Ultrasonic degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-alkyl acrylate) copolymers

The copolymers, poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methyl acrylate) (PMMAMA), poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethyl acrylate) (PMMAEA) and poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate) (PMMABA), of different compositions were synthesized and characterized. The effect of alkyl acrylate content, alkyl group substituents and solvents on the ultrasonic degradation of these copolymers was studied. A model based on continuous distribution kinetics was used to study the kinetics of degradation. The rate coefficients were obtained by fitting the experimental data with the model. The linear dependence of the rate coefficients on the logarithm of the vapor pressure of the solvent indicated that vapor pressure is the crucial parameter that controls the degradation process. The rate of degradation increases with an increase in the alkyl acrylate content. At any particular copolymer composition, the rate of degradation follows the order: PMMAMA > PMMAEA > PMMABA. It was observed that the degradation rate coefficient varies linearly with the mole percentage of the alkyl acrylate in the copolymer.     

Finite size effect on Gd doped CoGdxFe2−xO4 (0.0≤x≤0.5) particles

Nanoparticles of CoGd_xFe_2−xO₄ (where x=0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) series have been prepared by chemical co-precipitation. The effect of Gd³⁺ ion concentration on crystalline phase, crystallinity, crystallite size, molecular vibrations and magnetic resonance has been investigated in detail. The crystallinity decreases with an increase in Gd³⁺ ion concentration and changes the structural parameters. The spin lattice relaxation has been correlated with the doping ion concentration. Similarly, the superparamagnetic behavior of these particles has been observed with EPR spectroscopy.     

Spatial and spectral characteristics of laser-field synchrotron radiation

The spatial and spectral characteristics of laser-field synchrotron radiation (LSR) are investigated. The results show that LSR is emitted normal to the laser axis and emission in the X-ray wavelength can be obtained by increasing the intensity of the laser pulse and the initial energy of the electron. The unique feature offered by the laser-field synchrotron radiation (LSR) makes them a promising compact source of light at shorter wavelengths.     

Cut points in some connected topological spaces

We prove that a connected topological space with endpoints has exactly two non-cut points and every cut point is a strong cut point; it follows that such a space is a COTS and the only two non-cut points turn out to be endpoints (in each of the two orders) of the COTS. A non-indiscrete connected topological space with exactly two non-cut points and having only finitely many closed points is proved homeomorphic to a finite subspace of the Khalimsky line. Further, it is shown, without assuming any separation axiom, that in a connected and locally connected topological space X, for a, b in X, S[a,b] is compact whenever it is closed. Using this result we show that an H(i) connected and locally connected topological space with exactly two non-cut points is a compact COTS with end points.     

Topological Dyons

Using a two potential approach, dyon solutions have been found in the temporal and non-temporal gauges for a non-Abelian theory. Both the charges, electric and magnetic, of the temporal dyon solution are topological, while for the non-temporal case both charges are partially topological.     

TDDFT Investigation of the Electronic Structures and Photophysical Properties of Fluorescent Extended Styryl Push-Pull Chromophores Containing Carbazole Unit

Push-pull chromophores attached to carbazole based π-conjugating spacers bearing N-alkylamino donors, cyanovinyl and carbethoxy acceptors have been studied by the means of UV-Visible measurements. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) of these π-conjugated systems has also been tested by investigating the ability of the solute molecules to undergo shifts in their fluorescence emission maxima with increasing solvent polarity. Density Functional Theory [B3LYP/6-31G(d)] and Time Dependent Density Functional Theory [TD-B3LYP/6-31G(d)] computations have been used to have more understanding of the structural, molecular, electronic and photophysical parameters of push-pull dyes. The largest wavelength difference between the experimental and computed electronic absorption maxima was 45 nm. For emission, a largest difference of 61 nm was observed. The ground state and excited state dipole moments in different solvents were determined using experimental solvatochromic data and computed Onsager radii. The dipole moments of the molecules in the excited state were observed to be higher than in the ground state.     

Synthesis, Photo-physical and DFT Studies of ESIPT Inspired Novel 2-(2′,4′-Dihydroxyphenyl) Benzimidazole, Benzoxazole and Benzothiazole

Novel ESIPT inspired benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole were synthesized from 2,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid and 1,2-phenelenediamine, 2-aminophenol, and 2-aminothiophenol respectively. The synthesized 2-(2′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl) benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole are fluorescent and the emission characteristic are very sensitive to the micro-environment. They show a single absorption and dual emission with large Stokes shift originating from excited state intramolecular proton transfer. The absorption-emission characteristics of all these compounds are studied as a function of pH. The change in the electronic transition, energy levels, and orbital diagrams of synthesized compounds were investigated by the molecular orbital calculation and were correlated with the experimental spectral emission. Experimental absorption and emission wavelengths are in good agreement with those predicted using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) [B3LYP/6-31G(d)].

Spin waves transport across a ferrimagnetically ordered nanojunction of cobalt-gadolinium alloy between cobalt leads

A model calculation is presented for the spin wave scattering and coherent transport at the ferrimagnetically ordered cobalt-gadolinium alloy nanojunction between cobalt leads. The structural model for the amorphous alloy nanojunction [Co_1/2Gd_1/2]₃ is considered as an ordered alloy hcp structure of three (0001) atomic planes between the leads. To analyze the spin dynamics and spin wave scattering at the nanojunction boundary, the phase field matching method (PFMT) is implemented over the ground state of the system, in the Heisenberg Hamiltonian representation. The coherent reflection and transmission probabilities of spin waves from the cobalt leads incident onto the nanojunction boundary are calculated, and numerical results are presented for the coherent SW transport across the nanojunction over the entire range of their frequencies. The results are especially valid in the interval between nanometric SW wavelengths greater than the nanojunction width and macroscopic wavelengths. They demonstrate in particular, the possibility of the resonance assisted maxima for the SW transmission spectra owing to the interactions between the incident spin waves and the localized spin resonances on the nanojunction. This effect is general and may be observed at different characteristic frequencies and corresponding incident angles.     

Intra‐laser‐cavity microparticle sensing with a dual‐wavelength distributed‐feedback laser

An integrated intra‐laser‐cavity microparticle sensor based on a dual‐wavelength distributed‐feedback channel waveguide laser in ytterbium‐doped amorphous aluminum oxide on a silicon substrate is demonstrated. Real‐time detection and accurate size measurement of single micro‐particles with diameters ranging between 1 µm and 20 µm are achieved, which represent the typical sizes of many fungal and bacterial pathogens as well as a large variety of human cells. A limit of detection of ∼500 nm is deduced. The sensing principle relies on measuring changes in the frequency difference between the two longitudinal laser modes as the evanescent field of the dual‐wavelength laser interacts with micro‐sized particles on the surface of the waveguide. Improvement in sensitivity far down to the nanometer range can be expected upon stabilizing the pump power, minimizing back reflections, and optimizing the grating geometry to increase the evanescent fraction of the guided modes.