Si3S-Bicyclo[1.1.0]butane vs. Si3S-cyclobutene: an isomeric interplay*

(Thiatrisila)bicyclo[1.1.0]butane 1 quantitatively transformed under either photochemical or thermal conditions into the isomeric (thiatrisila)cyclobutene 2, which was isolated and fully characterized.

     

Experimental study of cyclic action of plasma on tungsten

We report on experimental results on multiple action of hydrogen, deuterium, and helium plasmas produced by a plasma gun and the Globus-M tokamak on tungsten. The surface temperature in the course of irradiation is measured with a bichromatic pyrometer with a time resolution of ?1 μs. The morphology of the surface layer is investigated and X-ray structure analysis of tungsten exposed to multiple radiations by the plasma under various conditions is carried out. A slight decrease in the lattice parameter in the sample subjected to the maximal number of irradiation cycles is detected. It is shown that the morphology of the tungsten surface irradiated by the hydrogen plasma from the gun and by the deuterium plasma from the Globus-M tokamak changes (the structure becomes smoother). The characteristic depth of the layer in which impurities have been accumulated exceeds 0.5 μm. This depth was the largest for the sample exposed to 1000 shots from the gun and 2370 shots from the tokamak. It is shown that the helium jet from the plasma gun makes it possible to simulate the action of helium ions on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) diverter, producing a layer of submicrometer particles (bubbles).     

Experimental investigation of the role of the triplet pairing in the superconducting spin-valve effect

An important role of the morphology of a superconducting layer in the superconducting spin-valve effect has been established. The triplet pairing induced by the superconductor/ferromagnet proximity effect has been experimentally investigated for samples CoO_x/Py1/Cu/Py2/Cu/Pb (where Py = Ni_0.81Fe_0.19) with a smooth superconducting layer. The optimization of the parameters of this structure has demonstrated a complete switching between the normal and superconducting states with a change in the relative orientation of magnetizations of the ferromagnetic layers from the antiparallel to orthogonal orientation. A pure triplet contribution has been observed for the sample with a permalloy layer thickness at which the superconducting spin-valve effect vanishes. A direct comparison of the experimental data with the theoretical calculation of the temperature of the transition to the superconducting state has been performed for the first time.     

Bubble boiling in droplets of water and lithium bromide water solution

The dynamics of growth and interaction of vapor bubbles in droplets of pure water and LiBr water solution on a horizontal wall were investigated in a wide superheating range. The growth rates of bubbles were determined both in a distillate droplet and in a salt solution droplet. The bubble growth rate in a pure water droplet at the final stage is somewhat lower than in pool boiling. The bubble growth rate in a salt solution is substantially lower than for pure water. Due to the bubble density maldistribution, the vapor flow density is appreciably higher at the droplet edges than on the droplet axis. Collective behavior of the bubbles possesses both stochastic character and elements of self-organization. The thermal measurements were carried out by means of high-speed video and blowup thermal imager.     

Brown coal gasification in combustion in supercritical water

The yield and composition of conversion products are investigated in a layout that provides countersupply of reagents (brown coal, supercritical water (SCW), and O₂) into a vertical tubular reactor and drain of reactants into replaceable collectors under isobaric conditions (30 MPa). The coal (gross formula CH_0.96N_0.01S_0.002O_0.31) incorporated into coal-water slurry (CWS) stabilized by starch addition (1 wt.%), was supplied through the top end of the reactor, while SCW and SCW/O₂ fluids were supplied through the bottom end. Based on the results of elemental analysis of liquid products and solid residue of conversion, and mass spectrometric analysis of volatile products, we obtained gross reactions of brown coal conversion in SCW and SCW/O₂ fluids. It was found that addition of O₂ to SCW leads to autothermal conversion conditions and an increase in the contribution from heterogeneous reactions between carbon and water, which provides additional yield of H₂ and CH₄.     

Torsional strain of TaS3 whiskers on the charge-density wave depinning

We find that an electric current I exceeding the threshold value results in torsional strain of o-TaS3 samples with one contact freely suspended. The rotation angle deltavarphi of the free end achieves several degrees and exhibits hysteresis as a function of I. The sign of deltavarphi depends on the I polarity; a polar axis along the conducting chains (the c axis) is pointed out. We associate the effect with surface shear of the charge-density wave (CDW) coupled to the crystal shear. The current-induced torsional strain could be treated in terms of enormous piezoelectric coefficients (>10(-4) cm/V) corresponding to shear. In essence, TaS3 appears to be a ready torsional actuator based on the unique intrinsic property of the CDW.     

Semianalytical solution of the problem of converging shock waves

An approach to the determination of the self-similarity parameter in the problem of converging strong shock waves is suggested. This approach allows one to obtain analytical expressions that approximate the numerical solution. For adiabatic constants gamma = 6/5-7, the values of the obtained self-similarity parameter differ by <1% from the values determined by the numerical procedure. In addition, accurate analytical characteristics of the reflected shock wave are obtained.     

Optical band gap width in GaAs in megagauss magnetic fields

The band gap width in GaAs in magnetic fields of up to 10 MG is calculated using a five-band kp model. The selection rules for interband electron transitions in strong magnetic fields are found, and the dependences of the interband transition probabilities on a magnetic field are calculated. The electronic spectra calculated in the five-band model are compared with those calculated in the Kane model and in the tight-coupling approximation. The calculations are shown to agree with experimental data if the contribution from the density-of-states tails and excitonic effects to light absorption is taken into account.