A new technique for obtaining the activation energy distribution of a relaxing system

This paper describes a robust and fast fitting procedure applicable for relaxing processes that cannot be understood as a discrete sum of single processes but require an activation energy distribution. The method is based on a set of closed-form expressions that allow the computation of the relaxation parameters directly from the isochronal curves obtained experimentally. The usefulness of this method is checked by analyzing the isochronal curves given by a theoretical energy distribution and the magnetic disaccommodation spectra observed in yttrium iron garnet (YIG) samples. PACS 02.60.Ed; 75.60.Lr; 75.50.Gg     

Carrier diffusion in InGaAs/GaAs quantum wells grown on vicinal GaAs(0 0 1) substrates

We have investigated the influence of vicinal GaAs substrates on the optical and electronic properties of InGaAs/GaAs quantum wells (QWs). A single In_0.10Ga_0.90As QW was grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on a vicinal GaAs(0 0 1) substrate with a miscut angle of 0° (nominal), 2°, 4° and 6° towards [1 1 0]. The carrier diffusion was obtained by a micro-photoluminescence scan technique that permits to observe the effective diffusion length characterized by the lateral spread of carriers in the QW followed by radiative recombination. The carrier diffusion length was obtained parallel (L_||) and perpendicular (L) to the atomic steps. The diffusion length decreases as the temperature increases up to 100 K. Above this temperature we found different behaviours that depend on the sample miscut angle.     

Quasi-free divisors and duality

We prove a duality theorem for some logarithmic $\text{D}$-modules associated with a class of divisors. We also give some results for the locally quasi-homogeneous case. To cite this article: F.J. Castro-Jiménez, J.M. Ucha-Enr??quez, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 338 (2004).     

Geometric modeling of homoepitaxial CVD diamond growth: I. The {1 0 0}{1 1 1}{1 1 0}{1 1 3} system

Plasma-assisted CVD homoepitaxial diamond growth is a process that must satisfy many stringent requirements to meet industrial applications, particularly in high-power electronics. Purity control and crystalline quality of the obtained samples are of paramount importance and their optimization is a subject of active research. In the process of such studies, we have obtained high purity CVD diamond monocrystals with unusual morphologies, namely with apparent {1 1 3} stable faces. This phenomenon has led us to examine the process of CVD diamond growth and build up a 3D geometrical model, presented here, describing the film growth as a function of time. The model has been able to successfully describe the morphology of our obtained crystals and can be used as a predictive tool to predetermine the shape and size of a diamond crystal grown in a given process configuration. This renders accessible control of desirable properties such as largest usable diamond surface area and/or film thickness, before the cutting and polishing manufacture steps take place. The two latter steps are more sensitive to the geometry of the growth sectors, which will be addressed in a companion paper.Our model, applicable to the growth of any cubic lattice material, establishes a complete mapping of the final morphology state of growing diamond, as a function of the growth rates of the crystalline planes considered, namely {1 0 0}, {1 1 1}, {1 1 0}, and {1 1 3} planes, all of which have been observed experimentally in diamond films. The model makes no claim as to the stability of the obtained faces, such as the occurrence of non-epitaxial crystallites or twinning. It is also possible to deduce transient behavior of the crystal morphology as growth time is increased. The model conclusions are presented in the form of a series of diagrams, which trace the existence (and dominance) boundaries of each face type, in presence of the others, and where each boundary crossing represent a topology change in terms of number of faces, edges and vertices. We validate the model by matching it against crystals published in the literature and illustrate its predictive value by suggesting ways to increase usable surface area of the diamond film.     

Simultaneous determination of cloramphenicol, salicylic acid and resorcinol by capillary zone electrophoresis and its application to pharmaceutical dosage forms

This study demonstrates the separation of active ingredients in acne formulations (salicylic acid, cloramphenicol and resorcinol in presence of azulene) by capillary zone electrophoresis. Factors affecting their separations were the buffer pH and concentration, applied voltage, sample preparation, and presence of additives. Optimun results were obtained with a 50 mM sodium tetraborate-50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 9.0. The carrier electrolyte gave baseline separation with good resolution, short migration times (<6 min), great reproducibility and accuracy. Calibration plots were linear over at least three orders of magnitude of analyte concentrations, the lower limits of detection being within the range 0.39-1.25 μg ml⁻¹. The procedure was fast and reliable and commercial pharmaceuticals could be analysed without prior sample clean-up procedure.     

Hydroformylation: a versatile tool for the synthesis of new β-formyl-metalloporphyrins

Formyl derivatives of protoporphyrin-IX dimethyl ester metal complexes were obtained via hydroformylation reactions, catalysed by rhodium-triphenylphosphine complexes. The regioselectivity of the reaction is remarkably dependent on the metal centre of the porphyrin, yielding 100% of the branched aldehyde with zinc(II) complexes and 75% with the nickel(II). The NMR characterisation of the new compounds was carried out after their derivatisation into acetals.     

Gravitational collapse of a charged and radiating fluid ball in the diffusion limit

The collapse of a charged and radiating ball in the diffusion limit is studied using a method reported by Herrera and collaborators. The interior solution is matched with the exterior Reissner-Nordström-Vaidya metric to obtain a system of differential equations at the surface of the distribution, which can be integrated numerically for some set of initial data. For one model, the profiles of the physical variables are obtained at any piece of the material in terms of Schwarzschild-like coordinates.     

Characterization of the behaviour of flavour microcapsules in cotton fabrics

Nanotechnology processes have recently been introduced into the textile field. One of these processes involves encapsulated nanoparticles or nanoproducts, known as microcapsules. They are available with a wide range of products which confer different properties related to the nature of the encapsulated product. The composition of the wall material determines the release of the product into the fabric and is the object of study in the present work. The behaviour of microencapsulated peppermint was analyzed on cotton fabrics.Different application methods have been tested, impregnation versus bath exhaustion. As impregnation turned out to be the most efficient, some recipes were assayed and the effect of microcapsules on maintenance conditions was evaluated in order to determine the most suitable method with the longest lasting effect on fabrics.The effect of microcapsules is usually measured by the presence of a property such as odour measurements when flavours are encapsulated. The aim of this work is to explain the behaviour of the cotton fabrics with microcapsules bound to their fibers, to determine the relationship between their macroscopic properties and microscopic characteristics. A procedure based in FTIR spectroscopy is also proposed to quantify the presence of microcapsules in the fabrics.IR spectra of the textiles were obtained to determine the presence of microcapsules, which was corroborated by SEM techniques.     

On the Cartan–Jacobson Theorem

The well-known Cartan–Jacobson theorem claims that the Lie algebra of derivations of a Cayley algebra is central simple if the characteristic is not 2 or 3. In this paper we have studied these two cases, with the following results: if the characteristic is 2, the theorem is also true, but, if the characteristic is 3, the derivation algebra is not simple. We have also proved that in this last case, there is a unique nonzero proper seven-dimensional ideal, which is a central simple Lie algebra of type A₂, and the quotient of the derivation algebra modulo this ideal turns out to be isomorphic, as a Lie algebra, to the ideal itself. The original motivation of this work was a series of computer-aided calculations which proved the simplicity of derivation algebras of Cayley algebras in the case of characteristic not 3. These computations also proved the existence of a unique nonzero proper ideal (which turns out to be seven-dimensional) in the algebra of derivations of split Cayley algebras in characteristic 3.     

Synthesis of poly(vinyl chloride)‐b‐poly(n‐butyl acrylate)‐b‐poly(vinyl chloride) by the competitive single‐electron‐transfer/degenerative‐chain‐transfer‐mediated living radical polymerization in water

The synthesis of a block copolymer poly(vinyl chloride)‐b‐poly(n‐butyl acrylate)‐b‐poly(vinyl chloride) is reported. This new material was synthesized by single‐electron‐transfer/degenerative‐chain‐transfer‐mediated living radical polymerization (SET‐DTLRP) in two steps. First, a bifunctional macroinitiator of α,ω‐di(iodo)poly (butyl acrylate) [α,ω‐di(iodo)PBA] was synthesized by SET‐DTLRP in water at 25 °C. The macroinitiator was further reinitiated by SET‐DTLRP, leading to the formation of the desired product. This ABA block copolymer was synthesized with high initiator efficiency. The kinetics of the copolymerization reaction was studied for two PBA macroinitiators with number–average molecular weight of 10 k and 20 k. The relationship between the conversion and the number–average molecular weight was found to be linear. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis suggests just one phase, indicating that copolymer behaves as a single material with no phase separation. This methodology provides the access to several block copolymers and other complex architectures that result from combinations of thermoplastics (PVC) and elastomers (PBA). From industrial standpoint, this process is attractive, because of easy experimental setup and the environmental friendly reaction medium. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3001–3008, 2006