Two-dimensional excitonic phase in strong magnetic fields

The excitonic phase of the coupled electron-hole system which consists of p- and n-channel inversion layers separated by a thin insulating layer and subjected to a strong magnetic field, is investigated in the mean field approximation. The spectrum of the symmetry-restoring collective excitation mode is shown to be consistent with the possible superfluidity of excitons.     

Superior Nanoporous Polyimides via Supercritical CO2 Drying of Jungle‐Gym‐Type Polyimide Gels

We report novel nanoporous polyimides formed from jungle‐gym‐type rigid polyimide gels by supercritical CO₂ drying. By virtue of supercritical CO₂ drying to avoid the collapse of nanostructure, porosity above 90 vol.‐% was achieved. We found a rich variety of nanoporous structures in the range of 50–800 nm such as crisp fragments, minute network, and highly‐connected beads. These characteristic structures were formed by the competitive progress of liquid‐liquid phase separation and crystallization induced due to the two chemical reactions of end‐crosslinking and thermal imidization during gelation.

     

Laser absorption spectrometer using frequency chirped intensity modulation at 1.57 μm wavelength for CO2 measurement

We have demonstrated the laser-absorption spectrometer system using frequency chirped intensity modulation at 1.57 μm wavelength for measurement of CO(2) concentration. Using this technique, backscattered laser radiation from different ranges can be discriminated in the frequency domain of the electrical signal. We have reported the discrimination of two signals from the targets with different ranges. It is shown that stable measurements with short time fluctuation corresponding to 4 ppm (rms) were obtained with 32 s measurement intervals. Furthermore, there is qualitative good agreement on, at least, the diurnal changes between the results of the laser absorption spectrometer system and the in-situCO(2) sensor.     

Mesodynamics of shock waves in a polycrystalline metal

Simulation of the shock compression of polycrystalline α-iron at the mesoscale has been carried out using a two-dimensional, quasi-MD code. Grains of about 15 μm are randomly distributed to simulate the polycrystal. Results show the presence of a particle velocity dispersion comparable to the level observed experimentally. Other unique features include an eddy-like velocity field (meso rotation) and chaotic wave fronts. This paper was based on work that was presented at the 3rd international symposium on interdisciplinary shock wave research, Canberra, Australia, 1–3, March 2006.     

Shock-induced inorganic reactions and condensed phase detonations

Existing hugoniot calculations of inorganic chemical reactions in powder mixtures are found to contain errors and ambiguities. Most of the problems were caused by improper identification of the thermodynamic reference state. The derivations have been revised using two different integration paths: i) constant volume, and ii) constant pressure. Sample calculations with a Ni-Al system show that the two schemes yield close results. The constant pressure scheme presents the possibility of self-sustained chemical reactions (detonations) occurring in condensed phase. An example of such a detonation in the Ni-Al system is numerically demonstrated with hydrocode calculations.     

Control of diastereoselectivity in the crotylation and cinnamylation of aldehydes by the selection of ligands on allylic indium reagents

Diastereoselective couplings of salicylaldehyde, anisaldehyde and 2-pyridylaldehyde with crotyl- and cinnamylindium reagents were studied. The syl/anti selectivity was found to depend largely on the ligands on the indium atom of the allylic indium reagents. A syn-selective cinnamylation of salicylaldehyde was realized by the combination of cinnamyl acetate and indium(I) iodide, whereas an anti-selective coupling with salicylaldehyde was achieved by the indium trichloride/aluminium-mediated cinnamylation.     

Discrete element simulation of shock wave propagation in polycrystalline copper

The implementation of the characteristic of compressive plasticity into the Discrete Element Code, DM2, while maintaining its quasi-molecular scheme, is described. The code is used to simulate the shock compression of polycrystalline copper at 3.35 and 11.0 GPa. The model polycrystal has a normal distribution of grain sizes, with mean diameter 14 μm, and three distinct grain orientations are permitted with respect to the shock direction; 〈1 0 0〉, 〈1 1 0〉, and 〈1 1 1〉. Particle velocity dispersion (PVD) is present in the shock-induced flow, attaining its maximum magnitude at the plastic wave rise. PVD normalised to the average particle velocity of and are yielded for the 3.35 and 11.0 GPa shocks, respectively, and are of the same order as those seen in the experiment. Non-planar elastic and plastic wave fronts are present, the distribution in shock front position increasing with propagation distance. The rate of increase of the spread in shock front positions is found to be significantly smaller than that seen in probabilistic calculations on nickel polycrystals, and this difference is attributed, in the main, to grain interaction. Reflections at free surfaces yield a region of tension near to the target free surface. Due to the dispersive nature of the shock particle velocity and the non-planarity of the shock front, the tensile pressure is distributed. This may have implications for the spall strength, which are discussed. Simulations reveal a transient shear stress distribution behind the shock front. Such a distribution agrees with that put forward by Lipkin and Asay to explain the quasi-elastic reloading phenomenon. Simulation of reloading shocks show that the shear stress distribution can give rise to quasi-elastic reloading on the grain scale.     

A method of calibration of the formic acid monomer concentration in the gas phase

Pyrolysis of t-butyl formate, (CH₃)₃C-O-CHO, has been carried out in a carrier gas stream of Ar or N₂ in a temperature range of 200–400°C. Between 200 and 300°C, the pyrolysis yielded an equimolar mixture of HCOOH and (CH₃)₂C=CH₂. The results have been used as a calibration method for determining the concentration of the gas-phase HCOOH monomer without interference from the formation of the formic acid dimer. Using this technique, the gas-phase infrared absorption cross-section of HCOOH at 1105 cm^–1 (peak to valley) for the resolution of 0.5 cm^–1 has been determined to be 6.76×10^–19 cm² molecule^–1.