Yttrium aluminate crystals for slabs

The methods of growing YAG:Nd crystals with a flat interface and YAP:Nd crystals with a sharp conical interface are described. The form of the interface was controlled by the He and H₂O content in the reducing atmosphere composed mainly of Ar and H₂ as well as by axial temperature gradient above the melt level. The crystals of 120–180 mm in length were machined to the high-quality slabs.     

Non-steady state homogeneous nucleation in glass-forming systems: Dimensionless kinetic equation

The kinetic equation of the classical homogeneous nucleation theory is rewritten in dimensionless form and it is shown that the numerical computation of the dimensionless kinetic equation is approximately 20 times faster in comparison with the original kinetic equation. The results are compared with known analytical results and with previous numerical results in the case of the constant and variable temperature for the model Li₂O.2 SiO₂ melt. It is shown, e.g., that under non-isothermal conditions the nucleation rate is greater than the quasistationary nucleation rate and the cluster distribution function is greater than the corresponding quasiequilibrium cluster distribution function.     

Radiative kinks and fermionic zero modes in a (λφ6)1+1 model

We consider bidimensional scalar models including kink solutions _k (x). Using the hidden supersymmetric properties of the Dirac equation, we describe a general method to find normalizable fermionic zero modes. In particular, we apply the technique to a ( ⁶)₁₊₁ model. Going to the one-loop order of the effective potential, the emergence of a radiative kink provides an interesting scalar background in order to discuss the Dirac equation.     

Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopic studies of novel mixed valence states in cobaltous ferrocyanides and ferricyanides

Novel mixed valence states have been obtained by the treatment of cobaltous ferrocyanides (Co⁺²Fe^II) and ferricyanides (Co⁺²Fe^III) in an ozone flow. The CN stretching bands occur at 2085 cm^–1 for Co⁺²Fe^II and at 2160 cm^–1 for Co⁺²Fe^III. After the ozonization process of Co⁺²Fe^II, an intense band approximately at 2125 cm^–1 is detected. This intermediate band must correspond to a mixed valence state of the type: Fe^II–CN–Co²⁺–NC–Fe^III Mössbauer spectra recorded in situ during the ozonization of Co⁺²Fe^II show the presence of two components: a doublet with isomer shift and quadrupole splitting values close to the cobalti ferricyanide and a very broad line for the mixed valence state. From the Mössbauer and infrared spectra of the aged samples of the Co⁺²Fe^II after ozonization, a relaxation process to the initial state of the samples is observed but the mixed valence state is stable.     

Rigidity of codimension two indefinite spheres

We describe all isometric immersions f:S _n ^s S _s ⁿ +2/S _s ⁿ n–s4, whenever the set of totally geodesic points does not disconnect S _s ⁿ , where S _n ^s denotes the complete n-dimensional indefinite Riemannian space form of constant positive curvature 1 and signature s.     

Scheduling Parts in a Combined Production-transportation Work Cell

This paper is concerned with a combined production-transportation scheduling problem. The problem comprises a simple, two-machine, automated manufacturing cell, which either stands alone or is a subunit of a complete flexible manufacturing system. The cell consists of two machines in series with a dedicated part-handling device such as a crane or robotic arm for transferring parts from the first machine to the second. The loading of a new piece on the first machine and the ejection of a finished piece from the second machine are performed by dedicated automated mechanisms. The introduction of parts into the system is done n at a time, whereby the parts are reshuffled into a sequence that minimizes completion time. All processing and transfer times are considered deterministic—a reasonable assumption for a cell comprising a robotic transfer device and two CNC machining units. What complicates the problem is the assumption of a non-negligible time for the transfer device to return (empty) from the second machine to the first. The operation is a generalization of a two-machine flowshop problem, and is formulated as a specially structured, asymmetric travelling salesman problem. An approximate polynomial time 0(n log n) algorithm is proffered. The procedure incorporates a lower bound using the Gilmore–Gomory algorithm for the no-wait, two-machine flowshop problem.