Sub- and above-barrier fusion of loosely bound 6Li with 28Si

Fusion excitation functions are measured for the system ⁶Li + ²⁸Si using the characteristic $ \gamma$ -ray method, encompassing both the sub-barrier and above-barrier regions, viz, E _lab = 7-24 MeV. Two separate experiments were performed, one for the above-barrier region ( E _lab = 11-24 MeV) and another for the below-barrier region ( E _lab = 7-10 MeV). The results were compared with our previously measured fusion cross-section for the ⁷Li + ²⁸Si system. We observed the enhancement of the fusion cross-section at sub-barrier regions for both ⁶Li and ⁷Li , but the yield was substantially larger for ⁶Li . However, for well-above-barrier regions, a similar type of suppression was identified for both the systems.     

Synthesis of SnS thin films via galvanostatic electrodeposition and fabrication of CdS/SnS heterostructure for photovoltaic applications

In this work SnS thin films were electrochemically deposited on ITO coated glass substrate by galvanostatic electrodeposition at different pH of the plating bath. The working electrode used in these studies was low cost high purity graphite rod. The as-deposited films were found to be smooth, pinhole free and well adherent to the substrate with no powdery deposition. EDX measurements revealed that all the SnS films were non-stoichiometric in nature with variation from Sn-excess to S-excess compositions. XRD pattern showed that all the SnS thin films had orthorhombic polycrystalline structure. The direct bandgaps of all the films were found to be in the range 1.54-1.58 eV. ITO/SnS/In structure exhibited linear current-voltage characteristics, establishing the ohmic nature of both ITO/SnS and SnS/In junctions. Furthermore, SnS layer was grown on CdS film using electrodeposition technique. The heterostructure ITO/CdS/SnS/In was characterized under dark and illuminated conditions. From forward biased I-V characteristics several junction parameters like barrier height, diode ideality factor and series resistance of the heterostructure were extracted using Cheung model.     

Growth and characterization of Cd1−xZnxTe thin films prepared from elemental multilayer deposition

Cd_1−xZn_xTe is a key material for fabrication of high-energy radiation detectors and optical devices. Conventionally it is fabricated using single crystal growth techniques. The method adopted here is the deposition of elemental multilayer followed by thermal annealing in vacuum. The multilayer structure was annealed at different temperatures using one to five repetitions of Cd-Zn-Te sequence. X-ray diffraction pattern for the multilayer with five repetitions revealed that annealing at 475 °C yielded single-phase material compared to other annealing conditions. EDX spectroscopy was carried out to study the corresponding compositions. Photoluminescence properties and change of resistance of the multilayer under illumination were also studied. The resistivity of the best sample was found to be a few hundreds of Ω cm.     

Symmetry analysis and optimal systems of generalized Chaplygin gas equations with a source term

The system of generalized Chaplygin gas equations with a coulomblike friction term has been investigated by using the famous Lie symmetry method. A direct and systematic algorithm based on the adjoint transformation and invariants of the admitted Lie algebras is then used to construct one- and two-dimensional optimal system of the Chaplygin gas equations. Inequivalent classes of group invariant solutions are then obtained using the one-dimensional optimal system. Further, the evolutionary behaviour of the weak discontinuity wave within the state characterized by one of the group invariant solutions is investigated in detail, and certain observations are noted in respect to their contrasting behaviour.     

X-ray characterization and phase transformation kinetics of ball-mill prepared nanocrystalline Mg–Zn-ferrite at elevated temperatures

Nanocrystalline Mg–Zn-ferrite is prepared by ball milling the stoichiometric powder mixture of MgO, ZnO and α-Fe₂O₃. A non-stoichiometric ferrite phase is noticed to form after 3 h of milling when particles of starting materials became nano-sized. After 25 h of milling, stoichiometric ferrite phase is formed with 9 nm particle size. Post annealing study of ball-milled sample reveals that the nanocrystalline ferrite phase is stable up to 873 K and then starts to decompose into individual starting phases. However, heat treatment of unmilled stoichiometric powder mixture even at 1473 K for 1 h duration does not result in formation of stoichiometric Mg–Zn-ferrite phase.     

An improved solution to the replenishment policy for the EMQ model with rework and multiple shipments

Recently, Chiu et al. (2012) [1] present an alternative optimization procedure to derive the optimal replenishment lot size for an economic manufacturing quantity (EMQ) model with rework and multiple shipments. This inventory model was proposed by Chiu et al. (2011) [2]. Both papers do not consider the determining of the number of shipments. This paper determines both the optimal replenishment lot size and the optimal number of shipments jointly. The solution of this paper is better than the solutions of Chiu et al.  and .     

Thermally exfoliated graphene oxide reinforced stress responsive conductive nanocomposite hydrogel

Lightweight and flexible biosensors that can sustain mechanical deformation and can be adhered to human skin is an interesting field of study. In the current article, a systematic study on development of thermally exfoliated graphene oxide (TEGO)–reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–based conductive hydrogel nanocomposites has been reported. The free‐standing hydrogels were synthesized using controlled and repetitive freeze‐thaw cycles. The samples were then studied for their mechanical as well as electrical properties. The hydrogels were characterized for their microstructural, chemical, and rheological properties to understand the observed macroscopic properties. Additionally, a study on the behavior of hydrogels immersed in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) was carried out to investigate their hydrolytic stability within simulated biological environment. Overall, the nanocomposite hydrogels demonstrated excellent static and dynamic mechanical performance, stability in PBS, considerable electrical conductivity, and significant electrical response to applied external stress, establishing their potential for use as flexible biosensors.     

Bianchi Type <Emphasis Type="Italic">VI</Emphasis><Subscript>0</Subscript> Magnetized Barotropic Bulk Viscous Fluid Massive String Universe in General Relativity

A model of a cloud formed by massive strings is studied in the context of the usual general relativity. This model is used as a source of Bianchi type VI ₀ massive with magnetic field and bulk viscosity. To get a determinate model, we assume that the expansion (θ) in the model is proportional to the shear (σ) and also the fluid obeys the barotropic equation of state. The behaviour of the models from physical and geometrical aspects in presence and absence of magnetic field and bulk viscosity is discussed.