On nearly parallel G2-structures

A nearly parallel G₂-structure on a seven-dimensional Riemannian manifold is equivalent to a spin structure with a Killing spinor. We prove general results about the automorphism group of such structures and we construct new examples. We classify all nearly parallel G₂-manifolds with large symmetry group and in particular all homogeneous nearly parallel G₂-structures.     

Limited stability of the pH reference material sodium tetraborate decahydrate (“borax”)

Thermogravimetric and X-ray powder diffraction analyses revealed that the pH reference material sodium tetraborate decahydrate (“borax”) is not a stable substance but, loosing some of its water of crystallization, transforms slowly into the pentahydrate. The connected pH changes of the solutions are opposite to and larger than, those expected according to the dilution value of the decahydrate as shown by differential potentiometric measurements. The transformation rate depends on the storing time in the closed original container, the time of and after the first exposure of the material to the atmosphere, the frequency of and the relative humidity during subsequent exposures, and the temperature. The transformation reaction is not understood in detail. However, the experiments showed that sodium tetraborate decahydrate is a reliable pH reference material, whose pH is constant within ΔpH=±0.005 within at least two years after preparation, even if occasionally exposed to the atmosphere. Further work will show whether this time limit can be somewhat extended.     

On false branch points of incompressible branched immersions

We prove that a branched immersion of a surface with boundary into a differentiable manifold has no false branch points (in fact, no ramified points) if the immersion induces an isomorphism of fundamental groups and some other natural hypotheses are satisfied. This result has immediate applications to Plateau's problem.Work done while the first author was a visiting member of the Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik at Bonn. Both authors acknowledge the support of Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik, Bonn and Schwerpunkt Geometrie at Mathematisches Institut, University of Heidelberg     

Schwingungsspektren und Kraftkonstanten von Hexamethyldisilan,Hexaphenyldisilan und 1,1,1-Trimethyl-2,2,2-triphenyldisilan

The Raman and infrared spectra of (CH₃)₃SiSi(CH₃)₃ (I), (CD₃)₃SiSi(CD₃)₃, (C₆H₅)₃SiSi(C₆H₅)₃ (II), (CH₃)₃SiSi(C₆H₅)₃ (III), and (CD₃)₃SiSi(C₆H₅)₃ are reported. Assignments are based on symmetry G ₃₆ ⁺ (free internal rotation) forI, D_3d forII, and C_3v forIII. Normal coordinate treatment has been done using some simplifications in the phenyl coordinates. The SiSi stretching force constant inI amounts to 1,65 N/cm. In compoundsII andIII strong vibrational coupling is elucidated byPED calculations.