Electronic and geometric properties of alkali-C60 molecules

First-principle electronic structure calculations are carried out for M_xC ₆₀ ^q , where M = Li, Na, K and ( x , q ) = (1, 0),(1,±1),(2, 0),(3, - 1),(6, 0),(6, - 1),(12, 0) using the local density functional. The electric dipole moment for MC₆₀ agrees with the experimental results. The calculated Mulliken charge indicates that the bonding of the alkali atom with C₆₀ is mostly ionic except for lithium. The alkali atom prefers to make many bonds with the carbon atoms rather than a single bond with the neighbor carbon atom. The calculated adsorption energy suggest that the metal-metal bonding of sodiums and potassiums on C₆₀ arises for more than the six valence electrons in the alkali atoms. The lithium-lithium bond is, on the other hand, not appeared for x ? 12. The difference in the most stable geometry between lithiums and the other alkali atoms on C₆₀ comes from the covalent character of the lithium-carbon bond.     

Synthesis and characterization of guar gum‐graft‐polyacrylonitrile

Cerium(IV) mediated grafting of polyacrylonitrile on to guar gum was studied. Grafting parameters were studied gravimetrically, as a function of temperature, initiator concentration and Guar to acrylonitrile ratio. Higher temperatures resulted in higher monomer conversion and homopolymer formation. Both monomer conversion and extent of grafting increased with increase in cerium ion concentration in the range studied (0.91–9.12 mmol/l). Similar results were obtained with increase in monomer to guar gum ratio from 1 to 5. Grafting with this initiator was found to be generally good with high grafting efficiencies and low homopolymer formation for most experiments. The copolymers obtained were subjected to alkaline hydrolysis to convert nitrile groups in to carboxylic acid groups and the water absorbency of the resulting anionic guar gum was studied. Materials with water absorption up to 300 g/g could be obtained from this study. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Palladium and Nickel Complexes with Octaphenyltetraazaporphyrins

Palladium(II) and nickel(II) complexes with octaphenyltetraazaporphyrin, octakis(4-bromophenyl)tetraazaporphyrin, and octakis(4-nitrophenyl)tetraazaporphyrin were obtained by reactions of octaphenyltetraazaporphyrin, Mg octaphenyltetraazaporphyrin, octakis(4-bromophenyl)tetraazaporphyrin, and octakis(4-nitrophenyl)tetraazaporphyrin with palladium(II) and nickel(II) chlorides in DMF.     

Completely empty pyramids on integer lattices and two-dimensional faces of multidimensional continued fractions

In this paper we develop an integer-affine classification of three-dimensional multistory, completely empty convex marked pyramids. We apply it to obtain the complete lists of compact two-dimensional faces of multidimensional continued fractions lying in planes at integer distances 2, 3, 4, …  to the origin. The faces are considered up to the action of the group of integer-linear transformations.     

Barycentric coordinates for convex sets

In this paper we provide an extension of barycentric coordinates from simplices to arbitrary convex sets. Barycentric coordinates over convex 2D polygons have found numerous applications in various fields as they allow smooth interpolation of data located on vertices. However, no explicit formulation valid for arbitrary convex polytopes has been proposed to extend this interpolation in higher dimensions. Moreover, there has been no attempt to extend these functions into the continuous domain, where barycentric coordinates are related to Green’s functions and construct functions that satisfy a boundary value problem. First, we review the properties and construction of barycentric coordinates in the discrete domain for convex polytopes. Next, we show how these concepts extend into the continuous domain to yield barycentric coordinates for continuous functions. We then provide a proof that our functions satisfy all the desirable properties of barycentric coordinates in arbitrary dimensions. Finally, we provide an example of constructing such barycentric functions over regions bounded by parametric curves and show how they can be used to perform freeform deformations.      

Influence of ionizing radiation on the magnetically sensitive properties of planar triacs

Changes in the magnetically sensitive properties of multilayer semiconductors devices, such as planar diffusion triacs, that are related to atomic-displacement-induced defects and ionization by irradiation are considered. It is shown that irradiation may significantly raise the magnetic sensitivity of the triacs. Processes and underlying mechanisms responsible for the improvement of the magnetic sensitivity under the action of a number of galvanomagnetic effects are studied.     

Ultrafast creation and annihilation of space-charge domains in a semiconductor superlattice observed by use of Terahertz fields

We report an experimental study indicating ultrafast creation and annihilation of space-charge domains in a semiconductor superlattice under the action of a THz field. Our experiment was performed for an InGaAs/InAlAs superlattice with the conduction electrons undergoing miniband transport. We applied to a superlattice a dc bias that was slightly smaller than a critical bias necessary for the formation of space-charge domains caused by a static negative differential conductivity. Additionally subjecting the superlattice to a strong THz field, resulted in a dc transport governed by the formation of domains if the frequency of the field was smaller than an upper frequency limit (~3 THz). From this frequency limit for the creation and annihilation of domains we determined the characteristic time of the domain buildup. Our analysis shows that the buildup time of domains in a wide miniband and heavily doped superlattice is limited by the relaxation time due to scattering of the miniband electrons at polar optic phonons. Our results are of importance for both an understanding of ultrafast dynamics of pattern formation in nanostructures and the development of THz electronic devices.Received: 25 March 2004, Published online: 23 July 2004PACS: 72.20.Ht High-field and nonlinear effects - 72.30. + q High-frequency effects; plasma effects - 73.21.Cd SuperlatticesK.N. Alekseev: Permanent address: Department of Physical Sciences, P.O. Box 3000, University of Oulu FIN-90014, Finland.     

Effective thermal conductivity of water-saturated sintered powder-metal plates

An experimental apparatus and related procedures for the determination of the effective thermal conductivity of sintered powder-metal plates saturated with distilled water at temperatures in the range 20–150°C are discussed. The apparatus and procedures are applied to two samples of sintered powder-metal plates, one made of nickel 200 and the other of stainless steel 316, with porosities of 28.10 and 46.45%, respectively, and each of nominal dimensions 127 mm × 127 mm × 6.35 mm. The experimental results are compared with corresponding predictions yielded by several correlations available in the literature. The correlations based on experimental data for packed beds of spherical particles and also porous plates made of cold-pressed (but not sintered) particles of angular shapes do not apply well to sintered powder-metal plates. A new correlation, which is based on extensions of ideas contained in earlier works and provides improved predictions, is proposed.