Photothermal deflection measurement of effective gas diffusion coefficient of a porous medium

In this work, an effective gas diffusion coefficient of a porous medium was measured using photothermal deflection (PD) technique. An in-house made Loschmidt diffusion cell with a photothermal-deflection probe were employed to measure the effective gas diffusion coefficient of a gas diffusion layer (GDL) with a porosity ε ≈ 0.7. The concentration evolutions of CO₂ in O₂ with and without the GDL were measured, respectively, using a transverse normal PD technique. The concentration variations were used to deduce the gas diffusion coefficients in the presence and absence of the GDL by solving mass diffusion equations. The effective gas diffusion coefficient of the GDL was calculated from the diffusion coefficients using a model of an equivalent resistance to diffusion and found to be 4.39 × 10^-6 m²s^-1, demonstrating that PD technique can be employed to determine the effective gas diffusion coefficient of a porous medium.     

Oxidation of GaN{0001}-11 surfaces at room temperature

The interaction of unexcited oxygen molecules with clean GaN{0001}-11 surfaces was investigated using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). Clean surfaces were prepared by a HF dip followed either by desorption of Ga films deposited at room temperature or by nitrogen-ion bombardment and annealing. During exposures in the range from 0.3 up to 10¹⁵ L-O₂ any excitations of the oxygen were avoided. Oxygen coverages determined from the XPS and the AES data differ by a factor of two. The larger XPS-derived coverages are considered to be more reliable since the AES signals decayed during data recording. The oxygen uptake takes place in two consecutive stages. The first one is identified as dissociative chemisorption and the second one is tentatively attributed to field-assisted diffusion by the Mott-Cabrera mechanism. The dissociative chemisorption is characterized by an initial sticking coefficient of and a saturation coverage of monolayers that is reached after exposures of 10³ L-O₂. The second mechanism sets in at exposures to 10⁸ L-O₂ but reaches no saturation even with the largest doses applied. Received 4 September 1998 and Received in final form 6 November 1998     

Preliminary studies of the Raman spectra of \hbox {Ag}_{2}\hbox {Te}\hbox { and }\hbox {Ag}_{5}\hbox {Te}_{3}

The theoretical calculations indicated that the monoclinic low-temperature phase of silver telluride $(\upbeta \hbox {-Ag}_{2}\hbox {Te})$ is a new binary topological insulator with highly anisotropic single Dirac cone surface. We obtained $\upbeta \hbox {-Ag}_{2}\hbox {Te}$ crystal ingots containing few grains by the Bridgman method. We also deposited thin films of tellurium, $\hbox {Ag}_{5}\hbox {Te}_{3}\hbox { and }(\hbox {Te+Ag}_{5}\hbox {Te}_{3})$ by thermal evaporation method. The Raman spectra of $\upbeta \hbox {-Ag}_{2}\hbox {Te}$ , tellurium and $\hbox {Ag}_{5}\hbox {Te}_{3}$ were measured at three excitation wave lengths: 633, 515 and 488 nm. The Raman active modes of $\upbeta \hbox {-Ag}_{2}\hbox {Te}$ , tellurium and $\hbox {Ag}_{5}\hbox {Te}_{3}$ are situated at frequencies below 300  $\hbox {cm}^{-1}$ while vibrations of other phases appear at higher frequencies.     

Measurement of diffusion coefficients in polystyrene using xenon-129 NMR

A sample of polystyrene beads, 18 μm in diameter, has been sealed in an NMR tube under 10 atm of xenon gas. Two dimensional,¹²⁹Xe NMR spectra show cross peaks between the resonances corresponding to xenon in the free gas and the sorbed state, indicating that appreciable exchange occurs during the mixing time of the NMR experiment. Selective saturation of the free gas resonance attenuates the integrated intensity of the sorbed xenon resonance as a function of saturation time, thus allowing the accurate measurement of the exchange rates between the gas and the sorbed states. A model has been developed using a slightly modified form of Crank’s treatment of diffusion in a sphere which allows for the accurate determination of the diffusion coefficient for xenon in the sorbed state. The diffusion coefficient for xenon in polystyrene at 25°C is determined to be 2.9·10^?9 cm²/s.     

Ortho- to Para-Hydrogen Conversion and Molecular Diffusion in the High Pressure Compound Ar(H 2 ) 2

Ortho-para hydrogen conversion kinetics has been measured in the stoichiometric Ar(H 2 ) 2 compound, at pressures from 3 to 35 GPa, from the intensity of the rotational Raman transitions. The conversion rate increases with pressure by almost a factor 50 in the investigated pressure range. A comparison is made with pure hydrogen, where a similar increase is also observed. For long times and low ortho concentration, the conversion kinetic deviates from the law derived for uniform distribution of the ortho-hydrogen molecules in the crystal. The magnitude of this effect, due to the limited diffusion rate of the hydrogen molecules in the crystal, allows the measurement of the diffusion coefficient.     

On the existence of steady-state gaseous microgravity spherical diffusion flames in the presence of radiation heat loss

Whether steady-state gaseous microgravity spherical diffusion exist in the presence of radiation heat loss is an important fundamental question and has important implications for spacecraft fire safety. In this work, experiments aboard the International Space Station and a transient numerical model are used to investigate the existence of steady-state microgravity spherical diffusion flames. Gaseous spherical diffusion flames stabilized on a porous spherical burner are employed in normal (i.e., fuel flowing into an ambient oxidizer) and inverse (i.e., oxidizer flowing into an ambient fuel) flame configurations. The fuel is ethylene and the oxidizer oxygen, both diluted with nitrogen. The flow rate of the reactant gas from the burner is held constant. It is found that steady-state gaseous microgravity spherical diffusion flames can exist in the presence of radiation heat loss, provided that the steady-state flame size is less than the flame size for radiative extinction, and the flame develops fast enough that radiation heat loss does not drop the flame temperature below the critical temperature for radiative extinction (1130 K). A simple model is provided that allows for the identification of initial conditions that can lead to steady-state spherical diffusion flames. In the spherical, infinite domain configuration, the characteristic time for the diffusion-controlled system to effectively reach steady-state is found to be on the order of 100,000 s. Despite a narrow range of attainable conditions, flames that exhibit steady-state behavior are observed aboard the ISS for up to 870 s, even with the constraint of a finite boundary. Steady-state flames are simulated using the numerical model for over 100,000 s.     

Modules over\mathfrak{U}_q (\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}_2 )

The restricted quantum universal enveloping algebra decomposes in a canonical way into a direct sum of indecomposable left (or right) ideals. They are useful for determining the direct summands which occur in the tensor product of two simple . The indecomposable finite-dimensional are classified and located in the Auslander-Reiten quiver.     

The photoassociative spectroscopy, photoassociative molecule formation, and trapping of ultracold \mathsf{^{39}K^{85}Rb}

We have observed the photoassociative spectra of colliding ultracold ³⁹K and ⁸⁵Rb atoms to produce KRb* in all eight bound electronic states correlating with the ³⁹K (4s) + ⁸⁵Rb(5p _1/2 and 5p _3/2) asymptotes. These electronically excited KRb* ultracold molecules are detected after their radiative decay to the metastable triplet (a state and (in some cases) the singlet (X ground state. The triplet (a ultracold molecules are detected by two-photon ionization at 602.5 nm to form KRb ⁺ , followed by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. We are able to assign a majority of the spectrum to three states (2(0 ⁺ ), 2(0^-), 2(1)) in a lower triad of states with similar C ₆ values correlating to the K(4s) + Rb (5p _1/2) asymptote; and to five states in an upper triad of three states (3(0 ⁺ ), 3(0^-), 3(1)) and a dyad of two states (4(1), 1(2)), with one set of similar C ₆ values within the upper triad and a different set of similar C ₆ values within the dyad. We are also able to make connection with the short-range spectra of Kasahara et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 111, 8857 (1999)], identifying three of our levels as v = 61, 62 and 63 of the 1 4(1) state they observed. We also argue that ultracold photoassociation to levels between the K(4s) + Rb (5p _3/2) and K(4s) + Rb (5p _1/2) asymptotes may be weakly or strongly predissociated and therefore difficult to observe by ionization of a (or X molecules; we do know from Kasahara et al. that levels of the 1 4(1) and 2 5(1) states in the intra-asymptote region are predissociated. A small fraction ( 1/3) of the triplet (a ultracold molecules formed are trapped in the weak magnetic field of our magneto-optical trap (MOT).Received: 22 September 2004, Published online: 23 November 2004PACS: 33.20.Fb Raman and Rayleigh spectra (including optical scattering) - 34.20.Cf Interatomic potentials and forces - 33.80.Ps Optical cooling of molecules; trapping     

The onset of thermomagnetic convection in stratified ferrofluids

A non-uniform magnetic field causes an inhomogeneous distribution of magnetic grains in colloidal magnetics (so-called ferrofluids). The rate of concentration equilibrium settling is very low owing to the smallness of the particle diffusion coefficient. Therefore, if the equilibrium does not have enough time to settle, a ferrofluid behaves like a pure fluid, so that stationary convection occurs and no other. In the opposite case, that is when some non-uniform concentration profile has been formed, an oscillatory instability arises. The latter can be effectively excited under the action of a low-amplitude time-periodic magnetic field of an appropriate frequency.     

Lower concentration limit of carbon filtration combustion

For mixtures of carbon materials and an inert filler, dependences of the characteristics of the filtration combustion wave on the gaseous oxidizer supply rate at a fuel content in the mixture of less than 7 wt % were obtained. The existence of a lower concentration limit for a steady-state filtration combustion wave was established. It was demonstrated that at a given intensity of heat loss, the concentration limits are determined by the reactivity of the carbon material and the oxidizer supply rate. At the effective coefficient of heat loss α = 8 W/(m² K), effective conductivity of mixture material λ = 2 W/(m K), and air supply rate G = 0.1 m/s, the lowest fraction of carbon in the mixture at which combustion is still possible was 4.5 wt % for carbon-carbon composite, 2.5 wt % for activated birch coal, and 2.0 wt % for birch coal, the most reactive kind of carbon.     

Radiation enhanced diffusion in UO2 and (U,Pu)O2

Abstract

The radiation enhanced diffusion (coefficient D*) of U-233 and Pu-238 in UO₂ and (U, Pu)O₂ with 2.5 and 15% Pu was measured during fission in a nuclear reactor. Normal diffusion sandwiches with a thin tracer layer were used. A radio-frequency furnace allowed the temperatures to be varied between 130 and 1400°. Neutron fluxes (7 × 10¹² to 1.2 × 10¹⁴ n cm^?2 s^?1) and irradiation times (56 to 334 h) were also varied to cover ranges of fission rates [Fdot] between 7× 10¹¹ and 6.4 × 10¹³ f cm^?3 s^?1 and of doses F between 4.2 × 10¹⁷ and 3.1 × 10¹⁹ f cm³. Below ～1000°, D* was completely athermal and increased linearly with [Fdot]. It was described by D* = A[Fdot] with A = 1.2× 10^?29cm⁵. A possible temperature dependence was indicated between ～1000and 1200°. The results are explained in terms of thermal and pressure effects of fission spikes and are related with other studies of radiation damage as well as with technologically interesting processes occurring in UO₂ during irradiation.     

Kinetics of the b{su1}Σ{sk{su\s+}/{in{itg}}→\ga{su1}\gD{in{itg}} fluorescence of molecular oxygen in solutionsfluorescence of molecular oxygen in solutions

The kinetics of sensitized fluorescence of O₂ has been recorded for the first time in solutions at transition from the second singlet excited state b{su1}Σ{sk{su\s+}/{in{itg}} to the first excited state \ga{su1}\gD{in{itg}} (b→a. We measured the quantum yield of the b→a-fluorescence at γ≈1.93 μm and assessed its probability with respect to the a→ X-phosphorescence at 1.27 μm. We show that the lifetime of the b→a-fluorescence (105 nsec for CCl₄ and 140 nsec for CS₂) becomes much shorter on addition of solvents with large frequencies of intramolecular vibrations. The measured radiative velocity constant of the b→a-transition K_b→a is by three orders of magnitude larger than for the phosphorescence (≈1.27 μm) of the a→X-transition from the first singlet to the ground triplet state. The method of recording IR fluorescence is promising for determining O₂ in solutions and biosystems. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 1, pp 5–8, January–February, 1998.     

Fast fission mechanism and duality of the diffusion process

The reaction of ²³⁸U with ¹²C was studied radiochemically with the purpose of elucidating fast fission characteristics. From the difference in the mass distribution below and above the critical energy where fast fission is predicted to set in, fast fission component was extracted in far-asymmetric mass region and interpreted as the mass diffusion following the Fokker-Planck equation. Anomalous charge dispersion widths in the corresponding mass region and a sudden increase of the whole mass distribution width at the critical energy were also observed to support the above result. The reaction time of fast fission deduced from the width and position of the mass distribution was 5×10⁻²¹s as well by taking into account the effect of neutron emission during the diffusion process, which turned out to be more than one order of magnitude longer than the corresponding life time of typical deep inelastic scattering but substantially short compared to ordinary fusion-fission life time. Evaluation of the driving potential for mass drift required dinuclear configuration be of an elongated or deformed form for fast fission in contrast to a more compact form for the deep-inelastic process. Received: 11 November 1997     

Spin-wave excitations in finite chain segments of the diluted one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet CsM{n_{1 - x}}M{g_x}B{r_3}

The inelastic neutron scattering technique was employed to study the magnetic excitation spectra in the diluted one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet CsMn_1-xMg_xBr₃ (x =0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50). The spectral response is interpreted in terms of spin-wave excitations in finite chain segments of Mn²⁺ ions, which are found to exist as long as the chain length exceeds twice the wavelength of the spin excitation. This limit determines the crossover into the mesoscopic regime. Received 31 December 1999     

纳米CaF2和纳米Ca0.75La0.25F2.25的结构对离子电导率的影响

用惰性气体蒸发和真空原位加压方法制备了两种具有清洁界面的纳米离子固体CaF₂(平均粒度为16nm)和Ca_0.75La_0.25F_2.25(平均粒度为11nm),在31℃至530℃详细测量了其复阻抗谱。结果表明:1)在300—530℃两种纳米离子导体都很好地遵从Arrhenius方程式;2)纳米CaF₂的离子电导率比多晶CaF₂约高1个数量级、比单晶CaF₂     

Investigation of electrochromic tungsten trioxide thin films prepared by the ILGAR method

An ion layer gas reaction dip coating process for the deposition of tungsten trioxide has been developed. Thin films of electrochromic tungsten trioxide with thicknesses of up to 150 nm were prepared. The films were found to be microcrystalline by X-ray diffraction analysis. The growth rate of the films was measured by profilometry. The chemical diffusion coefficient of lithium was investigated as a function of the concentration of lithium by the electrochemical galvanostatic intermittent titration technique. The chemical diffusion coefficient was found to increase slightly from 7×10⁻¹² to 3×10⁻¹ cm²/s, with x increasing from 0.2 to 0.8 in Li _x WO₃.     

A stable and easily sintering {\text{BaCe}}_{0.7} {\text{Sn}}_{0.1} {\text{Gd}}_{0.2} {\text{O}}_{3 - \delta } electrolyte for solid oxide fuel cells

${\text{BaCe}}_{0.7} {\text{Sn}}_{0.1} {\text{Gd}}_{0.2} {\text{O}}_{3 - \sigma } $ (BCSG) and ${\text{BaCe}}_{0.8} {\text{Gd}}_{0.2} {\text{O}}_{3 - \sigma } $ (BCG) powders were prepared by solid-state reaction method. After exposure in 5% CO₂?+?5% H₂O?+?90% N₂ at 500 °C for 5 h, the BCSG powders were hardly affected while the BCG powders decomposed into CeO₂ and BaCO₃ phases. Moreover, the relative density of BCSG reaches 97%, while the BCG just displays 91% after sintering at 1,400 °C. The BCSG displays a conductivity of 0.01 S/cm at 700 °C in humid hydrogen, which is quite close to 0.012 S/cm for BCG. A fuel cell with BCSG exhibits 1.02 V for open circuit voltage, 420 mW/cm² for peak performance and 0.23 Ω cm² for interfacial resistance at 700 °C, respectively.     

Manifestations of anomalous glue: Light-mass exotic mesons and g_{\eta'\mathrm{NN} }

The light-mass exotics with J ^PC = 1^{- +} observed at BNL and CERN may have a simple explanation as dynamically generated resonances in rescattering in the final-state interaction. This dynamics is mediated by the same anomalous glue which also generates the large mass of the . OZI-violating processes are also potentially important to production in proton-proton collisions close to threshold.Received: 30 September 2002, Published online: 22 October 2003PACS: 12.39.Mk Glueball and nonstandard multi-quark/gluon states - 13.75.Lb Meson-meson interactions - 13.75.Cs Nucleon-nucleon interactions (including antinucleons, deuterons, etc.)     

A domain decomposition method for two-phase transport model in the cathode of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Using Kirchhoff transformation, we develop a Dirichlet–Neumann alternating iterative domain decomposition method for a 2D steady-state two-phase model for the cathode of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) which contains a channel and a gas diffusion layer (GDL). This two-phase PEFC model is represented by a nonlinear coupled system which typically includes a modified Navier–Stokes equation with Darcy’s drag as an additional source term of the momentum equation, and a convection–diffusion equation for the water concentration with discontinuous and degenerate diffusivity. For both cases of dry and wet gas channel, we employ Kirchhoff transformation and Dirichlet–Neumann alternating iteration with appropriate interfacial conditions on the GDL/channel interface to treat the jump nonlinearities in the water equation. Numerical experiments demonstrate that fast convergence as well as accurate numerical solutions are obtained simultaneously owing to the implementation of the above-described numerical techniques along with a combined finite element-upwind finite volume discretization to automatically control the dominant convection terms arising in the gas channel.