Studies in nickel(IV) chemistry. Electron transfer kinetics of the reaction between tris(dimethylglyoximato)nickelate(IV) and hexacyanoferrate(II) in aqueous medium

The kinetics of electron transfer from hexacyanoferrate(II) to tris(dimethylglyoximato)-nickelate(IV), Ni(dmg)₃^2?, to produce Fe(CN)₆^3? and Ni(dmgH)₂, follows a pseudo-first-order disappearance in the Ni(IV). The pseudo-first-order rate constants k_obs are linearly dependent on [Fe(CN)₆^4?]₀ in a fiftyfold range of 2 × 10^?4?1 × 10^?2M, and the average values of k_obs/[Fe(CN)₆^4?]₀ range from 194M^?1·s^?1 at pH = 5.20 to 0.2M^?1·s^?1 at pH = 9.07 in aqueous medium at 35°C and μ = 0.57M. Results are interpreted in terms of a probable mechanism involving rate-determining outer sphere one-electron transfer steps from the reductant and one-protonated reductant species to the unprotonated and one-protonated Ni(IV) species present in solution. The more electrophilic one-protonated reductant species apparently reacts several orders of magnitude faster than the unprotonated one.     

Torsional vibrations of non-uniform rotating blades with attachment flexibility

The torsional vibrations of non-uniform pretwisted rotating blades are studied by using finite element methods based on both the Rayleigh-Ritz and Galerkin formulations. The apparent differences between the matrices obtained from these formulations are explained and, as obtained by using three different orders of elements, results are presented for blades with flexibly attached roots and for a non-uniform blade representative of a bearingless rotor. A parametric study is carried out to resolve a controversy regarding the relative importance of certain terms in the equations of motion of pretwisted rotating blades. In Appendix I, an exact solution is presented for the torsional vibrations of flexibly attached rotating blades with piecewise constant inertia and elastic properties, which serves as a benchmark solution for the finite element results.     

An angular momentum expansion of energy and structure of high spin states

A new angular momentum expansion of level energies of ground-state band of even-even nuclei has been obtained which is found to converge rapidly even for the most back-bending nuclei. Attempts have been made to interpret the parameters and calculate them microscopically. It is found that nuclear structure in the forward bending region is quite different compared to that in the back-bending region.     

Ultrasound absorption in liquid metals

The excess longitudinal ultrasonic absorption over and above the classical value has been attributed to the solid-like mechanisms of the interaction of sound waves with the conduction electrons and the thermal phonons in liquid metals, both exhibiting a quadratic dependence on the sound frequency.     

Study of the asymmetric nuclear matter with pion dressing

We discuss here a self-consistent method to calculate the properties of the cold asymmetric nuclear matter. The nuclear matter is dressed with s-wave pion pairs. The nucleon-nucleon (N-N) interaction is mediated by these pion pairs, ∞ and ρ mesons. The parameters of these interactions are calculated selfconsistently to obtain the saturation properties like equilibrium binding energy, pressure, compressibility and symmetry energy. The computed equation of state is then used in the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) equation to study the mass and radius of a neutron star containing pure neutron matter.     

Ytterbium-doped Y2O3 nanoparticle silica optical fibers for high power fiber lasers with suppressed photodarkening

We report efficient laser demonstration and spectroscopic characteristics of a Yb-doped Y₂O₃ (or Y₃Al₅O₁₂) nanoparticle silica fiber developed by conventional fiber fabrication technique. The spectroscopy study evidences modification in the environment of Yb ions by the Y₂O₃ nanoparticles. As a result, photodarkening induced loss is reduced by 20 times relative to Yb-doped aluminosilicate fibers. The fiber is suitable for power scaling with good laser slope efficiency of 79%.     

Femtosecond study of partially folded states of cytochrome C by solvation dynamics

Using femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, it is shown that the solvation dynamics in the two partially folded states (IS' and IS' ') of a protein, cytochrome C, are very different. In the case of IS' (formed by the addition of 2 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) almost the entire dynamic solvent shift of coumarin 153 (C153) is captured in a picosecond setup and the contribution of the ultrafast component (0.5 ps) is very small (5%). Solvation dynamics of IS' ' (formed by 2 mM SDS and 5 M urea) displays a major component (47%) of 1.3 ps. This indicates that the structure of IS' ' is much more open and exposed compared to that of IS'. The difference in the dynamics of IS' and IS' ' is attributed to differences in their structure, particularly near the heme region, and the presence of urea in IS' '.     

Comparative Study on Heat Transfer Enhancement of Low Volume Concentration of Al2o3–Water and Carbon Nano-Tube–Water Nano-Fluids in Transition Regime Using Helical Screw Tape Inserts

This study reports the comparison of heat transfer and friction factor characteristics of helical screw inserts in Al₂O₃–water and carbon nano-tube–water nano-fluids through a straight pipe in transition regime with constant heat flux boundary condition. Experiments were carried out by using 0.15% volume concentration of Al₂O₃–water and carbon nano-tube–water nano-fluid with helical tape inserts of twist ratio, TR = 1.5, 2.5, and 3. The thermal performance of helical screw tape inserts with the carbon nano-tube–water nano-fluid is found -to be higher when compared to the Al₂O₃–water nano-fluid. In addition, the maximum enhancement in heat transfer was obtained for the carbon nano-tube–water nano-fluid with helical tape inserts of twist ratio 1.5. The increase in pressure drop of the Al₂O₃–water nano-fluid with helical screw tape inserts is found to be higher compared to the carbon nano-tube–water nano-fluid helical screw tape inserts at lower value of twist ratio.