Controlling laser spectra in a phaseonium photonic crystal using maser

We study the control of quantum resonances in photonic crystals with electromagnetically induced transparency driven by microwave field. In addition to the control laser, the intensity and phase of the maser can alter the transmission and reflection spectra in interesting ways, producing hyperfine resonances through the combined effects of multiple scattering in the superstructure.     

Constrains in gamma spectrometry analysis of fallout <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs in coastal marine environment of Arabian sea in India

In this study, an accurate faster gamma spectrometry method for measuring the low level activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs using in situ pre-concentration technique on copper ferrocyanide cartridge was standardized. Due to unavailability of reference standard in the copper ferrocyanide matrix, efficiency calibration curves were plotted using RGU and RGTh reference standards. To harmonize the difference in density of standard and sample the required density correction factors for photo peak efficiency were generated. The in situ pre-concentration technique followed by gamma-ray spectrometry was applied for activity determination in surface seawater from eight locations in the coastal marine environment of Arabian Sea. The mean activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs ranged between 0.71 and 0.91 Bq/m³. Higher activity concentrations were observed at location with latitude, longitude of 21.6°N, 69.57°E as compared to concentration observed at location with latitude, longitude 16.98°N, 73.25°E. The observed concentrations were found to be in range of data reported in Asia–Pacific Marine radioactive database (ASPARMARD). The results will fill up the gaps in the existing database. The generated data will be useful for monitoring fresh input of anthropogenic radionuclide into coastal marine environment for post Fukushima environmental assessment.     

Remote sub-diffraction imaging with femtosecond laser filaments

Achieving super-resolution has become a scientific imperative for remote imaging of objects and scenes needing increased detail and has motivated the development of various laser-based techniques. We demonstrate a scheme which achieves subdiffraction imaging of remote objects by using femtosecond laser filaments. The use of laser filaments for imaging is destined to have applications in many environments.     

TAGE iterative algorithm and nonpolynomial spline basis for the solution of nonlinear singular second order ordinary differential equations

In the present paper, we discuss three point difference method based on nonpolynomial spline basis for the second order ordinary differential equation. Difference schemes are derived for linear and nonlinear case and are used to solve via two parameter alternating group explicit iterative algorithm. The schemes have a fourth and second order of uniform convergence for the choice of the parameters involved in the method. Computational results are presented comparing the two methods in terms of accuracy and execution times. The results indicate the advantage of using parallel implementation of the new method.     

Synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles using microorganisms

A low-cost green and reproducible microbes (Lactobacillus sp. and Sachharomyces cerevisae) mediated biosynthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles is reported. The synthesis is performed akin to room temperature in the laboratory ambience. X-ray and transmission electron microscopy analyses are performed to ascertain the formation of TiO₂ nanoparticles. Individual nanoparticles as well as a few aggregate having the size of 8–35 nm are found. Concentric Scherrer rings in the selected area electron diffraction pattern indicated that the nanoparticles are having all possible orientations. A possible involved mechanism for the biosynthesis of nano-TiO₂ has also been proposed in which pH as well as partial pressure of gaseous hydrogen (rH₂) or redox potential of the culture solution seems to play an important role in the process.     

Jet Impingement Cooling of a Hot Moving Steel Plate: An Experimental Study

In the current study, a hot moving steel plate of 6 mm thickness with an initial temperature of 900°C has been considered for jet impingement cooling. The experiment has been designed with the help of Design of Expert software to optimize the process parameters based on the highest cooling rate. The various subsurface transient temperature histories have been measured during the cooling process. The surface heat flux and surface temperature were calculated with the help of a commercial inverse heat transfer solver called INTEMP. The experimental result has been presented in terms of cooling rate and critical heat flux.     

TiO2 nanotube layers: Flexible and electrically active flow-through membranes

In the present work we demonstrate the fabrication and use of a new generation of TiO₂ nanotube membranes. We show that anodic oxide nanotube growth can be performed through a patterned Ti foil into an underlying Al metal layer. After the selective dissolution of the Al/alumina layer, a very well defined both side open suspended TiO₂ nanotube layer can be obtained. Using lithographic patterning of the anodization area allows to achieve very large scale, flexible and well electrically connected nanotubular flow-through membranes with fast electrical switching features over the entire membrane.     

A comparative study of magnetic and dielectric behaviors for La(1-x)Bi(x)Mn(1-y)Fe(y)O3 series (with x = 0.5, 0.7 and y = 0.3, 0.7)

We have carried out an extensive investigation into the effect of doping on both the A- and B-sites for the multiferroic La(0.5)Bi(0.5)Mn(0.5)Fe(0.5)O(3) in relation to its physical properties. The temperature dependent magnetization and dielectric response are determined for different percentages of Bi- and Fe-substitutions. For La(0.5)Bi(0.5)Mn(0.7)Fe(0.3)O(3), there is a prominent ferromagnetic transition T(C) around 110 K, whereas the other La(0.5)Bi(0.5)Mn(0.3)Fe(0.7)O(3) and La(0.3)Bi(0.7)Mn(0.3)Fe(0.7)O(3) phases fail to exhibit any clear transition. On the other hand, for the Fe-rich phases, the coercive field increases to 2450 Oe compared to 1720 Oe (for the Mn-rich phase). All the compositions exhibit coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases at low temperatures. The temperature dependent dielectric constant of the investigated samples varies from 32,000 to 500 at room temperature and the data has been analyzed using the universal dielectric response model.     

Convexity of internal energy of cubic crystal deformed to orthorhombic structure

A generalized set of strain variablesq _r ^N , has been defined to develop the expression for a generalized set of second order and third-order elastic moduliC _rs ^N andC _rst ^N for a cubic crystal deformed to orthorhombic structure. The HessainC _rs ^N δq_rδq_s andC _rst ^N δq_rδq_sδq_t (r=1, 2……6; summation convention) are calculated in the new variables and compared withG-strength andS-strength, for both positive and negative loading environment. The convexity of the internal energy relative to various choice of strain measure is examined considering up to third degree terms in the internal energy expression. The computational results forbcc iron is presented according to the new moduli. The stable ranges thus obtained for iron under hydrostatic compressive and tensile stresses is found to generate the classical stable range, green-stable range and stretch-stable range as the specific cases. However,bcc iron does not seem to follow any conventional stable ranges under hydrostatic compression, where the present generalized stable range is found satisfactory.     

An Efficient Probe for Rapid Detection of Cyanide in Water at Parts per Billion Levels and Naked‐Eye Detection of Endogenous Cyanide

A new molecular probe based on an oxidized bis‐indolyl skeleton has been developed for rapid and sensitive visual detection of cyanide ions in water and also for the detection of endogenously bound cyanide. The probe allows the “naked‐eye” detection of cyanide ions in water with a visual color change from red to yellow (Δλ_max=80 nm) with the immediate addition of the probe. It shows high selectivity towards the cyanide ion without any interference from other anions. The detection of cyanide by the probe is ratiometric, thus making the detection quantitative. A Michael‐type addition reaction of the probe with the cyanide ion takes place during this chemodosimetric process. In water, the detection limit was found to be at the parts per million level, which improved drastically when a neutral micellar medium was employed, and it showed a parts‐per‐billion‐level detection, which is even 25‐fold lower than the permitted limits of cyanide in water. The probe could also efficiently detect the endogenously bound cyanide in cassava (a staple food) with a clear visual color change without requiring any sample pretreatment and/or any special reaction conditions such as pH or temperature. Thus the probe could serve as a practical naked‐eye probe for “in‐field” experiments without requiring any sophisticated instruments.