Relaxor properties of Fe-doped TlInS<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The relaxor properties of Fe-doped TlInS₂ crystals are investigated. It is shown that Fe-doped TlInS₂ compounds exhibit all features inherent in relaxor ferroelectric materials. The temperature range of existence of the microdomain (relaxor) state and the temperature of the transition from this state to a macro-domain state are determined.     

An EOQ model with process reliability considerations

The classical economic order quantity (EOQ) model assumes that items produced are of perfect quality and that the unit cost of production is independent of demand. However, in realistic situations, product quality is never perfect, but is directly affected by the reliability of the production process. In this paper, we consider an EOQ model with imperfect production process and the unit production cost is directly related to process reliability and inversely related to the demand rate. In addition, a numerical example is given to illustrate the developed model. Sensitivity analysis is also performed and discussed.     

Appearance of anomalous phase in <Superscript>4</Superscript>He crystal in the presence of small <Superscript>3</Superscript>He impurity

The kinetics of formation of an anomalous phase from a solution with a small ³He impurity was studied in the temperature range 0.2–0.7 K up to a supersaturation of ～30 mbar. The phase diagram was determined for normal and anomalous growths. It is found that, in the presence of impurities, the formation of a fast-growing state is retarded. This experimental fact indicates that the dissipative processes in fluids have an appreciable effect on the phase formation kinetics. The retardation is, possibly, caused by the direct interaction of an impurity with the crystal surface.     

Preparation of colloidal solutions of noble metals stabilized by polyoxometalates and supported catalysts based on these solutions

Conditions for the preparation of stable aqueous monometallic and bimetallic colloidal solutions (sols) of noble metals (Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt, Ir, Ag, and Au) in the presence of polyoxometalates containing W, Mo, V, and Nb were found. The stability of sols against coagulation at room temperature was studied. The metal/C samples prepared by metal adsorption from sols were studied by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The following factors of importance for the preparation of a stable sol are discussed: (1) the formation of a sol of a metal polyhydroxo complex stabilized by a polyoxometalate (preliminary stage) and (2) the formation of polyoxometalate-metal clusters in the course of reduction of polyhydroxo complexes.Translated from Kinetika i Kataliz, Vol. 45, No. 6, 2004, pp. 921–929.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Maksimova, Chuvilin, Moroz, Likholobov, Matveev.     

Scaling laws for the spatial distributions of the plasma parameters in the positive column of a dc oxygen discharge

Comprehensive self-consistent simulations of the positive column plasma of a dc oxygen discharge are performed with the help of commercial CFDRC software (), which enables one to carry out computations in an arbitrary 3D geometry using fluid equations for heavy components and a kinetic equation for electrons. The main scaling laws for the spatial distributions of charged particles are determined. These scaling laws are found to be quite different in the parameter ranges that are dominated by different physical processes. At low pressures, both the electrons and negative ions in the inner discharge region obey a Boltzmann distribution; as a result, a flat profile of the electron density and a parabolic profile of the ion density are established there. In the ion balance, transport processes prevail, so that ion heating in an electric field dramatically affects the spatial distribution of the charged particles. At elevated pressures, the volume processes prevail in the balance of negative ions and the profiles of the charged particle densities in the inner region turn out to be similar to each other.     

Approaches to sharing knowledge in group problem structuring

Problem-structuring techniques are an integral aspect of ‘Soft-OR’. SSM, SAST, Strategic Choice, and JOURNEY Making, all depend for their success on a group developing a shared view of a problem through some form of explicit modelling. The negotiated problem structure becomes the basis for problem resolution. Implicit to this process is an assumption that members of the group share and build their knowledge about the problem domain. This paper explores the extent to which this assumption is reasonable. The research is based on detailed records from the use of JOURNEY Making, where it has used special purpose Group Support software to aid the group problem structuring. This software continuously tracks the contributions of each member of the group and thus the extent to which they appear to be ‘connecting’ and augmenting their own knowledge with that of other members of the group. Software records of problem resolution in real organisational settings are used to explore the sharing of knowledge among senior managers. These explorations suggest a typology of knowledge sharing. The implications of this typology for problem structuring and an agenda for future research are considered.     

On wave radiation induced by a fast shock wave in an oblique magnetic field

The corrugation stability of the flat surface of a fast magnetohydrodynamic shock wave in a perfect monoatomic gas with a constant heat capacity is studied with numerical techniques. The magnetic field makes an arbitrary angle with the plane of discontinuity. It is shown that the shock wave remains stable only if it is strictly perpendicular to the magnetic field. At any other angle between the fast shock wave and magnetic field, the former may spontaneously radiate outwardly propagating magnetohydrodynamic waves under certain conditions. Incoming flow characteristics at which these waves are induced are determined.     

一个耦合系统自由边界问题的整体古典解

§ 1　ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＩｎｔｈｉｓｐａｐｅｒｗｅｄｉｓｃｕｓｓｔｈｅｇｌｏｂａｌｃｌａｓｓｉｃａｌｓｏｌｕｔｉｏｎｏｆａｍｕｌｔｉｄｉｍｅｎｓｉｏｎａｌｑｕａｓｉｓｔａｔｉｏｎａｒｙｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ .Ｔｈｅｐｒｏｂｌｅｍｃｏｍｅｓｆｒｏｍｔｈｅｄｉｓｃｕｓｓｉｏｎｏｆａｇｒｏｗｔｈｍｏｄｅｌｏｆｓｅｌｆｍａｉｎｔａｉｎｉｎｇｐｒｏｔｏｃｅｌｌ(ｓｅｅ [1— 3])ｉｎｍｕｌｔｉｄｉｍｅｎｓｉｏｎａｌｃａｓｅ .Ｔｈｅｐｒｏｔｏｃｅｌｌｃａｎｂｅｖｉｓｕａｌｉｚｅｄａｓｈａｖｉｎｇａｐｏｒｏｕｓｓｔ…     

Two scenarios for phase-transformation in disordered media

The reasons for the existence of various scenarios for structural transformations in disordered condensed media, such as liquids and amorphous substances, where both smeared transformations and sharp first-order transitions may occur, were analyzed. The ratio between the spatial scale of structural correlations and the size of the smallest possible region occupied by a new phase in the matrix of initial modification is the key parameter determining the scenario for equilibrium phase transformations in liquids. In amorphous substances, the experimentally observed transformations occur far from equilibrium, and the possible size of the region occupied by the new phase corresponds to the minimal nucleus size. For some amorphous solids, quantitative analysis of the transformation width was carried out and the main classes of covalent substances, in which the smeared or sharp transitions occur, were revealed. Specific features of the interparticle interactions determining various transformation scenarios are discussed.