Side-chain liquid crystalline polyesters for optical information storage

Azobenzene side-chain liquid crystalline polyester structures suitable for permanent optical storage are described. The synthesis and characterization of the polyesters together with differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray investigations are discussed. Optical anisotropic investigations and holographic storage in one particular polyester are described in detail and polarized Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic data complementing the optical data are presented. Optical and atomic force microscope investigations point to a laser-induced aggregation as responsible for permanent optical storage.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of polymer dispersed liquid crystal droplets under competing boundary conditions

This paper is devoted to the molecular dynamics simulation of structural organization inside a polydispersed liquid crystal (LC) droplet under competing boundary conditions. The droplet is assumed to be placed at the liquid crystal interface between two different regions of the solid polymer matrix, which accordingly separates the droplet into two hemispheres: the first of these is under radial boundary conditions; the second hemisphere is under bipolar boundary conditions. The droplet is considered as a jagged sphere filled with LC molecules, modelled as classical spins (unit vectors), whose centres of mass are associated with sites of a cubic lattice inside the cavity. The orienting action of the polymer matrix, and hence the resulting boundary conditions, are modelled by the interaction between the internal LC molecules (possessing only orientational degrees of freedom), and those of a delimiting surface layer (a jagged spherical shell), whose orientations are fixed, radial or bipolar, respectively. All interactions are modelled by the short range McMillan pair potential. The molecular orientation inside the LC droplet has been determined for various anchoring strengths of the interaction between internal spins and boundary layers. We have investigated the structure of the spherical defect resulting in the central region of the droplet, as well as of the boojum - like defects existing near the poles of the droplet. It has been found that a change of relative radial and bipolar anchoring strengths can affect both central and boojum - like defects. The effect of an external field on the molecular orientation inside the droplet has also been investigated. It has been found that a sufficiently strong external field increases the radius of the spherical defect placed in the central region of the droplet.     

First direct measurement of the total cross-section of 12C(α,γ)16O

The total cross-section of ¹²C(α,γ)¹⁶O was measured for the first time by a direct and ungated detection of the ¹⁶O recoils. This measurement in inverse kinematics using the recoil mass separator ERNA in combination with a windowless He gas target allowed to collect data with high precision in the energy range E = 1.9 to 4.9 MeV. The data represent new information for the determination of the astrophysical S(E) factor.     

Limits on neutrino oscillations from a study of νe charged current interactions

We have fully analysed all events with a single electron obtained in an exposure of BEBC to the 350 GeV wide-band neutrino beam at CERN. The data agrees well with expectations based on the calculated ν_e flux and assuming μ?e universality. Using both the rate and the kinematic distributions, improved limits are set on ν_e → ν_X, ν_μ → ν_e, ν_μ → ν_τ mixing.     

Two-particle rapidity correlations in proton-nucleus interactions at 300 GeV

The single- and two-particle inclusive rapidity distributions for proton-nucleus interactions at 300 GeV in nuclear emulsions are presented. The analysis of the data with the two-particle rapidity correlation function R(ν₁, ν₂) shows clear evidence of short range correlations. A remarkable asymmetry between projectile and target hemisphere is found.     

Simultaneous determination of seven elements (Cl, K, Ca, Br, Fe, Cu, Zn) in blood serum by PIXE

Summary Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) Spectra have been obtained for the blood serum of several old-age subjects by using the Van de Graaff accelerator of Catania University. The concentration levels of Cl, K, Ca, Br, Fe, Cu, Zn have been determined simultaneously within 2 min by using 5 l of blood serum. Good agreement with literature data has been found.

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Simultanbestimmung von sieben Elementen (Cl, K, Ca, Br, Fe, Cu, Zn) im Blutserum mit Hilfe von PIXE

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe des Van de Graaff-Beschleunigers der Univ. Catania wurden PIXE-Spektren vom Blutserum mehrerer alter Personen aufgenommen. Mit einer Probe von 5 l konnten die obigen sieben Elemente innerhalb von 2 min bestimmt werden. Die Übereinstimmung mit Literaturangaben war gut.

     

Tunnel spectroscopy into the YBa2Cu4O8 compound

Il Nuovo Cimento D - We have realized planar tunnel junctions using both Y123 and Y124 single crystals as base electrodes and Pb as counterelectrode. The crystals, with T c=90 K (Y123) and T c=80 K...