The luminescence of α- and β-LaNb3O9

The luminescence of undoped and rare-earth-doped LaNb₃O₉ is reported. The two modifications (α and β) show striking differences. Whereas undoped β-LaNb₃O₉ does not luminesce at all (down to 4.2 K), α-LaNb₃O₉ emits efficiently with a quenching temperature of 250 K. Energy transfer from niobate to rare-earth dopants is observed for the α, but not for the β modification. The rare-earth dopant emission consists of sharp lines for the α modification, but is considerably broadened for the β modification. The luminescence properties are discussed in terms of the crystal structure. In addition results for α-NbPO₅ will be given.     

The connection of the nuclear “Coriolis” force with classical mechanics

The relation between the socalled Coriolis couplingI · j, operating in rotating nuclei, and the classical Coriolis force is discussed. The system forces acting in the cranking model for non-uniform rotation and in the rotator-particle model are examined. Differences with the molecular Coriolis coupling are indicated.     

Some Isoperimetric Inequalities in Electrochemistry and Hele Shaw Flows

Isoperimetric inequalities are applied to a moving-boundaryproblem for doubly-connected domains. This problem occurs forexample in electrochemistry, in which case the domains in questionare the electrolyte of an electrolytic cell. The two electrodessurrounding the electrolyte are assumed to grow or dissolve,at different rates in general, by electrochemical reaction.We obtain optimal estimates showing, for example, that the leastchange in volume of each electrode always occurs in sphericalsymmetry.     

The luminescence of trigonal bipyramidal NbO5−5 and TaO5−5 and a comparison with other niobates and tantalates

The luminescence of La₃NbO₄Cl₆ with trigonal bipyramidal NbO^5?₅ groups is reported. The Nb⁵⁺ coordination does not seem to influence the niobate emission. The luminescence and Raman spectrum of La₃TaO₄Cl₆ are also reported. Finally, differences in luminescence of the M and M′ modifications of YTaO₄ are discussed.