Intermittency in the Slow Particle Emission During Hadron–Nucleus Interactions

The study of the angular distribution of slow particles during high energy hadron-nucleus interaction indicates that emission of slow particles takes place from a thermally non-equilibrated system. This evidence has come out from the presence of intermittency - a phenomenon that reveals a fractal structure and represents a self-similarity in the particle production process. Hence, this study highlights inadequacy of cascade-evaporation model and advocates the need of its refinement.     

A numerical study of time-dependent schr?dinger equation for multiphoton vibrational interaction of NO molecule, modelled as Morse oscillator, with intense far-infrared femtosecond lasers

For the NO molecule, modelled as a Morse oscillator, time-dependent (TD) nuclear Schr?dinger equation has been numerically solved for the multiphoton vibrational dynamics of the molecule under a far-infrared laser of wavelength 10503 nm, and four different intensities,I = 1 × 10⁸, 1 × 10¹³, 5 × 10¹⁶, and 5 × 10¹⁸ W cm⁻² respectively. Starting from the vibrational ground state at zero time, various TD quantities such as the norm, dissociation probability, potential energy curve and dipole moment are examined. Rich high-harmonics generation (HHG) spectra and above-threshold dissociation (ATD) spectra, due to the multiphoton interaction of vibrational motions with the laser field, and consequent elevation to the vibrational continuum, have been obtained and analysed. Dedicated to Professor C N R Rao on his 70th birthday An erratum to this article is available at .     

Fluctuation study of pionisation in ultrarelativistic nucleus-nucleus interaction

The scaled factorial moments and the multifractal moments have been investigated in differentη-intervals to study the dynamical fluctuation of pions produced in 200 AGeV³²S-Ag/Br interaction. In order to investigate the detail characteristics of intermittency behaviour, theF-moments are extracted up to the eighth order of moments in differentM-intervals. The analysis indicates a non-thermal phase transition and different regime of particle production during the hadronisation process.     

Study on kinetics of copolymerisation of styrene and maleic anhydride in dioxane

Kinetics of the copolymerisation of styrene and maleic anhydride have been studied in dioxane at 50° using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. Explanation of the kinetic behaviour has been attempted in terms of the participation in propagation of a charge-transfer complex between the monomers along with propagation via free monomers. It is found that the complex model is able to explain most features of the copolymerisation of these monomers. It has been possible to determine the constants δ₁, δ₂, k_1c/k₁₂, k_2c/k₂₁ and Φ where k_1c/k₁₂ and k_2c/k₂₁ represent the specific rate constants of reaction of a particular type of radical with a dissimilar monomer site of the complex relative to that with a dissimilar free monomer. They are reviewed on the basis of available literature data. The cross-termination factor Φ is found to play an important role in the present system. An approximate value of $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{t}}{}^{0.5}\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{p}}$ for maleic anhydride could also be found and this probably represents the first reported value for this constant from copolymerisation. The applicability of the generalised penultimate model is also briefly discussed.     

A one-pot synthesis of novel sugar derived 5,6-dihydro-quinazolino[4,3-b]quinazolin-8-ones: an entry towards highly functionalized sugar-heterocyclic hybrids

An efficient and practical one-pot method for the synthesis of novel diversified sugar derived dihydro-quinazolino[4,3-b]quinazolin-8-ones has been reported. Various protected sugar hemiacetals were used to synthesize the hybrid tetracyclic ring system. The one-step reductive transformation of 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-3H-quinazolin-4-one with different sugar hemiacetals furnished the desired tetracyclic product in good yields and with high purity.     

Single electron transfer events and dynamical heterogeneity in the small protein azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Monitoring the fluorescence of single-dye-labeled azurin molecules, we observed the reaction of azurin with hexacyanoferrate under controlled redox potential yielding data on the timing of individual (forward and backward) electron transfer (ET) events. Change-point analysis of the time traces demonstrates significant fluctuations of ET rates and of mid-point potential E₀. These fluctuations are a signature of dynamical heterogeneity, here observed on a 14 kDa protein, the smallest to date. By correlating changes in forward and backward reaction rates we found that 6% of the observed change events could be explained by a change in midpoint potential, while for 25% a change of the donor–acceptor coupling could explain the data. The remaining 69% are driven by variations in complex association constants or structural changes that cause forward and back ET rates to vary independently. Thus, the observed spread in individual ET rates could be related in a unique way to variations in molecular parameters. The relevance for the understanding of metabolic processes is briefly discussed.

Observing electron transfer events in individual azurin molecules, we relate the spread in transfer rates in a unique way to variations in molecular parameters.     

Pressure induced phase transitions in hydroquinone

High pressure behavior of alpha-hydroquinone (1,4-dihydroxybenzene) has been studied using Raman spectroscopy up to pressures of 19 GPa. Evolution of Raman spectra suggests two transitions around 3.3 and 12.0 GPa. The first transition appears to be associated with the lowering of crystal symmetry. Above 12.0 GPa, Raman bands in the internal modes region exhibit continuous broadening suggesting that the system is progressively evolving into a disordered state. This disorder is understood as arising due to distortion of the hydrogen-bonded cage across the second transition around 12 GPa.     

Phase associated with the single-particle density of many-electron systems

In excited states of atoms and molecules, as well as in time-dependent situations, the one-electron density no longer suffices to completely characterize the electronic state; in addition, one now requires information about the electronic phase or the current density. We show that, for a stationary electronic state, the continuity equation of quantum fluid dynamics represents a differential equation for the electronic phase, which must be solved subject to certain periodicity conditions. These periodicity conditions arise from the nodal topology of the wave function and give rise to quantized vortices of current. The consequences of writing an electronic “wave function” for a many-electron system directly in terms of the single-particle density and phase have been investigated. We have shown that such a procedure leads to the appearance of an “internal magnetic vector potential.” We also establish the connection between the electronic phase and the geometrical (“Berry”) phase accompanying the adiabatic transport of a quantal system around a closed loop in parameter space. This leads to a generalization of the current density concept and allows us to discuss the geometrical phase in terms of the circulation of this current in parameter space.     

Radiationless transitions in trivalent lanthanide ions embedded in solids

Radiationless transitions in lanthanide ions embedded in glassy and crystalline hosts have been briefly reviewed. The correlations of multiphonon relaxation rates with energy gaps, vibrational frequencies, temperatures and electronic symmetries have been discussed. The essence of various theories, such as Nth order methods, non-adiabatic Hamiltonian method, dynamic coupling model has also been presented.