Self-induced transparency in diblock copolymer dispersions

We report on the versatile effect of weak red laser light impinging on diblock copolymer [poly(isoprene-b-styrene)] dispersions in two selective solvents for each block. In the strongly scattering but transparent micellar solutions in hexane (a good solvent for polyisoprene), higher refractive index copolymer-rich fibers were formed. In the turbid dispersions of the same copolymer in ethyl acetate (a good solvent for polystyrene), the effect of self-induced transparency was observed. A two-step patterning mechanism caused the generation of a transparent microchannel, increasing light transmission. The analogy between the current effect and that observed in homopolymer polyisoprene solutions in different solvents is discussed toward an understanding of the unanticipated light-soft-matter interaction.     

4‐Benzoyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazine‐2‐carbonitrile: refinement using a multipolar atom model

The structural model for the title compound, C₁₆H₁₂N₂O₂, was refined using a multipolar atom model transferred from an experimental electron‐density database. The refinement showed some improvements of crystallographic statistical indices when compared with a conventional spherical neutral‐atom refinement. The title compound adopts a half‐chair conformation. The amide N atom lies almost in the plane defined by the three neighbouring C atoms. In the crystal structure, molecules are linked by weak intermolecular C—H...O and C—H...π hydrogen bonds.     

State of the art of the sphere method, a unique characterization technique for non-linear crystals

We report the sphere method as a unique characterization technique for the complete study of non-linear optical properties for frequency conversion in new materials belonging to the uniaxial or biaxial optical class. It relies on the use of a single crystal with millimetre dimensions cut as a sphere, combined with a tuneable laser source. With the sphere method we perform direct measurements of phase-matching angles and associated conversion efficiencies for second harmonic, sum- and difference-frequency generation. Furthermore, we follow the orientation of the dielectric frame as a function of the wavelength for monoclinic and triclinic crystals. It also allows the determination of the magnitude of the principal refractive indices in biaxial crystals based on the study of the double refraction affect at the exit of a sphere. By combining the analysis of all these data simultaneously, we determine Sellmeier equations reliable over the whole transparency domain and we are able to get the non-zero elements of the second-order susceptibility tensor of uniaxial or biaxial crystals. Finally, the sphere method is completely self-sufficient for the study of biaxial crystals.     

Retractions onto series-parallel posets

The poset retraction problem for a poset P is whether a given poset Q containing P as a subposet admits a retraction onto P, that is, whether there is a homomorphism from Q onto P which fixes every element of P. We study this problem for finite series-parallel posets P. We present equivalent combinatorial, algebraic, and topological charaterisations of posets for which the problem is tractable, and, for such a poset P, we describe posets admitting a retraction onto P.     

Chemistry and electrochemistry of lithium iron phosphate

We report here several synthesis routes and their respective drawbacks/advantages for the preparation of pure LiFePO₄. We demonstrate the possibility of using LiFePO₄ for electrochemical applications, with respect that an effective carbon coating was realized onto the smallest particles. Actually, to bypass the weak ionic conductivity of lithium iron phosphate, the thinnest would be the particles; the highest would be the performance under severe electrochemical conditions.     

An integro-differential equation model for alignment and orientational aggregation

We study an integro-differential equation modeling angular alignment of interacting bundles of cells or filaments. A bifurcation analysis of the related stationary problem was done by Geigant and Stoll in [E. Geigant, M. Stoll, Bifurcation analysis of an orientational aggregation model, J. Math. Biol. 46 (6) (2003) 537-563]. Here we analyze the time-dependent problem and prove that the type of alignment (one- or multi-directional) depends on the initial distribution, the interaction potential, and the preferred optimal orientation of the bundles of cells or filaments. Our main technical tool is the analysis of the evolution of suitable functionals for the cell density, which allows to also specify the direction(s) where the final alignment takes place.     

Adsorption equilibria of binary ethylmercaptan/hydrocarbon mixtures on a NaX zeolite

We present here coadsorption data of ethylmercaptan with n-heptane or toluene on NaX at 298 K in the aim to use this adsorbent for removing mercaptans from natural gas. Results show that NaX has an adsorption affinity for sulphur compound strong enough to perform a deep desulphurization. NaX adsorbs preferentially ethylmercaptan over a large domain of pore filling. A displacement of n-heptane by ethylmercaptan is even observed. However, toluene becomes preferentially adsorbed at high filling. The dependence of filling and composition on selectivities and failed prediction of coadsorption equilibria by the IAS Theory indicate that the adsorbed mixture behaves as a non-ideal solution. Calorimetric measurements of coadsorption heats show that the coadsorption process is not governed by enthalpic effects but by entropic effects consecutive to steric hindrance of molecules in confined spaces.     

Collisions of Particles in Locally AdS Spacetimes II Moduli of Globally Hyperbolic Spaces

We investigate globally hyperbolic 3-dimensional AdS manifolds containing “particles”, i.e., cone singularities of angles less than 2π along a time-like graph Γ. To each such space (equipped with a time-like vector field satisfying some additional properties) we associate a graph and a finite family of pairs of hyperbolic surfaces with cone singularities. We show that this data is sufficient to recover the space locally (i.e., in the neighborhood of a fixed metric). This is a partial extension of a result of Mess for non-singular globally hyperbolic AdS manifolds.     

Kinetic Formulation for Systems of Two¶Conservation Laws and Elastodynamics

For scalar conservation laws, the kinetic formulation makes it possible to generate all the entropies from a simple kernel. We show how this concept replaces and simplifies greatly the concept of Young measures, avoiding the difficulties encountered when working in L ^p . The general construction of the two kinetic functions that generate the entropies of 2 × 2 strictly hyperbolic systems is also developed here. We show that it amounts to building a “universal” entropy, i.e., one that can be truncated by a “kinetic value” along Riemann invariants. For elastodynamics, this construction can be completed and specialized using the additional Galilean invariance. This allows a full characterization of convex entropies. It yields a kinetic formulation consisting of two semi-kinetic equations which, as usual, are equivalent to the infinite family of all the entropy inequalities. Accepted May 29, 2000?Published online November 16, 2000