UV assisted oxidation and nitridation of hafnia based thin films for alternate gate dielectric applications

The synergistic effects of NH₃ ambient and ultraviolet illumination on the dielectric properties of hafnia based gate dielectrics are reported in this paper. The films were processed at relatively low temperatures (∼400 °C) by pulsed laser ablation and UV oxidation technique. UV illumination and the NH₃ ambient created a thin and a denser interfacial layer (at the film-Si interface) comprised of HfSiON bonding. As a result of the interfacial layer modification, a leakage current density lower than 10⁻⁴ A/cm² and a dielectric constant of ∼21.7 were extracted from the best samples processed in NH₃ and under UV illumination. The nitrogen doped HfO₂ also exhibited a thinner interfacial layer (∼12 Å) in comparison to the films processed without NH₃ ambient.     

Linear Theory of the Beam-Wave Interaction in the Arbitrary Cylindrical Cerenkov Device

The hot dispersion equation in Cerenkov devices has been derived and analyzed numerically using the self-consistent linear theory. In principle, the linear analysis can be applied to efficiently calculating all kinds of beam-wave interaction in various Cerenkov devices composed of axisymmetric slow-wave structures (SWS) with arbitrary periodic profile. Then the results for Cerenkov devices with three typical SWS profiles are presented.     

Gravitational Waves in Matter

The theory of gravitational waves in matter is given. This covers the questions of constitutive relation, number of independent polarizations, index of refraction, reflection and refraction at an interface, etc. The theory parallels the familiar optics of electromagnetic waves in material media, but there are some striking differences. The use of the Campbell-Morgan formalism in which the gauge-invariant tidal force dyads E and B rather than the gauge-dependent metric perturbations are the unknowns is essential. The main justification of the theory at the moment is as a theoretical exercise worth doing. The assumption: size L of the medium gravitational wave length (infinite medium) rules out application to the already well-understood detection problem, but there may be an application to gravitational wave propagation through molecular gas clouds of galactic or inter-galactic size.     

Variations on a Constant Theme

We describe how theories incorporating time-varying coupling constants can drive the Universe to a late-time near-flat attractor in which the cosmological constant is very small. We also discuss some consequences of allowing time-varying constants to vary in space as well.     

Low temperature catalytic performance of nanosized TiNiO for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene

Nanosized TiNiO catalysts prepared by a modified sol-gel method have been investigated in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODP) to propene. At 300 °C the yield to propene of 12.1% was obtained on 9.1 wt.% TiNiO catalyst with the selectivity of 43%. The continued variety of lattice parameter and variation of chemical value of nickel and titanium ion on the surface indicates that there are strong interactions of TiO₂ and NiO. The decreased low temperature oxygen desorption and the weaker reducibility seems to be responsible for the decreased activity and enhanced selectivity of propane oxidative dehydrogenation over TiNiO catalysts.     

Space Videophotometric System for Recording Optical Radiations in the Earth Atmosphere

This paper describes the VFS-3M videophotometric system designed for automatic remote recording of images and parameters of optical radiations following lightning discharges from aboard the Russian segment of the International space station. The characteristics of the system and the possibilities of recording such types of radiation as Red Sprites and Blue Jets are given.     

Analysis of the Tautomeric Properties of 2-Formylcyclopentane-1,3-Dione Using the Data of IR Spectroscopy and Nonempirical (ab initio and DFT) Quantum-Chemical Calculations

The tautomerism, spectral properties, and properties of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in 2-formylcyclopentane-1,3-dione (FCPD) have been investigated by the methods of nonempirical quantum chemistry (calculations by the ab initio and DFT methods) and IR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. It is shown that FCPD in a crystalline form, as also does malonic dialdehyde, exists as self-associated enolized molecules with an open chelate ring. It is found that in solutions in CCl₄ the compound investigated exists as an equilibrium mixture of its exo- and endoenolic forms, with predominance of the former. The IR spectra of the solutions of FCPD in CCl₄ fix the presence of small amounts of the associate formed from the anionic and protonated forms of the substance. For the first time, the energies of the intramolecular H bonds of the endo- and exoenolic tautomeric forms in FCPD have been estimated theoretically. They appeared to be equal to 3.69 and 4.91 kcal·mole^–1, respectively. The possible mechanisms of enol-enolic interconversions of FCPD have been discussed.     

Thickness dependence of temperature coefficient of resistance of MnBi films

In-situ measurements of the temperature coefficient of resistance of electron-beam evaporated MnBi films are reported for the thickness range 30–180 nm. The thickness dependence of the temperature coefficient of resistance curves are plotted for different weight ratios, annealing times and substrate temperatures. The temperature coefficient of resistance shows marked size effect, and is negative for lower thicknesses (<100nm) and positive for higher thicknesses. The experimental data is in good agreement with the Mayadas-Shatzkes theory. The thickness dependence of the Curie temperature also indicates marked size effect.     

Specific Fluorescence Properties and Picosecond Transient Absorption of 8-Azasteroids

The specific fluorescence properties as well as picosecond transient absorption features have been studied for two 8-azasteroids. It is shown that at various excitation wavelengths the essentially different final excited electronic states are realized. Because of the multicenter character of 8-azasteroids the spectroscopic data obtained may be analyzed on a basis of the mesomeric tautomerism model taking into account the dynamic combination of cis- and trans-configurations. The dependence of fluorescence spectral characteristics on the solvent nature is a manifestation of intermolecular H-bond interactions.     

The maximum entropy principle as a consequence of the principle of Laplace

The maximum entropy principle states that the probability distribution which best represents our information is the one which maximizes the entropy with the given evidence as constraints. We prove that this principle is implied from the Laplace principle of equiprobabilities applied to the setS of allN-term sequences of results which are compatible with the given evidence. We generalize to the information gain method of Kullback.     

Amplification Coefficient of the Anti‐Stokes Component of Raman Scattering

The theory of intracavity parametric interaction of the components of Raman scattering is developed in the prescribedintensity approximation, which takes into account the reverse reaction of the excited waves to the pumpingwave phase. It is shown that one can substantially improve the conversion efficiency or the amplification coefficient of the antiStokes component by selection of the intracavity geometry, the optimum phase relation between the interacting waves, the pumping level, and the phase mismatch.     

On the initial layer solution of the Boltzmann equation with small Knudsen number

We extend our method of systematic removal of secular terms in a singular perturbation treatment of the Boltzmann equation with small Knudsen numbers to the initial layer. The requirement that the solution through the initial layer should connect smoothly to the normal solution removes an ambiguity noted in our previous paper. We show that removal of secular terms improves Grad's solution for the initial layer and reintroduces soundlike modes associated with higher moments, first found by Wang Chang and Uhlenbeck.     

α-Particle Loss from Cylindrical Magnetized DT Plasma

-particles from fusion reactions in a DT magnetized plasma are confined inside the plasma not only by magnetic fields but also by induced electric fields which are due to the different mobilities of -particles and electrons. Criteria are derived for the -confinement in a cylindrical plasma, inertially confined by a heavy liner. It is observed that the suprathermal population in the DT plasma will influence the overall dynamics.     

The Quantum Evolution of the Closed Friedman Universe with “Bouncing Off”

The homogeneous and isotropic closed Friedmanuniverse evolution in higher-order gravity theories isconsidered. The model takes into account vacuumpolarisation of conformal and nonconformal fields. That leads to the following addition in the Einsteinlagrangian: R² ln |R/R₀|. Near theregular minimum of the scale factor the model has ananalytical solution depending on an integration constantC. If |R/R₀| > 1, the solution passes through the regularminimum, experiences inflation with a decreasing valueof R and approaches to the critical value R =R₀. In the interval |R/R₀| < 1,the solutions have non-linear oscillations (i.e. the scalaronstage). On this stage of the evolution the universe isfilled with relativistic plasma. The continuoustransition through the critical point R = R₀is possible in only one type of solution, the separatrix.Though other solutions have no features in this point,they experience the discontinuity in derivatives of R.It is unsuitable since higher-order gravity theories are considered. Thus the measure of continuoussolutions giving a hot universe is negligible. Howeversolutions of the model can be continued in the imaginarytime. In such a case the Euclidean action will have a non-zero value because of the spaceclosed boundedness of the universe and the finiteness ofthe imaginary time interval (instanton). The last allowsus to calculate the probability of the quantum tunnelling of the Friedman universe from theinflation region into the scalaron region.     

Synthesis of peptidomimetics using a polymer-bound Boc-linker

Boc-resin-bound -hydroxy--amino-aldehydes are accessible starting from N-terminally bound amino acidesters by using Dondoni's C₁-homologationreaction sequence. The conversion of these synthons totwo different peptide mimetics – 2-hydroxy-1,3-ethyl-diamines and -hydroxy--amino-vinyl sulfones – hasbeen investigated. The successful transfer of thecomplex -amino acid homologation reactionsequence into solid-phase chemistry demonstrates thepotentials of the Boc-resin for synthesis of peptidomimetics.     

Specific Features of Light Scattering in [N(CH3)4]2CuCl4 Crystals with an Incommensurable Phase

We present the results of investigation of the optical birefringence and intensity of the main light beam that passed through an [N(CH₃)₄]₂CuCl₄ crystal under the conditions of viscous interaction of the incommensurable structure with defects. A nonmonotonic temperature dependence of the basic signal is revealed. The observed temperature dependence of the intensity (in the form of irregular steps) is related to different periods of the incommensurable structure. In transitions between adjacent metastable states the periodicity of the incommensurable structure changes. It is shown that in transition regions for the central beam one observes an anomalous decrease in the light intensity due to the appearance of a perturbation lattice with the wave vector q.     

Updated Analysis of Gallium Chelate and Vanadium Chelate Solutions with 4‐(2‐Pyridylazo)Resorcinol and Xylenol Orange

The characteristic factors of the gallium and vanadium chelates with the ligands 4(2pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) and xylenol orange (XO) have been determined with the aid of the principle of correction, which makes it possible to eliminate the influence of the surplus ligand in the solution of its chelate with methane (which makes calculation easier) and thereby provides a more acceptable method in comparison with others. The real molar coefficients of extinction of the chelates Ga and V with PAR and XO have been determined and a detailed calculation of the stoichiometric ratios of chelates has been made. The results have shown that the chelates formed have the following structure: Ga(PAR), Ga(XO), V(PAR)₂, and V(XO).     

Investigation of Rust Formed on Steel Surfaces and Related Oxyhydroxides

In order to indentity the corrosion products formed on steel surfaces from ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, detailed Mössbauer parameters have been determined for various kinds of iron-oxyhydroxides: -FeOOH, -FeOOH, -FeOOH and -FeOOH. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer measurements of the iron oxyhydroxides indicate the following results. Fe occupies a single site in -FeOOH, but below the Néel temperature as at e.g., 300 K the Mössbauer spectrum is always broad, showing a distribution of the strength of the magnetic exchange interactions. Its shape depends on the grain-size and synthetic methods of the specimen. Fe occupies 3 sites in -FeOOH. High-purity reagents of -FeOOH always contain small amounts of -FeOOH and their Néel temperatures depend on the synthetic methods of the specimen. Mössbauer spectroscopy of the synthetic -FeOOH shows very broad distribution of the hyperfine magnetic fields.     

Interactions between dislocations and γ/γ' interfaces in superalloys

In situ transmission electron microscopy observations of the dislocation motion at vicinity of the /' interfaces in a Ni-base superalloy have been performed. They allow to identify the elemental mechanisms, under stress and at different temperatures, of the deformation propagation across the interfaces. It is shown that some of the mechanisms already analyzed in the literature occur. Moreover, new processes are revealed such as the formation of small dislocation pile-ups on the /' interfaces. Such a configuration, which increases the local stress, favors the overcoming of the interface.These observations together with new considerations on stresses are taken into account for proposing a new equilibrium equation for a dislocation abutting on a /' interface. This equation involves all the stress components acting on a dislocation: the applied stress, the misfit stress, the friction stress, the stress concentration due to the dislocation pile-up and the image stress.     

Calculation of the Tautomeric Properties of 3‐Formyl‐Tetrinic Acid by the ab initio and DFT Methods

We have carried out a nonempirical quantumchemical calculation with full optimization of the geometry of all theoretically possible tautomeric forms of 3formyltetrinic acid (FTRA) according to the Møller–Plesset secondorder perturbation theory with the use of a 6–31G(d) double zeta basis set. The correlation corrections to the total energy of molecules for optimized geometric configurations were calculated in the 631G(d,p) basis. All the possible tautomeric forms of FTRA and the harmonic vibrational frequencies were also calculated within the density functional theory (DFT) with the use of the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) functional in a threeexponent basis. It is shown that FTRA in vapors (in the perfect gas approximation) exists in the form of a mixture of three enol forms, among which two exoforms predominate. The frequencies and forms of normal vibrations for each cisenol tautomer in the region of vibrations of ketogroups and double bonds differ widely, which permits identification of the tautomers present in the mixture. The possible mechanisms of enolenol transformations of 3acyltetrinic acids are discussed.