Parametric Study of Nonplanar Dust Acoustic Solitons in Two‐Dimensional Superthermal Dusty Plasmas

The nonlinear properties of two dimensional low‐frequency electrostatic excitations of charged dust particles (or defects) are studied in a collisionless, unmagnetized dusty plasma. A fully ionized three‐component model plasma consisting of kappa distributed electrons, Maxwellian ions, and negatively charged massive dust grains is considered. In this regard, the well known reductive perturbation technique is used to the hydrodynamical equations and the Poisson equation, obtaining the cylindrical Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (CKP) equation. A parametric investigation indicates that the structural characteristics of these nonlinear excitations (width, amplitude) are significantly affected by the plasma nonthermality as well as by the relevant plasma parameters, such as dust concentration and dust temperature. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Quantum Effect on the Energy Levels of Eu2+ Doped K2Ca2(SO4)3 Nanoparticles

Quantum confinement effect on the energy levels of Eu²⁺ doped K₂Ca₂(SO₄)₃ nanoparticles has been observed. The broad photoluminescence (PL) emission band of Eu²⁺ doped K₂Ca₂(SO₄)₃ microcrystalline sample observed at ～436 nm is found to split into two narrow well resolved bands, located at 422 and 445 nm in the nanostructure form of this material. This has been attributed to the reduction in the crystal field strength of the nanomaterials, which results in widening the energy band gap and splitting the broad 4f⁶5d energy level of Eu²⁺. Energy band gap values of the micro and nanocrystalline K₂Ca₂(SO₄)₃ samples were also determined by measuring the UV–visible absorption spectra. These values are 3.34 and 3.44 eV for the micro and nanocrystalline samples, respectively. These remarkable results suggest that activators having wide emission bands might be subjected to weak crystal strength via nanostructure materials to modify their electronic transitions. This might prove a powerful technique for producing new-advanced materials for use in the fields of solid state lasers and optoelectronic devises.     

Varying Track Etch Rates along the Fission Fragments＇ Trajectories in CR-39 Detectors

We determine the behavior of track etch rate VT along the tracks in CR-39 detectors exposed to fission fragments from ^252Cf source. CR-39 detectors are etched at 70℃ in different concentrations of Na2COa-mixed 6M NaOH solutions for different etching time intervals of 5-10min starting from 15 min up to 210min. Two values of track etch rate are determined along the fission fragment trajectories. The variation in VT is correlated with the energy loss rate of the fission fragment in the detector material.     

Growth of Cu0.5Tl0.5Ba2Ca3Cu4−yZnyO12−δ superconductor with optimum carriers

We have tried to vary the carriers concentration in Cu_0.5Tl_0.5Ba₂Ca₃Cu_4?yZn_yO_12?δ (y = 0, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5) superconductor with the help of post-annealing experiments carried out in nitrogen, oxygen and air and to investigate its effects on the superconductivity parameters. The zero resistivity critical temperature [T_c(R = 0)], the magnitude of diamagnetism and critical current [I_c(H = 0)] are found to increase in Zn free samples after post-annealing in oxygen and air, while these superconducting properties have been suppressed after post-annealing in nitrogen at 550 °C for 6 h. The post-annealing of Zn-doped samples in air has marginally increased the superconducting properties, while these properties have been suppressed after post-annealing in nitrogen and oxygen. These studies have led us to the definite conclusion that the Zn-doped material has grown with optimum carriers concentration.     

Transfer of radioactivity from soil to vegetation in Rechna Doab, Pakistan

In Rechna Doab, samples of the most common vegetation, perennial grass Desmostachya bipinnata (dab), were collected along with soil samples from 29 sites. Natural radioactivity of 22?Ra, 232Th/22?Ac and ??K was measured by using high purity germanium-based gamma ray spectrometer. Activity concentration levels of 22?Ra, 232Th/22?Ac and ??K in soil were found to be 46.8 ± 6.2 (36.0-57.6), 61.4 ± 5.9 (48.2-73.2) and 644.8 ± 73.9 (537.7-868.4) Bq kg?1 (dry mass), respectively, and those in vegetation were 2.74 ± 1.70 (1.00-6.39), 2.24 ± 0.59 (1.56-2.61) and 172.72±113.37 (53.14-469.24) Bq kg?1 (dry mass), respectively. The measured values of the activity concentration in vegetation are comparable with some other international data. Calculated soil to vegetation transfer factors of 22?Ra, 22?Ac and ??K were 0.06 ± 0.03 (0.02-0.14), 0.04 ± 0.01 (0.03-0.04) and 0.26 ± 0.16 (0.09-0.69). The mean outdoor absorbed dose rate in air for the area under study was determined as 8.22 nGy h?1 and the mean indoor absorbed dose rate in air was 11.52 nGy h?1. The total annual effective dose to the general public from the vegetation was found to be (0.02-0.16) mSv, which is below the recommended limit value of 1 mSv y?1 for the general public. The dab vegetation under study was found to be radiologically safe for the population and environment.     

Search for f(J)(2220) in radiative J/ψ decays

We present a search for f(J)(2220) production in radiative J/ψ→γf(J)(2220) decays using 460 fb?1 of data collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II e(+)e? collider. The f(J)(2220) is searched for in the decays to K(+)K? and K(S)?K(S)?. No evidence of this resonance is observed, and 90% confidence level upper limits on the product of the branching fractions for J/ψ→γf(J)(2220) and f(J)(2220)→K(+)K?(K(S)?K(S)?) as a function of spin and helicity are set at the level of 10??, below the central values reported by the Mark III experiment.     

Synthesis of nano-crystalline zirconium aluminium oxynitride (ZrAlON) composite films by dense plasma Focus device

Zirconium aluminium oxynitride multiphase composite film is deposited on zirconium substrate using energetic nitrogen ions delivered from dense plasma Focus device. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) results show that five Focus shots are sufficient to initiate the nucleation of ZrN and Al₂O₃ whereas 10 Focus shots are sufficient to initiate the nucleation of AlN. XRD results reveal that crystal growth of nitrides/oxides increases by increasing Focus shots (up to 30 Focus shots) and resputtering of the previously deposited film is taken place by further increase in Focus shots (40 Focus shots). Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) results indicate the uniform distribution of spherical grains (∼35 nm). A smoother surface is observed for 20 Focus shots at 0° angular position. SEM results also show a net-type microstructure (thread like features) of the sample treated for 30 Focus shots whereas rough surface morphology is observed for 40 Focus shots. Energy dispersive spectroscopic profiles show the distribution of different elements present in the deposited composite films. A typical microhardness value of the deposited composite films is 5255 ± 10 MPa for 10 grams imposed load which is 3.3 times than the microhardness values of unexposed sample. The microhardness values of the exposed samples increases with increasing Focus shots (up to 30 Focus shots) and decreases for 40 Focus shots treatment due to resputtering of the previously deposited composite film. The microhardness values of the composite films decreases by increasing the sample's angular position.     

Energy minimization related to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation

In this the window of the Sobolev gradient technique to the problem of minimizing a Schrödinger functional associated with a nonlinear Schrödinger equation. We show that gradients act in a suitably chosen Sobolev space (Sobolev gradients) can be used in finite-difference and finite-element settings in a computationally efficient way to find minimum energy states of Schrödinger functionals.     

Matching effect in superconducting NbN thin film with a square lattice of holes

A square hole array is fabricated over a micro-bridge of NbN thin film by electron beam lithography and reactive ion milling. Magneto-resistance is measured across the micro-bridge filled with a hole array near the superconducting transition temperature. It is found that magneto-resistance minima occur when the number of vortices is an integer multiple or a fractional multiple of the number of holes. The temperature and the current dependences of the matching effect are studied.     

Generation of dark hollow beam by use of phase-only filtering

A simple but effective scheme to generate dark hollow beams is proposed by use of phase-only filtering and optical Fourier transform. A Gaussian beam of fundamental mode is modulated by a pre-designed phase mask, which is a piecewise modification of an axicon lens, and followed by a Fourier transform to generate an ideal dark hollow beam at the focal plane. This method has an advantage that the total energy of the beam is conserved under paraxial approximation. Numerical calculations are provided to show the validity of the proposed scheme.