Self-organized ZnAl2O4 nanostructures grown on -sapphire

Self-organized ZnAl₂O₄ nanostructures with the appearance (in SEM) of high aspect ratio horizontal nanowires are grown on uncatalysed c-sapphire by vapour phase transport. The nanostructures grow as three equivalent crystallographic variants on c-sapphire. Raman and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy confirm that the nanostructures are not ZnO and TEM shows that they are the cubic spinel, zinc aluminate, ZnAl₂O₄, formed by the reaction of Zn and O with the sapphire substrate.     

Oil Migration in Chocolate

Oil migration in filled chocolates limits shelf life due to texture changes and loss of visual appeal. Spatial and temporal oil concentration changes of a two-layer chocolate and peanut butter filling system, which models a filled chocolate, were monitored by magnetic resonance imaging. Formulations of chocolate varied with respect to particle size, milk fat content and emulsifier level. Sorption-time experimental data was used to establish the best fit diffusion coefficient for a Fickian diffusion model. On the basis of the comparison of spatial experimental data to the model, Fickian diffusion alone does not account for oil migration. Authors' address: Michael J. McCarthy, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA     

Chain length effect on dynamical structure of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone)-polar solvent mixtures in dilute solution of dioxane studied by microwave dielectric relaxation measurement

Dielectric relaxation study of the binary mixtures of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) (Mw=24000, 40000 and 360000 g mol⁻¹) with ethyl alcohol (EA) and poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) (Mw=200 and 400 g mol⁻¹) in dilute solutions of dioxane were carried out at 10.1 GHz and 35°C. The relaxation time of PVP-EA mixtures was interpreted by the consideration of a wait-and-switch model in the local structure of self-associated ethyl alcohol molecules and also the PVP chain length as a geometric constraint for the reorientational motion of ethyl alcohol molecules. The formation of complexes and effect of PVP chain length on the molecular dynamics, chain flexibility and stretching of PEG molecules in PVP-PEG mixtures were explored from the comparative values of dielectric relaxation time. Further, relaxation time values in dioxane and benzene solvent confirm the viscosity independent molecular dynamics in PVP-EA mixtures but the values vary significantly with the non-polar solvent environment.     

Dynamics of a polymer chain in an array of obstacles

On the basis of the model “polymer chain in an array of obstacles” the influence of the topology effects on the dynamics of concentrated polymer systems is investigated theoretically. The 1/z-expansion (where z is the coordinational number of the lattice of obstacles) is proposed for this problem. By means of this expansion the diffusion coefficient of a linear unclosed polymer chain is calculated. The equilibrium properties of linear closed chain (i.e. ring) unentangled with either of the edges of the lattice are investigated in detail. In particular, it is shown that the diffusion coefficient D of the center of mass of closed chain consisting of N links is proportional to N^−5/2.     

Effect of γ-ray irradiation on the magnetic properties of NdFeB and Fe–Cr–Co permanent magnets

The effect of γ-ray irradiation on the magnetic properties of NdFeB and Fe–Cr–Co permanent magnets has been investigated. The magnetic flux loss of two kinds of magnets before and after irradiation was measured. Results show that the effect of γ-ray irradiation on the magnetic properties of sintered NdFeB is not so obvious as that on Fe–Cr–Co magnet. Irradiation-induced damage from γ-ray for the Fe–Cr–Co magnets was characterized for the first time. The decline of permanent magnetic properties of Fe–Cr–Co magnet induced by γ-ray irradiation is reversible except for the maximum energy product (BH)_max. The difference of coercivity mechanism between these two kinds of permanent magnets is responsible for the different dependence of magnetic properties loss induced by γ-ray irradiation.     

Exciton reflectivity of GaAs/Ga1−x Al x As multiple quantum wells

Summary The normal incidence reflectivity spectrum of excitons in GaAs/Ga_1−x Al _x As multiple quantum wells is calculated within the local response approximation. It is shown that the reflectivity lineshape strongly depends on the sample geometry. Using realistic parameters of a multiple quantum well structure, we obtain an excellent fit of the experimental reflectivity curve, thus giving exciton energies, oscillator strengths and exciton broadening parameters.

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Riassunto Lo spettro di riflettività ad incidenza normale degli eccitoni nei pozzi quantistici multipli di GaAs/Ga_1−x Al _x As è calcolato nell’ambito dell’approssimazione locale. Si mostra con la forma della linea di riflettività dipende in gran misura dalla forma geometrica del campione. Usando parametri realistici di una struttura a pozzi quantistici multipli, si ottiene un’ottima approssimazione della curva di riflettività sperimentale, che fornisce così energie eccitoniche, forze dell’oscillatore e parameri di ampliamento eccitonico.

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Резюме В рамках приближения линейного отклика вычисляется спекрт отражательной способности экситонов при нормальном падении для множественных квантовых ям в GaAs/Ga_1−x Al _x As. Показывается, что форма линии отражательной способности сильно зависит от геометрии образца. Используя реалистические параметры структуры множественных квантовых ям, мы получаем хорошее соответствие с экспериментальной кривой для отражательной способности. Получаются энергии экситонов, силы осцилляторов и парам⪟тры экситонного уширения.

     

Precise lattice parameter measurements in CsCl-Br solid solutions between room temperature and 90°K by powder x-ray diffraction

Solid solutions of CsCl-Br in five different concentrations were prepared in sealed quartz tubes by heating the mixture to 1123°K for 6–8 hr and quenching to room temperature. X-ray diffractograms were taken at eight different temperatures between room temperature and 90°K for these solid solutions using the YPC50NM powder diffractometer and a continuous flow cryostat. The observed lattice parameters for each sample at each temperature obtained from the powder diffractograms were then extrapolated to give the true lattice parameters using the least square method with Nelson-Riley extrapolation scheme. The values of the true lattice parameters at each concentration and at each temperature were tabulated and the results discussed. It is shown that the lattice parameters vs temperature for some concentrations exhibit an anomalous behaviour. Contribution No. 691     

A multigrid method for predicting periodically fully developed flow

The use of multigrid methods in complex fluid flow problems is still under development. In this paper a full multigrid procedure has been incorporated in a finite volume solution for predicting fully developed fluid flow in a streamwise periodic geometry. Steady computations in two-dimensional body fitted co-ordinates have shown considerable savings in computation time by this multigrid method.     

Application of the finite Hankel transform to a diffusion problem without azimuthal symmetry

The problem treated in this paper concerns calculating the evolution of the pressure in a single-phase, slightly compressible fluid in a porous medium consisting of communicating layers. The fluid is produced through a point sink located on the side of an otherwise sealed cylindrical wellbore. This location of the sink causes the flow around the wellbore to be azimuthally asymmetric.The problem is solved through successive application of Laplace, finite Fourier and finite Hankel transforms. Although apparently straightforward, this approach leads to serious numerical difficulties. The published form of the inversion formula for the finite Hankel transform leads to inaccurate computation for the higher azimuthal modes even with 128 bit arithmetic. An alternative form is developed which enables accurate evaluation of the solution with the more practical 64 bit arithmetic. The technique for two-layer solution presented here can be directly extended to a problem with a larger number of communicating layers. This is the first instance of successful application of the finite Hankel transform to an azimuthally asymmetric diffusion problem.