Effects of neutron skin on the excitation of isovector modes of neutron-rich nuclei

The existence of a neutron skin in neutron-rich nuclei is discussed in connection with the excitation of isovector dipole and quadrupole giant modes via isoscalar nuclear probes. In the case of large neutron excess, important contributions are obtained from the nuclear excitation, which may even become predominant according to proper kinematical conditions. At variance with the usual situation encountered in inelastic processes, constructive interference can be found between nuclear and Coulomb contributions.     

Fractional diffusion and reflective boundary condition

Scaling analysis of the magnitude series (volatile series) has been proposed recently to identify possible non-linear/multifractal signatures in the given data [Y. Ashkenazy, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 86 (2001) 1900; Y. Ashkenazy, et al. Physica A 323 (2003) 19; T. Kalisky, Y. Ashkenazy, S. Havlin. Phys. Rev. E 72 (2005) 011913]. In this article, correlations of volatile series generated from stationary first-order linear feedback process with Gaussian and non-Gaussian innovations are investigated. While volatile correlations corresponding to Gaussian innovations exhibited uncorrelated behavior across all time scales, those of non-Gaussian innovations showed significant deviation from uncorrelated behavior even at large time scales. The results presented raise the intriguing question whether non-Gaussian innovations can be sufficient to realize long-range volatile correlations.     

Modification of magnetic anisotropy in metallic glasses using high-energy ion beam irradiation

Heavy ion irradiation in the electronic stopping power region induces macroscopic dimensional change in metallic glasses and introduces magnetic anisotropy in some magnetic materials. The present work is on the irradiation study of ferromagnetic metallic glasses, where both dimensional change and modification of magnetic anisotropy are expected. Magnetic anisotropy was measured using Mössbauer spectroscopy of virgin and irradiated Fe₄₀Ni₄₀B₂₀ and Fe₄₀Ni₃₈Mo₄B₁₈ metallic glass ribbons. 90 MeV ¹²⁷I beam was used for the irradiations. Irradiation doses were 5×10¹³ and 7.5×10¹³ ions/cm². The relative intensity ratios D ₂₃ of the second and third lines of the Mössbauer spectra were measured to determine the magnetic anisotropy. The virgin samples of both the materials display in-plane magnetic anisotropy, i.e., the spins are oriented parallel to the ribbon plane. Irradiation is found to cause reduction in magnetic anisotropy. Near-complete randomization of magnetic moments is observed at high irradiation doses. Correlation is found between the residual stresses introduced by ion irradiation and the change in magnetic anisotropy.     

Oxyanion derivatives of cuprate superconductors superconducting 123 phosphates

While YSr₂Cu₃O₇ cannot be prepared under ambient conditions, partial substitution of the phosphate group for copper, as in YSr₂Cu_2.8(PO₄)_0.2O_y, stabilizes this phase in the orthorhombic structure, but the material is not superconducting. Superconductivity in YSr₂Cu_2.8(PO₄)_0.2O_y is obtained by increasing the hole concentration through partial substitution of Y by Ca, as in Y_0.7Ca_0.3Sr₂Cu_2.8(PO₄)_0.2O_y (T_c≈40 K). By incorporating the phosphate group in orthorhombic YBaSrCu₃O ₇, a stable tetragonal derivative of the formula YBaSrCu_2.8(PO₄)_0.2O_y (T_c≈ 47 K) has been prepared; the T_c increases to 70 K by partial substitution of Y by Ca as in Y_0.7Ca_0.3BaSrCu_2.8(PO₄)_0.2O_y.     

Moisture sorption, transport, and hydrolytic degradation in polylactide

Management of moisture penetration and hydrolytic degradation of polylactide (PLA) is extremely important during the manufacturing, shipping, storage, and end-use of PLA products. Moisture transport, crystallization, and degradation, in PLA have been measured through a variety of experimental techniques including size-exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. Quartz crystal microbalance and dynamic vapor sorption experiments have also been used to measure moisture sorption isotherms in PLA films with varying crystallinity. A surprising result is that, within the accuracy of the experiments, crystalline and amorphous PLA films exhibit identical sorption isotherms.     

Molecular aggregation in the ternary system deca glycerol dioleate/heptane/water

The phase diagram for the ternary system deca glycerol dioleate(DGD)/heptane/water was established at 25 °C. In this phase diagram it was seen that the reverse micellar solution phase extends in its area until the water content reaches 35–45 wt%, at which a liquid crystalline phase begins to appear. On the basis of the experimental results of specific conductivity, viscosity, etc. for the samples containing a definite amount of DGD (0,1 M), and varying relative amounts of heptane and water, the mechanism of the transition of reverse micellar structures to liquid crystalline phase is discussed.     

Stabilization of p-block organoelement terminal hydroxides, thiols, and selenols requires newer synthetic strategies

Metal hydroxides represent a very interesting and highly useful class of compounds that have been known to chemists for a very long time. While alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides (s‐block) are commonplace chemicals in terms of their abundance and their use in a chemical laboratory as bases, the interest in Brønsted acidic molecular terminal hydroxides of p‐block elements, such as aluminum and silicon, has been of recent origin, with respect to the variety of applications these compounds can offer both in materials science and catalysis. Moreover, these systems are environmentally friendly, relative to the metal halides, owing to their ‐OH functionality (resembling that of water). Design and conceptualization of the corresponding terminal thiols, selenols, and tellurols (M? SH, M? SeH, and M? TeH) offer even more challenging problems to synthetic inorganic chemists. This concept summarizes some of the recent strategies developed to stabilize these otherwise very unstable species. The successful preparation of a number of silicon trihydroxides a few years back resulted in the generation of several model compounds for metal–silicates. The recent synthesis of unusual aluminum compounds such as RAl(OH)₂, RAl(SH)₂, and RAl(SeH)₂ with terminal EH (E=O, Se, or Se) groups is likely to change the ways in which some of the well‐known catalytic conversions are being carried out. The need for very flexible and innovative synthetic strategies to achieve these unusual compounds is emphasized in this concept.     

Synthetic analogues of wedelolactone

The syntheses of 7′-methoxy- and 5′,7′,6-trimethoxy-coumarino(3′,4′:3,2)coumarones (IIa and IIb) are described.