Affine classification of points of multidimensional surfaces

Khar'kov. Translated from Sibirskii Matematicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 19–29, May–June, 1990.     

Particular features of the transmission of laser radiation with wavelength 0.438 µm and intensity (3–7)·1014 W/cm2 through an undercritical plasma from polymer aerogels

The velocities of energy transport in an undercritical plasma of polymer aerogel with and without copper nanoparticles were measured. Transmission of the laser light through targets of different thicknesses such as submicron three-dimensional polymer networks with densities below the critical value (0.13–0.52 N _cr) for a wavelength of 0.438 μm and intensity of (3–7)·10¹⁴ W/cm² at a half-height pulse duration of 0.32 ns was studied. The transfer of a heating laser radiation was registered on the rear side of the target. It ranged from a level of ∼0.5% for the thickness of a low-density layer of 400 μm and density of 9 mg/cm³ (mass per unit square of 0.36 mg/cm²) up to 50–60% for a thickness of 100 μm and density of 2.25 mg/cm³ (mass per unit square of 0.02 mg/cm²). The time dependences of the optical emission from the rear side of the targets were measured. They appear to be indicative of the plasma dynamics in two-layer targets (polymer foam on Al foil) and enable the estimation of the absorption depth for the laser light in an undercritical plasma. __________ Translated from Preprint No. 8 of the P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow (2007).     

Modeling the atomic and electronic structure of diamond nanocrystals containing [NV]<Superscript>−</Superscript> centers by the density functional method

We have used the density functional method to model the atomic and electronic structure of diamond nanocrystals passivated by hydrogen atoms and either not containing defects or containing a single [NV]⁻ center. We have shown that in all cases, after relaxation the nanocrystals are formed as diamond-like structures. We have studied the features of the electronic structure of the nanocrystals. We have analyzed in detail the mechanism for the formation of energy levels in the bandgap due to [NV]⁻ centers. We have established that the optical absorption and fluorescence spectra for the [NV]⁻ centers are mainly associated with transitions of electrons between the highest occupied β orbitals (projection of the electron spin equal to +1/2) and lower unoccupied α orbitals (projection of the electron spin equal to −1/2). The results on the localization and energy position of the states in the bandgap match data obtained for the [NV]⁻ center in bulk diamond. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 1, pp. 86–92, January–February, 2007.     

Mass spectrometry of the self-association and complexation of triterpene saponins and cholesterol

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has been used to study the self-association of α-hederin and hederacoside C (from Hedera) glycosides. The complexation of glycosides with cholesterol has been considered. It has been revealed that α-hederin forms self-associates registered in ESI mass spectra, while no self-associates have been found for hederacoside C and cholesterol. Cholesterol produces molecular complex with α-hederin, while complex formation between cholesterol and bisdesmoside hederacoside has not been observed.     

Paramagnetic tunneling systems and their contribution to the polarization echo in glasses

Startling magnetic effects on the spontaneous polarization echo in some silicate glasses at low and ultralow temperatures have been reported in the last decade or so. Though some progress in search of an explanation has been made by considering the nuclear quadrupole dephasing of tunneling particles, here we show that the effect of a magnetic field can be understood quantitatively by means of a special tunnel mechanism associated with paramagnetic impurities. For the Fe(3+)-, Cr(3+)-, and Nd(3+)-contaminated glasses we provide reasonable fits to the published data as a function of applied magnetic field and temperature.     

Electrodeposition of silicon from three different ionic liquids: possible influence of the anion on the deposition process

The electrodeposition of silicon was investigated from three different ionic liquids with the cation 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium ([Py_1,4]⁺) and three different anions, namely, trifluoromethylsulfonate (TfO^?), bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (TFSA^?) and tris(pentafluoroethyl)-trifluorophosphate (FAP^?) at room temperature and at 100 °C, respectively. The electrodeposition was performed on gold and on copper substrates. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the possible influence of anions on the deposition process. In situ STM studies were also carried out to examine the interfacial behaviour of the SiCl₄/[Py_1,4]TFSA and SiCl₄/[Py_1,4]FAP on Au(111) at room temperature. In situ STM measurements revealed that an underpotential deposition of Si in [Py_1,4]FAP occurred on Au (111) at ~ -0.5 V (vs. Fc/Fc⁺). In comparison, only adsorption of ionic liquid and gold surface reconstruction was found to occur in the potential regime between -0.3 and ?1.8 V (vs. Fc/Fc⁺), respectively, in the case of [Py_1,4]TFSA. In situ STM investigations reveal an effect of the anion on the interfacial processes. In situ I/U tunnelling spectroscopy shows that the band gap of the electrodeposits is ~1.1 eV, indicating that semiconducting silicon has been electrodeposited. Potentiostatic electrolysis was performed to deposit Si from the employed electrolytes at room temperature and at 100 °C. The deposits were characterised using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Thin films of Si could be obtained from the employed ionic liquids and the quality of the deposits was significantly improved at 100 °C.     

Characterization of divinyl benzene aerogels with density gradient using X-ray tomography technique

Production of density gradient aerogels with predetermined density steps or gradient is challenging, particularly when the experiments would demand a prescribed gradient in density along the axis of cylindrical shaped aerogel. In order to achieve this, it is vital to characterize and accurately measure the density gradient in order to “design” synthetic routes to achieve the desired density gradient that can be used in plasma physics experiments using high-energy lasers. X-ray tomography was used for the characterization of these aerogels and it is demonstrated that it is the most reliable and quick method for characterization of gradient density aerogels. Divinyl benzene aerogels samples were synthesized by Lewis acid catalysis and samples were supercritically dried, characterized and their parameters measured to realize that the necessary properties were achieved. The change in density from solid density to 100 mg/cm³ is registered and the accuracy is evaluated.     

Contact angles of diiodomethane on silicon-doped diamond-like carbon coatings in electrolyte solutions

The influence of surrounding electrolyte type and concentration on the contact angle of hydrophobic diiodomethane on silicon-doped diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings was examined to provide insight into how the presence of electrolytes in the solution influences adhesion of hydrophobic material to doped DLC surfaces. There was a small but statistically significant increase of contact angle with increasing electrolyte concentration over the range from 0 to approximately 0.01 M, after which the contact angle was virtually unaffected by further increase in the concentration of electrolyte. It was shown that CaCl(2) has a stronger influence on the change of the contact angle than NaCl, and that an increase in Si content in the DLC coatings increased the change in the contact angle of diiodomethane for all types of electrolyte. These observations suggest that the adhesion to the Si-doped DLC surfaces is reduced by addition of the electrolytes to the surrounding solvent. This could be explained by increased ion adsorption on the DLC surface with increase in silicon doping, causing the surfaces to be more hydrophilic.     

Synthesis and study of aminomethylated dihydroquercetin dodecatungstophosphate

6-Piperidinomethyl-2,3-dihydroquercetin dodecatungstophosphate (C₅H₁₀NH-CH₂-C₁₅H₁₁O₇)₂ · H[PW₁₂O₄₀] · 10H₂O (I) was synthesized and studied by chemical analysis, mass spectrometry, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis.