A primitive tetragonal intermediate in the orthorhombic-cubic phase transition of perovskite-type strontium niobate Sr0.92NbO3

The Sr deficient perovskite Sr_0.92NbO₃ was synthesized from Sr₅Nb₄O₁₅ and Nb and its crystal structure was determined using powder neutron diffraction. At room temperature the structure is orthorhombic in space group Pnma with both in-phase and out-of-phase tilting of the NbO₆ octahedra. High temperature measurements have shown that the oxide undergoes a sequence of phase transitions with increasing temperature: Pnma→P4/mbm→Pm3¯m. The intermediate tetragonal phase has only in-phase tilts of the NbO₆ octahedra, rather than the out-of-phase tilts present in the more commonly observed I4/mcm structure, due to initial softening at the M point rather than R point. The tetragonal phase exists only over a very narrow temperature range. The importance of M-M and M-O bonding in controlling the transition temperatures in SrMO₃ perovskites is discussed.     

Prediction of phase equilibria in the systems carbon dioxide (1)–fatty acids (2) by two cubic EOS models and classical mixing rules without binary adjustable parameters

This study evaluates the accuracy of estimating data in the series of systems carbon dioxide (1)–fatty acids (2) by two cubic equations of state, namely the EOS of Peng and Robinson in its original form and the recently proposed cubic EOS. The classical mixing rules are implemented in entirely predictive manner, i.e. without binary adjustable parameters. It is demonstrated that both models may yield reliable predictions of the data. However the EOS of Peng and Robinson fails in predicting the topology of phase behavior of the heavy homologues. The second cubic EOS predicts the Global Phase Behavior in the homologous series under consideration satisfactorily accurate, which in particular means qualitatively correct estimation of the liquid–liquid equilibria. The recently proposed EOS has no significant advantage over the EOS of Peng and Robinson in predicting the vapour–liquid equilibria data under consideration.     

A Novel Tantalum Cluster Chalcohalide Ta4S1.5Se7.5I8

Single crystals of Ta₄S_1.5Se_7.5I₈ are obtained by heating Ta, S, Se and I₂ at 300 °C in 4.0:1.0:8.0:4.4 molar ratio. The structure was determined by X-ray analysis and consists of molecular clusters [Ta₄(μ₄-S)(μ₂-Q_axSe_eq)₄I₈] (Q ≈ Se_0.87S_0.13). The tantalum atoms form a square with long Ta…Ta distances (3.26–3.32 Å), with four dichalcogenide ligands bridging the Ta–Ta edges and a sulfur atom capping the square. Each Ta atom has two terminal iodine atoms. Raman spectroscopy study shows the presence of the characteristic absorption band at 396 cm^?1 which is due to the Ta₄–μ₄-S vibrations. Cyclic voltammetry shows that Ta₄S_1.5Se_7.5I₈ in solid state undergoes quasi-reversible one-electron oxidation which is metal-centered.     

Reactions of M3Te7 (M = Mo, W) clusters with electrophilic reagents: Chalcogen exchange in the Te2 ligand and the first complexes of (TeS)

Reactions of triangular telluride-bridged Mo and W clusters [M₃(μ₃-Te)(μ₂-Te₂)₃(dtp)₃]⁺ (M = Mo, W; dtp = (EtO)₂PS₂) with S₂Cl₂ or Br₂ lead to Te/S exchange in the Te₂ ligands, with the formation of complexes with a novel TeS²⁻ ligand. Reaction of [W₃(μ₃-Te)(μ₂-Te₂)₃(dtp)₃]⁺ with Br₂ or S₂Cl₂ gives a mixture of complexes formulated as [W₃Te_4.25S_2.75(dtp)₃]⁺ and [W₃Te_4.30S_2.70(dtp)₃]⁺, respectively, on the basis of X-ray structural analysis. Reaction of the Mo homolog, namely [Mo₃(μ₃-Te)(μ₂-Te₂)₃(dtp)₃]⁺, with S₂Cl₂ gives rise to [Мо₃Te_4.74S_2.26((EtO)₂PS₂)₃]⁺. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) complements the information gathered from X-ray analysis regarding the degree of Te by S substitution; moreover, detailed insights on the regioselectivity of such replacement are also obtained from ESI-MS analysis. These experimental evidences indicate that Te by S replacement in W complexes display high regioselectivity (as evidenced by the exclusive formation of a W₃Te₄S₃⁴⁺ core), the equatorial Te ligands being preferentially replaced over the Te_ax and μ₃-Te ligands. Conversely, for the Mo homologs, a broad distribution of Mo₃Te_7−xS_x⁴⁺ cluster species ranging from x = 0 to 6 is observed. Bond distance analysis as well as crystal packing trends as a function of the cluster core M₃Te_7−xS_x⁴⁺ (M = Mo, W; x = 0–6) composition are also reported.     

Criteria for efficiency in vector optimization

We consider unconstrained finite dimensional multi-criteria optimization problems, where the objective functions are continuously differentiable. Motivated by previous work of Brosowski and da Silva (1994), we suggest a number of tests (TEST 1–4) to detect, whether a certain point is a locally (weakly) efficient solution for the underlying vector optimization problem or not. Our aim is to show: the points, at which none of the TESTs 1–4 can be applied, form a nowhere dense set in the state space. TESTs 1 and 2 are exactly those proposed by Brosowski and da Silva. TEST 3 deals with a local constant behavior of at least one of the objective functions. TEST 4 includes some conditions on the gradients of objective functions satisfied locally around the point of interest. It is formulated as a Conjecture. It is proven under additional assumptions on the objective functions, such as linear independence of the gradients, convexity or directional monotonicity. This work was partially supported by grant 55681 of the CONACyT.     

Holonomic -modules and positive characteristic

We discuss a hypothetical correspondence between holonomic -modules on an algebraic variety X defined over a field of zero characteristic, and certain families of Lagrangian subvarieties in the cotangent bundle to X. The correspondence is based on the reduction to positive characteristic. This article is based on the 5th Takagi Lectures that the author delivered at the University of Tokyo on October 4 and 5, 2008.     

Antiferromagnetism in a technetium oxide. Structure of CaTcO3

The technetium perovskite CaTcO(3) has been synthesized. Combining synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction, we found that CaTcO(3) is an antiferromagnetic with a surprisingly high Neel temperature of ～800 K. The transition to the magnetic state does not involve a structural change, but there is obvious magnetostriction. Electronic structure calculations confirm the experimental results.     

Structural evolution and properties of solid solutions of hexagonal InMnO3 and InGaO3

Solid solutions InMn(1-x)Ga(x)O(3) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) have been investigated using magnetic, dielectric, specific heat, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and high-temperature powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction (HT-SXRD) measurements. It was found that samples with 0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1 crystallize in space group P6(3)/mmc with a ~ 3.32 ? and c ~ 11.9 ?, and samples with 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 crystallize in space group P6(3)cm with a ~ 5.8 ? and c ~ 11.6 ? at room temperature. HT-SXRD data revealed the existence of a P6(3)cm-to-P6(3)/mmc phase transition at about 480 K in InMn(0.6)Ga(0.4)O(3) and at 950 K in InMn(0.7)Ga(0.3)O(3). However, no dielectric, phonon, second-harmonic-generation, or DSC anomalies were found to be associated with these phase transitions. The phase transition should be improper ferroelectric from the symmetry point of view, but the above-mentioned experimental facts, together with the absence of ferroelectric hysteresis loops, revealed no evidence for ferroelectricity in the low-temperature P6(3)cm structure. We suggest that InMn(1-x)Ga(x)O(3) corresponds to a nonferroelectric phase of hexagonal RMnO(3) with P6(3)cm symmetry. The antiferromagnetic phase-transition temperature decreases from 118 K for x = 0 to 105 K for x = 0.1 and 73 K for x = 0.2, and no long-range magnetic ordering could be found for x ≥ 0.3. Specific heat anomalies associated with short-range magnetic ordering were observed for 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5. InMn(1-x)Ga(x)O(3) with small Mn contents (0.8 ≤ x ≤ 0.98) has a bright-blue color.     

Nonlinear dynamics and flutter of plate and cavity in response to supersonic wind tunnel start

Nonlinear Dynamics - The transient response of a plate and a cavity is investigated in a supersonic wind tunnel start experiment where the freestream flow inside the test section reaches turbulent...