Kinetic interface roughening and magneto resistance of sputter-deposited Fe/Ni75B25 multilayers

The roughening of interfaces as a function of layer thickness and magneto transport properties have been investigated on sputter-deposited Fe/Ni₇₅B₂₅ multilayer films. X-ray reflectivity data were recorded for Ni₇₅B₂₅(72 nm) film and for [Fe(2 nm)/Ni₇₅B₂₅(2 nm)]₁₆ and [Fe(4 nm)/Ni₇₅B₂₅(4 nm)]₈ multilayer films. A power law dependence of the interfacial width of growing Fe/Ni₇₅B₂₅ interfaces was observed. The resulting growth exponents β were found to be in the range of 0.55–0.58 in the initial growth stage of the multilayer with lower Fe/Ni₇₅B₂₅ repetition thickness and at approximately 0.34 for multilayer with higher repetition thickness. The growth exponents were compared with theoretical calculations. High resolution electron microscopy revealed the columnar growth of the Fe/Ni₇₅B₂₅ multilayer. Additionally, an increase of magnetoresistance was observed by the multilayering of Ni₇₅B₂₅ films with Fe interlayers.     

Gravitational lensing and rotation curve

Based on the geodesic equation in a static spherically symmetric metric we discuss the rotation curve and gravitational lensing. The rotation curve determines one function in the metric without assuming Einstein’s equations. Then lensing is considered in the weak field approximation of general relativity. From the null geodesics we derive the lensing equation. The gravitational potential U(r) which determines the lensing is directly give by the rotation curve U(r) = −v ²(r). This allows to test general relativity on the scale of galaxies where dark matter is relevant.     

Coarse nonlinear dynamics and metastability of filling-emptying transitions: water in carbon nanotubes

Using a coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CMD) approach we study the apparent nonlinear dynamics of water molecules filling or emptying carbon nanotubes as a function of system parameters. Different levels of the pore hydrophobicity give rise to tubes that are empty, water-filled, or fluctuate between these two long-lived metastable states. The corresponding coarse-grained free-energy surfaces and their hysteretic parameter dependence are explored by linking MD to continuum fixed point and bifurcation algorithms. The results are validated through equilibrium MD simulations.     

Sulphur and oxygen isotopic characters of dissolved sulphate in groundwater from the Pleistocene aquifer in the southern Jordan Valley (Jericho area,Palestine)

Sulphate and chloride concentrations in the shallow Pleistocene aquifer systems in the lower Jordan valley area indicate a general trend of increasing salinity eastward and southward. This study was conducted in one of the important sub-basins feeding the Pleo–Pleistocene aquifer in the Jericho area in the southern part of the valley using S and O isotopes of dissolved sulphate. The results show that sulphate has mainly two contributions to the groundwater. One is the surface seepage, which is present as a salty leachate form with the positive δ³⁴S_sulphate values of primary gypsum in Lisan and Samara formations, and the second is the upwelling saline water which was in contact with a deep secondary gypsum, aragonites and salty rocks and rose up under heavy abstraction with depleted ³⁴S in sulphate and relatively high sulphate and chloride content. The latest was clearly shown in the Arab Project wells to the east that is undergoing a continuous heavy abstraction. The isotopic signatures of S and O in these wells to the east show that this depleted ³⁴S and highly concentrated sulphate might also indicate a dissolved sulphate originating from pyrite oxidation that results from the interaction with a pyrite-rich aquifer, which can well up with salty water under heavy abstraction and is oxidised in the upper aerobic shallow aquifer.     

Microstructure evolution during severe plastic deformation

Radiotracer diffusion studies of severely deformed, ultra-fine grained materials have revealed the presence of ultra-fast transport paths, which include “non-equilibrium” grain boundaries and free volume. Under some experimental conditions, percolating porosity is produced even in pure copper. Micro-cracks may form in metals, if the local maximum shear stress exceeds the shear yield stress. However, their growth and propagation is postponed till late in the deformation process owing to the ductility of metals, the hydrostatic component of the stress system and/or dynamic recovery/recrystallization. In other words, crack growth and propagation is present only when the scope for further deformation is highly restricted. Using this approach, the load required for equal channel angular pressing, the change in the slope of the Hall–Petch plot with decreasing grain size and the theoretical limit for the smallest grain size attainable in a metal in a severe plastic deformation process are predicted and validated by experimental results. Experimentally successful prevention of percolated crack formation by the superposition of a hydrostatic pressure is also accounted for using this model.     

STUDIEN ZUM VORGANG DER WASSERSTOFFÜBERTRAGUNG 511 RANEY-NICKEL ALS REAGENS ZUR HYDRIERENDEN ABSPALTUNG DES CHALKOGENATOMS AUS SCHWEFEL-, SELEN- UND TELLUR-VERBINDUNGEN

Abstract

Thioäther, Sulfoxide, Sulfone, organische Selenide und Telluride (R – Y – R': R, R', = Alkyl, Aryl, Y=S, SO, SO₂, Se, Te) werden an der Grenzfläche von Raney-Nickel hydrogenolysiert. Als Spaltprodukte entstehen die Verbindungen RH und R'H sowie eine Grenzflächenverbindung (Raney-Nickel-Y) (Y=S, Se, Te; S auch aus Sulfoxiden und Sulfonen. Letztere entbinden ebenfalls mit Mineralsäuren YH₂).

Die Größe und ‘Struktur’ der Oberfläche des Raney-Nickels entscheidet über die Hydrogenolysekapazität. Bei einer technischen Raney-Nickel-Probe liegt bei Diphenylsulfid die Sättigungsausbeute an Benzol bei 1,1 mmol/g Raney-Nickel. Die Sättigungskapazität hängt ab von der Struktur von R bzw. R' und dem Heteroatom Y. (Auch Benzylether können–wenn auch langsamer als Thioether–zu Toluol aufgespalten werden). Auf Grund bekannter Daten werden Vorstellungen entwickelt, die ein Bild über den topochemischen Verlauf der Hydrogenolyse von R–Y–R' vermitteln sollen.

Vergiftetes Raney-Nickel ist im Gegensatz zum aktivierten Raney-Nickel nicht mehr oder nur stark vermindert zur Isomerisierung, Disproportionierung und zum H-D-Austausch befähigt. Bei diesen Prozessen spielt offenbar der im Nickel strukturgebundene Wasserstoff eine wichtige Rolle.

Some thioethers, sulphoxides, sulphones, organoselenium and tellurium compounds (R–Y–R' R, R'= Alkyl, Aryl, Y?S, SO, SO₂, Se, Te) have been reductively cleaved on the surface of Raney-nickel. The products comprise RH and R'H, and a surface bound material (Raney-nickel-Y) (Y?S, also from sulphoxides and sulphones, Se, Te. The latter may be released as YH₂ on treatment with mineral acids).

The area and ‘structure’ of the surface determines the hydrogenolysis capacity of the catalyst. For technical quality Raney-nickel, the limiting yield of benzene from diphenylsulphide is 1.1 mmol/g. The limiting yield is dependent on the structure of R and R' and also the nature of Y. (Benzyl ethers may also be reduced to toluene, if somewhat slower than the corresponding thioether).

Proposal for the processes possibly involved at the surface during hydrogenolysis of R–Y–R' are put forward in the basis of consideration of the available experimental data.

Poisoned Raney-nickel (in contrast to the activated catalyst) is practically inactive as agent for isomerization, disproportionation, or H–D exchange, and hence surface bound hydrogen clearly plays an important role in these processes.     

Investigating Membrane-Mediated Antimicrobial Peptide Interactions with Synchrotron Radiation Far-Infrared Spectroscopy

Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy enables access to vibrational information from mid over far infrared to even terahertz domains. This information may prove critical for the elucidation of fundamental bio-molecular phenomena including folding-mediated innate host defence mechanisms. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent one of such phenomena. These are major effector molecules of the innate immune system, which favour attack on microbial membranes. AMPs recognise and bind to the membranes whereupon they assemble into pores or channels destabilising the membranes leading to cell death. However, specific molecular interactions responsible for antimicrobial activities have yet to be fully understood. Herein we probe such interactions by assessing molecular specific variations in the near-THz 400–40 cm⁻¹ range for defined helical AMP templates in reconstituted phospholipid membranes. In particular, we show that a temperature-dependent spectroscopic analysis, supported by 2D correlative tools, provides direct evidence for the membrane-induced and folding-mediated activity of AMPs. The far-FTIR study offers a direct and information-rich probe of membrane-related antimicrobial interactions.