Structure and 31P NMR spectroscopy of a new phosphate,Na8Ca1.5Mg12.5(PO4)12

A new phosphate, sodium calcium magnesium tetrakis(phosphate), Na₈Ca_1.5Mg_12.5(PO₄)₁₂, has been synthesized by a flux method. Its novel structure consists of MgO_x (x = 5 and 6) polyhedra and MO₇ (M = Mg or Na) octahedra linked directly through common corners or edges to form a rigid three‐dimensional skeleton, reinforced by corner‐sharing between identical Mg₁₂MO₄₈ units. The connection of these units by the PO₄ tetrahedra induces cavities and crossing tunnels where the Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ cations are located. This structural model was supported by a ³¹P NMR spectroscopy study which confirmed the existence of 12 crystallographically independent sites for the P atoms.     

Incommensurate antiferromagnetic structures in NdIn3

Among the AuCu₃-type RIn₃ series where R is a rare earth, the NdIn₃ compound presents a complex magnetic phase diagram. In this compound, which orders antiferromagnetically at T_N = 5.9 K, three magnetic phases are separated by two sharp first-order transitions. The phase diagrams, determined for the main crystallographic directions, by magnetization measurements in fields up to 7 T show a strong dependence of the transition temperatures. In order to determine the actual magnetic structures in NdIn₃, a neutron diffraction experiment has been performed on a single crystal under magnetic field. It shows that the magnetic structures are collinear (single q) with the magnetic moments aligned along the fourfold axis. They clearly evidence the existence of two incommensurate phases with q = (1/2, 1/2, τ): for T_N T 5.5 K, τ₁ ≈ 0.037 2π/a and the structure is sine-wave modulated, for 5.5 K > T > 4.7 K, τ₂ = 0.017 2π/a and the structure squares up. Below 4.7 K the q = (1/2, 1/2, 0) commensurate structure is stabilized.     

Error indicators for the Navier-Stokes equations in stream function and vorticity formulation

This paper deals with a posteriori estimates for the finite element solution of the Stokes problem in stream function and vorticity formulation. For two different discretizations, we propose error indicators and we prove estimates in order to compare them with the local error. In a second step, these results are extended to the Navier-Stokes equations. Received March 25, 1996 / Revised version received April 7, 1997     

Properties of ZnO thin films deposited on (glass,ITO and ZnO:Al) substrates

ZnO thin films were deposited on glass, ITO (In₂O₃; Sn) and on ZnO:Al coated glass by spray pyrolysis. The substrates were heated at 350 °C. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements shows that films crystallize in hexagonal structure with a preferential orientation along (0 0 2) direction. XRD peak-shift analysis revealed that films deposited on glass substrate (−0.173) were compressive, however, films deposited onto ITO (0.691) and on ZnO:Al (0.345) were tensile. Scanning electron microscopies (SEM) show that the morphologies of surface are porous in the form of nanopillars. The transmittance spectra indicated that the films of ZnO/ITO/glass and ZnO/ZnO:Al/glass exhibit a transmittance around 80% in the visible region. An empirical relationship modeled by theoretical numerical models has been presented for estimating refractive indices (n) relative to energy gap. All models indicate that the refractive index deceases with increasing energy band gap (E_g).     

Dark-managed solitons in inhomogeneous cubic–quintic–septimal nonlinear media

Nonlinear Dynamics - We investigate the inhomogeneous higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger (INHLS) equation including cubic–quintic–septic (CQS) nonlinear terms and gain or loss with...     

Critical temperature shift in pure fluid SF6 caused by an electric field

A systematic study of the effect of an electric field on the critical temperature of a pure fluid is made for the first time to our knowledge. An ac electric field is applied to a spherical capacitor filled with SF6 at its critical density, while the temperature is slowly ramped down through its critical temperature T(c). By continuously observing the light transmission through the fluid during the temperature ramp, a shift in T(c), DeltaT(c), is found at various electric fields. By shining the light vertically through the fluid, we utilize the density gradient induced by the fluid's weight to compensate for the effects of density changes from electrostriction. This technique effectively keeps the system at constant critical density with respect to the observation of T(c). We observe an increase in T(c) as expected from thermodynamic stability and renormalization group theory, but quantitatively larger by an order of magnitude.     

Growth rate of potash alum crystals: comparison of silent and ultrasonic conditions

The influence of power ultrasound on the growth rate of potash alum was investigated. The experiments on growth of potash alum crystals were carried out in a stirred double jacket tank in silent conditions as well as in the presence of power ultrasound (20 kHz) at 32 degrees C, with different initial crystal sizes. It was observed that the mass growth rate of potash alum was faster under ultrasound compared to that under silent conditions. The shape was not modified by ultrasound but the size of crystals, which are grown under ultrasound, are smaller and with higher density compared to those grown under silent conditions.