Essay: The Quantum Gravitational Black Hole Is Neither Black Nor White

Understanding the end state of black hole evaporation, the microscopic origin of black hole entropy, the information loss paradox, and the nature of the singularity arising in gravitational collapse - these are outstanding challenges for any candidate quantum theory of gravity. Recently, a midisuperspace model of quantum gravitational collapse has been solved using a lattice regularization scheme. It is shown that the mass of an eternal black hole follows the Bekenstein spectrum, and a related argument provides a fairly accurate estimate of the entropy. The solution also describes a quantized mass-energy distribution around a central black hole, which in the WKB approximation, is precisely Hawking radiation. The leading quantum gravitational correction makes the spectrum non-thermal, thus providing a plausible resolution of the information loss problem.     

Photodegradation of a herbicide derivative, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid in aqueous suspensions of titanium dioxide

The photocatalytic degradation of a herbicide derivative, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D, 1), has been investigated in aqueous suspensions of titanium dioxide. The degradation was studied by monitoring the change in substrate concentration employing UV spectroscopic analysis and decrease in Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content as a function of irradiation time in the presence of UV light source. The degradation kinetics was investigated under a variety of conditions, such as different types of TiO₂, pH, catalyst and substrate concentrations. Higher photonic efficiencies were observed with Degussa P25 as compared with other photocatalysts. The degradation products were analysed by GC-MS and probable pathways for the formation of different products were proposed.     

Critical Behavior of Two Interacting Linear Polymer Chains in a Good Solvent

A model of two interacting (chemically different) linear polymer chains is solved exactly using the real-space renormalization group transformation on a family of Sierpinski gasket type fractals and on a truncated 4-simplex lattice. The members of the family of the Sierpinski gasket-type fractals are characterized by an integer scale factorb which runs from 2 to ∞. The Hausdorff dimensiond _F of these fractals tends to 2 from below asb → ∞. We calculate the contact exponenty for the transition from the State of segregation to a State in which the two chains are entangled forb = 2-5. Using arguments based on the finite-size scaling theory, we show that forb→∞, y = 2 - v(b) d _F, wherev is the end-toend distance exponent of a chain. For a truncated 4-simplex lattice it is shown that the system of two chains either remains in a State in which these chains are intermingled in such a way that they cannot be told apart, in the sense that the chemical difference between the polymer chains completely drop out of the thermodynamics of the system, or in a State in which they are either zipped or entangled. We show the region of existence of these different phases separated by tricritical lines. The value of the contact exponenty is calculated at the tricritical points.     

Influence of exciton-exciton interaction with spin paired charge carriers and exciton-lattice interaction on the surface properties of crystalline solids

Applying tight-binding approximation and spin pairing of like charge carriers in a pair of excitons created in a lattice, the possibility of forming a bound exciton-exciton state is studied. It is found that, provided there exists strong exciton-lattice interaction, such a bound state may be formed and its energy may lie within the valence band deforming the material into a crystalline solid with no energy gap. Lowering of the energy is calculated in naphthalene and anthracene crystals where some experimental results are known. The excess energy released after the formation of such bound state can be adequate, depending on the material, to desorb neutral atoms or eject of electrons from surfaces.     

Synchronized whistlers recorded at Varanasi

Some interesting events of synchronized whistlers recorded at low latitude station Varanasi during magnetic storm period of the year 1977 are presented. The dynamic spectrum analysis shows that the component whistlers are Eckersley whistlers having dispersion 10 s^1/2 and 30 s^1/2. An attempt has been made to explain the dynamic spectra using lightning discharge generated from magnetospheric sources     

13C and 1H NMR analysis of the nitration products of 2-amino-4-oxo-(3H)-5-trifluoromethylquinazoline and 2-amino-4-oxo-(3H)-5-fluoroquinazoline

Nitration of 2-amino-4-oxo-(3H)-5-trifluoromethylquinazoline is shown to occur exclusively at C⁶ as determined from an analysis of long range ¹H and ¹⁹F scalar couplings to ring carbons. Nitration of 2-amino-4-oxo-(3H)-5-fluoroquinazoline is found to occur both at C⁶ and C⁸ as evident from an analysis of the ¹⁹F and ¹H couplings of the ring protons.     

Charge plate technique in recoil study: Evidence for collection of recoil charged species from solid targets on metal electrodes

The occurrence of charge on recoil⁵⁶Mn produced by the (n,γ) reaction in polycrystalline potassium permanganate has been examined using the ‘charge plate technique’. From considerations of capture gamma ray decay schemes and internal conversion it appears that, in a condensed medium, the recoil atom develops charge after losing much of its initial kinetic energy which allows collection on charged electrodes. Preliminary findings were presented at the International Symposium on Radiochemistry and Radiation Chemistry, RC-41 BARC, Bombay, Feb. 4–6 (1991).     

Dielectric properties of KDP-type ferroelectric crystals in the presence of external electric field

Considering external electric field as well as third- and fourth-order phonon anharmonic interaction terms in the pseudospin-lattice coupled mode (PLCM) model Hamiltonian for KDP-type ferroelectrics, expressions for field-dependent shift, width, renormalized soft mode frequency, Curie temperature, dielectric constant and dielectric loss are evaluated. For the calculation, method of statistical double-time temperature-dependent Green’s function has been used. By fitting model values of physical quantities, temperature and electric field dependences of soft mode frequency, dielectric constant and loss have been calculated which compare well with experimental results of Baumgartner [8] and Choi and Lockwood [9]. Both dielectric constant and loss decrease with electric field.