Conductivity anisotropy of the (PbS)0.59TiS2 misfit compound

A study is reported on the temperature dependence of the resistivity of the (PbS)_0.59TiS₂ misfit-layer compound in the commensurate and incommensurate basal-plane directions. The effect of the lattice incommensurability is shown to be equivalent to additional one-dimensional scattering from a neutral impurity.     

Effect of Four-Wave Mixing on Optimal Placement of Optical Amplifier in WDM Star Networks

In this article, the effect of four-wave mixing (FWM) and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise on WDM optical star networks has been investigated. Analysis for the evaluation of probability of error has been carried out (a) when only FWM is present and (b) when both FWM and ASE noise are present. Numerical results are presented in the graphical and tabular forms for the practical values of parameters. Finally, optimal location of the amplifier in the network has been identified as being before the star coupler preceding the receiver.     

Numerical modelling of a direct current non-transferred thermal plasma torch for optimal performance

A laminar steady-state 2D axisymmetric model of a direct current (DC) thermal plasma torch using a magneto-hydrodynamic approach has been developed. The model takes into account the entire torch system comprising the plasma gas injection, the inner region of the torch, and the jet exiting into the ambient environment. Numerical results are obtained for two different power inputs chosen from published experimental data. The temperature predictions at the torch exit are found in good agreement with experimental results. Velocity analysis of the plasma jet has been presented and the impact of electromagnetic force on jet velocity is analysed. The Lorentz force arising due to the coupling of fluid motion and electromagnetic forces shoots up the jet velocity to significantly high values near the cathode tip. Temperature and velocity profiles are in good agreement with the characteristics of a long laminar plasma jet. An operating value of heat transfer coefficient (h) has been suggested for optimal torch operation, thus ensuring a low anode erosion rate and acceptable thermal efficiency. The argon torch has the maximum temperature and longest jet length among the plasma gases considered.     

On the Superlinear Convergence Rate of the Preconditioned CGM for Some Nonsymmetric Elliptic Problems

Earlier estimates on the superlinear convergence of the preconditioned conjugate gradient method are completed using singular values of compact operators. Suitable domain independence and an explicit estimate of the magnitude of superlinear convergence are derived.     

Growth and characterization of L‐valine ‐ a nonlinear optical crystal

The growth of a new nonlinear optical material L‐valine by solvent evaporation method is reported here. To grow good quality crystals pH value of growth solution has been optimized and solubility of L‐valine in different solvents and different pH values was determined. The grown crystals were characterized by IR, single crystal XRD, DTA and TGA, optical transmission and second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency measurement. SHG efficiency of L‐valine was found equivalent to KDP and its transmission is 75%‐80% from ultraviolet to near IR region. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Preparation of Nd:Y3Al5O12 nanocrystals by low temperature glycol route

Y₃Al₅O₁₂, yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) single crystals are extensively used as host materials for solid‐state lasers. The materials in nano sizes are of immense importance due to their fascinating physical and chemical properties. Nanocrystals of Nd doped YAG were synthesized by low temperature glycol route. This method consists of a mixing of nitrates in an aqueous media at reasonably low temperatures. The Nd doping concentration was optimized and kept at 2 mol%. The prepared material was annealed at different temperatures. Single phase Nd:YAG nanocrystals were obtained at 850 °C. The prepared nanocrystals were characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM techniques for the crystalline phase, crystalline size and structure. The crystalline sizes were obtained in the range of ∼20–30 nm. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effect of solvents having different dielectric constants on reactivity: A conceptual DFT approach

Conceptual density functional theory is exploited to understand the reactivity in a medium of solvents with increasing dielectric constants. Aprotic as well as protic solvents are used for this study. It is found that the global parameters, such as chemical potential and hardness, decrease from gas phase to solvent phase with increasing dielectric constant. However, it is observed that the Fukui functions of the reactive atoms increase significantly with the dielectric constants of the aprotic solvents while for the protic solvents the variation of the reactivity indices is insignificant. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Increase in temperature of a ferromagnetic substance in rf magnetic field

If one applies an rf magnetic field parallel to a strong static field, temperature of a ferromagnetic substance rises due to ferromagnetic resonance. This phenomenon finds immediate application in the field of hyperthermic oncology. In this work, we have found expression for the increase in temperature when a ferromagnetic material is placed under a static and a varying magnetic field of high frequency through spin wave approach. The numerical value of this increment of local temperature has been estimated for yttrium iron garnet (YIG). We also have examined the possibility of enhancing the temperature of a ferromagnetic material only by applying a strong static field.