Performance study of a liquid-core Bragg fiber sensor in presence of a defect layer

Performance parameter of a Bragg fiber waveguide based resonant sensor in presence of a defect layer in cladding regions is theoretically studied. The Bragg fiber waveguide consists of a liquid-core surrounded by alternate high and low refractive indices materials in cladding regions. Reflectivity of the proposed waveguide based resonant sensor is formulated using transfer matrix method for a non-homogeneous multilayer cylindrical system. The waveguide shows a band gap region with a narrow defect mode in the band gap region under the considered wavelength range. Instead of taking a whole band gap as a sensing signal, here the defect peak is taken as the sensing signal. It is observed that the intensity of defect mode is more sensitive for core refractive index than the intensity of traditional band gap region (lobe). This study shows that the higher sensitivity can be achieved by creating the defect at a position in cladding region where the intensity of transmitted light lies between 40% and 90%. Presence of a defect layer is able to increase the detection accuracy of the sensor and, hence increase the overall performance of this sensor.     

Rigidly connected magnetic lines: twisting and winding of magnetic lines

The dynamical process of magnetic flux variation in a fluid’s stream tube is described by constructing \(1+1+ (2)\) decomposition of the gradient of fluid’s 4-velocity. The necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained for a spacelike congruence to be a congruence of rigidly connected spacelike curves. The evolution of magnetic flux in a magnetic tube is explored under the assumptions that magnetic lines are rigidly connected and the chemical potential of the fluid is constant along a magnetic tube. The interplay between magnetic and stream tubes is demonstrated. It is shown that the growth of magnetic energy in a magnetic tube cannot exceed to that of a stream tube. It is found that the proper time variation of twist of magnetic lines is caused by gravitation inside a neutron star if magnetic lines are rigidly connected and charge neutrality condition holds. Helmholtz-like magnetic vorticity flux conservation in a magnetic tube constituted by rigidly connected geodetic magnetic lines is derived under the assumption that the charge neutrality condition holds. It is shown that the winding of frozen-in poloidal magnetic field due to differential rotation requires meridional circulation in an axisymmetric stationary hydromagnetic configuration.     

Partial crystallinity in alkyl side chain polymers dictates surface freezing

We have studied the structure of a novel crystalline surface monolayer on top of a disordered melt of the same material [poly(n-alkyl acrylate)s] using grazing incidence x-ray diffraction. The grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, surface tension, and bulk latent heat results show that side chains crystallize except the nine methylene units of the alkyl side chains closest to the polymer backbone. The partial crystallinity along with a thicker surface layer, due to the additional length of the linker group, explains why the difference between the surface order-to-disorder transition temperature and bulk melting temperature increases with a decrease in the length of the alkyl side chain.     

Stuffing improves the stability of fullerenelike boron clusters

First-principles electronic structure calculations show that boron clusters B98, B99, B100, B101, and B102 based on icosahedral-B12 stuffed fullerenes are more stable than the fullerenelike boron clusters. These more stable structures are envisaged as an icosahedral B12 each vertex of which is connected to the apex of a pentagonal pyramid (B6) via radial 2c-2e sigma bonds. The resulting B84 (B(12)@B(12)@B(60)) retains the same symmetry as C60, and the B(n) (n=84-116) clusters are generated around it. We further project the possibility of producing such B12 based giant clusters.     

Soliton-like solutions of certain types of nonlinear diffusion-reaction equations with variable coefficient

With a view to exploring new soliton-like solutions of certain types of nonlinear diffusion-reaction (DR) equations with a variable coefficient, we demonstrate the viability of a method which is the combination of both the symbolic computation technique of Gao and Tian [Y.T. Gao, B. Tian, Comput. Phys. Commun. 133 (2001) 158] and auxiliary equation method of Sirendaoreji [Sirendaoreji, Phys. Lett. A 356 (2006) 124] and used recently for the KdV equation. In particular, the DR equations with quadratic and cubic nonlinearities with a time-dependent velocity in the convective flux term are studied and the existence of soliton-like solutions is shown.     

Anisotropic Cosmological Models with Variable G and Decaying Vacuum Energy

We present Bianchi type-I cosmological models with a perfect fluid source and time-dependent gravitational and cosmological constants based on new exact solutions of Einstein’s equations. The perfect fluid is chosen to obey a barotropic equation of state. The models obtained represent a radiation dominated phase and a dust era. In some of the models the expansion changes from a decelerating phase to an accelerating one and these models asymptotically tend to the de Sitter universe. The paper is dedicated to late Prof. S.R. Roy, Ex-Head, Department of Mathematics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.     

Studies on pyrimidine derivatives. Michael addition of β-nitrostyrenes to substituted 6-aminouracils

A series of 5-(2-nitro-l-phenyl)ethyluracils were obtained when β-nitrostyrenes were reacted with 1,3-di-methyl-6-substituted uracil derivatives, instead of cyclic compounds. The structures of the compounds 5, 6 , and 7 were proved by spectroscopic methods and their mass fragmentation patterns are discussed.     

Stereospecific Conversion of Boronic Esters into Enones using Methoxyallene: Application in the Total Synthesis of 10-Deoxymethynolide

Enones are widely utilized linchpin functional groups in chemical synthesis and molecular biology. We herein report the direct conversion of boronic esters into enones using commercially available methoxyallene as a three-carbon building block. Following boronate complex formation by reaction of the boronic ester with lithiated-methoxyallene, protonation triggers a stereospecific 1,2-migration before oxidation generates the enone. The protocol shows broad substrate scope and complete enantiospecificity is observed with chiral migrating groups. In addition, various electrophiles could be used to induce 1,2-migration and give a much broader range of α-functionalized enones. Finally, the methodology was applied to a 14-step synthesis of the enone-containing polyketide 10-deoxymethynolide.     

Polymeric Micelle Assembly with Inorganic Nanosheets for Construction of Mesoporous Architectures with Crystallized Walls

Here we propose a novel way to construct mesoporous architectures through evaporation‐induced assembly of polymeric micelles with crystalline nanosheets. As a model study, we used niobate nanosheets exfoliated by the direct reaction of K₄Nb₆O₁₇?3 H₂O crystals with an aqueous solution of propylamine. The electrostatic interaction between negatively charged nanosheets and positively charged polymeric micelles enable us to form composite micelles with the nanosheets. Removal of the micelles by calcination results in robust mesoporous oxides with the original crystalline structure.     

In situ generation of the Coates catalyst: a practical and versatile catalytic system for the carbonylation of meso-epoxides

A highly active catalytic system for the carbonylation of meso- and terminal epoxides to β-lactones is described. The active catalyst, analogous to Coates' catalyst, is generated in situ from commercially available (TPP)CrCl and Co(2)(CO)(8). This practical system circumvents the preparation of air sensitive cobaltate salts, operates at low catalyst loadings, and allows the carbonylation of functionalized, sterically demanding and heterocyclic meso-epoxides.