Mössbauer studies on the series La1-xSrxFeO3

Mössbauer spectra have been recorded at 4.2 and 300 K on the series La_1–x Sr _x FeO₃, wherex varies from 0 to 1.0 in steps of 0.1. Neutron diffraction experiments have shown that the crystal structure is orthorhombic for 0x<0.3, rhombohedral for 0.4x0.7, and cubic for 0.8<x1.0. Mössbauer spectra at 4.2 K are composed of magnetic sextet components arising from different charge states of iron ions. In the orthorhombic and rhombohedral phases, the charge states Fe³⁺ and Fe⁵⁺ coexist. In the cubic phase, iron is present as Fe³⁺ and Fe⁴⁺ states. At 300 K, the samples are magnetically ordered in the range 0 x0.3 and the coexistence of Fe³⁺ and Fe⁵⁺ remains. For samples 0.4x1.0, the samples are paramagnetic. Fits to these spectra require two components, one corresponding to an Fe⁴⁺ state, the other being best described as an Fe³⁺ ion forx0.7 but forx>0.7 having a mean charge state which increases to 3.5 forx=1.0.     

Products obtained by microbially-induced corrosion of steel in a marine environment: Role of green rust two

An unusual low-water corrosion of steel sheet piles has been systematically investigated in a channel harbour (Boulogne sur Mer, France). An analysis of the environment reveals that all sampling of dark rust taken at different heights above marine sediments and kept in anaerobic conditions present unusual concentrations of sulfate-reducing bacteria. The rust products have been characterized by Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, comprising the ferrous—ferric sulfated compounds of formula 4Fe(OH)₂ · 2FeOOH · FeSO₄ ·nH₂O, called green rust 2, mixed sometimes with magnetite and a small amount of ferrous sulfide.     

Spin dynamics in the spin glass phase of Y(Mn1−xAlx)2

Zero field SR has been used to probe spin dynamics in the concentrated spin glass Y(Mn_0.9Al_0.1)₂. The spectra follow a stretched exponential form, G_z(t)=exp(–(t)), with reaching 1/3 as the freezing temperature, T_g=60K, is approached. The evolution of G_z(t) with temperature is suggestive of the behaviour of the spin correlation function found by Ogielski in Monte Carlo simulations of the dynamics of the Ising spin glass model. The SR results are correlated with results previously obtained by inelastic neutron scattering.     

Spectroscopy of excited state positronium

Electric dipole transitions in the microwave range have been induced between the fine-structure levels of positronium in the excited staten=2. As an indication of the transitions, we used the increase in Lyman- radiation when the metastable 2³S₁-level is depopulated. The results for the transitions 2³S₁2³P_0,1,2 are ₀=18499.65±1.20±4.00 MHz, ₁=13012.42 ±0.65±1.54 MHz and ₂=8624.38±0.54±1.40 MHz. The first error is statistical and the second systematic. The precision of the present measurement has improved by a factor of 3, compared to previous data. Recent bound state QED-calculations have been extended to the orderR _t8 ⁴ln ^–1. The not yet completely calculated orderR _t8 ⁴ is estimated to contribute less than 1 MHz. Our experimental results are in good agreement with theory. By applying a weak magnetic field, we were able to observe the transition 2³S₁2¹P₁ which is strictly forbidden byC-invariance in zero field. Our result, corrected for Zeeman- and motional Starkeffect, is ₃=11180.0±5.0±4.0 MHz. An upper limit for theC-violating matrix element of MHz could be deduced. Our experiment used moderated slow positrons from the bremsstrahlung and pair production of a pulsed electron linear accelerator (TEPOS facility at the university of Giessen).     

Quantitative EPR spectrometry — “State of the art”

The purpose of the present review is to collect some results available in the literature in order to focus the attention of the world EPR community and thus to stimulate their activity on solving the problems of quantitative EPR spectrometry.     

Photorefractive properties of ruthenium-doped potassium niobate

Photoconductivities and photovoltaic currents of ruthenium-doped KNbO₃ are orders of magnitude larger than that of undoped and ion-doped crystals. KNbO₃:Ru is very sensitive for holographic recording with red light and the photovoltaic current increases sublinearly with light intensity.     

From oscillations to excitability: A case study in spatially extended systems

This volume is devoted to the presentation of the main contributions to the workshop "From oscillations to excitability: A case study in spatially extended systems," organized by the authors in Nice in June 1993. It gives an overview of the current research on spatiotemporal patterns in a wide range of systems that display self-oscillatory or excitable behavior. It tries to give a better understanding of the transition from the oscillatory to the excitable regime and of its effect on the properties of spiral waves, and to fill the gap between the theories and concepts used to describe both regimes in the so-called "active media."     

Quasi-two-dimensional hydrodynamics and problems of two-dimensional turbulence

The principal problems of quasi-two-dimensional (Q2-D) hydrodynamics are discussed. Accounting for Q2-D flow vertical structure is shown to eliminate "genetic" defects of the formal 2-D idealization of 3-D Navier-Stokes equations and allows under certain conditions to formulate corrected 2-D motion equations which adequately describe real hydrodynamic processes. The applicability of the approach is directly verified in laboratory experiments. Special attention is paid to the problem of 2-D turbulence. Its simulation on the basis of ordinary 2-D equations is unjustified because of the absence of the external Kolmogorov dissipation scale and reverse spectral energy flux. An alternative approach allows one to introduce the natural external scale of 2-D turbulence which depends only on physical properties of the system under consideration and to formulate the conditions under which the large scale vortex dynamics is expected to be universal at large Reynolds number, i.e., to be independent on the size and form of integration domain and lateral boundary conditions.     

One-loop divergence in dilation gravitation with neutral fermions

Covariant quantization is considered for a (1+1)-dimensional four-fermion model interacting with general-form dilation gravitation: the coefficients to all the terms are arbitrary functions of the dilaton field. In particular, detailed studies have been made of the Majorana case, the Gross-Neveu model, and extension of it containing an axial-scalar current term. The divergence of the one-loop effective action is derived and a study is made of the structure of the off-shell renormalizations. Finally, there is a discussion of renormalization in the sense of a generalized model, and expressions are given for the corresponding functionals.Single-Crystals Institute, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. Tomsk State Pedagogic Institute. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 116–121, September, 1994.     

Germination, growth rates, and electron microscope analysis of tomato seeds flown on the LDEF

The purpose of the experiment was to determine cosmic rays long-term effects on living tissue. A batch of tomato seeds were flown in orbit aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) for almost 6 y. During this time, the seeds received an abundant exposure to cosmic radiation. Upon the return of the LDEF to Earth, the seeds were distributed throughout the United States and 30 foreign countries for analysis. Our university analysis included germination and growth rates as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray analysis of the control as well as space exposed tomato seeds.

In analyzing the seeds under the electron microscope, usual observations were performed on the nutritional and epidermis layer of the seed. These layers appeared to be more porous in the space exposed seeds than on Earth-based control seeds. This unusual characteristic may explain the increases in the space seeds growth pattern. (Several test results showed that the space-exposed seeds germinated sooner than Earth-based seeds. Also, the space-exposed seeds grew at a faster rate.) The porous nutritional region may allow the seeds to receive necessary nutrients and liquids more readily, thus enabling the plant to grow at a faster rate.

Roots, leaves and stems were cut into small sections and mounted. After sputter coating the specimens with argon/gold palladium plasma, they were viewed under the electron microscope. Many micrographs were taken. The X-ray analysis displayed possible identifications of calcium, potassium, chlorine, copper, aluminum, silicon, phosphate, carbon, and sometimes sulfur and iron. The highest concentrations were shown in potassium and calcium. As a result of the electron interaction and X-ray production within the open seeds, the traditional layers of the space-exposed seed gave peaks of Mg, P and S, while the Earth seed gave an iron peak, which was not detected in the space-exposed seed because of electron beam positioning difference. The space-exposed seed and the Earth-control seed specimens displayed high concentrations of copper.