Dog and tricks: some mathematics for students of graphics

This paper describes how parametric cubic splines and cubicBezier curves may be used in designing a two dimensional shape.A simple aerofoil shape is designed using both methods. Themathematics is described and the shape drawn using Excel. Theeffect of varying parameters is shown in both methods.     

The Six and Eight-Vertex Models Revisited

Elliott Lieb's ice-type models opened up the whole field of solvable models in statistical mechanics. Here we discuss the “commuting transfer matrix” T,Qequations for these models, writing them in a more explicit and transparent notation that we believe offers new insights. The approach manifests the relationship between the six-vertex and chiral Potts models, and between the eight-vertex and Kashiwara–Miwa models.     

Magnetic properties of lanthanum orthoferrite fine powders prepared by different chemical routes

Fine powders of lanthanum iron oxide, LaFeO₃, have been prepared by solid state reaction as well as sol-gel synthesis and nebulized spray pyrolysis. Structures, morphologies and magnetic susceptibility measurements of these powders have been examined. The powders prepared by all the three low-temperature routes contain nearly spherical particles with an average diameter of 40 nm. These samples show a lower Neel temperature than the powder prepared by solid state reaction besides showing much lower magnetic susceptibility at low temperatures. Dedicated to Professor C N R Rao on his 70th birthday     

Use of traps to study positron annihilation in astrophysically relevant media

We discuss possible experiments which can exploit recently-developed techniques to accumulate, store, and manipulate low-energy positrons to measure the parameters associated with positron annihilation radiation from media of astrophysical interest. Media discussed include collections of dust grains, partially ionized gases, He, H₂, and other molecular gases and gas mixtures, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules relevant to the interstellar medium.     

Evaluation of atomic fluorescence, absorption and emission techniques for the determination of mercury

Summary Atomic fluorescence (AFS), absorption (AAS) and emission (AES) systems were evaluated for the determination of inorganic mercury. Identical vapour generation and amalgamation procedures were used to permit direct comparison of the performance of a commercial long-path AAS instrument to laboratory constructed non-dispersive AFS as well as He-MIP based AES instruments. Instrumental noise-limited detection limits (LOD) were 0.94, 2.4, 2.8 pg for AAS, AES and AFS techniques, respectively. Methodological LOD's were found to be blank controlled and similar for all three instruments, viz. 9, 25 and 16 pg for AAS, AFS and AES, respectively. All three systems produced accurate results at the low ng/l concentration, as verified by the analysis of a certified river water reference material (NRCC ORMS-1).