Mathematical problems of liquid crystal flows

This article deals with flow phenomena in liquid crystal materials. The model that I analyse is that due to Ericksen for liquid crystals with variable degree of orientation. One of the goals is understanding the role of the order parameter in the model. I examine the multiplicity of solutions, phases, that occur in shear flow regimes and analyse their stability under physically realistic conditions. In particular, I show that ellipticity of the linearized system of governing equations is a consequence of the Clausius–Duhem inequality.     

Rotation Part of the Dielectric Permittivity of Water Vapor for Different Spectral Line Profiles

We estimate the possible influence of spectral line profile (Lorentz profile, Van Vleck–Weisskopf profile, and profile obtained by solving kinetic equation) on the rotation part of the dielectric permittivity of water-vapor monomers. Spectral regions corresponding to long-wavelength (static) and high-frequency (optical) limiting cases as well as regions in close proximity to resonances of various intensities are considered. The studied effects are compared with the corresponding effects on water-vapor absorption coefficient, which are related to factors determining the line-shape structure.     

Kinetic study of n-heptane oxidation

The oxidation of n-heptane has been studied in a jet-stirred flow reactor in the temperature range 950–1200 K at atmospheric pressure for a wide range of fuel-oxygen equivalence ratios (0.2 to 2.0). A chemical kinetic reaction mechanism developed from previous studies on smaller hydrocarbons and extended to C₆ and C₇ species was used to reproduce the experimental data. Good agreement between computed and measured concentrations of major chemical species was obtained for the entire range of experimental conditions. Sensitivity analyses were carried out to identify the reactions having the greatest influence on the modeling results. The major reaction paths for n-heptane consumption and for the formation of the main products have been identified. In addition n-heptane ignition delays behind a reflected shock wave measured by other investigators were used to validate the present reaction mechanism at higher temperature and pressure.     

Liquid crystal side chain polysiloxanes containing various proportions of non-mesogenic units

Recent studies have established that side chain polymeric liquid crystals composed of mesogenic and non-mesogenic side groups keep their liquid-crystalline properties even for a low proportion of mesogens. We show that the detailed structures of three kinds of new diluted liquid crystal polysiloxanes depend on the nature of the co-substituent as well as on the proportion of the silicon sites occupied by the mesogenic groups. Mixtures of these systems with low molar mass liquid crystals were also investigated in terms of compatibility and/or stabilization of smectic A phases.     

Evaluation of peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence postcolumn detection of fluphenazine in urine and blood plasma using high performance liquid chromatography

Peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence may be used for sensitive postcolumn detection of phenothiazine analytes separated by high performance liquid chromatography with appropriate optimization of measurement conditions such as solvent, pH and oxalate ester. Detectability of fluorescent analytes by chemical excitation varies greatly, but analytes with low oxidation potentials are generally more readily detected at low levels, as demonstrated for phenothiazines, an important class of fluorescent drugs. Some improvement in detection limits is observed for fluphenazine when chemiluminescence detection is compared to conventional fluorescence detection. Because of the specificity of chemical excitation, fewer interferences from fluorescent impurities in a urine matrix are observed.     

Effect of plasma treatment of the dielectric on electroforming of a thin-film MIM system

It was found that when a thin dielectric film is exposed to the plasma of a low-voltage gas discharge, channels with elevated conductivity form in the film and these channels significantly facilitate the subsequent electroforming of the MIM system. It is concluded from the experimental data that even in the case of metallic electrodes highly conducting channels are formed in the dielectric by electronic processes occurring under the conditions of a strong electric field and not by diffusion of the electrode material.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 94–98, October, 1991.