Stability of {\text{SrCe}}_{{0.9}} {\text{Eu}}_{{0.1}} {\text{O}}_{{3 - \delta }} and {\text{SrZr}}_{{0.2}} {\text{Ce}}_{{0.7}} {\text{Eu}}_{{0.1}} {\text{O}}_{{3 - \delta }} under H2 atmospheres

Previous H₂ permeation tests showed a degradation of H₂ permeation flux with time. To understand the cause of degradation and develop a solution, the stability of $ {\text{SrCe}}_{{0.9}} {\text{Eu}}_{{0.1}} {\text{O}}_{{3 - \delta }} $ and $ {\text{SrZr}}_{{0.2}} {\text{Ce}}_{{0.7}} {\text{Eu}}_{{0.1}} {\text{O}}_{{3 - \delta }} $ samples were studied under dry and wet H₂ atmospheres. Total conductivity of $ {\text{SrCe}}_{{0.9}} {\text{Eu}}_{{0.1}} {\text{O}}_{{3 - \delta }} $ increased with time in dry H₂. The X-ray diffraction pattern of $ {\text{SrCe}}_{{0.9}} {\text{Eu}}_{{0.1}} {\text{O}}_{{3 - \delta }} $ after dry hydrogen atmosphere heat treatments show CeO₂ peaks indicating that $ {\text{SrCe}}_{{0.9}} {\text{Eu}}_{{0.1}} {\text{O}}_{{3 - \delta }} $ decomposes under dry H₂ atmospheres; scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses prove that decomposition proceeded along the grain boundaries. $ {\text{SrZr}}_{{0.2}} {\text{Ce}}_{{0.7}} {\text{Eu}}_{{0.1}} {\text{O}}_{{3 - \delta }} $ was investigated and demonstrated greater stability under dry hydrogen atmospheres. However, Zr substitution results in a tradeoff with electrical properties.     

Fast proton conduction path in {\text{Ni}} - {\text{BaCe}}_{{0.8}} {\text{Y}}_{{0.2}} {\text{O}}_{{2.9 - \delta }} membrane

The effect of metal-to-oxide grain boundary layer in $ {\text{Ni}} - {\text{BaCe}}_{{0.8}} {\text{Y}}_{{0.2}} {\text{O}}_{{3 - \delta }} $ (BCY) cermet membrane on hydrogen permeation was studied by applying the different size of oxide grain on Ni-BCY membranes. Two types of cermet membranes having different grain size of oxide were prepared by using different starting particle size of oxide powder. The hydrogen flux of coarse-oxide-grain membrane showed higher flux than that of small-oxide-grain membrane. It was understood that the negative potential at metal-to-oxide grain boundary, reference to the bulk oxide ( $ \phi _{0} < \phi _{\infty } = 0 $ ), was developed, and the accumulation of the effectively positively charged protons may occur at the grain boundary layer (space charge layer), which may result in providing highly conductive proton path by shifting the charge neutrality condition from $ {\left[ {OH^{ \bullet }_{O} } \right]} = {\left[ {Y^{/}_{{Ce}} } \right]} $ to $ {\left[ {OH^{ \bullet }_{O} } \right]} = n $ .     

Microwave fluctuational conductivity in YBa\mathsf{_{2}}Cu\mathsf{_{3}}O \mathsf{_{7-\delta}}

We present measurements of the microwave complex conductivity at 23.9 and 48.2 GHz in YBa₂Cu₃O $_{7-\delta}$ films, in the fluctuational region above T _c . With increasing temperature, the fluctuational excess conductivity drops much faster than the well-known calculations within the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory [H. Schmidt, Z. Phys. 216, 336 (1968)]. Approaching the transition temperature, slowing down of the fluctuations is observed. We discuss the results in terms of a modified Gaussian theory for finite-frequency fluctuational conductivity, where renormalization is introduced in order to account for the $T\rightarrow T_{c}$ regime, and a spectral cutoff is inserted in order to discard high-momentum modes. The data are in excellent agreement with the modified theory, when formulated for three-dimensional, anisotropic superconductors, in the whole experimentally accessible temperature range, and for both frequencies.     

Investigation of atmospheric {\text{O}}_{2}{\text{X}}{^{ 3}}{ \sum_{\text{g}}^{ - }} \,{\text{to}}\, {\text{b}}{^{ 1}}{ \sum_{\text{g}}^{ + }} using open-path tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy

A tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) device fiber coupled to a pair of 12.5 in. telescopes was used to study atmospheric propagation for open path lengths of 100–1,000 meters. More than 50 rotational lines in the molecular oxygen A-band O₂ $ {\text{X}}{^{ 3}}{ \sum_{\text{g}}^{ - }} \,{\text{to}}\, {\text{b}}{^{ 1}}{ \sum_{\text{g}}^{ + }} $ transition near 760 nm were observed. Temperatures were determined from the Boltzmann rotational distribution to within 1.3 % (less than ±2 K). Oxygen concentration was obtained from the integrated spectral area of the absorption features to within 1.6 % (less than ±0.04 × 10¹⁸ molecules/cm³). Pressure was determined independently from the pressure-broadened Voigt lineshapes to within 10 %. A fourier transform interferometer (FTIR) was also used to observe the absorption spectra at 1 cm^?1 resolution. The TDLAS approach achieves a minimum observable absorbance of 0.2 %, whereas the FTIR instrument is almost 20 times less sensitive. Applications include atmospheric characterization for high energy laser propagation and validation of monocular passive raging.     

Structural studies of La \mathsf{_{1-x}}Sr\mathsf{_{x}}MnO \mathsf {_{3 + \delta}} (x = 0.1-1.0)

We report here for the first time (particularly for $x \ge 0.5$ ) a systematic structural study using Rietveld Profile Refinement of powder X-ray diffraction data on the series of polycrystalline compounds La_1-x Sr _x MnO $_{3 + \delta}$ (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 1.0). The iodometric redox titration results show that the compounds $0.1\le x\le 0.4$ and the end compound are oxygen excess and deficient respectively and the compounds in the compositional range 0.5 ≤ x ≤ 0.9 are oxygen stoichiometric within the experimental error. It is found that the structure remains hexagonal until x = 0.4 composition. On further doping, at x = 0.5 composition, a structural transition to orthorhombic phase is observed. Around this composition, very small variations in the Mn-O(2)-Mn and average Mn-Mn bond distances are observed. For above x = 0.5, until x = 0.8 composition, the structure remains orthorhombic with reduced orthorhombic distortion. For the next compound, x = 0.9, a mixed hexagonal and orthorhombic phase is observed where the hexagonal phase is 6 layered with stacking sequence of ABCACB type and the orthorhombic phase is more distorted than that of x = 0.8 composition. The end compound is a four layered hexagonal structure with stacking sequence ABAC type which is more distorted than ABCACB type. As one goes down the series, a decrease in the volume per formula unit and average Mn-O bond distance are observed except at x = 0.9 composition. The observed structural transitions from hexagonal to orthorhombic to layered hexagonal phase can be explained under the electrostatic limit.     

Theoretical study of collision and collision-free radiative lifetimes of {{\text{S}}_2}\left( {{{\text{B}}^3}\Sigma_{\text{u}}^{-} \left( {{\upsilon^{\prime}} = 0 - 9} \right)} \right)

We calculate multireference configuration-interaction wavefunctions and the potential-energy curves for the $ {B^3}\Sigma_u^{-} $ and $ {X^3}\Sigma_g^{-} $ states of the collision-free S₂ molecule and the T-shape collision complex S₂?CHe using cc-pVQZ basis sets. We obtain the transition dipole moments of the $ {{\text{S}}_2}\left( {{B^3}\Sigma_u^{-} \to {X^3}\Sigma_g^{-} } \right) $ and the Franck?CCondon factors between the vibrational levels of this two states. We evaluate the radiative lifetimes of $ {{\text{S}}_2}\left( {{B^3}\Sigma_u^{-} \left( {{\upsilon^{\prime}} = 0 - 9} \right)} \right) $ levels of the collision complex and the collision-free molecule and compare them with the experiments. The collision provides little change in the radiative lifetimes of $ {{\text{S}}_2}\left( {{B^3}\Sigma_u^{-} \left( {{\upsilon^{\prime}} = 0 - 9} \right)} \right) $ according to the previous calculations. We obtain excellent agreement between the theoretical results and the experiments. The data calculated are very useful in the study of the microwave-driven high-pressure sulfur lamp and an S₂ laser pumped by a transverse fast discharge.     

Quasi solid state dye-sensitized solar cells based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrolytes containing \mathbf{I}^{\mathbf{-}}/\mathbf{I}_{\mathbf{3}}^{\mathbf{-}} redox couple

Quasi solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been fabricated with electrolytes containing $\text{ I }^{-}/\text{ I }_{3}^{-}$ redox couple using 80 % hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) doped with potassium iodide (KI) and a mixture of potassium iodide and tetrapropyl ammonium iodide ( $\text{ Pr }_{4}\text{ NI }$ ) salts. The quasi solid state gel polymer electrolytes were prepared using 1:1 ethylene carbonate (EC):propylene carbonate (PC) mixture. The solar cells have the structure of ITO/ $\text{ TiO }_{2}$ /N3-Dye/electrolyte/Pt/ITO. The conductivity of the electrolytes has been calculated from the bulk resistance value determined using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The performance of the DSSCs has been studied by varying the concentration of the doping salts in the electrolyte and incident light intensity. The DSSC fabricated with the KI salt electrolyte containing 9.9 wt% PVA, 39.6 wt% EC, 39.6 wt% PC, 10.9 wt% KI $(+\text{ I }_{2})$ exhibited the best power conversion efficiency of 1.97 %. However, the DSSC with a double-salt electrolyte containing 9.9 wt% PVA: 39.6 wt% EC: 39.6 wt% PC: (6.5 wt% KI: 4.4 wt% $\text{ Pr }_{4}\text{ NI }$ ) ( $+\text{ I }_{2}$ ) exhibited a higher efficiency of 3.27% under $100 \text{ mW/cm }^{2}$ light intensity. The efficiency of this cell increased to 4.59 % under dimmer light of intensity of $54 \text{ mW/cm }^{2}$ .     

Mixed layer – structured ferroelectrics on the basis of \mbox{\sffamily\bfseries Bi}_{\hbox{\sffamily\bfseries\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont 4}} \mbox{\sffamily\bfseries Ti}_{\hbox{\sffamily\bfseries\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont 3}} \mbox{\sffamily\bfseries O}_{\hbox{\sffamily\bfseries\fontsize{12}{12}\selectfont 12}}

Thermal diffusivities of pure YVO₄ single crystal and single crystals doped with Nd, Tm and Ca ions are measured using a modified ?ngstr?m's method. Measurements were carried out for main crystallographic directions ([100], [010] and [001]). Obtained results show that the thermal diffusivity in [001] direction is considerably higher than in (001) plane. Decrease of the thermal diffusivity is observed with growing concentration of dopants. For the heavier doped sample (5% at. of Tm + 0.4% at. of Ca) a drop of the thermal diffusivity is about 35%.     

Measurement of the {\rm\bf B_{\bf d}^{\bf 0}- {\bf \bar{B}}_{\bf d}^{\bf 0}} oscillation frequency

Time-dependent mixing is studied using about two million hadronic Z decays registered by L3 in 1994 and 1995. For this study three techniques are used. Tagging of the b-quark charge at decay time is performed by identifying leptons from semileptonic B decays. The flavour of the b quark at production time is determined from the charge of the lepton in the opposite hemisphere or by using a jet-charge technique. The proper time of the B-particle decay is obtained by reconstructing the production and decay vertices or by a measurement of the lepton impact parameter. The combined result for the frequency of meson oscillations is Received: 20 February 1998 / Revised version: 23 March 1998 / Published online: 12 August 1998     

Hyperfine splitting constants in the optical transition \boldsymbol{{4{f}^{7}} {6{s}^{2}} \;{^{8}{\rm S}_{7/2}} \to {4{f}^{7}} {6{s}6{p}}\; {^{6}{\rm P}_{5/2}} \ {\rm of} \ {^{151-155}{\rm Eu}}} isotopes and hyperfine anomaly

Using the method of laser-induced fluorescence in an atomic beam we have measured the hyperfine splitting constants, A and B, of the ground and excited states of the optical transition 4f ⁷6s ^{2 8}S $_{1/2}\to 4f^{7}$ 6s6p ⁶P_5/2 (564.58 nm) for ^151???155Eu isotopes. For all isotopes, the magnetic dipole constants of the ⁶P_5/2 atomic level are determined to a precision better than 0.04%. The A and B constants for the ground state ⁸S_7/2 of the radioactive ^152,154,155Eu were obtained for the first time with a precision better than 0.5%. Our data along with previous ground state hyperfine structure measurements for the stable europium isotopes allow us to determine the hyperfine anomaly for mentioned Eu isotopes.     

Lasing of optically pumped XeF and analysis of the spectrum of the laser transitionB^2 \sum _{{1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 2}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 2}}^ + - X^2 \sum _{{1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 2}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 2}}^ +

The operating principle of a photodissociation XeF laser (λ?350 nm) is discussed. A laser operating on the gas mixture XeF₂:N₂(SF₆):Ar pumped by radiation from an open high-current discharge is described. The maximum lasing duration is 5 μsec, the maximum output energy is 0.15 J. The vibrational structure of the XeF-molecule transition B²Σ_1/2 ⁺ ? X²Σ_1/2 ⁺, observed in absorption, luminescence, and stimulated emission, is investlgated. The vibrational quantum and the anharmonicity in the upper and lower states are measured: ω_e ^' = 308.7 cm^-1, ω_e ^'x_e ^' = 1.44 cm^-1, ω_e ^'' = 225.7 cm^-1, ω_e ^''x_e ^'' = 11.0 cm^-1. The difference between the equilibrium internuclear distances of the XeF molecule is determined for the excited (B) and ground (X) states, namely r_e ^' - r_e ^'' = 0.33 +- 0.01 Å.