Dispersion of nano-silicon carbide (SiC) powder in aqueous suspensions

The dispersion characteristics of nanosize silicon carbide (SiC) suspension were investigated in terms of surface charge, particle size, rheological measurement and adsorption study. Ammonium polycarboxylate has been used as dispersant to stabilize the suspension. It was found that the isoelectric point (iep) of SiC powder was pH_iep (4.9). The surface charge of powder changed significantly in presence of the ammonium polycarboxylate dispersant and iep shifted significantly towards lower acidic pH (3.6). The shift in iep has been quantified in terms of ΔG ⁰ _SP, the specific free energy of adsorption between the surface sites and the adsorbing polyelectrolyte (APC). The values of ΔG ⁰ _SP (−10.85 RT unit) estimated by the electro kinetic data compare well with those obtained from adsorption isotherms (−9.521 RT unit). The experimentally determined optimum concentration of dispersant required for maximizing the dispersion was found to be 2.4 mg/g of SiC (corresponding to an adsorbed amount of 1.10 mg/g), at pH 7.5. This is much below the full monolayer coverage (corresponding to adsorbed amount of 1.75 mg/g) of the particles surface by the dispersant. The surface charge quantity, rheological, pH, electro kinetic and adsorption isotherm results were used to explain and correlate the stability of the nanosize silicon carbide in aqueous media. At pH 7.5, where both SiC surface and APC are negatively charged, the adsorption of APC was low because of limited availability of favourable adsorption sites. In addition, the brush-like configuration of the adsorbed polymer prevented close approach of any additional dispersant; hence stabilization of the slurry happens at a comparatively lower concentration than the monolayer coverage.     

Comparison of two theories during self-focusing of Gaussian laser beam in thermal conduction-loss predominant plasmas

In the present paper, self-focusing phenomenon occurring as a result of non-linear interaction of intense laser beam with thermal conduction-loss predominant plasmas is studied by following both approaches viz. paraxial theory approach and moment theory approach. Non-linear differential equations for the beam width parameters of laser beam have been set up and solved numerically in both cases to study the variation of beam width parameters with normalized distance of propagation. Effects of laser intensity as well as plasma density on the beam width parameters have also been analyzed. It is observed from the analysis that in case of moment theory approach, strong self-focusing of laser beam is observed as compared to paraxial theory approach.     

Interplay between charge and antiferromagnetic ordering in Bi0.6−xPrxCa0.4MnO3 (0≤x≤0.6) perovskite manganite

Structure, magnetic and transport properties of polycrystalline Bi_0.6−xPr_xCa_0.4MnO₃ (x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6) have been studied. Systematic substitution of Pr at Bi site induces an interesting interplay between the charge ordering and antiferromagnetism. The charge ordering temperature (T_CO) decreases with increasing x. The antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering temperature (T_N) increases sharply at both the extremes but remains nearly constant from x=0.2 to 0.4. At temperatures lower than T_N a transition to the glassy state is observed. The nature of this glass like state appears to be controlled by the Pr content, and at lower values of x this is akin to a spin glass, while at higher x it has a characteristic of cluster glass. The Pr doping also leads to enhancement in the magnetic moment. In the present work it has been proposed that the local lattice distortion induced due to size mismatch between the A-site cations and 6s² character of Bi³⁺ lone pair electron is responsible for the observed magnetic and electrical properties.     

Binding site characterization of G protein-coupled receptor by alanine-scanning mutagenesis using molecular dynamics and binding free energy approach: application to C-C chemokine receptor-2 (CCR2)

The C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) was proved as a multidrug target in many diseases like diabetes, inflammation and AIDS, but rational drug design on this target is still lagging behind as the information on the exact binding site and the crystal structure is not yet available. Therefore, for a successful structure-based drug design, an accurate receptor model in ligand-bound state is necessary. In this study, binding-site residues of CCR2 was determined using in silico alanine scanning mutagenesis and the interactions between TAK-779 and the developed homology model of CCR2. Molecular dynamic simulation and Molecular Mechanics-Generalized Born Solvent Area method was applied to calculate binding free energy difference between the template and mutated protein. Upon mutating 29 amino acids of template protein and comparison of binding free energy with wild type, six residues were identified as putative hot spots of CCR2.     

Luminescence and ESR Studies of CaS：Dy Phosphor

CaS phosphor activated with Dy ions is prepared by the solid-state diffusion method. The phosphor is characterized by x-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and photoiuminescence. Defect centres formed in CaS：Dy are studied using the technique of electron spin resonance. The thermoluminescence glow curve shows peaks at around 117℃ and 345℃. Irradiated CaS：Dy exhibits ESR lines due to defect centres. The thermal annealing behaviour of one of the defect centres appears to correlate with the TL peaks at 117℃ and 345℃. This centre is characterized by an isotropic g-value of 2.0035 and is assigned to an F^＋ centre.     

Cosmological Models with Time Dependent G and Λ Coupling Scalars

A cosmological model in which the universe has its critical density and gravitational constants generalized as coupling scalars in Einstein's theory is considered. A general method of solving the field equations is given. An exact solution for matter distribution in cosmological models satisfying G=G₀(R/R₀)ⁿ is presented. Corresponding physical interpretations of the cosmological solutions are also discussed.     

Quantum Emulation of Extreme Non‐Equilibrium Phenomena with Trapped Atoms

Ultracold atomic physics experiments offer a nearly ideal context for the investigation of quantum systems far from equilibrium. We describe three related emerging directions of research into extreme non‐equilibrium phenomena in atom traps: quantum emulation of ultrafast atom‐light interactions, coherent phasonic spectroscopy in tunable quasicrystals, and realization of Floquet matter in strongly‐driven lattice systems. We show that all three should enable quantum emulation in parameter regimes inaccessible in solid‐state experiments, facilitating a complementary approach to open problems in non‐equilibrium condensed matter.     

Signatures of spin-glass freezing in Co/CoO nanospheres and nanodiscs

We present a study of the magnetic properties of Co nanoparticles having a combination of both spherical and disk shapes. The hcp Co nanospheres with an average diameter of 11 nm and nanodiscs of dimensions ∼2.5×15 nm² were prepared by thermal decomposition of di-cobalt octacarbonyl in the presence of an amine surfactant. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were oxidized to grow an antiferromagnetic layer. High resolution transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of a ferromagnet/antiferromagnet (Co/CoO) interface with a 2.2-nm thick CoO shell on the spherical nanoparticles and 0.5 nm thick on nanodiscs. We report the temperature and field dependent DC magnetization, frequency, field, and temperature dependent AC susceptibility, and the radio frequency transverse susceptibility. A low temperature paramagnetic behavior was observed in the DC magnetization at high fields and is assigned to defects in the CoO shell that are not coupled to the antiferromagnetic lattice. Our results support the existence of a low temperature frozen, disordered magnetic state, characterized by a strong exchange coupling between the structurally disordered, spin-glass CoO shell and Co core.     

Monodisperse Co,Zn-Ferrite nanocrystals: Controlled synthesis,characterization and magnetic properties

Co_xZn_yFe_3−x−yO₄ ferrite (x=1 to 0; y=0 to1) nanocrystals have been synthesized by reverse microemulsion method. The nanocrystals are then comprehensively characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM), and magnetic properties were measured by using Vibrating sample magnetometer. X-ray analysis showed that all the crystals were cubic spinel. The lattice constant increased with the increase in Zn substitution. FETEM reveals that particle size varies in the range from 3 to 6 nm. As the concentration of Zn increases the magnetic behavior varies from ferromagnetic at y=0 and 0.2 to superparamagnetic to paramagnetic at y=1. The Curie temperature decreases with increasing concentration of Zn.     

Securing multiplexed information by in-plane rotation of random phase diffusers constituting a sandwich diffuser placed in the Fourier plane of a double random phase encoding system

We propose the encryption and multiplexing of two-dimensional input images by rotating the constituent diffusers of a sandwich random phase diffuser kept in the Fourier plane of a double random phase encoding system. Successive recording of encrypted images is done by taking the input images one by one. The results of multiplexing in encryption and decryption due to different sets of rotation of one or both of the random constituent phase masks have been presented. The use of an aperture system in addition to the rotation of one or both of the random phase masks enhances the multiplexing capability and security of the system avoiding the generation of cross-talk images at the time of decryption. Simulation results are presented in support of the proposed techniques. The decrypted images obtained from a multiplexed encrypted image have been recorded successfully. Mean square-error (MSE) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values as a function of the number of multiplexed images have been calculated.