Dielectric spectroscopy of a smectic liquid crystal

Complex dielectric spectroscopy (frequency range 5 Hz-13 MHz) has been used to analyse the frequency, temperature and bias-field dependences of the molecular dynamics of a very high-spontaneous-polarization ferroelectric liquid crystalline material exhibiting SmA, SmC* and unknown SmX smectic phases. Different smectic phase transition temperatures have been observed from the study of the temperature dependence of the dielectric strength and the relaxation frequency. The phase transition temperatures (crystalline to isotropic phases) have also been described very accurately from the temperature-dependent symmetric and asymmetric shape parameters of the relaxation function and also the dc conductivity. In a planar aligned cell, two symmetric modes (Goldstone mode and domain mode) have been observed in both the SmX and SmC* phases. One asymmetric mode (X-mode) observed in the SmC* and SmA phases could be related to the interaction of dipoles of the ferroelectric liquid crystals being affected by the surface of the cell. The soft mode, which usually appears very close to the SmC*-SmA phase transition was not observed until the bias field was applied. The second order nature of the SmC*-SmA phase transition was revealed.     

Catalytic supports on the base of activated anthracites and synthetic carbons

Selective adsorption of platinum group metals (PMG) on activated carbons from a multi-component model and technological solutions was proposed for the preparation of heterogeneous-supported catalysts. Activated natural anthracites and a nitrogen-containing synthetic carbon are considered as carriers for Pd-supported catalysts. Their catalytic activity was studied in the Pd-catalyzed reactions of hydrogen peroxide decomposition and chloride ions oxidation by manganese(III). On the base of the obtained results, novel high sensitive analytical methods both for direct determination of supported-metal quantity and palladium oxidation states on the surface of spent adsorbents are suggested.     

Specific features of separate and joint mastication of natural and 1,4-cis-butadiene rubbers in the presence of dibenzoylaminodiphenyl disulfide

Variation of the molecular structure characteristics and properties of natural and 1,4-cis-polybutadiene rubbers (gel content, molecular weight, degree of branching of macromolecules, viscosity) in the course of their separate and joint mastication in the presence of dibenzoylaminodiphenyl sulfide as mastication accelerator or without it was studied.     

Proton–proton bremsstrahlung towards the elastic limit at 190 MeV incident beam energy

A series of nucleon–nucleon bremsstrahlung (NNγ) experiments at 190 MeV incident beam energy have been performed at KVI in order to gain more insight into the dynamics governing the bremsstrahlung reaction. After initial measurements wherein the bremsstrahlung process was studied far away from the elastic limit, a new study was used to probe the process nearer to the elastic limit by measuring at lower photon energies. Measured cross sections and analyzing powers are compared with the predictions of a microscopic model and those of two soft-photon models. The theoretical calculations overestimate the data by up to ≈30%, for some kinematics.     

Deep trench etching in macroporous silicon

We present a method to create at the same time trenches and ordered macropore arrays during photo-electrochemical etching of n-type silicon. This novel method allows in situ separation of single devices with a submicrometer precision. It also enables new device structures in macroporous silicon in the areas of photonics, sensing and electronics. The limits of this new process are simulated using electrostatic models and are verified experimentally. PACS 82.45.Yz; 81.16.-c     

Taking account of the mutual influence of the inverse population and the luminescence density in estimating the energy efficiency of pumping of a three-level active medium in nonsteady conditions

Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 51, No. 5, pp. 777–781, November, 1989.     

Mechanism of phase transitions in the (NH4)2WO2F4 ferroelastic

Precision studies of the thermophysical properties and structure of an (NH₄)₂WO₂F₄ crystal have been performed. It was established reliably that there is a sequence of two phase transitions at T ₁ = 201 K and T ₂ = 160 K characterized by wedging out of an intermediate phase with an increase in pressure. The role of tetrahedral and octahedral ionic groups in the mechanism of the structural transitions was determined.