Comparison of thermomagnetic history effects in weakly pinned single crystals of R 3Rh4Sn13 (R=Yb, Ca)

A comparative study of the thermomagnetic memory effects of J _c in two weakly pinned low T _c superconductors, Ca₃Rh₄Sn₁₃ (CaRhSn) and Yb₃Rh₄Sn₁₃ (YbRhSn), is presented. In both the systems, the peak effect (PE) phenomenon appears as an order-disorder transformation through stepwise amorphization of the flux line lattice (FLL). However, in CaRhSn. we can witness another disorder-driven transition (Bragg glass (BG) to a vortex glass (VG) in a distinct manner as in a single crystal of high T _c YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ for H‖c.     

Ultrasonic study of molecular interaction in binary liquid mixtures at 30°C

Densities ρ and ultrasonic speeds u of the binary mixtures of tetrahydrofuran (THF) with 1-butanol and tert-butanol, at 30°C, over the entire composition range were measured. From these data isentropic compressibility, K _s, intermolecular free length L _f, relative association R _A, acoustic impedance Z, molar sound speed R _m, deviations in isentropic compressibility ΔK _s, and excess volume V ^E were calculated. The variation of these parameters with composition of the mixture helps us in understanding the nature and extent of interaction between unlike molecules in the mixtures. Further, theoretical values of ultrasonic speed were evaluated using theories and empirical relations. The relative merits of these theories and relations were discussed.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and imine bond activation of a copper(II) Schiff base complex

A new copper(II) complex [Cu(HL)(ClO₄)](ClO₄) (1), where HL is a multidentate Schiff base N,N′-(2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diyl)bis(pyridine-2-aldimine), is prepared, structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography and its spectral and electrochemical properties studied. The complex forms a one-dimensional chain in the solid state structure in which the monomeric Cu(HL) units are linked by the perchlorate ligand. The complex has an axially elongated six coordinate geometry (4+2) with a CuN₄O₂ core in which the Schiff base ligand displays a tetradentate mode of bonding in the basal plane. The axial ligand is perchlorate with a significantly long Cu–O bond of ca. 2.6 Å. The one-electron paramagnetic complex displays a cyclic voltammetric response for the Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple at 0.01 V versus SCE in MeCN–0.1 M TBAP. The azomethine bond of the Schiff base in 1 on treatment with H₂O₂ undergoes oxidative conversion to form a bis(picolinato)copper(II) · dihydrate species through the formation of an amido intermediate as evidenced from the solution infrared spectral studies.     

Beta-branching fraction of117Cd isomers and it branching of117mIn

Using radiochemical and gamma spectrometric technique the branching fractions in the beta decay of¹¹⁷Cd isomers and the internal transition branching of^117mIn have been established. The beta branching fraction of^117gCd^117gIn was obtained as 0.86±0.06 and the value of^117mCd^117gIn was found to be less than 1%. The internal transitin branching and the isomer cross-section ratio were obtained as 0.31±0.02 and 0.197±0.002, respectively. From the measured isomer cross-section ratio the spin cut-off parameter was evaluated, which agreed with the value reported in the literature.     

Reaction between cis-diaquabisbiguanideruthenium(III) and hexathiocyanatochromium(III) ions in aqueous media. A mechanistic survey on the formation of a dinuclear bridged complex

The reaction between two complex species [Ru(BigH)₂(H₂O)₂]³⁺ and [Cr(SCN)₆]^3– has been investigated in aqueous medium in the pH range 4.00–6.10, and followed in the 21–40 °C range. Pseudo-first order rate constants were evaluated using the chromium complex in a ten-fold excess. The plot of k _obs versus pH has a bell shaped profile. From this and other evidence it was concluded that only the [Ru(BigH)₂(OH)(H₂O)]²⁺ form of the ruthenium complex is reactive under the experimental conditions, and forms the dinuclear complex [Ru(BigH)₂--(SCN)₂-Cr(NCS)₄]⁰. The rate constant for the dinuclear complex formation at 31 °C is (2.57 ± 0.05) × 10^–3 mol^–1 s^–1. H = 60 ± 2 kJ mol^–1 and S = 116 ± 10 J K^–1 mol^–1.     

Ionic melts with waterlike anomalies: thermodynamic properties of liquid BeF2

Thermodynamic properties of liquid beryllium difluoride (BeF(2)) are studied using canonical ensemble molecular dynamics simulations of the transferable rigid ion model potential. The negative slope of the locus of points of maximum density in the temperature-pressure plane is mapped out. The excess entropy, computed within the pair correlation approximation, is found to show an anomalous increase with isothermal compression at low temperatures which will lead to diffusional as well as structural anomalies resembling those in water. The anomalous behavior of the entropy is largely connected with the behavior of the Be-F pair correlation function. The internal energy shows a T(35) temperature dependence. The pair correlation entropy shows a T(-25) temperature dependence only at high densities and temperatures. The correlation plots between internal energy and the pair correlation entropy for isothermal compression show the characteristic features expected of network-forming liquids with waterlike anomalies. The tagged particle potential energy distributions are shown to have a multimodal form at low temperatures and densities similar to those seen in other liquids with three-dimensional tetrahedral networks, such as water and silica.     

Effect of ionic solutes on the hydrogen bond network dynamics of water: power spectral analysis of aqueous NaCl solutions

To understand the modifications of the hydrogen bond network of water by ionic solutes, power spectra as well as static distributions of the potential energies of tagged solvent molecules and solute ions have been computed from molecular dynamics simulations of aqueous NaCl solutions. The key power spectral features of interest are the presence of high-frequency peaks due to localized vibrational modes, the existence of a multiple time scale or 1/falpha frequency regime characteristic of networked liquids, and the frequency of crossover from 1/falpha type behavior to white noise. Hydrophilic solutes, such as the sodium cation and the chloride anion, are shown to mirror the multiple time scale behavior of the hydrogen bond network fluctuations, unlike hydrophobic solutes which display essentially white noise spectra. While the power spectra associated with tagged H2O molecules are not very sensitive to concentration in the intermediate frequency 1/falpha regime, the crossover to white noise is shifted to lower frequencies on going from pure solvent to aqueous alkali halide solutions. This suggests that new and relatively slow time scales enter the picture, possibly associated with processes such as migration of water molecules from the hydration shell to the bulk or conversion of contact ion pairs into solvent-separated ion pairs which translate into variations in equilibrium transport properties of salt solutions with concentration. For anions, cations, and solvent molecules, the trends in the alpha exponents of the multiple time scale region and the self-diffusivities are found to be strongly correlated.