Cosmic rays as a new instrument of seismological studies

The state of the art of the short-termearthquake prediction problemis considered. A new method for monitoring the 3D stress state in the earthquake-prone zone using high-energy muons in cosmic rays and simultaneous measurements of acoustic and seismic signals in the frequency range from 1 Hz to 1–2 kHz is proposed. To implement this method, muons should be detected simultaneously with extensive air showers in an area of several square kilometers.     

Strain-gauge study of the strain state for the structural elements of the Moscow University main building’s spire

The experimental and numerical study of the strain state is conducted for the spire of the Moscow University main building. The experimental data are in good agreement with the numerical results obtained according to a finite-element beam model of the spire.     

Two-band BCS mechanism of superconductivity in a Ba(Fe0.9Co0.1)2As2 high-temperature superconductor

Terahertz and infrared spectra of the conductivity, σ(ν), and dielectric constant, ?(ν), of a Ba(Fe_0.9Co_0.1)₂As₂ film (T _c = 20 K) have been analyzed together with previous specific-heat and angular resolved photoelectron spectroscopy data. It has been shown that the spectra σ(ν) and ?(ν) of Ba(Fe_0.9Co_0.1)₂As₂ in the superconducting phase at T = 5 K, as well as the magnetic field penetration depth, can be described well using the standard Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) model with an additive contribution of electron and hole bands. It has been found that the measured temperature dependence of the magnetic field penetration depth in a wide temperature range 5 K < T < T _c can be described only with the introduction of interband pairing interaction. The coupling constant of electron and hole bands, λ_{1, 2} = 0.1, as well as the temperature dependences of superconducting gaps in the electron and hole subsystems, has been determined using the model of two-band superconductivity developed earlier for MgB₂.     

Development of Chemical Polarization of Nuclei During Photolysis of Benzoquinones with Aromatic Amines

Formation of nuclei polarization via triplet mechanism has been observed and described, allowing reliable identification of ion-radicals stages of the reaction, estimation of the triplets and ion-radical pairs lifetime from the effects of chemical polarization of the nuclei. The data on relative values of isotropic and anisotropic interactions of unpaired electrons and nuclei have been obtained.     

Acid–Base Zeta-Metric Titration of Quartz Dispersions in Ethanol Solutions of Electrolytes

The conductivity of dilute quartz suspensions and electrophoretic mobility of quartz particles in solutions with the concentration C = 10^–5–10^–2 M XBr (X = H, Cs, Na, and Li) and NaOH, as well as in mixed solutions of 10^–4 M XBr (X = Cs, Na, and Li) + 10^–4–10^–2 M HBr and 10^–4 M XBr + 10^–4–10^–2 M XOH (X = Cs, Na, and Li) in ethanol containing 6 vol % of water were measured using conductometry and microelectrophoresis. The values of surface conductivity of quartz were calculated by the Wagner formula and used to calculate zeta potential by the Henry–Booth formula. The resultant dependences (logC) suggest that the value and sign of zeta potential are determined not only by the adsorption of potential-determining ions ⁺ and ^–, but also by the competitive specific adsorption of all ions of the aforementioned electrolytes, the adsorption values increasing in a cation series Li⁺ < Na⁺ < Cs⁺ < H⁺ and an anion series Br^– < OH^–. In particular, it is found that the titration of the above suspensions with XOH bases results in the reversal of zeta potential sign from negative to positive at a concentration depending on the adsorption capacity of alkali cation.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic study of hexadecaalkyl-substituted rare-earth diphthalocyanines

New hexadecaalkyl-substituted diphthalocyanine complexes of lanthanides ^RPc₂Ln (R = Et, or Bu; Ln = Lu, Dy, or Eu) were synthesized by three methods: in solution in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, in a melt of a mixture of the reagents, and under microwave irradiation. The first of the above-mentioned procedures has an advantage for the preparation of Dy and Eu diphthalocyanines, whereas the melt synthesis is a method of choice for the preparation of Lu complexes. The reaction time decreases in going from the first to the third method. The structures of the complexes were confirmed by mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and electronic absorption spectroscopy.     

Alteration of Structure and Properties of Thin Polyimide Films and Coatings by Plasma and Thermal Treatment

The influence of alternating radiofrequency-plasma and heat treatment on the structure and bulk properties of polyimide films and coatings with a thickness of 3.5 m was studied. It was shown that plasma treatment leads to the enhancement of the specific surface energy due to the polar component and to an increase in the diffusion coefficient and in the amount of sorbed water. The subsequent thermal treatment leads to the recovery of the polyimide surface and bulk properties to almost their initial magnitudes. It was assumed that these effects are caused by a change in the structure of thin films and coatings and by the buildup of negatively charged particles at the surface and in mesopores of the polymer upon RF plasma treatment and due to annealing upon thermal treatment.