Magnetic field induced order–order phase transition in magnetocaloric systems Mn2−xFexAs0.5P0.5 and MnFeAsyP1−y

An analysis is presented of experimental and theoretical results of the MnFeAs_yP_1−y (0.15≤y≤0.66) and Mn_2−xFe_xAs_0.5P_0.5 (0.5≤x≤1.0) systems to identify main traits that underlie the mechanism of formation of different antiferromagnetic (AF) phases in the two systems. The discrepancy between the calculated from first principles and experimental values of the magnetic moment in the ferromagnetic phase with cation substitution in the system Mn_2−xFe_xAs_0.5P_0.5 is due to the appearance of a canted magnetic structure. In this case, the emergence of an AF phase with decreasing iron concentration precedes a significant change in the electronic d-band filling. In the model of the spiral structure in the system of itinerant electrons it is shown that the stabilization of the AF phase with decreasing arsenic concentration, while maintaining the number of d-electrons, is a consequence of changes in the shape of the density of electronic states that occur with a decrease in unit-cell volume.     

A micro/nanocasting method for replicating soft micro/nanosurface structures using a dynamic electrical field

We propose a new electric field-induced micro/nanocasting method to replicate soft patterns using micro/nanocasting techniques without pressure. The process uses an alternating current (AC) electrical field and rotation of one electrode, generating a dynamic electrical field that induces electrokinetic flow motion in a dielectric solution (polydimethylsilane, PDMS). We used a lotus leaf as a replication template and characterised the PDMS flow motion to observe the effects of various process parameters (e.g., electrical field strength, rotation speed of an electrode, and electrode shape). The unstable flow motion was significantly dependent on the processing parameters, especially the rotation speed of the electrode. Using the optimised processing conditions, the replication efficiency was about 88%. We believe that this method has potential for fabricating soft micro/nanosized structures.     

Electric field‐induced birefringence,optical rotatory power and conoscopic measurements of a chiral antiferroelectric smectic liquid crystal

Using a photoelastic modulator‐based novel set‐up, the electric field‐induced in‐plane birefringence and the optical rotatory power (ORP) were measured of an antiferroelectric liquid crystalline compound (12OF1M7) in its various phases using 30 µm homeotropic cells. Some specific signatures of the in‐plane birefringence and of the ORP for the various phases are being established. A relatively small threshold field is needed for the unwinding process of the antiferroelectric phase with a unit cell of four layers [SmC_A*(1/2)] compared with that for two layers [SmC_A*(0)]. On application of the electric field on the high temperature side of the SmC_A*(1/2) phase (80.1–81.5°C), a field‐induced phase transition is shown to occur directly to the SmC* phase, whereas on the lower temperature side (79.4–80.1°C) the transition takes place to SmC* via the SmC_A*(1/3) phase. The in‐plane birefringence exhibits a critical power law dependence for the SmC*–SmA transition. The ORP changes sign within the temperature range of the phase with a unit cell of three layers, reflecting a change in the handedness during this phase. Using tilted conoscopy, the results for the biaxiality and the apparent tilt angle for a smectic liquid crystal with a tilt angle greater than 18° in the ferroelectric phase are reported. The biaxiality implies the difference in the refractive indices between the two minor axes of the refractive index ellipsoid. The optical transmittance at visible and IR wavelengths for free‐standing films reveal characteristic reflection bands for these phases. The modulated structures of the reflected bands appear just above the SmC_A* phase and below SmC_A*(1/3); these are possibly due to an easy deformation of the phase by the surfaces.     

Vacuum birefringence in strong magnetic fields: (I) Photon polarization tensor with all the Landau levels

Photons propagating in strong magnetic fields are subject to a phenomenon called the “vacuum birefringence” where refractive indices of two physical modes both deviate from unity and are different from each other. We compute the vacuum polarization tensor of a photon in a static and homogeneous magnetic field by utilizing Schwinger’s proper-time method, and obtain a series representation as a result of double integrals analytically performed with respect to proper-time variables. The outcome is expressed in terms of an infinite sum of known functions which is plausibly interpreted as summation over all the Landau levels of fermions. Each contribution from infinitely many Landau levels yields a kinematical condition above which the contribution has an imaginary part. This indicates decay of a sufficiently energetic photon into a fermion–antifermion pair with corresponding Landau level indices. Since we do not resort to any approximation, our result is applicable to the calculation of refractive indices in the whole kinematical region of a photon momentum and in any magnitude of the external magnetic field.     

Spectroscopic studies and crystal structure of a dimeric Zn(II) complex with diethyl (pyridin-2-ylmethyl)phosphate

The crystal structure of [Zn₂(2-pmOpe)₂Cl₄] (2-pmOpe?=?diethyl (pyridin-2-ylmethyl)phosphate) was determined by X-ray-diffraction method. The compound was also characterized by IR, far-IR, 1H, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. In this compound, 2-pmOpe is a bidentate N,O-bridging ligand and Zn(II) are slightly distorted tetrahedral ZnNOCl₂. Zn(II) ions are doubly bridged by the 2-pmOpe ligands, resulting in a dinuclear species. The structure is stabilized by intermolecular C–H?···?O and C–H?···?Cl hydrogen bonds. The spectral properties are in agreement with the structural data.     

On the rate of convergence for central limit theorems of sojourn times of Gaussian fields

The aim of this paper is to control the rate of convergence for central limit theorems of sojourn times of Gaussian fields in both cases: the fixed and the moving level. Our main tools are the Malliavin calculus and the Stein method, developed by Nualart, Peccati and Nourdin. We also extend some results of Berman to the multidimensional case.     

Local structure of core/shell nanocrystalline particles produced by surfactant-assisted ball milling of Fe powder in paraffin

Surfactant-assisted ball milling of the Fe powder in paraffin has been used for fabrication of core–shell nanocrystalline particles. The local atomic structure of the bulk and surface layers of the mechanically milled particles has been studied using X-ray absorption spectroscopic techniques with synchrotron radiation from the DORIS storage ring at DESY, Hamburg. Regardless of milling environment composition, the as-prepared powders were shown to be characterized by a significant drop in the EXAFS signal intensity and coordination numbers of the Fe–Fe pairs due to the formation of nanocrystalline state in the particles. It has been shown that an addition of perfluorononanoic acid as a surfactant has a more prominent effect on the structure of the shell layers. The effect is revealed as an appearance of light element atoms (O, F, C) in the local atomic environment of the Fe atoms due to formation of oxide, carbide and adsorbed structures of different types in the particle shell.     

Photosensitivity,substituent and solvent-induced shifts in UV-visible absorption bands of naphthyl-ester liquid crystals: a comparative theoretical approach

The substituent- and solvent-induced shifts in UV-visible absorption bands of naphthyl-ester nematic liquid crystals, viz., 4-octylphenyl-6-octyloxy-2-naphthoate (NAPHE1) and 6-octyloxy-2-naphthylyl-4-octyloxybenzoate (NAPHE2), have been investigated using the DFT, CNDO/S and INDO/S methods. A correlation has been made between molecular charge distribution and phase stability based on Mulliken, Loewdin, AM1, PM3, MNDO, CNDO/S and INDO/S methods. The observed π→π* and n→π* electronic transitions have been reported. The substituent- and solvent-induced shifts in absorption bands, transition energies and energy gaps have been discussed. The photosensitivity of the molecules has been analysed based on these shifts. It has been observed that the substituent has a dominant role on both absorption maxima and energy band gap, whereas the solvent has a dominant role only on absorption maxima, and no effect has been observed on the energy gap. These shifts may provide beneficial consequences in determining the end use of compounds.