Helium atom in intense and superintense laser fields: A new theoretical approach

A quantum hydrodynamical study is made of the dynamical changes of a helium atom interacting with lasers of two different intensities, but having the same frequency. Under the intense laser field, electron density oozes out of the helium atom by absorbing laser photons and getting promoted to higher excited states including the continuum. Under the superintense field, electron density partly moves away from the helium nucleus but remains in the “quasi-bound” dressed states along with the laser field, thus suppressing ionization.     

Hopping of chaotic dynamics in a doubly resonant parametric oscillator

We study a doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator where the pump can feed two pairs of signal-idler modes. We assume the presence of gain at the pump frequency. We investigate the various oscillation states of interest, namely, when only the first pair oscillates with the other pair having null amplitudes and vice versa. We demonstrate the exchange of dynamics between the mode pairs when the relevant parameters of the cavity, namely, the phase mismatch factors or the decay rates switch because of fluctuations. The exchange of dynamics is shown to be independent of the nature of dynamics, i.e. independent of whether the motion isn-periodic or chaotic. We also investigate the case where both the pairs can exhibit chaotic dynamics though these states are difficult to realize because of fluctuations.     

Synthesis and characterization of various phases of cobalt oxide nanoparticles using inorganic precursor

Controllable and uniform doping of nanowires (NWs) is the ultimate challenge prior to their effective application. Si NWs amorphize and bend toward the impinging ions under ion irradiation as a result of viscous flow. We demonstrate that thermal annealing induces a full recovery of the crystalline phase corresponding to the unbending of the NWs. The competition between Solid Phase Epitaxy and Random Nucleation and Growth at the nanoscale is the key parameter controlling the recovery.     

Some inhomogeneous magnetized viscous-fluid cosmological models with varyingΛ

Some cylindrically symmetric inhomogeneous viscous-fluid cosmological models with electromagnetic field are obtained. To get a solution a supplementary condition between metric potentials is used. The viscosity coefficient of bulk viscous fluid is assumed to be a power function of mass density. Without assuming anyad hoc law, we obtain a cosmological constant as a decreasing function of time. The behaviour of the electromagnetic field tensor together with some physical aspects of the model are also discussed.     

Effect of variation of dielectric constant on the magnetic field modulation of exciplex luminescence

The effect of variation of dielectric constant on the relative magnetic field effect in singlet luminescence has been studied using a typical exciplex system at a saturating field. The study indicates strong specificity in the perturbation of the magnetic field effect by alcoholic solvents. In contrast to alcohols where relative singlet magnetic field effect is of the order of 2% only, the magnetic field effect in non-alcoholic medium reaches as high as 9%. Moreover, dielectric constant variation in alcohols yields curves which are distinctly different from those in non-alcoholic media. It turns out that this dependence of magnetic field effect on dielectric constant is similar in all non-alcoholic solvent mixtures. An analytical study based on Hong and Noolandi’s solution of Smoluchowski equation has been made. Derived expressions can interpret experimental curves reasonably well.     

Production of Bioactive Compounds with Broad Spectrum Bactericidal Action,Bio-Film Inhibition and Antilarval Potential by the Secondary Metabolites of the Endophytic Fungus Cochliobolus sp. APS1 Isolated from the Indian Medicinal Herb Andrographis paniculata

Endophytes, being the co-evolution partners of green host plants, are factories of pharmaceutically valuable novel natural products. Cochliobolus sp. APS1, an endophyte of Andrographis paniculata (Green Chiretta), produces a plethora of natural bioactive compounds and the multipotent alkaloid Aziridine, 1-(2-aminoethyl)-, is the prime one among them. The isolate exhibited antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and antilarval potency. The MIC and MBC values of the ethyl-acetate culture extract ranged from 15.62 to 250 µg/mL against ten pathogenic microorganisms (including MRSA and VRSA). Killing kinetics data along with the leakage of macromolecules into the extracellular environment supports the cidal activity of the antibacterial principles. The broad spectrum antibacterial activity of Aziridine, 1-(2-aminoethyl)-, was optimized by a one-variable-at-a-time system coupled with response surface methodology, which led to a 45% enhancement of the antibacterial activity. The maximum response (22.81 ± 0.16 mm of zone of inhibition against MRSA) was marked in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask containing 90 mL potato dextrose broth supplemented with (g%/L) glucose, 9.7; urea concentration, 0.74; with medium pH 6.48; after 8.76 days of incubation at 26 °C. APS1 strongly inhibited biofilm formation in the tested pathogenic microorganisms and acts as a larvicidal agent against the Dengue-vector Aedes aegypti. This is probably the first report of Aziridine, 1-(2-aminoethyl)-, from any endophytic source. Cochliobolus sp. APS1 possesses industrial importance for the production of bioactive alkaloids.     

Characteristics of electrochemically grown dendritic metallic zinc

A simple electrochemical process has been implemented to fabricated fractal structured leaf-like metallic zinc. The fabricated material was structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction that reveals the hexagonal unit cell structure. Also the growth of the structure is anisotropic. Field emission scanning electron microscopic images revealed clearly the leaf-like morphology of the fabricated material is fern like and ∼500 μm in length, ∼50-60 μm wide and the platelets thickness is ∼5 μm. The growth of this structure is diffusion controlled and locally accomplished with the oriented attachment. Raman shift measurement revealed the existence of surface optical phonon modes which is very significant for surface defects.     

A theoretical study of antioxidant activity of some Schiff bases derived from biologically important phenolic aldehydes and phenylenediamines

Because of their numerous biological as well as industrial importance, the study of Schiff bases is an emerging field for the researchers, in recent time. In this study, we have designed some Schiff bases derived from biologically important precursors. The antioxidant activities of the designed compounds are thoroughly studied theoretically using density functional theory taking various parameters like bond dissociation enthalpy, ionization enthalpy, proton dissociation enthalpy, and electron transfer enthalpy followed by the study of effects of solvent, spin density, and molecular orbital on antioxidant activity of the compounds. The comparison of antioxidant activity of the compounds with that of phenol and their parent aldehydes reveals the superior antioxidant activity of the designed compounds. This study contributes towards the information of an important bridge between bioorganic and computational chemistry.