Thermal and dielectric studies of nickel malonate dihydrate single crystals

Single crystals of nickel malonate dihydrate were grown by the gel technique, employing the single diffusion method. Thermal dehydration of the crystal was investigated by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. The title compound exhibits a steady thermal behaviour at higher temperature range of 350-800 °C. The dielectric properties of the prepared sample were analyzed as a function of frequency in the range of 1 kHz-1 MHz and at temperatures between 40 and 140 °C.     

Wetting effects at a grain boundary

We consider a tier of weakened bonds along the center line of a two-dimensional Ising ferromagnet strip as a model of a grain boundary. When an interface traverses such a strip at an angle, whether or not there is a continuous pinning-depinning transition at subcritical temperature depends on this angle and the degree of bond weakening. We also study the relaxation of such a system to its equilibrium state using continuous time Monte Carlo simulation with Kawasaki dynamics; this reveals a matter transport mechanism confined to the grain boundary.     

Lattice models of hydrogen-bonded solvents. II

We consider a lattice model of a binary mixture in which each molecule of one component can form zero, one, or two bonds to molecules of the same species on neighboring vertices of the square lattice. We allow the energy of molecules with two bonds to depend on the valence angle, thus generalizing the first paper in this series. If straight polymeric configurations are favored over all others, then a phase transition occurs for low enough temperature. On the other hand, if bent configurations are favored, there is no phase transition. Analogous results are obtained for the hexagonal lattice, where we distinguish energetically betweencis andtrans isomerism of four bonded molecules.Supported by the Danish Science Foundation under grant 511-3635.     

An Enhancement of the Drezner—Wesolowsky Algorithm for Single-Facility Location with Maximin of Rectilinear Distance

In this note, we examine the algorithm of Drezner and Wesolowsky for locating a facility with maximin rectilinear distance to a given set of demand points. The concept of the closest-point constraint is introduced as a technique for increasing the efficiency of the algorithm. This potential increase in efficiency is demonstrated by an example.     

Mechanism of Formation of Cadmium Oxalate Liesegang Rings

Qualitative and semiquantitative study of the Liesegang rings formed by the reaction of oxalic acid and cadmium chloride in the acidic range of pH in silica hydrogel is made. The behaviour of Jablczynski's space constant and Morce-Pierce's time constant at various temperatures, pH and concentration of outer electrolyte is studied. The possible mechanisms for the above observed behaviour are suggested. The deviations from Isemura's general obserations are interprerted by considering two particular aspects, viz., comparatively larger crystals constituting the rings and the irreversibility of inner and outer electrolytes.     

On the Transfer Matrix for the Two-Dimensional Ising Model

The eigenvalue problem for the transfer matrix of the two-dimensional Ising lattice, with free boundaries perpendicular to the transfer direction, is solved. The mathematical mechanism which produces the asymptotic degeneracy of the eigenvalue spectrum below the bulk transition temperature is different from the case with cyclic boundary conditions. The results are used to calculate the two-spin correlation function between two spins in the same edge of the lattice, and between two spins in opposite edges.     

Silver halide single-mode strip waveguides for the mid-infrared

We report the demonstration of single-mode AgCl(x)Br(1-x) strip waveguides for the mid-infrared (MIR). The waveguides were made by the deposition of AgCl(x)Br(1-x) layers on top of a Si-SiO(2) substrate, followed by photolithographic and lift-off processing. The propagation losses of 20 dB/cm were measured at λ=10.6 μm using the cut-back method. The development of these waveguides is a crucial step toward realizing AgCl(x)Br(1-x) MIR integrated optical circuits, which would be used for applications such as chemical sensing and stellar interferometry.     

Sn(iv) phosphonates as catalysts in solvent-free Baeyer-Villiger oxidations using H(2)O(2)

We have designed a new family of layered Sn(iv)phosphonate (SnPP) materials which are very efficient catalysts in the BV oxidation of aromatic aldehydes without any solvent and using aqueous H(2)O(2) (30%) as the oxidant.