Model Calculations and Experimental Studies as a Route Toward Simplification of the Kinetic Mechanism of the H2O2–NaSCN–NaOH–CuSO4 Homogeneous Oscillator

Oscillatory chemical reactions are usually characterized by complicated kinetic mechanisms in which the source of instability is combined with the parallel dissipative process. One of such systems is the H₂O₂–NaSCN–NaOH–CuSO₄ homogeneous oscillator, in which dynamic instabilities are associated with the irreversible oxidation of thiocyanate ions with hydrogen peroxide. Following our previous studies on this system, we now propose further intuitive and substantial simplification of its kinetic mechanism toward the scheme involving only five intermediates. Its compatibility with our previous, nine‐variable model is verified in terms of model calculations, compared with experimental potentiometric and spectrophotometric data. In particular, supercritical nature of a Hopf bifurcation as a route toward oscillations born out of a single steady state upon increasing catalyst (copper species) concentration was observed in the model and an analogous type of bifurcation is suggested by available experimental data. Our work is a step toward final reduction of the mechanism of the studied system to the “minimum oscillator,” the concept used earlier, e.g., for the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction, of however remarkably different kinetic mechanism.     

Optimization of Fine Solid Drying in Bubble Fluidized Bed

A commonly used method to dry fine solid particles is drying in a fluidized bed. This paper presents the optimization problem of fluidized drying of fine solids. A drying process proceeding in a three-stage cascade of fluidized cross-current dryers was considered. Solid flows from stage to stage, and fresh gas is introduced to each stage of the cascade. The hydrodynamics of bubble fluidized bed and kinetics of heat and mass transfer are taken into account. The bed hydrodynamics is described by a two-phase model. The drying process considered proceeds in the second period of drying. To optimize this problem a generalized version of a discrete algorithm with constant Hamiltonian was used. The optimization procedure is presented in the paper. In optimization calculations, gas parameters (temperature, humidity and flow rate) minimizing total process cost are sought. The results of calculation are presented as graphs. The results obtained and the conclusions drawn are discussed.     

Influence of environment on the corrosion of glass–metal connections

‘Glass sensors’ of the eighteenth century Backer glass and the sixteenth century enamel from Limoges have been chosen for a series of experiments. Combinations of these materials with different base materials such as copper and bronze has been investigated. To create surface changes on the ‘glass sensor’, a corrosion process was induced in a controlled environment. A variety of corrosive agents such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, water and formaldehyde were used. The sample immersed in the corrosive solution was exposed alternately to light and high temperature for a total of 38 weeks. During this period, macroscopic and microscopic observations were made and series of tests such as SEM/EDS and Raman spectroscopy were performed on the surface of the samples. ICP-MS methods were used to determine the change in the chemical composition of the solutions where the samples had corroded. The primary aim of this study was to identify the impact of a number of external corrosive variables such as temperature, humidity and local environment to identify the most damaging environments for glass–metal objects. The obtained results showed the chemical and physical phenomena acting on the surface of the glass, metal or in the place of their joints. Information obtained on this study was used to explain the influence of the environment on the surface of glass–metal materials. Results can be used in the design of conservation work as well as for sustainable conservation.     

Dynamics on the cone: Closed orbits and superintegrability

The generalization of Bertrand’s theorem to the case of the motion of point particle on the surface of a cone is presented. The superintegrability of such models is discussed. The additional integrals of motion are analysed for the case of Kepler and harmonic oscillator potentials.     

Nano‐antennae assisted emission of extreme ultraviolet radiation

High‐order harmonic generation in xenon with oscillator repetition rates is studied. The necessary intensity is reached via plasmonic field enhancement at nanostructured arrays of bow‐tie gold antennae. The theoretical analysis focuses on the thermal properties and the damage threshold of the bow‐tie antennae. On the experimental side the number of contributing atoms is determined and optimized. Extreme ultraviolet radiation is successfully observed with photon fluxes almost an order of magnitude larger than previously reported.     

Influence of size of solvent molecules on structural and thermodynamic properties of the electrode/electrolyte interface

The influence of size of solvent molecules on the structural and thermodynamic properties of the interface between the electrode and electrolyte, using the solvent primitive model, was studied by grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations. The computer simulation results are compared with those obtained from the modified Poisson–Boltzmann (MPB) theory. The ionic singlet distribution functions show that the solvent molecules of low diameter favour the counter ion adsorption on the electrode. With increasing diameter of the solvent molecules, the mean electrostatic potential increases, while the integral and differential capacitances decrease. The integral capacitance curves obtained by MPB theory are in qualitative agreement with those obtained by the GCMC simulation although the theoretical results are overestimated.     

Note on the Harmonic Approximation in the Treatment of Entanglement: N Cold Trapped Ions

We study a one-dimensional system composed of N charged bosons confined in an external harmonic potential. In the limit of a strong interaction between the particles, we apply the harmonic approximation and derive an integral representation for the purity of the one-particle reduced density matrix, enabling an easy determination of the asymptotic entanglement. Results for the dependence of the asymptotic linear entropy on N are provided and discussed in detail for the first time.