Crystal structures of two ancylite modifications

The crystal structures of two ancylite specimens from Khibiny massif (the Kola Peninsula, Russia)—ancylite-(Ce) from alkali hydrothermalites (Sr_1.01Ca_0.02Ba_0.01)_Σ1.04(Ce_0.52La_0.28Nd_0.11Pr_0.04 Sm_0.01)_Σ0.96(CO₃)₂(OH_0.83F_0.13)_Σ0.96 · 0.9H₂O and ancylite-(Ce) from carbonatites—have (Sr_0.80Ca_0.05Ba_0.01)_Σ0.86(Ce_0.62La_0.40Nd_0.09Pr_0.03) _Σ1.14(CO₃)₂(OH_0.99F_0.15)_Σ1.14 · 1.0H₂O been refined by the Rietveld method. A focusing STOE-STADIP diffractometer with a bent Ge(111) primary monochromator was used (λ MoK _{α 1} radiation, 2.16° < 2θ < 54.98°; reflection number 237–437). All the computations for ancylite from alkali hydrothermalites were performed within the sp. gr. Pmc2₁, a = 5.0634(1) Å, b = 8.5898(1) Å, c = 7.2781(1) Å, V = 316.55(1) ų, R _wp = 1.90; the computations for ancylite from carbonatites were performed within the sp. gr. Pmcn, a = 5.0577(1) Å, b = 8.5665(2) Å, c = 7.3151(2) Å, V = 316.94(1) ų, R _wp = 2.38 in the anisotropic approximation of thermal vibrations of cations and oxygen atoms.     

Nuclear equation of state and compression modes

The nuclear matter (N = Z and no Coulomb interaction) incompressibility coefficient, K _nm , which is directly related to the curvature of the nuclear matter equation of state, is a very important physical quantity in the study of properties of nuclei, supernova collapse, neutron stars and heavy-ion collisions. We review the current status of K _nm and the experimental and theoretical methods used to determine the value of K _nm from the excitation crosssections σ(E) and the transition strength distributions S(E) of compression modes in nuclei. In particular, we will consider the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) and the isoscalar giant dipole resonance (ISGDR) and provide a simple explanation to the long standing problem of the conflicting results obtained for K _nm , deduced from experimental data on excitation cross sections for the ISGMR and data for the ISGDR.     

Laser writing techniques for photomask fabrication using a femtosecond laser

Photomasks are the backbone of microfabrication industries. Currently they are fabricated by a lithographic process, which is very expensive and time consuming since it is a multi-step process. These issues can be addressed by fabricating photomasks by direct femtosecond laser writing, which is a single-step process and comparatively cheaper and faster than lithography. In this paper we discuss our investigations on the effect of two types of laser writing techniques, namely front- and rear-side laser writing, with regard to the feature size and the edge quality of a feature. It is proved conclusively that for the patterning of masks, front-side laser writing is a better technique than rear-side laser writing with regard to smaller feature size and better edge quality. Moreover the energy required for front-side laser writing is considerably lower than that for rear-side laser writing. Received: 22 May 2001 / Accepted: 14 September 2001 / Published online: 17 October 2001     

A molecular dynamics study of the microstructure of the liquid-gas interphase surface

Numerical experiments showed that the number-of-bonds distribution of particles that form a fairly large molten argon-like cluster was bimodal. This result was interpreted as a consequence of the formation of two “phases, ” namely, particles inside the cluster and a monolayer of particles lying above the others. Particle chains were shown to be formed near the surface of the cluster. Splitting off of separate particles from them was the most probable mechanism of vaporization. Model concepts that described the dependences observed in numerical experiments were developed.     

Tablet disintegration monitored by magnetic resonance imaging

The disintegration of bromhexin tablets was monitored by magnetic resonance imaging. The fast imaging method FLASH with spoiling gradients was used to obtain images of the tablets in short time intervals. The rate of the disintegration depends on the preparation method, kind and percentage of the carrier (polyethylene glycol, lactose). Solid dispersion with slow evaporation of solvent yields materials with decreased dissolution rate. Increasing molecular mass of polyethylene glycol and its percentage content also hampers disintegration.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy of the neutron-rich Ni region through heavy-ion deep-inelastic collisions

Nuclei in the neutron-rich Ni region have been studied by γ-ray spectroscopy. Gamma-rays emitted from isomers, with T _1/2 > 1 ns, produced in heavy-ion deep-inelastic collisions were measured with an isomer-scope. The nuclear structure of the doubly magic ⁶⁸Ni and its neighbor ^69,71Cu is discussed on the basis of the shell model. Future experiments for more neutron-rich Ni nuclei are also viewed. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

Estimation of dynamic properties of attractors observed in hollow copper electrode atmospheric pressure arc plasma system

Understanding of the basic nature of arc root fluctuation is still one of the unsolved problems in thermal arc plasma physics. It has direct impact on myriads of thermal plasma applications being implemented at present. Recently, chaotic nature of arc root behavior has been reported through the analysis of voltages, acoustic and optical signals which are generated from a hollow copper electrode arc plasma torch. In this paper we present details of computations involved in the estimation process of various dynamic properties and show how they reflect chaotic behavior of arc root in the system.     

Shell model interaction between proton holes and between proton holes and neutron particles around 208Pb

An effective residual interaction between particles and holes for shell model calculations around ²⁰⁸Pb, derived from the interaction between free nucleons, is compared with the measured properties of proton-hole neutron states in ²⁰⁸Tl and the interaction between proton holes is adjusted to newly measured level energies in ²⁰⁶Hg. These interaction elements are particularly relevant for neutron-rich nuclei. The adjustment of two mixing elements reproduces the known γ-decay data in ²⁰⁸Tl. Received: 2 April 2002 / Accepted: 2 May 2002     

Crystal structure and magnetic ordering of RNi Si compounds

The element distributions and the magnetic ordering behaviour of compounds RNi₁₀Si₂ (R = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) have been studied by neutron powder diffraction down to temperatures of 1.6 K. The compounds crystallize in an ordered variant of the ThMn₁₂ structure type in the tetragonal space group P4/nmm. An ordered 1:1 distribution of Ni and Si on sites 4d and 4e, respectively, corresponds to a modulation vector [0, 0, 1] with respect to the space group I4/mmm of the ThMn₁₂ structure. TbNi₁₀Si₂ orders antiferromagnetically below T _N = 4.5 K with a magnetic propagation vector of [0, 0, 1/2]. The magnetic Tb moments, 8.97(2) /Tb atom at 1.6 K, are aligned along the c-axis. The Ni sites in TbNi₁₀Si₂ do not carry any ordered magnetic moments. The compounds with R = Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm are paramagnetic down to 1.6 K and 3.0 K, respectively. Received 10 July 2002 / Received in final form 12 September 2002 Published online 29 October 2002