Boundary control of a vibrating plate with internal damping

It is shown that finite energy states of a vibrating viscoelastic plate of the Kelvin–Voigt type are, in general, not exactly controllable by L₂-boundary controls. Accordingly, we present a result on approximative controllability. The method is general.     

Electrical Conductivity of Non-ideal Plasmas and the Ion Distribution Function

The theory of electrical conductivity of electron-ion-systems is developed for a density region which reaches from the region of non-ideal plasmas up to the region of liquid metals. The conductivity is expressed by quantum mechanical correlation functions. Different forms of the electron-ion pseudopotentials are considered. The ion distribution function is derived using the mean spherical approximation (MSA) theory or the nonlinear Debye-theory. Higher order scattering effects are treated by introducing scattering phase shifts for the statically screened electron-ion potential. The numerical results for the conductivity show a SPITZER-like behaviour in the low-density non-degenerate limit where higher order scattering is important, and a ZIMAN-like behaviour in the strongly degenerate high-density limit where the ion distribution functions and the form of the electron-ion pseudopotential become more important.     

Plane potential flow past a cylinder with porous surface

In the paper two models for the potential flow past a cylinder with porous or perforated surface are reduced to nonlinear Riemann-Hilbert problems for the complex velocity function and general existence and uniqueness theorems for the solution of the problems are derived. Further the problems are reduced to nonlinear singular integral equations of Hilbert type whose solvability is investigated by means of the Schauder and Banach fixed point theorem.     

A microscopic model considering the effect of molecular biaxiality on ferroelectric ordering of liquid crystalline smectic C* phases

On the basis of a mean-field approach, a microscopic model is presented to explain some ferroelectric properties of induced smectic C* phases of chiral dipolar guest molecules in an achiral smectic C host phase. The molecular biaxiality of the chiral dopants has been taken into account, resulting in a polar and quadrupolar ordering of the molecular short axes in the rotational distribution function of the guest molecules. This model explains the dependence of the magnitude and sign of the spontaneous polarization on the molecular structure of a series of cyclo-hexanone derivatives used as chiral dopants, as well as the effect of a local field at higher dopant concentrations.     

Stability and instability of the energy dependent diffusion system in reactor dynamics

The purpose of this paper is to give a systematic analysis for the linear energy dependent diffusion system in reactor dynamics, taking into consideration of delayed neutrons. This analysis includes the existence of a unique positive solution for the time dependent system, the asymptotic behaviour of the solution as t → ∞, the stability and instability of steady-state solutions, and the existence and uniqueness of a steady-state solution for the time-independent system. Using the notion of upper and lower solution, we establish some threshold conditions for insuring the asymptotic behaviour of the solution and the stability and the instability of any given unperturbed solution, including steady-state solution. In fact, these conditions characterize the stability and the instability property of the solution, and yield a bifurcation result in terms of either the size of the diffusion domain or the physical parameters of the diffusion medium. We also discuss the case without the effect of delayed neutrons.     

N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide ring cleavage registration by ESR under heating conditions of the Lyocell process

Thermal cleavage processes of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide monohydrate (NMMO) were observed in pure NMMO as well as in cellulose/NMMO solutions by ESR at temperatures of the industrial Lyocell process ( approximately 370K). Generated radicals were attributed to the alkylnitroxyl type radicals -CH(2)-NO-CH(3) in NMMO and additional (and dominated) -CH(2)-NO-CH(2)- in cellulose/NMMO solutions. Formation of both radical types formed due to NMMO ring scission is suggested.     

Helical nanofibers of self-assembled bipolar phospholipids as template for gold nanoparticles

Bipolar phospholipids (bolalipids) represent an exciting class of amphiphilic molecules as they self-assemble in water to distinct structures of nanoscopic dimensions. Reported here are structural details of helical nanofibers, composed of achiral, symmetrical single-chain bolalipids with phosphocholine headgroups. These nanofibers are used as template for the fixation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) without prior functionalization. This realization of a metal array on bolalipid nanofibers is one of the rare examples of one-dimensional AuNP arrangements in solution. The loading and the heat of binding of AuNPs are determined applying transmission electron microscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry.     

Structure-property relationship in stimulus-responsive bolaamphiphile hydrogels

The formation of temperature-, concentration-, and pH-responsive hydrogels composed of the symmetric long-chain bolaamphiphile dotriacontane-1,1'-diyl bis[[2-(dimethylammonio)ethyl]phosphate] (Me(2)PE-C32-Me(2)PE) was investigated by rheological, scattering, and spectroscopic techniques. At pH 5, this bolaamphiphile is known to form a dense network of helically structured nanofibers (K?hler et al. Soft Matter 2006, 2, 77-86). Rheological measurements and dynamic light scattering were used to describe the macroscopic behavior of the hydrogels. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and time-resolved static light scattering were applied to get information about the morphology of the self-assembled aggregates. Finally, solid-state 31P NMR spectroscopy was used to gain insight into the mobility of the bolaamphiphile molecules within the fiber aggregates. In comparison with the previously examined trimethylammonio analogue PC-C32-PC, which forms temperature-dependent hydrogels, Me(2)PE-C32-Me(2)PE exhibits additional concentration- and pH-dependent gelling properties. The significantly higher stability of the Me(2)PE-C32-Me(2)PE hydrogel is supported by the SANS data, which indicate the presence of fiber aggregates up to 50 degrees C.     

General synthesis and aggregation behaviour of a series of single-chain 1,omega-bis(phosphocholines)

The synthesis and physicochemical characterisation of a series of polymethylene-1,omega-bis(phosphocholines) with even-numbered chain lengths between 22 and 32 carbon atoms is described. Two new synthetic strategies for the preparation of long-chain 1,omega-diols as hydrocarbon building blocks are presented. The temperature-dependent self-assembly of the single-chain bolaamphiphiles was investigated by cryo transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).