Improvements of neutron activation techniques for the determination of fissile material concentrations

Certain experimental improvements, as variable sample size and irradiation position, automation and flexibility in radiation detection, broaden the measurable concentration range, increase the possible rate and accuracy of analysis and enlarge the application range of the home-made nuclear analyzer for fissile material analysis by delayed fission neutron counting and for short-lived multielement analysis by neutron activation gamma-ray spectrometry. Intercomparisons of results by various methods and laboratories show the need for regular checks of techniques to ensure reliable measurements.     

Intersecting M-branes

We present the magnetic duals of Güven's electric-type solutions of D = 11 supergravity preserving 1/4 or 1/8 of the D = 11 supersymmetry. We interpret the electric solutions as n orthogonal intersecting membranes and the magnetic solutions as n orthogonal intersecting 5-branes, with n = 2, 3; these cases obey the general rule that p-branes can self-intersect on (p − 2)-branes. On reduction to D = 4 these solutions become electric or magnetic dilaton black holes with dilaton coupling constant a = 1 (for n = 2) or (for n = 3). We also discuss the reduction to D = 10.     

Determination of resonance parameters in QCD by functional analysis methods

A mathematically rigorous method based on functional analysis is used to determine resonance parameters of an amplitude from its given asymptotic expression in the space-like region. This method is checked on a model amplitude where both the asymptotic expression and the exact function are known. This method is then applied to the determination of the mass and the width of the ρ-meson from the corresponding space-like asymptotic QCD expression.     

Holonomy groups andW-symmetries

Irreducible sigma models, i.e. those for which the partition function does not factorise, are defined on Riemannian spaces with irreducible holonomy groups. These special geometries are characterised by the existence of covariantly constant forms which in turn give rise to symmetries of the supersymmetric sigma model actions. The Poisson bracket algebra of the corresponding currents is aW-algebra. Extended supersymmetries arise as special cases.     

Effect of Pr-Ca substitution on the transport and magnetic behavior of LaMnO3 perovskite

The effect of simultaneous substitution of a fluctuating cation and a divalent cation in LaMnO₃ perovskite modifies the properties of the material to exhibit large valence colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect. A good example of these properties is (La_1−2x Pr _x Ca _x )MnO₃ (LPCMO) type CMR material. In this communication it is reported that, with the increase in x (for x=0.1, 0.15, 0.2), the T _c varies between 100 and 120 K with improvisation in metal-insulator transition. Interestingly, resistance increases with x from few hundred ohms to few kilo ohms with corresponding decrease in the unit cell volume. The results of the studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance and ac susceptibility measurements on LPCMO samples for understanding the structural, transport and magnetic properties are discussed in detail.     

Carbon-13 NMR chemical shifts in some substituted 1,2,4-triazol-3-ones

Carbon-13 NMR data for 15 substituted 1,2,4-triazol-3-ones are presented and discussed with regard to enolization in the neutral molecules. The coupling constant and chemical shift data show that the proton at N-2 is not exchanging rapidly in the DMSO-d₆ solvent. Using D₂O? OD^? as a solvent, it is found that the C-3 and C-5 resonances are shifted downfield by nearly the same amount, suggesting that the proton at N-4 is being removed. Enolization in the neutral molecules does not occur to any significant extent.     

1-mJ, sub-5-fs carrier–envelope phase-locked pulses

We report the routine generation of sub-5-fs laser pulses with 1-mJ energy and stable carrier–envelope phase at 1-kHz repetition rate, obtained by compressing the multi-mJ output from a phase-locked Ti:sapphire amplifier in a rare-gas-filled hollow fiber. The dual-stage amplifier features a hybrid transmission grating/chirped mirror compressor providing 2.2-mJ, 26-fs pulses at 1 kHz with standard phase deviation of 190 mrad rms. We demonstrate hour-long phase stability without feedback control of grating position or rigorous control of the laser environment, simply by using small pulse stretching factors in the amplifier, which minimize the beam pathway in the compressor. The amplifier also integrates a versatile AOPDF (acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter) for closed-loop spectral phase optimization. The various factors influencing the overall phase stability of the system are discussed in detail. Using the optimized output, 1-mJ, 4.5-fs pulses are generated by seeding the neon gas filled hollow fiber with a circularly polarized input beam. A standard phase deviation of 230 mrad after the HCF is obtained by direct f-to-2f detection and slow-loop feedback to the oscillator locking electronics without any additional spectral broadening.