. You can also learn more about the research in this LabTalk: Why are transcription factors so large?

Topical Reviews are some of JPCM’s most popular content. In 2015 this included Xu Liu et al‘s review of FeSe superconductors which have attracted a lot of attention due to the simple crystal structure and unusual electronic and physical properties of these iron-based superconductors. This review covers investigation of these superconductors; their electronic structure and conductivity, with a particular focus on FeSe films.

JPhysD

Back in October, JPhysD published The 2015 super-resolution microscopy roadmap by Stefan W Hell et al: an article comprising fifteen two-page sections written by an expert — including Nobel Laureate Stefan Hell — each describing a particular approach, or an aspect of an approach, to super-resolution microscopy. You can also read more about The 2015 super-resolution microscopy roadmap on JPhys+.

John Timmerwilke et al detail steps in the development of a new magnetic memory technology: using the magnetic permeability to store large amounts of information, reliably and in a high-density form, for decades. In addition, this technology is insensitive to accidental exposure to magnetic fields or temperature changes, thus avoiding corruption. They also discuss how a variant of heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) can be used to economically write and read bits as small as 20nm.

JPhysG

Topping the list for JPhysG is a paper from a focus issue on 40 years of research in the journal: Sigurd Hofman’s “Super-heavy nuclei” which examines the experimental work undertaken to identify and produce super-heavy nuclei (SHN). Hofman compares the experimental results to theoretical predictions and interpretations, and finishes with an outlook for this research area.

Also popular in JPhysG was a research paper numerically investigating muon-neutron and anti-muon-neutrino quasi-elastic scattering from ¹²C and the in-medium effect. Myung-Ki Cheoun et al compare their results with (neutrino oscillation magnetic detector) NOMAD experimental data and are able to explain most of these data using the density-dependent elementary process.

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