Self-confined polymer dynamics in miscible binary blends

The segmental dynamics of PVME within the single-phase state of poly(styrene)/poly(vinyl methyl ether) blends (PS/PVME) was examined by dielectric spectroscopy. A particular attention has been given to the high PS concentration regime. In this latter, rather localized, weakly cooperative motions of the PVME segments are detected at low temperatures, in addition of the secondary relaxation processes. This feature is attributed to confinement effects induced by the PS chains on the PVME.     

Methyl group dynamics in a confined glass

We present a neutron scattering investigation on methyl group dynamics in glassy toluene confined in mesoporous silicates of different pore sizes. The experimental results have been analysed in terms of a barrier distribution model, such a distribution following from the structural disorder in the glassy state. Confinement results in a strong decreasing of the average rotational barrier in comparison to the bulk state. We have roughly separated the distribution for the confined state in a bulk-like and a surface-like contribution, corresponding to rotors at a distance from the pore wall respectively larger and smaller than the spatial range of the interactions which contribute to the rotational potential for the methyl groups. We have estimated a distance of 7 A as a lower limit of the interaction range, beyond the typical nearest-neighbour distance between centers-of-mass (4.7 A).     

Microscopic structure of fundamental excitations in N = Z nuclei

An extended mean-field model is presented that describes states of different isospin in odd-odd and even-even nuclei. Excitation energies of the T = 1 states in even-even as well as T = 0 and T = 1 states in odd-odd N = Z nuclei are calculated. It is shown that the structure of these states can be determined in a consistent manner when both isoscalar and isovector pairing collectivity as well as isospin projection (treated here within the isocranking approximation) are taken into account. In particular, in odd-odd N = Z nuclei, the interplay between quasiparticle excitations (relevant for the case of T = 0 states) and isorotations (relevant for the case of T = 1 states) explains the near degeneracy of these states.     

Rotations in isospace: a doorway to the understanding of neutron-proton superfluidity in N = Z nuclei

The T = 2 excitations in even-even N = Z nuclei are calculated within the isospin cranked mean-field approach. The response of pairing correlations to rotation in isospace is investigated. Whereas the isovector pairing rather modestly modifies the single-particle moment of inertia in isospace, the isoscalar pairing strongly reduces its value. This reduction of the isomoments of inertia with respect to its rigid body value is a strong indicator of collective isoscalar pairing correlations. These results are further generalized yielding beautiful analogies between the role of isovector pairing for the case of spatial rotations and the role of isoscalar pairing for the case of isorotations.     

Direct evidence for block-by-block growth in high-temperature superconductor ultrathin films

Charge neutrality and stoichiometry impose severe restrictions on the mechanisms of epitaxial growth of complex oxides. The fundamental question arises of what is the minimum growth unit when sample thickness is reduced beyond the size of the unit cell. We have investigated the growth mechanism of YBa2Cu3O7 cuprate superconductor, using a consistent approach based on the growth of noninteger numbers of YBa2Cu3O7 layers in YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7)/PrBa(2)Cu3O7 superlattices. Ex situ chemical and structural analysis evidence a 2D block-by-block mechanism in which the minimum growth units are complete unit cell blocks, growing coherently over large lateral distances.     

Negative and positive magnetoresistance manipulation in an electrodeposited nanometer Ni contact

We show that, in a nanometric size stable electrodeposited Ni contact, it is possible to modify the magnetoresistance by applying current pulses and external magnetic fields whereby the same current path is used for detection and modification. We can pass from positive to negative magnetoresistance with values as large as 25% at room temperature, all in the same contact. We propose that the effect may be due to switching and moving domain walls in the contact region under the combination of current effects and external fields.     

Frequency modulation in the transmittivity of wave guides in elastic-wave band-gap materials

It is shown, for the first time, that the transmittivity of wave guides created as rectilinear defects in periodic elastic band-gap materials oscillates as a function of frequency. The results are obtained using the finite difference time domain method for elastic waves propagating in two-dimensional inhomogeneous media. The oscillations of the transmittivity are due to the richness of modes in the elastic systems and, mainly, due to the periodicity of the potential in the direction of the wave propagation. Results are presented for a periodic array of Pb and Ag cylinders inserted in an epoxy host, as well as for Hg cylinders in an Al host.     

Cascaded highly nondegenerate four-wave-mixing phenomenon in transparent isotropic condensed media

Broad-bandwidth light pulses with different frequencies, extending from the IR to the UV, are simultaneously generated when two noncollinear, ultrafast laser pulses from a visible dual-frequency laser propagate through bulk isotropic transparent media such as common glass. This phenomenon, which is believed to have been previously unreported, can be explained by a cascade of highly nondegenerate four-wave-mixing processes and corresponds to a coherent scattering effect with geometrically minimized phase mismatch. Frequency-upconverted beams were observed up to the 11th order.     

水相中磷钼酸催化三组分合成烯丙基胺

以磷钼酸作为催化剂，芳香醛、胺和三丁基烯丙基锡三组分在水作为溶剂，室温下高产率的得到相应的烯丙基胺。