Electro-optic pulse response of ferroelectric liquid crystals

The electro-optic response of ferroelectric smectic C* liquid crystals has been studied. Anomalous switching behaviour of such materials which possess a negative dielectric anisotropy has been reported. These materials show a minimum in response time at a sufficiently high field. We present results showing the dependency of this minimum upon spontaneous polarisation and the effect of AC bias. Calculations based upon the equation of motion of the director around the cone are presented which describe this effect and its dependence on the relative magnitudes of the spontaneous polarization and dielectric anisotropy of the material. Good agreement with the experimental results is found.     

A method for investigating the orientational behaviour of fibrous particles in gaseous flow

A method is described by which the angular orientation distribution of fibrous particles carried in a gaseous stream may be investigated. The method is based upon the interpretation of the spatial intensity distribution or scattering profile of laser light scattered by individual fibres. The scattering instrument used to capture the profiles is described, and the mathematical computation required to ascertain the orientation of each particle at the measurement point is detailed. Illustrative results are given for a study of airborne micromachined silicon particles of 12 μm length and 1.0 μm by 1.5 μm cross-section. The method is currently being employed by the authors to investigate ways of improving the orientation control over nonspherical particles in systems such as aerodynamic particle sizers and particle shape classifiers, since lack of particle orientation control is known to adversely affect the measurement accuracy of both these types of instrument.     

DMC: A multifunctional hybrid dynamics/Monte Carlo simulation algorithm for the evaluation of conformational space

A hybrid conformational search algorithm (DMC) is described that combines a modified form of molecular dynamics with Metropolis Monte Carlo sampling, using the COSMIC(90) force field. Trial configurations are generated by short bursts of high-temperature dynamics in which the initial kinetic energy is focused into single bond rotations or alternatively into “corner-flapping” motions in ring systems. Constant temperature and simulated annealing search protocols have been applied to the conformational analysis of several model hydrocarbons (cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane, cycloheptadecane, decane, and tetradecane), and the performance compared with conventional molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo sampling methods. Optimum Metropolis sampling temperatures have been determined and range from 1000–2000 K for acyclic molecules to 3000 K for cyclic systems. Simulated annealing runs are most successful at locating the global minimum when cooling slowing from these optimum temperatures.     

Solventless synthesis of monodisperse Cu2S nanorods, nanodisks, and nanoplatelets

Cu(2)S nanocrystals with disklike morphologies were synthesized by the solventless thermolysis of a copper alkylthiolate molecular precursor. The nanodisks ranged from circular to hexagonal prisms from 3 to 150 nm in diameter and 3 to 12 nm in thickness depending on the growth conditions. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed the high chalcocite (hexagonal) crystal structure oriented with the c-axis ([001] direction) orthogonal to the favored growth direction. This disk morphology is thermodynamically favored as it allows the extension of the higher energy [100] and [110] surfaces with respect to the [001] planes. The hexagonal prism morphology also appears to relate to increased C-S bond cleavage of adsorbed dodecanethiol along the more energetic [100] facets relative to [001] facets. Monodisperse Cu(2)S nanodisks self-assemble into ribbons of stacked platelets. This solventless approach provides a new technique to synthesize anisotropic metal chalcogenide nanostructures with shapes that depend on both the face-sensitive thermodynamic surface energy and the surface reactivity.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of OH with some oxygenated compounds of importance in tropospheric chemistry

The kinetics of the reactions have been studied in a discharge flow system under pseudo-first-order conditions. The OH concentration was monitored by laser induced fluorescence and helium was used as the carrier gas. Values of k₁ = (8.1 ± 1.7) × 10^?13, k₂ = (1.31 ± 0.26) × 10^?11, k₃ = (2.6 ± 0.5) × 10^?11, and k₄ = (2.5 ± 0.4) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, at 298 K and 1 torr total pressure, were obtained. To validate the newly constructed system the rate constant for the reaction was determined in a similar manner. The value of k₅ = (6.7 ± 0.9) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at 298 K and 1 torr total pressure is in very good agreement with other literature values. The mechanisms for the atmospheric degradation of these compounds have been constructed to allow their incorporation in a photochemical trajectory computer model, to assess their impact on photochemical ozone creation in the troposphere. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

First observation ofΩ * resonances

In a experiment at the CERN SPS charged hyperon beam using incident Ξ^?, we have obtained evidence for the production of two Ω^* resonances decaying into Ξ^?π⁺ K ^?, with the following parameters:M ₁=2251±12,Γ ₁=48±20 MeV/c², 78 ±23 events, andM ₂=2284±12,Γ ₂=26±23 MeV/c² 45±10 events. The first state is also observed as a 4.2σ effect in a subsample which contains an additionalK ⁺ orK ⁰ in the final state. Production cross sections and branching ratios to Ξ^* K ^? and Ξ^? K ^* are presented.     

Optical and photocatalytic properties of nanocrystalline TiO2 synthesised by solid-state chemical reaction

Nanoparticulate TiO₂ is of interest for a variety of technological applications, including optically transparent UV-filters and photocatalysts for the destruction of chemical waste. The successful use of nanoparticulate TiO₂ in such applications requires an understanding of how the synthesis conditions effect the optical and photocatalytic properties. In this study, we have investigated the effect of heat treatment temperature on the properties of nanoparticulate TiO₂ powders that were synthesised by solid-state chemical reaction of anhydrous TiOSO₄ with Na₂CO₃. It was found that the photocatalytic activity increased with the heat treatment temperature up to a maximum at 600 °C and thereafter declined. In contrast, the optical transparency decreased monotonically with the heat treatment temperature. These results indicate that solid-state chemical reaction can be used to prepare powders of nanoparticulate TiO₂ with properties that are optimised for use as either optically transparent UV-filters or photocatalysts.     

Microstructure and magnetic properties of Ni-rich Ni54Mn25.7Ga20.3 ferromagnetic shape memory alloy thin film

A Ni₅₄Mn_25.7Ga_20.3 ferromagnetic shape memory alloy thin film has been fabricated by using the RF magnetron-sputtering technique. The structure and magnetic properties of the film were systematically investigated. The results show that the film is in ferromagnetic martensite state at room temperature with the Curie temperature (T_c) of about 370 K. The saturation magnetization (M_s) of the film reaches 45 emu/g at 300 K, which is about 80% as large as that of Ni–Mn–Ga bulk material. The magnetization hysteresis loops significantly depend on temperatures. The residual magnetization (M_r) and the coercive force (H_c) increase with decreasing temperatures. The grains homogeneously distribute in the film. The microstructure of the film consists of martensite plates. The interface between the martensite variants is clear and straight, indicating a good mobility.