On the possibility of a radical decrease in the strength of many-body interactions in the organic metal α-(BETS)<Subscript>2</Subscript> KHg(SCN)<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Behavior of the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations depending on the angle between the magnetic field direction and the perpendicular to conducting layers in the quasi-two-dimensional organic metal α-(BETS)₂ KHg(SCN)₄ was studied in detail. The angular dependence of the dHvA oscillation amplitude exhibits a series of minima (at ±43.2°, ±64.6°, and ±72.0°) related to the “zero spin” effect, through which it is possible to estimate the splitting factor. An analysis of this value suggests that many-body interactions in the compound studied are either absent or at least radically weakened.     

Spin-relaxation and magnetoresistance in FM/SC/FM tunnel junctions

The effect of spin relaxation on tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) in a ferromagnet/superconductor/ferromagnet (FM/SC/FM) double tunnel junction is theoretically studied. The spin accumulation in SC is determined by balancing of the spin-injection rate and the spin-relaxation rate. In the superconducting state, the spin-relaxation time τ_s becomes longer with decreasing temperature, resulting in a rapid increase of TMR. The TMR of FM/SC/FM junctions provides a useful probe to extract information about spin-relaxation in superconductors.     

LIDAR mapping of ozone-episode dynamics in Paris and intercomparison with spot analyzers Supplementary material available at http://link.springer.de/journals/apb

Continuous mapping of an ozone episode in Paris in June 1999 has been performed using a differential absorption lidar system. The 2D ozone concentration vertical maps recorded over 33 h at the Champ de Mars are compiled in a video clip that gives access to local photochemical dynamics with unprecedented precision. The lidar data are compared over the whole period with point monitors located at 0-, 50-, and 300-m altitudes on the Eiffel Tower. Very good agreement is found when spatial resolution, acquisition time, and required concentration accuracy are optimized. Sensitivity to these parameters for successful intercomparison in urban areas is discussed. Received: 11 February 2002 / Published online: 14 March 2002     

Application of hydroacoustic radiators for the generation of seismic waves

To excite seismic waves with a high coherence, powerful hydroacoustic radiators placed in a natural reservoir were used. Theoretical estimates and the test data demonstrate a high efficiency of the proposed method of seismic wave excitation. The calculations are in good agreement with the results of measurements. The results of phasing the radiation with the use of two monopole sources separated by a quarter-wave distance are presented. It is shown that the use of the proposed scheme of excitation makes it possible to control the radiation pattern while obtaining a high coherence of seismic waves.     

Trace pollutants analysis in soil by a time-resolved laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy technique

The results of a joint experiment of IFAM-Pisa and ENEA-Frascati for the detection of traces of pollutants in soil by a time-resolved laser-induced spectroscopy technique are reported. Using samples of soil with known pollutants' concentration [Geochemical Exploration Reference (GXR) silicate from US Geological Survey], we were able to estimate the sensitivity of this Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technique to be of the order of some parts per million for a vast class of metallic pollutants, including extremely dangerous soil pollutants such as copper, lead and chromium.ENEA guest with HC&M fellowship     

Optimality conditions and duality theory for minimizing sums of the largest eigenvalues of symmetric matrices

The sum of the largest eigenvalues of a symmetric matrix is a nonsmooth convex function of the matrix elements. Max characterizations for this sum are established, giving a concise characterization of the subdifferential in terms of a dual matrix. This leads to a very useful characterization of the generalized gradient of the following convex composite function: the sum of the largest eigenvalues of a smooth symmetric matrix-valued function of a set of real parameters. The dual matrix provides the information required to either verify first-order optimality conditions at a point or to generate a descent direction for the eigenvalue sum from that point, splitting a multiple eigenvalue if necessary. Connections with the classical literature on sums of eigenvalues and eigenvalue perturbation theory are discussed. Sums of the largest eigenvalues in the absolute value sense are also addressed.This paper is dedicated to Phil Wolfe on the occasion of his 65th birthday.The work of this author was supported by the National Science Foundation under grants CCR-8802408 and CCR-9101640.The work of this author was supported in part during a visit to Argonne National Laboratory by the Applied Mathematical Sciences subprogram of the Office of Energy Research of the U.S. Department of Energy under contract W-31-109-Eng-38, and in part during a visit to the Courant Institute by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DEFG0288ER25053.     

Advances in the chemical synthesis of brassinosteroids

This review generalizes the latest advances in the chemical synthesis of the plant growth regulators brassinosteroids in 1990–1994.Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Belarus Academy of Sciences, 220141, Minsk, ul. Zhodinskaya, 5/2. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 507–544, July–August, 1997.     

High-accuracy measurer of complex reflection coefficient of SHF transmission lines

We describe a new method of constructing a device for simultaneous measurement of the relative amplitude and phase difference of microwave signals, using complex phase manipulation of input signals. It is shown that systematic errors of measurement are significantly lower in the proposed amplitude and phase meter. Root-mean-square values are obtained for a system with nonideal elements. A block diagram of the device is presented and its principal characteristics are described. Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics, Armenian Academy of Sciences, Erevan. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 40, No. 9, pp. 1182–1188, September, 1997.     

Transformations of cobalt trimethylacetate complexes with pyrazole upon oxidation by air in THF

Synthetic routes to oxidation of cobalt atoms in cobalt trimethylacetate complexes containing coordinated pyrazole molecules have been considered.     

Influence of charge distribution on the conformation of neutral polyampholytes

Summary Two polyampholyte copolymers based on sodium-2-acrylamido-2-methylsulfonate (NaAMPS) and methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride (MADQUAT) have been prepared either in homogeneous solution or by an inverse microemulsion polymerization technique. The copolymer microstructure was shown to depend on the method of preparation. The microemulsion polymerization yields copolymers with a monomer sequence distribution not far from random while those obtained by polymerization in solution have a strong tendency to alternation. The aqueous-solution properties of the two samples have been investigated by viscometry. The results show that the charge distribution along the copolymer chain affects considerably its conformation, in good agreement with recent theoretical studies. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994