Hydrogen-induced changes of the structural and magnetic properties of cerium/iron multilayers

Multilayers of Ce and Fe show a low Curie temperature and saturation magnetization below a critical thickness of the individual Fe layers where amorphous growth occurs. We have studied on a series of such multilayers with different modulation lengths prepared by ion-beam sputtering the impact of hydrogen absorption on their magnetic properties. Hydrogenation was performed during film growth either reactively by introducing hydrogen gas into the UHV chamber or by irradiation with a beam of low-energy hydrogen ions. Hydrogen is absorbed only in the Ce layers, with a concentration near CeH₂. For suitable modulation lengths, the Curie temperature and saturation magnetization are considerably enhanced with respect to the non-hydrided multilayers. This is correlated with the changes in structure and the quality of the interfaces induced by hydrogenation: the irradiation process itself reduces the critical thickness for amorphous growth of Fe, and the chemical interaction of hydrogen causes a considerable sharpening of the interfaces.     

Low energy resonances in21Ne(p,γ)22Na examined with a high energy resolution ion beam

TheE _R=126, 272 and 291 keV resonances in the²¹Ne(p, γ)²²Na reaction have been investigated with a high-energy-resolution ion beam. TheE _R=272 keV resonance was found to consist of two states separated by (888+5) eV, where the lower (higher) energy member is a high-spin (low-spin) state. All four resonances have widths less than a few eV, which is an improvement of nearly two orders of magnitude below previously reported limits. The influence of atomic effects on the determination of the correct value for the resonance energy is examined.     

Quotients of polytopes and C-groups

Abstract polytopes are combinatorial and geometrical structures with a distinctive topological flavor, which resemble the convex polytopes. C-groups are generalizations of Coxeter groups and are the automorphism groups of abstract polytopes which are regular. We investigate general properties of quotients of abstract polytopes and C-groups. Supported by NSF Grant DMS-9202071.     

Structural and magnetic properties of La/Fe multilayers

The structural and magnetic properties of La/Fe multilayers were investigated by X-ray diffraction, RHEED, magnetometry and⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Comparison is made with previous results obtained for Ce/Fe multilayers. Remarkably sharp interfaces are found, with roughness between 2 and 2.5 Å. The magnetic interface in the Fe sublayers resulting from the distribution of magnetic hyperfine fields distinctly exceeds the extension of the structural interface and points to a magnetic proximity effect. This is discussed in relation to a strong 3d-5d hybridization recently found in measurements of magnetic circular X-ray dichroism. Both the structural and magnetic La/Fe interface is less extended than the interface in Ce/Fe multilayers. Below a thickness of about 25 Å, the individual Fe layers grow in an amorphous structure on the La layers. In this case, Curie temperatures are below 200 K and the Fe-layer saturation magnetization is reduced up to 50%, and there is evidence of a non-collinear spin structure. It is argued that this mainly reflects the properties of pure amorphous Fe.     

Simulating the immune response to the HIV-1 virus with cellular automata

Two cellular automata models are presented which simulate the immune response to the HIV-1 virus at the early stage of the infection. The simple model A is based on the generalized nearest neighbor interaction, and the complex model B on the explicitly defined local interactions between the neighboring sites. These two models are discussed in the context of related work by Pandey.     

High pressure study of the cholesteric/smectic C* phase transition of 4-n-hexyloxyphenyl-4'-(2'-methylbutyl)biphenyl-4-carboxylate (CE3)

The cholesteric (Ch)/smectic C* (S_c*) phase transition of CE3 has been studied up to 2kbar and 115°C by a light reflection method. In contrast to the cholesteric/smectic A phase transition, which can cross over from first to second order at elevated pressure, the Ch/S_c* transition of CE3 was found to remain first order. This result is in agreement with most theoretical predictions. The pretransformation on the cholesteric side of the Ch/S_c* transition is influenced only weakly by increasing pressure. Because of the high viscosity of the smectic C* phase corresponding results could not be obtained on the smectic side of the transition.     

Observation of charmed baryon production in νp interactions in BEBC

Two examples of charmed baryon production by neutrinos have been observed in BEBC filled with hydrogen. Both events fit uniquely the reaction νp → μ^?pK^?π⁺π⁺ and thus apparently violate the ΔS = ΔQ rule. None of the appropriate mass combinations is consistent with the mass values of the D⁰ and D⁺ mesons. However, for the mass combinations of the pK^?π⁺ systems, values of (2.285 ± 0.005) GeV and (2.280 ± 0.003) GeV are found for event 1 and 2, respectively. These values agree with the mass of (2.285 ± 0.006) GeV for the Λ_c⁺ charmed baryon determined recently in e⁺e^? collisions at SLAC.     

Transverse momentum of hadrons produced in ν and ν interactions on an isoscalar target in BEBC

The average transverse momentum squared, 〈p_⊥²〉, of hadrons is studied as a function of W² and of Q² for ν and $\text{ν}$ interactions on an isoscalar target. An increase of 〈p_⊥²〉 with W² is observed for the hadrons emitted forward in the hadronic c.m.s. The p_⊥ dependence of the fragmentation function is found to factorise from the structure function at fixed W, but does not factorise at fixed Q². Unlike the case of forward-going particles, the 〈p_⊥²〉 of hadrons going backward in the c.m.s. shows no strong dependence on W².     

The barrier for compound-nucleus formation in the nearly symmetric systems86Kr+123Sb→209Fr and124Sn +94Zr→218Th

Evaporation residues from the fusion of the nearly symmetric systems⁸⁶Kr+¹²³Sb and¹²⁴Sn+⁹⁴Zr have been detected. The compound nucleus²¹⁸Th could be produced with an excitation energy as low as 21 MeV. The barriers for the formation of a compound nucleus were deduced from the evaporation residue cross sections. There is no evidence for an additional amount of energy needed to fuse these systems, if compared with the extrapolation of fusion barrier systematics or with results of fusion model calculations not including friction phenomena. One of the systems reaches a value ofZ ₁·Z ₂=2,000, about the highest value where evaporation residues have ever been observed.     

Catalytically active CNT–polymer-membrane assemblies: From synthesis to application

A new membrane electrode assembly set up for catalytic processes containing carbon nanotubes has been developed. The process includes the nanotube synthesis, sputter deposition of platinum as catalyst and the membrane casting. Aligned nanotube carpets were grown from toluene/ferrocene solutions and sputtered with platinum. Subsequently the assembly was investigated using cyclic voltammetry to confirm a sufficient catalyst activity. A procedure was developed to embed the carbon nanotubes doped with catalyst into SPEEK membranes, while preserving the aligned structure and keeping some surface area of the catalyst-doped nanotubes free of membrane material to allow for easy access to reactants. So far the best results were obtained using an aligned but somewhat loose nanotube structure and a deposition of 0.034 mg/cm² Pt, forming a combination of small catalyst clusters and a thin film. The assemblies are optimized in respect to application in fuel cells and functional membranes.